July 28/August 4, 2008
Perspective
"I think developed countries have
to more actively use their wealth and resources to get sustainable
technology on the market quickly and make it available to the less
developed. Germany is a good example of how this can be done. This
is not altruism."
-Martin Green, UNSW
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News
RESEARCH
A new approach to improving thermoelectric materials -- metals or
semiconductors that convert heat to electricity -- doubles the efficiency
of a bulk thermoelectric material at temperatures typical of car engines.
[more]
RESEARCH
 The
main hurdle to replacing incandescent lights with much more efficient
light-emitting diodes is lowering the cost. Researchers have been
looking to silicon for a solution. [more]
RESEARCH
Many renewable energy sources can be placed close to energy consumers,
which eases the burden on the main lines of the electrical grid and
reduces losses from long-distance transmission. [more]
RESEARCH
Electrodes made from single-atom-thick sheets of carbon could boost
the storage capacity of lithium batteries several times over. [more]
Q & A
Second- and third-generation solar cells, industry's importance, sharing
technology, China, and the cost-competitiveness of photovoltaics.
[more]
FUNDING
The Department of Energy has named the final two of nine small-scale
biorefineries to receive federal funding... [more]
FUNDING
The National Science Foundation has funded three renewable energy
projects in four awards... [more]
LAB NOTE
NREL taps Dow for ethanol project
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory is partnering with Dow Chemical
Company to develop processes for converting
biomass to ethanol and industrial chemicals. The aim is to convert
non-food biomass like agricultural waste to a gas and then convert
the gas to ethanol and other alcohols.
LAB NOTE
NREL assembles clean energy test fleet
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory is assembling
a fleet of energy-efficient and clean energy vehicles from car
makers to form a research testbed. The vehicles include natural gas,
fuel cell, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric, ethanol, hydrogen and
biodiesel cars and trucks from American, Japanese, Korean and German
manufacturers.
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}
A post on AlternativeEnergy.com lays out some unsexy but critically
important steps we can take to tackle the energy/climate crisis. [more]
Features
Q&As
Special Report
Energy
in transition: researchers talk about Obama and our future
Feeds
News  | Blog
E-mail
headlines
Technology Research News
News and views from elsewhere
AP
Gore
sets 'moon shot' goal on climate change
The Guardian
Solar
power from Saharan sun could provide Europe's electricity, says EU
Renewable Energy Magazine
The
global solar PV market: fasten your seatbelts
AP
Utilities
say grid can handle rechargeable cars
Earth2Tech
Biofuel
Lobbying: Split Between First-Gen and Next-Gen
New York Times
Gassing
Up With Garbage
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