ecoGizmo
HP advances recycling techniques for ink cartridge manufacture
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January 31, 2008 HP has developed engineering technology that enables it to use post-consumer recycled plastics in the production of new its inkjet print cartridges. To date more than 200 million cartridges have been manufactured using the process and materials used include multiple sources and grades of recycled plastics – from everyday water bottles to used HP inkjet cartridges. Read More
Intel goes green with power purchase
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January 30, 2008 Technology giant Intel has announced it will purchase more than 1.3 billion kilowatt hours a year of renewable energy certificates, making it the single-largest corporate purchaser of green power in the US. The decision is part of a Intel's multi-faceted approach to reduce impact on the environment, and places the company at the top of the EPA's Green Power Partners latest Green Power Partners Top 25 list. Read More
Energy Island: unlocking the potential of the ocean as a renewable power source
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January 29, 2008 Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion uses the temperature difference between surface and deep-sea water to generate electricity – and though it has an efficiency of just 1-3% - researchers believe an OTEC power plant could deliver up to 250MW of clean power, equivalent to one eighth of a large nuclear power plant, or one quarter of an average fossil fuel power plant. Architect and engineer Dominic Michaelis and his son Alex, along with Trevor Cooper-Chadwick of Southampton University are developing the concept with plans of putting the theory to the test on an unprecedented scale by building a floating, hexagonal Energy Island that will harness energy from OTEC, as well as from winds, sea currents, waves, and the sun. Read More
Eco-friendly photo albums from Unibind
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January 23, 2008 The Unibind range of DIY photo albums from Peleman Industries now incorporates Green PhotoBooks in an effort to make capturing your special moments a little more sustainable. The new environmentally-friendly PhotoBooks are made from natural and recycled materials with covers comprised of cotton-flax. Read More
Low cost, nano-based solar cell from GE
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January 22, 2008 GE Global Research, has demonstrated a scalable silicon nanowire-based solar cell, which has the potential to achieve up to 18% efficiency. The breakthrough by the lab’s Nano Photovoltaics (PV) team is a promising new development in making PV systems more economically viable for consumers than conventional solar options. Read More
North Carolina campus goes solar
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January 17, 2007 In more recent news from the solar power arena, the education sector is leading the charge towards clean power in North Carolina with NC State University operating the largest private solar power system in the State. The US$605,000 system was bankrolled by Richard Harkrader, owner of Durham-based Carolina Solar Energy, making it the largest privately financed solar photovoltaic (PV) array in North Carolina. Read More
Solar powered beer in the sunshine State
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January 17, 2008 The environmentally conscious Sierra Nevada Brewery in California is taking steps to become partially powered by the sun. A 1.3 megawatt solar system is being installed at the Chico plant in two phases and will provide 34% of the brewery’s power. Read More
Nano Flakes promise greater solar energy efficiency
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December 20, 2007 The inefficiency of solar cells in converting the sun’s rays into electricity is a key contributor to the high costs of solar energy, but new research into a novel shape of semiconductor nanostructures known as "nano flakes" may revolutionize the process and help improve the viability of clean energy derived from the sun.
Hunton Energy announces plans for clean energy plant
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December 20, 2007 Finding new ways to capture environmentally harmful emissions and use them to generate power is a positive step in the effort to slow global warming. The latest news from this arena comes from Hunton Energy, which has announced plans to build and operate a Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG) plant at Dow’s Oyster Creek Facility on the Texas Gulf Coast which will capture 100 percent of its own CO2 emissions, using turbines to produce additional power from its byproduct steam. Read More
First U.S. manufacturing plant for Thermal Solar Systems
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December 18, 2007 The sunshine-rich state of Nevada is set to be home to the first US manufacturing plant for solar thermal power systems. The 130,000-square-foot, highly automated manufacturing and distribution center will produce the reflectors, towers and absorber tubes needed to create and run solar thermal plants, doubling worldwide output of key components for Ausra Inc’s solar thermal power plant technology and creating “green collar” jobs in the process. Read More
New solar energy project for Spain
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December 17, 2007 A new three MW commercial solar farm is being proposed in Spain as part of a larger plan to build plants capable of supplying 130 MW of energy over five years. Read More
BioOil to fuel industrial sector
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December 13, 2007 Missouri, USA is set to become home to a commercial industrial plant that will produce liquid biofuel from wood residues. The end product, known as “BioOil”, is an industrial fuel expected to be sold to commercial users as it is a price-competitive replacement for heating oils that are widely used in industrial boilers and furnaces.
Nanomars dual-charge solar bags
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December 13, 2007 The proliferation of mobile devices in everyday life has given rise to a range of new technologies designed to keep portable hardware running when on the move - one such solution is solar powered bags. Like the recently reviewed Voltaic solar charging bags, the Juice Bags line of urban daypacks and the Soldius solar powered golf bag Taiwan based Nanomars line of solar bags utilizes the eco-friendly power of the sun to keep a range of mobile electronic devices charged up but also offers the option of charging from mains power. Read More
Volvo backs energy efficient forestry machinery
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December 4, 2007 Making forestry a sustainable industry isn't just about the best utilization and management of plantation resources, it's also about how the timber is harvested. With this in mind, Volvo has announced a new investment as the part-owner in El-forest AB, based in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. Read More
Electrolux Design Lab 07 winners announced
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December 3, 2007 Electrolux Design Lab 07 was the fifth edition of Electrolux’s annual initiative aimed at encouraging the design of eco-friendly and sustainable household appliances. Winners of the year’s competition have been announced with finalists from Hungary, France and China in first, second and third place respectively. Read More
Cohousing community shines with solar
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November 27, 2007 Originating in Denmark, cohousing is a concept whereby residents actively participate in operation of their own neighborhoods and are committed to living as a community. In Colorado, one such neighborhood is installing solar systems into homes and a shop, supplying half of the community's electrical needs and reducing their carbon footprint. Read More
New bioethanol plant opens in Britain
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November 23, 2007 A new, state of the art plant that will produce bioethanol from locally-grown sugar beet has been opened in the U.K. The British Sugar facility at Wissington, Norfolk, has an annual production capacity of 70 million liters. Read More
Jason’s Deli goes solar
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November 22, 2007 With 170 deli restaurants across the US, Jason’s Deli is now embracing renewable energy in its business model with the launch of its first 'Solar Deli'. The flagship store in Beaumount, Texas is the first to be powered in part by solar energy, with more systems planned in the near future. Read More
Demand-response system to limit peak power use
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November 19, 2007 Reducing demand from customers for power during peak periods is one way to delay the need for costly new power plants. It will also help to conserve resources and moderate energy prices. Reliant Energy, a Texas-based energy provider, has completed a successful test of a new demand-response system designed to give customers greater control of their electricity usage while reducing demand for power during peak usage periods. Read More
Solar schools for Santa Cruz
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November 16, 2007 The sunny state of California continues to lead the way in solar energy production. In January, the state launched a 10-year Solar Initiative program offering $2.1 billion in rebates for residential and commercial solar systems. The uptake of clean energy is also forging ahead in the public sector, with the latest announcement coming from Santa Cruz County where UPC Solar has won a contract for a 950kW project in the city school system. Read More
Honda opens new solar cell plant in Japan
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November 14, 2007 Honda, a name usually associated with all things transport, has opened a new production plant in Kumamoto to supply Japanese homes and businesses with solar cells. Read More
New technology promises solar cell efficiency boost
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November 13, 2007 Global Warming Solutions has announced the development of new solar energy conversion technology based on a special coating that can be applied to existing solar cells. The company expects that application of the technology will increase increase efficiency by 11-15% and boost the market value of a solar cell by more than 60 cents per watt, while at the same time raising manufacturing expenses by just 10 cents a watt. Read More
First commercial cellulosic ethanol plant in the U.S.
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November 9, 2007 The production of ethanol as a cleaner alternative to fossil fuel throws up a number of challenges - in particular it has been argued that the amount of land required to produce crops for ethanol fuel production is too great, taking away land that is needed for food production. The use of cellulosic biomass to make commercial ethanol has been seen as a possible solution to this problem and now Range Fuels has now announced plans for the first commercial ethanol plant in the U.S. to use cellulosic biomass. Read More
New five megawatt solar plant for California
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November 8, 2007 As well as having a reputation for sunshine and acceptance of alternative lifestyles, California is fast becoming a leader in the field of solar energy with more plans unveiled for a new large scale solar plant. Read More
RainMaker Humidification System
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November 8, 2007 The Rainmaker Humidification System enables extremely precise control of water vapor, a process essential for the manufacture of carbon nanotubes, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals and other thin films including photovoltaic cells, where techniques are constantly being developed to reduce the price and increase the productivity of solar systems. Read More
Wind power blows into Texas
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November 7, 2007 Known for oil and gas production, Texas seems an unlikely leader in the field of wind power. Construction has begun on the new Stanton Wind farm in Texas, USA that will employ 80 1.5-megawatt wind turbines and commence operation by April 2008. Read More
Power plant uses coal mine ventilation air as fuel
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November 5, 2007 A new power plant that generates electrical power using ventilation air methane (VAM) from coal mining is now in operation. The technology significantly reduces harmful emissions of methane (a gas 20 times more potent than CO2) released in the mining process, while producing power that can be delivered to the grid or used directly in the mine.
Waterproof, recyclable concrete – just add Hycrete
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November 1, 2007 Hycrete Technologies has developed a water based admixture that acts as waterproofing and corrosion protection when added to regular concrete. It does this by sealing the capillaries within the concrete and making the resultant product completely waterproof. The Hycrete is so effective that no external waterproof membranes, coatings or sheeting treatments are required, which is good news for the environment as it is usually these waterproofing methods that render concrete unsuitable for recycling – without them the concrete can be crushed, recycled, and reused. Read More
Avivasolarcar lines-up for World Solar Challenge
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October 16, 2007 The 2007 Panasonic World Solar Challenge kicks off this Sunday October 21. An established platform for the promotion and development of sustainable energy in transport, the biennial race runs for seven days and covers a distance of 3000 km (nearly 1900 miles) from Darwin to Adelaide in Australia. This year 40 teams from across the globe will compete including the Avivasolarcar, a vehicle capable of achieving speeds of up to 75kmh (47mph) while emitting no carbon dioxide and using less electricity than a toaster.
Masdar Initiative: the world's first zero carbon, zero waste city
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October 12, 2007 The sleek, modern capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, will be host to what is planned as the world’s first zero carbon, zero waste city. The project involves a six million square meter sustainable development that will combine traditional planning principals of a walled city with existing technologies. The planned development is a dense, car-free city to be constructed in an energy efficient two-stage phase. A large photovoltaic solar power plant will be constructed to power the city and the location is close to transport infrastructure with links to surrounding communities, as well as the center of Abu Dhabi and the international airport, by a network of existing road and new rail and public transport routes.
New manufacturing process captures more light in solar cells
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October 12, 2007 In another development that aims to make alternative energy generation more efficient and more affordable, Braggone has discovered a method of capturing more light in a solar cell. The result is a new product line that greatly increases the efficiency of solar cells and allows manufacturing facilities to cost-effectively increase their capacity. Read More
Flexible modules could transform windows and buildings into solar panels
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October 11, 2007 Traditionally, solar panels for buildings have predominantly been stand alone systems mounted to roofs in order to capture sunlight. The growing focus on "green" energy and a move away from reliance on fossil fuels is driving smarter and more integrated methods of procuring alternative energy sources such as solar, and in line with this, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has invested $4.7 million to develop technology that would allow windows and other building applications to be converted into solar panels. Read More
New solar panels promise reduced installation time
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September 28, 2007 Akeena's new Andalay solar panel technology combines savvy design with a number of enhancements designed to decrease installation time. With 70% fewer roof-assembled parts and 50% less labor needed to install the system, the company says the Andalay system can cut installation time from half a day to half an hour. Read More
California winery to convert to 100% solar power
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September 18, 2007 The EOS Estate Winery has announced a $3.8 million plan to convert its California Central Coast winery entirely to solar power. To be completed by April, the project will include the installation of more than two acres of ground-mounted tracking solar arrays that will provide all the electrical power needs for the winery and tasting room, while additional roof-mounted solar arrays will provide all the hot water needs. The system will be installed by SunTechnics and will contain 3,084 photovoltaic modules totalling 540 kWp and 60 solar hot water collectors. Read More
Large scale solar plants have a bright future
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September 14, 2007 Although the use of solar energy has is seen as viable for the operation of stand-alone devices such as phone-chargers and even a computer mouse, the question remains in some minds: is solar a viable alternative energy source on a mass scale? The proliferation of large scale solar power plants worldwide and plans to build several new ones seems to suggest that the renewable energy sector believes that solar does indeed have a bright future. Read More
