December 1/8, 2008
Perspective
"There is no leadership at
the national level and the misinformation that is spread by the
existing energy companies and special interest groups is exceptionally
misleading. On the other side, media hype based on press releases
or other non-refereed reports can lead to unrealistic expectations."
- from Q&A
with Robert Birkmire
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News
RESEARCH - SOLAR CELLS
Come up with the right reflective backing for solar cells and you
can make them 50 percent more efficient. [more]
RESEARCH - SOLAR CELLS
Cut a nanoscopically narrow groove in a metal surface beneath a nanoscopically
thin sheet of silicon and you can boost the amount of sunlight the
silicon absorbs. [more]
RESEARCH - SOLAR CELLS
Fill silicon with regularly-spaced microscopic holes and you can increase
the amount of sunlight the silicon absorbs, potentially boosting silicon
solar cell performance. [more]
RESEARCH - BATTERIES AND CAPACITORS
Make a highly porous material of carbon-covered silicon nanocrystals
and you have a key component for better lithium-ion batteries. [more]
RESEARCH - WIND
Put models of mountainous coastlines in a wind tunnel and you can
get a good idea of where to build coastal wind farms without having
to take lots of measurements out in the field. [more]
FUNDING - BIOFUELS
The National Science Foundation has awarded $15 million over five
years to a multi-institution biofuels research project in Oklahoma.
The state is matching the award with $1.1 million per year, bringing
the funding to $20.5 million. [more]
LAB NOTE - BIOFUELS
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is teaming up with
Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. (Petrobras), the Brazil-based international
oil conglomerate, to advance biofuels research and development. [more]
Features
The return of science, the enormous task, the Apollo-like effort required,
and ideas for remaking the nation's energy infrastructure.
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{BlogDate}
Über VC and clean tech thought leader Vinod Khosla dismissed
much of the renewable energy industry as greenwashing during a talk
he gave last Thursday at Palo Alto Research Center. [more]
Features
Q&As
Special Report
Energy
in transition: researchers talk about Obama and our future
Feeds
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E-mail
headlines
Technology Research News
News and views from elsewhere
New Scientist
Whatever happened to the hydrogen economy?
Xconomy
The
Roots of Power: How Voltree is Tapping Tree Energy to Save Forests
Greentech Media
Tapping America's Secret Power Source
New Scientist
Cyborg leaf makes working solar power plant
Earth2Tech
Are Thin-Film Solar Efficiency Standards Unfair?
Greentech Media
Miasolé's Chief Researcher Defects to SoloPower
Eric Wesoff, Greentech Media
Black Swans and Greenwashing
New York Times
Giving
Turbines a Boost With Curves
Technology Review
Electricity
from Waste Heat
Technology Review
A Weed-Powered
Passenger Jet
Wired
Biofuel-Powered
Flying Car Cleared for Takeoff
CNet
Better
Place plans $1 billion electric car network for Bay Area
New Scientist
Plumbing the oceans could bring
limitless clean energy
Michael Kanellos, Greentech Media
Zinc:
It’s Hot!
Wired
Biofuel
Startup Strives to Meet Obama's Green Ambitions
Michael Kanellos, Greentech Media
Greentech
Innovations: A Solar Cell the Size of a Red Blood Cell
Al Gore, New York Times
The
Climate for Change
Michael Kanellos, Greentech Media
Greentech Innovations: Storing
Wind Power With Sodium Batteries
Green Car Congress
Ohio
State University Launches PHEV, EV and Smart Charging Program
New Hampshire Union Leader
Revolutionary auto already on the road
Technology Review
Laser
Sensors for Wind Turbines
Wired
Rainforest
Fungus Naturally Synthesizes Diesel
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