PowerBuoy-The United States' First Tidal Power Generator Connected To The Grid
Last year, the Ocean Power Technologies (OPT) company has developed a tidal power generator that has now been connected to the energy grid at the Marine Corps Base Hawaii as part of the firm's program with the US Navy to test wave energy technology, giving the US their the first-ever grid connection for a wave energy device.
Ukrainian & American Team Makes Ferroelectric Nanowires Harvest Heat Differences
A team of Ukranian and American scientists have discovered that by using structures called ferroelectric nanowires, they can generate electricity from a temperature difference. This concept is now new, but rather uses different approaches and materials. It can harvest energy by using the temperature difference between materials and/or ambients.
Nanoscale Thin Film Solar Cell Absorbs 12 Times More Light Than Macro-Sized Counterparts
Light behaves differently in macro- and nano- scale environments, and this could be a starting point for those researchers who want to improve the solar cells' efficiency. It was a starting point for some Stanford engineers, who found out that light ricocheting inside an ultra-thin polymer film solar cell behaves differently than if the film wasn't so thin. The difference is enormous.
Efficient Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Concept by Sauer Energy
Vertical axis wind turbines have recently been revived by a few innovations made to them by scientists all over the world. Sauer Energy is one of them, and their turbine has a high efficiency because it's designed to maximize the drag, so the blades are moved more efficiently by the wind.
Three South Florida Schools Received Solar Panels Donated by FPL Group
Three South Florida schools (Deerfield Beach Middle School, Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy in Homestead and SunCoast Community High School in Riviera Beach) have received solar panels from FPL Group Foundation. This way the schools will start saving money and teaching students about renewable energy.
Solar Wind Power Harvesting Satellite Could Produce 100 Billion Times More Energy Than We...
I've been hearing at least two versions of how we should construct an orbital power station, that would harness the Sun's power and transmit it through lasers or microwaves to Earth. Those concepts, along with classic solar and wind power fade when compared to this one.
SolarEagle: Boeing's Future Unmanned Aircraft Able To Stay Aloft For More Than 5 Years
The US military's DARPA has signed an $89 million deal with Boeing for the development of a solar powered, unmanned aircraft that could stay aloft for more than five years. Of course, the aircraft would be used in espionage purposes, but the concept is also a testing ground for civilian purposes.
UK Study Promotes Wood-Based Heating As More Sustainable Compared to Burning Oil
A report prepared by scientists from The University of Manchester wants to encourage UK officials to use sustainable wood and other biofuels to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions related to the burning of fossil fuels.
Volvo To Develop New Rechargeable Battery That Can Be Built Into The Car's Chassis
Volvo has found a new method to reduce the weight of electric vehicles and also a better place to install the power storage systems. Dubbed Tomorrow's Volvo Car, the new project consists in the installation of a rechargeable battery into the car's body panels.
New Leaf-Mimicking Solar Cells Using Chlorophyll-Infused Water Gel
Solar cells currently used are mostly bulky and made from silicon and other non-recyclable materials, hence they're not as green as they should be. Mimicking nature might be a solution to this problem. More exactly, North Carolina State University researchers have prototyped a water-based solar cell, mimicking the functioning of a leaf, to produce electricity.
