Nicholas Brown, Author at CleanTechnica

About Nicholas Brown

I have a keen interest in physics-intensive topics such as electricity generation, refrigeration and air conditioning technology, energy storage, geography, and much more. My website is: Kompulsa.

Conventional Car Repair Costs Increased, While Hybrids Saw A Decrease

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Nicholas Brown

Automobiles have become more complex as manufacturers attempt to squeeze more power and greater efficiency out of their engines, and also as they increase the number of power features and other fancy electronics. The repair expenditure for typical gasoline and diesel vehicles in the US increased by 11.6% Northeastern United States, and 10% for the rest of the country. On the other hand, the cost of repairing hybrid-electric vehicles has actually decreased. … Read More

SportStar EPOS Electric Airplane Makes Its First Flight

Posted on April 14, 2013 by Nicholas Brown

Electric airplanes are a bit different from electric road cars, and are even more limited. Running out of range 15,000 feet in the air has greater consequences than running out of it on the road. However, most people would plan their flights so they don’t exceed their range, so this issue would surely be a rare one. … Read More

NJ May Start Funding Renewable Energy Energy Storage

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Nicholas Brown

The state of New Jersey may start funding renewable energy storage projects. This comes at the same time that the state is cutting renewable energy funding down to $7.5 million for 2014 for solar, biomass, hydroelectric, and onshore wind power. … Read More

EV Charging Station Count Increases 9% In 1st Quarter

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Nicholas Brown

The number of publicly accessible electric vehicle chargers in the US increased by 9% in the first quarter of 2013. This is likely a response to the increased number of plug-in electric vehicles on the road. Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf, and Tesla Model S sales have been going strong, as we just reported on Monday, and there are several other plug-in electric vehicles on the road, as well. The thousands of people who purchased those vehicles … Read More

Turnkey Solar Prices Drop 40% In Switzerland

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Nicholas Brown

Solar panels on Swiss home.
Image Credit: Shutterstock

The average cost of turnkey solar power plants in Switzerland decreased by a whopping 40% between 2011 and 2012, a new report indicate. 94 installers and 402 photovoltaic solar power plant operators were interviewed for this report. Feed-in tariffs were actually reduced by 8% early this year in Switzerland. Last year, they were reduced three times. The first of these reductions was an 8% one in the beginning of the year, followed by a 10% cut … Read More

Grid-Tie Solar + Power Outage Backup!

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Nicholas Brown

Diagram for a grid-tie solar system with battery backup

Depending on the reliability of the electricity supply in your location, you may want a backup generator. They are usually diesel or gasoline fueled, but they can very well be fueled using sunshine. The convenience of backup generators is priceless, because when there is a power outage, you will normally be bitten up by mosquitoes, sweat like a pig, and wait in silence (except for that high-pitched mosquito buzzing) without television or internet access until … Read More

Boeing Completes Certification Testing For 787 Li-ion Batteries

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Nicholas Brown

Boeing 787.
Image Credit: Thor Jorgen Udvang / Shutterstock.com

On line number 86, Boeing has completed a demonstration flight to certify that the passenger jet’s lithium-ion battery is now installed correctly (after prolonged confusion and short-term fixes). The flight departed from Paine Field in Everett, Washington, at 10:39am Pacific time on Friday with a crew of 11 people on board, including two representatives from the FAA. The plane flew for 1 hour and 49 minutes. It landed back at Paine field at 12:28pm pacific. The … Read More

Black Silicon Solar Cell Efficiency Record Broken

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Nicholas Brown

Black Silicon. Image Credit: SEM_of_RIE_Black_Silicon.tif: Blind cyclist

Researchers at Fraunhofer ISE of Germany and Aalto University of Finland have developed a black silicon solar cell that achieved 18.7% efficiency. This is the highest efficiency reported for a black silicon solar cell technology. 18.7% efficiency means a power-to-size ratio of 187 watts per square meter of these cells. 7,000 watts (7 kW) of these cells would require only 37.4 square metres (402 square feet) of roof space. The previous efficiency record of 18.2% was … Read More

Fiat 500e Customers Offered Free Car Rental