New Power Generation

New figures on global electricity generation show coal remained the largest source in 2024, producing about 34% of the world's power, while wind and solar together reached 15%, up from just 4% a decade earlier. The data, presented as charts mapped onto the world map, are drawing attention to the slow pace of the energy transition despite rapid renewables growth.

Growth in solar and wind power is limiting the use of natural gas in the United States even as overall electricity demand increases. The finding suggests renewables are increasingly meeting new consumption needs that would previously have been covered by gas-fired generation, a notable shift in the US energy mix.

New AI chips are roughly ten times more energy-efficient than previous generations, yet overall electricity demand from data centers continues to rise sharply. The paradox is drawing attention across the tech and energy sectors: efficiency gains are being swamped by explosive growth in AI workloads, as more powerful models and wider adoption push operators to expand capacity faster than hardware improvements can offset consumption.

YouTube has announced an AI-powered editing assistant along with new insight tools aimed at helping creators produce and improve their content. The announcement, reported by Mashable, signals YouTube's continued push into artificial intelligence features for its creator community. The new tools are expected to streamline video editing and give creators deeper data about their audiences and performance.

Nissan has presented details of its third-generation e-POWER powertrain, the series-hybrid system in which a petrol generator drives electric motors rather than the wheels. The company's technology archive page describes efficiency and refinement improvements over earlier versions. Readers of technology forums are debating the system's merits, with e-POWER long dividing opinion because the engine only generates electricity.

Meta is preparing to launch three new devices: smart glasses without a built-in camera, an AI-powered keychain, and a new pair of VR glasses. The camera-free design is drawing particular attention as it addresses privacy concerns that have weighed on previous smart glasses. The AI keychain suggests the company is exploring smaller, wearable form factors for its assistant technology. Tech commentators are watching to see how the trio of products fits into Meta's broader push into artificial intelligence hardware.

New reporting from InsideEVs says extremely fast electric vehicle chargers are on their way to the United States, but most cars on the road cannot yet handle the power levels they deliver. The article highlights a growing gap between charging infrastructure and vehicle capability, raising questions about whether the rollout of next-generation chargers makes sense while current EVs remain limited in how quickly they can recharge.

Qualcomm has announced its next generation flagship mobile processors, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. The new chips are set to power upcoming premium smartphones, continuing Qualcomm's Elite line of top-tier mobile silicon. Details on performance gains and supported devices are expected as handset makers confirm adoption in the coming months.

Cybersecurity firm Group-IB has identified RemControl, a new Android banking trojan distributed through fake TVTap streaming apps. The malware uses AI-generated phishing overlays to trick users into entering banking PINs and credentials, which are then stolen. Security researchers are warning Android users to avoid unofficial app sources as the trojan spreads.

Dun & Bradstreet has announced the launch of new AI-powered capabilities, expanding its suite of business data and analytics tools. The announcement, reported by ABF Journal, signals the company's continued push to embed artificial intelligence into its commercial data services. Details on specific features and availability were not provided, but the move aligns with a broader industry trend of business information providers adding generative and predictive AI to their platforms.

Scientists are testing whether solar panels can generate electricity when submerged about 10 metres below the sea surface. The experiment explores whether sunlight penetrating water can be harvested in marine environments, potentially opening new sites for renewable energy where land and surface space are limited. Interest in the project reflects broader curiosity about unconventional ways to expand solar capacity worldwide.

Italy's Senate has given final approval to a law from Giorgia Meloni's government establishing a new framework for producing nuclear energy, nearly four decades after the country abandoned nuclear power following the 1987 referendum. The government plans to focus on new-generation nuclear technology. Supporters see it as a step toward energy security and lower emissions, while critics recall Italy's long-standing opposition to atomic power.

The New York Power Authority is set to become the majority owner of a new solar facility in Canton, New York. The project marks a further step in the state's push to expand renewable energy generation in the North Country region, though details on capacity, cost and timeline have not yet been released.

The Tennessee Valley Authority set new power demand records as a September heatwave pushed temperatures across the Tennessee Valley to extreme levels. With residents and businesses running air conditioning at full tilt, electricity use climbed past typical seasonal peaks, forcing the utility to draw on its full generating fleet. The records underline how late-season heat is straining the regional power grid.

BYD appears to be deploying a new generation of megawatt chargers with even higher power output than its existing units. The Chinese automaker already leads on ultra-fast charging with chargers capable of around 1 megawatt, and the rollout would extend that lead, enabling faster refueling for electric vehicles and its commercial truck fleet.

Apple is reportedly set to reveal its first smart home display on October 13, according to a new report. The company is also planning to launch updated versions of the HomePod Mini and Apple TV, both of which will support the new AI-powered Siri. The announcement would mark Apple's biggest push yet into dedicated smart home hardware as rivals expand their own product lines.

The Tennessee Valley Authority generated record amounts of electricity to keep homes powered during September's heatwave, local outlet WBIR reports. The utility met unprecedented demand for air conditioning across the Tennessee Valley as extreme heat pushed residents' energy use to new highs, testing the region's power grid.

Nissan is presenting the third generation of its e-POWER powertrain, its series-hybrid system in which a petrol engine acts solely as a generator for an electric drivetrain. The announcement, detailed on Nissan's global innovation page, is drawing attention among technology and automotive enthusiasts interested in whether the new version improves efficiency, refinement and the driving experience.

The New York Power Authority will take a 51% ownership stake in a 240-megawatt solar project developed with French utility EDF. The arrangement gives the state public power authority majority control of a large-scale renewable energy project, part of New York's push to expand clean energy generation. The move highlights growing public utility involvement in solar development.

The Department of Energy has cleared a floating-solar test project on a small reservoir in Colorado, according to Circle of Blue's Federal Water Tap briefing dated September 28, 2026. The project will test placing solar panels on water, an approach that saves land and can reduce evaporation while generating renewable power for nearby users.

M5Stack has introduced the PaperMono, a compact gadget that combines an e-paper display with an ESP32 microcontroller and LoRa wireless connectivity. The device is aimed at makers and developers building low-power projects such as remote sensors or displays. Details on pricing and availability remain limited, but the unusual combination of features is drawing attention from the hardware hobbyist community.

A new outlook examines how Europe's military air power is expected to evolve over the next three decades, covering the future composition of national air forces and the programs shaping next-generation combat aircraft, drones and support fleets. The analysis comes as European countries increase defense spending and pursue joint projects such as future combat air systems.