Cleantech and Environmental News – Latest Headlines

As smart electric grid evolves, engineers show how to include solar technologies

An economically feasible way to store solar energy in existing residential power networks is the subject of an award winning paper written by two Virginia Tech electrical engineers and presented at an international conference.

August 18, 2012 Read more

Using evolution to understand pollution

Life evolved in a toxic world long before humans began polluting it, according to a University of Massachusetts environmental toxicologist, who added that understanding life's evolutionary response to environmental poisons can help people to fight destructive effects.

August 17, 2012 Read more

Researchers find material for cleaner-running diesel vehicles

Engineers at a company co-founded by a University of Texas at Dallas professor have identified a material that can reduce the pollution produced by vehicles that run on diesel fuel.

August 17, 2012 Read more

A urine based 'potion' can act as a CO2 absorbent

A Spanish researcher has proposed human, agricultural and livestock waste, such as urine, as a way to absorb CO2.

August 17, 2012 Read more

Water sustainability flows through human-nature interactions

Water's fate in China mirrors problems across the world: fouled, pushed far from its natural origins, squandered and exploited.

August 15, 2012 Read more

New process doubles production of alternative fuel while slashing costs

A new discovery should make the alternative fuel butanol more attractive to the biofuel industry. University of Illinois scientist Hao Feng has found a way around the bottleneck that has frustrated producers in the past and could significantly reduce the cost of the energy involved in making it as well.

August 14, 2012 Read more

New study finds the US wind power market riding a wave that is likely to crest in 2012

The expiration of key federal incentives could bring that wave crashing down in 2013, despite a significant decline in the cost of wind energy.

August 14, 2012 Read more

Major advance made in generating electricity from wastewater

Engineers at Oregon State University have made a breakthrough in the performance of microbial fuel cells that can produce electricity directly from wastewater, opening the door to a future in which waste treatment plants not only will power themselves, but will sell excess electricity.

August 13, 2012 Read more

Solar power day and night

Controlling the fluctuation of renewable energies by using modern storage systems

August 9, 2012 Read more

Supercapacitors to provide peak power from fuel cells

European researchers initiated the 'Flexible ecological multipurpose advanced generator' (FEMAG) project to develop a novel energy generator. The design integrated a fuel cell with supercapacitors to handle power peaks and thus enable a durable and flexible power supply for small, portable non-automotive devices.

August 7, 2012 Read more

California's hydroelectricity production is vulnerable to climate change

Kaveh Madani, former researcher at UC Riverside, says hydropower stations would generate less electricity in summer under climate warming.

August 7, 2012 Read more

The economic cost of increased temperatures

Even temporary rises in local temperatures significantly damage long-term economic growth in the world?s developing nations, according to a new study co-authored by an MIT economist.

August 7, 2012 Read more

Bringing power to the people - and heat as well (w/video)

Sun-powered system developed by MIT students could provide electricity, heat and cooling to rural schools and clinics.

August 6, 2012 Read more

Biofuels: Anywhere, anytime (w/video)

The Endurance Bioenergy Reactor (EBR) is a simple, easy-to-use portable system that uses bacteria to produce fuel that can go directly into engines and generators. By eliminating the need for refining, users can produce fuel onsite without complicated logistics.

August 2, 2012 Read more

Sierra Club releases new report highlighting attack on clean energy

Over the past decade, the fossil fuel industry has mounted a coordinated campaign to discredit renewable energy and hinder its growth, according to a new report released today by the Sierra Club.

August 2, 2012 Read more

Wind farms: A danger to ultra-light aircraft?

Airfields for ultra-light aircraft are typically constructed on level ground ? and so are wind farms. However, do wind power plantsgenerate turbulence that could endanger lightweight planes? A simulation can compute how these power plants influence aircraft at various wind speeds and wind directions.

August 1, 2012 Read more

Smart wireless power outlets

Many homeowners dream of being able to wash a load of laundry when the photovoltaic panels on the roof are delivering a maximum of electricity, even when they are not at home. A new Internet-enabled power outlet will soon allow users to control household appliances via their smartphone, and reduce their energy costs into the bargain.

August 1, 2012 Read more

WakaWaka solar lamp makes its debut

The WakaWaka Solar Lamp makes its debut after a very successful Kickstarter promotion completed in February.

August 1, 2012 Read more