research topics in energy technology

• Future Energy Systems Center
• Studies and reports
• Funding opportunities
• Basic energy science
• Built environment and infrastructure
• Climate and environment
• Conventional energy
• Developing world
• Energy efficiency
• Nuclear energy
• Policy and economics
• Power distribution and energy storage
• Renewable energy
• Transportation
• Undergraduate education
• Graduate & postdoctoral
• Online education
• Education research
• Current members
• Energy Futures
• In the media
• Affiliations

Five Energy Topics That Will Be Key To The World’s Future

Mit energy conference 2015 brings together key energy innovators.

Leading CEOs, academics and entrepreneurs in global energy converged on MIT this past weekend for the tenth annual MIT Energy Conference, which explored “Global Energy Shifts.” Panels delved into four key areas: power and renewables, fossil fuels, global collaboration, and sustainable development.

Key speakers over the two day gathering included Thomas Siebel, Founder and CEO of C3 Energy, Bill Colton, Vice President of Corporate Strategic Planning at ExxonMobil Corporation, Ahmad Chatila, President and CEO of SunEdison, Dirk Smit, Chief Scientist at Shell Global, David Danielson, Assistant Secretary of Energy at the DOE, and William A. Von Hoene, Jr., Chief Strategic Officer at Exelon Group, among others.

MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI) director Robert Armstrong delivered opening remarks to a packed auditorium. Armstrong lauded the conference’s ability to consistently touch upon the most pressing energy issues of our time, and to foster an atmosphere conducive to solving challenges in a creative and efficient way.

“There are five topics in particular that are going to be of importance in the energy world in the near future,” said Armstrong. “Solar is the first.”

“Though solar is admittedly difficult, because it’s a resource that’s not concentrated in one place, it also is an easily and cheaply manufactured technology, which will help widen its reach.”

Armstrong next pointed to both energy storage and then the grid. “Energy storage is essential for large scale incorporation of renewables on the grid. The grid’s size, resiliency, reliability, security and adaptability need to be taken into account if the full potential of emerging energy technologies is going to be achieved.”

MITEI’s director also urged his audience to pay attention to emerging technologies in two areas: nuclear energy and carbon capture and sequestration, or CCS.

“In a truly balanced energy ecosystem, nuclear needs to be part of the solution.  Leaps forward in affordable and predictable nuclear will change our energy landscape for the better.”

Armstrong has similarly high hopes for carbon capture and sequestration. Citing the projection that global energy demand will double by midcentury, he observed that fossil fuels will have to be a part of that equation.

“The need to remove carbon from the atmosphere is very real, and CCS technology will play a critical role in solving this problem.”

Armstrong’s vision for the MIT Energy Initiative within the energy landscape is clear –  “The MIT Energy Initiative has at its heart – just as the MIT Energy Club does – a goal of bringing all the talents of MIT together to bear on these very real challenges.”

The rest of the conference’s panels kept this solution-oriented spirit alive.

At an afternoon panel on fossil fuels called “Unconventional Resources: Present to Future, U.S. to Global,” Christopher Knittel , the William Barton Rogers Professor of Energy Economics at MIT Sloan and a MITEI-affiliated researcher, led a group of experts in a discussion of the future of shale gas drilling.

Another panel approached the issue of how to promote a different kind of unconventional resource: renewable energy. In the session “Securing the Future of Clean Energy Through a Stronger Transmission Backbone,” panelists from across the clean energy sector approached the issue of how to better integrate renewables into the grid.

In all, the sold-out conference featured over fifty speakers participating in over fifteen panels and keynotes tackling key global energy issues.

For more information about the day, visit the MIT Energy Conference’s website .

Press inquiries: [email protected]

Create an account

Create a free IEA account to download our reports or subcribe to a paid service.

Energy Technology Perspectives 2023

About this report

The Covid-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have led to major disruptions to global energy and technology supply chains. Soaring prices for energy and materials, and shortages of critical minerals, semiconductors and other components are posing potential roadblocks for the energy transition. Against this backdrop, Energy Technology Perspectives 2023 ( ETP-2023 ) provides analysis on the risks and opportunities surrounding the development and scaling up of clean energy and technology supply chains in the years ahead, viewed through the lenses of energy security, resilience and sustainability.

Building on the latest energy, commodity and technology data – as well as recent energy, climate and industrial policy announcements – ETP-2023 explores critical questions around clean energy and technology supply chains. What are the main bottlenecks for efforts to scale up those supply chains sustainably and at the pace needed? How might governments shape their industrial policy in response to new energy security concerns for clean energy transitions? Which clean technology areas are at greatest risk of failing to develop secure and resilient supply chains? And what can governments do to mitigate such risks while meeting broader development goals?

The Energy Technology Perspectives series is the IEA’s flagship technology publication, which has been key source of insights on all matters relating to energy technology since 2006. ETP-2023 will be an indispensable guidebook for decision-makers in governments and industry seeking to tap into the opportunities offered by the emerging new energy economy, while navigating uncertainties and safeguarding energy security. 

Online table of contents

1.0 executive summary.

Read online

2.0 Energy supply chains between transition and disruption

3.0 clean energy supply chains vulnerabilities, 4.0 mining and materials production, 5.0 technology manufacturing and installation, 6.0 enabling infrastructure, 7.0 policy priorities to address supply chain risks, the energy world's new industrial dawn.

ETP Clean Energy Technology Guide

The ETP Clean Energy Technology Guide is an interactive framework that contains information for over 650 individual technology designs and components across the whole energy system that contribute to achieving the goal of net-zero emissions.

Previous editions

Cite report.

IEA (2023), Energy Technology Perspectives 2023 , IEA, Paris https://www.iea.org/reports/energy-technology-perspectives-2023, Licence: CC BY 4.0

Share this report

• Share on Twitter Twitter
• Share on Facebook Facebook
• Share on LinkedIn LinkedIn
• Share on Email Email
• Share on Print Print

Subscription successful

Thank you for subscribing. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link at the bottom of any IEA newsletter.

RESEARCH @ MIT MECHE

Energy science and engineering.

The Energy Science and Engineering research area focuses on technologies for efficient and clean energy conversion and utilization.

Scroll to Explore

Explore energy Research

• News + Media
• Featured Labs

The Energy area focuses on technologies for efficient and clean energy conversion and utilization, aiming to meet the challenge of rising energy demands and prices, while simultaneously addressing the concomitant environmental impact.

Research Includes: Engines, transportation, combustion, and control; solar energy and photovoltaics; transport phenomena and water desalination; carbon dioxide capture and hydrogen research; electrochemical energy storage and conversion; and energy conservation.

Energy Science And Engineering News + Media

Harnessing the Full Potential of the Sun

MechE researchers, led by Associate Professor Evelyn Wang, have developed a solar thermophotovoltaic device that experimentally demonstrates a three-fold increase in energy conversion efficiency.

Designing cleaner vehicles

Fueled by curiosity, second-year graduate student Adi Mehrotra ’22 is working on sustainable solutions in vehicle design.

Addressing food insecurity in arid regions with an open-source evaporative cooling chamber design

A team from MIT D-Lab, including contributions from Prof. Dan Frey, and Kenyan community partner Solar Freeze celebrate the completion of the first solar-powered iteration of the forced-air evaporative cooling chamber.

Energy Science And Engineering Lab Spotlight

Visit our Energy Science And Engineering lab sites to learn more about our faculty’s research projects.

• Atomistic Simulation & Energy Research Group
• Center for 21-st Century Energy
• Electrochemical Energy Lab
• Nanoelectronics Laboratory
• Reacting Gas Dynamics Lab
• Rohsenow Kendall Heat Transfer Laboratory
• Sloan Automotive Laboratory
• Varanasi Lab

Meet Some of Our Faculty Working On Energy Science And Engineering Challenges

MechE faculty are passionate, out-of-the-box thinkers who love to get their hands dirty.

• bioengineering

Selected Course Offerings in Energy Science And Engineering

Learn about the impact of our energy research.

Research areas in MechE are guidelines, not boundaries. Our faculty partner across disciplines to address the grand challenges of today and tomorrow, collaborating with researchers in MechE, MIT, industry, and beyond.

• Impact Health
• Impact Environment
• Impact Innovation
• Impact Security
• Impact Energy

Suggestions or feedback?

MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• Machine learning
• Social justice
• Black holes
• Classes and programs

Departments

• Aeronautics and Astronautics
• Brain and Cognitive Sciences
• Architecture
• Political Science
• Mechanical Engineering

Centers, Labs, & Programs

• Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL)
• Picower Institute for Learning and Memory
• Lincoln Laboratory
• School of Architecture + Planning
• School of Engineering
• School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences
• Sloan School of Management
• School of Science
• MIT Schwarzman College of Computing

Download RSS feed: News Articles / In the Media / Audio

William Green named director of MIT Energy Initiative

In his new role, the professor of chemical engineering plans to speed up the consensus process among academics, business leaders, and policymakers for a successful energy transition.

May 6, 2024

Read full story →

Seizing solar’s bright future

With laser-based precision tools for measuring and tuning materials, MIT spinout Optigon aims to rev up the energy transition.

Nuno Loureiro named director of MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center

A lauded professor, theoretical physicist, and fusion scientist, Loureiro is keenly positioned to advance the center’s research and education goals.

May 1, 2024

Offering clean energy around the clock

MIT spinout 247Solar is building high-temperature concentrated solar power systems that use overnight thermal energy storage to provide power and heat.

April 30, 2024

Q&A: Claire Walsh on how J-PAL’s King Climate Action Initiative tackles the twin climate and poverty crises

Since 2020, K-CAI has innovated and tested climate policies in more than 35 countries and supported scale-ups that have reached over 15 million people.

April 17, 2024

Extracting hydrogen from rocks

Iwnetim Abate aims to stimulate natural hydrogen production underground, potentially unearthing a new path to a cheap, carbon-free energy source.

April 8, 2024

Propelling atomically layered magnets toward green computers

MIT scientists have tackled key obstacles to bringing 2D magnetic materials into practical use, setting the stage for the next generation of energy-efficient computers.

April 4, 2024

Shining a light on oil fields to make them more sustainable

Amplified Industries, founded by Sebastien Mannai SM ’14, PhD ’18, helps oil field operators eliminate spills and stop methane leaks.

March 29, 2024

A delicate dance

Professor of applied economics Catherine Wolfram balances global energy demands and the pressing need for decarbonization.

March 27, 2024

Engineers find a new way to convert carbon dioxide into useful products

A catalyst tethered by DNA boosts the efficiency of the electrochemical conversion of CO2 to CO, a building block for many chemical compounds.

Lessons from Fukushima: Prepare for the unlikely

An analysis of the 2011 nuclear accident reveals a need for more preparation, training, and protocols for responding to low-probability accidents.

March 21, 2024

Future nuclear power reactors could rely on molten salts — but what about corrosion?

MIT researchers show that using the right metals could alleviate the corrosion problem in these promising new reactor designs.

Optimizing nuclear fuels for next-generation reactors

While working to nurture scientific talent in his native Nigeria, Assistant Professor Ericmoore Jossou is setting his sights on using materials science and computation to design robust nuclear components.

March 20, 2024

Making the clean energy transition work for everyone

At the 2024 MIT Energy Conference, participants grappled with the key challenges and trends shaping our fight to prevent the worst effects of climate change.

March 15, 2024

Cutting carbon emissions on the US power grid

An online model enables users to calculate the least-cost strategy for a specific regional grid under various assumptions; outcomes vary widely from region to region.

March 11, 2024

Massachusetts Institute of Technology 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, USA

• Map (opens in new window)
• Events (opens in new window)
• People (opens in new window)
• Careers (opens in new window)
• Accessibility
• Social Media Hub
• MIT on Facebook
• MIT on YouTube
• MIT on Instagram

• Frontiers in Environmental Science
• Environmental Economics and Management
• Research Topics

Technology and Energy: Policy and Business Paths towards Net-Zero Emissions

Total Downloads

Total Views and Downloads

About this Research Topic

Nowadays, with the increasing intensity of global environmental threats and mounting economic losses associated with natural disasters, few people and national governments deny the urgent need to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Proper environmental management at national, local, and individual levels is ...

Keywords : renewable energy, innovation, policy, technological transition, low-carbon economy, business models

Important Note : All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

Topic Editors

Topic coordinators, recent articles, submission deadlines, participating journals.

Manuscripts can be submitted to this Research Topic via the following journals:

total views

• Demographics

No records found

total views article views downloads topic views

Top countries

Top referring sites, about frontiers research topics.

With their unique mixes of varied contributions from Original Research to Review Articles, Research Topics unify the most influential researchers, the latest key findings and historical advances in a hot research area! Find out more on how to host your own Frontiers Research Topic or contribute to one as an author.

• skip navigation
• Plain Language
• Privacy Policy
• Accessibility
• search search

• Information
• Climate and Environment
• Humans and Technology
• Elementary and Astroparticle Physics
• Mathematics in Application

About 1500 researchers of KIT are working on a reliable, secure, and sustainable energy system for future climate-neutral society. At one of the biggest energy research centers in Europe, they tackle a project that is of fundamental importance to the existence and further development of our society: The transformation of our energy system.

Interdisciplinary work within research and engineering projects is dedicated to physical and virtual infrastructures, new technologies, and to extending basic knowledge on all energy sources needed by our industry, households, services, and mobility.

Research topics, of course, cover renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, and energy storage systems as well as the setup and operation of the corresponding grids and energy-related aspects of electric mobility. Moreover, KIT is a leading actor in energy systems analysis, simulation, and technology assessment

Post Lithium Storage

One of the clusters funded under the current excellence strategy is post lithium storage . Successful implementation of the energy transition requires new materials and technologies for the storage of electric energy. The “Energy Storage beyond Lithium” initiative of KIT and Ulm University pursues a multidisciplinary approach with electrochemists, material scientists, theoretical modelists, and engineers being involved.

The central objective of the planned research cluster is to develop fundamental understanding of electrochemical energy storage in novel systems, to combine fundamental material properties with critical performance parameters, and to establish the basis for practical application of post-lithium technologies.

Testing the Future Energy System

To establish an energy system free from fossil energy sources, power grids have to be adapted to new types of decentralized and fluctuating energy production from renewable energy sources and to new requirements associated with fluctuating energy consumption by electric mobility or air-conditioning technology. At KIT, the different components, technologies, and concepts for the future energy system are tested. Energy Lab studies smart interconnection of power producers, storage systems, and consumers and various methods of power generation and develops secure information and data grids or methods for grid stabilization. Energy Lab also conducts fundamental research into experimental future technologies, such as power transport by superconductors. Energy Lab additionally integrates a bioeconomy unit of the future smart energy system, the bioliq pilot plant that converts residual biomass into synthesis gas and fuels.

Green Light for Hydrogen Economy

Technologies based on hydrogen production with regenerative power are deemed a potential solution of many challenges associated with the transformation to a climate-neutral society. Further synthesis steps of this process chain known as Power-to-X are used to convert hydrogen into synthetic methane that is then applied to store large amounts of renewable energy and distribute them via the natural gas grid. Moreover, hydrogen can be applied to produce fuels enabling mobility without additional greenhouse gas emissions based on conventional drive technologies.

KIT’s energy research activities at Energy Lab 2.0 cover practical tests of such approaches. In integrated process chains, different power-to-gas or power-to-liquid approaches are tested, including a power-to-fuel system for the production of kerosene from ambient air and regenerative power.

CELEST Research Platform

New Benchmarks in Energy Storage Research

To replace fossil fuels, technologies for the storage of regeneratively produced energy are required. KIT, Ulm University, and the Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) jointly operate the Center for Electrochemical Energy Storage Ulm-Karlsruhe (CELEST), one of the biggest research platforms worldwide with 45 working groups from 29 institutes. CELEST pursues three research lines: Lithium-ion technology, energy storage beyond lithium, and alternative technologies for electrochemical energy storage and conversion. The POLiS (Post Lithium Storage) Cluster of Excellence acquired in the excellence strategy competition launched by the federation and the states also is part of CELEST. It develops new promising storage systems, such as the sodium battery and magnesium battery. Research into charge carriers also covers calcium, aluminum, and chloride.

Producing Tomorrow’s Solar Cell

Future energy supply is to be flexible, decentralized, and inexpensive. Non-toxic solar cells that are produced easily, inexpensively, and with a low consumption of energy and that are highly efficient in operation would be ideal. In this way, nearly any surface, from the house wall to the car chassis, could be used for energy production.

Within the KeraSolar research project, scientists of KIT and Carl Zeiss Foundation develop a new material concept for solar cells that is to turn this vision of omnipresent photovoltaics into reality. For this purpose, advantages of different solar cell technologies, such as printability of organic solar cells and long-term stability of crystalline solar cells are combined. Chemists, physicists, materials researchers, electrical engineers, and process engineers of the Material Research Center for Energy Systems (MZE) study robust materials, from the molecule to the component, for these cells.

KIT Energy Center

Transdisciplinary collaboration across all disciplines makes the KIT one of the most important locations of research relating to global energy transformation. Energy researchers and technical support staff are organized in the KIT Energy Center. Apart from thematic collaboration across all relevant areas, activities of the KIT Energy Center include events, the awarding of the Heinrich Hertz Prize, and academic education at the KIT School of Energy.

Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

Read our research on:

Full Topic List

Regions & Countries

Publications

• Our Methods
• Short Reads
• Tools & Resources

Read Our Research On:

How Republicans view climate change and energy issues

Just 12% of Republicans and Republican leaners say dealing with climate change should be a top priority for the president and Congress.

Growing share of Americans favor more nuclear power

A majority of Americans (57%) say they favor more nuclear power plants to generate electricity in the country, up from 43% who said this in 2020.

Why Some Americans Do Not See Urgency on Climate Change

As the Earth’s temperature continues to rise, climate change remains a lower priority for some Americans, and a subset of the public rejects that it’s happening at all. To better understand the perspectives of those who see less urgency to address climate change, the Center conducted a series of in-depth interviews designed to provide deeper insight into the motivations and views of those most skeptical about climate change.

What the data says about Americans’ views of climate change

Two-thirds of Americans say the United States should prioritize developing renewable energy sources over expanding the production of fossil fuels.

How Americans view electric vehicles

About four-in-ten Americans (38%) say they’re very or somewhat likely to seriously consider an electric vehicle (EV) for their next vehicle purchase.

Majorities of Americans Prioritize Renewable Energy, Back Steps to Address Climate Change

Large shares of Americans support the U.S. taking steps to address global climate change and prioritize renewable energy development in the country. Still, fewer than half are ready to phase out fossil fuels completely and 59% oppose ending the production of gas-powered cars.

Home solar panel adoption continues to rise in the U.S.

While residential solar power generates just a fraction of the country’s overall electricity, it has continued to grow rapidly.

Americans support incentives for electric vehicles but are divided over buying one themselves

Overall, two-thirds of Americans support providing incentives to increase the use of electric and hybrid vehicles.

A Majority of Americans Favor Expanding Natural Gas Production To Export to Europe

Yet renewable sources, like wind and solar, remain Americans’ overall priority for domestic production.

Americans Largely Favor U.S. Taking Steps To Become Carbon Neutral by 2050

Majorities of Americans say the United States should prioritize the development of renewable energy sources and take steps toward the country becoming carbon neutral by the year 2050. But just 31% want to phase out fossil fuels completely, and many foresee unexpected problems in a major transition to renewable energy.

REFINE YOUR SELECTION

Research teams.

1615 L St. NW, Suite 800 Washington, DC 20036 USA (+1) 202-419-4300 | Main (+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax (+1) 202-419-4372 |  Media Inquiries

Research Topics

• Age & Generations
• Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• Economy & Work
• Family & Relationships
• Gender & LGBTQ
• Immigration & Migration
• International Affairs
• Internet & Technology
• Methodological Research
• News Habits & Media
• Non-U.S. Governments
• Other Topics
• Politics & Policy
• Race & Ethnicity
• Email Newsletters

ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER  Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of  The Pew Charitable Trusts .

Copyright 2024 Pew Research Center

Energy and Power Technology Research Paper Topics

This list of energy and power technology research paper topics provides the list of 19 potential topics for research papers and an overview article on the history of energy and power technologies.

1. Biomass Power Generation

Biomass, or biofuels, are essentially clean fuels in that they contain no sulfur and the burning of them does not increase the long-term carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere, since they are the product of recent photosynthesis (note that peat is not a biofuel in this sense). This is by no means an unimportant attribute when seen in the context of the growing awareness across the globe of the pollution and environmental problems caused by current energy production methods, and the demand for renewable energy technologies.

Academic Writing, Editing, Proofreading, And Problem Solving Services

Get 10% off with 24start discount code.

Biomass can be used to provide heat, make fuels, and generate electricity. The major sources of biomass include:

• Standing forests
• Wood-bark and logging residues
• Crop residues
• Short rotation coppice timber or plants
• Wood-bark mill residues
• Manures from confined livestock
• Agricultural process residues
• Freshwater weed

A few facts and figures might help to put the land-based biomass sources in perspective. The first three of the above list produce in the U.S. approximately the equivalent of 4 million barrels of oil per day in usable form. If all crop residues were collected and utilized to the full, almost 10 percent of the total U.S. energy consumption could be provided for. Although the other land-based sources of biomass are perhaps not on the same scale as this, the combined resource represents a huge untapped reservoir of potential energy. An interesting point to note is that current practices in forestry and food crop farming are aimed directly at optimizing the production of specific parts of a plant. Since biomass used for energy would make use of the whole plant, some significant advantage might be gained by growing specifically adapted crops designed to maximize the energy yield rate. It is from this origin that the energy farm concept is born.

2. Early Fusion Nuclear Reactors

The production of nuclear energy through the fusion of two light chemical elements is better known as a controlled thermonuclear reaction (CTR). In the 1950s, explosive or uncontrolled thermonuclear reaction was achieved with the manufacture of hydrogen bombs, but CTR was never successfully accomplished.

In order to reach the fusion point, a gaseous mixture containing deuterium and tritium should be heated to 100,000,000C and hold that temperature for enough time to activate a self-sustaining reaction. At elevated temperatures, a gaseous mixture becomes plasma, a state in which electrons and ions are no longer physically bonded. (The term plasma was first used in 1922 by the American physical chemist Irving Langmuir because the properties of a super-heated gas reminded him of blood plasma.)

Heating and confinement of plasma are the two main features of any fusion reactor. Plasma must avoid any contact with the walls of the vessel containing it in order to avoid the loss of temperature and subsequent instability that makes a controlled thermonuclear reaction impossible to achieve. Early designs of fusion reactors focused on confinement of plasma using magnetic fields.

3. Electrical Power Distribution

While the first commercial power station in San Francisco in 1879 was used for arc lighting (using a spark jumping a gap as the source of light) for street lamps, these had limited application. Edison’s carbon filament lamp was the stimulus for the spread of electric lighting. A few of Edison’s buildings and some private residences had their own generators, but Edison also recognized there was a need for a generating and distribution system. Edison’s distribution system was first demonstrated in London, with a temporary installation running cables under the Holburn Viaduct in early 1882 that provided power for the surrounding district. The first permanent central electric generating station was Edison’s Pearl Street Station in New York that went into operation in September 1882 and provided electricity (with a meter) to 85 customers in a 1 square mile (2.6 square kilometers) area. The Pearl Street Station used direct current (DC). In DC systems, the current flows in one direction, with a constant voltage. The dissipation of energy limits the size of DC systems and requires the source of electric generation to be close to the customer. Alternating current (AC) systems, in which the current changes direction (in today’s public electricity supply, 50 or 60 times per second), overcame this limitation.

4. Electricity Generation and the Environment

Fossil fuel thermal generating technologies were a mainstay of both twentieth century electricity generation and environmental attention. While concern with declining urban air quality, initially at the center of this attention, dated back to the nineteenth century, it was the substantial post- World War II rise in electricity consumption that resulted in the later prominence of these concerns. The impacts of fossil fuel extraction and transportation were also a source of significant twentieth century environmental attention, but concern over atmospheric emissions dominated. Although initial concern focused on particulate emissions, attention shifted to acidic emissions from the 1970s onward, and the final decade of the century was dominated by concern with the impact of fossil fuel emissions on climate. This later concern with fossil fuel greenhouse gas emissions, primarily thermally produced carbon dioxide (CO2) but also fugitive emissions (i.e., not caught by a capture system) such as methane from coal seams and from gas extraction and distribution systems, reinforced an increasing emphasis on alternative generating technologies. Some of these, notably macro-hydro and nuclear fission, were significant twentieth century technologies in their own right, and their environmental impacts are briefly discussed below. However, as the twentieth century closed this emphasis was increasingly turning to renewable energy technologies and the potential for significant further efficiencies in both electricity generation and consumption, including the drive to ‘‘decarbonize’’ electricity generation by turning away from fossil fuel technologies.

5. Fast Breeders Nuclear Reactors

The idea of a fast breeder reactor (FBR) was first conceived in 1946 by the Canadian physicist Walter H. Zinn at the Argonne National Laboratory in the U.S. On the basis of wartime developments in nuclear reactor research, Zinn thought a combination of two options within reactor technologies was feasible: fast neutron nuclear fission and the breeding principle. Fast reactors produce nuclear fission with fast neutrons rather than thermal neutrons. Fast neutrons prompt critical reactions with a large energy release in a short time and without a moderator operating in the core. Breeder reactors have a core of fissile material (i.e., uranium-235 or plutonium-239) produced in nuclear reactors or through chemical separation, and a blanket of fertile material (i.e., uranium-238), the treated radioactive mineral. Once in operation, breeder reactors incinerate the fissile material in the core and emit neutrons as fission products. Thus the blanket is neutron bombarded, the fertile material is irradiated, and afterward transformed into fissile material (i.e., plutonium-239) by neutron capture and following decay. In optimal operation conditions, the fissile material produced through breeding equals the fissile material incinerated in the core, so that the reactor perpetuates indefinitely the production of its fuel.

6. Fossil Fuel Power Stations

Until the last third of the twentieth century, fossil fuels—coal, oil, natural gas—were the primary source of energy in the industrialized world. Large thermal power stations supplied from fossil fuel resources have capacities ranging up to 4000 to 5000 megawatts. Gas-fired combined-cycle power stations tend to be somewhat smaller, perhaps no larger than 1000 to 1500 megawatts in capacity.

Concerns in the 1970s over degradation of urban air quality due to particulate emissions and acid rain from sulfur dioxide emissions from fossil fuel power stations were joined from the 1990s by an awareness of the potential global warming effect of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), produced from the combustion of fossil fuels (see Electricity Generation and the Environment). However, despite a move towards carbon-free electricity generation, for example from nuclear power stations and wind and solar plants, fossil fuels remain the most significant source of electrical energy generation.

7. Fuel Cells

The principle of the fuel cell (FC) is similar to that of the electrical storage battery. However, whereas the battery has a fixed stock of chemical reactants and can ‘‘run down,’’ the fuel cell is continuously supplied (from a separate tank) with a stream of oxidizer and fuel from which it generates electricity. Electrolysis—in which passage of an electrical current through water decomposes it into its constituents, H2 and O2—was still novel in 1839 when a young Welsh lawyer–scientist, William Grove, demonstrated that it could be made to run in reverse. That is, if the H2 and O2 were not driven off but rather allowed to recombine in the presence of the electrodes, the result was water— and electrical current.

Over the 20th century FCs moved from laboratory curiosity to practical application in limited roles and quantities. It is very possible that the twenty-first century will see them assume a major or even dominant position as power sources in a broad array of applications. Obstacles are largely economic and the outcome will be influenced by success in development of competing systems as well as FCs themselves.

8. Gas Turbines

During the 20th century, the gas turbine was developed to fit many applications on land, sea and in the air. From early beginnings, the gas turbine came alongside, competed with, and often replaced the existing technologies of steam, water, and reciprocating internal combustion engines. Initial problems stemmed from a lack of knowledge and the techniques; the fundamentals were well enough understood, but what were lacking were the design techniques. Materials also held up developments; but after extensive experimentation, successful turbine designs were being constructed in the first ten years of the 20th century.

The gas turbine has the advantage over traditional engines in that its combustion process is continuous and thus the equipment is less subject to cyclic heat stresses and its power is less limited— power is limited by combustion knock in spark ignition engines, but in diesel engines it is only limited by structural strength and maximum working pressures in the fuel injection systems. It also has fewer moving parts, so wear and tear is lessened. Despite these differences, the gas turbine still has the basic four functions of the four-stroke cycle but operates continuously: air is admitted, compressed, heated by burning fuel so that it expands and does work, and then the spent gases are expelled. However, unlike an ordinary engine, each of these processes takes place in a separate part of the engine and happens continuously; the oil engine has all processes within the cylinder and they follow on from each other.

9. Gas Turbines in Land Vehicles

The gas turbine has found widespread use in the aviation, marine, and stationary power areas. However, the gas turbine has only seen limited use in land transportation.

As various companies began to experiment with gas turbines in the 1920s and 1930s some gave thought to using the turbine as a source of motive power for land vehicles. The turbine promised much higher power-to-weight ratios than conventional reciprocating engines and also had the capability of using cheaper fuels such as industrial heating oil, diesel fuel, and even powered coal. As with gas turbines in aviation, most development has occurred since World War II.

10. Hydroelectric Power Generation

It is estimated that about 50 percent of the economically exploitable hydroelectric resources, not including tidal resources, of North America and Western Europe have already been developed. Worldwide, however, the proportion is less than 15 percent.

The size of hydroelectric power plants covers an extremely wide range, from small plants of a few megawatts to large schemes such as Kariba in Zimbabwe, which comprises eight 125 megawatt generating sets. More recently, power stations such as Itaipu on the Parana River between Brazil and Paraguay in South America were built with a capacity of 12,600 megawatts, comprising eighteen generating sets each having a rated discharge of approximately 700 cubic meters per second.

Hydroelectric power has traditionally been regarded as an attractive option for power generation since fuel costs are zero; operating and maintenance costs are low; and plants have a long life—an economic life of 30 to 50 years for mechanical and electrical plant and 60 to 100 years for civil works is not unusual.

11. Large Scale Electrical Energy Generation and Supply

Public supply of electricity at the close of the nineteenth century was typically confined to the larger towns and cities where either a local entrepreneur, or a far-sighted municipality, established relatively small generating stations to supply local lighting loads. Many of these local power stations employed reciprocating engines to drive direct current (DC) dynamos. Overhead circuits generally carried the power no more than a kilometer or two to local businesses or the larger households in the district. Sometimes, where water-powered mills had existed previously, hydroelectric generators were established to supply the electricity consumers. As more and more people began to appreciate the convenience of electrical power and, moreover, could afford to pay for it, demand on local supplies increased and larger power stations began to be established. The invention of the electrical transformer to step-up the voltage at the generating station and step it down again to a safe level for use by the consumers, meant that higher speed alternators, often driven by steam turbines, could be employed to produce the power. High-voltage distribution reduced the losses in the circuits between the generating stations and the loads.

12. Later Fusion Nuclear Reactors

In the early 1950s, the Soviet physicists Andrei Sakharov and Igor Tamm proposed a reactor that generated both internal plasma and external toroidal magnetic fields. This concept was adopted by their colleague Lev Artsimovich in his T-3 reactor, the first ‘‘tokamak’’ (the Russian acronym for toroidal chamber and magnetic coil), unveiled in 1968. The tokamak magnetic field is thus the combination of two magnetic fields: the stronger horizontal, toroidal field interacts with the weaker vertical, poloidal plasma field to produce a helical magnetic field. In confining its plasma for 0.01 to 0.02 seconds and heating it to 10,000,000C, the T- 3 produced results that suggested fusion energy was feasible.

The tokamak reactor subsequently became the standard tool for fusion research. The energy crisis of the 1970s resulted in state support for major projects in a number of industrialized countries including France, Japan, the U.K., and the U.S. The largest and most notable were the American Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR), approved by the Atomic Energy Commission in 1974 and completed in 1982 at Princeton University, and the British–European Joint European Torus (JET), which began operations in 1983 in Culham, Oxfordshire, U.K. Other important tokamaks include Japan’s JT-60 and General Atomics’ DIII-D.

13. Power Generation and Recycling

Recovering energy from wastes from municipal or industrial sources can turn the problem of waste disposal into an opportunity for generating income from heat and power sales. The safe and cost-effective disposal of these wastes is becoming increasingly important worldwide, especially with the demand for higher environmental standards of waste disposal and the pressure on municipalities to minimize the quantities of waste generated that must be disposed.

14. Primary and Secondary Batteries

The battery is a device that converts chemical energy into electrical energy and generally consists of two or more connected cells. A cell consists of two electrodes, one positive and one negative, and an electrolyte that works chemically on the electrodes by functioning as a conductor transferring electrons between the electrodes.

Primary cells, most often ‘‘dry cells,’’ are exhausted (i.e., one or both of the electrodes are consumed) when they convert the chemical energy into electrical energy. These battery types are widely used in flashlights and similar devices. They generally contain carbon and zinc electrodes and an electrolyte solution of ammonium chloride and zinc chloride. Another form of primary cell, often called the mercury battery, has zinc and mercuric oxide electrodes and an electrolyte of potassium hydroxide. The mercury battery is suitable for use in electronic wristwatches and similar devices.

Secondary cells convert chemical energy into electrical energy through a chemical reaction that is essentially reversible. In ‘‘charging,’’ the cell is forced to operate in reverse of its discharging operation by pushing a current through in the opposite direction of the one normal in discharge. Energy is thus ‘‘stored’’ in these cells as chemical, not electrical, energy. They may be ‘‘recharged’’ by an electrical current passing through them in the opposite direction of their discharge. Secondary, or storage, cells are generally wet cells, which use a liquid electrolyte.

15. Solar Power Generation

The emergence of solar power generation is part of the overall movement toward renewable energy production. Interest in this type of energy production grew in the early 1970s with an increased public awareness of the negative impact of technological developments on the environment. The use of solar power, of course, was not new. Heat produced by the sun was used for all sorts of purposes from the early history of humankind. In the search for renewable energy sources, the direct use of the sun’s heat has continued in the use of solar panels. In these panels, heat from the sun is absorbed by water flowing in pipes, and the hot water can then be used for heating purposes. In the twentieth century, two types of thermal solar energy systems developed: (1) active systems that used pumps or fans to transport the heat; and (2) passive systems that use natural heat transfer processes. In 1948 a school in Tucson, Arizona, with a passive solar energy system was built by Arthur Brown. In 1976 the Aspen-Pitkin County airport was opened as the first large commercial building in the U.S. that used a passive solar energy system for heating. However, the original idea of using passive solar energy goes back to ancient times. Archeologists have found houses with passive solar energy systems dating back to the fifth century AD.

16. Steam Turbines

The first steam turbine, of which there is any record, was made by Hero of Alexandria more than 2000 years ago. This simply demonstrated that a jet of steam, impinging on a paddle wheel, could convert heat energy into mechanical energy. In the late nineteenth century significant improvements in the efficiency of conversion were made by, among others, Sir Charles Parsons on Tyneside, U.K. and Charles G. Curtis in the U.S.

Early steam engines up to that time had involved very high rotational speed, which was difficult to utilize for many purposes unless speed-reducing gearboxes were employed. Parsons had deduced that moderate surface velocities and speeds of rotation were essential if the ‘‘turbine motor’’ was to receive general acceptance as a prime mover. His early designs arranged to divide the fall in pressure of the steam into small fractional expansions over a large number of turbine wheels in series so that the velocity of the steam over each wheel was not excessive.

At the close of the 19th century, many local power stations employed reciprocating steam engines to drive electric generators. Steam turbines had the advantage over reciprocating steam engines, which were based on the movement of a piston in a cylinder, of being lighter and more efficient. The Curtis multiple-stage steam turbine (patented in 1896, sold rights to General Electric in 1901) occupied a smaller space and cost much less than contemporary reciprocating steam engine-driven generators of the same output. The Curtis turbine was also shorter than the Parsons turbine, and was thus less susceptible to distortion of the central shaft.

The work that Curtis, Parsons, and others carried out in the development of steam turbines allowed large central power stations to be developed, providing electricity for the growing demand during the early 1900s. Early machines at the beginning of the 20th century

17. Thermal Graphite Moderated Nuclear Reactors

In a nuclear reactor, an element low on the atomic scale such as carbon or hydrogen is used to absorb kinetic energy to slow down naturally emitted neutrons from the radioactive fuel. In most power reactors, refined but unenriched natural uranium (238U or uranium-238) is the preferred fuel over 99 percent of the time. When the neutrons move more slowly or at a ‘‘moderated’’ speed, the chances of collision between the neutrons and other uranium nuclei, leading to fission and a chain reaction, are increased. Reactor designs are often named for the type of moderator used.

The first reactors, including the experimental pile built in 1942 at Chicago during World War II and the early production reactors built in 1943 at Hanford in Washington state, used graphite as a moderator. Later reactors used water, heavy water, sodium, or other materials as moderators. In the U.S., almost all power reactors and all submarine and ship propulsion reactors relied on pressurized water systems or boiling water systems, first installed in the late 1950s. Acronyms for all these systems have become conventional, with the most common being the boiling water reactor (BWR), pressurized water reactor (PWR), and light water-cooled graphite-moderated reactor (LWGR).

Accidents involving graphite reactors are particularly dangerous, since graphite is flammable. A release of radioactivity in 1957 at the British Windscale Reactor near Sellafield, Cumbria, a graphite production reactor, was not immediately disclosed. Even accidents with water-cooled reactors, such as that at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania on March 28, 1979, cause national and international concern. However, far more serious was the Chernobyl fire of April 26 1986, in a 1000-megawatt rated RBMK graphite-moderated reactor. That fire spread radioactive contamination across not only the Ukraine but also much of eastern and northern Europe as well. As at Windscale, details of the Chernobyl accident were temporarily suppressed. Gas-cooled graphite reactors are prevented from burning by the fact that they are cooled with carbon dioxide. However, if oxygen-containing air leaks into the system and the cooling system fails, the graphite can ignite.

18. Thermal Water Moderated Nuclear Reactors

Nuclear reactors are usually classified by their coolant and their moderators. The moderator is a material, low in the atomic scale, whose atomic nucleus has the effect of slowing down or moderating the speed of fast neutrons emitted during nuclear fission. By slowing the speed of neutrons, the moderator increases the chance of collision of neutrons with the nuclei of fissionable nuclear fuel atoms. The original reactor designed by Enrico Fermi during the Manhattan Project at Chicago, known as Chicago Pile One, or CP-1, was a graphite-moderated, air-cooled reactor. Many British and French nuclear reactors for the generation of electrical power use carbon in the form of graphite, and they are cooled with carbon dioxide gas. These types are known as Magnox reactors. However, the common designs for power generation developed in the U.S. used water both as coolant and as a moderator.

Water-cooled reactors fall into two large families. Heavy water reactors contain water in which the hydrogen atom is replaced with the hydrogen isotope deuterium. This type of reactor is manufactured for export by Canada. The pressurized heavy water reactor (PHWR) has been exported and installed in India, Romania, and elsewhere. The U.S. built five heavy water reactors at Savannah River, South Carolina, in the 1950s to serve as production reactors for the manufacture of plutonium and tritium for nuclear weapons. By the late 1980s, all the Savannah River production reactors had been closed. After some experimentation with graphite-moderated gas-cooled designs and with heavy-water moderation during the 1950s, the U.S. followed the ‘‘light water’’ path.

19. Wind Power Generation

Wind is essentially the movement of substantial air masses from regions of high pressure to regions of low pressure induced by the differential heating of the Earth’s surface. This simplistic view belies the complexity of atmospheric weather systems but serves to indicate the origin of climatic airflow.

The first attempts to harness wind power for electricity production date back to the 1930s. In Germany, Honnef planned a monstrous five turbine, 20 megawatt (MW), wind tower, several hundred meters high, a far cry from the sleek aerospace wind turbine generators (WTGs) of today. The design of a large scale WTG is limited to one of two formats realistically held to have good prospects. First, the horizontal axis type descended from those encountered by Don Quixote and common until recently in the flat lands of Europe; and second, the vertical axis machines of which the Darrieus rotor is perhaps the most common. Of the two, horizontal axis machines predominate, although the vertical axis type has many positive attributes, not the least of these being simplicity.

Energy and Power Technology

The repercussions of the rapacious appetite for control of energy among Western industrial nations have not been confined to the lot of the individual, however. As in previous eras, when the control of mechanical or biological power carried financial, geographical, and social significance, the use and abuse of electrical energy now additionally carries environmental, political, and moral implications. Developments in energy and power in the twentieth century must therefore be considered within these broader thematic areas as the generation and consumption of energy are inextricably linked with practically the whole spectrum of human existence.

At the beginning of the 20th century, despite the fact that many components of modern electronics such as the battery had already been invented 100 years earlier, body power was still the norm, especially in rural areas. Horses, carriages, tow paths, water mills, and the like were the standard means of transport and power for a large proportion of the population, despite the growth of electricity and the 130 supply companies that were operating by 1896 in Britain. Even in urban settings, only lighting and telegraphy were advanced to the stage where the benefits were generally enjoyed as a result of Thomas Edison’s invention of the light bulb in 1879 and Alexander Graham Bell’s first telephone transmission in 1878.

By 1900 in Britain the main features of an electricity supply industry had been established. The system was based on the generation of high-voltage alternating current (AC), with transformers stepping down voltages for local use. However, one obstacle that the industry had to overcome was the lack of standardization across local areas. In some parts, direct current (DC) equipment was still installed, and local voltage levels and frequencies varied considerably. Despite problems posed by these variations, at the start of the century most of the appliances that are now taken for granted had appeared. Space heaters, cookers, and lighting equipment were not yet in every home, but the very speed at which their use was adopted was testament to the flexibility and popularity of electricity. In 1918 electric washing machines became available, and in 1919 the first refrigerator appeared in Britain. They had already been introduced for domestic use in the U.S. in 1913. Electricity had been firmly accepted as the energy of the future. Demand from the residential sector started to boom and spurred further research. Most importantly, perhaps, by the 1920s in Britain the domestic immersion heater began to take over the duties of coal. The use of electric trolleys and trains, which had been running since the end of the nineteenth century, also continued to expand, and underground travel developed swiftly. Electricity also made advances in communications possible, from the telegraph and the telephone, to the broadcasting boom of the 1920s. In 1928 the construction of a British national grid system began, and it took less than ten years before the system was in operation. This alacrity is partly to be explained by the influence of World War I. The war’s heavy demands on manufacturing acted as a great incentive for the rapidly evolving electricity industry, particularly with regard to improving the efficiency of supply. Thereafter, the rebuilding and expansion of industry across the industrialized world began. In Russia, Lenin was moved to state, ‘‘Communism equals Soviet power plus electrification,’’ as part of the propaganda for industrialization. Electricity took over the driving of fans, elevators, and cranes, driving coal-mining equipment, for example, and rolling mills in steel factories. The use of individual electric motors allowed astonishing advances in speed control, precision, and productivity of machine tools.

With World War II came devastation. Power stations and fuel supplies were inevitably considered as strategic targets for the bombers during the destructive aerial attacks by both the Axis powers and the Allies. By 1946, the estimated deficiency of generating capacity in Europe was 10,000 megawatts. According to anecdotal evidence, the victory bells in Paris were only able to ring out in 1945 because of electricity transmitted from Germany, where more industrial capacity of all kinds, including power stations, had survived. Whatever the truth of this may be, the security of electricity supply quickly became an issue of undisputed importance throughout Europe, and the fuels used in electrical generation were valuable resources indeed.

At the start of the twentieth century, there was a new worldwide optimism about coal as a resource that seemed to be available in almost unlimited amounts. Coal consumption levels rose steeply both in the U.S. and Europe, to reach a peak around 1914 and the outbreak of World War I. Between the world wars, consumption quantities remained almost static, particularly in the U.S., as other fuel types started to dominate the market. Reasons for this slow-down include the rising popularity of the four-stroke ‘‘Otto’’ cycle engine that is widely used in transportation even today as well as the commercialization of the diesel engine. These two technologies pushed fuel sources swiftly from solid to liquid fuels.

Nuclear Power

Nuclear fission was discovered in the 1930s. Considerable research occurred in those early years, particularly in the U.S., the U.K., France, Canada, and the former Soviet Union, in the design and construction of commercial nuclear power stations. In the early 1940s, U.S. intelligence regarding Germany’s promising nuclear research activities dramatically hastened the U.S. resolve to build a nuclear weapon. The Manhattan Project was established for this purpose in August 1942. In July 1945, Manhattan Project scientists tested the first nuclear device in Alamagordo, New Mexico, using plutonium produced from a uranium and graphite-pile reactor in Richland, Washington. A month later a highly enriched uranium nuclear bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, and a plutonium nuclear bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, effectively ending World War II.

The nuclear power industry suffered some notable disasters during its years of technological development. In 1979, the Three Mile Island Unit 2 (TMI-2) nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania suffered damage due to mechanical or electrical failure of parts of the cooling system. Just seven years later, on the opposite side of the Iron Curtain near an obscure city on the Pripiat River in northcentral Ukraine, another disaster occurred. This accident became a metaphor not only for the horror of uncontrolled nuclear power but also for the collapsing Soviet system and its disregard for the safety and welfare of workers. On April 26, 1986, the No. 4 reactor at Chernobyl exploded and released 30 to 40 times the radioactivity of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Western world first learned of history’s worst nuclear accident from Sweden where abnormal radiation levels, the result of deposits carried by prevailing winds, were registered.

Ranking as one of the greatest industrial accidents of all time, the Chernobyl disaster and its impact on the course of Soviet events can scarcely be exaggerated. No-one can predict what will finally be the exact number of human victims. Thirty-one lives were lost immediately. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians, Russians, and Belo Russians had to abandon entire cities and settlements within the 30 kilometer zone of extreme contamination. Estimates vary, but it is likely that over 15 years after the event, some 3 million people, more than 2 million in Belarus alone, continued to live in contaminated areas.

Often accused of being one of the two great evils in the energy sector along with nuclear power, the oil industry grew over the course of the twentieth century to acquire significance and influence previously unimagined for any industrial sector. As the century opened, the U.S. was the largest oil producer in the world, but the discovery and exploitation of reserves in the Middle East, South America, and Mexico soon shifted the balance of the market away from the U.S., which by 1950 produced less than half the world’s oil. This trend continued and by the year 2000, oil production was almost equally divided between OPEC (Organization of Petroleum-Exporting Countries) and non-OPEC countries. Even in the early years of the century, the geographical spread of supply and demand quickly created the need for a system of distribution of unprecedented scale. The distances and quantities involved led to the construction of pipelines and huge ocean-going ships and tanker trucks. The capital intensive nature of these infrastructure projects, as well as the costs of exploration and exploitation of oil fields, concentrated control of resources in the hands of a few companies with vast coffers. As the reserves from easily exploitable sites dwindled, the pockets even of governments were insufficiently deep to invest in new drilling projects, and Royal Dutch Shell, Standard Oil, British Petroleum, and others were born.

Concern about fossil fuel depletion began to be voiced around the world in the 1960s, but the issue created headlines on the international political circuit in 1970 following the publication of the Club of Rome’s report ‘‘Limits to Growth.’’ This document warned of the impending exhaustion of the world’s 550 billion barrels of oil reserves. ‘‘We could use up all of the proven reserves of oil in the entire world by the end of the next decade,’’ said U.S. President Jimmy Carter. And although between 1970 and 1990 the world did indeed use 600 billion barrels of oil, and according to the Club of Rome reserves should have dwindled to less than zero by then, in fact, the unexploited reserves in 1990 amounted to 900 billion barrels not including tar shale.

Hydroelectric Power

Not a recent development by any stretch of the imagination, hydroelectric power was used extensively at the start of the twentieth century for mechanical work in mills and has a pedigree stretching back to ancient Egyptian times. Indeed, water power produces 24 percent of the world’s electricity and supplies more than 1 billion people with power. At the end of the twentieth century, hydroelectric power plants generally ranged in size from several hundred kilowatts to many hundreds of megawatts, but a few mammoth plants supplied up to 10,000 megawatts and electricity to millions of people. These leviathans, or ‘‘temples of modern India,’’ as India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru declared, were also the cause of massive discontent from social and environmental standpoints. The displacement of local indigenous populations and failure to deliver promised benefits were just two of the many complaints. By comparison, and despite hydroelectric power’s renewable credentials, the use of conventional fossil fuel technologies such as natural gas remained relatively uncontroversial.

Coal-Gas Technology

A derivative of coal as its name implies, coal-gas is produced through the carbonization of coal and has played a not insignificant role in the development of power and energy in the twentieth century. It was an important and well-established industry product as the century opened, although electricity had already started to make inroads into some of the markets that coal-gas served. Coal-gas enjoyed widespread use in domestic heating and cooking and some industrial facilities, but despite the invention of the Welsbach Mantle in 1885, electricity soon started to dominate the lighting market. The Ruhrgebeit in Germany was the most active coal-gas producing area in the world. It was here that the Lurgi process, in which low-grade brown coal is gasified by a mixture of superheated steam and oxygen at high pressure, flourished for many years. However, as the coal supplies necessary for the process became increasingly expensive, and as oil fractions with similar properties became available, the coal-gas industry swiftly declined. In fact, when the coal industry seemed to have reached a pinnacle, another rival industry—natural gas—was being born.

Natural Gas

The American gas industry developed along different lines from the European market. Each started from a different basis at the dawn of the twentieth century. The U.S. had been quick to adopt the production of coal-gas, which was used for lighting as early as 1816. After the discovery of fields of largely compatible natural gas in relatively shallow sites when searching for oil reserves, the natural gas industry expanded swiftly. Large-scale transmission mechanisms were developed with alacrity, and one noteworthy example of this came from the Trans-Continental Gas Pipeline Corporation, which completed a link from fields in Texas and Louisiana to the demand-intensive area around New York in 1951. By contrast, in Europe the exploitation of natural gas began in earnest in the years following World War II. In the Soviet Union, for example, the rich fields around Baku in Azerbaijan were connected to both their Eastern Bloc allies by 1971 and also to West Germany and Italy by over 680,000 kilometers of pipelines.

In Western Europe developments on the geopolitical level benefited Britain, which officially acquired the mineral rights for the western section of the North Sea in 1964. Just one year later, the West Sole field was discovered. Britain had already imported some natural gas from the U.S., and within 12 years had switched almost entirely from manufactured coal-gas to natural gas. This conversion was no simple operation. The differing properties of manufactured and natural gas meant that domestic and industrial appliances numbering in the tens of millions had to be altered. The British conversion scheme, which lasted ten years, is estimated to have cost £1000 million. Other similar conversion programs were carried out in Holland, Hungary, and even in the Far East.

In October 1973, panic gripped the U.S. The crude-oil rich Middle Eastern countries had cut off exports of petroleum to Western nations as punishment for their involvement in recent Arab–Israeli conflicts. Although the oil embargo would not ordinarily have made a tremendous impact on the U.S., panicking investors and oil companies caused a gigantic surge in oil prices.

There were more oil scares throughout the next two decades. When the Shah of Iran was deposed during a revolution, petroleum exports were diminished to virtually negligible levels, causing crude oil prices to soar once again. Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in the 1990s also inflated oil prices, albeit for only a short time. These events highlighted the world’s dependence on Middle Eastern oil and raised political awareness about the security of oil supplies.

The ‘‘dash for gas’’ in the U.K.—the rapid switch from coal to gas as the dominant source of power generation fuel—was no doubt partly instigated by the discovery of home reserves there. Worldwide the new application of an old technology, combined cycle gas turbines, or CCGTs, played a significant role. During the last decades of the twentieth century, the gas turbine emerged as the world’s dominant technology for electricity generation. Gas turbine power plants thrived in countries as diverse as the U.S., Thailand, Spain, and Argentina. In the U.K., the changeover began in the late 1980s and resulted in the closure of many coal mines and coal-fired power stations. As electricity industries were privatized and liberalized, the CCGT in particular became more and more attractive because of its low capital cost, high thermal efficiency, and relatively low environmental impact. Indeed, this technology contributed to the trend identified by Cesare Marchetti, which depicts the chronological shift of the world’s sources of primary power from wood to coal to oil to gas during the last century and a half. Each of these fuels is successively richer in hydrogen and poorer in carbon than its predecessor, supporting the hypothesis that we are progressing toward a pure hydrogen economy.

Distributed Generation

Embedded or distributed generation refers to power plants that feed electricity into a local distribution network. By saving transmission and distribution losses, it is generally considered to be an environmentally and socially beneficial option compared with centralized generation. Technologies that contributed to the expansion of this mode of generation include wind turbines, which developed to the point where their cost of generation rivaled that of central power stations, photovoltaic cells, and combined heat and power units. These industries expanded massively in the latter years of the century, particularly in Europe where regulatory measures gave impetus and a degree of commercial security to the fledgling industries.

Many industries worldwide began producing hydrogen, hydrogen-powered vehicles, hydrogen fuel cells, and other hydrogen products toward the end of the twentieth century. Hydrogen is intrinsically ‘‘cleaner’’ than any other fuel used to date because combustion of hydrogen with oxygen produces energy with only water, no greenhouse gases or particulate exhaust fumes, as a byproduct. At the close of the twentieth century, however, although prototypes and demonstration projects abounded, commercial competitiveness with conventional fuels was still only a distant prospect.

From almost wholly somatic sources of power in 1900, energy and power developed at an astonishing pace through the century. As the century closed, despite support for ‘‘green’’ power, particularly in developed nations, the worldwide generation of energy was still dominated by fossil fuels. Nevertheless, unprecedented changes seemed possible, driven for the first time by environmental and social concerns rather than technological possibilities or purely commercial considerations. Awareness of energy-related carbon emissions issues addressed by the Kyoto protocol raised questions concerning the institutional arrangements on both national and international levels, and their capacity for action in responding to public demand. After a century of development, a wide variety of institutional and regulatory regimes evolved around electricity supply. These most often took the form of a franchised, regulated monopoly within clearly defined administrative boundaries, in a functional symbiosis with government. However, each has the same basic technical model at its heart; Large, central generators produce AC electricity, and deliver it to consumers over a network. The continuing stable operation of this system on which many millions of people rely, once considered the responsibility of central governments, is changing. The increasing shift toward liberalization and internationalization is moving responsibility for energy supplies away from state-owned organizations, a trend compounded by the environmental and institutional implications of renewable energy technologies.

Browse other Technology Research Paper Topics .

ORDER HIGH QUALITY CUSTOM PAPER

share this!

May 14, 2024

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

fact-checked

trusted source

Chainmail catalysts: Carbon-encapsulated FeNi alloys for enhanced oxygen electrocatalysis

by Chinese Academy of Sciences

Rapid growth in global energy demand has caused massive depletion of traditional fossil fuels and serious environmental problems, and there is no doubt that the development of efficient energy storage and conversion technologies is an essential field of research. Rechargeable Zn-air batteries have attracted great research interest due to their high energy density, low cost, environmental friendliness, and safety.

However, the sluggish kinetic processes of air cathodes limit the development of Zn-air battery technology, namely the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) during discharge and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) during charge. Therefore, efficient electrocatalysts are required to promote these two reactions.

Typically, noble metal-based electrocatalysts such as platinum (Pt) are effective for ORR, while ruthenium (Ru) and iridium (Ir) oxides are effective for OER. However, the unsatisfactory bifunctional catalytic activity, poor stability, low abundance, and high price of noble metal catalysts inevitably hinder the practical application. Therefore, designing efficient and inexpensive catalysts with bifunctional catalytic activity for ORR and OER remains a great challenge.

Over the past decade, researchers have sought to develop bifunctional electrocatalysts without noble metals, including transition metals (Fe, Co, Ni, and Mn), metal alloys, oxides, nitrides, hydroxides, and phosphides. Among these chemicals, transition metal alloys have attracted great interest due to their low price and high catalytic activity for ORR and OER.

In-depth studies have shown that iron–based catalysts can provide excellent catalytic activity for ORR but their OER catalytic performance is poor, while nickel–based catalysts have outstanding performance in OER, and there is no doubt that the combination of Fe and Ni is a wise choice for the construction of efficient bifunctional catalysts.

FeNi alloy electrocatalysts with good ORR and OER catalytic activities simultaneously are highly desirable. There has been some progress in this direction; however, the metal parts still suffer from insufficient durability because repeated redox reactions can lead to metal dissolution in aqueous solutions .

Balancing catalytic activity and durability of alloy electrocatalysts is one of the major challenges in achieving excellent performance. To address this problem, an effective chainmail strategy is to construct an encapsulation structure with carbon materials.

The chemical reaction environment, which typically includes reacting molecules in a liquid solution, temperature, and a variety of physical fields, is like the battlefield on which catalysts fight. The stabilized carbon layer protects the internal metal core from the destructive reaction environment.

It is therefore figuratively described as chainmail catalysts. The chainmail should not only be a robust material for separating and protecting the catalyst from corrosive environments, but should also be able to transfer catalytic activity to its outer surface, which then participates in the catalytic reaction.

Recently, a research team led by Prof. Zhen Zhou from Zhengzhou University, China, designed a highly promising chainmail catalyst named FeNi@NC, comprising ultrathin carbon shells encapsulating FeNi alloy nanoparticles on N-doped graphene-like nanosheets. The strong synergistic effects between FeNi alloys and N-doped carbon shells result in outstanding bifunctional catalytic activity, particularly in alkaline media.

Consequently, Zn-air batteries incorporating FeNi@NC as the catalyst demonstrate exceptional performance, operating reliably at high power density with extended lifespan. Furthermore, computational analyses provided further confirmation of the catalytic activity and revealed that the electron transfer from FeNi alloy nanoparticles to the carbon shells activates the carbon surface, leading to enhanced catalytic performance.

This research not only sheds light on the rational design and synthesis of heteroatom-doped carbon materials supporting the growth-constrained transition metal alloys , but also offers a practical solution for advancing the application of Zn-air batteries.

The research is published in the Chinese Journal of Catalysis .

Provided by Chinese Academy of Sciences

Explore further

Feedback to editors

From roots to resilience: Investigating the vital role of microbes in coastal plant health

5 hours ago

Temperature, time and blueberry wine: Researchers examine fermentation's effects on health-promoting compounds

Heating proteins to body temperature reveals new drug targets

6 hours ago

What fire ants can teach us about making better self-healing materials

Robotic 'superlimbs' could help moonwalkers recover from falls

A novel multifunctional catalyst turns methane into valuable hydrocarbons

7 hours ago

NASA's Juno provides high-definition views of Europa's icy shell

New research addresses alleged benefits of a vegan diet for dogs

Trees on a university campus endure droughts with help from leaky pipes

8 hours ago

First direct imaging of radioactive cesium atoms in environmental samples

Relevant physicsforums posts, most dangerous chemicals.

2 hours ago

Potassium Iodide as a catalyst for Hydrogen Peroxide

Very confused about naunyn definition of acid and base.

18 hours ago

Ideas for a project in computational chemistry?

20 hours ago

Why don't hydrogen ions have osmotic activity in living organisms?

May 6, 2024

Can you eat the Periodic Table?

Apr 23, 2024

More from Chemistry

Related Stories

Researchers develop high-performance perovskite oxide catalysts using late transition metal oxide materials

Nov 20, 2020

Scientists develop bifunctional catalyst performance enhancement technology to lower the cost of hydrogen production

Mar 18, 2024

Researchers synthesize N and P co-doping catalysts

Mar 29, 2023

Discovery enables cost-effective and eco-friendly green hydrogen production

Jan 16, 2024

Unraveling the pH-dependent oxygen reduction performance on single-atom catalysts

Feb 21, 2024

S, N co-doped carbon nanotube-encapsulated CoS2@Co

Sep 5, 2018

Recommended for you

Researchers identify drug compounds that can reduce prion protein levels in infected cells

9 hours ago

How high-pressure techniques can induce changes in crystalline materials

11 hours ago

New research employs shutter speed analogies to validate 55-year-old theory about chemical reaction rates

12 hours ago

Let us know if there is a problem with our content

Use this form if you have come across a typo, inaccuracy or would like to send an edit request for the content on this page. For general inquiries, please use our contact form . For general feedback, use the public comments section below (please adhere to guidelines ).

Please select the most appropriate category to facilitate processing of your request

Thank you for taking time to provide your feedback to the editors.

Your feedback is important to us. However, we do not guarantee individual replies due to the high volume of messages.

E-mail the story

Your email address is used only to let the recipient know who sent the email. Neither your address nor the recipient's address will be used for any other purpose. The information you enter will appear in your e-mail message and is not retained by Phys.org in any form.

Newsletter sign up

Get weekly and/or daily updates delivered to your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time and we'll never share your details to third parties.

More information Privacy policy

Donate and enjoy an ad-free experience

We keep our content available to everyone. Consider supporting Science X's mission by getting a premium account.

E-mail newsletter

SPH Researchers Hold Symposium on Energy Systems and Health

Usman Iqbal Selected as 2024 Convocation Alumni Speaker

Sph researchers hold symposium on energy systems and health ..

From left: Jonathan Buonocore, Finlan Mooney, Mary Willis, Breanna Van Loenen, and Brian Sousa at the Power & People Symposium on May 7. Photo: Molly Potter

With support from the School of Public Health and BU’s Institute for Global Sustainability, Jonathan Buonocore and Mary Willis spearheaded the symposium to share with stakeholders their latest research project, a first-of-its-kind database mapping community exposure to energy infrastructure.

Megan jones.

Early analysis of a first-of-its-kind database developed by researchers at the School of Public Health suggests that 91% of census tracts in the United States are close enough to energy infrastructure to warrant consideration of potential adverse health effects.

“There is mounting evidence that living nearby oil and gas infrastructure can be harmful to health, but there is not a single resource showing all the infrastructure, from the well to the compressor to the pipeline, that then also includes the characteristics of the communities living nearby,” says Jonathan Buonocore , an assistant professor of environmental health and a co-principal investigator on the project, The Energy Infrastructure Exposure Intensity and Equity Indices (EI3) Database for Population Health ,  with Mary Willis , assistant professor of epidemiology. “The information could be used to help usher in a healthy and just energy transition.”

Constructed in a piecemeal fashion as the U.S. rapidly grew and industrialized over the past century, today’s energy infrastructure is a patchwork of millions of components scattered throughout the country. Data on the locations of these components is often available, says Buonocore, but because jurisdiction over energy infrastructure is divided among various government agencies, it can be challenging for communities to access or interpret.

“All the data underlying the [EI3] dataset is public, but this will be the first time it is all in the same place,” he says. Buonocore has previously used geographic data to link oil and gas production to $7.4 billion in annual health damages , including thousands of early deaths and childhood asthma cases largely in surrounding communities, but also in downwind urban centers. “We are hoping that [the dataset] could be used by researchers, policymakers, NGOs, and community groups to really understand what energy infrastructure is near them and the effect that it is having on the community, to then, hopefully, influence the equitable siting of future energy infrastructure.”

On May 7, Bounocore and Willis spearheaded a symposium, People & Power: Mapping Community Exposure to Energy Infrastructure, to present preliminary insights from and solicit external input on the developing database. The day-long event was hosted in BU’s new Center for Computing and Data Sciences, which, suitably, is the greenest building in BU’s history and one of the most sustainable buildings in the region.

The Boston University Institute for Global Sustainability (IGS), in partnership with SPH, awarded the Buonocore and Willis its first-ever Sustainability Research Grant to fund the establishment of the EI3 database. With the support of Brian Sousa , Breanna Van Loenen , and Fintan Mooney , research data analysts at SPH, as well as faculty and student collaborators in BU’s Earth and Environment Department, the team recently finished entering the locations of active oil, gas, coal, and electrical infrastructure to the database.

“We are still in the information-gathering stage,” noted Willis. Ultimately, the team intends to add a measure of the intensity of exposure and link that to health outcomes using epidemiologic methods, laying the groundwork for future study in areas such as the health impacts of infrastructure hotspots on environmental justice communities and the climate and health co-benefits of clean energy programs.

“But first, we need to show who lives nearby [the infrastructure] because that [relationship] does not currently exist,” says Willis.

During his introductory remarks to the symposium, Dean Sandro Galea highlighted the “enormous potential” of the EI3 database, a sentiment echoed throughout the day by various other speakers and panelists.

“The way we connect is by talking about our families and talking about health—everybody cares about health,” said panelist Andee Krasner of her volunteer work with Mothers Out Front , a national organization that brings together local teams of mothers and other community members to campaign for climate justice at the local and state levels. “Making that connection between energy infrastructure and health will really help us as advocates.”

Altogether, the speakers and attendees represented more than 20 different organizations engaged in the energy sector, ranging from national nonprofits and local grassroots organizations to state and local government agencies, such as the National Resources Defense Council , Environmental Defense Fund , GreenRoots , HEET (Home Energy Efficiency Team), Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection , and Boston Housing Authority .

The presentation materials from the People & Power symposium, with an introduction to the fledgling EI3 database, are now publicly available on the IGS website . In the future, the research team hopes to make the full database freely available online as well. They are actively seeking additional funding to sustain and advance the promising—and following the symposium, much-anticipated—project.

Explore Related Topics:

• climate and health
• energy systems
• Environmental Health
• environmental justice
• epidemiology
• school news
• Share this story
• 0 Comments Add

Writer/Editor, School News

Megan Jones is the writer and editor focusing on school news at the School of Public Health. Profile

Comments & Discussion

Boston University moderates comments to facilitate an informed, substantive, civil conversation. Abusive, profane, self-promotional, misleading, incoherent or off-topic comments will be rejected. Moderators are staffed during regular business hours (EST) and can only accept comments written in English. Statistics or facts must include a citation or a link to the citation.

Post a comment. Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Promising new development in solar cell technology

Researchers from Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), Lithuania, who contributed to the development of record-breaking solar cells a few years ago, expanded their invention. The self-assembled monolayers can now be applied not only in inverted but also in regular structure perovskite solar cells.

Self-assembling molecules arrange themselves into a single-molecule-thick layer and in this case, they act as an electron-transporting layer in solar cells.

"The molecules that make up these monolayers, like a clever glue, coat the surface of the constructed devices with a thin one molecule thick layer. And this is not random, they don't stick wherever they go, but attach themselves by chemical bonds only where they are in contact with conductive metal oxide," explains Tadas Malinauskas, Professor at KTU's Faculty of Chemical Technology and one of the inventors of the new technology.

According to Malinauskas, the development of such a layer is a relatively simple and material-efficient process that requires a glass substrate with an electrically conductive metal oxide layer to be immersed in or sprayed with a highly diluted solution of the compound.

In this way, the self-assembling molecules are only attached to the surface of the metal oxide, and those that do not stick are washed away. This way a thin layer is created only where it is needed.

A crucial step in the development of the next generation solar cells

A team of KTU researchers has been synthesising and studying charge-transporting organic materials for several years. Previous experiments have focused more on molecules used for positive charge transfer in the perovskite solar cells.

"We can already say with confidence that these molecules have given a major boost to the development of the next generation solar cells. So, our next step is quite logical: to develop analogous molecules that can carry negative charges, and to apply these materials in perovskite solar cells," says Vytautas Getautis, professor at the KTU Faculty of Chemical Technology and Head of the research group in charge of invention.

Although it is a very thin layer, the role it plays in solar cells is extremely important. Malinauskas says that the best analogy for its function is the subway. "This layer, like an automatic gate on the subway, allows only one type of charge to pass through and continue its journey towards the electrode," he says.

In this way, self-assembled molecules increase the efficiency of solar cells.

Perovskite solar cell structures differ in the sequence of layers. In the regular structure, a negative charge transporting layer is formed on a transparent substrate, followed by light-absorbing and positive charge transporting layers. In solar cells with an inverted structure, the positive and negative charge transport layers are swapped.

Inventor and KTU PhD student Lauryna Monika Svirskaite says that the main difference between the two structures is the areas of their application.

"The regular structure is more widely used to study low-cost, easier-manufactured but less efficient solar cells. The inverted architecture allows them to be used in the construction of much more efficient combined devices, also known as tandem devices," says Svirskaite.

At the moment, as both structures are being intensively researched, the KTU scientists believe that the new invention is just as significant and promising as the last one.

The strongest inventions in the KTU patent portfolio

The new invention is the result of a collaboration with scientists from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).

"We, KTU chemists, were responsible for the development, improvement, and optimisation of the materials and coating technology, while our colleagues from Saudi Arabia investigated the performance of it in solar cells," reveals Malinauskas.

• Solar Energy
• Organic Chemistry
• Geomagnetic Storms
• Renewable Energy
• Energy and the Environment
• Solar panel
• History of Earth
• Solar power
• Renewable energy
• Hadley cell
• Instrumental temperature record
• Greenland ice sheet

Story Source:

Materials provided by Kaunas University of Technology . Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference :

• Drajad S. Utomo, Lauryna M. Svirskaite, Adi Prasetio, Vida Malinauskiene, Pia Dally, Erkan Aydin, Artem Musiienko, Vytautas Getautis, Tadas Malinauskas, Randi Azmi, Stefaan De Wolf. Nonfullerene Self-Assembled Monolayers As Electron-Selective Contacts for n-i-p Perovskite Solar Cells . ACS Energy Letters , 2024; 9 (4): 1682 DOI: 10.1021/acsenergylett.4c00306

Cite This Page :

Explore More

• Autonomous Drones With Animal-Like 'Brains'
• How Practice Forms New Memory Pathways
• Reversing Brain Damage Caused by Ischemic Stroke
• Earth-Sized Planet Orbiting Ultra-Cool Dwarf
• Robots' Sense of Touch as Fast as Humans?
• Avian Flu Detected in NYC Wild Birds
• Metro-Area Quantum Computer Network Demo
• Iconic Baobab Tree's Origin Story
• 'Warm-Blooded' Dinos: 180 Million Years Ago
• Reaching 1,000 Degrees C With Solar Power

Trending Topics

Strange & offbeat.

• Research Paper Guides
• Research Paper Topics
• 450+ Technology Research Topics & Ideas for Your Paper
• Speech Topics
• Basics of Essay Writing
• Essay Topics
• Other Essays
• Main Academic Essays
• Basics of Research Paper Writing
• Miscellaneous
• Chicago/ Turabian
• Data & Statistics
• Methodology
• Admission Writing Tips
• Admission Advice
• Other Guides
• Student Life
• Studying Tips
• Understanding Plagiarism
• Academic Writing Tips
• Basics of Dissertation & Thesis Writing

• Essay Guides
• Formatting Guides
• Basics of Research Process
• Admission Guides
• Dissertation & Thesis Guides

450+ Technology Research Topics & Ideas for Your Paper

Table of contents

Use our free Readability checker

Technology is like a massive puzzle where each piece connects to form the big picture of our modern lives. Be it a classroom, office, or a hospital, technology has drastically changed the way we communicate and do business. But to truly understand its role, we need to explore different technology research topics.

And that's where this blog will be handy! Powered by solid experience, our professional term paper writers gathered multiple technology research paper topics in literally any direction. Whether you're a student looking for an intriguing subject for your project or just a tech enthusiast trying to broaden your understanding, we've got your back. Dive into this collection of tech topics and see how technological progress is shaping our world.

What Are Technology Topics?

Technology is the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes. It's the smartphone in your hand, the electric car on your street, and the spacecraft exploring Mars. It might also be the code that protects your online privacy and the microscope that uncovers mysteries of the human cell.

Technology permeates our lives, revolutionizing the way we communicate, learn, work, and play. But, beyond the gadgets and gizmos, there's a world of diverse technology research topics, ideas, concepts, and challenges.

Technology topics zoom in on these ideas, peeling back the layers of the tech universe. As a researcher, you might study how AI is changing healthcare, explore the ethical implications of robotics, or investigate the latest innovations in renewable energy. Your project should probe into the 'how,' the 'why,' and the 'what next' of the technology that is reshaping our world. So, whether you're dissecting the impact of EdTech on traditional learning or predicting the future of space exploration, research topics in technology are limitless.

Branches of Technology Research Paper Topics

Undoubtedly, the reach of technology is extensive. It's woven its way into almost every corner of our lives. Before we move to technological research topics, let’s first see just where technology has left its mark. So, here are some areas where technology is really shaking things up:

• Government services: E-governance, digital IDs, and digital voting are just a few examples of technology's application in government services.
• Finance: Fintech innovations include cryptocurrencies, mobile banking, robo-advising, and contactless payments.
• Education: Technology is used in a wide variety of educational contexts, from e-learning platforms and digital textbooks to educational games and virtual classrooms.
• Communication: Social media, video conferencing, instant messaging, and email are all examples of tech's role in communication.
• Healthcare: From electronic medical records and telemedicine to advanced imaging technology and robotic surgery, technology is surely transforming healthcare.
• Agriculture: Technological advancements are revolutionizing agriculture through precision farming, automated machinery, drones, and genetic engineering.
• Retail: It also influences retail through e-commerce, mobile payments, virtual fitting rooms, and personalized shopping experiences.
• Environment: Tech is used in climate modeling, conservation efforts, renewable energy, and pollution control.

These are far from all sectors where technology can be applied. But this list shows how diverse topics in technology can be.

How to Choose a Technology Research Topic?

Before you select any idea, it’s important to understand what a good technology research topic is. In a nutshell, a decent topic should be interesting, relevant, and feasible to research within your available resources and time. Make sure it’s specific enough, but not to narrow so you can find enough credible resources. 

Your technology topic sets the course of your research. It influences the type and amount of information you'll search for, the methods you'll use to find it, and the way you'll interpret it. Ultimately, the right topic can make your research process not only more manageable but also more meaningful. But how to get started, you may ask. Don’t worry! Below we are going to share valuable tips from our thesis writers on how to choose a worthy topic about technology.

• Make research Study the latest trends and explore relevant technology news. Your task is to come up with something unique that’s not been done before. Try to look for inspiration in existing literature, scientific articles, or in past projects.
• Recognize your interests Start with what you are genuinely curious about in the field of technology. Passion can be a great motivator during the research process.
• Consider the scope You want a topic that is neither too broad nor too narrow. It should provide enough material to explore without being overwhelming.
• Check availability of resources Ensure there are sufficient trustworthy resources available for your chosen topic.
• Evaluate the relevance Your technology research idea should be pertinent to your field of study and resonate with current trends. This can make your research more valuable and engaging for your audience.

Top List of Technology Research Topics

Are you looking for the best research topics about technology? Stop by! Here, we’ve carefully collected the topic ideas to ignite your curiosity and support your research. Each topic offers various data sources, allowing you to construct well-supported arguments. So, let's discover these fascinating subjects together!

• AI's influence on healthcare.
• Challenges of cybersecurity in a connected world.
• Role of drones in modern agriculture.
• Could renewable energy replace fossil fuels?
• Impact of virtual reality on education.
• Blockchain's potential beyond cryptocurrencies.
• Ethical considerations in biotechnology.
• Can smart cities enhance quality of life?
• Autonomous vehicles – opportunities and threats.
• Robotics in manufacturing.
• Is big data changing decision-making processes?
• E-waste : Challenges and solutions.
• Role of IoT in smart homes.
• Implications of 5G technology.
• EdTech: A revolution in learning?

Good Technology Research Topics

Ready for another batch of inspiration? Get ready to discover great technology topics for a research paper across various disciplines. These ideas are designed to stimulate your creativity and provide substantial information for your research. So, let's explore these exciting themes together!

• Impact of nanotechnology on medicine.
• Harnessing quantum computing potential.
• Augmented reality in tourism.
• Can bioinformatics revolutionize disease prediction?
• Sustainability in tech product design.
• Darknet : A hidden side of the internet.
• How does technology influence human behavior?
• Assistive technology in special education.
• Are smart textiles transforming the fashion industry?
• Role of GIS in urban planning.
• Space tourism: A reality or fantasy?
• Potential of digital twins in engineering.
• How is telemedicine shaping healthcare delivery?
• Green IT : Addressing environmental issues.
• Impact of machine learning on finance.

Interesting Technology Research Paper Topics

For those craving intriguing angles and fresh ideas, we present these interesting topics in technology. This collection is filled with thought-provoking subjects that cover the lesser-known areas of technology. Each topic is concise, clear, and ready to spark a fascinating research journey!

• Cyber-physical systems in industry 4.0.
• Social implications of deepfake technology.
• Can gamification enhance learning outcomes?
• Neuromorphic computing: Emulating the human brain.
• Li-Fi : Light-based communication technology.
• Health risks of prolonged screen time.
• Quantum cryptography and secure communication.
• Role of technology in sustainable agriculture.
• Can we predict earthquakes with AI?
• Virtual influencers: A new trend in marketing.
• Tech solutions for wildlife conservation.
• Role of 3D printing in organ transplantation.
• Impact of automation on the job market.
• Cloud gaming: A new era in the gaming industry.
• Genomic editing: Possibilities and ethical concerns.

New Technology Research Topics

Understanding the fast-paced world of technology requires us to keep up with the latest developments. Hence, we bring you burning  technology research paper topics. These ideas reflect the most recent trends and advances in technology, offering fresh perspectives for your research. Let's take a look at these compelling subjects!

• Potential of hyper automation in business processes.
• How is AI changing digital marketing?
• Brain-computer interfaces: The future of communication?
• Quantum supremacy : Fact or fiction?
• 5D data storage: Revolutionizing data preservation.
• Rise of voice technology in consumer applications.
• Using AI for mental health treatment.
• Implications of edge computing for IoT devices.
• Personalized learning with AI in education.
• Role of technology in reducing food waste.
• Digital twin technology in urban development.
• Impact of AI on patent law.
• Cybersecurity in the era of quantum computing.
• Role of VR in disaster management training.
• AI in talent recruitment: Pros and cons.

Unique Technology Research Topics

For those wanting to stand out with truly original research, we offer 100% authentic topics about technology. We understand that professors highly value unique perspectives. Below we've meticulously selected these technology paper topics to offer you something different. These are not your everyday technology subjects but rather unexpected gems ready to be explored.

• Digital ethics in AI application.
• Role of technology in countering climate change.
• Is there a digital divide in developing countries?
• Role of drones in disaster management.
• Quantum internet: Possibilities and challenges.
• Digital forensic techniques in cybersecurity.
• Impact of technology on traditional art forms.
• Biohacking: Can we really upgrade ourselves?
• Technology and privacy: An inevitable trade-off?
• Developing empathy through virtual reality.
• AI and creativity: Can machines be artists?
• Technology's impact on urban gardening.
• Role of technology in accessible tourism.
• Quantum biology: A frontier of science.
• Unmanned underwater vehicles: Opportunities and threats.

Informative Research Topics in Technology

If you are seeking comprehensive information on technologies, this selection will definitely provide you with insights. As you may know, every study should be backed up by credible sources. Technology topics for research papers below are very easy to investigate, so you will surely find a bunch of academic resources.

• Exploring  adaptive learning systems in online education.
• Role of technology in modern archaeology.
• Impact of immersive technology on journalism.
• The rise of telehealth services.
• Green data centers: A sustainable solution?
• Cybersecurity in mobile banking.
• 3D bioprinting : A revolution in healthcare?
• How technology affects sleep quality.
• AI in music production: A new era?
• Technology's role in preserving endangered languages.
• Smart grids for sustainable energy use.
• The future of privacy in a digital world.
• Can technology enhance sports performance?
• Role of AR in interior design.
• How technology is transforming public libraries.

Controversial Research Topics on Technology

Technological field touches upon areas where technology, ethics, and society intersect and often disagree. This has sparked debates and, sometimes, conspiracy theories, primarily because of the profound implications technologies have for our future. Take a look at these ideas, if you are up to a more controversial research topic about technology:

• Facial recognition technology: Invasion of privacy?
• Tech addiction: Myth or reality?
• The ethics of AI in warfare.
• Should social media platforms censor content?
• Are cryptocurrencies a boon or a bane?
• Is technology causing more harm than good to our health?
• The bias in machine learning algorithms.
• Genetic engineering: Playing God or advancing science?
• Will AI replace human jobs?
• Net neutrality: Freedom of internet or control?
• The risk of AI superintelligence.
• Tech companies' monopoly: Beneficial or detrimental?
• Are we heading towards a surveillance society?
• AI in law enforcement: Safeguard or threat?
• Do we rely too much on technology?

Easy Technology Research Paper Topics

Who ever thought the tech field was only for the tech-savvy? Well, it's time to dispel that myth. Here in our collection of simple technology research topics, we've curated subjects that break down complex tech concepts into manageable chunks. We believe that every student should get a chance to run a tech related project without any hurdles.

• Impact of social media on interpersonal communication.
• Smartphones: A boon or a bane?
• How technology improves accessibility for people with disabilities.
• E-learning versus traditional learning.
• Impact of technology on travel and tourism.
• Pros and cons of online shopping.
• How has technology changed entertainment?
• Technology's role in boosting productivity at work.
• Online safety: How to protect ourselves?
• Importance of digital literacy in today's world.
• How has technology influenced the music industry?
• E-books vs printed books: A tech revolution?
• Does technology promote loneliness?
• Role of technology in shaping modern communication.
• The impact of gaming on cognitive abilities.

Technology Research Topics Ideas for Students

As an experienced paper writing service online that helps students all the time, we understand that every learner has unique academic needs. With this in mind, the next section of our blog is designed to cater specifically to different academic levels. Whether you're a high school student just starting to explore technology or a doctoral candidate delving deep into a specialized topic, we've got different technology topics arranged by complexity.

Technology Research Topics for High School Students

High school students are expected to navigate complex topics, fostering critical thinking and promoting in-depth exploration. The proposed research paper topics on technology will help students understand how tech advancements shape various sectors of society and influence human life.

• How have smartphones changed our communication?
• Does virtual reality in museums enhance visitor experience?
• Understanding privacy issues in social media.
• How has technology changed the way we listen to music?
• Role of technology in promoting fitness and healthy lifestyle.
• Advantages and disadvantages of online learning.
• Does excessive screen time affect sleep quality?
• Do video games affect academic performance?
• How do GPS systems work?
• How has technology improved animation in films?
• Pros and cons of using smart home devices.
• Are self-driving cars safe?
• Technology's role in modernizing local libraries.
• Can technology help us lead more sustainable lifestyles?
• Can technology help improve road safety for teenagers?

Technology Research Topics for College Students

Think technology research topics for college are all about rocket science? Think again! Our compilation of college-level tech research topics brings you a bunch of intriguing, conversation-stirring, and head-scratching questions. They're designed to let you sink into the world of technology while also pushing your academic boundaries. Time to dive in, explore, question, and take your own unique stance on hot-button issues.

• Biometrics in identity verification: A privacy risk?
• Impact of 5G on mobile gaming.
• Are wearable fitness devices a true reflection of health?
• Can machine learning help predict climate change effects?
• Are digital currencies disrupting traditional finance?
• Use of drones in search and rescue operations.
• Impact of e-learning on academic performance.
• Does artificial intelligence have a place in home security?
• What are the ethical issues surrounding robotic surgery?
• Are e-wallets a safer option for online transactions?
• How has technology transformed news dissemination?
• AI in language translation: How accurate can it be?
• Personalized advertising: Boon or bane for online users?
• Are smart classes making learning more interactive?
• Influence of technology on homemade crafts and DIY culture.

Technology Research Topics for University Students

Are you browsing for university technology research ideas? We've got you covered. Whether you're about to dig deep into high-tech debates, or just taking your first steps, our list of technology research questions is your treasure chest.

• Blockchain applications in ensuring academic integrity.
• Impact of quantum computing on data security.
• Are brain-computer interfaces a future communication tool?
• Does digital currency pose a threat to the global economy?
• Use of AI in predicting and managing natural disasters.
• Can biometrics replace traditional identification systems?
• Role of nanotechnology in waste management.
• Machine learning's influence on climate change modeling.
• Edge computing: Revolutionizing data processing?
• Is virtual reality in psychological therapy a viable option?
• Potential of synthetic biology in medical research.
• Quantum cryptography: An uncrackable code?
• Is space tourism achievable with current technology?
• Ethical implications of gene editing technologies.
• Artificial intelligence in governance.

Technology Research Paper Topics in Different Areas

In the next section, we've arranged a collection of technology research questions related to different areas like computer science, biotechnology, and medicine. Find an area you are interested in and look through subject-focused ideas and topics for a research paper on technology.

Technology Research Topics on Computer Science

Computer science is a field that has rapidly developed over the past decades. It deals with questions of technology's influence on society, as well as applications of cutting-edge technologies in various industries and sectors. Here are some computer science research topics on technology to get started:

• Prospects of machine learning in malware detection.
• Influence of cloud computing on business operations.
• Quantum computing: potential impacts on cryptography.
• Role of big data in personalized marketing.
• Can AI models effectively simulate human decision-making?
• Future of mobile applications: Towards augmented reality?
• Pros and cons of open source software development.
• Role of computer science in advancing virtual reality.
• Natural language processing: Transforming human-computer interaction?
• Developing secure e-commerce platforms: Challenges and solutions.
• Green computing : solutions for reducing energy consumption.
• Data mining in healthcare: An untapped opportunity?
• Understanding cyber threats in the internet of things.
• Algorithmic bias: Implications for automated decision-making.
• Role of neural networks in image recognition.

Information Technology Research Topics

Information technology is a dynamic field that involves the use of computers and software to manage and process information. It's crucial in today's digital era, influencing a range of industries from healthcare to entertainment. Here are some captivating information technology related topics:

• Impact of cloud technology on data management.
• Role of information technology in disaster management.
• Can artificial intelligence help improve data accuracy?
• Cybersecurity measures for protecting personal information.
• Evolving role of IT in healthcare administration.
• Adaptive learning systems: A revolution in education?
• E-governance : Impact on public administration.
• Role of IT in modern supply chain management.
• Bioinformatics and its role in personalized medicine.
• Is data mining an invasion of privacy?
• Can virtual reality enhance training and development programs?
• Role of IT in facilitating remote work.
• Smart devices and data security: A potential risk?
• Harnessing IT for sustainable business practices.
• How can big data support decision-making processes?

Technology Research Topics on Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence, or AI as we fondly call it, is all about creating machines that mimic human intelligence. It's shaping everything from how we drive our cars to how we manage our calendars. Want to understand the mind of a machine? Choose a topic about technology for a research paper from the list below:

• AI's role in detecting fake news.
• Chatbots in customer service: Are humans still needed?
• Algorithmic trading: AI's impact on financial markets.
• AI in agriculture: a step towards sustainable farming?
• Facial recognition systems: an AI revolution or privacy threat?
• Can AI outperform humans in creative tasks?
• Sentiment analysis in social media: how effective is AI?
• Siri, Alexa, and the future of AI.
• AI in autonomous vehicles: safety concern or necessity?
• How AI algorithms are transforming video games.
• AI's potential in predicting and mitigating natural disasters.
• Role of AI in combating cyber threats.
• Influence of AI on job recruitment and HR processes.
• Can AI help in advancing climate change research?
• Can machines make accurate diagnoses?

Technology Research Topics in Cybersecurity Command

Cybersecurity Command focuses on strengthening digital protection. Its goal is to identify vulnerabilities, and outsmart cyber threats. Ready to crack the code of the cybersecurity command? Check out these technology topics for research designed to take you through the tunnels of cyberspace:

• Cybersecurity strategies for a post-quantum world.
• Role of AI in identifying cyber threats.
• Is cybersecurity command in healthcare a matter of life and death?
• Is there any connection between cryptocurrency and cybercrime?
• Cyber warfare : The invisible battleground.
• Mitigating insider threats in cybersecurity command.
• Future of biometric authentication in cybersecurity.
• IoT security: command challenges and solutions.
• Cybersecurity and cloud technology: A secure match?
• Influence of blockchain on cybersecurity command.
• Machine learning's role in malware detection.
• Cybersecurity protocols for mobile devices.
• Ethics in cybersecurity: Hacking back and other dilemmas.
• What are some steps to recovery after a breach?
• Social engineering: Human factor in cybersecurity.

Technology Research Topics on Biotechnology

Biotechnology is an interdisciplinary field that has been gaining a lot of traction in the past few decades. It involves the application of biological principles to understand and solve various problems. The following research topic ideas for technology explore biotechnology's impact on medicine, environment, agriculture, and other sectors:

• Can GMOs solve global hunger issues?
• Understanding biotech's role in developing personalized medicine.
• Using biotech to fight antibiotic resistance.
• Pros and cons of genetically modified animals.
• Biofuels – are they really a sustainable energy solution?
• Ethical challenges in gene editing.
• Role of biotech in combating climate change.
• Can biotechnology help conserve biodiversity?
• Biotech in beauty: Revolutionizing cosmetics.
• Bioluminescence – a natural wonder or a biotech tool?
• Applications of microbial biotechnology in waste management.
• Human organ farming: Possibility or pipe dream?
• Biotech and its role in sustainable agriculture.
• Biotech advancements in creating allergy-free foods.
• Exploring the future of biotech in disease detection.

>> Read more: Biology Topics to Research

Technology Research Paper Topics on Genetic Engineering

Genetic engineering is an area of science that involves the manipulation of genes to change or enhance biological characteristics. This field has raised tremendous ethical debates while offering promising solutions in medicine and agriculture. Here are some captivating topics for a technology research paper on genetic engineering:

• Future of gene editing: Breakthrough or ethical dilemma?
• Role of CRISPR technology in combating genetic diseases.
• Pros and cons of genetically modified crops.
• Impact of genetic engineering on biodiversity.
• Can gene therapy provide a cure for cancer?
• Genetic engineering and the quest for designer babies.
• Legal aspects of genetic engineering.
• Use of genetic engineering in organ transplantation.
• Genetic modifications: Impact on human lifespan.
• Genetically engineered pets: A step too far?
• The role of genetic engineering in biofuels production.
• Ethics of genetic data privacy.
• Genetic engineering and its impact on world hunger.
• Genetically modified insects: Solution for disease control?
• Genetic engineering: A tool for biological warfare?

Reproduction Technology Research Paper Topics

Reproduction technology is all about the science that aids human procreation. It's a field teeming with innovation, from IVF advancements to genetic screening. Yet, it also stirs up ethical debates and thought-provoking technology topics to write about:

• Advances in in Vitro Fertilization (IVF) technology .
• The rise of surrogacy: Technological advancements and implications.
• Ethical considerations in sperm and egg donation.
• Genetic screening of embryos: A step forward or an ethical minefield?
• Role of technology in understanding and improving fertility.
• Artificial Wombs: Progress and prospects.
• Ethical and legal aspects of posthumous reproduction.
• Impact of reproductive technology on the LGBTQ+ community.
• The promise and challenge of stem cells in reproduction.
• Technology's role in preventing genetic diseases in unborn babies.
• Social implications of childbearing technology.
• The concept of 'designer babies': Ethical issues and future possibilities.
• Reproductive cloning: Prospects and controversies.
• Technology and the future of contraception.
• Role of AI in predicting successful IVF treatment.

Medical Technology Topics for a Research Paper

The healthcare field is undergoing massive transformations thanks to cutting-edge medical technology. From revolutionary diagnostic tools to life-saving treatments, technology is reshaping medicine as we know it. To aid your exploration of this dynamic field, we've compiled medical technology research paper topics:

• Role of AI in early disease detection.
• Impact of telemedicine on rural healthcare.
• Nanotechnology in cancer treatment: Prospects and challenges.
• Can wearable technology improve patient outcomes?
• Ethical considerations in genome sequencing.
• Augmented reality in surgical procedures.
• The rise of personalized medicine: Role of technology.
• Mental health apps: Revolution or hype?
• Technology and the future of prosthetics.
• Role of Big Data in healthcare decision making.
• Virtual reality as a tool for pain management.
• Impact of machine learning on drug discovery.
• The promise of medical drones for emergency response.
• Technology's role in combating antimicrobial resistance.
• Electronic Health Records (EHRs): Blessing or curse?

>> More ideas: Med Research Topics

Health Technology Research Topics

Health technology is driving modern healthcare to new heights. From apps that monitor vital stats to robots assisting in surgeries, technology's touch is truly transformative. Take a look at these topics related to technology applied in healthcare:

• Role of mobile apps in managing diabetes.
• Impact of health technology on patient privacy.
• Wearable tech: Fad or future of personal health monitoring?
• How can AI help in battling mental health issues?
• Role of digital tools in promoting preventive healthcare.
• Smart homes for the elderly: Boon or bane?
• Technology and its impact on health insurance.
• The effectiveness of virtual therapy sessions.
• Can health chatbots replace human doctors?
• Technology's role in fighting the obesity epidemic.
• The use of blockchain in health data management.
• Impact of technology on sleep health.
• Social media and its effect on mental health.
• Prospects of 3D printing in creating medical equipment.
• Tele-rehabilitation: An effective solution for physical therapy?

>> View more: Public Health Topics to Research

Communication Technology Research Topics

With technology at the helm, our ways of communicating are changing at an unprecedented pace. From simple text messages to immersive virtual conferences, technology has rewritten the rules of engagement. So, without further ado, let's explore these communication research ideas for technology that capture the essence of this revolution.

• AI chatbots: Re-defining customer service.
• The impact of 5G on global communication.
• Augmented Reality: The future of digital marketing?
• Is 'digital divide' hindering global communication?
• Social media's role in shaping public opinion.
• Can holographic communication become a reality?
• Influence of emojis in digital communication.
• The cybersecurity challenges in modern communication.
• Future of journalism in the digital age.
• How technology is reshaping political communication.
• The influence of streaming platforms on viewing habits.
• Privacy concerns in the age of instant messaging.
• Can technology solve the issue of language barriers?
• The rise of podcasting: A digital renaissance.
• Role of virtual reality in remote communication.

Research Topics on Technology in Transportation

Technology is the driving force behind the dramatic changes in transportation, making journeys safer, more efficient, and eco-friendly. Whether it's autonomous vehicles or the concept of Hyperloop, there are many transportation technology topics for a research paper to choose from:

• Electric vehicles: A step towards sustainable travel.
• The role of AI in traffic management.
• Pros and cons of autonomous vehicles.
• Hyperloop: An ambitious vision of the future?
• Drones in goods delivery: Efficiency vs. privacy.
• Technology's role in reducing aviation accidents.
• Challenges in implementing smart highways.
• The implications of blockchain in logistics.
• Could vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicles solve traffic problems?
• Impact of GPS technology on transportation.
• How has technology influenced public transit systems?
• Role of 5G in future transportation.
• Ethical concerns over self-driving cars.
• Technology in maritime safety: Progress and hurdles.
• The evolution of bicycle technology: From spokes to e-bikes.

Technology Research Paper Topics on Education

The intersection of technology and education is an exciting frontier with limitless possibilities. From online learning to interactive classrooms, you can explore various technology paper topics about education:

• How does e-learning affect student engagement?
• VR classrooms: A glimpse into the future?
• Can AI tutors revolutionize personalized learning?
• Digital textbooks versus traditional textbooks: A comparison.
• Gamification in education: Innovation or distraction?
• The impact of technology on special education.
• How are Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) reshaping higher education?
• The role of technology in inclusive education.
• Cybersecurity in schools: Measures and challenges.
• The potential of Augmented Reality (AR) in classroom learning.
• How is technology influencing homeschooling trends?
• Balancing technology and traditional methods in early childhood education.
• Risks and benefits of student data tracking.
• Can coding be the new literacy in the 21st century?
• The influence of social media on academic performance.

>> Learn more: Education Research Paper Topics

Relationships and Technology Research Topics

In the digital age, technology also impacts our relationships. It has become an integral part of how we communicate, meet people, and sustain our connections. Discover some thought-provoking angles with these research paper topics about technology:

• How do dating apps affect modern relationships?
• The influence of social media on interpersonal communication.
• Is technology enhancing or hindering long-distance relationships?
• The psychology behind online dating: A study.
• How do virtual reality environments impact social interaction?
• Social media friendships: Genuine or superficial?
• How does technology-mediated communication affect family dynamics?
• The impact of technology on work-life balance.
• The role of technology in sustaining long-term relationships.
• How does the 'always connected' culture influence personal boundaries?
• Cyberbullying and its effect on teenage relationships.
• Can technology predict compatibility in relationships?
• The effects of 'ghosting' in digital communication.
• How technology assists in maintaining relationships among elderly populations.
• Social media: A boon or bane for marital relationships?

Agriculture Technology Research Paper Topics

Modern agriculture is far from just tilling the soil and harvesting crops. Technology has made remarkable strides into the fields, innovating and improving agricultural processes. Take a glance at these technology research paper topic ideas:

• Can drone technology transform crop monitoring?
• Precision agriculture: Benefits and challenges.
• Aquaponics and the future of sustainable farming.
• How is artificial intelligence aiding in crop prediction?
• Impact of blockchain technology in food traceability.
• The role of IoT in smart farming.
• Vertical farming : Is it a sustainable solution for urban food supply?
• Innovations in irrigation technology for water conservation.
• Automated farming: A boon or a threat to employment in agriculture?
• How satellite imagery is improving crop disease detection.
• Biotechnology in crop improvement: Pros and cons.
• Nanotechnology in agriculture: Scope and limitations.
• Role of robotics in livestock management.
• Agricultural waste management through technology.
• Is hydroponics the future of farming?

Technological Research Topics on Environment

Our planet is facing numerous environmental challenges, and technology may hold the key to solving many of these. With innovations ranging from renewable energy sources to waste management systems, the realm of technology offers a plethora of research angles. So, if you're curious about the intersection of technology and environment, this list of research topics is for you:

• Innovations in waste management: A technology review.
• The role of AI in predicting climate change impacts.
• Renewable energy: Advancements in solar technology.
• The impact of electric vehicles on carbon emissions.
• Can smart agriculture help solve world hunger?
• Role of technology in water purification and conservation.
• The impact of IoT devices on energy consumption.
• Technology solutions for oil spills.
• Satellite technology in environmental monitoring.
• Technological advances in forest conservation.
• Green buildings: Sustainable construction technology.
• Bioengineering: A solution to soil erosion?
• Impact of nanotechnology on environmental conservation.
• Ocean clean-up initiatives: Evaluating existing technology.
• How can technology help in reducing air pollution?

>> View more: Environmental Science Research Topics

Energy & Power Technology Topics for Research Paper

Energy and power are two pivotal areas where technology is bringing unprecedented changes. You can investigate renewable energy sources or efficient power transmission. If you're excited about exploring the intricacies of energy and power advancements, here are some engaging technology topics for research papers:

• Assessing the efficiency of wind energy technologies.
• Power storage: Current and future technology.
• Solar panel technology: Recent advancements and future predictions.
• Can nuclear fusion be the answer to our energy crisis?
• Smart grid technology: A revolution in power distribution.
• Evaluating the impact of hydropower on ecosystems.
• The role of AI in optimizing power consumption.
• Biofuels vs. fossil fuels: A comparative study.
• Electric vehicle charging infrastructure: Technological challenges and solutions.
• Technology advancements in geothermal power.
• How is IoT technology helping in energy conservation?
• Harnessing wave and tidal energy: Technological possibilities.
• Role of nanotechnology in improving solar cell efficiency.
• Power transmission losses: Can technology provide a solution?
• Assessing the future of coal technology in the era of renewable energy.

Research Topics about Technology in Finance

The finance sector has seen drastic changes with the rise of technology, which has revolutionized the way financial transactions are conducted and services are offered. Consider these research topics in technology applied in the finance sector:

• Rise of cryptocurrency: An evaluation of Bitcoin's impact.
• Algorithmic trading: How does it reshape financial markets?
• Role of AI and machine learning in financial forecasting.
• Technological challenges in implementing digital banking.
• How is blockchain technology transforming financial services?
• Cybersecurity risks in online banking: Identifying solutions.
• FinTech startups: Disrupting traditional finance systems.
• Role of technology in financial inclusion.
• Assessing the impact of mobile wallets on the banking sector.
• Automation in finance: Opportunities and threats.
• Role of big data analytics in financial decision making.
• AI-based robo-advisors vs. human financial advisors.
• The future of insurance technology (InsurTech).
• Can technology solve the issue of financial fraud?
• Impact of regulatory technology (RegTech) in maintaining compliance.

>> More ideas: Finance Research Topics

War Technology Research Paper Topics

The nature of warfare has transformed significantly with the evolution of technology, shifting the battlegrounds from land, sea, and air to the realms of cyber and space. This transition opens up a range of topics to explore. Here are some research topics in the realm of war technology:

• Drones in warfare: Ethical implications.
• Cyber warfare: Assessing threats and defense strategies.
• Autonomous weapons: A boon or a curse?
• Implications of artificial intelligence in modern warfare.
• Role of technology in intelligence gathering.
• Satellite technology and its role in modern warfare.
• The future of naval warfare: Autonomous ships and submarines.
• Hypersonic weapons: Changing the dynamics of war.
• Impact of nuclear technology in warfare.
• Technology and warfare: Exploring the relationship.
• Information warfare: The role of social media.
• Space warfare: Future possibilities and implications.
• Bio-warfare: Understanding technology's role in development and prevention.
• Impact of virtual reality on military training.
• War technology and international law: A critical examination.

Food Technology Topics for Research Papers

Food technology is a field that deals with the study of food production, preservation, and safety. It involves understanding how various techniques can be applied to increase shelf life and improve nutrition value of foods. Check out our collection of food technology research paper topic ideas:

• Lab-grown meats: Sustainable solution or a mere hype?
• How AI is enhancing food safety and quality?
• Precision agriculture: Revolutionizing farming practices.
• GMOs: Assessing benefits and potential risks.
• Role of robotics in food manufacturing and packaging.
• Smart kitchens: Streamlining cooking through technology.
• Nanofood: Tiny technology, big impact.
• Sustainable food systems: Role of technology.
• Food traceability: Ensuring transparency and accountability.
• Food delivery apps: Changing the face of dining out.
• The rise of plant-based alternatives and their production technologies.
• Virtual and augmented reality in culinary experiences.
• Technology in mitigating food waste.
• Innovations in food packaging: Impact on freshness and sustainability.
• IoT in smart farming: Improving yield and reducing waste.

Entertainment Technology Topics

Entertainment technology is reinventing the ways we experience amusement. This industry is always presenting new angles for research and discussion, be it the rise of virtual reality in movies or the influence of streaming platforms on the music industry. Here's a list of unique research topics related to entertainment technology:

• Impact of virtual reality on the movie industry.
• Streaming platforms vs traditional media: A comparative study.
• Technology in music: Evolution and future prospects.
• eSports: Rise of a new form of entertainment.
• Augmented reality in theme parks.
• The transformation of theater with digital technology.
• AI and film editing: Redefining the art.
• The role of technology in the rise of independent cinema.
• Podcasts: Revolutionizing radio with technology.
• Immersive technologies in art exhibitions.
• The influence of technology on fashion shows and design.
• Livestreaming concerts: A new norm in the music industry?
• Drones in entertainment: Applications and ethics.
• Social media as an entertainment platform.
• The transformation of journalism in the era of digital entertainment.

Technology Research Questions

As we navigate the ever-changing landscape of technology, numerous intriguing questions arise. Below, we present new research questions about technology that can fuel your intellectual pursuit.

• What potential does quantum computing hold for resolving complex problems?
• How will advancements in AI impact job security across different sectors?
• In what ways can blockchain technology reform the existing financial systems?
• How is nanotechnology revolutionizing the field of medicine?
• What are the ethical implications surrounding the use of facial recognition technology?
• How will the introduction of 6G change our communication patterns?
• In what ways is green technology contributing to sustainable development?
• Can virtual reality transform the way we approach education?
• How are biometrics enhancing the security measures in today's digital world?
• How is space technology influencing our understanding of the universe?
• What role can technology play in solving the global water crisis?
• How can technology be leveraged to combat climate change effectively?
• How is technology transforming the landscape of modern agriculture?
• Can technological advancements lead to a fully renewable energy-dependent world?
• How does technology influence the dynamics of modern warfare?

Bottom Line on Research Topics in Technology

Technology is a rapidly evolving field, and there's always something new to explore. Whether you're writing for the computer sciences, information technology or food technology realm, there are endless ideas that you can research on. Pick one of these technology research paper topics and jumpstart your project.

Trust professionals to ‘ write a research paper for me !’ Our team of expert writers is ready to assist you in crafting an exceptional research paper on any topic. Just reach out, and we'll provide you with high-quality work tailored to your needs.

Joe Eckel is an expert on Dissertations writing. He makes sure that each student gets precious insights on composing A-grade academic writing.

You may also like

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

• View all journals

Energy management articles from across Nature Portfolio

Latest research and reviews.

Transient dataset of household appliances with Intensive switching events

• Dongyang Zhang
• Xiaohu Zhang

Artificial intelligence-aided wind plant optimization for nationwide evaluation of land use and economic benefits of wake steering

Wind farms would benefit from optimization of their design and operation. Harrison-Atlas et al. report an artificial intelligence-aided optimization approach that shows the potential of wake steering strategies to minimize land requirements and costs.

• Dylan Harrison-Atlas
• Andrew Glaws

Reducing supply risk of critical materials for clean energy via foreign direct investment

Critical clean energy materials exhibit supply risks due to unbalanced cross-country production and consumption patterns. A study now maps the global distribution of mineral property rights, through foreign direct investment, to show its potential role in reducing critical materials’ supply risks.

• Fuquan Zhao

The Plegma dataset: Domestic appliance-level and aggregate electricity demand with metadata from Greece

• Sotirios Athanasoulias
• Fernanda Guasselli
• Vladimir Stankovic

LEAP model-based analysis to low-carbon transformation path in the power sector: a case study of Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area

• Cuiping Liao

A dataset for multi-faceted analysis of electric vehicle charging transactions

• Eunjung Lee

News and Comment

Energy demands of water distribution.

• Silvana Lakeman

Evidence of discrimination

Extractive industry exploration.

Booming solar energy is encroaching on cropland

The rapid spread of solar power plants onto cropland is having increasingly detrimental impacts. Targeted policy and technological solutions are urgently needed to resolve the tension between renewable energy and food production.

Regulatory barriers

Sustainable battery manufacturing in the future

Lithium-ion battery manufacturing is energy-intensive, raising concerns about energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions amid surging global demand. New research reveals that battery manufacturing will be more energy-efficient in future because technological advances and economies of scale will counteract the projected rise in future energy demand.

Quick links

• Explore articles by subject
• Guide to authors
• Editorial policies