It’s a boom time for renewable energy. Now, an international team of researchers has determined that rooftop solar alone could generate an almost unthinkable amount of power.
Exclusive Most small commercial drones have limited flight times because of heavy batteries. But XAir's can fly for hours by coasting on wind currents.
Aircraft safety is a hot topic these days, with Federal Aviation Administration investigators looking into door seals at Boeing, aircraft slides flying off mid air and engine failures plaguing several planes in recent months. But what happens if the power in your plane actually does go out? That’s... Read more
MIT engineers have flown the first silent, fuel-free “ion plane.” The light aircraft is the first plane to fly with no propellers, turbine blades, or other moving parts.
Wind energy is not reliable enough to be used as the sole power source for an aircraft. Not to mention, adding wind turbines to an aircraft would increase the drag, leading to more problems.
Abstract According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) the burning of coal, natural gas, and oil for electricity and heat is the largest single source of global greenhouse gas emissions. Electricity and heat production are responsible for 25% of the global greenhouse gas... Read more
By Dhel Nazario
A group of students from the Philippine Science High School-Western Visayas Campus (PSHS-WVC) has created a device that converts noise to...
The Energy Observer is a 100% energy self-sufficient boat, sailing around the world to prove the usefulness of cutting-edge technologies, including a hydrogen fuel cell made with help from Toyota.
A team of US Navy scientists recently announced they had converted seawater into fuel. The technology is described as a ‘game changer’ which could drastically reduce the US military’s dependency on fossil fuels. Could the technology solve the current fuel dilemma in commercial shipping as well... Read more
You may not have heard of Chinese mobile phone maker Umeox Mobile, but odds are you’ve come across one of their handsets at one time or another without realizing it, as its phones are generally re-branded and sold by operators around the world. The company's latest offering announced this week at... Read more
The Samsung S7550 Blue Earth is an early example of a smartphone with an integrated solar panel made in 2009. Some of the first experiments with solar cells involved wireless voice communication; as early as the 1880s, it would take another 100 plus years to appear in a consumer device serving the s... Read more
Robial is planning to commercialise a technology that converts urine and wastewater into electricity, powering lighting, mobile phones and other devices.
Belgium’s recent success in the World Championships for solar cars has accelerated the journey toward a greener and more sustainable future for the industry.
Solar-powered electric cars are the future of sustainable transportation; they are greener and have zero greenhouse emissions, unlike other electric vehicles.
Could solar-powered cars be the future of electric vehicles?
As the electric vehicle industry becomes increasingly competitive and consumers become more eco-conscious, one California-based company created a car that can run on solar power. NBC News’ Steve Patterson took it for a test drive to find out how it works.
NSF’s mission is to advance the progress of science, a mission accomplished by funding proposals for research and education made by scientists, engineers, and educators from across the country.
Norway has installed the world’s northernmost ground solar panels in its Svalbard archipelago, despite the region being plunged into darkness from early October until mid-February every year.
Solar energy has become so accessible that new farms are being switched on in the most unexpected places – including in the depths of the Alaskan winter.
Norwegian researchers have conducted a study to assess the technical feasibility of solar parks in polar regions. They found out that snowdrifts may be a major issue but they also believe that snow accumulation can be reduced through snow fences and proper system design.
In this article, we explore how solar can and is being used in the Arctic & Antarctica to help power essential research and keep those conducting that research comfortable and able to survive.
Nitrogen generators are beneficial to renewable energy companies, especially those who create wind power. Learn about using nitrogen for renewable energy here.
’To be able to complete the ammonia-to-nitrogen reaction under ambient conditions — and get energy — is a pretty big deal,” says chemistry Professor John Berry.
The present invention describes an electric energy generation system from liquid Nitrogen and its preferential use in the supply of consumers located in isolated regions of the electrical system (off grid), located in regions with high commercial losses and high insolvency and in residences on speci... Read more
Researchers have developed a prototype battery powered by atmospheric nitrogen that kills two birds with one stone, simultaneously fixing nitrogen and storing energy.
Startup Twelve broke ground on a commercial-scale facility in Washington state, which it says will be the first in the country to make sustainable aviation fuel from CO2.
An efficient new process can convert carbon dioxide into formate, a material that can be used like hydrogen or methanol to power a fuel cell and generate electricity.
Students often throw away what is remaining on their trays after eating lunch without thinking about it. This means every day students are tossing piles of food and causing a lot of food waste to be produced from their lunch throughout the year. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), in an arti... Read more
The Hallberg-Rassy 50 is now, as first ever world wide, available with solar panels fully integrated with the sails. 160.7 square meters of sail area that at the same time works as solar panels, generating up to 410 A charging at 24 V. Even a grey March day, the sails generated 27 A positive charg... Read more
In the 400 years or so leading up to the adoption of steam power in the 19th century, sailing ships ruled the waves. In an effort to cut increasing fuel costs and reduce emissions, sails are set to once again prove their worth. But unlike the sails proposed by B9 Shipping and the Wind Challenger…
Amazon.com : RISEPRO 10 gallons/40L Solar Shower Bag Solar Heating Camping Shower Bag with Temperature Hot Water Outdoor Hiking Climbing XH07 : Sports & Outdoors
Researchers in China have analyzed how the marine environment influences the performance of PV modules deployed on ships, and have found that salt particles can be detrimental to their performance as these act as both heating agents and a factor reducing solar irradiance. The temporary cooling effec... Read more
The photovoltaic project located on a dam of Verfrut’s Quilamuta Farm in the O’Higgins Region occupies 8,260 square meters and has an installed capacity of 1,090 kWp, which makes it the…
New research shows densely populated countries in Southeast Asia and West Africa could harvest effectively unlimited energy from solar panels floating on calm tropical seas near the equator.
A group of researchers at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in Brazil have grown microalgae under controlled conditions in a laboratory in order to use their metabolites, especially lipids, with the prime purpose of producing biofuel. The study is reported in an article published in the jou... Read more
DNV’s latest white paper Biofuels in shipping has highlighted how the flexibility of biofuels can enable the shipping industry to accelerate its journey towards decarbonisation while maintaining operational efficiency. Its paper added that current limitations in production capacity could impact sh... Read more
Wind turbines can be an ideal solution for winter, but their efficiency could also be affected by ice, which can slow or stop them from spinning altogether.
Iowa wind turbines equipped to handle extreme cold. Ice is another matter.
A Swiss company has built what is being called a giant water battery deep under the Alps that provides an energy storage capacity equivalent to 400,000 electric car batteries. It could be a game changer.
Learn more about and meet the team at Sauder Centre for Social Innovation & Impact Investing at UBC. Sauder S3i focuses on leveraging business tools to advance social innovation and sustainability, through research, incubation and application.
The oceans of the world are a vast unexploited source of clean, reliable and predictable renewable energy. Could this energy help replace fossil fuels and be a solution to climate change?
Solar roadways have been promoted as a way to fight climate change, put people to work and make driving safer. But on closer inspection the reality is less than impressive.
MAARTENSDIJK, Netherlands (AP) — Authorities in a central Dutch province opened what they are billing as the world’s longest solar bicycle path Wednesday, mixing sustainable energy with emission-free travel.
Climate stories out of China often involve big numbers, both positive and negative. This one caught my attention recently though. The latest state energy announcement is for 455GW of new renewable …
Morocco says it wants to be the Saudi Arabia of solar energy. Its flagship project is a first-of-its-kind, $9-billion energy plant called Noor, meaning “light” in Arabic, and the size of the city of Paris. Special correspondent Monica Villamizar reports from the city of Ouarzazate.
Space-based solar energy has a lot of potential, and could be the solution to the ever-growing demand for energy in the world. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-62636746
How solar farms in space might beam electricity to Earth
Besides sand, salt is another great alternative to lithium-ion batteries. And the best part, both materials are available in plenty, and can be harvested with minimal harm to the environment!
Here’s one from Amazon that can be pretty hardy in emmergency situations.
Walkie Talkies for Adults Rechargeable, FM/NOAA Emergency Radios with Weather Alerts, LED Flashlight & SOS Alarm, Solar Powered Hand Crank Long Range 2 Way Radios Walkie Talkie with USB Charged
Amazon.com: Walkie Talkies for Adults Rechargeable, FM/NOAA Emergency Radios with Weather Alerts, LED Flashlight & SOS Alarm, Solar Powered Hand Crank Long Range 2 Way Radios Walkie Talkie with USB Charged : Electronics
The first commercial passenger flight to use 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) took off yesterday—possibly the biggest leap forward for modern aviation since the Wright brothers first flew the Wright Flyer nearly 118 years ago to the day (December 17, 1903), and almost 92 years after the first ... Read more
Are silar planes the future? Is it the right way to approach aviation? Can we fly planes without fuel? Solar planes have been around for some time but they w...
With Amazon, Ikea, Unilever and major movers of ocean cargo seeking ways to meet net-zero carbon goals, the oldest source of ship power, wind, may be back.
These wireless, solar-powered CCTV cameras from Amazon are an excellent choice for home security systems.
Wireless Security Camera System Outdoor with Solar Powered for Home Includes Base Station and Cameras, 3MP Night Vision with 2-Way Audio (4 Solar Camera Set)
Amazon.com : Wireless Security Camera System Outdoor with Solar Powered for Home Includes Base Station and Cameras, 3MP Night Vision with 2-Way Audio (4 Solar Camera Set) : Electronics
PV glass skylights improve thermal inner comfort, since most of the UV and infrared radiation are filtered out by the Silicon-based material (solar filter effect).
We would need a significant investment in energy storage solutions, else much of the harnessed energy will go to waste.
Rooftop solar is also on the rise in the United States.
In Seoul, South Korea, all public buildings are required to have rooftop solar panels.
The UK is implementing a law requiring all new buildings to have solar panels on their rooftops.
I don’t know why we haven’t tried this! Solar panels on every rooftop could significantly diminish our reliance on fossil fuels.
I found this startup that makes drones powered by wind power.
Glider planes can also fly with the wind, without any engines.
Some planes are fitted with wind turbines to generate emergency power in case of engine failure.
These MIT researchers have done it, but using ion wind propulsion.
https://news.mit.edu/2018/first-ionic-wind-plane-no-moving-parts-1121
A wind-powered aircraft
(5 upvotes)Start using ion engines in cars, trains, and airplanes
(6 upvotes)Wind energy is not reliable enough to be used as the sole power source for an aircraft. Not to mention, adding wind turbines to an aircraft would increase the drag, leading to more problems.
I love this design of a tree-shaped hybrid wind turbine with built-in solar panels.
https://www.designboom.com/technology/aeroleaf-hybrid-new-world-wind-turbine-tree-solar-panels-green-energy-11-14-2023/
Here’s a video of the wind turbine. It’s a great concept for harnessing both solar and wind energy.
Check out this company that has integrated solar panels into the blades of a wind turbine.
Or the noise from sports stadiums.
It could be a great idea to harness energy from urban noise.
These high school students from the Philippines created a device that converts sound into electricity.
https://mb.com.ph/2019/10/22/young-inventors-create-device-that-converts-noise-to-electricity/
An exciting concept! Sound creates vibrations that can be converted into electrical energy.
Maritime vessels can also generate propulsion energy from seawater thermal energy or wave power.
Check out this self-sufficient boat that can convert seawater into hydrogen fuel for propulsion.
These US Navy scientists have converted seawater into fuel, but it’s only likely to be used to fuel jet fighters instead of ships.
You can also use these portable solar chargers to power your phone!
Not a solar-powered phone, but I found this company selling a solar phone case.
https://www.ipowerup.com/
Check out this Russian company that selling a custom iPhone X that is powered by solar.
Infinix just unveiled a concept for a modern smartphone with a built-in solar charging system!
This Chinese company tried making a solar-powered android phone, but it seems it never went into mass production.
https://newatlas.com/umeox-apollo-solar-powered-phone/17906/
Samsung used to have an older smartphone model with a built-in solar charging panels. I don’t know if they are still around, though.
Also in the UK.
They are being used in Turkey.
This has great potential in areas with vast road networks and a lot of traffic.
Check out this video on how they work!
Urine is free and plentiful. It has the potential to be the future of clean, renewable energy.
Electricity from urine can provide a reliable energy source for communities that lack grid electricity.
This pee generator set-up can power lights, charge your phone, and produce clean water.
Generating electricty from urine
(6 upvotes)Can we generate electricity from urine?
(6 upvotes)Wow! These Dutch students designed a sleek-looking RV completely powered by solar energy!
This small, solar-powered city car is perfect for green urban centre initiatives.
https://news.yahoo.com/solar-powered-city-car-coming-101500074.html?
Solar-powered cars are becoming increasingly popular in Europe, and you can expect to see several of them on the roads in coming years.
This futuristic-looking solar-powered electric vehicle might be on the roads soon.
https://www.tomorrowsworldtoday.com/production/worlds-first-solar-powered-ev-could-hit-the-streets-soon/
Solar-powered electric cars are the future of sustainable transportation; they are greener and have zero greenhouse emissions, unlike other electric vehicles.
Wind energy farms are another excellent idea for green energy production in the polar regions.
Check this out: Norway has installed a solar power plant in one of the Arctic’s most remote regions.
https://www.euronews.com/green/2023/09/19/solar-panels-installed-in-remote-arctic-community-to-power-green-energy-transition
The polar environment might seem like an unlikely place to install solar farms, but it is actually perfect for solar energy production.
It might be challenging, but large scale solar farms are very much a possibility in the polar regions.
It is a great idea, but you would have to overcome a number of challenges like the endless hours of darkness in some seasons.
Solar energy can make a huge difference in the polar regions, especially in remote communities or research facilities.
Check this out: nitrogen generators are also used in wind turbines to increase their efficiency, leading to more cleaner energy.
https://www.onsitegas.com/blog/nitrogen-for-renewable-energy/
Check out this air conditioner that is powered by liquid nitrogen alone – without the need of electrcity or batteries.
Scientists have also discovered a way to generate green energy from ammonia.
I came across this patent for generating electricity from the energy that is produced as liquid nitrogen expands.
https://patents.google.com/patent/EP1929197A2/en
Check out this battery that produces energy from atmospheric energy!
https://www.asianscientist.com/2017/04/tech/nitrogen-battery-renewable-energy/
This NASA technology that can turn CO2 into fuel using solar power is the ultimate solution to sustainable energy.
https://technology.nasa.gov/patent/TOP2-160
It looks like companies are already commercialising this technology. There’s a company that is turning CO2 into green jet fuel.
This catalyst can make fuel from sunlight and CO2 in the air!
https://www.science.org/content/article/cheap-catalysts-turn-sunlight-and-carbon-dioxide-fuel
Check this out: researchers at MIT and Havard have discovered a way to make fuel from captured carbon dioxide.
https://news.mit.edu/2023/engineers-develop-efficient-fuel-process-carbon-dioxide-1030
Turning CO2 into fuel and other useful products can provide a lasting solution to global warming and climate change crisis.
In developing countries, school food waste can provide cheap and much-needed clean energy.
Food waste from schools and other institutions can run commercial power plants, like this electricity facility in Japan.
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20230412/p2a/00m/0sc/021000c
A few schools have set up systems for converting food waste into bioenergy.
This project has middle and high school students collecting food waste that is then turned into biogas energy and fertilizers. Talk about shaping the next generation.
https://researchoutreach.org/articles/food-waste-energy-project-based-school-learning-experience/
Check this out! School cafeterias produce about 40 pounds of food waste annually per student. That’s a lot of raw materials for clean and sustainable bioenergy.
https://hhsjournalism.com/opinion/review/2023/02/02/school-cafeterias-how-much-waste-do-school-cafeterias-really-produce/
Besides the maritime industry, solar sails can also be a revolutionary technology for space travel.
How about these traditional sails that have been fully integrated with solar panels!
https://www.hallberg-rassy.com/news/news/solar-panel-sails-2021-04
These futuristic rigid solar sails are making the shipping industry greener!
https://futurism.com/new-ship-rigid-solar-sails-harnesses-power-sun-wind-same-time
Solar sails can be the maritime industry’s future; they harness wind and solar power!
You can use this tutorial to build your own DIY solar water heater!
Here’s a compact solar water heater that would be perfect for remote areas.
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/stories-60617154
Check out this portable solar water heater shower from Amazon!
It’s a novel idea, but wont the water harm the panels, especially in the seas and oceans?
We need more floating solar plants like this one in Chile.
https://www.freshplaza.com/africa/article/9578440/verfrut-installs-the-largest-floating-solar-plant-in-the-southern-cone-at-its-biggest-farm-in-chile/
Floating solar farms in the seas, oceans, and lakes could produce unlimited clean energy to power the world.
Installing solar panels on water bodies can help produce more green energy without using too much land space.
Algae looks like a more promising (and eco-friendly) source for bioenergy.
https://phys.org/news/2023-04-cultivate-microalgae-biofuel-production.html
Biofuels from crops are not eco-friendly; they only put pressure on the agricultural industry and food production.
Biofuels can be a major resource in the developing countries.
https://african.business/2022/11/energy-resources/africa-faces-challenges-in-developing-bioenergy
The maritime industry is another sector that can significantly benefit from eco-friendly biofuels.
Several airlines are switching to biofuels made from corn to reduce their carbon emmision.
Wind turbines can be an ideal solution for winter, but their efficiency could also be affected by ice, which can slow or stop them from spinning altogether.
The winter season has very strong winds that are perfect for wind energy generation!
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2015/01/30/the-wicked-winds-of-winter-and-what-drives-them/
You could also store energy in the water!
https://www.dw.com/en/swiss-water-battery-boosts-europes-energy-storage-plans/a-63923662
Underground energy storage balloons are the solution to ending environmental pollution by lithium batteries.
https://www.sauder.ubc.ca/news/using-underwater-balloons-store-energy
Besides waves, oceans and seas also have stronger winds that can be harvested to generate green energy.
Underwater turbines are the future of clean energy!
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/28/worlds-most-powerful-tidal-turbine-starts-to-export-power-to-grid-.html
Check out this wave energy harvesting device that can produce power continuously day and night!
Ocean and sea waves have so much potential energy, which can eliminate the need for nuclear and fossil fuel energy.
https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2017/02/14/tapping-into-ocean-power/
Solar roads are a great concept in theory, but they face many challenges that make them less efficient than regular solar panels.
China also tried something similar a few years back with a solar highway.
It has been done. The Netherlands has a bicycle path made of solar panels.
Here’s an even cooler idea – use the energy harvested from the deserts to turn them into green spaces where you can grow crops.
Deserts are also very windy and can produce a lot of wind energy.
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-jul-27-la-fi-windfarm-20100727-story.html
We should have solar energy plants in every desert in the world!
The idea sounds great, but how safe is it? Besides increasing the amount of space junk, could beaming energy to earth be dangerous?
Space-based solar energy stations might be closer to reality than we think! Various countries around the world are already investing in such projects.
While a great idea in theory, there are many technical challenges involved, top among them being the cost of launching the solar farms into orbit.
Besides offering unlimited energy that can be harvested day and night, space solar farms can also lead to significant reduction in carbon emissions.
Space-based solar energy has a lot of potential, and could be the solution to the ever-growing demand for energy in the world.
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-62636746
Besides sand, salt is another great alternative to lithium-ion batteries. And the best part, both materials are available in plenty, and can be harvested with minimal harm to the environment!
Sand batteries are the energy industry’s future, especially if paired with other green energies such as solar power.
Sand has the potential to be one of the most eco-friendly energy storage mediums.
Here’s one from Amazon that can be pretty hardy in emmergency situations.
Dynamos might be an old technology, but they are very effective when everything else fails, making them perfect for emergency radio communication.
Perhaps the aviation industry can adopt other green alternatives, such as renewable fuel.
While using solar energy for air travel is a great idea, many challenges currently exist that make the technology too expensive or downright unfeasible.
https://www.vox.com/2016/5/6/11569202/aviation-emissions-solar-plane
Solar energy is becoming a huge deal that even militaries are considering deploying it in spy planes and UAVs.
Solar energy is a promising technology in air travel, and there have been considerable achievements in the past few years.
Wow! Check out these bio panels that can generate electricity using algae. This is the future of green energy!
Algae has so many benefits which reach far beyond renewable energy.
You can’t get any greener than algae when it comes to gree energy!
There are more green options for the maritime industry besides wind, such as liquid natural gas, electricity, liquid hydrogen, methanol, and solar power.
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/27/how-ocean-shipping-goes-green-from-wind-power-to-liquid-hydrogen.html
There are wind turbines that can turn your traditional boat green with a few modifications
Wind power might be the only viable solution to making the maritime industry green and reducing greenhouse emissions.
Before the advent of carbon-based fuels, people used winds to sail across the world, so why not continue using them?
These wireless, solar-powered CCTV cameras from Amazon are an excellent choice for home security systems.
Excellent idea. Here’s an entirely off-grid home security system that is powered by solar.
Here’s a solar-powered CCTV camera with remote viewing and management!
Here’s a perfect tent if you prefer to camp in luxury.
Here’s a solar-powered tent designed for homeless people. Could also come in handy when camping at festivals or in the wild.
Check out this futuristic solar-powered tent concept inspired by festival camping needs.
You can produce electricity from tap water using this micro hydroelectric turbine.
Here is a plug-and-play portable hydro generator that you can deploy anywhere in the world.
Check out this mini hydro turbine! Free electricity even with slow-moving water!
A simple but excellent idea that can transform a community, especially in rural areas.
Here’s a must have backpack when you are hiking in remote areas
These solar backpacks are lighting up homes in rural areas with no electricity, allowing students to study comfortably https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uSkhZtc_Y0
A cool and excellent solution for charging your devices when travelling.
Here’s a solar skylight that lets in natural light while also generating electricity https://www.onyxsolar.com/product-services/photovoltaic-glass-solutions/pv-skylight
Solar roof tiles are another excellent idea for generating free electricity through your building
Sounds too good to be true, but could completely revolutionize the energy industry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYyvj2SNthE
A breakthrough in transparent solar panel technology could mean the ability to harvest solar energy from any glass surface!