Under What Conditions Will Clean Energy Become The Norm?
Language can lead us to get the agency we need to create conditions where renewables are the norm.
university of minnesota
3 Urban Form Metrics Strongly Tied To Air Pollution Levels
The alteration of the urban form of cities — and thus the alteration of motor vehicle use patterns — could be used as a means of reducing local air pollution levels, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Washington and the University of Minnesota.
Nitrous Oxide Emissions From US Corn Belt Greatly Underestimated
The emissions of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas, from agricultural operations in the central United States may be greatly underestimated, and in some instances are as much as 40% higher than previously thought, according to a new study. A recent study of the indirect emissions of nitrous oxide from … [continued]
New Perspective On Bioenergy Economic Model
Bioenergy, while environmentally cleaner and more sustainable than fossil fuels, has historically been too energy intensive to produce — a big negative from an economic perspective. However, recent bioenergy research from the University of Minnesota on combining solar thermal energy with biomass gasification for producing a natural gas substitute indicates a … [continued]
No Rain On Parade For 2013 World Solar Challenge
That sound you can’t hear is not the clatter of my keyboard but rather rain coming down on Adelaide as I write this. However, despite the rain falling now, we had fine conditions and plenty of sunshine for the 2013 World Solar Challenge Parade that was held earlier today. I … [continued]
New Method For Producing ‘Electronic Ink’ — Solar Cells As Cheap As Roof Shingles In…
A new method for producing “electronic ink” — a specialized form of ink from non-toxic nanometer-sized crystals of silicon — has been developed by researchers from the University of Minnesota’s College of Science and Engineering and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The researchers say that their new technology brings the … [continued]
Is There Phantom Power Usage In Your Home?
Dr. David Schmidt of the University of Minnesota’s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences is practicing what he preaches. The professor of the popular Renewable Energy and the Environment course has conducted his own study on phantom power in the home. Phantom power (also referred to as standby … [continued]
Volvo Trucks Takes DME Plunge, Biofuel Or No Biofuel
Volvo Trucks has ambitious plans for dimethyl ether (DME), which is more familiarly known as a propellant for spray-on cosmetics rather than a power juice for big rigs. Yesterday the company announced that it plans to commercialize DME for use in trucks and other vehicles by 2015, but for those … [continued]
Coalition for Sustainable Rail to Convert World’s First Modern Steam Engine Powered with Biocoal
This is not just a trip down memory lane to visit an old smoky railroad locomotive. At the University of Minnesota, the Coalition for Sustainable Rail (CSR) is actively converting a 1937 locomotive – # 3463 – into what will be the world’s first carbon-neutral high-speed locomotive. It will not be electric, running instead on steam generated by the burning of biofuel, or torrefied biocoal. […]
University of Minnesota Energy Storage Invention Licensed to SustainX
Here’s the bulk of a recent University of Minnesota story I was notified of via email at the end of last week — looks like an important new energy storage technology: A University of Minnesota invention could help make storage of solar and wind energy more efficient and economical. … [continued]
