Powering up for a pivotal moment

Energy experts gathered at MIT's annual research conference to discuss innovative solutions for the energy transition. Paula Hammond, Institute Professor and dean of the MIT School of Engineering, emphasized the need for an interdisciplinary and international approach to tackle the complexity of the energy transition. The conference featured over 200 attendees, including faculty, scientists, and researchers from various institutions and sectors.

Keynote speaker Eric Toone, chief technical officer and managing partner at Breakthrough Energy, highlighted the importance of developing new technologies that can deliver services with zero carbon emissions. He showcased examples of Breakthrough Energy-funded ventures, including iron-air batteries and vacuum-insulated glass windows.

The conference also explored the potential of nuclear fission power, with case studies from the restoration of the Three Mile Island Unit 1 nuclear plant and the modernization of France's 57-reactor nuclear fleet.

Another promising avenue for decarbonization is carbon utilization, as Carolyn Ruppel, MITEI's deputy director for science and technology, explained. Research is being conducted to find practical uses for captured CO2, such as creating structural carbon for vehicles and buildings, self-healing concrete panels, and technologies for emissions-plume capture at power plants.

In the realm of startups, MITEI connected researchers with entrepreneurs working on innovative energy solutions, such as AI tools for optimizing electrical grids, drones for inspecting solar farms, and robots for detecting issues in power lines.