Search Results for: smart meter

Picking Up Good Vibrations – Tiny Energy Harvester is Most Powerful Yet

Recently, electrical engineers at the University of Michigan, have perfected a device that can harness ambient, mechanical vibrations and convert these into electricity at 5 to 10 times the efficiency and power output than previous devices of this type. At 27 cubic millimeters, a single such system fits — with room to spare — on a penny. According to the engineers, the wireless/battery-less devices can be installed and left alone for 10 to 20 years, essentially a “limitless shelf time”.

First HVDC Transmission Projects Beginning Globally

Finally. We are starting to get the high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission system we need to shift massive amounts of wind power from all those empty states where all the wind is, to all the full ones where all the people are. Green Car Congress reports that Siemens is starting to build the much-needed grid that it takes.

About Wind Energy / Why Wind Energy

You’ve probably noticed that wind is super abundant on our planet (funny video on this topic). Some report that wind in windy locations on or near land can power the world 6 to 15 times over. It is also the least-expensive energy source in many or even most regions now, and … [continued]

Freeing the Grid

I covered Network for New Energy Choices’ 2009 Freeing the Grid report last December. A good report on “which states make it easy for people to sell electricity to the grid and which make it difficult.” NNEC now has the 2010 Freeing the Grid report out. As a little reminder, NNEC (in … [continued]