• Energy Research
• 2025-2025close
• Restricted close
• Open Source close
• ES close
• US close
• FR close

Thermal energy storage (TES) plays a key role in concentrating solar power (CSP) plants by enhancing dispatchability and improving overall system efficiency. This study presents a comparative techno-economic analysis of three TES configurations integrated into CSP plants: (i) the conventional two-tank molten salt system, (ii) a phase change material (PCM)-based system with a cascade arrangement, and (iii) a concrete-based system. While technical performance simulations indicate similar annual energy production across all cases, significant differences emerge in economic viability. The PCM TES system demonstrates the lowest levelized cost of electricity (LCoE) at $14.35/kWh, leveraging its high energy density and reduced material requirements, despite lower efficiency (93 % compared to 99 % in molten salt). Conversely, the concrete TES system, while capable of extended discharge at partial loads, incurs higher parasitic losses and investment costs, resulting in a higher LCoE ($16.16/kWh). The cost analysis further highlights the cost-performance quotient (CPQ) as a valuable metric for assessing TES competitiveness, with PCM exhibiting the most favorable CPQ of $1.04/kWh. These findings underscore the necessity of integrating economic assessments into TES selection for CSP plants. Moreover, the study identifies opportunities for cost reduction in concrete TES through optimized modular designs and improved material formulations. This work provides valuable insights for policymakers, engineers, and industry stakeholders aiming to enhance the financial feasibility of next-generation CSP storage solutions. This study receives funding from the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación – Agencia Estatal de Investigación (MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033) through the PCI2020-120695-2 project and the European Union “NextGenerationEU”/PRTR“. CSP-ERA.NET is supported by the European Commission within the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon 2020 (Cofund ERA-NET Action, N° 838311). This work was partially funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación de España TED2021-132216A-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and the European Union by NextGenerationEU/PRTR. This work was partially funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación – Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) (PID2021-123511OB-C31 – MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/FEDER, UE) and (RED2022-134219-T). This work is partially supported by ICREA under the ICREA Academia programme. The authors from University of Lleida would like to thank the Departament de Recerca i Universitats of the Catalan Government for the quality accreditation given to their research group (2021 SGR 01615). GREiA is certified agent TECNIO in the category of technology developers from the Government of Catalonia.

Understanding the causes of past atmospheric methane (CH4) variability is important for characterizing the relationship between CH4, global climate and terrestrial biogeochemical cycling. Ice core records of atmospheric CH4 contain rapid variations linked to abrupt climate changes of the last glacial period known as Dansgaard-Oeschger (DO) events and Heinrich events (HE)1,2. The drivers of these CH4 variations remain unknown but can be constrained with ice core measurements of the stable isotopic composition of atmospheric CH4, which is sensitive to the strength of different isotopically distinguishable emission categories (microbial, pyrogenic and geologic)3-5. Here we present multi-decadal-scale measurements of δ13C-CH4 and δD-CH4 from the WAIS Divide and Talos Dome ice cores and identify abrupt 1‰ enrichments in δ13C-CH4 synchronous with HE CH4 pulses and 0.5‰ δ13C-CH4 enrichments synchronous with DO CH4 increases. δD-CH4 varied little across the abrupt CH4 changes. Using box models to interpret these isotopic shifts6 and assuming a constant δ13C-CH4 of microbial emissions, we propose that abrupt shifts in tropical rainfall associated with HEs and DO events enhanced 13C-enriched pyrogenic CH4 emissions, and by extension global wildfire extent, by 90-150%. Carbon cycle box modelling experiments7 suggest that the resulting released terrestrial carbon could have caused from one-third to all of the abrupt CO2 increases associated with HEs. These findings suggest that fire regimes and the terrestrial carbon cycle varied contemporaneously and substantially with past abrupt climate changes of the last glacial period.

Not only advances but also old addictions, setbacks, obstructions and delays are observed during COP16 (on biodiversity), COP29 (on climate change) and G20 in a year full of tragedies resulting from climate change; we need to look in the rearview mirror and plan new paths to be presented and discussed at COP30, in 2025, in the Brazilian Amazon. Worldwide temperature records show that 2023 and 2024 were the warmest in at least the last 2000 years (Esper, Torbenson, and Büntgen 2024). About 90% of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases and 30% of human emissions of carbon dioxide are stored in the ocean, shielding the planet from even more rapid changes in the biosphere. The recent acceleration in climate change is a threat not only to terrestrial systems but also to largely neglected marine ecosystems and their socio-biodiversity. Considering the relationship between global warming and biological extinctions (Malanoski et al. 2024), as well as the high vulnerability of marine biodiversity to these global threats (Pinsky et al. 2019), we call for the urgent need to create global and multilateral policies that are based on climate-smart ocean planning and carbon neutrality, focused on climate adaptation and mitigation strategies to protect, restore and foster sustainable management of marine socio-ecological systems (Frazão Santos et al. 2024).

AbstractWe assessed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk associated with smoking and alcohol consumption and their interactions, using both questionnaire data and objective serum biomarkers. Information on smoking and alcohol consumption was collected at baseline from 450,112 participants of the EPIC cohort, among whom 255 developed HCC after a median follow‐up of 14 years. In a nested case–control subset of 108 HCC cases and 108 matched controls, known biomarkers of smoking (cotinine, nicotine) and habitual alcohol consumption (2‐hydroxy‐3‐methylbutyric acid) were annotated from untargeted metabolomics features. Multivariable‐adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) or odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed, and multiplicative and additive interaction parameters were calculated. Compared to never smokers, current smokers had a higher HCC risk (HR = 2.46, 95% CI = 1.77–3.43) dose‐dependently with the number of cigarettes smoked per day (Ptrend <.001). Compared to light drinkers, HCC risk was higher in former (HR = 3.20, 95% CI = 1.70–6.03), periodically heavy (HR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.11–3.54), and always heavy (HR = 5.51, 95% CI = 2.39–12.7) drinkers. Higher HCC risk was also observed in the highest versus the lowest tertiles of cotinine (OR = 4.88, 95% CI = 1.52–15.70), nicotine (OR = 5.80, 95% CI = 1.33–25.30) and 2‐hydroxy‐3‐methylbutyric acid (OR = 5.89, 95% CI = 1.33–26.12). Questionnaire‐assessed smoking and alcohol exposures did not demonstrate an HCC risk interaction at the multiplicative (MI = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.40–1.96) or additive (RERI = 0.71, 95% CI = −10.1 to 23.6; attributable proportion = 0.17, 95% CI = −0.52 to 1.16; synergy index = 1.27, 95% CI = 0.98–1.66) scales. Similar analyses with cotinine, nicotine, and 2‐hydroxy‐3‐methylbutyric acid also did not show interactions between smoking and alcohol consumption on HCC risk. Smoking and alcohol consumption are strong independent risk factors for HCC and do not appear to synergistically impact its risk, but larger studies are needed.

This letter has developed an electrical circuit analogy-based maximum latency calculation (MLC) method of the internet data center (IDC) in power-communication network. Firstly, by analogy with the circuit model, the basic concepts to describe information flow are defined, including information current, information resistance, information conductivity, and information voltage. Based on these concepts, the information processing model considering both channel blocking and user priority is established. By analogy with the electrical circuit, the information flow calculation laws are introduced to calculate the maximum latency of IDCs. Verification results show that the maximum latency of IDCs in power-communication network can be accurately calculated by the proposed MLC method.

In the quest for effective solutions to address Environ. Pollut. and meet the escalating energy demands, heterojunction photocatalysts have emerged as a captivating and versatile technology. These photocatalysts have garnered significant interest due to their wide-ranging applications, including wastewater treatment, air purification, CO2 capture, and hydrogen generation via water splitting. This technique harnesses the power of semiconductors, which are activated under light illumination, providing the necessary energy for catalytic reactions. With visible light constituting a substantial portion (46%) of the solar spectrum, the development of visible-light-driven semiconductors has become imperative. Heterojunction photocatalysts offer a promising strategy to overcome the limitations associated with activating semiconductors under visible light. In this comprehensive review, we present the recent advancements in the field of photocatalytic degradation of contaminants across diverse media, as well as the remarkable progress made in renewable energy production. Moreover, we delve into the crucial role played by various operating parameters in influencing the photocatalytic performance of heterojunction systems. Finally, we address emerging challenges and propose novel perspectives to provide valuable insights for future advancements in this dynamic research domain. By unraveling the potential of heterojunction photocatalysts, this review contributes to the broader understanding of their applications and paves the way for exciting avenues of exploration and innovation.

Concentrating solar power (CSP) plants are seen as a key technology to achieve the needed energy transition since its use together with a thermal energy storage (TES) system ensures electricity dispatchability decreasing CSP plants environmental impact and life cycle costs. Latent TES using phase change materials (PCMs) has risen as a very interesting storage technology for such applications. Nevertheless, the selection of the adequate TES system and PCM, is one of the problems researchers and practitioners face to implement such technology. This paper presents a full characterization of fifteen PCMs suitable to work in the temperature range 400-600 ◦C. Melting temperature, melting enthalpy, degradation temperature, and solid-state thermal conductivity are presented, complemented with corrosion behaviour tests against stainless steel and Alloy 20. Moreover, the findings obtained in the characterization of the selected fifteen PCMs highlight the need of these analyses, as notable differences were observed compared to the available data, particularly in thermal stability and thermal conductivity. Furthermore, the compatibility test reveals that out of the fifteen selected PCMs, only two PCMs (binary mixtures of carbonates) are potentially compatible with stainless-steel 314 and Alloy 20 fibres under environmental conditions (air atmosphere). Finally, the results presented will allow researchers and practitioners to have very detailed data on the characterisation of those PCMs. This work was partially funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación - Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) (PID2021-123511OB-C31 - MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/FEDER, UE, and RED2022-134219-T). This work is partially supported by ICREA under the ICREA Academia programme. The authors would like to thank the Catalan Government for the quality accreditation given to their research group (2021 SGR 01615). GREiA is certified agent TECNIO in the category of technology developers from the Government of Catalonia. This paper is part of the RYC2023-044196-I, funded by MCIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and FSE+. Franklin R. Martinez Alcocer thanks the National Doctorate Scholarship for foreign students ANID 2021 Folio 21211932 for the financial support in the research. S. Ushak acknowledges to ANID/PUENTE N° 1523A0006 and ANID/FONDECYT REGULAR N° 1231721 projects.