Originally published on CleanTechnica sister site Green Building Elements. In the Arizona desert lies the world’s largest “net-zero energy” building. It is the Phoenix Regional Office of DPR Construction. It was given this certification by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI). Located on the corner of 44th and Van Buren, the … [continued]
This article was originally published on Lenz Blog. RWE has announced in their latest report on their first six months results (press release in German) that they plan to take 3.1 GW of fossil fuel generating capacity off the market. The reason they give for that is that wholesale electricity … [continued]
The largest self-consumption rooftop solar array in Europe has been completed, and it is of course located in Germany. It is eleven hectares in size, consists of 33,000 solar panels, and has a generation capacity of 8.1 MW (which could power up to about 1,846 homes). The record-breaking solar roof … [continued]
A team of researchers at MIT has come up with a membrane-free flow battery, and that could mean that the solar powered future we’ve been looking forward to is even closer than we thought. Flow batteries have a huge advantage when it comes to utility-scale energy storage, especially for intermittent … [continued]
The Brazilian state of São Paulo — the economic and industrial heart of the country — is currently aiming to possess a total of at least 1 GW of solar energy capacity by the year 2020, a goal which is very achievable, according to a solar atlas of the region … [continued]
A Tesla Model S unfortunately caused a power disruption in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, this week. The power blackout lasted a few hours. As you can see in the image below, the power blackout was caused by the Tesla Model S crashing into a power transmission pole, tearing down the wires. I imagein … [continued]
With the world’s population is growing so quickly, how will we all be supplied with electricity sustainably? Reserves of all the major fossil fuels are dwindling more and more rapidly due to demand increases. As these supplies diminish, they become impractically expensive for more and more people. Plus, there is … [continued]
The one thing everyone working on energy issues in America can agree upon is non-existent energy policy action at the national level. But late last week President Obama signed two bipartisan bills that could create a major boost for US renewables generation from an unlikely source – small hydropower.
It’s kind of amazing these bills becoming law hasn’t gotten much attention, since they’re the first real energy legislation to pass Congress since 2009, and could ultimately create 1.2 million green jobs while adding 60 gigawatts of new renewable electricity to the grid.
What a difference 34 years can make. When the Carter Administration installed solar panels at the White House back in 1979, photovoltaic cells were space age technology that most households could not afford, aside from the rare DIY-er. Now the price of solar power has been sinking like a stone, … [continued]
In the past few months, we have covered General Motors newest entry: The Chevy EV Spark. In a short time, its received good reviews from Consumer Reports and Engadget. And unsurprisingly, GM are looking to make it known just how environmentally and economically friendly the Chevy Spark is. Which is why they’ve released … [continued]
