Renewable Energy and Green Design
Swedish Researchers Discover Algae-Based, Non-Metallic Batteries
Sun, 20/09/09 – 7:32 | One Comment

Researchers at Uppsala University in Sweden have discovered that a particular type of algae produces a substance that can be used to make inexpensive, non-toxic, simple-to-build, flexible, thin and durable batteries that, after optimization, are …

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Green Design

articles and videos on new ways to improve the world through forward-thinking, high-tech, and environmentally conscious design

Hydropower

articles on power that is derived from the force or energy of moving water, including hydroelectric, tidal, tidal stream and wave power

Biofuel

fuel derived from recently dead biological material offering the possibility of producing energy without a net increase of carbon into the atmosphere

Solar Energy

articles and videos on the technology for electrical generation by heat engine or photovoltaic, daylighting, hot water, and space heating in active and passive solar buildings

Wind Power

articles and videos on the conversion of wind energy into a useful form, such as electricity, using wind turbines

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Electric Cars Store Power for the Grid
Sun, 21/02/10 – 9:40 | No Comment

V2G technology or Vehicle-to-grid, would enable electric car owners to make money while storing power for the grid. The technology was unveiled at the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in San Diego yesterday.

Electricity grids that are fed by increasing amounts renewable energy could operate much more efficiently if they tapped into the vast amounts of power stored in the batteries of electric and hybrid vehicles, to balance out fluctuations in supply and demand.

The first experimental V2G system has just gone live at the University of Delaware, where three electric cars are connected to the grid whenever they are not being driven. Read the whole story »

Concentrating PV: More Efficient Than PV?
Mon, 8/02/10 – 19:08 | No Comment
Concentrating PV: More Efficient Than PV?

The scientific and political stage for the success of solar energy is set. Markets are huge. Management of growth is the key. Once demonstration plants run according to plans and expectations, just two years should …

Live Debate “Is it too late to stop climate change?”
Mon, 23/11/09 – 17:24 | No Comment
Live Debate “Is it too late to stop climate change?”

The Times Online is running a live online debate called “Is it too late to stop climate change?” on November 25 at 2pm - http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/related_reports/the_future_of_energy/article6925491.ece
Chairing the debate on will be the author of The …

‘Broken’ Nanotubes are Better at Storing Electricity
Mon, 23/11/09 – 15:12 | No Comment
‘Broken’ Nanotubes are Better at Storing Electricity

University of San Diego researchers have discovered that carbon nanotubes don’t have to be perfect to do a better job. Prabhakar Bandaru, a professor in the UCSD Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering have discovered …

Chinese Invest $1.5 Billion in West Texas Wind Farm
Fri, 30/10/09 – 3:35 | One Comment
Chinese Invest $1.5 Billion in West Texas Wind Farm

Despite the tightness of global credit markets the Chinese are showing a willingness to finance renewable energy projects wherever they may be. A consortium of Chinese businesses backed by Chinese banks have committed $1.5 billion …

Team Tokai wins Global Green Challenge in Australia
Wed, 28/10/09 – 18:31 | No Comment
Team Tokai wins Global Green Challenge in Australia

The Japanese Tokai University team built the solar powered car that won the Global Green Challenge on Wednesday after averaging speeds of more than 100 kilometres (62 miles) per hour in a four-day race through …

The Smart Grid Takes Shape in Germany with E-Energy Plan
Mon, 19/10/09 – 17:19 | 4 Comments
The Smart Grid Takes Shape in Germany with E-Energy Plan

The new age of green electricity is beginning to take shape in Germany under the name E-Energy. The plan is a vision to create a giant renewable energy grid using inputs as diverse as huge …

GE Completes Purchase of Gearless Wind Turbine Manufacturer ScanWind
Tue, 6/10/09 – 9:20 | No Comment
GE Completes Purchase of Gearless Wind Turbine Manufacturer ScanWind

With the acquisition of ScanWind, based in Trondheim, Norway, GE has secured a foothold in the growing offshore wind energy market. GE is gambling that ScanWinds early-stage turbine technology that could make offshore wind farms …

Worlds Largest Electric Car Charging Network Begins
Sat, 3/10/09 – 16:48 | No Comment
Worlds Largest Electric Car Charging Network Begins

This week saw the largest transportation electrification project in history begin. On 10/1/2009, eTec announced that they have officially signed the $99.8 million grant with DOE to start installing Electric Vehicle Infrastructure in 5 States, …

Britain’s Chief Energy Scientist “Greenhouse gas emissions created by Britons are probably twice as bad as figures suggest”
Thu, 1/10/09 – 17:09 | No Comment
Britain’s Chief Energy Scientist “Greenhouse gas emissions created by Britons are probably twice as bad as figures suggest”

The government’s new chief energy scientist Professor David MacKay told the BBC that reductions in carbon dioxide emissions since 1990 are “an illusion”. Greenhouse gas emissions created by Britons are probably twice as bad as …

Solar Rooftops in Spain Make Good Investment Sense
Wed, 30/09/09 – 5:25 | 3 Comments
Solar Rooftops in Spain Make Good Investment Sense

Spain is a powerhouse for solar energy production in Europe because it has excellent sun resources and because it has a feed-in tariff for renewable energy production, as does Germany. With a feed-in tariff, project …