If popular culture is any bellwether, a clear winner already exists in the battle between 3D printing versus injection molding. However, in the real world, 3D printing, or additive manufacturing, and injection molding rarely compete for industry attention…

The increased reliance on renewable forms of energy makes it more important than ever to identify energy sources that can efficiently supplement the variable output and available peak load capacities of such renewable sources like wind and solar power…

Although wind currently provides 5 percent of the world’s electricity, the growing push for renewables has led many scientists and engineers to predict that wind turbines may generate at least half of all power by 2050. That is not a given, however, as…

The global gas turbine market is expected to experience substantial growth in both the short- and long-term in response to a growing need for a reliable, cost-effective electric supply with few carbon emissions. Such growth is being spurred by increased…

As regulatory pressure continues to curb greenhouse emissions, there has been a lot of attention on solar and wind energy. However, a less-publicized renewable energy source could play a major role in preparing for a world that is less dependent on fossil…

As renewable energy sources such as wind and solar become a larger part of the overall United States’ energy portfolio, energy producers and system operators have an opportunity to take advantage of expanding options to introduce renewable energy to the…

Biogas is a renewable energy source that can be used to generate heat and electricity. It’s produced through the decomposition of organic materials from plants and animals, also known as “biomass.” Further refined through a renewable natural gas production…

The potential for wind energy is massive. Although wind energy currently represents only about five percent of the world’s total electricity, many experts predict it could easily produce at least one-fourth to one-third of the world’s total production…

During the past 60 years, the use of the natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) process for electricity generation has grown to make it one of the world’s leading sources of power. Along the way, natural gas combined cycle efficiency has improved because of…

For decades, coal has dominated global power generation. Yet, its share of power generation is declining. The International Energy Agency predicts that global coal consumption has peaked and will not return to former levels, as cited in an article appearing…

The sun has been referred to as a primary inexhaustible energy source capable of meeting energy demands on a global scale. Electricity can be generated from solar energy either directly using photovoltaic (PV) cells or indirectly using concentrated solar…

Demand for wood is higher than ever. According to a 2020 report by the Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, record volumes of wood-based products were produced and traded globally in 2018. This represented an 11% increase in international…

In baseball, a utility infielder is a reliable and versatile player who can fill in at multiple positions depending on the needs of the team. In 21st-century power generation, a reciprocating engine can play such a role.  

Indeed, reliable and versatile…

For decades, coal has dominated global power generation. Yet, its share of power generation is declining. The International Energy Agency predicts that global coal consumption has peaked and will not return to former levels, as cited in an article appearing…

Since its industry introduction in the 1960s, automation has made an accelerated climb to be a significant trend in material handling applications. Now, automated material handling systems handle a wide range of repetitive and precision tasks in manufacturing…

Traditionally dependent on fossil fuels to run key equipment, mining is known as a carbon-intensive industry. New trends, such as battery-powered underground mining equipment, are promising to disrupt that paradigm. 

Increasingly, stakeholders are demanding…

Modern, highly mechanized forestry practices are known for being fairly carbon-intensive. New technologies, however, are being introduced with the potential to help lessen the environmental impacts of forestry while helping the industry be even more productive…

The history of commercial robotic lawnmowers is one that includes a few fits and stops. The cost has been a primary deterrent to the adoption of automated technology, especially for cash-strapped municipalities and smaller golf courses. 

However, that…

The commercial lawn and turf market is dominated by gasoline-powered machinery. That is starting to change, however, as the adoption of commercial electric mowers and hybrid gasoline-electric lawn and turf equipment is growing. 

This trend is due in part…

America’s agriculture industry is facing a labor crisis. In California, the country’s top agriculture state, more than 40% of farmers in the past five years have been unable to find enough workers to support production.

Technology, however…

Internet of Things (IoT) technology enables otherwise unconnected objects to be connected digitally. The technology already is transforming industries such as automobile manufacturing, consumer products, shipping and logistics and more. IoT in construction…

The electrification trend is clearly impacting the automotive industry’s reliance on internal combustion engines (ICE). It is even affecting change in off-road segments, such as construction. With the growing use of precision agriculture technology, and…

There is hardly any question that the 21st century is bringing about a revolution in construction processes and equipment. Many of the aspects of what’s traditionally thought of as manual labor is changing forever with the introduction of construction…

Since the 1960s, the diesel internal combustion engine (ICE) has reigned as the powerplant of choice for off-road heavy equipment, offering high levels of power and torque relative to weight and volume.

In the future, however, diesel’s reign as the construction…