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Post by clone on Oct 27, 2010 16:03:59 GMT -8
Catching the sun’s heat Storing thermal energy in chemical form has the potential to make it indefinitely storable and transportable. October 26, 2010 But there is another approach whose potential was seen decades ago, but which was sidelined because nobody found a way to harness it in a practical and economical way. This is the thermo-chemical approach, in which solar energy is captured in the configuration of certain molecules which can then release the energy on demand to produce usable heat. And unlike conventional solar-thermal systems, which require very effective insulation and even then gradually let the heat leak away, the heat-storing chemicals can remain stable for years. web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2010/solar-storage-1026.html
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Post by clone on Nov 1, 2010 10:30:27 GMT -8
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Post by clone on Nov 5, 2010 9:39:45 GMT -8
THORIUMKey benefits According to Australian science writer Tim Dean, "thorium promises what uranium never delivered: abundant, safe and clean energy - and a way to burn up old radioactive waste." With a thorium nuclear reactor, Dean stresses a number of added benefits: there is no possibility of a meltdown, it generates power inexpensively, it does not produce weapons-grade by-products, and will burn up existing high-level waste as well as nuclear weapon stockpiles. Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, of the British Telegraph daily, suggests that "Obama could kill fossil fuels overnight with a nuclear dash for thorium," and could put "an end to our dependence on fossil fuels within three to five years en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorium#Key_benefits
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Post by clone on Nov 5, 2010 9:42:03 GMT -8
CIBC investing team has green-energy focus Published On Wed Apr 07 2010 Roberts told the Star the decision sends a clear signal to the market and internally at the bank that renewable energy and clean technologies are more than a passing investment fad. "We're really looking at a structural change in the economy to low-carbon energy sources," he said. "So this isn't just to take advantage of a short cycle. This is a long-term move for us." The 10-person team plans to offer a range of wholesale services, including pre-IPO private placements, project financing, public equity issues and corporate loans. It will also advise on mergers and acquisitions. www.thestar.com/business/bank/article/791303--cibc-investing-team-has-green-energy-focus
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Post by clone on Nov 5, 2010 9:45:33 GMT -8
China Leading World in Renewable Energy Development Summary Over the past few years, China has emerged as a global leader in clean energy, topping the world in production of compact fluorescent light bulbs, solar water heaters, solar photovoltaic (PV) cells, and wind turbines. The remarkable rise of China’s clean energy sector reflects a strong and growing commitment by the government to diversify its energy economy, reduce environmental problems, and stave off massive increases in energy imports. Around the world, governments and industries now find themselves struggling to keep pace with the new pacesetter in global clean energy development. www.worldwatch.org/renewables-and-efficiency-in-china
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Post by clone on Dec 2, 2010 9:43:56 GMT -8
Sahara desert project aims to power half the world by 2050 December 2, 2010 (PhysOrg.com) -- A joint project by universities in Algeria and Japan is planning to turn the Sahara desert, the largest desert in the world, into a breeding ground for solar power plants that could supply half the world’s electrical energy requirements by 2050. www.physorg.com/news/2010-12-sahara-aims-power-world.html
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Post by clone on Dec 4, 2010 21:28:42 GMT -8
Thai tech pioneer converts waste into wealth December 4, 2010 Paijit Sangchai drops a small piece of laminated paper into a jar of cloudy liquid which he hopes will transform his start-up into a multi-million dollar company and help revolutionise recycling. "Now this is the fun part," he says a few minutes later, holding it under the tap to wash away soggy paper pulp and reveal a clear plastic film. His Thai firm, Flexoresearch, has developed a series of blended enzymes that can recover pulp or fibre from laminated paper such as cigarette packets, stickers or milk cartons that were previously hard or impossible to recycle. www.physorg.com/news/2010-12-thai-tech-wealth.html
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Post by moabiter on Dec 5, 2010 10:26:01 GMT -8
Chinese Cow Manure Generates Electricity In Largest-Ever Methane Capture System Posted 11.22.2010 A gigantic Chinese dairy farm is now the world’s largest methane farm, turning a massive source of greenhouse gas emissions into a lucrative renewable energy source. Huishan Dairy in northeast China has installed gas-powered generators that will capture methane from fermenting cow manure, reports Technology Review. Its system is 10 times the size of typical cow manure methane capture programs — fitting for an operation with a quarter of a million cows. GE Engine Four of these GE engines are converting biogas from a Chinese dairy farm into electricity. via Technology Review www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-11/chinese-cow-manure-generates-electricity-largest-ever-methane-capture-system
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Post by clone on Feb 22, 2011 17:00:46 GMT -8
Largest container ship will be 16% larger and 20% less CO2and 35% more fuel efficient February 21, 2011 Maersk Line has signed a contract for 10 of the world’s largest, most efficient container vessels with an option to buy another 20. The vessels will have a capacity of 18,000 TEU and will be delivered from Korea’s DSME shipyard from 2013 to 2015. nextbigfuture.com/2011/02/largest-container-ship-will-be-16.html
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Post by clone on Feb 22, 2011 17:05:24 GMT -8
Floating eco-homes in the Netherlands December 14th, 2010 These are actually some houses that are designed to float if the water invades their premises and be perfectly comfortable homes like this. They are built on some poles and this allows them to guide the water underneath and float. Even the electrical connections, the phone and the plumbing are designed to be prepared for this possibility, as they come through flexible and floatable tubes and cables. www.homedit.com/floating-eco-homes-in-the-netherlands/
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Post by clone on Mar 5, 2011 10:01:09 GMT -8
Sunny streetlight shines on Camrose Canadian Posted 1 day ago The sun's rays are the only thing powering the newest street light in Round Hill. Camrose County made the leap to solar-powered street lights in the hamlet, installing a special cold-weather climate street light designed by Enertia Engineering in Sherwood Park. Where the light differs from their normal solar-powered street-light is in their high-tech battery, which operates in -50 degree Celsius weather. The light has 231 solar panels. The light in Round Hill is just one of two in Western Canada. A second solar-powered light has been installed in Kimberley, BC. www.camrosecanadian.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3004418
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Post by clone on Mar 19, 2011 9:18:43 GMT -8
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Post by ac on Mar 27, 2011 21:08:23 GMT -8
THORIUMKey benefits According to Australian science writer Tim Dean, "thorium promises what uranium never delivered: abundant, safe and clean energy - and a way to burn up old radioactive waste." With a thorium nuclear reactor, Dean stresses a number of added benefits: there is no possibility of a meltdown, it generates power inexpensively, it does not produce weapons-grade by-products, and will burn up existing high-level waste as well as nuclear weapon stockpiles. Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, of the British Telegraph daily, suggests that "Obama could kill fossil fuels overnight with a nuclear dash for thorium," and could put "an end to our dependence on fossil fuels within three to five years en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorium#Key_benefits Obama could kill fossil fuels overnight with a nuclear dash for thorium 6:55PM BST 29 Aug 2010 If Barack Obama were to marshal America’s vast scientific and strategic resources behind a new Manhattan Project, he might reasonably hope to reinvent the global energy landscape and sketch an end to our dependence on fossil fuels within three to five years. We could then stop arguing about wind mills, deepwater drilling, IPCC hockey sticks, or strategic reliance on the Kremlin. History will move on fast. Muddling on with the status quo is not a grown-up policy. The International Energy Agency says the world must invest $26 trillion (£16.7 trillion) over the next 20 years to avert an energy shock. The scramble for scarce fuel is already leading to friction between China, India, and the West. www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/7970619/Obama-could-kill-fossil-fuels-overnight-with-a-nuclear-dash-for-thorium.html
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Post by clone on Mar 30, 2011 1:36:22 GMT -8
Why only in the developing world. We're all developing! It would be nice to be off-grid. Green Collar Technologies Better than Synthetic Photosynthesis? Daniel Nocera, a chemistry professor at MIT, and Matthew Kanan, a postdoctoral fellow in Mr. Nocera’s lab, have developed a catalyst made from cobalt and phosphate that can split water into oxygen and hydrogen gas. When used in conjunction with a photovoltaic solar panel, their system can use water to store the sun’s energy. This new method developed by MIT of splitting water molecules mimics the way photosynthesis works in plants. “You’ve made your house into a fuel station,” Daniel Nocera, a chemistry professor at MIT said. “I’ve gotten rid of all the goddamn grids.” My guess is that we’ll figure out the scalability issues of these imaginative efforts sooner than most can possibly conceive. More: greencollartech.com/solar-energy-breakthrough-photosynthesis.htmMar 29, 2011 12:03 PM . A research team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) led by Dr. Daniel Nocera, Ph.D., claims to have made a drastic discovery in the world of sustainable energy by developing the first "practical" artificial leaf. These leaves are actually advanced solar cells that mimic photosynthesis, the process by which their real-life counterparts convert sunlight and water into energy. According Nocera, the leaves, although small in size, “"could produce enough electricity to supply a house in a developing country with electricity for a day." www.pcworld.com/article/223625/researchers_develop_artificial_leaf_your_marigolds_cower_in_fear.html
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Post by clone on Mar 30, 2011 1:56:10 GMT -8
China tops global clean energy table 29 March 2011 Last updated at 11:44 ET China remains the world's leading investor in low-carbon energy technology, a global study has shown. The table, published by the US Pew Environment Group, showed that the Chinese invested $54.4bn (£34.1bn) in 2010, up from $39.1bn in 2009. While the US saw investment increase by 51% to $34bn, it still slipped from 2nd to 3rd in the ranking, behind Germany's $41.2bn. www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12895157
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