Researchers at the University of Maryland NanoCentre have developed yet another silicon-based lithium-ion battery technology which they say could be more reliable than previous silicon designs. Silicon designs have a track record for extremely high energy density, which is 10 times more than that of conventional lithium-ion batteries that use a graphite anode. This is because silicon can store ten times as many lithium ions as graphite. How The Beads Were Created The researchers attached … Read More
Reposted from EV Obsession: Nissan has a new commercial out (you can watch it below) for the Nissan Leaf. The key takeaway point that I think Nissan is (quite successfully) aiming for is that the Leaf is hip and hot (focusing quite a bit on its LeafLink app), that it is a great car for young guy or girl. It also wisely slips in the point that the Leaf is (now) being produced in the … Read More
A breakthrough has been made in the field of renewable energy battery storage. Researchers have developed a redox flow battery that reaches a stack power of up to 25 kW. This breakthrough in battery technology is important because it will allow the energy from intermittent sources of power, such as most renewables, to be more efficiently stored for later use. The new redox batteries are eight times larger than the systems currently in use, which … Read More
A new form of concrete, stronger and with a lower carbon footprint, has been created by researchers utilizing some of the waste products of biofuel production. Concrete is an extremely widely-used material, and because of this has a rather significant carbon footprint, accounting for between 3-8% of global carbon dioxide emissions. The development of a concrete with a much lower carbon footprint could be significant. “The idea is to use bioethanol production byproducts to produce … Read More
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) held its 19th auction of CO2 allowances late last week and sold nearly 38 million allowances at a clearing price of $2.80, generating $105.9 million in revenue.
Germany and the United States have been powerhouse names in the solar industry for the last couple of years, but a new player is slowly emerging thanks to a healthy feed-in tariff (FIT): Japan. With its FIT paying up to ¥42 per kilowatt hour, Japan is expected to grow by 120% in 2013 and install more than 5 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity according to a new report from IMS Research, part of IHS. In fact, … Read More
According to data from the end of 2011, Arizona was the top solar power state per capita. However, to the displeasure of solar advocates across the country, the Arizona Corporation Commission in January voted against important solar incentives that have helped make Arizona a leader. However, strong citizen engagement, and perhaps a bit of solar-job love from moderate Republicans in leadership in the state, have resulted in a changing of the tides. Greentech Media’s Herman Trabish … Read More
Germany has often been touted as a world-leader in solar development and industry, and the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) are solidifying that opinion by inviting to German solar-representatives to speak at its National Solar Conference, SOLAR 2013. Held in Baltimore over April 16 to 20, the ASES conference intends to explore German policies and financial incentives behind the rapid growth in the country’s renewable energy installations. They will be welcoming Jochen Flasbarth, President of the … Read More
The Senate is set to vote today on amendments to the $984 billion federal spending bill, and our friends over at The Hill tell us that hidden among the gems is a measure to strip out U.S. Navy biofuel initiatives. Talk about closing the barn door after the horses have run out! While certain anti-biofuel lawmakers have been busily pushing their legislative pencils around, the Obama Administration has been actually doing stuff to ensure that … Read More
The Dept. of Energy's "Transportation Energy Futures" study provides a template for Pres. Obama's vision of reducing US transportation sector petroleum use and greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050. Realizing gains in vehicle energy efficiency and fostering shifts in demand for different modes of transport, growing use of biomass biofuels, and transitioning to hydrogen and electric vehicles are the three main facets of the TEF strategy.
Reposted from San Diego Loves Green (with minor edits): By Roy L Hales San Diego is on the leading edge of plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) adoption. According to a recent poll, it is America's fifth greenest car city. The Center for Sustainable Energy wrote that 20% of the electric car purchases in California take place in San Diego. I was especially intrigued by PEV owners who have solar panels. That led me to three people in the San Diego … Read More
Indian IT companies are among the best in the world and they are now planning to implement a highly sustainable plan of growth. Companies like Infosys and Wipro are set to implement measures to increase consumption of renewable energy, improve energy efficiency, and reduce carbon footprint. Wipro, India’s second largest IT firm by revenue, has increased the share of electricity from renewable energy considerably over the last few years. Over the last three years, the … Read More
Upon arriving in Hawaii for the inaugural Lightning Excelerator, one path of PICHTR's dual-pathway Energy Excelerator, members of eight innovative clean energy companies enjoyed the warm weather and whale-watching season during a full and fast-paced week of cranking on their businesses. These members of four mainland-based companies and four Hawaii-based companies have now returned home, some right down the street and some to a 40-degree temperature drop. Although the week of intensive business and customer development … Read More
By Fang Guo The use of autonomous robots for polar exploration is not an unheard of subject, but what about a research vehicle that is powered completely with renewable energy? Now that would be something to brag about! Turns out researchers have already started to utilize this impressive combination of technologies. Meet Polar Rover, the world’s first wind-powered, satellite controlled, autonomous robot that measures 1.8 metres in length, 1.2 metres in height, 1.6 metres in width … Read More
Welspun Energy, part of the $3.5 billion Welspun Group, has commissioned the largest solar power plant in the India till date. The project is part of the first phase of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM). A total of 490 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity was allocated in the first phase of the National Solar Mission in two batches. Projects with combined capacity of 140 MW from the first batch have already been commissioned and … Read More