Tech
Amid renewable-energy boom, study explores options for electricity market
Renewable energy sources like wind and solar generation now account for over 20% of electricity in the U.S., and keep growing after large-scale production has more than doubled since 2000.
Still, high-profile power failures illustrate persistent challenges from the lack of available capacity to provide enough energy at times of need, said Chiara Lo Prete, an associate professor of energy economics in the John and Willie Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering at Penn State.
The issue isn’t insufficient generation, but an unreliable ability to deliver ample power when customer use spikes, particularly where renewable resources and natural gas dominate power production, Lo Prete said. To better support the clean-energy transition, she and colleagues at a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit recently studied 11 electricity market design proposals under consideration by grid operators. These designs put forward different approaches to guide energy generation and sources, as well as use across every sector of the energy market.
The proposals, yet to be tested in the market, range from a modest variation on current market designs to a complete overhaul. Researchers organized proposals into five categories from least to most dramatic, including concepts for long-term contract auctions and a two-pronged approach combining long- and short-term markets.
“Market structures should allow utility operators to recover both fixed and variable costs so they foster greater system reliability overall,” Lo Prete said.
Findings published in the journal Energy Economics spotlight key questions confronting utility decision makers and can shape more research into adjusting electricity markets. Lo Prete explained that forecasting overall demand—expected to see historic growth of 25% by 2030 and 78% by 2050—will be especially difficult as transportation electrifies and more data centers come online.
Mandatory “forward contracts,” or advance obligations by distributors to purchase specific amounts of electricity from power generators, could help support investments in resources that are instrumental in meeting decarbonization objectives, she said.
Lo Prete noted the February 2021 system failure in Texas that left more than 4.5 million homes without power; rolling outages in California in August 2020; and near-blackouts, also in the Golden State, in September 2022. In each instance, the underlying problem was a lack of accessible energy in the moment of greatest demand, she said.
Such situations have led grid operators to weigh the market approaches reviewed by researchers in their study, Lo Prete said. Reforms on the table would attempt to accommodate ongoing shifts in power generation, whether through longer-term auctioning of future electricity supplies, more centralized resource planning or other mechanisms like so-called “swing contracts.” They seek to ensure the availability of power production capabilities for dispatch in future operating periods.
“When the markets were restructured in the late 1990s, the energy system was very different from the one we have today,” Lo Prete said.
At that point, the system centered on thermal power plants driven by fossil fuels and nuclear energy. Utility markets today aren’t structured to integrate and sustain the renewable sources and large-scale electricity storage that have taken root since then.
Still, maintaining a range of power generation is vital, as older facilities like coal-powered plants contribute less to the power supply but remain important to consistent service, Lo Prete said. Last year, coal accounted for 8% of primary energy consumption nationally, down from 23% in 2000, according to a congressional report.
For their study, Lo Prete and her research partners at Resources for the Future (RFF) examined market proposals to assess energy affordability, efficiency, energy adequacy and other factors. Lo Prete, a faculty associate of the EMS Energy Institute and the Institute of Energy and the Environment and a Wilson Faculty Fellow at Penn State, completed a sabbatical at RFF ahead of the paper’s publication.
Among their conclusions, researchers found the organization of regulatory oversight makes it more difficult to incorporate clean-energy policy into electricity markets. Those “forward contracts” requiring specific electricity purchases could promote energy storage and power systems’ overall ability to fulfill customer needs, they found.
At the same time, the authors said it was tough to make recommendations or endorse one proposal over others, in part because the concepts were in different stages of development. Researchers cited specific concerns over inadequate investment incentives in current energy markets.
The authors also urged cooperation among energy-market researchers, encouraging them to make proposals accessible to broad audiences and facilitate input and feedback from those constituents. Communication will help researchers understand concerns and possible points of confusion, they said.
At Resources for the Future, contributing to the paper were Karen Palmer, senior fellow and director of the Electric Power Program, and associate fellow Molly Robertson.
More information:
Chiara Lo Prete et al, Time for a market upgrade? A review of wholesale electricity market designs for the future, Energy Economics (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.eneco.2025.108640
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Tech
Top Newegg Promo Codes and Coupons for March 2026
Listen up, nerds. Newegg currently has promo codes and deals on gently used, refurbished, new and hard-to-find electronics, gaming products and more. Remaining one of the biggest online-only retailers in the US for the last 20 years, Newegg is a leading global online retailer for PC hardware, home appliances and all things tech, as well as providing help with businesses’ e-commerce needs. In the last decade, Newegg has expanded its online retail presence, selling everything from PC parts to refurbished vacuum cleaners. So, whether you’re wanting to build your own PC or just looking to upgrade your laptop, Newegg has something for every type of tech lover. Plus, WIRED has found several Newegg discount codes (and other deals) for new and existing customers. Don’t wait too long—save big money on those big (and small) tech purchases in 2026.
Get the Latest Newegg Deals in 2026
Newegg is continuously adding deals, so be sure to check back often for serious discounts on unmissable tech. Some of the best deals we’ve been eyeing include Gigabyte B650M Gaming Plus Wi-Fi gaming motherboard for $110 ($20 off), Xbox 3-month game pass ultimate cards for $96 ($24 off), and ASRock Challenger Radeon graphics card for $600 ($50 off).
One of the best ways to save big on fun tech purchases on Newegg is through Newegg combo deals. If you’re looking to build your own PC, when you buy the components to it on Newegg, you’ll save big. When you choose items from two or more categories, you’ll unlock combo savings, like processor, motherboard, and memory cards. Plus there’s AMD combo savings and Intel combo savings, with up to $15 off Intel processors.
Save 3% With Exclusive Newegg Promo Codes, Only at WIRED
We at WIRED know that one of the best ways to save on essential (often price) tech is buying through a trusted retailer like Newegg, and that’s why we have a WIRED-exclusive promo code, valid only on newegg.com only—not in Canada or Newegg Business. PCs can break or make your online experience, especially when it comes to gaming, so that’s why Newegg is offering 3% off gaming notebooks with our exclusive promo code only at WIRED. Even better, this deal is stackable, meaning it can be added on top of any other applicable coupon (but the max discount amount per order is $150).
How to Redeem a Newegg Coupon
If you qualify, the best current Newegg promo code to save coins is their education discount, which gets you 8 to 10% off (up to $100) an entire order. Use this Newegg discount code, which will help you save once you have verified your status. Copy the code using the handy pop-up button below the coupon, and once you’ve found the must-have item, apply the Newegg edu promo code during checkout to get the discount. The coupon is available to students, faculty, and education staff with a valid .edu email address.
Enjoy Exclusive Discounts and Benefits With a Newegg+ Membership
Newegg has a free membership program that gives you access to exclusive deals. To get a Newegg+ account, you’ll need to register, or if you already have an account, opt in to the program. Once it’s on your dash, you’ll get perks like free shipping, exclusive early access and offers, member-only discount codes, extended warranties, easier returns, dedicated customer service, and more.
Members are also eligible to view and enter Newegg Shuffle events, which give customers a chance to purchase limited offers at great deals. During these events, there are 3 phases: product selection, winner notification, and purchase. There are no advanced sign-ups allowed, meaning you’ll have to keep an eye on the website (or app) if you want to participate in the next shuffle.
Get the Latest Newegg Student Offers
You need a lot of tech as a student, which can get very expensive. Newegg wants to make those purchases a little less painful by offering student and faculty discounts and pricing for 5% discounts and more. Along with student pricing and discounts, there’s also special financing available to help offset initial expenses that may be a financial barrier to getting this necessary tech. This Newegg discount is available to anyone with a .edu email account. All you need to do is use your .edu email and click the ‘Student Discount Available’ button on eligible products.
Stay Tuned for Newegg Coupons and Flash Discounts
Even if the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals are only available in November, you can still save a significant amount on your order using special Newegg promo codes and their 24-hour flash deals. Newegg Shell Shocker coupons include steep discounts on everything from PC components to gaming gear and hard-to-find tech gadgets. Check out our favorite Newegg discounts to get up to 80% off. The best thing is, early shoppers have Newegg’s Price Protection, so if the price drops after you buy, you get a refund. Gear up now to make sure you score big on your favorite electronics this holiday season. Make sure you sign up for the Newegg newsletter to get special offers, coupon codes, and exclusive promotions.
Other Ways to Save at Newegg Without a Promotional Code
Along with the education promo code for students to save 8% to 10%, Newegg also has a rewards program called EggPoints where members earn points for qualifying purchases. For every 100 EggPoints spent, you get $1 to spend at Newegg.com. Newegg also has Shell Shocker deals, which change every day and feature limited-time, deeply discounted sales on specific products, from gaming laptops to graphic cards, processors and other components. So, be sure to check back often to not miss a product you’ve been eyeing going on clearance.
Save up to $300 Combo Savings When you Build Your Dream Setup With Newegg PC Builder
Ready to level up your WFH or GFH (gaming from home) set up? Newegg PC Builder can guide you through the process of installing your perfect custom setup—whether you’re crafting a powerhouse Newegg gaming PC or a budget-friendly workstation. Choose your components, check for compatibility, and let Newegg do the heavy lifting with versatile assembly and shipping options. And make sure to check if there is a Newegg Coupon available to save even more.
Don’t Miss These Newegg Sales and Seasonal Coupons
Like I said before, be sure to check Newegg often for their seasonal sales throughout 2026, like the ultimate-capitalism-extravaganza that is Black Friday (and now, Cyber Monday, too), where Newegg has major discounts on a wide range of electronics for the few days leading up to Black Friday (through Cyber Week). Along with these peak holiday sales, they also have their own sales, like their Anniversary sale and FantasTech sale, which is essentially their version of Amazon Prime Day, where thousands of deals run for several days. It’s a good bet that if you check Newegg around Back to School time and during Memorial and Labor Day, there will be tons of end-of-season sales, too. After Christmas, they usually clear out a substantial amount of inventory with huge discounts on computer-related products like monitors and hard drives.
Snag one of our Newegg promo codes above to save on your next tech purchase, some of which can be used on already discounted items.
Tech
US Takes Down Botnets Used in Record-Breaking Cyberattacks
The collection of millions of hacked computers known as Aisuru and Kimwolf have been used to launch some of the biggest distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks ever seen. Now United States law enforcement agencies have wiped both of them off the internet along with two of the other hordes of hijacked computers—known as botnets—in a single broad takedown.
On Thursday, the US Department of Justice, working with the cybercrime-fighting agency within the US Department of Defense known as the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, announced that it had dismantled four massive botnets in a single operation, removing the command-and-control servers used to commandeer the hacker-run armies of compromised devices known by the names JackSkid, Mossad, Aisuru, and Kimwolf. Together, operators of the four botnets had amassed more than 3 million devices, the Justice Department said, and often sold access to those devices to other criminal hackers as well as using them to target victims with overwhelming floods of attack traffic to knock websites and internet services offline.
Aisuru and Kimwolf, a distinct but Aisuru-related botnet, had together comprised more than a million devices, according to DDoS defense firm Cloudflare, with Aisuru infecting a variety of devices ranging from DVRs to network appliances to webcams, and its Kimwolf offshoot infecting Android devices including smart TVs and set-top boxes. Cloudflare says the two botnets, working in conjunction, carried out a cyberattack against a Cloudflare customer last November that reached more than 30 terabits of data per second, nearly three times the size of the previous biggest such attack.
No arrests were immediately announced along with the takedowns, but a Justice Department statement noted that the US government was collaborating with Canadian and German authorities, “which targeted individuals who operated these botnets.”
“The United States is steadfast in our commitment to safeguarding critical internet infrastructure and fighting the cybercriminals who jeopardize its security, wherever they might live,” US attorney Michael J. Heyman wrote in a statement.
Of the four botnets taken out in the operation, Aisuru had gained the most notoriety, thanks to a series of record-breaking or near-record cyberattacks it carried out last fall. The botnet, whose use was rented out like many such “booter” services offering their brute-force disruptive capabilities to anyone willing to pay, has been most visibly against gaming services like Minecraft and independent cybersecurity journalist Brian Krebs. Krebs, who has extensively investigated the botnet underground and Aisuru in particular, came under repeated attack from the botnet last year.
Then in November, Cloudflare absorbed a recording-breaking combined attack from Aisuru and Kimwolf that lasted only 35 seconds but reached 31.4 terabits per second, a volume of attack traffic close to triple the size of any seen before. (The company hasn’t revealed which of its customers was hit with that attack.)
In a report on the state of the DDoS ecosystem, Cloudflare described the maximum attack traffic of the combined Aisuru and Kimwolf botnets as equivalent to “the combined populations of the UK, Germany, and Spain all simultaneously typing a website address and then hitting ‘enter’ at the same second.” The botnet was capable, Cloudflare’s analysts wrote, of “launching DDoS attacks that can cripple critical infrastructure, crash most legacy cloud-based DDoS protection solutions, and even disrupt the connectivity of entire nations.”
In fact, all four botnets disrupted by the US operation were variants of Mirai, an internet-of-things botnet that first appeared in 2016, broke records at the time for the size of the cyberattacks it enabled, and eventually was used in an attack on the domain-name service provider Dyn that took down 175,000 websites simultaneously for much of the United States. Mirai’s code base has since served as the starting point for a decade of other internet-of-things botnets.
Tech
‘Uncanny Valley’: Nvidia’s ‘Super Bowl of AI,’ Tesla Disappoints, and Meta’s VR Metaverse ‘Shutdown’
This week on Uncanny Valley, hosts Brian Barrett and Zoë Schiffer discuss the highlights from Nvidia’s annual developer conference, and why Tesla recently got in trouble with some of its most loyal fans online. Plus, Meta’s initial decision to shut down Horizon Worlds VR on the Quest headset signals the end of the metaverse dream. (Meta has since reversed course, saying it will keep the platform on limited support for the “foreseeable future.”)
Articles mentioned in this episode:
You can follow Brian Barrett on Bluesky at @brbarrett and Zoë Schiffer on Bluesky at @zoeschiffer. Write to us at [email protected].
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Transcript
Note: This is an automated transcript, which may contain errors.
Zoë Schiffer: Brian, hello. Very exciting to have another way to talk to you when I’m not pinging you on Slack every five seconds.
Brian Barrett: It’s great, because Slack doesn’t have the voice part.
Zoë Schiffer: It doesn’t.
Brian Barrett: I will say: very sad that Leah won’t be a part of that journey today.
Zoë Schiffer: I know. It is really sad, but when the Leah’s away, the mice will play, and we will be talking about topics that Leah hates, so just wait.
Brian Barrett: And to be clear, she’ll be back next week. She’s just sick.
Zoë Schiffer: Yeah.
Brian Barrett: It’s allergy season.
Zoë Schiffer: Welcome to WIRED’s Uncanny Valley. I’m Zoë Schiffer, WIRED’s director of business and industry.
Brian Barrett: I’m Brian Barrett, executive editor.
Zoë Schiffer: This week on the show, we’re diving into Nvidia’s annual developer conference, why some Tesla influencers are fleeing the brand, and why Meta has finally shut down Horizon Worlds on Meta Quest. So to start us off, this week, Nvidia had its annual developer conference in San Jose. This is the big event in the AI industry. Some people even call it the Super Bowl of AI. Developers go, CEOs, researchers, WIRED reporters—and we’re all waiting to hear what CEO Jensen Huang is going to tell us about the future of the company.
Brian Barrett: One thing that’s interesting about the Nvidia conference too, is I feel like so much of it is business facing. It’s not a lot of stuff that you, as an AI consumer or someone who plays around with Claude, wouldn’t necessarily connect with. One thing, with a grain of salt, because this is someone who stands to make this money, but Jensen did say the revenue opportunity for artificial intelligence chips just at Nvidia might reach at least a trillion dollars through 2027.
Zoë Schiffer: Pocket change.
Brian Barrett: Pocket change, I mean, really, for Nvidia at this point. One thing that was really interesting: He introduced a new product. I always like when there’s an actual product tied to this rather than the promise of a product. A while ago, Nvidia struck a licensing deal with a company called Groq, not to be confused with the occasionally—
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