Energy Sources and Renewables
Transitioning to cleaner energy is essential for a sustainable future. The National Academies evaluate renewable energy technologies, biofuels, and energy systems that reduce emissions and support environmental and economic resilience.
What's happening
Helping the Grid Keep Pace with a Power-Hungry Economy
Feature Story
Demand for electricity in the U.S. is growing, which means that the nation’s grid will need to move more power. A recent public symposium during the NAS Annual Meeting explored this challenge and how new technologies can help.
Offshore Energy in the Gulf 15 Years after Deepwater Horizon
Program News
Much has changed in the Gulf Coast region in the years since the Deepwater Horizon blowout and oil spill. In this piece, Lauren Alexander Augustine, executive director of the Gulf Research Program, reflects on those changes, the safety of offshore operations, and GRP’s role over the coming years.
- Plugging America's Forgotten Wells: National Academies Study Addresses Decades Long Problem Jul 28, 2025 Program News
- New AI and Climate Change Roundtable Launched by National Academies — First Public Meeting in May Apr 9, 2025 Media Advisory
- Advancing the U.S. Electricity System: New Forum to Explore Challenges and Solutions Mar 25, 2025 Feature Story
- Exploring the New Nuclear Energy Landscape Feb 14, 2025 Feature Story
- Gulf Research Program Awards Over $3M for Workforce Development to Support the Energy Transition Jan 21, 2025 News Release
- New Report Lays Out Role for Carbon Dioxide Utilization in U.S. Economy, Identifies Research Gaps and Opportunities Aug 7, 2024 News Release
- What We’ve Learned from Survivors of the Atomic Bombs Jul 10, 2024 Program News
- GRP Awards Over $1 Million for Workforce Development to Support the Energy Transition Dec 11, 2023 News Release
- Fusion Energy: Seizing Our Opportunity for a Clean Energy Future Oct 31, 2023 Perspectives
- New Report Provides Comprehensive Plan to Meet U.S. Net-Zero Goals and Ensure Fair and Equitable Energy Transition Oct 17, 2023 News Release
- Un nuevo informe presenta un plan integral para alcanzar los objetivos de cero carbono neto en Estados Unidos y garantizar una transición energética justa y equitativa Oct 17, 2023 News Release
- Impact of Nantucket Wind Projects on Right Whale Ecosystems Difficult to Distinguish from Effects of Climate Change and Other Influences, Says New Report Oct 13, 2023 News Release
- The Future of Nuclear Power in a Low-Carbon World Jun 20, 2023 Feature Story
- Net Metering Practices Should Be Revised to Better Reflect the Value of Integrating Distributed Electricity Generation Into the Nation's Power Grid May 11, 2023 News Release
- U.S. Should Begin Laying the Foundation for New and Advanced Nuclear Reactors, Says New Report Apr 27, 2023 News Release
- National Nuclear Security Administration Cannot Continue With ‘Business as Usual' in the Shifting Supercomputing Landscape, Says New Report Apr 13, 2023 News Release
- Measurement and Management of Systemic Risk in Gulf of Mexico Offshore Oil and Gas Operations Have Improved Since Deepwater Horizon Disaster, But Progress Lags in Some Areas Apr 4, 2023 News Release
- Investments in High Energy Density Science Could Help Address Significant National Needs, Says New Report Feb 23, 2023 News Release
- Toward a More Just U.S. Energy System Jan 17, 2023 Feature Story
- Secretaries of Energy and Transportation Discuss Getting to ‘Net-Zero’ in U.S. Transportation During TRB’s 2023 Annual Meeting Jan 12, 2023 Feature Story
- A Message from the Presidents of the U.S. National Academies as COP27 Begins in Egypt Nov 4, 2022 Statement
- To Improve Methods for Estimating the Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Low-Carbon Transportation Fuels, More Research and Focused Verification of Emissions Needed Oct 19, 2022 News Release
- Engineering the Transition to Net-Zero Carbon Emissions Sep 27, 2022 Feature Story
- U.S. Needs New $100 Million Research Program to Study Health Effects of Exposure to Low Doses of Radiation, Says New Report Jun 2, 2022 News Release
- Offshore Wind Farms Can Interfere with Ship Radar and Navigation, Says New Report Feb 22, 2022 Media Advisory
- Is it possible to achieve net-zero emissions? Oct 27, 2021 Based on Science
- ¿Es posible lograr cero emisiones netas? Oct 27, 2021 Based on Science
- U.S. Army Should Continue to Use Hydrocarbon Fuel as Primary Source of Energy on the Battlefield, Says New Report Jun 9, 2021 News Release
- On the Ground in Corpus Christi – What’s Next for Offshore Energy Safety May 21, 2021 Program News
- Zero Emission Vehicles Represent the Future of Energy Efficiency, Petroleum and Emissions Reductions in 2025-2035, New Report Says Mar 31, 2021 News Release
- Decarbonizing the U.S. Economy in a Way That’s Fast and Fair Mar 16, 2021 Feature Story
- Electric Grid of the Future Should Prioritize Sustainability, Resiliency, Equity, Reliability, and Security, Says New Report Feb 25, 2021 News Release
- Government and Private Sector Should Produce Net Electricity in Fusion Pilot Plant by 2035-2040 to Impact the Transition to a Low-Carbon Emission Electrical System, New Report Says Feb 17, 2021 News Release
- For Humans to Reach Mars, Advances Are Needed in Space Nuclear Propulsion Technologies Feb 12, 2021 News Release
- New Report Charts Path to Net-Zero Carbon Emissions by 2050, Recommends Near-Term Policies to Ensure Fair and Equitable Economic Transition and Revitalization of Manufacturing Industry Feb 2, 2021 News Release
- To Maintain Leadership in Plasma Science, U.S. Should Increase Interagency Coordination and Collaboration May 28, 2020 News Release
- DOE Plan to Dilute and Dispose of Surplus Plutonium at New Mexico Site Technically Viable if Security, Execution, Other Challenges Are Addressed, Says New Report Apr 30, 2020 News Release
- Events Preceding Deepwater Horizon Explosion and Oil Spill Point to Failure to Account for Safety Risks and Potential Dangers Nov 17, 2010 News Release
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Participate in a one-hour guided tour of the historic National Academy of Sciences building, highlighting its distinctive architecture, renowned artwork, and the intersection of art, science, and culture.