Nature Energy, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02128-0

A heat-driven elastocaloric cooling system is demonstrated in which two shape memory alloys perform complementary roles: one converts heat into mechanical work, while the other converts that work into cooling. This approach offers a pathway to electricity-minimized solid-state cooling using abundant low-grade heat sources.

Nature Energy, Published online: 08 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02142-2

Evaporation-driven electricity generation can utilize the abundant thermal energy in the atmosphere, but is limited by ion scattering in the energy-harvesting material. Machine learning has now enabled the design of vertical microrod generators that achieve quasi-ballistic ion transport, boosting the power density and power conversion efficiency.

Nature Energy, Published online: 08 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02134-2

Effective clean technology (cleantech) policies, such as subsidies and carbon pricing, require an understanding of how interventions shape environmental and socioeconomic outcomes. To support targeted, evidence-based policy design, we discuss how causal machine learning can compare alternative policy scenarios and reveal where, how and for whom cleantech policies work.

Nature Energy, Published online: 01 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02113-7

Reactive capture of CO2 integrates capture and conversion, bypassing regeneration and potentially simplifying upstream–downstream process integration, but its deployment readiness is unclear. In this Perspective the authors argue that reactive capture of CO2 could be industrially viable at present levels of selectivity and voltage if stability and scale barriers are addressed.

Nature Energy, Published online: 28 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02122-6

Elastocaloric cooling in shape memory alloy films is efficient but limited by electrically powered actuators. Here the authors demonstrate a heat-driven system that achieves a temperature span of up to 12.9 K (4.0 K at device level), showing that waste heat can be used for electricity-minimized cooling.

Nature Energy, Published online: 25 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02131-5

Cell-to-cell inconsistency is a key barrier to realizing full performance in electric vehicle batteries. Using large-scale real-world fleet data, the researchers quantify its impact and show considerable losses in battery health, pack lifetime, power capability and usable energy.

Nature Energy, Published online: 20 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02112-8

Lattice-oxygen redox can raise the energy density of layered oxide cathodes, but poor reversibility causes structural degradation and capacity loss. Here the authors use iron as a bulk redox mediator to boost oxygen-redox reversibility and stabilize high-energy sodium-ion batteries.

Nature Energy, Published online: 18 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41560-026-02101-x

A major challenge for indoor photovoltaics is the absence of harmonized testing protocols, standards, and shared performance benchmarks. This Consensus Statement outlines recommended practices for testing and reporting device performance, power, efficiency and stability.