Clean industry

Clean aluminum

A new green aluminum plant could bring jobs — and clean energy — to Kentucky

The coal-rich state wants to land the first new U.S. smelter in 45 years. But the deal won’t happen unless Kentucky can furnish lots of clean energy.

By Maria Gallucci . 10 September 2024

(Binh Nguyen/Canary Media/Luke Sharrett /For The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Clean industry

Advocates push back on DOE-funded plan to make steel with plastic-based fuel

After a Pennsylvania business scored $182.6 million in loan guarantees for the project, environmentalists called for the DOE to change course.

By James Bruggers . 5 September 2024
Clean industry

Fortera lands $85M to scale up low-carbon cement

Cement-making is responsible for a lot of CO₂ emissions. With the new funding, Fortera aims to expand use of its tech, which can clean up the process.

By Jeff St. John . 20 August 2024
Green steel

Cleaner steelmaking is actually starting to happen

A new report is “cautiously optimistic” about global efforts to decarbonize iron and steel production. But a rise in coal-based steelmaking threatens that progress.

By Maria Gallucci . 17 July 2024
Energy storage

Intersect Power to build $837M worth of grid batteries in Texas

The three Texas battery installations are expected to be up and running in 2024, helping provide more capacity to the state’s booming storage market.

By Jeff St. John . 17 July 2024
Clean industry

Rondo's heat batteries will soon be cleaning up factories in US, Europe

Storing clean electricity as heat could help decarbonize heavy industry and balance the grid — if the technology can prove itself in real-world conditions.

By Jeff St. John . 10 July 2024
Clean industry

In a first, a solar microgrid will directly power an industrial plant

Timet’s facility in West Virginia will use solar and batteries to make titanium products. The durable metal is used in everything from airplanes to pacemakers.

By Maria Gallucci . 9 July 2024
Clean industry

Chart: Aluminum has a big CO2 problem. Here’s how to clean it up

To hit global climate goals, carbon emissions from aluminum production have to drop 92 percent by 2050. Step one? Building a ton of clean energy.

By Carrie Klein . 28 June 2024
Climatetech finance

This MIT-backed fund wants to solve the toughest climate problems

The Engine Ventures just raised $400M to help fill the vast funding gap for “tough tech” companies, including firms working to decarbonize heavy industries.

By Maria Gallucci . 27 June 2024
Clean industry

How heat pumps can turn wasted energy into low-carbon whisky

A century-old Scottish distillery has halved its CO₂ emissions with waste-heat recovery tech. Others could follow suit — if regulations and economics align.

By Jeff St. John . 24 June 2024
Clean industry

Southern California adopts landmark rule to electrify industrial heat

The effort will slash emissions from more than 1 million boilers and water heaters over the next decade. Advocates hope other regions will follow suit.

By Maria Gallucci . 7 June 2024