Cristi, Author at The Green Optimistic

EU Plans to Import Solar and Wind Generated Electricity from North Africa

Cristi — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 19:34:24 +0000

In order to reach the 2020 target of having at least 20% of energy produced from renewable sources, The European Union will invest in solar and wind energy in North Africa. The resulted clean power will be imported in the EU via a new electricity interconnector design. Electricity will be carried via these cables running under the Mediterranean Sea directly to Europe.

The post EU Plans to Import Solar and Wind Generated Electricity from North Africa appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

146 Megawatt Wind Farm Installed in Atchison County, Missouri

Cristi — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 04:33:03 +0000

The Atchison County wind farm is able to power 33,000 homes and it's not interfering with corn and soybeans crops. Between the turbines, crops are still grown and harvested, thus contributing to the well-being of the community.

The post 146 Megawatt Wind Farm Installed in Atchison County, Missouri appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

New Metal-Organic Frameworks In Action for Capturing Carbon Dioxide

Cristi — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 18:52:33 +0000

Climate change is one of the most controversial subjects of the century, because it is changing our planet in an non-imaginable way. Scientists have developed different ways (more or less efficient) to capture the CO2 excess resulted from human activity.

The post New Metal-Organic Frameworks In Action for Capturing Carbon Dioxide appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Metallic Catalysts Could Increase the Efficiency of Li-Air Batteries Three Fold

Cristi — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 19:20:11 +0000

The MIT researchers could easily change the balance towards Li-air batteries in the near future just by changing the actual electrode materials. In the paper published in the journal Electrochemical and Solid-State Letters, the researchers showed that by changing the carbon electrodes with gold or platinum electrodes as a catalyst, the efficiency of the battery will increase.

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Morocco Planning to Harvest 2 GW of Solar Power by 2020

Cristi — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 17:20:00 +0000

More and more governments show high interest in investing in clean energy sources. With 3,000 hours of sun per year, Morocco is now planning to invest in the harvesting of solar power.

The post Morocco Planning to Harvest 2 GW of Solar Power by 2020 appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Solar Powered Cellphone Towers Can Dramatically Reduce Own Carbon Footprint

Cristi — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 19:31:37 +0000

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy of the Indian government will present a mandate that would require telecom operators to use solar panels to power their cellphone towers. This will dramatically reduce their carbon footprint and will make a huge difference in long term.

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New Nano-Hybrid Capacitors Can Store Much More Energy Than Normal Ones

Cristi — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 19:07:10 +0000

Nippon Chemi-Con Corp has been developing a new type of capacitors called "nano-hybrid capacitor" and plans to launch the first samples on the market by April 2011. These new capacitors generation will be introduced as replacement to the normal electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) and will have an energy density several times higher than that of a EDLC.

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Electronically-Controlled Tintable Glass Inventors Receive Grant from DOE

Cristi — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 07:25:06 +0000

A Minnesota-based invention company called Sage Electrochromics, Inc has received a financial loan of $103 million from the Department of Energy for it's breakthrough glass innovation, a window that can be switched on or off to reject up to 98% of the sun's heat and light on a push of a button.

The post Electronically-Controlled Tintable Glass Inventors Receive Grant from DOE appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

First Solar Signs Agreements With Major Energy Utilities to Provide Solar Power

Cristi — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 07:17:21 +0000

First Solar Inc. has recently announced that it will start working on a huge photovoltaic project called Desert Sunlight in Southern California. The facility will produce 550 MW from solar power, of which 300 MW will be sold to California's Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and 250 MW to Southern California Edison (SCE).

The post First Solar Signs Agreements With Major Energy Utilities to Provide Solar Power appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Hitachi-Maxell's New Li-Ion Batteries Shown at Rechargeable Battery Expo in Tokyo

Cristi — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:06:41 +0000

The 1st Int'l Rechargeable Battery Expo held in Tokyo at the beginning of March was pleased to announce a lot of battery manufacturers interested in future technologies, in new developments for various industries.

The post Hitachi-Maxell's New Li-Ion Batteries Shown at Rechargeable Battery Expo in Tokyo appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Transonic Combustion's New Ultra-Efficient Engine Gets Up to 98 MPG

Cristi — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:51:56 +0000

A California-based company called Transonic Combustion has recently developed a very efficient fuel-injection system that can put on hold the production of expensive gas-electric hybrids. With a cruising speed of 50 miles per hour, the test car was able to get 98 miles per gallon.

The post Transonic Combustion's New Ultra-Efficient Engine Gets Up to 98 MPG appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Small Hybrid and Electric Vehicles Show Potential in Central and Eastern Europe

Cristi — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:19:10 +0000

Nobody would have ever though that Central and Eastern Europe would have the technology or financial resources to build a super car or a zero emission vehicle. This is why we are now astonished as the Hungarian company called Antro developed a hybrid car that is also able to run on solar power.

The post Small Hybrid and Electric Vehicles Show Potential in Central and Eastern Europe appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Ford Estimating 25% of Their Fleet to be Electric or Hybrid by 2020

Cristi — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:52:42 +0000

Ford recently disclosed their long term plan coming to align with governmental laws related with fuel efficiency: by 2020, at least 25% of Ford's new cars will be either electric or hybrid vehicles. In North America, 7 of 10 vehicles will be gasoline-electric hybrids, such as the current Fusion hybrid version.

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Bloom Energy Releases 100 KW Fuel Cell Module Working on Various Fuel Types

Cristi — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:51:37 +0000

Bloom Energy has just brought to the market a new fuel cell system that is able to run on various fuels. While working on natural gas, it can decrease the CO2 emissions by half compared to conventional power sources.

The post Bloom Energy Releases 100 KW Fuel Cell Module Working on Various Fuel Types appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

IBM's Efficient Thin Film Solar Cell Made of Cheap Materials

Cristi — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:37:54 +0000

They managed to increase the efficiency with almost 40% of their solar cells, from 6,7 percent to 9,6 percent. To reduce even more the costs, these solar cells are build with an inexpensive ink-based process.

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Scientists Develop a Quantum-Dot Process to Split Water and Generate Hydrogen

Cristi — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:16:57 +0000

Fuel cells can be used in various applications such as spacecraft, remote weather stations, large parks, rural locations, military applications and automotive industry. Fuel cells have hydrogen as the base element for their power.

The post Scientists Develop a Quantum-Dot Process to Split Water and Generate Hydrogen appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

The Discovery of Soybean's Genetic Code to Improve Biodiesel Production

Cristi — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:34:38 +0000

The genome sequence was published in the journal Nature, and its main purpose was to better understand the plant's capacity to turn sunlight, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and water, into concentrated energy, protein, and nutrients for human and animal use.

The post The Discovery of Soybean's Genetic Code to Improve Biodiesel Production appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

New York City Increases EV Sales to 70,000 New Cars by 2015

Cristi — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 20:57:00 +0000

We all know that one of the industries that pollute the most is the automotive industry. With several millions of vehicles on the roads, that consume every day millions of tons of fossil fuels, the air in the megacities becomes more and more unbreathable.

The post New York City Increases EV Sales to 70,000 New Cars by 2015 appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

VW Presents Its New Coupe Hybrid Concept at NAIAS in Detroit

Cristi — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:58:04 +0000

2010 comes with no surprises anymore as it continues the trend imposed last year, when most of the manufacturers presented electric vehicles and hybrid or plug-in hybrids.

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Hydrokinetic Power Does Not Affect Fish Populations

Cristi — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:11:26 +0000

We all need electricity for powering different stuff in our home, to make our lives more pleasant. But if the electricity is produced using green sources it's even better. One of the most used types of energy up to now was hydropower, but this one involves the construction of dams, weirs or other structures that could affect fish.

The post Hydrokinetic Power Does Not Affect Fish Populations appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Panasonic to Equip Tesla Motors' Future EVs With Their Batteries

Cristi — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 08:14:33 +0000

Just few days ago, Tesla Motors announced that they will start the collaboration with Panasonic for the development of the next generation battery cells for the EV.

The post Panasonic to Equip Tesla Motors' Future EVs With Their Batteries appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

SunPower Helps Sewage Treatment Plants Get Self Sustaining

Cristi — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:18:55 +0000

Wastewater treatment plants are usually packed with industrial-sized aerators, pumps and other machines that usually use a lot of electricity from the grid. But SunPower Corp. developed a solar power system for the West Riverside Wastewater Treatment Plant in Corona, California that is able to generate one-megawatt of energy

The post SunPower Helps Sewage Treatment Plants Get Self Sustaining appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Solar-Powered Irrigation System Increases Vegetable Production Up to 500% in Sub-Saharan Villages

Cristi — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 20:37:28 +0000

A recent study made by Jennifer Burney from Stanford University, shows hope for the next generations: it seems that solar-power irrigation systems have significantly enhanced the living standards of sub-Saharan Africa villagers.

The post Solar-Powered Irrigation System Increases Vegetable Production Up to 500% in Sub-Saharan Villages appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Protoscar Makes Waves Before Geneva Motor Show With Lampo II Electric Vehicle

Cristi — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:23:36 +0000

Switzerland can finally brag with their most expensive sports car: Protoscar has just finished the development and manufacturing of a 1 million Euro electric sports car prototype called Lampo.

The post Protoscar Makes Waves Before Geneva Motor Show With Lampo II Electric Vehicle appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Mercedes Jumps Into PHEV Wagon With The Upcoming S-Class Generation

Cristi — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:08:11 +0000

One of Europe's largest automotive manufacturers, Mercedes-Benz, announced that the next generation of the S-class will come with a plug-in hybrid engine.

The post Mercedes Jumps Into PHEV Wagon With The Upcoming S-Class Generation appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Glycerin Can Finally Be Used in The Biofuel Production Process

Cristi — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:54:22 +0000

Glycerin is the most important component in many of the products we use, from soap to cosmetics, foods and pharmaceuticals. We even use it for biofuel production, algae growth and fuel cells. But it seems that in this moment glycerin really represents an issue as the large quantity developed by biofuel refineries cannot be assimilated by the market. The excess glycerin is incinerated on the market or illegally disposed.

The post Glycerin Can Finally Be Used in The Biofuel Production Process appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

31% Efficient Stirling Engines Used to Convert 1.5MW of Arizona Solar Power

Cristi — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 20:28:23 +0000

Stirling engines are known to mankind for about 200 years but they are not so widely used today, except maybe for the pacemakers and long-distance robotic spacecrafts. This will soon change as 60 stirling engines will be used in Phoenix, Arizona, to harvest solar power which will be converted into electricity.

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Sanyo Double-Sided PV Cells Increase Efficiency With DuRock Reflective Membrane

Cristi — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 11:37:58 +0000

The Sanyo' HIT (Heterojunction with Intrinsic Thin-layer) is a double-sided photovoltaic module that can be mounted very easily over carports, canopies, porches and other types of coverings.

The post Sanyo Double-Sided PV Cells Increase Efficiency With DuRock Reflective Membrane appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Impressive Fuel Cell Stack on Kia Borrego FCEV Uses 98% of the Hydrogen

Cristi — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:13:05 +0000

The partnership between Kia and Hyundai resulted in some huge steps forward regarding fuel cell technology. Kia has just released some footage about their latest FCEV prototype called Borrego (Mohave for the Korean market).

The post Impressive Fuel Cell Stack on Kia Borrego FCEV Uses 98% of the Hydrogen appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Solar Charging Station for EVs and PHEVs by Toyota

Cristi — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 18:23:59 +0000

By April 2010, Toyota will put in place around 21 charging stations for plug-in hybrid vehicles(PHVs) and electric vehicles(EVs)in Aichi Prefecture . The most interesting thing about these stations is the fact that they are charging themselves using solar power.

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NASA is Producing Biofuel from Algae Grown in Sewages

Cristi — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:41:12 +0000

NASA has recently been very interested not only in space exploration but as well in the rising energy costs and climate change. NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California, has developed a system of growing algae in waste-water for the biofuel production.

The post NASA is Producing Biofuel from Algae Grown in Sewages appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Aegir: Scotland's Largest Wave Power Project

Cristi — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 23:01:26 +0000

Just recently, Scotland-based energy developer Pelamis has signed a joint-venture with the European energy giant Vattenfall, for the huge energy project off Scotland's Shetland Islands. The costs of the project rise to almost $100 million.

The post Aegir: Scotland's Largest Wave Power Project appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

New Hope for EVs: Bolivia Holding World's Richest Lithium Field

Cristi — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 08:20:04 +0000

As the automotive industry has oriented itself towards green energy usage, the need of a "supreme" alternative resource is obvious. And what is more obvious is the demand of Electric Vehicles. EVs need to store their energy in batteries: mainly Lithium-Ion batteries. As of this particular reason, Lithium seems to be one of the most searched resource.

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GM Cancels the 53mpg Hybrid Chevrolet and Proceeds to PHEVs

Cristi — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:53:04 +0000

Even though electric vehicles seem to be the future, some car manufacturers do not rush into changing to green, alternative energy sources. There is some incertitude when it comes to changing so fast from fossil fuels and some automakers just take their time to see what is best for the market.

The post GM Cancels the 53mpg Hybrid Chevrolet and Proceeds to PHEVs appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

New Discovery: Generating Electricity With Ground Bacteria Shewanella

Cristi — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 05:42:43 +0000

Bio-chemist David Richardson of the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom said that Shewanella is the ideal candidate for environmental-cleanup tasks as it lives in the underground: "Understanding their biochemistry could help to develop strategies to stimulate their activities [at the cleanup sites]."

The post New Discovery: Generating Electricity With Ground Bacteria Shewanella appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

New York's First EV Charging Station by Beautiful Earth Group

Cristi — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 18:50:12 +0000

Lately the automotive industry had directed its attention to the Electric Vehicle market and to the green energy usage. But if the electric energy that will power the EV is obtained from fossil fuels the EV won't be green anymore. Because of that particular reason several solar-powered charging stations were developed lately to help EV use alternative energy.

The post New York's First EV Charging Station by Beautiful Earth Group appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

E85 Ethanol Increases Pollution and Risk of Human Diseases

Cristi — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:03:43 +0000

Researches from Stanford University have recently published a study on ethanol fuel and its influence over human health. Compared to pure gasoline usage, ethanol increases health problems because of cancer-chemical formation.

The post E85 Ethanol Increases Pollution and Risk of Human Diseases appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

New MEMS Element Transforms Vibration Into 85μW of Electricity

Cristi — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 18:11:42 +0000

Two Europe based research institutes (IMEC and TNO), have developed a new MEMS element capable of converting vibration energy into electric power.

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U.S. Troops Powered by Solar Cells in Innovative GREENS Project

Cristi — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:46:36 +0000

The 300-watt photovoltaic/battery system provides continuous power to Marines in the field. The widely dispersed units need constant power for their computing devices, targeting systems and communications. GREENS will even cut fuel use, cost and risk of ambush on the supplying convoys.

The post U.S. Troops Powered by Solar Cells in Innovative GREENS Project appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Friction-Drive Wind Turbine Can Withstand Powerful Windstorms

Cristi — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:47:20 +0000

In standard wind turbines, the blades turn a drive shaft which engages the gearbox. The gearbox is the most vulnerable part, as in wind blasts it has to withstand very high mechanical stress. In time, it will wear down or break some metal teeth making it in short time unusable.

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New Zinc Air Battery Provided by Energizer Triples Lifetime

Cristi — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:32:35 +0000

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.

The post New Zinc Air Battery Provided by Energizer Triples Lifetime appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Innovative Mechanism Improves Off-Shore Wind Turbines' Safety

Cristi — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:17:13 +0000

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.

The post Innovative Mechanism Improves Off-Shore Wind Turbines' Safety appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Harvesting Solar Power in Spain With Very Efficient 30 Year Old Technologies

Cristi — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:41:38 +0000

Abengoa Solar and E.ON Climate & Renewables have teamed up to build two 50MW concentrating solar power plants in Spain. With a total investment of around 550 million Euro, Helioenergy 1 & 2 will harvest solar power in the best area in Europe in terms of solar radiation: Ecija Seville in Southern Spain. Helioenergy 1 […]

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Camelina: The Plant That Powered KLM's First Biofuel Plane

Cristi — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:23:15 +0000

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.

The post Camelina: The Plant That Powered KLM's First Biofuel Plane appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Small Bead Polymer Reduces the Amount of Radioactive Waste Generated by Nuclear Power Plants

Cristi — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:33:47 +0000

The disposal of the old core rods and also the reactor operation results in a large amount of low-level waste, especially contaminated cooling water. But nuclear power could solve our energy problem if only we could find a way to make it clean.

The post Small Bead Polymer Reduces the Amount of Radioactive Waste Generated by Nuclear Power Plants appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Taipei's Financial Center Corp to Become World's Tallest Green Building

Cristi — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:30:43 +0000

The tallest building between 2004-2007 Taipei's Financial Center Corp (TFC) is now also looking to become the world's tallest green building. The 101 floors structure will get its new looks in the next 18-month with a $1,9 million investment. TFC will primarily get new heating, cooling and ventilation system upgrades.

The post Taipei's Financial Center Corp to Become World's Tallest Green Building appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Solexant's Single Layer Thin Film Solar Cell Proves Both Efficient and Cheap

Cristi — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:53:46 +0000

A San Jose, California based company called Solexant has started the development of a thin film solar cell which is cheap and very efficient. Solexant is very confident that their serial production thin film solar cell will have and efficiency increase of 10% compared to silicon based cells.

The post Solexant's Single Layer Thin Film Solar Cell Proves Both Efficient and Cheap appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Biofuel Seeds Increase Pesticide Usage and Chemical Residues in Our Food

Cristi — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:18:50 +0000

An article published last week by a group of health and environmental protection organizations stated that since 1996 till today, the U.S. farmers have increased dramatically the use of genetically engineered corn, soybeans and cotton.

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Daniel Nocera's Sun Catalytix Receives $7.1 Million for Developing Photosynthesis System

Cristi — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:47:27 +0000

Daniel G. Nocera of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is the inventor of the most important solar energy system of the century. His 2007 designed system is able to create cheap solar energy based on the photosynthesis process.

The post Daniel Nocera's Sun Catalytix Receives $7.1 Million for Developing Photosynthesis System appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Solyndra's Cylindrical Solar Cell Racks Reduce Costs of Solar Power Production

Cristi — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:19:14 +0000

Solyndra Inc. has recently developed a new solar cell system that will reduce the costs of solar power production. They will install it over the rooftop of a North Sacramento plastics factory. This investment will prove to be one of the biggest West Coast solar harvesting systems.

The post Solyndra's Cylindrical Solar Cell Racks Reduce Costs of Solar Power Production appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Saltworks' New Desalination Technology Uses 70% Less Energy

Cristi — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:38:23 +0000

Saltworks Technologies reported that they can produce 1 cubic meter of fresh water using just 1kWh compared to 3.7kWh per cubic meter achievable using reverse osmosis.

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GM to Research Shape Memory Alloy for Heat Recovery Systems

Cristi — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:19:54 +0000

GM's R&D has to build a prototype of a thermo-mechanical waste heat recovery system using a Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) heat engine to generate electricity from the heat in exhaust. Noticeable is the fact that GM was between the 37 other candidates that received the ARPA-E award.

The post GM to Research Shape Memory Alloy for Heat Recovery Systems appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Lightnings Found to Produce 10% of Atmospheric NOx Greenhouse Gas

Cristi — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:49:26 +0000

Every year, scientists learn something new about the power of lightning. With the helps of the satellites they have created a lightning map for the globe, which shows that Rwanda has the most flashes per square kilometer, while the flashes at the polar regions occur rarely. Every year, 1,2 million flashes occur around the world.

The post Lightnings Found to Produce 10% of Atmospheric NOx Greenhouse Gas appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Swing Door WaveRoller Generates Up to 300KW of Energy in the Surge Zone

Cristi — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:33:01 +0000

One of the simplest ideas of harvesting the ocean power was developed by Rauno Koivusaari, a fin diver who got inspired by exploring the depths of the seas and lots of shipwrecks.

The post Swing Door WaveRoller Generates Up to 300KW of Energy in the Surge Zone appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Ocean-Based Algae Production System Could Revolutionize the Biofuel Industry

Cristi — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:17:04 +0000

Two Kansas State University Engineers have designed a new algae production system that could reduce the cost of biodiesel and help the U.S. Government to change from fossil fuel dependency to a renewable power source.

The post Ocean-Based Algae Production System Could Revolutionize the Biofuel Industry appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Mirror-Based Solar Device as Cheap as Coal-Burning Electric Power Plants

Cristi — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:32:05 +0000

Steward Observatory Mirror Lab from the University of Arizona has produced a prototype of a solar device that is able to produce energy at a price comparable with the cheapest fossil fuels.

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Cereplast's Algae-Based Bioplastics Reduce Petroleum Use by 50%

Cristi — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:21:09 +0000

Cereplast has already developed some new technologies before, being able to make plastic from renewable materials such as corn starch, tapioca, wheat and potatoes.

The post Cereplast's Algae-Based Bioplastics Reduce Petroleum Use by 50% appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Toshiba Corp Building SCiB Cell Production Factory by 2011

Cristi — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:17:39 +0000

Toshiba Corp is anticipating strong demands and sales for their SCiB (super charge ion battery) and started the construction of another production plant in the Kashiwazaki Frontier Park, in Kashiwazaki city, Niigata prefecture.

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WindSentinel to Reduce Costs for Offshore Wind Power

Cristi — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:29:12 +0000

A Virginia based company specialized in wind power called Catch the Wind Ltd. has deployed its first laser wind sensor on a buoy in Race Rocks Island, British Columbia, for an initial assessment of a new offshore wind power farm.

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Charge Your Gadgets With Regen ReNu Solar Charger

Cristi — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:23:17 +0000

Regen ReNu is a good alternative solution to power you gadgets free of charge. The ReNu charging device has a solar panel design which could fit very well into a modern environment. The ReNu can be used to charge a variety of electronic gadgets like the iPhone, iPod or other USB devices.

The post Charge Your Gadgets With Regen ReNu Solar Charger appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Boosting Power Output of Fuel Cell Systems Using Flowcath Technology

Cristi — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:59:16 +0000

Taking into consideration some field experts, fuel cells seem to be the future in alternative energy. The researchers try to prove with every chance they got that fuel cells which can provide the required energy for a certain application and that they are very reliable. ACAL Energy (Cheshire, UK) has recently developed a liquid cathode […]

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Toyota Launching EV Charging Station at Tokyo Motor Show

Cristi — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:45:31 +0000

This year's Tokyo Motor Show was dominated by the Nippon market, Alpina and Lotus being the only foreigners with a stand at the show. Big companies like Daihatsu, Honda, Toyota, Suzuki, Nissan and Mitsubishi presented a lot of new concepts and hybrid or electric cars.

The post Toyota Launching EV Charging Station at Tokyo Motor Show appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Oceanlinx Prepares to Deploy 2.5MW Tidal Power System Near Sydney

Cristi — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:22:19 +0000

Engineers are performing the last tests and measurements before the grid-connection off the coast of Port Kembla, near Sydney. The system will be generating about 2.5MW by harvesting air pressure that will turn a wind turbine.

The post Oceanlinx Prepares to Deploy 2.5MW Tidal Power System Near Sydney appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

The Best Way to Generate Electricity from Pig Poop

Cristi — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:07:53 +0000

Hog farms, where thousands of animals are raised, look really horrible and they pollute rivers, poison groundwater supplies and releaseclouds of methane and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

The post The Best Way to Generate Electricity from Pig Poop appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Toshiba Releases Dynario DMFC Fuel Cell Charger

Cristi — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:39:38 +0000

The market is in a continuously search for a battery pack that should be able to power portable electronic devices for a longer period of time and with shorter charging times. Toshibas' Dynario Charger is the perfect solution for the moment.

The post Toshiba Releases Dynario DMFC Fuel Cell Charger appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Precision Nanoparticles Technology to Revolutionize Solar Cells

Cristi — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:35:50 +0000

The chemists from the Idaho National Laboratory and Idaho State University may have found the gold mine of solar energy efficiency. They invented the manufacturing of a highly precise and uniform nanopaticle that improves solar cells and further spurs the growing nanotech revolution.

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SEADOG Uses Waves' Own Power to Desalinate Sea Water

Cristi — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:05:40 +0000

A company called Renew Blue, Inc. will use wave power to run a desalination plant in Freeport, Texas. The resulted water will be finally put into corn-based biodegradable plastic bottles. The SEADOG power system is made from a buoy which puts in motion a piston mechanism that rotates a water wheel to generate electricity.

The post SEADOG Uses Waves' Own Power to Desalinate Sea Water appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Hydrogen Created by Artificial Photosynthesis Process

Cristi — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:12:59 +0000

A team of scientists from the University of Rochester has a tough mission creating a hydrogen fuel cell that not only burns cleanly but the fuel itself has to be created from clean sources. They have developed a process that uses artificial photosynthesis and nanotubes to finalize this project.

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Skoda Planning to Build Electric Car Based on VW's E-Up

Cristi — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:01:12 +0000

After the presentation of the Volkswagen E-up car, Skoda plans to build it's own electric vehicle in the coming years starting from this concept. As VW already has the technology it should be easy for the Czech manufacturer to get on the market with a brand new EV.

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Toshiba's Methanol Fuel Cell Might Power Your Future Gadgets

Cristi — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 05:29:37 +0000

Toshiba recently unveiled one of their master batteries used for mobile phones. They have presented a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) battery which can be easily charged in just a few seconds.

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Prius Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) Present at Tokyo Motor Show

Cristi — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:02:05 +0000

A long time ago, Toyota Motor Corporation has started its green thinking trend with hybrid cars which revolutionized fuel consumption. Now they found a way to combine electric vehicles with hybrid ones and they presented their concept just days before the Tokyo Motor Show.

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Reducing Coal CO2 Emissions with Chilled-Ammonia Technology

Cristi — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:32:52 +0000

The coal based power plant located in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin in Kenosha County called Pleasant Prairie Power Plant has generated approximately 1,226 MW of electricity in 2006, being one of the largest generating stations in Wisconsin.

The post Reducing Coal CO2 Emissions with Chilled-Ammonia Technology appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Toyota's Future Fuel Cell Vehicles Able to Work at Minus 37 degrees Celsius

Cristi — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 14:52:59 +0000

Fuel cell vehicles have been criticized by a lot of car manufacturers around the world. Still there are some that think they are able to transform the world’s thinking into a GREEN ONE and prove that fuel cell vehicles are as reliable as any gas cars available on the market. This year’s Air Resources Board’s […]

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Electric Smart For Two Available Starting 2012 Promises to be More Fun

Cristi — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:21:38 +0000

Daimler AG plans to introduce its electric Smart for Two by the end of this year. Serial production of this model will only start in 2012 in the plant from Hambach, France.

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MU Scientists Discover Nuclear Battery That Might Just Be Safe

Cristi — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:59:11 +0000

The scientists from the University of Missouri may have found a way to develop a nuclear energy source that is smaller, lighter and more efficient.

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New Nickel-Lithium Batteries: Chance for 800 Miles Electric Car Autonomy

Cristi — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 05:41:09 +0000

The electric cars' problem of a low mileage may have found its solution. Recently discovered Nickel-Lithium batteries have 3.5 times more energy than the standard Lithium-Ion batteries and besides this, they are much safer to use.

The post New Nickel-Lithium Batteries: Chance for 800 Miles Electric Car Autonomy appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

France to Make Net Improvements on Electric Car Infrastructure by 2015

Cristi — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:57:01 +0000

The French government announced that it plans to spend €1.5 billion (about $2.2 billion) in the development of an infrastructure that will encourage the development of clean vehicle technology and battery manufacturing.

The post France to Make Net Improvements on Electric Car Infrastructure by 2015 appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Toshiba to Release New Home LED Lighting Devices on Oct. 16

Cristi — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 05:59:26 +0000

With small steps, LEDs entered in the home and industrial lightning, as well. Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corp will soon release a high-output LED light bulb which power will be equivalent of an incandescent bulb of 60 W.

The post Toshiba to Release New Home LED Lighting Devices on Oct. 16 appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Scientists Researching Fuel Cell Powered by Sugars

Cristi — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:44:22 +0000

Researchers from Brigham Young University have a plan to make different fuel cells than those we actually know, and turn them into something very efficient and reliable. Their goal is to make a cheap fuel cell with a cheap catalyst, which can be even more efficient than a PEM and which can use something easier to make and store than hydrogen and which has no net emissions.

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Natural Gas Powered Fuel Cells Project Presented to US Congress

Cristi — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:00:10 +0000

ClearEdge Power has addressed a proposal to the Congress for a new and interesting project. They found a way to obtain heat and power with fuel cells working on natural gas. The investment can be payed back after a six or seven year period as mentioned by Bill Sproull, senior vice president of the company.

The post Natural Gas Powered Fuel Cells Project Presented to US Congress appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

30% Efficiency with Gallium-Nitride Silicon Solar Cells

Cristi — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:31:33 +0000

The Phoenix-based company RoseStreet Labs Energy has developed a prototype solar cell that combines gallium-nitride with silicon, a technology that achieves an efficiency of 25 to 30 percent.

The post 30% Efficiency with Gallium-Nitride Silicon Solar Cells appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Tesla Motors Introducing Swappable Battery Pack for Model S

Cristi — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:44:45 +0000

As battery mileage efficiency for electric vehicle is still in huge debate and controversy Tesla Motors came with a great idea to please its buyers.

The post Tesla Motors Introducing Swappable Battery Pack for Model S appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Biodiesel Developed Safely from Rhodococcus Bacteria

Cristi — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:40:05 +0000

Using synthetic biology, researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are trying to develop a new bacteria similar to the tuberculosis root to produce biofuel.

The post Biodiesel Developed Safely from Rhodococcus Bacteria appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Spain Transforms Phone Booths into EV Charging Stations

Cristi — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:35:14 +0000

One of the major cities in Europe, Madrid, has found an innovative solution to give a new meaning and usage to the phone booths.

The post Spain Transforms Phone Booths into EV Charging Stations appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Swiss Joint Venture Secretly Developing 1MW Battery

Cristi — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 19:04:28 +0000

Since their invention in 1800 by Alessandro Volta, batteries have become a common power source for houses and industrial applications and hystory has proven that modern society cannot live without them.

The post Swiss Joint Venture Secretly Developing 1MW Battery appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Soil-Based Stinky Bacteria To Be Used in Cleaning Radioactive Waste

Cristi — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:09:40 +0000

A chemistry professor from the University of Missouri may have found a way to clean radioactive metal contamination. The bacteria-based solution is able to work in this challenging business where most of technologies were too expensive or sometimes did not work.

The post Soil-Based Stinky Bacteria To Be Used in Cleaning Radioactive Waste appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Alaska Installing Solar Water Heating System for Educational Purposes

Cristi — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:38:16 +0000

To reduce energy consumption, Denali Education Center has come up with an idea to install a hot water system, and they managed to make it one of the largest in the state.

The post Alaska Installing Solar Water Heating System for Educational Purposes appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

South Korea's First Trash-Powered Hydrogen Plant Running by 2010

Cristi — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 07:10:42 +0000

South Korea is taking their first steps towards hydrogen production. Government has signed a memorandum of agreement with oil refiner SK Energy and SK Engineering & Construction to build the world's first trash-powered hydrogen station. Both companies are subsidiaries of South Korean conglomerate SK Group. The plant will be able to extract hydrogen from methane emitted by landfills.

The post South Korea's First Trash-Powered Hydrogen Plant Running by 2010 appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Aquabank – Underground Energy Storage and Production

Cristi — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 18:13:59 +0000

Riverbank Power has developed a project that is of high interest. Water gathered in a bungalow on a river shore will fall in a 600m deep gallery where turbines are mounted. The water pressure will rotate the huge turbines which will create electrical power.

The post Aquabank – Underground Energy Storage and Production appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Florida Harvesting the Gulf Stream for Electricity and Hydrogen

Cristi — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 05:20:35 +0000

Florida's needs of electricity have made scientists think about never energy solutions. The needs of 4-7 million homes are so big that conventional energy would be too expensive and pollutant to still be used.

The post Florida Harvesting the Gulf Stream for Electricity and Hydrogen appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Unused Old Mines Could Be Used as Geothermal Power Sources

Cristi — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:47:56 +0000

Geothermal energy has a lot of potential worldwide. As it is not dependent on many factors, geothermal energy could be the cleanest power source of near future. Two scientists from University of Oviedo, Spain, have concluded that geothermal energy could be provided by mine shafts.

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Crude Glycerin from Biofuel Production has Great Unexpected Uses

Cristi — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:43:50 +0000

Glycerin in its pure form is used to manufacture soap, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and many other products, but the crude glycerin is an impure form that is unsuitable for these products. But what if we could use it putting back biodiesel in its correct position of green alternative power source?

The post Crude Glycerin from Biofuel Production has Great Unexpected Uses appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

ADAPWING Simulates Hawk Wings for Better Wind Turbine Performance

Cristi — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 04:38:03 +0000

Analyzing stability of hawks' wings during high turbulent winds, danish scientists have come up with an idea to further develop turbine blades. The idea will be implemented in such a way so to reduce the impact of strong wings on the blades.

The post ADAPWING Simulates Hawk Wings for Better Wind Turbine Performance appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Efficient Electricity Production from Onion Juice

Cristi — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 08:00:34 +0000

The future life style is quite different than we could imagine right now. Many experts predict that we will not need to transport our energy around the world as it will be produced in our community.

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Waste From Beer Factories Turned into Energy

Cristi — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:05:13 +0000

Wolfgang Bengel and his partners have found a way to efficiently recycle the waste grains and wastewater and use them to fuel the beer factories.

The post Waste From Beer Factories Turned into Energy appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Adding Lime in Seawater Could Reduce Atmospheric CO2

Cristi — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 06:26:36 +0000

Some people check every possibility to reduce pollution, to make us live our lives in a clean and healthy environment. At a press conference about climate change solutions in Manchester, Tim Kruger, a former management consultant, announced that lime and salt water could stop or reverse CO2 accumulation in the atmosphere.

The post Adding Lime in Seawater Could Reduce Atmospheric CO2 appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Cheap Printable Batteries Designed for Low Consumption Applications

Cristi — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 06:37:57 +0000

A team of researchers from Fraunhofer Research Institution for Electronic Nano Systems ENAS in Chemnitz and their colleagues from TU Chemnitz and Menippos GmbH have recently developed a printable battery which is environmentally friendly as it contains no mercury.

The post Cheap Printable Batteries Designed for Low Consumption Applications appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Yahoo Will Build the Most Green and Efficient Data Center

Cristi — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:34:39 +0000

Yahoo is going green! This news was presented at a press conference in Buffalo, New York, by Yahoo representatives a few days ago. In a world where everybody needs to turn green and needs to make use of as much as possible clean energy sources, Yahoo is making a big step.

The post Yahoo Will Build the Most Green and Efficient Data Center appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Solar Impulse: Viable Manned Flight Powered by The Sun

Cristi — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 13:20:16 +0000

Solar Impulse, the first solar powered plane has been unveiled in Switzerland. With a wingspan of a Boeing 747 but lighter than a small car, the plan could fly around the world powered entirely by the sun.

The post Solar Impulse: Viable Manned Flight Powered by The Sun appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Microalgae Biofuel an Alternative to Crop Biofuel

Cristi — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:29:11 +0000

Using crops as a source of energy generated in the past years a great controversy. Once because we could use those crops as food for people and second because we use good agriculture lands to generate energy. But what if we could use an alternative to the crops and use smaller areas of lands to generate the same amount of energy?

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