Desperation often yields innovation. In Japan, fear of rising food prices and low fish stocks has led scientists to create the “eco-rig”. The eco-rig, which is actually a giant floating generator, uses solar and wind power to produce approximately 300 MWh. Though some energy is lost moving the electricity onshore, … [continued]
Algae fuel is getting another boost with the announcement of a $3 million grant to create kerosene-based aviation fuel derived from the substance. Arizona State University researchers have already moved past the laboratory stage on the project and are working on a pilot scale production system. The research team says … [continued]
VentureBeat reports that PowerGenix has developed a nickel zinc (NiZn) battery that has 35 percent higher power and energy density than a nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery (used in hybrid vehicles), but is half the cost of a lithium-ion battery. This is great news for scooter fanatics, who right now … [continued]
New ideas for reducing CO2 seem to be popping up all the time. The latest scheme for getting rid of the greenhouse gas comes from Stanford Professor Brent Constanz. The Geological and Environmental Sciences Professor has invented a new type of cement that is carbon neutral—a huge innovation for a … [continued]
Solar power—is there anything it can’t do? British scientists have found a new use for solar technology with the Sahara Forest Project, a proposed plan to combine greenhouses that use seawater to grow crops with solar power installations. The greenhouse-solar power combination could potentially provide food, fresh water and energy … [continued]
What happened to the ODO Twirl n’ Take? We first saw the wind up camera in 2007 when our friends over at Engadget posted the pics below. Then, today AOL’s Green Channel at Switched had more video from Engadget posted.
This is Part Two on a debate by The Economist. The official debate concluded earlier this week, but you can still vote and leave comments or critique. The question was: “Can we solve our energy problems with existing technologies today, without the need for breakthrough innovations?” Though we often envision … [continued]
Vandergrift, PA is ditching its longtime reputation as a steel town to become a model of sustainability. First up in the transition: installing a grid of electricity-generating smart materials on the bottom of the Kiskiminetas River. The town hopes that the grid—along with a healthy dose of energy conservation efforts—will … [continued]
Thank goodness for over eager car buffs and Transformer fans – this morning, our friends at Jalopnik posted some great “spy” pics of the yet-to-be-released 2010 Chevy Volt and got some great video of it in it’s break out role in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.
This past week was an eventful one for thin-film solar companies Nanosolar and AVA Solar , which received a total of over $400 million in funding. Nanosolar, which took in $300 million, has now raised nearly half a billion dollars of capital. The company plans to use the money to … [continued]
