Monday's energy & climate stories
New solar cell works for 10,000 hours
Researchers engineered a solar cell that worked for 10,000 hours without its performance being compromised, according to a new study.
Why it matters: The solar energy industry has been intensely focused on perovskite solar cells that cost less to produce compared to silicon-based ones. Perovskite cells could potentially disrupt the industry but have been hampered by the fact that they can rapidly degrade with wear and tear from water and UV light.
The next step: The efficiency of the new solar cell was low — only up to 12.7%. If the stability can be achieved with previously demonstrated efficiencies for perovskite cells (upwards of 22% and on par with silicon solar cells), the price of solar energy might even compete with fossil fuels.
Most Americans oppose Trump's Paris deal withdrawal
According to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, the majority of Americans oppose President Trump's decision to pull the U.S. from the Paris climate deal, are skeptical of the argument that the move will help the U.S. economy, and are concerned the country's global leadership role will be negatively impacted as a result. Per the Post:
- 59% of those surveyed oppose Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris accord, while 28% support it.
- 42% think the move will hurt the U.S. economy, 32% think it will help, and 20% say it will "make no difference."
- 55% said the president's decision will hurt U.S. global leadership, 23% expect no impact, and 18% said it will help.
Why it matters: Trump's move was a direct appeal to his core supporters, but outside the base it was a very unpopular decision. It remains to be seen whether climate change will be a mobilizing issue for voters, though.