Cleantech and Environmental News – Latest Headlines

Carbon dioxide captured from air converted directly to methanol fuel for the first time

For the first time, researchers there have directly converted carbon dioxide from the air into methanol at relatively low temperatures.

February 2, 2016 Read more

Turning good vibrations into energy

A project is testing whether high-tech objects that look a bit like artificial trees can generate renewable power when they are shaken by the wind - or by the sway of a tall building, traffic on a bridge or even seismic activity.

February 1, 2016 Read more

Sophisticated enzyme-mimic enables efficient hydrogen production

Researchers have developed a new catalyst that paves the way for low-cost, large-scale hydrogen-production.

January 25, 2016 Read more

Wind energy costs approach nonrenewable levels

Wind energy and other renewables can now supply electricity at highly cost effective levels - and it has happened so rapidly that public perception is yet to catch up.

January 22, 2016 Read more

Assessment aims to maximize greenhouse gas reductions from bioenergy

A study used a new method, never before applied to the energy sector, to assess the 'sustainability index' of various sources of energy, both conventional and renewable.

January 21, 2016 Read more

Researchers prove surprising chemistry inside a potential breakthrough battery

Lithium-air batteries hold the promise of storing electricity at up to five times the energy density of today's familiar lithium-ion batteries, but they have inherent shortcomings. Researchers have proved that a new prototype is powered by a surprising chemical reaction that may solve the new battery's biggest drawback.

January 20, 2016 Read more

One-stop shop for biofuels

Researchers develop first high-gravity one-pot process for producing cellulosic ethanol.

January 19, 2016 Read more

Even greener solar power on the way

Europe wants to reduce its needs for raw materials and raise the level of recycling of resources in the solar power industry. If this project is successful, greenhouse gas emissions from solar panel manufacture will fall by 25 to 30 per cent.

January 15, 2016 Read more

Global learning is needed to save carbon capture and storage from being abandoned

Governments should not be abandoning carbon capture and storage, argues a researcher, as it is the only realistic way of dramatically reducing carbon emissions. Instead, they should be investing in global approaches to learn what works - and what doesn't.

January 11, 2016 Read more

Second-generation biofuels can reduce emissions

Second-generation biofuel crops like the perennial grasses Miscanthus and switchgrass can efficiently meet emission reduction goals without significantly displacing cropland used for food production, according to a new study.

January 11, 2016 Read more

Biofilter made from peanut shell degrades air pollutants

In order to clean the air of pollutants such as methanol and solvents used in the industry, biotechnology experts designed a biofilter that uses microorganisms living in the shell of the peanut.

January 8, 2016 Read more

Toward liquid fuels from carbon dioxide

In the quest for sustainable alternative energy and fuel sources, one viable solution may be the conversion of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide into liquid fuels.

December 22, 2015 Read more

New flow battery offers lower-cost energy storage (w/video)

Energy storage system owners could see significant savings from a new flow battery technology that is projected to cost 60 percent less than today's standard flow batteries.

December 22, 2015 Read more

New process provides renewable fuel

Pyrolysis bio-oil is produced by rapidly heating the forest residues in an oxygen-free environment and then rapidly cooling the products formed. By co-gasification with black liquor, a renewable fuel is produced.

December 17, 2015 Read more

'Hydricity' concept uses solar energy to produce power round-the-clock

Researchers are proposing a new 'hydricity' concept aimed at creating a sustainable economy by not only generating electricity with solar energy but also producing and storing hydrogen from superheated water for round-the-clock power production.

December 15, 2015 Read more

Could metal particles be the clean fuel of the future?

Metal powders, produced using clean primary energy sources, could provide a more viable long-term replacement for fossil fuels than other widely discussed alternatives, such as hydrogen, biofuels or batteries, according to a new study.

December 9, 2015 Read more

Economical, efficient, sustainable - thermochemical storage 'reloaded'

Energy researchers have put into service an innovative thermal storage system that uses lime as the storage medium. The lime storage system is a further development of an initial prototype and can store energy more economically and efficiently. Thermochemical storage systems have the potential to save a considerable amount of energy, especially in industrial processes and households.

December 8, 2015 Read more

New plastic solar cell minimizes loss of photon energy

A Japanese research team demonstrates an unconventional means to achieve more efficient and robust conversion of solar energy into electricity.

December 2, 2015 Read more