Project to use volcano to make power
Geothermal energy developers plan to pump 24 million gallons of water into the side of a dormant volcano in Central Oregon this summer to demonstrate new technology they hope will give a boost to a green energy sector that has yet to live up to its promise.
Beehives Stop Elephant Crop-Raids in Kenya
Innovative beehive fences have helped a community in Kenya to successfully protect crops from elephants, according to research. Scientists found the hives to be a very effective barrier; elephants turned away from them in 97% of their attempted raids.
Spanish Solar Plant Produces Electricity for 24 Hours Straight
While Americans celebrated U.S. history on the Fourth of July yesterday, a company in Spain celebrated an historic moment for...
Transparent Photovoltaic Cells Turn Windows Into Solar Panels
A new class of transparent photovoltaic cells has been developed that can turn an ordinary windowpane into a solar panel without impeding the passage of visible light. The cells could one day transform skyscrapers into giant solar collectors, said Richard Lunt, one of the researchers on the project.
G.E. to Build Largest U.S. Solar Panel Factory
In a move that could shake up the American solar industry, General Electric plans to announce on Thursday that it will build the nation’s largest photovoltaic panel factory, with the goal of becoming a major player in the market. The plant, whose location has not been determined, will employ 400 workers and create 600 related jobs, according to G.E. The factory would annually produce solar panels that would generate 400 megawatts of energy, or enough to power 80,000 homes a year.
Brain Waves from Thoughts Used to Move Cursor
A cursor on a computer screen can be controlled using thoughts about a range of vowel sounds, research has found. Brain signals have been translated into motion or even pictures before, but the current research showcases a nascent technique called electrocorticography using sensors placed directly on the surface of the brain.
Harvesting Waste Heat Could Boost Photovoltaic Power: Scientific American
Engineers at Stanford University may have developed a way to double or triple the efficiency of solar power, in a...
New York’s Solar Thermal Plans
By unveiling a solar heating and cooling programme that could create 25,000 new green jobs, generate US$2.6 billion in revenue and see 2 GW of new solar thermal capacity installed in the state over the next decade, New York has revealed its ambition to become America’s national leader in solar heating and cooling. Thermal storage is also an area that, if effectively solved, would allow for additional advancement of the industry
D.light wins the prestigious Ashden Award for Sustainable Energy
D.light is making low cost, high quality, durable solar lanterns available to people in developing countries that have never had access to modern light. The company has a mass market strategy that is reaching large scale sales and improving the lives of thousands of people around the world.
Major decline in illegal logging
Illegal logging in the world's forests has fallen by nearly a quarter since 2002, according to the most thorough analysis yet. The London-based thinktank Chatham House says consumer pressure, legal restrictions by importing countries and media attention have all contributed. Some important forest countries such as Brazil, Cameroon and Indonesia have seen much larger cuts.