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SeaGen tidal energy system enters final stage of testing
20:05 November 23, 2008 PST
The giant 1.2MW SeaGen tidal energy system is on track to begin full operation in January following the replacement of two rotor blades on the second of its two turbines. The second turbine is now running under "test mode" while the first has been generating power into the local grid, at varying levels up to its maximum of 600kW, since the summer. Read More
New Solar Messenger Bag added to Eclipse range
By Emily Clark
23:06 November 20, 2008 PST
Every owner of a personal electronic device knows the frustration of running out of battery power when out and about. Solar bags offer a great solution and a growing number of shapes and sizes (even golf bags) are hitting the market. The new Fusion Messenger Bags by Eclipse Solar Gear further adds to the options. Read More
Bioethanol from Olive Stones
By Emily Clark
19:10 October 30, 2008 PDT
Have you every wondered what happens to all of the stones removed from the olives that end up on our shelves and in delis? The answer could now be that they are turned into bioethanol and used as an alternative to petrol or diesel. Read More
The pedestrian-powered Human Water Pump concept
By Emily Clark
19:10 October 28, 2008 PDT
According to research from the Pacific Institute, more than five million people die each year from water-related disease, primarily due to inadequate access to clean water which, if it is available, often requires trekking over long distances to reach it. Gunwook Nam from South Korea has proposed a solution that harnesses people power - literally. The Human Pump concept uses a boardwalk structure fitted with springs that captures and stores kinetic energy from foot-traffic and uses it to pump underground water to the surface. Read More
Mini sensor to improve detection of greenhouse gases
By Emily Clark
18:27 October 28, 2008 PDT
Governments could be able to more easily and cheaply monitor greenhouse gas emissions thanks to a miniature gas sensor being developed by a new European consortium, led by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. The sensor would also have applications for consumers by improving air conditioning in buildings. Read More
Africa's largest wind farm to be built in Ethiopia
By Emily Clark
00:15 October 27, 2008 PDT
With its nation in need of additional energy resources, the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEEPC) has announced it will build Africa's largest wind farm - a 120MW facility to be based in Ashegoba in the country’s north. Read More
Cool Earth Solar: pursuing a viable alternative to fossil fuels
By Darren Quick
00:20 October 25, 2008 PDT
There is no doubt that mankind stands at a pivotal point in our history in relation to our consumption of global resources and the resultant impact on the planet on which we live. By far the biggest concern is our ever-growing appetite for energy to power the lifestyles we have grown not only accustomed to, but also dependent upon. Solar is one answer with great potential, but economics and the amount of power it can produce in comparison to fossil fuel power stations has held it back so far. Now new approaches like Cool Earth’s collectors are becoming advanced enough to effectively tackle these problems with technology that relies on inexpensive and free materials, is scalable, able to compete economically with fossil fuel power plants and is capable of delivering not just megawatts, but gigawatts of clean power. Read More
HP plots course for doubling renewable power use
By Emily Clark
21:00 October 20, 2008 PDT
HP has announced details of renewable energy initiatives within its facilities, research and products with the aim of doubling the company’s global purchase of renewable power by 2012. Currently using under 4% renewable energy, the global technology giant hopes to increase its use to 8% within the next four years. Read More
French skyscaper puts focus on renewable energy
22:42 October 19, 2008 PDT
Extensive use of solar and wind power plus a healthy dose of CO2 munching foliage will mark the slim, 318 meter tall Generali Tower when it becomes a fixture of the Parisian skyline from 2012. The design from Valode & Pistre was selected in an international competition and will form a key plank in the nine year plan to revamp the La Défense business district first announced by the Public Body for the development of La Défense (EPAD) in 2005. Read More
Largest Solar Deployment on a Corporate Campus in US now online
By Emily Clark
17:14 October 16, 2008 PDT
Two new solar power installations totaling 2.1 megawatts are now online at Applied Materials' corporate research facilities in Sunnyvale, California. The systems, which include a 950 kilowatt SunPower PowerGuard installation and a 1.2 megawatt SunPower Tracker installation atop an elevated parking canopy, represent the largest solar power deployment at a corporate facility in the US. Read More
Evergreen Solar introduces new String Ribbon panels
By Emily Clark
22:30 October 14, 2008 PDT
Evergreen Solar has introduced a new line of solar panels manufactured using its String Ribbon technique which offer several consumer friendly design innovations as well as being the most powerful products the company has ever produced. Read More
New material promises fuel-cell design breakthrough
By Darren Quick
20:25 October 12, 2008 PDT
A team of scientists from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) has designed a new "super-lattice" material with incredibly high ion conductivity properties that could lead to the development of more efficient fuel cells capable of operating at room temperature. Read More
Reconnect computer recycling program expanded
By Emily Clark
20:42 October 9, 2008 PDT
Dell and Goodwill Industries have added Virginia to the list of States offering their “Reconnect” drop-off program for the recycling of unwanted computers. The program aims to divert over 2.7 million pounds of used computers and computer equipment from area landfills over the next year; and provide consumer education on the importance of environmentally-responsible computer disposal. Read More
Google's vision for a greener planet
23:55 October 5, 2008 PDT
While the current Wall Street financial crisis has many on edge in regard to the short term future of the economy, Google has displayed some far-sighted corporate leadership in releasing its plan for how to reduce fossil fuel use by 2030. "Clean Energy 2030" is designed to stimulate debate on a range of energy consumption issues and includes proposals to slash vehicle oil consumption and CO2 emissions by 38% and reduce US reliance on fossil fuel-based electricity generation by 88% through a significant boost to solar, wind and geothermal output. Importantly, the report also focusses on the "win-win" potential for this aggressive attack on climate change, citing a figure of $1.0 trillion net savings over the 22-year life of the plan. Read More
Samsung launches recycling program for unwanted electronics
By Emily Clark
21:36 October 1, 2008 PDT
Samsung Electronics America has launched a "Recycling Direct program" dedicated to the take-back and recycling of its consumer electronics across all product lines. Effective immediately, the public can take their Samsung electronic goods sold in the United States to one of 174 fixed drop-off locations across the country and have them recycled free of charge. Read More
Biosolar announces further improvements to solar backsheet process
By Emily Clark
19:02 October 1, 2008 PDT
A little under two months ago, Biosolar unveiled its BioBacksheet, an innovation which reduces the cost of solar cells by replacing traditional petroleum-based components with materials derived from renewable plant sources. The company has now announced details of improvements to the solar backsheet manufacturing technique that will help to further reduce the cost of production. Read More
LifeVillage modular housing solution for remote communities
By Emily Clark
22:10 September 28, 2008 PDT
Designed to address the problem of access to critical utilities in remote areas and developing nations that lack the necessary infrastructure, Envision Solar's modular self-contained LifeVillage integrates clean power and water treatment into buildings and communities, no matter what the location. Read More
Plans unveiled for 100MW biomass facilities
By Emily Clark
00:30 September 26, 2008 PDT
The largest power supply cooperative in the US has announced plans to build up to three 100MW biomass electric generating facilities in the state of Georgia. Oglethorpe Power Corporation’s (OPC’s) power plants are designed to be carbon-neutral and utilize woody biomass, one of Georgia’s most abundant renewable resources. Read More
Solar brick provides integrated outdoor lighting solution
By Emily Clark
19:27 September 22, 2008 PDT
Sunrise Solar Corp has unveiled a new building brick that integrates solar technologies into traditional construction materials. The Solar Light "Bric" is able to capture the sun’s rays and convert them to energy to power an embedded light without the need to connect to the electrical grid or flick a switch. Read More
Solar Stik portable solar generator
By Emily Clark
00:37 September 18, 2008 PDT
Portable solar panels are popping up at an increasing rate in campgrounds and caravan parks where they are an environmentally friendly and mercifully silent alternative to fuel burning generators. This example from Solar Stik offers rugged solution that can be used in conjunction with a wind generator and adapted for a variety of applications on land and water. Read More
BioSolar's renewable backsheet for solar panels
By Kyle Sherer
00:00 September 17, 2008 PDT
Currently, photovoltaic modules in solar panels employ petroleum-based plastics as a protective backing, increasing their overall carbon footprint and maintaining a reliance the fossil fuel economy. To free solar power from the uncertainties of oil prices, and to help make them a truly green power source, BioSolar has developed bio-based components that are ready to replace the backsheet, substrate and superstrate components of solar panels. The materials have a lifespan of 20-25 years, and, most importantly, they are 25% cheaper to manufacture than the plastic alternative. Read More
GE Hybrid locomotive protoype in Chicago
By Emily Clark
21:24 September 15, 2008 PDT
GE Transportation will parade its Evolution Hybrid locomotive prototype at the RSI Railway Technology Exhibition in Chicago later this month. Promising significant fuel and emissions savings, the diesel-electric hybrid technology captures and stores the energy generated by braking a 207 ton train and delivers it back to the propulsion system in the form of an on-demand, 2000 horsepower boost. Read More
Aquarius: intelligent automated sprinkler design
By Emily Clark
18:02 September 10, 2008 PDT
Looking more like an alien spacecraft than a sprinkler, Aquarius is an irrigation control system designed by Aydin Oztoprak and Ozgur Ruhi Ulvan. Solar powered and remote managed, Aquarius automatically adjusts its water flow depending on the soil, crop and weather conditions, making it one very intelligent piece of eco-friendly water design. Read More
Solar trees take root at the University of California
By Emily Clark
23:24 September 8, 2008 PDT
The University of California in San Diego (UCSD) is undertaking an unusual forestry project on the roof of two of its parking garages. The “Solar Trees” being constructed on the roofs will comprise steel components fitted with a canopy of Kyocera photovoltaic modules to provide solar energy for the university. Read More
US Airways Center announces solar installation
By Emily Clark
23:25 September 7, 2008 PDT
The US Airways Center in Arizona, home to NBA team the Phoenix Suns, will soon be going green with the announcement of a new solar power project. The system is expected to be operational in 2009 and will utilize 1,125 Suntech panels, cover approximately 18,000 square feet and produce 331,233 kilowatt-hours of clean energy each year. Read More
Freedom Glen
- November 25, 2009 @ 02:47 UTC
