November 2009
Monthly Archive
World’s largest tidal turbine to be tested off Scotland
Posted by admin on 30 Nov 2009 | Tagged as: Ocean Energy
Atlantis Resources will test the world’s largest tidal turbine next year off the Orkney Islands in Scotland.
The AK-1000 turbine, which has a capacity of 1 megawatt (MW) — in line with other pioneering marine energy converters — will be deployed at the European Marine Energy Center (EMEC) test site in Orkney.
World’s largest cruise ship partially powered by the sun
Posted by admin on 29 Nov 2009 | Tagged as: Solar
Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, is partially powered by solar energy.
The Oasis of the Seas was built with as many environmentally conscious technologies as possible. At the top of the list – and at the top of the ship – are over 550 solar panels that generate the power needed on the Royal Promenade–one of the ship’s seven neighborhoods featuring eight retail outlets, nine restaurants and bars, a photo gallery, and men’s salon. BAM Solar Power, a Miami-based solar design and installation company installed the panels.
Cosmetics and pharmaceuticals could be next by-product of biofuel plants
Posted by admin on 28 Nov 2009 | Tagged as: Biofuel
Biofuel plants could become more profitable by using by-products in the production of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
Elevance Renewable Sciences, with backing from Cargill, Dow Corning and the $45 billion Texas Pacific Group investment fund, is working with Iowa-based Renewable Energy Group to put technology in REG’s Newton, Iowa biodiesel plant to use biodiesel and soybean, corn and animal oils processed there to produce polymers, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
Biofuel-fueled jet carries passengers for the first time
Posted by admin on 25 Nov 2009 | Tagged as: Biofuel
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flew passengers for 90 minutes on a jet partially powered by biofuel.
Biofuel used on the flight reduces carbon dioxide emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional kerosene. ‘We hope to receive certification at the end of 2010.
McDonald’s logo becomes green in Europe
Posted by admin on 24 Nov 2009 | Tagged as: Uncategorized
McDonald’s franchises in Europe will change its logo’s red background to green in an attempt to promote a more eco-friendly image.
About 100 German McDonald’s restaurants will make the change by the end of 2009, the company said in a statement Monday. Some franchises in Great Britain and France have already started using the new color scheme behind their Golden Arches.
Bush library will be LEED Platinum
Posted by admin on 22 Nov 2009 | Tagged as: LEED
The George W. Bush Presidential Library on the campus of Southern Methodist University will be certified LEED Platinum upon completion.
Green features of the George W. Bush Presidential Center include locally sourced materials, recycled materials, solar hot water panels, solar photovoltaics, native landscaping, minimal use of potable water for landscaping, and a green roof.
14% of NC power could be solar-generated by 2030
Posted by admin on 21 Nov 2009 | Tagged as: Solar
Environment North Carolina’s Research and Policy Center issued a report that found that solar power can generate 2% of the state’s energy needs by 2020, and up to 14% by 2030.
To reach that goal by 2030, 700,000 solar panels would have to be put into service on the roofs of businesses and homes. But solar power in North Carolina is good for the state’s economy: nine times more jobs are created by installing solar power than installing fossil fuel power, ENC says.
Popular Science names jet biofuel in top 100
Posted by admin on 20 Nov 2009 | Tagged as: Biofuel
The Energy and Environmental Research Center’s 100% renewable canola and soybean oil jet fuel has been named one of Popular Science’s top 100 innovations of the year.
The EERC’s fuel was created from completely renewable crop oils, such as canola and soybeans. Developed through a variety of existing contracts, the fuel was vigorously tested at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and meets all of the screening criteria for jet propellant-8 (JP-8) aviation fuel, a petroleum-based fuel widely used by the U.S. military. One major advantage of the EERC’s renewable fuel is that the fuel can be tailored to meet a wide variety of mission-specific requirements.
Reno Arch switches on LED lights
Posted by admin on 19 Nov 2009 | Tagged as: Conservation
As of November 17, the Reno Arch was lit with 2076 energy-efficient LED lights.
The projects are expected to save 6.7 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and about 7.8 million gallons of water a year and reduce pollution. The power saved would be enough for 750 homes in Northern Nevada.
Wind turbines supply power to Maine islands
Posted by admin on 18 Nov 2009 | Tagged as: Wind
The Fox Islands Wind Project, the largest wind project in New England and possibly the East Coast, supplies electricity to Vinalhaven and North Haven, Maine.
With blades extended, each of the three 1.5 megawatt turbines will stretch nearly 389 feet into the air on Vinalhaven, which is nestled next to its smaller neighbor about 12 miles off the coast from Rockland. The windmills are expected to generate 11,605 megawatt hours of electricity per year, a little more power than the islands need. Energy not used by the islanders will be sent to the mainland grid.
