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Renewables, batteries & storage: videos Hacker News recommends
Renewable energy: solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, batteries, lithium, hydrogen, grid storage, energy transition, solar panel technology, energy efficiency economics. Below: every video in this topic that at least three HN users linked with real commentary, in at least three different months (31 explainers, 16 demos, 15 talks), best-scored first, with the comments on each video page.
- Nysnø Klimainvesteringer talk recommended in 8 different months by 3 HN users, 2019–2024Frequently linked as a sobering, data-grounded counterpoint to techno-optimism about decarbonization and green growth.
- HN's default link for anyone asking whether heat pumps work and why they're efficient, thanks to the presenter's clear and enthusiastic delivery.
- Michael Moore documentary recommended in 7 different months by 7 HN users, 2020–2024HN uses it as a contrarian critique of renewables and green tech, often recommended with caveats about bias and flawed conclusions.
- Recommended as part of an excellent, approachable series explaining residential heat pumps.
- HN repeatedly recommends it as an up-to-date, fact-focused case for solar and batteries that readers can cite on land use and costs.
- X, The Moonshot Factory documentary recommended in 5 different months by 6 HN users, 2020–2025HN recommends it as a technically rich, beautifully made documentary on ambitious hardware engineering and failure.
- HN recommends the series as an enthusiastic, entertaining deep dive into residential heat pumps whenever heating or climate threads arise.
- HN people link it as the go-to explainer for grid and inverter stability, especially in threads about blackouts and distributed solar.
- Utah State University Extension lecture recommended in 5 different months by 4 HN users, 2017–2025HN uses it as the go-to rebuttal to vertical farming hype, since it gives hard numbers from a leading controlled-environment authority.
- Stanford ENERGY talk recommended in 5 different months by 3 HN users, 2019–2020Cited in energy threads for Gates's argument on why batteries and renewables alone fall short and nuclear is needed.
- HN commenters link it repeatedly as a clear, number-based rebuttal to the claim that EVs are worse for the climate than gas cars.
- HN points to it as an impressive, hands-on DIY demonstration of passive radiative cooling that works in practice.
- HN links it in hydrogen threads as a clear breakdown of why compounded inefficiencies make hydrogen a poor fit for cars, though one commenter calls it outdated.
- Recommended as a clear explanation of pumped hydro and its limits in energy storage discussions.
- Aging Wheels commentary recommended in 4 different months by 4 HN users, 2023–2026HN cites it as a clear side-by-side showing the papercuts of non-Tesla fast charging in EV debates.
- HN uses it as the go-to explanation of why hydrogen internal combustion engines do not make sense.
- Apogee Instruments Inc. lecture recommended in 4 different months by 3 HN users, 2020–2021Cited in vertical farming debates as a rigorous look at when indoor crops are economically viable.
- Linked whenever commenters ask whether Sahara solar could power Europe, as a clear explanation of why it is impractical.
- HN used it as the go-to introduction to LFTR and thorium reactor technology in energy threads.
- Cited in energy debates for its back-of-envelope scale of the transition and the land and storage limits of wind and solar.
- HN commenters credit it with changing their minds on nuclear power and cite it for the downsides of renewables.
- HN recommends it as a clear explanation of why batteries limit electric aviation.
- Offered in energy and nuclear debates as a numbers-based walkthrough of renewable storage costs, though one commenter disliked its tone.
- Treated as the essential primary source for Tesla's battery and cost-reduction plans, and a feast for engineering nerds.
- Trottier Institute for Sustainability in Engineering and Design lecture recommended in 3 different months by 3 HN users, 2017–2022HN recommends it as a grounded, data-driven counter to hype about quick energy revolutions.
- Afrotechmods demo recommended in 3 different months by 3 HN users, 2013–2020HN commenters use it as a vivid, math-backed demonstration of what ultracapacitors can do and why shorting them is dangerous.
- HN recommends it as an approachable, numbers-driven overview of what renewable energy would take.
- Recommended as an entertaining, in-depth beginner's guide that persuades skeptics that a wall outlet often suffices.
- Tony Seba talk recommended in 3 different months by 3 HN users, 2016–2018Cited as a well-argued case that solar plus batteries and EVs will reach a tipping point sooner than mainstream forecasts expect.
- School of Convergence Science talk recommended in 3 different months by 3 HN users, 2019–2021HN brings it up in energy storage threads as a promising scalable grid storage technology, and calls it worth the hour.
- S3 | Science, Startups, & Stories explainer recommended in 3 different months by 3 HN users, 2024HN commenters point to it as a clear, short tour of Terraform's synthetic fuel approach and goals.
- Swan Bitcoin documentary recommended in 3 different months by 5 HN users, 2021–2022Bitcoin advocates on HN cite it to rebut energy-consumption and waste criticisms, though it is an advocacy piece from a Bitcoin company.
- HN commenters recommend the channel's alternative-living videos, and this one for its look at a net-zero desert home.
- Projects With Everyday Dave demo recommended in 3 different months by 3 HN users, 2024–2025HN points to it as real-world, side-by-side data on vertical versus angled panel orientation.
- Frequently linked whenever wind-powered vehicles come up, as the clearest visual explanation of how the craft works.
- HN commenters recommend it as the best overview of power satellites, with pros and cons beyond the construction cost.
- RethinkX explainer recommended in 2 different months by 2 HN users, 2022–2025Cited in nuclear-versus-renewables debates to support the argument that cheap renewables undercut new nuclear.
- HN points to it as a detailed, DIY-able design for desiccant-based cooling.
- Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology lecture recommended in 2 different months by 2 HN users, 2015–2017HN recommends it as a detailed look at battery degradation, in threads on EV and grid storage lifetimes.
- Used as the explanation behind the free-lithium-cell scavenging idea in threads about vapes and battery reuse.
- HN points to it as a solid analysis of EV towing range in truck and highway threads.
- HN cites it in hydrogen strategy threads as a concise skeptical summary of why hydrogen is not yet viable.
- JerryRigEverything explainer recommended in 2 different months by 2 HN users, 2023–2025HN points to it as evidence that battery recycling is more advanced and practical than people assume.
- HN points to it in battery-fire threads as a rare look at what is inside a Li-ion cell and how dangerous disassembly really is.
- HN commenters point to it in lighting threads for its pros and cons of LED versus sodium lamps, though one calls it almost right.
- Cited as Bussard's last substantial public presentation on polywell fusion and the source of his claim that about $200M would be enough.
- Linked in fuel and aviation threads as the full story on why ethanol and biofuels are energy-negative or inefficient.
- HN cites it for Orkney's surplus renewable energy, hydrogen facilities and EV uptake.
- Referenced as an early, inspiring presentation of the molten-metal battery idea that later grid-storage startups pursued.
- HN links it as a nice intro to what a realistic Dyson swarm would require, and as a companion to megastructure discussions.
- Cited in grid, smart thermostat and energy storage threads as an accessible explanation of load shifting.
- Colorado Renewable Energy Society (CRES) talk recommended in 1 different month by 1 HN user, 2017–2019HN commenters cite it as a big-picture case for exponential solar and EV adoption, usually with caveats about whether his predictions will hold.
- Bjørn Nyland demo recommended in 1 different month by 1 HN user, 2022–2025HN cites it as the evidence that inductive EV charging can match wired charging in efficiency.
- Quint BUILDs demo recommended in 1 different month by 2 HN users, 2022–2025HN commenters cite it as an entertaining reality check on home gravity storage, showing the yield is tiny compared to household needs.
- Sustainable Minerals Institute UQ lecture recommended in 1 different month by 1 HN user, 2022–2023Cited in energy transition threads for ballpark numbers on mineral demand, though some commenters criticize its assumptions.
- Hydrogen Societies demo recommended in 1 different month by 1 HN user, 2023–2026HN cites it in hydrogen car debates, with some seeing it as evidence of relative safety and others finding it unconvincing.
- Tony Seba talk recommended in 1 different month by 1 HN user, 2021–2025HN cites it as support for the argument that renewables with storage are already cheapest and still getting cheaper.
- Cited as a technical look at how Tesla's VPPs and Autobidder work as distributed systems.
- Linked as concrete evidence that automated battery swapping already works in practice, especially in China.
- GreatScott! demo recommended in 1 different month by 1 HN user, 2018–2026HN commenters cite it as hands-on testing of a solid-state battery claim, though some remain skeptical until products ship.
- HN cites it as the go-to debunking whenever solar roads come up, because it does the math.
- HN commenters cite it as a concrete, working example of large-battery electric shipping with fast automated charging.
- South China Morning Post news clip cited on HN 3 times, 2023–2023Linked as concrete evidence that automated EV battery swapping already works at scale in China.
- HN commenters link it as a defense of Bitcoin's energy use, offered as a rebuttal to claims that mining is wasteful.
- HN cites it whenever grid storage or pumped hydro comes up, as an accessible example of storage at scale.
- HN points to it as a real example of battery swapping and diesel-to-electric conversion for heavy trucks.
- Cited as an example of Orkney's grid innovation and role as a test site for renewable tech.
- sbknapps demo cited on HN 5 times, 2013–2020Linked as visual evidence that the Model S supported battery swapping whenever swap stations come up.
- Used as a critical reference to argue gravity energy storage is impractical, not as a general recommendation.
- Mentioned only occasionally as a contrarian argument for hybrids over EVs, with no real endorsement.
- Cited as a quick explainer in threads about rooftop solar, renewables, and grid load.
- The standard reference whenever threads discuss electrifying trucking via overhead lines instead of big batteries.
- HN mostly cites it as an example of sponsored content, with critics calling it FUD about battery electric cars, though one commenter noted it as a comparison.
- Go-to reference in EV threads for showing that battery swapping already works in practice.
- HN cites it as the go-to debunk when gravity storage projects appear, usually by commenters who think the idea is a dud.
- Toyota USA demo cited on HN 4 times, 2021–2024Cited in hydrogen debates as evidence that pressurized hydrogen tanks do not necessarily explode when punctured.
- NOVA PBS Official demo cited on HN 9 times, 2017–2024Cited repeatedly as a quick visual demonstration that solid-state or polymer batteries can survive abuse without igniting.
- Allan demo cited on HN 5 times, 2017–2025HN references it as prior art whenever solar sintering, sand printing or sunlight-based manufacturing comes up.
- HN points to it as the real-world example for the garage orphan problem, meaning EV owners with no home charger.
- Cited as a good explainer on EV charging, including the CCS standard with Tesla as the holdout.
- Cited in threads on atmospheric water harvesting as the standard debunking of such startups.
- styropyro demo cited on HN 4 times, 2023–2024Cited in battery and electrical safety threads as a vivid demonstration of what very high-current battery banks can do.
- HN cites it in wind-power debates as measured evidence that turbine noise is low relative to ambient or road noise.
Questions
What is the most recommended renewables, batteries & storage video on Hacker News?
Václav Smil at Driva Climate Investment Meeting 2019 by Nysnø Klimainvesteringer: Frequently linked as a sobering, data-grounded counterpoint to techno-optimism about decarbonization and green growth.
How is this renewables, batteries & storage list ranked?
By HackerTube's score: the number of distinct months in which an HN comment recommended the video, plus half a point for every month with a strong recommendation. One viral thread counts less than steady recommendations over years.
Where do the videos come from?
From every Hacker News comment between 2007 and 2026 that linked a YouTube video, labeled by an AI model as a recommendation, a citation, a joke or a criticism. The list is published by HackerTube under ODC-By 1.0; this edition adds indexable pages and the comment context.