September 2009
Monthly Archive
Simple solution discovered to prevent wind turbine bat deaths
Posted by admin on 30 Sep 2009 | Tagged as: Wind
Bat deaths from wind plants can be decreased by slowing down the turbines during low wind periods.
Solving the problem is deceptively simple, and requires slowing down the turbine blades to a near standstill during low wind periods. Bats would then be able to dodge the blades like they do any other obstacle using sonar and wouldn’t suffer from air pressure differences. Making that single change could amount to a reduction of bat killings by about 60% according to a preliminary study, but what about the energy lost because of those slowdowns?
Solar car charging stations installed in California
Posted by admin on 29 Sep 2009 | Tagged as: Solar
SolarCity and Tesla Motors have come together to install solar-powered car charging stations in four Rabobank locations along California Route 101.
Funding for the project came from the California Air Resources Board, which in 2007 provided a grant to Tesla of $641,000, according to Tesla spokeswoman Rachel Konrad. Part of that grant went into the cooperative development, with Auburn-based EV supplier Clipper Creek, of a fast-charging unit that Tesla has named the “High Power Connector”. This unit delivers up to 70 amps (240 volts) of electricity, which can charge the Tesla Roadster in as few as 3.5 hours.
Canada begins first stage of ocean turbine project
Posted by admin on 28 Sep 2009 | Tagged as: Ocean Energy
Blue Energy Canada is building a 1-megawatt ocean turbine, the first stage of an eventual 200-megawatt project.
The initial phase involves construction of a one megawatt tidal bridge turbine that has been tested rigorously. It will then be placed in a location yet to be announced. After that, 10 such modules will be built as the base model of the world’s first 200 megawatt ocean energy project.
Canada’s biofuel production expected to rise 76% by 2011.
Posted by admin on 27 Sep 2009 | Tagged as: Biofuel
With government subisidies and renewable fuel requirements taking effect, biofuel production in Canada is expected to rise 76% by 2011.
Total biofuel production will reach 2.5 billion litres (660 million gallons) annually by 2011, including 2 billion litres of ethanol and 500 million litres of biodiesel, said Gordon Quaiattini, president of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association.
TB-related bacteria studied for biofuel potential
Posted by admin on 26 Sep 2009 | Tagged as: Biofuel
Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers are studying Rhodococcus bacteria, a strain related to the type that causes tuberculosis, to see if it can be engineered to produce biofuel.
They have created a strain of the bacteria that can eat a mix of two types of glucose and xylose, and have also engineered strains that can feed on glycerol, a waste product of biodiesel production.
Ford introduces new F-series truck
Posted by admin on 25 Sep 2009 | Tagged as: Biofuel, Ethanol
Ford unveiled its new F-series “Super Duty” truck this week. The truck is available with either a gasoline or diesel engine.
The 2011 F-Series Super Duty features either a 6.7-liter diesel or 6.2-liter gasoline engine, both of which are capable of running on biodiesel and ethanol mixtures, respectively.
Harvard installs rooftop wind turbines
Posted by admin on 24 Sep 2009 | Tagged as: Wind
Two 10-kilowatt wind turbines were installed on top of Harvard University’s Soldiers Field Parking Garage this week.
While turning even in high winds, said Dowd, the Soldiers Field turbines will create only 32 decibels of sound — about the same as an average rooftop air conditioning unit.
Counting the height of the brick garage, the new turbines are about 120 feet in the air, well below the 200-foot limit set by federal authorities for required tower lighting.
Germany approves giant offshore wind farms
Posted by admin on 23 Sep 2009 | Tagged as: Wind
The German government approved a plan to build up to 40 offshore wind farms that could power eight million homes.
According to ministry statements, the wind farms should generate around 12,000 megawatts by 2030. In strong winds, this would be equivalent to the energy generated by 12 medium-sized nuclear plants. “From our planned farms in the North Sea alone, we could provide 6.8 million additional homes with electricity,” Tiefensee told reporters, adding that the farms in the Baltic Sea could provide energy for 1.5 million more households.
eBay to reduce gas emissions by 15%
Posted by admin on 22 Sep 2009 | Tagged as: Conservation
eBay plans to cut its gas emissions 15% by 2012, compared to its 2008 emissions.
eBay will do most of its work in reducing emissions by improved data management and infrastructure. Next year, the company will begin using a “green” data center that will handle more than a third of its IT infrastructure. The site, in South Jordan, Utah, is being built to LEED Gold status.
Nanomaterials could improve geothermal efficiency
Posted by admin on 21 Sep 2009 | Tagged as: Geothermal
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory scientists are studying whether new high-tech materials originally designed to keep carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere can improve the efficiency of geothermal systems.
The nanoparticles can hold onto gas molecules at a much higher temperature, preventing the fluid from flashing to gas in the heat exchanger until it gets to a higher temperature and pressure.
The higher researchers can drive the potential energy, or enthalpy, at a given temperature, the more efficient the energy production and the lower the cost of electricity delivered, McGrail said.
