CleanTechnica

ExxonMobil’s Excellent Algae Biofuel Adventure…Or Not

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Tina Casey

Exxon co-funds algae biofuel research project

Not that ExxonMobil is going all soft on us, but the company once notorious for promoting bad information about the state of climate science has been quietly researching algae biofuel in partnership with California-based Synthetic Genomics Inc. (SGI) for the past four years, and it just announced a new co-funding agreement last week. This new phase of the partnership is significant because it enables SGI to focus on foundational research to develop enhanced strains of … Read More

Energy Efficiency Could Cut Wireless Data Power Demand 90% By 2020

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Silvio Marcacci

The growing could of mobile data could quadruple power demand of wireless networks by 2015, with massive emissions impacts.

Good thing that a new study from the GreenTouch consortium outlines energy efficiency measures that could cut net energy consumption 90% by 2020.

New Patron For Solar Impulse, The Solar Plane — Richard Branson (Video)

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Amber Archangel

Solar Impulse, the most famous solar plane in the world, is currently performing test flights in Phoenix, Arizona at the Sky Harbor International Airport. The folks behind it are entertaining the curious public as well as other renewable energy supporters, including the Governor of Arizona, Mrs. Jan Brewer, and the Honorary Consul of Switzerland, Alisa Jost. The team is waiting for the right conditions to continue its mission. The next leg will take the crew to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport … Read More

Mosaic Find 800 Investors Per Million For Crowdfunded Solar Projects

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Joshua S Hill

Mosaic have been a big success around here since we first heard about them, unsurprisingly given their innovative method of crowd-funding renewable energy solutions. It turns out that we’re not the only ones excited, though, as Mosaic have just announced that 823 people have invested in their largest solar project ever, a 487 kW installation on New Jersey’s famous Wildwoods boardwalk. … Read More

Coal Tax To Fund India’s 750 MW Solar Power Capacity Addition Plan In 2013

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Mridul Chadha

The Indian government is set to repose millions of dollars in financial support for solar power project developers from the coal tax corpus it has accumulated over the last few years. Project developers looking to set up projects under the second phase of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission will receive financial assistance over capital cost expenditure. According to the guidelines recently released by the government, the project developers will receive financial assistance of up … Read More

Top 20 Solar Module Manufacturers Up To 70% Of Market Share

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Guest Contributor

This article was originally published on Solarbuzz. The top 20 solar photovoltaic (PV) module suppliers accounted for almost 70% of global PV shipments in Q1’13, according to the latest NPD Solarbuzz Module Tracker Quarterly report. “The continued consolidation of solar PV manufacturers is creating opportunities for the leading tier 1 module suppliers,” explained Ray Lian, Senior Analyst at NPD Solarbuzz. “The market share of the top 20 module suppliers increased significantly in Q1’13 to 70%, up from 58% … Read More

Elusive Graphene Butterfly Finally Spreads Its Wings

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Tina Casey

researchers create Hofstader butterfly in graphene

Graphene is an ultra-thin, ultra-conducting, ultra strong material that could spawn a whole new generation of ultra-efficient electronics, and hundreds if not thousands of researchers around the globe are racing to unlock the secrets behind its unique properties. It looks like the latest match will end in a draw, as two international research teams have both succeeded in manipulating graphene to produce a phenomenon that until now has only been known in theory, the Hofstadter … Read More

The Next Apple Will Be Found In LED Lighting

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Guest Contributor

This article first appeared on Technica Communications. by Lisa Ann Pinkerton Who doesn’t wish they had invested in Apple when it was $16 a share? Quite often, timing the market is more intuition than science. Those who know analog to digital inflection points are watching LEDs. Get it right, and enormous wealth can be created. Time it wrong and you’re left in the dust, like Polaroid. It’s easy to look back on digital film, the … Read More

Solar And Lithium Ion Car Race Winners Announced

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Guest Contributor

Ninety-seven teams from 28 Colorado schools participated in today’s car competitions hosted by the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The student teams raced solar and lithium ion powered vehicles they designed and built themselves. Trophies for the fastest lithium-ion powered model cars were given to Colorado students from University School, Greeley, “Lucky Charms,” first place; Southern Hills Middle School, Boulder, “Fat Albert,”, second place; and Southern Hills, “Green Spartan,” third place. … Read More