Clean and affordable: the wind energy challenge
Wind power is on the rise. But its success in Europe depends on countries' renewable energy policies, which have a knock on effect on raising electricity bills.
Apr 22nd, 2015
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Hurdles to US climate change action are in economics and politics, not divided science
The US Congress successfully hears the 'supermajority' consensus on the reality and causes of climate change, according to scientists from several universities. In a paper published in Climatic Change, the scientists suggest looking at business interests, partisan predispositions and political ideology for the hurdles to policy action.
Apr 21st, 2015
Read moreCost-efficiency of plug-in hybrids calculated a thousand times faster
Plug-in hybrids have low fuel consumption, but require more costly parts than cars with a regular combustion engine. During development, the optimal cost balance must be calculated, which has been extremely time consuming to date. Now researchers have developed a new method that dramatically reduces the time needed for these calculations.
Apr 21st, 2015
Read more'My Earth' energy-tracking app encourages sustainable behaviors
For a generation motivated by technology and fast-moving information, a professor has created an energy-tracking app to make reducing day-to-day energy usage more accessible.
Apr 21st, 2015
Read moreBioasphalt: from microalgae to 'green' roads?
Microalgae offer a highly promising alternative to petroleum products without competing for resources used in the food industry. They have now been used for the first time to make asphalt.
Apr 20th, 2015
Read moreEngineers purify sea and wastewater in 2.5 minutes
Engineers created technology to recover and purify, either seawater or wastewater from households, hotels, hospitals, commercial and industrial facilities, regardless of the content of pollutants and microorganisms in just 2.5 minutes.
Apr 17th, 2015
Read morePacking heat: New fluid makes untapped geothermal energy cleaner (w/video)
Nontoxic solution could cut water use in half for enhanced geothermal systems.
Apr 15th, 2015
Read moreHarvesting energy from electromagnetic waves
In the future, clean alternatives such as harvesting energy from electromagnetic waves may help ease the world's energy shortage.
Apr 14th, 2015
Read moreAn energy calculator to choose our future
EPFL's Energy Center has developed an information platform on energy transition. In particular, it proposes a national energy calculator to develop scenarios for Switzerland's energy future.
Apr 13th, 2015
Read moreScientists a step closer to developing renewable propane
Researchers at The University of Manchester have made a significant breakthrough in the development of synthetic pathways that will enable renewable biosynthesis of the gas propane. This research is part of a programme of work aimed at developing the next generation of biofuels.
Apr 10th, 2015
Read moreReliable systems for recharging electric vehicles
The success of electric vehicle networks depends on economical vehicles - and efficient power grids. Existing power lines were not designed for the loads generated by electric vehicles. Fraunhofer researchers have developed prototype software to show grid operators how many electric vehicles can be connected to their local grid.
Apr 10th, 2015
Read moreWhich type of sustainable rooftop technology is best in cold climates?
Sustainable rooftop technologies - including green roofs, white roofs, and solar photovoltaic panels - can provide great environmental benefits, but studies of these technologies often look only at their use in hot climates and do not assess their full environmental consequences.
Apr 7th, 2015
Read moreDiscovery may be breakthrough for hydrogen cars
Researchers discovered a way to create hydrogen fuel using a biological method that greatly reduces the time and money it takes to produce the zero-emissions fuel; this method uses abundantly available corn stover.
Apr 6th, 2015
Read moreAlgae from wastewater solves two problems
In one of the first studies to examine the potential for using municipal wastewater as a feedstock for algae-based biofuels, scientists found they could grow high-value strains of oil-rich algae while simultaneously removing more than 90 percent of nitrates and more than 50 percent of phosphorous from wastewater.
Apr 2nd, 2015
Read moreSaving energy with smart facades
Glass-fronted office buildings are some of the biggest energy consumers, and regulating their temperature is a big job. Now a facade element developed by Fraunhofer researchers and designers for glass fronts is to reduce energy consumption by harnessing solar thermal energy.
Apr 1st, 2015
Read moreAdding renewable energy to power grid requires flexibility
A new study offers a comprehensive reimagining of the power grid that involves the coordinated integration of small-scale distributed energy resources. The study asserts that the proliferation of renewable energy must happen at the periphery of the power grid, which will enable the local generation of power that can be coordinated with flexible demand.
Mar 31st, 2015
Read moreGoodbye, range anxiety? EV batteries have a longer useful life than current standards suggest
In the first study of its kind, scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) quantitatively show that electric vehicles (EVs) will meet the daily travel needs of drivers longer than commonly assumed.
Mar 30th, 2015
Read moreDo biofuel policies seek to cut emissions by cutting food?
A new study finds that government biofuel policies rely on reductions in food consumption to generate greenhouse gas savings.
Mar 27th, 2015
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