Cleantech and Environmental News – Latest Headlines

Free report: Building a sustainable energy future - risks and opportunities

A Swiss Re report investigates how the global energy mix will take shape and the impact of sustainable energy sources on climate change. The report uses a scenario-based approach to outline possible energy futures and provides a framework for decision-making.

January 21, 2013 Read more

More than 140 countries have agreed on the first global treaty to cut mercury pollution

More than 140 countries have agreed on the first global treaty to cut mercury pollution through a blacklist of household items and new controls on power plants and small-scale mines, the United Nations said on Saturday.

January 21, 2013 Read more

Belgium plans artificial island to store wind power

Island planned for North Sea, 3 km off Belgian coast.

January 20, 2013 Read more

Wind in the willows boosts biofuel production

Willows cultivated for green energy can yield five times more biofuel if they grow diagonally, compared with those that grow naturally straight up.

January 20, 2013 Read more

More efficient production of large-scale batteries

Planning and design software from Siemens can help manufacturers to automate the production of large-scale batteries.

January 18, 2013 Read more

A new world record for thin-film solar cell efficiency - 20.4%

In a remarkable feat, scientists at Empa, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, have developed thin film solar cells on flexible polymer foils with a new record efficiency of 20.4% for converting sunlight into electricity.

January 18, 2013 Read more

Photovoltaics beat biofuels at converting sun's energy to miles driven

New study shows solar power is not only better in terms of energy efficiency, land use, and greenhouse gas emissions - but cost competitive, too.

January 17, 2013 Read more

Bacteria to spot pollution

Scientists are recruiting bacteria to spot pollutants spilling into our rivers and lakes.

January 17, 2013 Read more

Tough limits on global greenhouse gas emissions could reduce some climate change damage by two-thirds

Tough limits on global emissions of greenhouse gases could avoid between 20 and 65 per cent of the damaging effects of climate change by 2100.

January 17, 2013 Read more

New research to support the huge potential of tidal power

New research from a global group of scientists and engineers, including from the University of Southampton, supports the use of tidal power, which has the potential to provide more than 20 per cent of the UK's electricity demand.

January 17, 2013 Read more

Marginal lands are prime fuel source for alternative energy

Lands unsuited for food crops represent huge untapped resource to grow mixed species biomass for ethanol.

January 16, 2013 Read more

NASA finds 2012 sustained long-term climate warming trend

NASA scientists say 2012 was the ninth warmest of any year since 1880, continuing a long-term trend of rising global temperatures. With the exception of 1998, the nine warmest years in the 132-year record all have occurred since 2000, with 2010 and 2005 ranking as the hottest years on record.

January 16, 2013 Read more

Alstom and Aston University developing energy grid systems

Global engineering firm Alstom is working with Aston University (UK) scientists to further its research into power grid efficiency in the UK and worldwide.

January 16, 2013 Read more

New world record for organic solar technology with a cell efficiency of 12%

The 12.0% record cell on a standard size of 1.1 square cm combines two patented absorber materials, which convert light of different wavelengths. Using two different absorber materials creates a stronger absorption of photons and improves energetic utilization through a higher photovoltage.

January 16, 2013 Read more

Iconic beach resorts may not survive sea level rises

A leading coastal scientist has warned that some of the world's best known beach resorts may not survive projected sea level rises and that problems caused by changing sea levels are compounded by a lack of political will and short-term coastal management initiatives.

January 16, 2013 Read more

A cooler planet by design

Many of us get frustrated with the slow pace of international action on climate change. But powerless as we feel, we can still make a difference by rethinking the way we design our lives.

January 16, 2013 Read more

Towards better recovery of waste resources

Finnish researchers evaluate waste chain development needs.

January 16, 2013 Read more

One step closer to hydrogen production from photoelectrochemical water-splitting

A validated multi-physics numerical model that accounts for charge and species conservation, fluid flow, and electrochemical processes has been used to analyze the performance of solar-driven photoelectrochemical water-splitting systems. The modeling has provided an in-depth analysis of conceptual designs, proof-of-concepts, feasibility investigations, and quantification of performance.

January 15, 2013 Read more