Cleantech and Environmental News – Latest Headlines

Jet fuel from algae?

A common algae commercially grown to make fish food holds promise as a source for both biodiesel and jet fuel, according to a new study.

January 29, 2015 Read more

NREL reports examine economic trade-offs of owning versus leasing a solar photovoltaic system

Two new reports from the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) examine the economic options customers face when deciding how to finance commercial or residential solar energy systems. NREL analysts found that businesses that use low-cost financing to purchase a photovoltaic (PV) system and homeowners who use solar-specific loans can save up to 30 percent compared with consumers who lease a PV system through a conventional third-party owner.

January 27, 2015 Read more

Calculating the future of solar-fuel refineries

A team of engineers has developed a new tool to help plot the future of solar fuels.

January 23, 2015 Read more

Research pinpoints new technique for producing cheaper solar energy

Pioneering new research could pave the way for solar energy to be converted into household electricity more cheaply than ever before.

January 23, 2015 Read more

Sequestration doubts

Study finds a natural impediment to the long-term sequestration of carbon dioxide.

January 21, 2015 Read more

Model analyzes water footprint of biofuels

A new version of an online tool created by Argonne National Laboratory will help biofuels developers gain a detailed understanding of water consumption of various types of feedstocks, aiding development of sustainable fuels that will reduce impact on limited water resources.

January 15, 2015 Read more

Nearly half the systems crucial to stability of planet compromised

New data and assessments suggest that resilience of the planet is now at risk.

January 15, 2015 Read more

Energiewende: Integrating renewable energies

The transformation of the energy system in Germany is a long-term challenge facing society. A number of political and economic aspects have to be considered. The new research program SCI of the Helmholtz Association aims at developing the technologies required for this purpose. The budget for the project period of five years totals about EUR 310 million.

January 15, 2015 Read more

Research for the energy turnaround

The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) is launching two National Research Programmes to explore scientific and technological as well as social and economic aspects of implementing Energy Strategy 2050.

January 15, 2015 Read more

New material, technique efficiently produce hydrogen, syngas fuel feedstock

A team of chemical engineering researchers has developed a technique that uses a new catalyst to convert methane and water into hydrogen and a fuel feedstock called syngas with the assistance of solar power. The catalytic material is more than three times more efficient at converting water into hydrogen gas than previous thermal water-splitting methods.

January 14, 2015 Read more

Rebound in clean energy investment in 2014 beats expectations

Surges in investment in offshore wind in Europe, and solar in China and the US, helped to drive the 2014 global clean energy total up 16% to $310bn.

January 9, 2015 Read more

Chitosan, a sustainable alternative for food packaging

Researchers have used a material known as chitosan, made from crustacean shells, to substitute petroleum by-products.

January 9, 2015 Read more

Making synthetic materials more impervious: fewer plastic substances in food

In order to make plastic more impervious, engineers apply wafer-thin layers on surfaces. This would not only increase the shelf life of food in plastic packaging, but would also prevent the migration of substances from the plastic into the food.

January 9, 2015 Read more

Emissions-free cars get closer

Paper characterizes essential reaction for renewable energy fuel cells.

January 8, 2015 Read more

Wave energy integration costs should compare favorably to other energy sources

A new analysis suggests that large-scale wave energy systems developed in the Pacific Northwest should be comparatively steady, dependable and able to be integrated into the overall energy grid at lower costs than some other forms of alternative energy, including wind power.

January 7, 2015 Read more

Cheap asphalt provides 'green' carbon capture

The best material to keep carbon dioxide from natural gas wells from fouling the atmosphere may be a derivative of asphalt, according to scientists.

January 7, 2015 Read more

Toyota to give away fuel-cell patents to boost industry

Toyota will give away thousands of patents for its fuel-cell cars, it said Tuesday, in an effort to encourage other automakers into the new industry.

January 6, 2015 Read more

Geochemical reactions may decrease effectiveness of carbon storage schemes

New research shows that the natural reactions taking place in some of the underground reservoirs used to store carbon dioxide may prevent carbon emissions from being transported to greater depths, where it may be less likely to leak into the atmosphere.

January 5, 2015 Read more