Energy
Renewables growth continues
For the first five months of 2014, renewable energy sources accounted for 54% of the new electrical generating capabilities installed in the United States. Just about all the other new installations were natural gas plants. Although coal-fired plants are still the largest source of electricity in the country, no new coal plants have come on line this year. [Read more…] about Renewables growth continues
Solar-powered Germany
At the start of June this year, Germany set a new record by producing 50% of its electricity needs with solar panels. Solar panels in that country of over 80 million people produced over 23 gigawatts of electricity on the afternoon of June 9th, which corresponded to 50.6% of the nation’s demand for electricity. [Read more…] about Solar-powered Germany
Whiskey-powered vehicles
A Scottish biofuel company called Celtic Renewables has successfully demonstrated the concept of producing biobutanol – a hydrocarbon fuel that can be a direct replacement for gasoline and diesel – from whiskey-making byproducts. They are now moving ahead to establish an industrial-scale pilot facility. [Read more…] about Whiskey-powered vehicles
Solar grid parity
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One of the most common complaints about solar power is that it is too expensive and that the only reason it gets deployed at all is by virtue of government subsidies and tax credits. Historically, there was some amount of truth to this criticism but the times they are a-changing. [Read more…] about Solar grid parity
Versatile duckweed
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Duckweed is a tiny and extremely simple flowering aquatic plant that floats on or just beneath the surface of still or slow-moving bodies of fresh water. It is an important high-protein food source for waterfowl and is even eaten by people in some places. Duckweed is extremely fast growing and is capable of doubling its population in as little as 48 hours. In warm climates, it can grow pretty much anywhere. [Read more…] about Versatile duckweed
Renewables changing of the guard
For well over a century, the primary source of renewable energy in the United States has been hydroelectric power. Hydro plants produce over 6% of the country’s electricity. In places like New York State, home of Niagara Falls, the percentage is much higher. [Read more…] about Renewables changing of the guard
Commercial buildings and energy
Buildings account for about 36% of America’s total energy use and 65% of our electricity consumption. Commercial buildings use about 20% of the country’s energy and most of that is in the form of space heating, space cooling and lighting. [Read more…] about Commercial buildings and energy
Growing numbers of electric cars
As of early this year, the number of electric cars in the world has passed the 400,000 mark. This represents a doubling of the number from just 12 months ago, which in turn was a doubling of the previous year’s total. There is no doubt that there is sharp and steady growth in electric vehicles. [Read more…] about Growing numbers of electric cars
Solar jet fuel
Transportation accounts for more than a quarter of the world’s energy consumption and most of that is in the form of ordinary gasoline. Jet fuel, which is primarily composed of kerosene, accounts for about 6% of refinery production worldwide but contributes about 12% of CO2 emissions. Jet fuel is also a big part of airlines’ operating costs. As a result, there are good reasons to seek sustainable and economical alternatives. [Read more…] about Solar jet fuel
Conditioning the air
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Air conditioners essentially work by taking warm air from inside our homes and offices and moving it outdoors. Can this affect the temperature outside? According to a recent study at Arizona State University, it turns out that it can. [Read more…] about Conditioning the air
Cars sharing the grid
Last year, Americans bought almost 100,000 cars that plug into the wall. That is a drop in the bucket in the overall auto market, but the number of electric cars is growing rapidly year-by-year. People are starting to wonder what might happen when a huge number of cars need to share the power grid. [Read more…] about Cars sharing the grid
Offshore wind turbines can slow hurricanes
Wind power is welcomed by farmers and ranchers in the Great Plains for the income and economic activity it brings, but it has made much slower progress in the densely populated Northeast. Here, residents often object to wind turbines disrupting their views of formerly pristine ridge-lines, and offshore wind runs into objections from politically powerful owners of beachfront property. [Read more…] about Offshore wind turbines can slow hurricanes
New EPA standards benefit our health
The Environmental Protection Agency recently announced a plan to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants by the year 2030. This is excellent news for the environment, as power plant emissions cause global warming, acid rain, mercury poisoning in fish and wildlife, and ozone damage to crops and trees. [Read more…] about New EPA standards benefit our health
Solar power for the developing world
Our lives are filled with smartphones, computers, appliances, and other things that run on electric power. As a result, it is easy to forget that more than 2 billion people live without electricity. Providing electricity to people in the developing world is a daunting task. But many of these people live in sunny places, where solar power provides a good solution. [Read more…] about Solar power for the developing world
Untapped hydroelectric power
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Hydroelectric power is still the largest renewable energy source in the US, providing about 7% of our electricity generation. In New York, where Niagara Falls has been providing power for over a century, hydropower provides 17% of the state’s electricity. [Read more…] about Untapped hydroelectric power
Storing energy with liquid air
A growing percentage of our electricity comes from solar and wind power. Both of these sources are plentiful, but both sunshine and wind come and go. To really depend on these energy sources, we need to be able store the energy they generate when they are most productive so we can use it at other times. [Read more…] about Storing energy with liquid air
Eagles and wind farms
Wind power has long faced criticism for the threat it poses to birds – specifically endangered species. Experts estimate anywhere from 140,000 to 328,000 birds are killed each year by wind turbines. [Read more…] about Eagles and wind farms
Tidal barrages
There are two basic ways that ocean tides are used to generate electricity: tidal streams and tidal barrages. There has been a great deal of recent interest in tidal stream power, which works like wind power driven by underwater tidal currents. But tidal barrages or barriers are an older technology that is the basis of the largest tidal power installations in the world. [Read more…] about Tidal barrages
A low power future
