Tiny living corals occupy vast extensions, forming a reef able to absorb much of the energy of waves in an efficient manner. This led to the idea of creating direct action turbines placed in series, composed of many blades simulating a coral reef.

Drones and crawling robots outfitted with special scanning technology could help wind blades stay in service longer, which may help lower the cost of wind energy at a time when blades are getting bigger, pricier and harder to transport, researchers say.

Physicists discovered a novel kind of nanotube that generates current in the presence of light. Devices such as optical sensors and infrared imaging chips are likely applications, which could be useful in fields such as automated transport and astronomy. In future, if the effect can be magnified and the technology scaled up, it could lead to high-efficiency solar power devices.

Nissan partnered with Mackie's of Scotland, an ice cream producer powering its family-owned dairy farm by renewable wind and solar energy. The project demonstrates how a 'Sky to Scoop' approach can remove carbon dependence at every stage of the ice cream journey.

Africa is still facing a serious problem of energy access. On this immense continent, many cities remain off-grid. With a population of more than 200 million, Nigeria is a country comprising 36 states, only one of which has an electricity network.

Brazilian start-up Flying to the Sun, which specializes in the development of projects using photovoltaic energy, has created a solar bag made from Amazonian fish skin.

In an ongoing effort to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings, an interdisciplinary team of scientists and students is working to design and build more-sustainable building façade systems - so-called smart façades.

Azelio has invited UNHCR to explore the company's unique energy storage technology as a complement to the existing solar photovoltaic power installations in refugee camps in Jordan.

Wärtsilä has commissioned its 6 MW / 6 MWh energy management and storage system project for its customer ContourGlobal Bonaire on the Caribbean island of Bonaire.

The United Nations Development Programme and the International Renewable Energy Agency ( announced a global partnership to accelerate low-carbon energy transition and offer concrete steps to achieve sustainable development. Under the cooperation, the organizations will explore joint initiatives aimed at accelerating the implementation of the Agenda 2030, and stimulating renewable energy investments in developing countries.

A protective layer of epoxy resin helps prevent the leakage of pollutants from perovskite solar cells, report scientists, adding a "self-healing" polymer to the top of a perovskite solar cell can radically reduce how much lead it discharges into the environment. This gives a strong boost to prospects for commercializing the technology.

Researchers showed they could boost the efficiency of their solar-powered desalination system by more than 50% simply by adding inexpensive plastic lenses to concentrate sunlight into "hot spots."

Wärtsilä has signed two major Maintenance management and operational advisory agreements with Summit Group, the largest independent power producer in Bangladesh and longstanding partner. The seven-year agreements represent the biggest ever signed service deals, in terms of MW generation, in the Bangladesh energy sector.

The aim of the project, worth €1.5 million, is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by the year 2020 and, at the same time, decrease by 70% the use of power generation from conventional sources (diesel) for the production of the energy necessary for the island's consumption.

In a world first, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy has begun operation of its electric thermal energy storage system.

Homes and green businesses in the UK generating renewable and low-carbon electricity to be guaranteed money for power supplied to the grid.

The use of kites to capture wind energy and turn it into cost-effective 'green' electricity could be coming within reach.

Greek power utility Public Power Corporation has launched Europe's second hybrid renewable energy park, combining wind and hydraulic energy with energy storage on the island of Ikaria.

UK Power Networks has received major international recognition for its innovative work including the development of a smart grid.