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UNITED STATES: Assessing The Feasability Of A Dedicated Ethanol Pipeline
2008-03-12 15:18:00
Magellan Midstream Partners and Buckeye Partners have announced they have begun a joint assessment to determine the feasibility of constructing a dedicated ethanol pipeline. The proposed ethanol pipeline system would safely and efficiently deliver renewable fuel ethanol from the Midwest to distribution terminals in the northeastern United States .The proposed pipeline could have the capacity to supply more than 10 million gallons of ethanol per day, enough to meet the needs of millions of northeastern motorists who purchase 10% ethanol blended gasoline or higher ethanol blends such as E85.The pipeline would gather ethanol from production facilities in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota and South Dakota to serve terminals in major markets such as Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and the New York harbor. The project, which preliminarily has been estimated to cost in excess of $3 billion, would span approximately 1,700 miles and would take several years to complete."The most promising liquid fuel altern...
More About: Ethanol

UNITED STATES: Assessing The Feasability Of A Dedicated Ethanol Pipeline
2008-03-12 15:18:00
Magellan Midstream Partners and Buckeye Partners have announced they have begun a joint assessment to determine the feasibility of constructing a dedicated ethanol pipeline. The proposed ethanol pipeline system would safely and efficiently deliver renewable fuel ethanol from the Midwest to distribution terminals in the northeastern United States .The proposed pipeline could have the capacity to supply more than 10 million gallons of ethanol per day, enough to meet the needs of millions of northeastern motorists who purchase 10% ethanol blended gasoline or higher ethanol blends such as E85.The pipeline would gather ethanol from production facilities in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota and South Dakota to serve terminals in major markets such as Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and the New York harbor. The project, which preliminarily has been estimated to cost in excess of $3 billion, would span approximately 1,700 miles and would take several years to complete."The most promising liquid fuel altern...
More About: Ethanol , Dedicated

UNITED STATES: Coal Gasification and CO2
2008-03-12 15:14:00
There is a growing consensus that increased demand for electricity will cement coal's place in the energy portfolio for years to come. In fact, more than half of the electricity produced in the United States comes from coal. With demand for electricity expected to double by 2050 and renewable resources still years away from offsetting increased demand, it is clear -- coal is here to stay.But can 'dirty' coal be used cleanly?" The answer may be a resounding yes if gasification becomes common place, researchers said today at the 2008 Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Boston."Coal gasification offers one of the most versatile and clean ways to convert coal into electricity, hydrogen and other valuable energy products," said George Muntean, staff scientist at the Deparent of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, during his presentation at the AAAS symposium entitled "Coal Gasification, Myths, Challenges and Opportunities."P...

UNITED STATES: Coal Gasification and CO2
2008-03-12 15:14:00
There is a growing consensus that increased demand for electricity will cement coal's place in the energy portfolio for years to come. In fact, more than half of the electricity produced in the United States comes from coal. With demand for electricity expected to double by 2050 and renewable resources still years away from offsetting increased demand, it is clear -- coal is here to stay.But can 'dirty' coal be used cleanly?" The answer may be a resounding yes if gasification becomes common place, researchers said today at the 2008 Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Boston."Coal gasification offers one of the most versatile and clean ways to convert coal into electricity, hydrogen and other valuable energy products," said George Muntean, staff scientist at the Deparent of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, during his presentation at the AAAS symposium entitled "Coal Gasification, Myths, Challenges and Opportunities."P...

UNITED STATES: Solar Cell Directly Splits Water For Hydrogen
2008-03-12 14:59:00
Plants, trees and algae do it. Even some bacteria and moss do it, but scientists have had a difficult time developing methods to turn sunlight into useful fuel. Now, Penn State researchers have a proof-of-concept device that can split water and produce recoverable hydrogen."This is a proof-of-concept system that is very inefficient. But ultimately, catalytic systems with 10 to 15 percent solar conversion efficiency might be achievable," says Thomas E. Mallouk, the DuPont Professor of Materials Chemistry and Physics. "If this could be realized, water photolysis would provide a clean source of hydrogen fuel from water and sunlight."Although solar cells can now produce electricity from visible light at efficiencies of greater than 10 percent, solar hydrogen cells - like those developed by Craig Grimes, professor of electrical engineering at Penn State - have been limited by the poor spectral response of the semiconductors used.In principle, molecular light absorbers can use more of the...
More About: United States , Technology , Solar , Cell , Hydrogen

UNITED STATES: Solar Cell Directly Splits Water For Hydrogen
2008-03-12 14:59:00
Plants, trees and algae do it. Even some bacteria and moss do it, but scientists have had a difficult time developing methods to turn sunlight into useful fuel. Now, Penn State researchers have a proof-of-concept device that can split water and produce recoverable hydrogen."This is a proof-of-concept system that is very inefficient. But ultimately, catalytic systems with 10 to 15 percent solar conversion efficiency might be achievable," says Thomas E. Mallouk, the DuPont Professor of Materials Chemistry and Physics. "If this could be realized, water photolysis would provide a clean source of hydrogen fuel from water and sunlight."Although solar cells can now produce electricity from visible light at efficiencies of greater than 10 percent, solar hydrogen cells - like those developed by Craig Grimes, professor of electrical engineering at Penn State - have been limited by the poor spectral response of the semiconductors used.In principle, molecular light absorbers can use more of the...
More About: United States , Technology , Solar , Cell , Hydrogen

UNITED STATES: The Future Of Biofuels
2008-03-12 14:54:00
High oil prices, energy security considerations and fears about global warming have helped revive interest in renewable energy sources like biofuels, which burn cleanly and can be produced from plants.But there are a few catches, particularly regarding biofuels like corn-based ethanol: the more corn is used in ethanol production, the less is available for food-a reality that partly accounts for the recent run-up in world food prices. Moreover, most of the 6 billion gallons of ethanol produced annually in the United States comes from corn, but there's not enough corn available to make it a viable long-term source.MIT Professor Gregory Stephanopoulos lead a discussion of the various ways scientists and energy policymakers are seeking to overcome these limitations and make biofuels from renewable biomass feedstocks a significant part of the U.S. energy supply during a symposium.The symposium, "Biomass to Biofuels Conversion: Technical and Policy Perspectives," explored two aspects of ...
More About: Future , The Future

UNITED STATES: The Future Of Biofuels
2008-03-12 14:54:00
High oil prices, energy security considerations and fears about global warming have helped revive interest in renewable energy sources like biofuels, which burn cleanly and can be produced from plants.But there are a few catches, particularly regarding biofuels like corn-based ethanol: the more corn is used in ethanol production, the less is available for food-a reality that partly accounts for the recent run-up in world food prices. Moreover, most of the 6 billion gallons of ethanol produced annually in the United States comes from corn, but there's not enough corn available to make it a viable long-term source.MIT Professor Gregory Stephanopoulos lead a discussion of the various ways scientists and energy policymakers are seeking to overcome these limitations and make biofuels from renewable biomass feedstocks a significant part of the U.S. energy supply during a symposium.The symposium, "Biomass to Biofuels Conversion: Technical and Policy Perspectives," explored two aspects of ...
More About: Future , The Future

BIOFUEL: Thailand worries over food shortages amid palm oil debate
2008-02-26 00:37:00
Thailand has started requiring that all its diesel fuel include a component made from palm oil, a move that could reduce costly energy imports but is driving up prices for the commodity, experts say. From February 1, the kingdom began requiring that diesel vehicles run on a blend that includes two percent biodiesel, and is considering raising that to five percent within five years. The switch has sent prices for palm oil soaring, leading to shortages of the commodity that is widely used for domestic cooking and in the food industry.Palm oil is among the products for which prices are controlled by the government, but as prices have risen globally, traders stopped selling to stores or began ignoring the fixed price.That sounded alarm bells for producers and consumers, who urged the government to ban exports of palm oil and to adjust its price controls. Instead, the Commerce Ministry allowed a one-time import of 30,000 tonnes of palm oil to boost supplies until March, when production ...
More About: Food , Thailand , Biofuel , Debate

JAPAN: Rich nations need 80 pct emission cuts
2008-02-26 00:13:00
Japan, the European Union and the United States would each need to cut greenhouse gasses by more than 80 percent for the world to meet a goal of halving emissions by 2050, Japanese scientists said Thursday.A summit last year of the Group of Eight rich nations agreed to "seriously consider" halving global emissions by 2050 in hopes of halting global warming.To achieve such a goal, Japan -- which is already far behind in meeting its current commitments -- would need to cut emissions by 85 percent by 2050 from 1990 levels, said Norichika Kanie, assistant professor at the Tokyo Institute of Technology.His joint research with Yasuaki Hijioka, researcher at the National Institute of Environmental Studies, found that the United States would need to cut emissions by 88 percent and the European Union by 83 percent.He made the calculations on the premise that all countries will emit at the same level on a per capita basis by 2050.The United States has rejected the Kyoto Protocol, the landmark...
More About: India , Japan , Rich , Nations

THE AMERICAS: Global Clean Energy Holdings Tests Crude Jatropha Oil With Al
2008-02-25 22:58:00
Global Clean Energy Holdings has delivered its first test shipment of Crude Jatropha Oil to Allegro Biodiesel Corporation's biodiesel production facility in Pollock Louisiana for processing into biodiesel fuel. Global Clean Energy Holdings is developing Jatropha plantations in Latin America.The two companies have entered into a testing and processing agreement to convert Jatropha Oil into biodiesel fuel that meets all relevant ASTM and EU specifications."This is a very strategic agreement with Allegro. They are a very well respected processor and distributor of Specification Grade biodiesel and have considerable experience in utilizing a wide range of different feedstocks in their production process. They are logistically well located in Louisiana and can accept large shipments of Jatropha oil from us through various Gulf of Mexico ports," said Richard Palmer, Global Clean Energy's President and Chief Executive Officer.The processing agreement provides for Global Clean Energy to s...
More About: Americas , Global , Kyoto Protocol

BIOFUEL: Virgin inaugura los vuelos con biodiésel
2008-02-25 06:15:00
Nueces recogidas de la Amazonia ayudaron a alimentar el domingo el primer vuelo comercial del mundo cuyo carburante procedía en parte de energías renovables. Un jumbo de Virgin Atlantic voló entre Londres y Amsterdam con uno de sus depósitos lleno de una mezcla biodiésel, que contenía entre otros aceite de babasu y de coco."Hoy celebramos un avance vital para toda la industria de la aviación", dijo el fundador de Virgin Richard Branson a los periodistas en el hangar de Heathrow antes de la salida del vuelo.No obstante, el multimillonario británico dijo que era poco probable que las nueces o las palmeras de babasudesempeñaran un papel clave mientras las aerolíneas se cambian a las fuentes renovables para recortar la emisión degases de efecto invernadero de la industria."No queríamos usar biodiésel como aceite de maíz que compite con fuentes de alimentación básica", dijoBranson, añadiendo que creía la fuente de energía más probable de la industria eran algas producidas en lugarescomo ...
More About: Biofuel

TECHNOLOGY: Sunovia Announces National Aeronautics and Space Administration
2008-02-25 03:38:00
Sunovia Energy Technologies and EPIR Technologies are pleased to announce the execution of an agreement with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for the development of advanced high-efficiency, ultra-lightweight solar cells with thicknesses reduced by a factor of more than ten as compared to those currently in use.These cells will be used to power spacecraft and, in some cases, for propulsion in all NASA science missions, including the Comet Surface Sample Return (CSSR), Comet Nucleus Sample Return (CNSR), and Mars Sample Return (MASR) missions. The contract leverages EPIR's vast experience in the development of advanced light detection devices and extensive expertise in what is commonly referred to as II-VI materials.Light-detection devices and solar cells are very similar, both being designed to efficiently convert light into an electric current and differing primarily in the intensity of light available. In detectors, the current generated is used as a signa...
More About: Technology

NEW TECHNOLOGY: Ricardo Inc., Develops Next-Generation Wind Energy
2008-02-25 02:45:00
Massachusetts-based wind energy company General Compression and its compressor technology partner Mechanology are using Ricardo 's automotive engineering and development expertise to develop technology which aims to make wind power as reliable as conventional power.With energy security and global warming at the very top of the political agenda in all parts of the world, renewable energy resources are increasingly seen as an important contributor to the future of regional and national grid power supplies. Of the potentially large-scale renewable energy resources wind is perhaps the most universally available, as virtually every part of the earth's surface experiences the natural force of the wind.However, as the wind is subject to the vagaries of the weather and as such is inherently unpredictable, wind energy has traditionally been seen as an intermittent source of electrical power. General Compression's proprietary Dispatchable Wind system carries the descriptive tagline 'wind e...
More About: Technology , Energy , Generation

UNITED STATES: New Geothermal Power Supply On Steam For Millions In Northwe
2008-02-25 02:17:00
Vulcan Power Company has announced the G3 Power Plan, a preliminary plan for green grid transmission upgrades to deliver a "green gigawatt" (1,000 megawatts) of clean geothermal power to Los Angeles and Las Vegas from massive natural steam zones located in northwest Nevada.Scientists at the Great Basin Center for Geothermal Energy at University Nevada Reno estimate that 2,500 megawatts (MW) of geothermal natural steam exists in northern Nevada, according to the recent press release of director Dr. Lisa Shevenell. This clean steam fuel could generate power for 2.5 million people, corroborating the US Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D-NV) observation that Nevada is the "Saudi Arabia of Geothermal".There has already been about 240 MW of geothermal online in Nevada for 15 years, which is evenly split between Nevada and California utility buyers Sierra Pacific Resources and Southern California Edison Company, the nation's largest renewable power purchaser.But new green grid upgrades ...
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MEXICO: will soon allow only energy-smart homes
2008-02-25 01:49:00
Mexico will soon allow only energy-smart homes to be built in the country, and plans to have 30,000 such units up and running by 2011, Environment Secretary Juan Rafael Elvira said Friday."In two or three years all traditional home construction will come to an end, and all new homes will be built with new materials and energy-sustainable standards," Elvira told a foreign press conference.He said the government project will begin with a federally-funded pilot program to build 30,000 energy-smart homes in the next three years that will help establish the criteria for energy efficiency construction.The initiative is part of a global project to build by 2012 one million energy-smart homes that will save the planet one million tons of carbon dioxide emissions, he added.He said the new housing will be equipped with energy-smart devices such as solar water heating, low-energy fluorescent lights, high-efficiency appliances and low-flow plumbing fixtures.The 30,000-home pilot program will be...
More About: Mexico , Energy , Smart , Homes

UNITED STATES: After US pulls plug, future unclear for 'clean coal'
2008-02-25 01:39:00
The US government's decision to end funding for a "zero emissions" coal-fired power plant project has cast doubt over the future of "clean coal" to meet growing global energy needs.The US Department of Energy in late January decided to pull the plug on funding for the Future Gen project launched in 2003 to demonstrate how coal can be burned cleanly, with carbon emissions stored underground in a process known as sequestration.Government officials say they remain committed to the idea of clean coal, but a public spat with a public-private alliance raises doubts about any viable project.FutureGen, a partnership with utilities and coal companies in the US, China, Europe and Australia , announced Thursday it would continue to pursue the project despite the loss of an estimated 1.1 billion dollars in US government funding, or some three-fourths of the project.The project, which last year selected a site at Mattoon, Illinois, "is in the best position to move ahead with the urgency that the ...
More About: United States , United , Clean

SOUTH KOREA: The i-Blue Fuel Cell Concept Makes North American Debut
2008-02-25 01:22:00
Hyundai's new hydrogen-powered, zero-emission concept, the i-Blue Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV), debuted in North America at the 100th edition of the Chicago Auto Show. Developed at Hyundai's Design and Technical Center in Chiba, Japan, the i-Blue concept illustrates the design direction for a future FCEV production model. The all-new i-Blue platform features Hyundai's third-generation fuel cell technology, currently being developed at Hyundai's Eco-Technology Research Institute in Mabuk, Korea .The i-Blue demonstrates a significant step towards commercialization of Hyundai fuel cell vehicles. Unlike its predecessors which were built on production SUV platforms, the i-Blue features a new, purpose-built 2+2 crossover architecture.The i-Blue is powered by a 100 kW electric engine and fuel cell stack. Fueled with compressed hydrogen (700 bar) stored in a 115-liter tank, i-Blue is capable of running more than 370 miles per refueling and achieves a maximum speed of more than 100 m...
More About: South Korea

NORTH AMERICA: Activists want polar bear on endangered list before Alaska o
2008-02-25 01:07:00
Animal activists on Monday pressed the US government to add the polar bear to the list of endangered animal species before the sell-off of oil and gas drilling rights in Alaska begins in the coming days."An endangered listing can affect the sell-off of the oil drilling rights," Brandon Frazier, a spokesman for global animal welfare group International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) said."The authorities would have to get approval through the Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct drilling if there is an endangered species that inhabits the area."The US government is due on Wednesday to offer several million acres of polar bear habitat in the Chukchi Sea in Alaska for sale for oil and gas exploration leases.The lease-sale would make the polar bears' habitat "vulnerable to big business interests and jeopardize the government's ability to protect it," IFAW said in a statement.US lawmakers have proposed listing the polar bear as "threatened", but IFAW said that did not go far enough."A ...
More About: America , North America , Polar Bear , North

STOCKS: Yingli Green Energy Disappoints Optimistic Investors
2008-02-16 17:24:00
Solar stock Yingli Green Energy is experiencing more than 3 times its usual put option volume today, as investors have flocked to load up on bearishly oriented options on the company. Most notably ? with February options set to expire in a matter of hours ? Yingli's February 27.50 put has seen 2,661 contracts cross the tape on open interest of 3,642, while the February 25 put has traded volume of 1,270 contracts on open interest of 2,331.The preference for put options in today's trading is likely a direct result of YGE's recently reported fourth-quarter earnings. The company earned the equivalent of $19 million, or 15 cents per American Depositary Receipt (ADR), during the recently concluded quarter. Revenue increased to $199.2 million. The numbers fell short of many analysts' expectations, and the stock was down about 11% at last check.The selling mood has extended throughout the entire solar sector today. Even First Solar (FSLR), fresh off its own well-received earnings report...
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GERMANY: Berlin is the Capital of Solar Technology in European Union
2008-02-15 19:51:00
Berlin's Adlershof district is striving to become the place to be when it comes to solar technology. In Europe's largest science park, the experiment to merge science and industry is now taking off.Located on the eastern outskirts of Berlin, Adlershof is a quick 20-minute train ride from the city center. In GDR times Adlershof was Berlin's celebrated socialist science mecca. So when Germany 's reunification threatened its further existence, the area embarked on an experiment: the creation of a science park, merging solar technology research with solar industry, in one winning equation.Since 1993, Berlin has invested billions of euros in the area -- billions the heavily indebted city doesn't have. But Adlershof's public relations manager, Peter Strunk said it was money well-invested in a bold vision, born of necessity."This science park project was created to prevent us from social catastrophe after reunification," Strunk said. "There were so many research facilities located her...
More About: Technology , European Union , European , Solar

UNITED KINGDOM: British plans for wind turbines contested by defence minist
2008-02-14 17:23:00
Britain's defence ministry has raised objections over proposals to ramp up the proportion of the country's energy produced by wind farms, because of concerns over the impact of the turbines on military radar, The Times reported on Monday.A spokesman for Britain's business ministry conceded there had been "issues" regarding potential sites for wind farms, and military radar systems.The Ministry of Defence (MoD), however, insisted that all applications for new wind farms would be assessed on a "site-by-site" basis."The MoD is committed to government targets for renewable energy and whenever possible we seek to work with wind farm developers to find a mutually acceptable solution," an MoD spokesman said.According to The Times, the defence ministry has objected to at least four proposed sites for wind farms on Britain's east coast because they make it impossible to spot aircraft.The newspaper noted that, in written evidence to a planning inquiry in October, Squadron Leader Chris Bre...
More About: Kingdom , United Kingdom , Wind , British , United

SPAIN: José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero se compromete a un mayor esfuerzo econó
2008-02-14 00:19:00
El presidente del Gobierno, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero , se ha comprometido a aumentar en la próxima legislatura el esfuerzo en investigación en energías renovables y en biomedicina con recursos públicos y con seguridad normativa.Zapatero, que ha visitado acompañado del presidente andaluz, Manuel Chaves, la plataforma solar de Abengoa en Sanlúcar la Mayor (Sevilla), ha recordado que tenía una "deuda" con el grupo industrial sevillano para visitar esta planta y la ha puesto como ejemplo de "capacidad innovadora, de visión de futuro" y "de capacidad de país para estar en el liderazgo" de este sector. Asimismo, ha garantizado que el Gobierno está decidido a que "ningún interés, y puedo asegurar que hay muchos y poderosos, ponga freno, límite o genere equívocos y mensajes distorsionantes sobre la fortaleza, rentabilidad y capacidad de las energías renovables" para contar con economías más sólidas, innovadoras y respetuosas.Ha asegurado que los "países ganadores a medio plazo serán los ...
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EMIRATES: Una ciudad sostenible en Abu Dhabi. MASDAR
2008-02-11 08:56:00
La empresa Abu Dhabi Future Energy, se encargará de planificar y desarrollar una urbanización MASDAR, como plan piloto en el emirato de Abu Dhabi que estaría pensada para que genere cero emisión de carbono. Contará con unas elevadas tasas de autoabastecimientos energético además de su presente eficaz gestión del consumo, alcanzando ahorros de 60 por 100 en el suministro hidrológico en comparación de urbanizaciones actuales colindantes, además esta ciudad utilizará energía solar y sus residentes no se desplazarán en automóviles, sino en cabinas que se moverán sobre cintas magnéticas.En este momento se encuentran en la etapa para sindicar el financiamiento de esta obra sostenible, ya que se tiene estimado tendrá un costos cercano a los 22 millones de dólares, por otra parte están pensando en hacer co participes a empresas de países mas desarrollados en los que puedan capitalizar los instrumentos arropados en el protocolo de Kyoto, pensadas para la sinergia entre distintos actores par...
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EUROASIA: Turkey embraces wind power
2008-02-10 17:33:00
In an era of record high oil prices, many countries increasingly are turning to alternative fuels, including biofuel, solar energy and wind power. This pattern is typically pronounced in Turkey , forced to import more than 90 percent of its energy needs, with energy suppliers that are not only expensive, but erratic.In 2006, Turkey spent $29 billion on energy imports, primarily from Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Syria and Russia. High prices and fickle suppliers have stimulated Turkey's growing interest in wind power.Turkish interest in alternative fuels has been spurred by recent events. Turkish natural gas imports come primarily from Russia via the South Stream pipeline and Iran. On Dec. 31, Turkmenistan halted its deliveries of natural gas deliveries to Iran, citing the need for urgent pipeline repairs. The cutoff subsequently forced Iran to reduce its gas exports to Turkey by 75 percent, from 20 million cubic meters to 5 million cu. m., as inclement weather increased domestic demand...
More About: Power , Greece , Wind , Wind power

WESTERN HEMISPHERE: Converting land for biofuel worsens global warming
2008-02-09 23:55:00
Clearing raw land to produce biofuels actually contributes to global warming by emitting large amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, researchers warned Thursday.Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from new croplands carved into rainforests, savannas, wetlands or grasslands would easily surpass the overall amount of CO2 emissions reduced through the use of biofuels, according to a report in the February 8 edition of Science."If you're trying to mitigate global warming, it simply does not make sense to convert land for biofuels production," said Joe Fargione, a founder of private environment protection agency the Nature Conservancy and co-author of the study."All the biofuels we use now cause habitat destruction, either directly or indirectly," he said."Global agriculture is already producing food for six billion people. Producing food-based biofuel, too, will require that still more land be converted to agriculture."Converting land to grow corn, sugar cane or soy beans -- crop...
More About: Global Warming , Biofuel , Land , Western

CALIFORNIA: Global Solar Energy Achieves 10 Percent Average Solar Cell Effi
2008-02-09 05:23:00
Global Solar Energy (GSE) has announced it is the first in the CIGS thin-film market to achieve an average of 10 percent solar cell efficiency on a flexible/lightweight substrate over several production runs. Global Solar Energy reached the milestone in December 2007, capping off a record year in which the company also manufactured and shipped 4 MW (megawatts) of photovoltaic material powering commercial, government, military and consumer products worldwide."In 2007, we saw a range of economic and environmental factors converge to create a substantial market opportunity for renewable-energy technologies across all facets of the economy," said Mike Gering, CEO of Global Solar Energy . "Government, commercial and consumer demand for renewable-energy products and building materials are growing at a fast pace, thereby putting pressure on CIGS producers and other types of solar manufacturers to deliver high-efficiency products that are flexible/lightweight and lower cost per watt instal...
More About: California , Cell , Global

TECHNOLOGY: Biomechanical. Knee Brace Generates Electricity From Walking
2008-02-08 17:43:00
A new energy-capturing knee brace can generate enough electricity from walking to operate a portable GPS locator, a cell phone, a motorized prosthetic joint or an implanted neurotransmitter, research involving the University of Michigan shows. A report on the device is published in the Feb. 8 issue of the journal Science. Authors include researchers from Simon Fraser University in Canada and the University of Pittsburgh, in addition to U-M.The wearable mechanism works much like regenerative braking charges a battery in some hybrid vehicles, said Arthur Kuo, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at U-M and an author of the paper.Regenerative brakes collect the kinetic energy that would otherwise be dissipated as heat when a car slows down. This knee brace harvests the energy lost when a human brakes the knee after swinging the leg forward to take a step.Kuo, who called the device "a cocktail-napkin idea," says knee joints are uniquely suited for this endeavor."There is pow...
More About: Technology , Electricity , Walking

TECHNOLOGY: Screen-Printed Solar Cells
2008-02-08 17:20:00
Members of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE are traveling to Tokyo with bulky luggage these days. Their destination is Nanotech 2008, the world's largest trade fair for nanotechnology. Their solar module, which they will be presenting in the BMBF marketing campaign 'Nanotech Germany', is the size and shape of a door: two meters high and sixty centimeters wide.The key component of the new modules is an organic dye which in combination with nanoparticles converts sunlight into electricity. Due to the small size of the nanoparticles, the modules are semi-transparent. This aspect makes them well suited for facade integration. The solar module prototype manufactured by the researchers at Fraunhofer ISE is amber in color. It is possible, however, to produce the modules in other colors, or even to print images or text on the module so that it serves as a decorative element.These design options open up an entirely new range of possible applications. Instead of mounti...
More About: Screen , Technology , Solar cells

CANADA: Mondial Energy Announces Photovoltaic SOP Contract With Crown Holdi
2008-02-08 17:18:00
Mondial Energy is pleased to announce it has been awarded a Standard Offer Price contract with the Ontario Power Authority for a 326 kW photovoltaic panel installation. The designed installation is more than three times larger than anything built in Canada to date. Under the SOP contract, Mondial will receive $0.42 per kWh for 20 years for the electricity from the panels delivered in to the electricity grid.The site is the roof of a warehouse owned by CROWN Metal Packaging, a subsidiary of Crown Holdings, in Weston, Ontario. Under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding with Crown, Mondial will pay a roof lease to Crown for the use of the roof. Mondial is currently in negotiations with turnkey installation contractors for construction of the PV site.Mondial has applied for a second SOP contract for another Crown site. "Crown is excited about the opportunity to create environmentally friendly energy from renewable resources," said Raymond L. McGowan, President, Americas Division. ...
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