Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Alternative Clean Energy Roundup: 5 March 2014

CSP with storage to play a unique role in the South African energy market
Feb. 20, 2014 - One of the key features of concentrated solar power (CSP) technology is the potential to operate with storage and provide a truly dispatchable renewable energy supply.

With energy stability and supply a critical issue for South Africa, CSP is set to play a leading role in the energy mix

South Africa’s energy supply is currently characterized by uncertainty. There is not enough power supply to meet current demand. During the winter months, the national grid can get close to the border of power failure, a situation which repeatedly threatens to destabilize business and industry, and affects foreign investment. read more>>>

Any country can reach high shares of wind, solar power cost-effectively, study shows
Feb. 26, 2014 - Wind power and solar photovoltaics (PV) are crucial to meeting future energy needs while decarbonising the power sector. Deployment of both technologies has expanded rapidly in recent years - one of the few bright spots in an otherwise-bleak picture of clean energy progress - and IEA scenarios indicate that this trend will continue for decades. However, the inherent variability of wind power and solar PV is raising concerns: Can power systems remain reliable and cost-effective while supporting high shares of variable renewable energy (VRE)? And if so, how?

A landmark study released today by the International Energy Agency addresses these concerns and confirms that integrating high shares - i.e., 30 percent of annual electricity production or more - of wind and solar PV in power systems can come at little additional cost in the long term. read more>>>

Green Living Everyday

Science academies explain global warming reality
Feb. 26, 2014 - Man-made global warming is worsening and will disrupt both the natural world and human society, warns a joint report of two of the world's leading scientific organizations.

The U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the Royal Society, which is the national scientific academy of the United Kingdom, are releasing an unusual plain language report on climate change that addressed 20 issues in a question-and-answer format.

'People do have persistent questions all about climate change,' said study author Ben Santer of the Lawrence Livermore National Lab in California. 'This is a one-stop shop for many of those questions.' read more>>>

Superabsorbing design may lower manufacturing cost of thin film solar cells
February 26, 2014 - Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a "superabsorbing" design that may significantly improve the light absorption efficiency of thin film solar cells and drive down manufacturing costs.

The superabsorbing design could decrease the thickness of the semiconductor materials used in thin film solar cells by more than one order of magnitude without compromising the capability of solar light absorption.

"State-of-the-art thin film solar cells require an amorphous silicon layer that is about 100 nanometers (nm) thick to capture the majority of the available solar energy," read more>>>

Pedal Power for Solar Power
February 26th, 2014 - We love a good adventure, especially for a good cause – so we’re excited to announce that we are one of Climate Ride’s newest beneficiaries, and we’re looking for intrepid cyclists to join us!

Climate Ride is the nation’s largest cycling event raising support for organizations dedicated to climate change issues, renewable energy and sustainability. Amazing riding, epic scenery, and great speakers all combine to make this a remarkable experience. And the best part? When you ride for Vote Solar your fundraising directly supports our work to power the country with clean, homegrown solar energy! read more>>>

Solar-Powered Alpine Hut Boasts Spectacular Mountain Views in Switzerland
02/26/14 - Swiss mountaineers planning to scale Bishorn Mountain now have another gem to look forward to on their ascent: the redesigned Tracuit Hut nestled in the heart of the Valais Alps. Clad in reflective steel and solar panels, the energy efficient alpine hut was designed by Savioz Fabrizzi Architectes. The competition-winning design was selected by the Swiss Alpine Club to replace the outdated and "energy-hungry" Tracuit hut built in 1929

Located at the popular starting point for the ascents of Bishorn, Weisshorn, and Les Diablons, the new Tracuit Hut is situated along a ridge caught between a cliff and a glacier. Due to its location, the wooden structural frame and wall components were prefabricated in a factory and then airlifted on-site for assembly. read more>>>

Air/Q: Safer, Greener, More Effective Air Freshening for the Home

Dubai steps up its green campaign with construction of "eco-friendly communities"
February 25th, 2014 - Diamond Developers, the company behind Dubai’s Sustainable City, are set to build more eco-friendly communities in the UAE and export those projects to the wider MENA region.

Wassim Adlouni, a board member, said that the success of the development will play a key role in Dubai’s aims to establish itself as one of the most sustainable cities in the world by 2020.

Speaking at the Centre of Excellence for Green Development at the Canadian University of Dubai, he said: “The Sustainable City project will allow people to see an example of how sustainable living benefits residents, communities and businesses, and that it can be repeated all over the region. read more>>>

RGGI examines effect of energy efficiency, renewable energy initiatives
February 26, 2014 - A 2012 report from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) estimates that RGGI proceed investments in energy efficiency, clean and renewable energy, and other strategic energy programs will return more than $2 billion in lifetime energy bill savings to more than 3 million participating households and more than 12,000 businesses in the region. The report analyzed the lifetime impact of RGGI auction proceed investments made in the nine RGGI states -- Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

RGGI is the first market-based carbon reduction program to use the majority of auction proceeds for strategic energy investments. read more>>>

Lower your bills with energy efficient products from Eartheasy.com

alpha Ventus offshore wind farm achieves terawatt-hour milestone
24 February 2014 - Germany’s first offshore wind farm, alpha ventus, has now surpassed one terawatt hour of generated power according to its development consortium

The offshore wind farm, incorporating 12 turbines, generated the equivalent of one billion kilowatt hours of climate-friendly power for the German transmission grid, equivalent to the annual power consumption of 285,000 households.

alpha ventus has been generating power for the grid since 2009 when it was developed by the consortium of EWE, E.ON and Vattenfall. read more>>>

Vincent Callebaut Unveils Plans for Futuristic "Flavors Orchard" Farm City in China
03/01/14 - Dense urban centers tend to be disconnected from the farms that feed them. Vincent Callebaut could change that with "Flavors Orchard," a futuristic city district designed for Kunming, China that consists of 45 energy positive villas set on a huge community orchard and food garden. The project boasts state-of-the-art sustainable technologies like automatic temperature regulation synced with the sun’s path, wind power, and a smart energy grid, and it offers residents plenty of fresh air, green space, and delicious produce.

The project is based on the idea of eco-responsible lifestyles and sustainable innovations that enable biodiversity and slow down the massive rural exodus China has experienced over the last decade. Flavors Orchard is a prototype settlement that mixes all the advantages of the city and the countryside. read more>>>


1 comment:

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