Adapting to cleaner cooking fuels from more polluting options may be experienced differently by different groups across various stages of the energy transition. Kar et al. analyse survey data on household-level energy use in Ghana as the country shifts towards cleaner cooking fuels. Given wide heterogeneity, they propose a stage-based framework to support policy interventions.

See Kar et al.

Hydrogen could be introduced into subsurface environments for seasonal energy storage, but technical feasibility is unclear as large-scale demonstrations are scarce. Hellerschmied, Schritter et al. perform field tests in a depleted underground hydrocarbon reservoir in Austria (similar to that shown here), demonstrating that hydrogen can be stored and microbially converted to methane.

See Hellerschmied et al. and News and Views by Strous

The stability of perovskite solar cells under operating conditions remains a challenge. Suo et al. develop a sulfonium-based molecule that affords the perovskite material protection against environmental stress factors like moisture or light irradiation, showing solar cells with negligible efficiency loss after 4,500 hours of operation.

See Suo et al.

Those living further from urban areas are at higher risk for procedural neglect of energy needs. White et al. find that remote communities and those with a majority Indigenous population are more likely to be underserved by electricity retail legal protections in Australia.

See White et al.