When I got started in this subject a few years ago, the efficiency of thin film solar (i.e., the percentage of sun’s radiant power that is converted into electricity) was measured in single digits. Here, we just achieved 16.1%, a huge increase from the former record holder at 14.7%.
Tag:
fossil fuels
Chemical giant DuPont has started construction of a large-scale cellulosic ethanol biorefinery in Iowa capable of converting corn stalks and leaves into a biofuel that could be used in place of fossil fuels at some power plants.
The $200 million facility, which will be among the first
Needless to say, all of us here in the U.S. are glad that the 2012 election is behind us and that we no longer have to deal with the incredible level of rancor and lies that were embodied in the campaigns. And if you’re asking why I would want to dredge any of that up again, I don’t have a good answer. Having said that, I thought I’d comment on the Romney campaign’s
India Approves $4 Billion Plan to Add 6 Million Green Vehicles by 2020
written by Yale Environment 360
The government of India has approved a 230-billion rupee strategy ($4.13 billion) to spur increased production of electric and hybrid vehicles over the next eight years, setting a target of 6 million green vehicles by 2020.
The new plan, designed to reduce the nation’s
Last week we had the pleasure of hosting Doug Koplow, energy subsidy expert extrordinaire and founder of EarthTrack.net, for a webinar to help us all better understand how exactly fossil fuels are subsidized.
In the hyperbole and questionable headlines of an election year, some facts and figures are refreshing.
The U.S. Navy this week held military exercises in the Pacific Ocean that used an expensive blend of biofuels and conventional fuels to power 71 aircraft and three warships, part of an ongoing effort by the Navy to develop alternative fuels for its global operations.
The so-called “Great Green Fleet” initiative is a top
Increase in Extreme Weather Influencing Public Opinion on Climate Change
written by Yale Environment 360
With 70 percent of Americans now agreeing that global warming is affecting weather in the U.S., the public is showing increasing support for measures that would tackle the problem of climate change, according to a new survey.
Conducted by the Yale Project on Climate Change
The end of subsidies for fossil fuels was one of the big topics at Rio+20. One of the businessman to support initiative was Virgin founder Richard Branson.
He said getting ridding of all subsidies of fossil fuels would be one of the most useful outcomes of the Rio+20. “That would be the biggest boost for the clean fuel industry,” he told Green Biz.
Germany has installed enough photovoltaics such that coal-fired power plants are beginning to become unprofitable. This is driven by a combination factors, e.g., that coal isn’t asked to provide power at the peak of the day, when both the sun and the price of electricity are at their zenith. Of course, most of us cheer when coal runs into trouble, but issues like this
The story of American energy used to be that we consumed and imported too much, that fossil fuel reserves were finite, and that a technical breakthrough in clean alternatives would save us.
How 20th century. The new narrative of American energy is this: We’ve been using less. A national
Pollutants from Tar Sands Sites Comparable to Mid-Sized City, Study Says
written by Yale Environment 360
The amounts of pollution produced by tar sands excavation sites are comparable to those of a medium-sized city or a large power plant, according to a new study by Environment Canada, the nation’s environmental agency.
Using satellite remote sensing observations, scientists
Bill Moore, editor of EVWorld.com has written a splendid article on the failure of certain of the early electric vehicle companies, in which he points out:
Breaking into the automotive business can be relatively easy; making a success of it is pretty damned near impossible, regardless of what type of
A regional cap-and-trade program launched in the northeastern U.S. three years ago has saved customers nearly $1.1 billion on electricity bills, helped create 16,000 jobs, and has retained more than $765 million in local economies by reducing the demand for fossil fuels, according to a new analysis.
There is nothing magic about the number 7 billion, which, according to the United Nations, became the population of planet Earth sometime earlier this week. The resources available to feed, clothe, house and transport the world’s people aren’t stretched far thinner today than they were yesterday. But it’s good