fossil fuels

‘Committed’ CO2 emissions jeopardize international climate goals, UCI-led study finds

Written on July 1, 2019.

Existing, planned fossil fuel-burning infrastructure must be retired early, replaced Irvine, Calif., July 1, 2019 – The nations that have signed agreements to stabilize the global mean temperature by 2050 will fail to meet their goals unless existing fossil fuel-burning infrastructure around the world is retired early, according to a study – published today in Nature – by researchers at the University of California, Irvine and other institutions. “We need to reach net-zero carbon dioxide...

Wind and solar power could meet four-fifths of U.S. electricity demand, study finds

Written on February 27, 2018.

UCI, Caltech, Carnegie: Investment in greater storage, transmission capabilities needed Irvine, Calif., Feb. 27, 2018 – The United States could reliably meet about 80 percent of its electricity demand with solar and wind power generation, according to scientists at the University of California, Irvine; the California Institute of Technology; and the Carnegie Institution for Science. However, meeting 100 percent of electricity demand with only solar and wind energy would require storing...

Deep Green: Long-Term Zero-Carbon Power for the 21st Century

Written on November 15, 2011.

Tatiana Arizaga, School of Physical Sciences E-Newsletter On October 18, 2011, Dr. Shaka gave a lecture as part of the 2011-2012 Discover the Physical Sciences Breakfast Lecture Series in which he proposed nuclear technology as the solution to obtaining clean energy. Dr. Shaka believes that continued burning of fossil fuels, with the large influx of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, could prove to be an enormous and expensive future problem. Furthermore, even if such changes...

Oceans losing ability to absorb greenhouse gas

Written on January 11, 2010.

Like a dirty filter, the Earth’s oceans are growing less efficient at absorbing vast amounts of carbon dioxide, the major greenhouse gas produced by fossil-fuel burning, reports a study co-authored by Francois Primeau, UC Irvine Earth system science associate professor. Jennifer Fitzenberger, University Communications Like a dirty filter, the Earth’s oceans are growing less efficient at absorbing vast amounts of carbon dioxide, the major greenhouse gas produced by fossil-fuel burning,...

Chemists discover ozone-boosting reaction

Written on July 20, 2009.

It’s a recipe for choking smog. Burn tons of fossil fuels. Pump those chemicals into the air where they react on surfaces of buildings and roads. A result is the creation of photochemical smog-forming chlorine atoms, UC Irvine scientists report in a new study. Jennifer Fitzenberger, University Communications It’s a recipe for choking smog. Burn tons of fossil fuels. Pump those chemicals into the air where they react on surfaces of buildings and roads. A result is the creation of...

Solar energy center aids product development

Written on February 13, 2009.

UC Irvine scientists believe sunlight is the fuel of the future. Jennifer Fitzenberger, University Communications UC Irvine scientists believe sunlight is the fuel of the future. UCI launched its Center for Solar Energy in 2007 with a $3.9 million gift from the California Community Foundation. The center, in the School of Physical Sciences, blends biology, chemistry, physics and engineering to find new, better ways to turn solar energy into useable chemical and electrical energy. Chemists...