CleanTechnica

Electricity-Producing Bacteria From Massachusetts

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Guest Contributor

Ah, the wonders of science. Though, I can’t yet say if I’m all that thrilled about bacteria being engineered to produce electricity. Would hate to see what would happen if it all got out of hand. Maybe we should just stick to the trustworthy and cheap renewables we have today. Here are more details on the news from the American Society for Microbiology. Researchers have engineered a strain of electricity-producing bacteria that can grow using … Read More

Solar Impulse In Midst Of Setting Another Solar Airplane Record

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Amber Archangel

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Solar Impulse, piloted by André Borschberg, took off today, Wednesday May 22nd, at 4:45AM MST (UTC-7) from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to fly to Texas. Landing is scheduled sometime after 01:00AM CDT (UTC-5) at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Thursday May 23rd. Should there be any last minute changes, please consult Solar Impulse’s Dallas page on the Solar Impulse website. Solar Impulse will be soaring in the early morning skies of Phoenix, Arizona on Wednesday May … Read More

Australia’s First Solar Towers Are Not Yet Built, But They Have A Name

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Giles Parkinson

This article first appeared on Renew Economy The construction of what could be Australia’s first stand alone solar thermal power station has not even been agreed, but it has been named. The pro-renewable group Beyond Zero Emissions – which is pushing for the construction of solar towers at Port Augusta to replace the ageing and polluting brown coal generators in that town – is suggesting that the new facility be named after the town’s mayor, … Read More

Tesla Battery Swap?

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Important Media Cross-Post

Battery swapping has been a somewhat contentious issue within the EV world. Basically, some people love the idea, some are more ‘meh’ about it. Israel-based Better Place and its many enthusiasts most hyped the idea, and it had some grand plans. As Chris DeMorro notes below, it has (for the time being, at least) folded on much of that. The market just didn’t seem ready for such a radical idea. But there are still some clear … Read More

New Printable Graphene Ink Made Possible By Exfoliation

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Tina Casey

Forget about that chest wax thing you’ve been thinking about, when it comes to exfoliation a team of researchers at Northwestern Engineering has everybody beat. The team has figured out a way to peel a layer of graphene, the “miracle material of the new millennium,” from a chunk of graphite quicker than you can say “ouch!” and that’s just the beginning. The graphene is being used to develop a low cost, highly conductive ink that … Read More

BMW M3 EV From EV West On The Dyno (Video)

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Important Media Cross-Post

Check out the super gearhead in this video below laughing with excitement about the ridiculous amount of torque in the BMW M3 EV. If anyone thought EVs meant “low power,” this should wake you up. Thanks to Chris DeMorro of CleanTechnica sister site Gas2 for the find and article. With major automakers now churning out EVs of their own, electric car conversion shops have taken a backseat in the news. Well, most shops at least. EV … Read More

How To Create A Net-Zero-Energy Home (New Report)

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Guest Contributor

The Net-Zero Energy Residential Test Facility sits on the campus of the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, Md. The facility allows researchers to test various high-efficiency and alternative energy systems, materials, and designs.
Credit: Young/NIST
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Net zero energy = awesome. And homes or buildings that use no energy from other locations (net, not gross) are certainly a growing trend. Check out this post below from the National Institute of Standards and Technology regarding a new report on this subject. Chances are you know how many miles your car logs for each gallon or tankful of gas, but you probably have only a foggy idea of how much energy your house consumes, even though … Read More

Investors Plan To Sue Czech Government Over Solar Power Revenue Tax

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Mridul Chadha

A group of renewable energy investors plan to sue the government of Czech Republic over a controversial tax on solar energy projects. The investors say that they feel duped by the policies of the government which had initially attracted investments in the solar energy sector through supportive policies. Eight international investors associated with the International PhotoVoltaic Investors Club (IPVIC) have announced that they will file a notice of arbitration against the Czech government. The investors … Read More

Solar Energy Industries Association & Electricity Storage Association Buddy Up

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Guest Contributor

Solar power and energy storage are a couple made in heaven, like CleanTechnica and you. With both growing fast (solar & energy storage), two of the trade associations of each have partnered up. Here’s the announcement released today from the US Solar Energy Industries Association: WASHINGTON, DC – The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the national trade association for the U.S. solar energy industry, and the Electricity Storage Association (ESA), the international trade association promoting … Read More