Category Archives: Renewables

Producing Liquid Fuel from Water and Air?

Yes, it seems too good to be true, but a British firm claims it can create the fuels we need to replace gasoline — from renewable sources and ultimately in a carbon neutral process. The firm, Air Fuel Synthesis (AFS), uses renewable … Continue reading

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Floral Patterned Solar Cells in the Near Future?

Here’s another example of biomimicry at its best. Did you ever wonder about the surface area potential of flower petals? Neither did we, but researchers from North Carolina State University have created flower-like structures out of germanium sulfide (GeS) – … Continue reading

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Sewage to Silk Purse

Applied CleanTech gives new meaning to the saying “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” In fact, they take it one step further. Swap out “trash” for…well, “raw sewage” or “bio-solids,” and you’ll understand their business proposition. The company is … Continue reading

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Microwave ovens may enable cheaper, safer solar power

According to researchers at Oregon State University, the same type of microwave oven technology that most people use to heat up leftover food has found an important application in the solar energy industry, providing a new way to make thin-film … Continue reading

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Notre Dame researchers develop paint-on solar capability

Imagine if installing solar energy technology was as easy as splashing on a coat of a paint. The vision may soon be reality, according to a team of researchers at Notre Dame University. The team believes that the current 1% … Continue reading

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Biomimicry at Heart of Wave Energy System

Aquatic biomimicry plays a pivotal role in BioPower Systems’ bioWAVE wave energy system at a grid-connected site near Port Fairy, Victoria, in Australia. The company just received a $5M financial boost from the Victoria Ministry for Energy and Resources towards … Continue reading

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Catching a Solar Virus

When we think about biology, we don’t usually think about hardware, and vice-versa. Jellyfish and hammers, for example (unless you really hate jellyfish). But when you get into the nano and molecular realm, you are entering a world where the … Continue reading

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52-Home Community Gets 90% of Winter Heat from Stored Solar Thermal Power

A community in Canada is the first to create a unique distributed solar thermal system that collects solar heat in the summer and stores it for district-level use in winter, meeting 90% of residential space heating needs and reducing greenhouse … Continue reading

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Versatile Ocean “Bricks” to Cope with Rising Sea Levels

Israeli inventors Yoram Alkon and Dr. Eli Kent have developed a versatile new concept to address some of the ocean-based ramifications of climate change, including rising sea levels. Currently, creating “artificial land” or foundations for ocean or shore-based installations involves … Continue reading

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Ciel et Terre Receives Permit to Build First Floating Solar Island in Europe

A solar provider based in Lille, France, has piloted a floating solar island and is moving on to large scale implementation that will power a rural village in the Vaucluse region. After orchestrating the effort with state-run services agencies, Ciel … Continue reading

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