Cleantech and Environmental News – Latest Headlines

Transforming carbon dioxide into a valuable resource

The German government supports the transformation of the economy from a petroleum- to a bio-based economy with its "Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Initiative".

February 28, 2013 Read more

A new look at urbanization's environmental impact

A research team from KTH Royal Institute of Technology has developed a technique for quick, simple and cost-effective mapping of worldwide urban growth and its environmental impact.

February 28, 2013 Read more

Microalga-based bioplastics

The new bioplastics have high thermal plasticity and heat resistance, comparable to those of conventional bioplastics and petroleum-based plastics.

February 28, 2013 Read more

A game plan for climate change

Researchers have successfully piloted a process that enables natural resource managers to take action to conserve particular wildlife, plants and ecosystems as climate changes.

February 27, 2013 Read more

First Solar sets new world record for CdTe solar cell efficiency

First Solar, Inc. announced it set a new world record for cadmium-telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic solar cell conversion efficiency, achieving 18.7 percent cell efficiency in tests confirmed by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

February 27, 2013 Read more

Estimates reduce amount of additional land available for biofuel production

Amid efforts to expand production of biofuels, scientists are reporting new estimates that downgrade the amount of additional land available for growing fuel crops by almost 80 percent.

February 27, 2013 Read more

Windmills at sea can break like matches

Medium-sized waves can destroy wind turbines at sea, causing them to break like matches. Mathematicians are trying to explain why.

February 26, 2013 Read more

Global surveys show environmental concerns rank low among public concerns

A newly released international study reveals that the issue of climate change is not a priority for people in the United States and around the world.

February 26, 2013 Read more

Rethinking wind power

The latest research in mesoscale atmospheric modeling suggests that the generating capacity of large-scale wind farms has been overestimated.

February 26, 2013 Read more

UN sustainable energy initiative could put world on a path to climate targets

A new study shows that reaching the 3 energy-related objectives proposed by the United Nations in their Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) initiative, launched in 2011, would reduce emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change and, in combination with other measures, could help keep global temperature rise from exceeding the internationally agreed target level of 2 C.

February 24, 2013 Read more

Solar energy to get boost from cutting-edge forecasts

Applying its atmospheric expertise to solar energy, the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) is spearheading a three-year, nationwide project to create unprecedented, 36-hour forecasts of incoming energy from the Sun for solar energy power plants.

February 22, 2013 Read more

PNNL rolls out its clean energy tech at ARPA-E

Solar energy, electric and natural gas cars, magnets for motors, efficient heating on tap.

February 22, 2013 Read more

Conflict about historic responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions

The commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions should be allocated based on countries' historic responsibility for the emissions. This logic was recognized early on in climate negotiations. But the countries are still disputing how it should be interpreted and applied.

February 22, 2013 Read more

EPA calls for 2013 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award nominations

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced the nominations for the 2013 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards for companies and institutions that can design chemicals or a new product that help protect public health and the environment.

February 21, 2013 Read more

Producing solar energy materials that are affordable, efficient and flexible

Researcher working toward making solar cells that can be used in computer bags, clothing, walls and more.

February 21, 2013 Read more

Solar geoengineering by coalition

Solar geoengineering is a proposed approach to reduce the effects of climate change due to greenhouse gasses by deflecting some of the sun's incoming radiation. This type of proposed solution carries with it a number of uncertainties, however, including geopolitical questions about who would be in charge of the activity and its goals. New modeling work shows that if a powerful coalition ever decided to deploy a geoengineering system, they would have incentive to exclude other countries from participating in the decision-making process.

February 21, 2013 Read more

Saudi Arabia launches massive solar power procurement program

K.A.CARE has announced the launch of its Renewable Energy Competitive Procurement Portal and released a White Paper outlining how this vast procurement process will unfold.

February 21, 2013 Read more

Potential benefits of inertial fusion energy justify continued research

Potential benefits of inertial fusion energy justify continued R&D; nationally coordinated program should wait until ignition is achieved.

February 20, 2013 Read more