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Yearly Archives: 2009
French Nickel Catalyst Promises Cheaper Hydrogen Fuel Cells
A group of researchers from France revealed some tests in this week's issue of the journal Science that shows how platinum can be substituted with nickel, by mimicking the process going on in anaerobic-living algae. These have an enzyme, called hydrogenase, and use it to metabolize hydrogen.
New Zinc Air Battery Provided by Energizer Triples Lifetime
The mid of 2010 will see the launch of a new Energizer battery based on a 35 year old technology. The new battery is expected to be smaller, to provide more energy and to address to a bigger market.
CMT-380: 240hp Hybrid-Electric Car Powered by Biofuel Microturbine
CMT-380 is the name of the newest hybrid electric concept car, built by 48 year-old Richard Hilleman, a former electrician at the Nuclear Test Site in Nevada, who is now Chief Creative Director for Electronic Arts, the video games company. The CMT-380 is powered by a microturbine, built by Capstone Turbine Corp.
WiTricity To Be Used In First Wirelessly Powered Devices by Next Christmas
WiTricity Corp is seemingly following Tesla's work in wireless power transmission. Their "WiTricity" technology is nowadays capable of wirelessly transferring power by using magnetic resonance over several meters.
Scrap Tires and Concrete Transformed Into Ecological Building Blocks
Concrete is one of the best materials the world has ever seen - you can see it everywhere. The problem is that when you want to dispose it, you suddenly have a problem - a big one. The same story goes with scrap tires - once used, they can hardly be dispensed of, or, in the best of cases - recycled.
High Temperature Superconducting Magnets Just Got 45% More Power
Engineers at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory at the Florida State University are closer than ever to launching a new generation of high-field magnet, being 3,000 times stronger than an ordinary refrigerator magnet and will be able to generate a field about 45% more powerful than the strongest superconducting magnet currently available.
Innovative Mechanism Improves Off-Shore Wind Turbines' Safety
Markus Mueller and Alasdair McDonald of the University of Edinburgh solved one of the fundamental engineering issues faced by builders of offshore wind turbines. They developed a new electric generator that is much cheaper, lighter and reliable than anything seen up to now in the industry.
Harvesting Solar Power in Spain With Very Efficient 30 Year Old Technologies
Abengoa Solar and E.ON Climate & Renewables have teamed up to build two 50MW concentrating solar power plants in Spain. With a total investment...
Researchers Develop Device to Convert Vibrations Into Electricity
Bristol University researchers have developed a new way to provide free energy to businesses and homes. They have created a new type of energy-harvesting device that makes use of non-linear springs and mass.
Camelina: The Plant That Powered KLM's First Biofuel Plane
Even though Virgin Atlantic has already made demonstration flights in the US using biofuels, no other company has made any steps towards alternative power sources until now. To prove that there is no risk in using a green fuel, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines from Europe also made their first flight with a Boeing 747.
