Topics › Earth, Energy & Environment

Best Renewables, batteries & storage videos, as recommended on Hacker News

62 videos about renewables, batteries & storage that Hacker News commenters keep recommending, mentioned between 2009 and 2026. Mostly explainer, talk, demo. Channels that come up most: Technology Connections, Real Engineering, Engineering Explained, Everything Electric CARS. Sorted by how consistently HN recommended them over the years.

The most recommended is Václav Smil at Driva Climate Investment Meeting 2019: Frequently linked as a sobering, data-grounded counterpoint to techno-optimism about decarbonization and green growth.

• talkVáclav Smil at Driva Climate Investment Meeting 2019Nysnø Klimainvesteringer · 3 HN recommenders · 2019–2024
• explainerWhy Heat Pumps are Immensely Important Right NowTechnology Connections · 9 HN recommenders · 2022–2023
• documentaryMichael Moore Presents: Planet of the Humans | A Film by Jeff Gibbs | Full DocumentaryMichael Moore · 7 HN recommenders · 2020–2024
• explainerGround Source / Geothermal Heat Pumps and Other InfoTechnology Connections · 6 HN recommenders · 2021–2026
• explainerYou are being misled about renewable energy technology.Technology Connections · 12 HN recommenders · 2026–2026
• documentaryPulling Power from the Sky: The Story of Makani [Feature Film]X, The Moonshot Factory · 6 HN recommenders · 2020–2025
• explainerHeat Pumps are Not Hard: Here's what it will take to start pumpingTechnology Connections · 5 HN recommenders · 2022–2023
• explainerConnecting Solar to the Grid is Harder Than You ThinkPractical Engineering · 4 HN recommenders · 2024–2025
• lectureWhy Vertical Farming Won't Save the PlanetUtah State University Extension · 4 HN recommenders · 2017–2025
• talkEnergy Investments Dialogue | Bill Gates | Global Energy ForumStanford ENERGY · 3 HN recommenders · 2019–2020
• explainerAre Electric Cars Worse For The Environment? Myth BustedEngineering Explained · 5 HN recommenders · 2018–2023
• tutorialRevolutionary Paint: How to Make Surfaces Stay Cool in the SunTech Ingredients · 5 HN recommenders · 2023–2026
• explainerThe Truth about HydrogenReal Engineering · 5 HN recommenders · 2018–2021
• explainerWorld's Largest Batteries - (Pumped Storage)Practical Engineering · 4 HN recommenders · 2020–2024
• commentaryEV Road Trips Suck Now (Except in a Tesla)Aging Wheels · 4 HN recommenders · 2023–2026
• explainerThe Unfortunate Truth About Toyota's Hydrogen V8 EngineEngineering Explained · 3 HN recommenders · 2022–2024
• lectureTurning Photons Into FoodApogee Instruments Inc. · 3 HN recommenders · 2020–2021
• explainerThe Problem with Solar Energy in AfricaReal Engineering · 4 HN recommenders · 2021–2024
• talkEnergy From Thorium: A Nuclear Waste Burning Liquid Salt Thorium ReactorGoogle TechTalks · 3 HN recommenders · 2009–2011
• talkA reality check on renewables - David MacKayTED-Ed · 3 HN recommenders · 2017–2021
• talkWhy renewables can’t save the planet | Michael Shellenberger | TEDxDanubiaTEDx Talks · 3 HN recommenders · 2019–2020
• explainerAre Electric Planes Possible?Real Engineering · 4 HN recommenders · 2018–2024
• explainerCalifornia's Renewable Energy ProblemReal Engineering · 4 HN recommenders · 2019–2022
• talkTesla Battery DayTesla · 3 HN recommenders · 2020–2021
• lecture"Energy Revolution? More like a Crawl" - Dr. Vaclav SmilTrottier Institute for Sustainability in Engineering and Design · 3 HN recommenders · 2017–2022
• demoFun with ultracapacitors!!Afrotechmods · 3 HN recommenders · 2013–2020
• talkSustainable Energy - Without the Hot Air with David MacKayHarvard University · 3 HN recommenders · 2015–2017
• explainerA Complete Beginner's Guide to Electric VehiclesTechnology Connections · 3 HN recommenders · 2022–2026
• talkClean Disruption - Why Energy & Transportation will be Obsolete by 2030 - Oslo, March 2016Tony Seba · 3 HN recommenders · 2016–2018
• talkThe Liquid Metal Battery: Innovation in stationary electricity storageSchool of Convergence Science · 3 HN recommenders · 2019–2021
• explainerThe Future of Humanity's Energy No One Knows About | TerraformS3 | Science, Startups, & Stories · 3 HN recommenders · 2024–2024
• documentary"This Machine Greens" - Bitcoin Documentary - Online PremiereSwan Bitcoin · 5 HN recommenders · 2021–2022
• documentaryNew Earthships capture more energy, water & food at lower costKirsten Dirksen · 3 HN recommenders · 2020–2026
• demoVertical Bifacial Solar Panel Performance Results Part 1Projects With Everyday Dave · 3 HN recommenders · 2024–2025
• explainerRisking My Life To Settle A Physics DebateVeritasium · 5 HN recommenders · 2021–2023
• explainerPower Satellites & Space Based Solar PowerIsaac Arthur · 2 HN recommenders · 2020–2024
• explainerThe Great Stranding: How Inaccurate Mainstream LCOE Estimates are Creating a Trillion-Dollar BubbleRethinkX · 2 HN recommenders · 2022–2025
• demoSolar Powered Air Conditioner!Tech Ingredients · 2 HN recommenders · 2021–2023
• lectureProfessor Jeff Dahn | WIN Seminar SeriesWaterloo Institute for Nanotechnology · 2 HN recommenders · 2015–2017
• tutorialScavenging rechargeable lithium cells from the roadsidebigclivedotcom · 2 HN recommenders · 2022–2024
• explainerWhy Teslas Are Bad At Towing (Today)Engineering Explained · 2 HN recommenders · 2020–2024
• explainerHydrogen Will Not Save Us. Here's Why.Sabine Hossenfelder · 2 HN recommenders · 2023–2023
• explainerWhat *Really* happens to used Electric Car Batteries? - (you might be surprised)JerryRigEverything · 2 HN recommenders · 2023–2025
• demoTOTAL teardown of a lithium phone battery.bigclivedotcom · 1 HN recommender · 2016–2024
• explainerThe LED's Challenge to High Pressure SodiumTechnology Connections · 2 HN recommenders · 2018–2021
• talkShould Google Go Nuclear? Clean, cheap, nuclear power...Google TechTalks · 1 HN recommender · 2011–2022
• explainerThe Problem with BiofuelsReal Engineering · 2 HN recommenders · 2021–2023
• documentaryOrkney 'Surf n Turf' | Fully ChargedEverything Electric CARS · 1 HN recommender · 2017–2020
• talkDonald Sadoway: The missing link to renewable energyTED · 1 HN recommender · 2013–2025
• explainerHow to Build a Dyson Sphere - The Ultimate MegastructureKurzgesagt – In a Nutshell · 1 HN recommender · 2019–2024
• explainerBatteries aren't the only way to store energy. Here's another.Technology Connections · 1 HN recommender · 2021–2023
• talkTony Seba: Clean Disruption - Energy & TransportationColorado Renewable Energy Society (CRES) · 1 HN recommender · 2017–2019
• demoWireless vs wired DC fast charging efficiency testBjørn Nyland · 1 HN recommender · 2022–2025
• demoStoring Solar Power on my ROOF!!!Quint BUILDs · 2 HN recommenders · 2022–2025
• lectureAssoc Prof Simon Michaux - The quantity of metals required to manufacture just one generation of...Sustainable Minerals Institute UQ · 1 HN recommender · 2022–2023
• demoHydrogen vs. Gasoline Leak and Ignition Test- which is safer?Hydrogen Societies · 1 HN recommender · 2023–2026
• talkRethinking Energy -- 100% Solar, Wind and Batteries Is Just The BeginningTony Seba · 1 HN recommender · 2021–2025
• talkTesla Virtual Power PlantInfoQ · 1 HN recommender · 2020–2024
• demoNIO ES8 & 3-minute Battery Swap Station | FULLY CHARGED for Clean Energy & Electric VehiclesEverything Electric CARS · 1 HN recommender · 2020–2024
• demoTesting LCBs (Lithium Ceramic Batteries) || The Future of Battery Technology?GreatScott! · 1 HN recommender · 2018–2026
• explainerEEVblog #632 - Solar Roadways Are RUBBISH!EEVblog · 1 HN recommender · 2014–2023
• documentary100% Electric Ferry Crossing | Fully Charged 4kEverything Electric CARS · 1 HN recommender · 2019–2024