greenhumans

In Finland, a simple material—sand—is being used to tackle one of renewable energy’s toughest problems: long-term storage. The so-called “sand battery,” developed by Polar Night Energy, stores excess wind and solar power by converting it into heat and packing it into large insulated silos filled with sand, where temperatures can climb above 400°C. Until now, […]

In some of the driest parts of the world, solar farms may soon do more than generate electricity—they could become decentralized water producers. Researchers are developing integrated systems where photovoltaic panels power atmospheric water harvesting units that extract moisture directly from air, even at low humidity levels (as low as 10–20%). These systems use advanced

Australia is often called the sunniest continent on Earth, yet a large share of its solar potential remains underused—like a crop left unharvested. The country leads the world in rooftop solar adoption, with more than 3.5 million homes generating power, but much of this energy never reaches its full value. At times of peak sunshine,

A key financial backer of Australia’s large-scale green hydrogen projects has raised new capital to develop a “digital twin” system—a detailed virtual model that mirrors how this massive energy hubs will operate in the real world. Designed for projects spanning vast regions and billions in investment, the technology allows developers to test everything from renewable

After a punishing summer of unprecedented heat, Japan has introduced a new word—“kokushobi”—to describe days when temperatures hit 40°C or higher. The term, which conveys a sense of “severe” or “cruel” heat, was chosen through a public vote, reflecting how ordinary language is evolving to keep pace with extraordinary weather. What was once rare is

In the misty slopes of the Himalayan foothills in Darjeeling, one of the world’s most prized teas is undergoing subtle but significant changes as the climate shifts. Growers report that rising temperatures, irregular rainfall, and more frequent dry spells are altering the delicate balance of conditions needed for high-quality tea leaves. Darjeeling tea—famous for its

As global investment in renewable energy accelerates, criminal and corrupt networks are increasingly finding new opportunities inside the sector, according to law enforcement and financial crime analysts. Large-scale projects in wind, solar, hydrogen, and battery infrastructure—often backed by public subsidies and rapid permitting—are becoming attractive targets for fraud, procurement manipulation, and illicit financing. Because clean

The European Union’s oil security is built on a strict “buffer system” rather than a continuous domestic supply. Under international energy obligations, countries across the bloc collectively maintain emergency petroleum stocks equal to about 90 days of net imports or consumption. This means the EU is effectively sitting on roughly three months of fuel—diesel, gasoline,

Reducing deaths linked to air pollution is not simply a matter of lowering emissions—it also depends on how vulnerable populations are protected and how health systems respond. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide, and ozone are responsible for millions of premature deaths globally each year, according to major global health assessments. But the same level

In a major step toward building a domestic clean energy supply chain, Agratas—the battery manufacturing arm of the Tata Group—is fast-tracking its 20 GWh lithium-ion battery plant in Sanand, western India. The facility is part of India’s broader strategy to reduce dependence on imported battery cells and strengthen its electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem. Recent construction