Waste could help fuel low carbon energy and transport
In a time when society - and nature itself - are threatened by climate change, it seems fair to ask: Does recycling still matter? Two Swedish scientists say it does.
Nov 11th, 2013
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A web portal about climatic effect of black carbon is open
The portal is one of the main products of project 'Mitigation of Arctic warming by controlling European black carbon emissions'. The project will continue until end of year 2013.
Nov 11th, 2013
Read moreNSF $400K grant to research turbulence caused wear and tear on wind turbines
Researchers have documented that one of the key reasons the costs for wind energy remain high is because wind turbines have shorter lifespans compared to other energy-producing technologies, which can be directly linked to wear and tear caused by turbulence. Finding a solution to this problem is the aim of this new grant.
Nov 8th, 2013
Read moreSunShot Initiative funds project to advance solar cells
With support of a $3.5 million, three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Energy's SunShot Initiative, the team will develop new ultra-thin silicon solar cells designed to increase the amount of electricity that can be produced through direct conversion of sunlight.
Nov 8th, 2013
Read moreSafe long term storage of CO2 is possible
At the final conference of the EU project CO2CARE - CO2 Site Closure Assessment Research - more than 60 experts from academia, industry and regulatory authorities from 13 countries discussed technologies and procedures for a safe and sustainable closure of geological CO2 storage sites.
Nov 8th, 2013
Read moreSolar Energy: Improved Data mining tool for hourly solar radiation
Solar energy is free, clean, and usually available in abundance. However, solar radiation is also less predictable than many kinds of fossilfuel. Researchers at the Institute of Networked and Embedded Systems have developed a model that allows a more accurate prediction of hourly solar radiation.
Nov 7th, 2013
Read moreSmartLight more than a bright idea, it's a revolution in interior lighting ready to shine
The innovative solar technology 'would change the equation for energy,' according to the researchers.
Nov 6th, 2013
Read moreNew aluminum alloy stores hydrogen
We use aluminum to make planes lightweight, store sodas in recyclable containers, keep the walls of our homes energy efficient and ensure that the Thanksgiving turkey is cooked to perfection. Now, thanks to a group of Japanese researchers, there may soon be a new application for the versatile metal: hydrogen storage for fuel cells.
Nov 5th, 2013
Read moreThe next big thing in the energy sector: Photovoltaic generated DC electricity
A viable solution for sustainable energy transmission is the onsite generation of electricity using the photovoltaic method of converting solar energy directly into electrical energy.
Nov 5th, 2013
Read moreElectronics for safe, efficient electric vehicles
Although increasing numbers of electric vehicles are being sold in Europe, the internal combustion engine still remains king of the road. EU-funded researchers are trying to change that, developing technology that promises to significantly improve the range and efficiency of EVs without compromising comfort or safety.
Nov 5th, 2013
Read moreBuilding towards 'nearly zero energy' cities
An ambitious four-year project is to develop and demonstrate replicable strategies for designing, constructing and managing large scale district renovation projects for achieving nearly zero energy cities. The results will open the way for new refurbishments that bring the EU closer to its 2020 goal of ensuring that all new buildings consume very little energy.
Nov 5th, 2013
Read moreEmissions pricing revenues could overcompensate profit losses of fossil fuel owners
The instrument of pricing global CO2 emissions could generate a revenue of 32 trillion US dollars over the 21st century, exceeding by far the 12 trillion US dollars reduction of fossil fuel owners' profits, according to a study now published by scientists of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.
Nov 5th, 2013
Read moreNew ideas needed to meet California's 2050 greenhouse gas targets
California is on track to meet its state-mandated targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions for 2020, but it will not be able to meet its 2050 target without bold new technologies and policies. This is the conclusion of the California Greenhouse Gas Inventory Spreadsheet (GHGIS), a new model developed by the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to look at how far existing policies and technologies can get us in emissions reductions.
Nov 4th, 2013
Read moreResearchers turn waste cooking oil into biodiesel
Scientists in Taiwan have developed a microwave-based process that transforms waste cooking oils into biodiesel in 10 seconds.
Nov 1st, 2013
Read more'Green' concrete under construction
It is all around us. But most of the time, you can't see it. And there is a good reason why scientists are currently focusing their research efforts on it.
Oct 31st, 2013
Read moreNew wind energy research focuses on turbine arrangement, wind seasonality
Research into the best ways to arrange wind turbines has produced staggering results - quite literally.
Oct 31st, 2013
Read moreThin-film photovoltaics achieves 20.8% efficiency and overtakes multicrystalline silicon technology
In the race for higher power yields, the Zentrum f�r Sonnenenergie- und Wasserstoff-Forschung Baden-W�rttemberg (Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research, ZSW) has set a new world record. The Stuttgart researchers have improved the efficiency of CIGS thin-film solar cells to 20.8%. This figure is a record for converting sunlight into electrical energy and, for the first time, it exceeds the efficiency of market-dominating multicrystalline silicon solar cells.
Oct 31st, 2013
Read moreEU marine project advances global progress on renewable energy
A multi-million Euro project has advanced global progress on capturing tidal and wave energy thus bringing the EU closer to its target of generating 20% of its energy consumption from renewable sources by 2020.
Oct 30th, 2013
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