Labels: batteries, energy, renewable, solar, wind

PermaLink - Portable Charger Harvests Solar and Wind Energy   0 Comments

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PermaLink - Storing Renewable Energy in Boxes of Air   0 Comments

• Liquid Metal Grid-Scale Batteries: Created by Professor Don Sadoway, a leading MIT battery scientist, the all-liquid metal battery is based on low cost, domestically available liquid metals with potential to break through the cost barrier required for mass adoption of large scale energy storage as part of the nation's energy grid. If successful, this battery technology could revolutionize the way electricity is used and produced on the grid, enabling round-the-clock power from America's wind and solar power resources, increasing the stability of the grid, and making blackouts a thing of the past. And if deployed at homes, it could allow individual consumers the ability to be part of a future "smart energy Internet," where they would have much greater control over their energy usage and delivery.
• Bacteria for Producing Direct Solar Hydrocarbon Biofuels: Researchers at the University of Minnesota have developed a bioreactor that has the potential to produce a flow of gasoline directly from sunlight and CO2 using a symbiotic system of two organisms. First, a photosynthetic organism directly captures solar radiation and uses it to convert carbon dioxide to sugars. In the same area, another organism converts the sugars to gasoline and diesel transportation fuels. This development has the potential to greatly increase domestic production of clean fuel for our vehicles and end our reliance on foreign oil.
• CO2 Capture using Artificial Enzymes: The funding will support an effort by the United Technologies Research Center to develop new synthetic enzymes that could make it easier and more affordable to capture carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and factories. If successful, the effort would mean a much lower energy requirement for industrial carbon capture and significantly lower capital costs to get carbon capture systems up and running. Success of this project could substantially lower the cost of carbon capture relative to current, state-of-the-art amine and ammonia based processes. This would represent a major breakthrough that could make it affordable to capture the carbon dioxide emissions from coal and natural gas power plants around the world.
• Low Cost Crystals for LED Lighting: Developed by Momentive Performance Materials, this proposal for novel crystal growth technology could dramatically lower the cost of developing light emitting diodes (LEDs), which are 30 times more efficient than incandescent bulbs and four times more efficient than compact fluorescents. This higher quality, low-cost material would offer significant breakthroughs in lowering costs of finished LED lighting, accelerating mass market use, and dramatically decreasing U.S. lighting energy usage. Lighting accounts for 14 percent of U.S. electricity use.

Labels: co2, energy, renewable, research, solar, wind

PermaLink - DOE Funds Innovative Energy Research Projects   0 Comments

Labels: energy, inventions, renewable, solar

PermaLink - Eternal Candle : A Renewable Solar Heat Storage Technology   0 Comments

Labels: energy, inventions, renewable, waste

PermaLink - WindAir -A New Renewable Energy Invention   0 Comments

Labels: energy, renewable, solar

PermaLink - Solar Power in Space : A New Level Renewable Energy   0 Comments

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PermaLink - Graphene-A Carbon Material to Store Renewable Energy   0 Comments

Labels: biopolymers, renewable

PermaLink - Polyflow Process For Flexible-Packaging Recycling   0 Comments

Jan 2009

Recognizing that energy is at the heart of many of the world's tribulations—economic, environmental and political—Stanford is establishing a $100 million research institute to focus intently on energy issues, President John Hennessy told a capacity crowd Monday afternoon in Memorial Auditorium.

The $100 million in new funds will enable the hiring of additional faculty and support new graduate students, in addition to the more than $30 million in yearly funding now spent on energy research. Stanford researchers are tackling some of the world's most challenging problems, such as finding an alternative to coal that is environmentally friendly yet cheap enough to sell to China. Hennessy described that particular quest as the Holy Grail of energy research.

More from here

Labels: renewable, research, usa

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Labels: fuel-cells, hydrogen, renewable

PermaLink - Renewable hydrogen from the fermentation of energy crops   0 Comments

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Labels: electricity, renewable, waste

PermaLink - Vegawatt(TM) : Waste vegetable oil to generate on-site Electricity   0 Comments

Biochar was first created and used thousands of years ago to help plants grow. Researchers have found that this charcoal-like substance traps carbon and is a renewable source of fuel. Nine countries are pouring research dollars into the charcoal-like substance to see if it can sequester carbon, improve the soil and produce biofuels all at once—on an economically competitive scale. Could this ancient fertilizer really put a dent on global warming?

Biochar is different from the dry charcoal that you'd burn in a grill: It is produced by heating plant waste to 400 to 500 degrees C in the absence of oxygen—a process known as low-temperature pyrolysis—which makes a substance that has a greater number of smaller pores than charcoal. (The better to trap carbon dioxide with.)

The process used to make biochar is a closed, sustainable one: Biomass is fed into the oxygen-free burners and turned into the char. The gases that are released during the reaction is then captured and converted into electricity (from combustible gases) or biofuel, while the remaining char is safe to throw directly into the soil. Biochar does the rest of the work underground. The substance improves the ground's composition and fertility by locking in water and nutrients, thereby reducing the need for fertilizers while boosting crop yields. It also stores the carbon from the plant materials that made it— around 50 percent of the carbon produced from converting biomass into biochar can be trapped—and traps even more carbon from decomposing plants in the soil.

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Labels: biomass, co2, renewable

PermaLink - Ancient Charcoal- Brakes on Global Warming by sequestering carbon   1 Comments

Renewable energy from the wind, which previously could only be generated in restricted geographic locations – typically off-shore or in remote rural areas – can now be made available almost anywhere, including urban environments, with the introduction of the AeroCam wind turbine. The AeroCam, developed by BroadStar Wind Systems, was designed and patented for commercial applications. With its parallel rotor blades, not only does it look radically different from conventional propeller designs, but also can be manufactured, transported, installed and maintained at lower cost.

“Wind energy now can be made directly available to everyone,” says Stephen Else, president of Dallas-based BroadStar Wind Systems. “By harnessing its power in almost any setting, the AeroCam can now generate energy close to where it’s actually required. This is a new and exciting product with great potential.” Following four years of research and development and the issuance of U.S. patents, the company is currently in the final stages of negotiations to place the product with two Fortune 100 companies.

Full article here

Labels: alternative-energy, costs, renewable, wind

PermaLink - BroadStar Breakthrough in Low-Cost Energy With New Generation Wind Turbine   0 Comments

With green energy, big is better

May 12 2007

Wind, solar and other renewable-energy technologies, once considered more appropriate for single homes or small communities in the US, are reaching levels of scale and centralising that were formerly the province of coal- and gas-fired plants and nuclear reactors.

When it comes to alternative ways of generating power in the US, big may be better.

The companies that are building or dreaming up large projects argue that there are economies of scale to be gained, says this interesting report.

Read more from this report @ Business Times, Malaysia

Labels: renewable

PermaLink - With green energy, big is better   1 Comments

Swedes want more renewable energy

27 Mar 2007

More people than ever in Sweden want the country to expand its use of environmentally friendly energy sources. Support for hydroelectricity and biofuels has increased, according to a study from Gothenburg University, which also shows that just over three-quarters of people want Sweden to concentrate more on wind power, while 83 percent want more use of solar power.

Read more from here @ SR.se

Labels: renewable

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Finavera Renewables Signs Contract with SAIC for Ocean Energy Projects

Press release

VANCOUVER, CANADA, March 14 - Finavera Renewables Inc. (TSX-V:FVR)
has announced that SAIC, a leader in system integration, systems engineering
and scientific services, will serve as the system integrator for Finavera
Renewables' portfolio of ocean energy conversion programs and installation
projects. This agreement will combine the technology developed by Finavera
Renewables with the engineering and marine experience of SAIC.

According to the terms of the contract, SAIC, a research and engineering
company, will provide system integration, systems engineering and design
review support, plus program and project management support. SAIC will work
with Finavera to develop, integrate, procure, install and test ocean energy
conversion devices, including the patented "AquaBuOY" in marine renewable
energy parks.

Alla Weinstein, Director and General Manager of Finavera Renewables,
Ocean Energy, said, "This is another significant step in our emerging
industry. This agreement brings two innovative companies together in the
interest of commercializing a new renewable energy technology, introducing it
as an available resource and strengthening energy security. SAIC brings a vast
amount of marine engineering experience to the table, and we are thrilled to
be working with them on the development of our patented 'AquaBuOY' technology
and generating projects. This agreement will advance Finavera Renewables
pursuit of the commercialization of the 'AquaBuOY' and the development of the
wave energy industry worldwide."

Jason Bak, CEO, Finavera Renewables commented, "This agreement is of key
importance for the planned installation of an AquaBuOY device in the USA in
2007. Working with SAIC will allow us to aggressively develop and construct
the AquaBuOY for this deployment. Following this initial installation, it is
anticipated that a number of devices will be deployed in what is planned to be
America's largest wave park."

About Finavera Renewables

Finavera Renewables is a Canadian listed issuer dedicated to the
development of renewable energy resources and technologies. The Company's
objective is to become a major renewable and green energy producer by
developing and operating its assets in the wind and wave energy sectors.

Finavera Renewables is developing several wave energy projects worldwide.
They include a 1MW pilot plant in Makah Bay, Washington State, USA, a 100MW
staged power project in Figuera da Foz, Portugal, a 20MW staged project in
South Africa, and a pilot project in BC, Canada.

Finavera Renewables is also developing wind energy projects with the goal
of delivering near term revenue. Finavera Renewables recently signed an
agreement to acquire the 150 MW Three Hills wind power project in Alberta,
Canada. In addition, twelve projects are under development in the Peace River
region of northeast British Columbia, Canada and six in the Cascades region of
the province's southern interior with a total potential capacity of over
1,500MW. A total potential of 175MW of wind energy projects are planned in
Ireland, in areas with wind resources amongst the best in Europe.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation
of an offer to sell any securities in the United States. The securities have
not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and
may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless
registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws
or an exemption from such registration is available. Statements in this news
release, other than purely historical information, including statements
relating to the Company's future plans and objectives or expected results,
constitute Forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on numerous
assumptions and are subject to all the risks and uncertainties inherent in the
Company's business, including risks related to exploration and development.
Consequently, actual results may vary materially from those described in the
Forward-looking statements.

The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy
and accuracy of this release.

For more information, contact Finavera Renewables: info@finavera.com, + 1
604 288 9051.

For further information: Media Europe K Capital Source Jonathan Neilan
Tel. +353-1-631-5500 Cell. +353-86-231-4135, or Media North America Finavera Renewables Michael Clark Public Relations Tel. +1-604-288-9051

Labels: ocean, renewable, wave

PermaLink - Finavera Renewables Signs Contract with SAIC for Ocean Energy Projects   0 Comments

Wave energy coming to coast

Renewable resource - An Oregon-based electricity co-op and a New Jersey company join forces

March 01, 2007, Gail Kinsey Hill

A Portland-based electric co-op has hooked up with a private company to help develop a wave energy project off the Oregon Coast near Reedsport.

The agreement between Pacific Northwest Generating Cooperative (PNGC Power) and New Jersey-headquartered Ocean Power Technologies signals rising commercial interest in the emerging form of renewable energy.

Read the full report from here @ Oregon Live

Labels: renewable, wave

PermaLink - Wave energy coming to coast   0 Comments

Energy from Vacuum? - Perhaps, says Institute of Vacuumenergy

Came across an interesting site by Institute of Vacuumenergy...

Following is their introduction about themselves and what they do.

"In the Institute for Vacuumenergy we are researching a method, which may enable us to use the active potential inherent in the vacuum as an energy source. We would like to give mankind the possibility of clean electromagnetic energy.

The Institute for Vacuumenergy is an independent and privately financed project.

How does a free energy machine work which uses the active vacuum as an external energy source?

Asymmetrical vacuum energy machine

A device which is able to use the quantum mechanical vacuum as an external energy source, intervenes into the active vacuum in the sense of an open system. It is possible to design an EM system in such a way, that a certain amount of electromagnetic energy is being used to create a so called asymmetric situation. A channel can be opened through which the potential of the vacuum in the sense of an external energy source can flow into our system because of a mechanism of asymmetry.
So the energy from a vacuum energy machine of course does not derive from nothing, but from the active vacuum. Ironically our source charge (dipole) is already a vacuum energy machine,concerning the extraction of the energy from the vacuum, meaning that our common electric circuit is already beeing potentiallized through an asymmetry towards the active vaccum. The scalar potential has an internal dynamic nature like any standing wave having an internal dynamic nature. If we don´t want to violate the first law, we just have to consider the vaccum as an energy domain and add it to our calculations.

...

Interesting, isn't it?

More can be known about them at their web page on vacuum energy

Labels: electromagnetic, renewable

PermaLink - Energy from Vacuum? - Perhaps, says Institute of Vacuumenergy   0 Comments

Wave Of Support For Tidal Energy

23rd March 2007, Carbon Free

Despite key political support, the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) said it was concerned that this rhetoric is not yet being backed up by long term policy support. It said that the publication of the Marine Bill White Paper provides the overarching framework for planning and consenting marine renewable energy projects but claimed this needs to be backed up by new financial support mechanisms, if the UK is to retain its current global lead.

Read the full report here @ Carbon Free, UK

Labels: renewable, tidal

PermaLink - Wave Of Support For Tidal Energy in UK   0 Comments

Going green to save the white stuff

By Tom Gardner, Associated Press, March 26, 2007

The ski industry in the USA is going green to help offset the pollution that feeds global warming -- a phenomenon that challenges the resorts' very existence with the threat of later snowfalls and earlier snow melts.

Fifty-five resorts in 14 states are buying renewable energy to offset part or all of their power needs, according to the National Ski Areas Association. Of these, 26 are operating 100 percent on green energy.

Read more from this report @ Casper Star Tribune

Labels: climate-change, renewable

PermaLink - Going green to save the white stuff   0 Comments

Ex-communist Europe Lags the West in Green Energy

Bulgaria, Hungary & Poland have thousands of megawatts in untapped renewable energy, but these states remain heavily dependent on fossil fuels causing friction between older and newer EU members as the EU pushes an ambitious plan to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and boost its reliance on green energy

Read more from this report @ the Post & Courier, Charleston SC

Labels: renewable

PermaLink - Ex-communist Europe Lags the West in Green Energy   0 Comments