Author: Green Tech

Indiana University researchers use carbon in the form of graphene to develop inexpensive solar cells. Their research will continue to refine the prototypes focusing on the cell efficiency. …

… “Li and his collaborators tried a different idea. By attaching a semi-rigid, semi-flexible, three-dimensional sidegroup to the sides of the graphene, they were able to keep graphene sheets as big as 168 carbon atoms from adhering to one another. With this method, they could make the graphene sheets from smaller molecules (bottom-up) so that they are uniform in size. To the scientists’ knowledge, it is the biggest stable graphene sheet ever made with the bottom-up approach. ” …

Via Indiana University: Carbon-based solar cell

Solar Cell Chemistry Research: “For this aspect of our research, concepts developed in supramolecular chemistry will be used to direct nanocrystal interactions and their consequent assembly. ”

DC Metro bus runs on natural gas near Dupont Circle turning onto New Hampshire Ave.

Natural gas transit buses (PDF).

Heat storage technology has potential to significantly impact climate change.  The Dutch are seen as leaders in this space.  …

… "Dutch are currently the leaders in the creative deployment of heat storage methods. They store heat underneath roads in the summer and then pump it out again in the winter. And in my talk I mentioned a community in Canada called Drake’s Landing, where they have a community heat storage which collects heat from solar hot water panels … " …

Via MIT: Renewable Energy Leaders

Reference:

Seasonal Heat Storage.

Dream jobs has a green winner …

… “Most Green – Dina … Global Paper Waste Reduction Agent ” …

Via Simply Hired Blog: Winners of Dream Job Contest

Creativity and new thinking is needed to drive innovation in the renewable energy space. …

… “He has also designed solar panels on top of cars and umbrellas, all things that he said are possible and can benefit the world. He urged students to use lateral thinking, a re-imagined creation of almost anything, as a means to solve traditional problems with a nontraditional approach. ” …

Via The Pendulum, Elon University: Think laterally, fantastically

Green city list via HowStuffWorks. Includes US and European cities that are embracing green lifestyles, renewable energy, and energy efficiency.

Pearl Jam partners with Cascade Land Conservancy to plant thirty-plus acres of native trees and plants in communities around Puget Sound to offset the carbon footprint of its world tour. …

… “Pearl Jam’s donation of $210,000 will fund the urban forestry project and mitigate more than 7,000 metric tons of carbon. Conservation International chief adviser, climate and water, Michael Totten estimates Pearl Jam’s actual carbon emissions from its 32-date 2009 tour to be 5,474 metric tons of CO2. The band will also track, calculate and mitigate its carbon for their current 2010 tour. ” …

Via Cascade Land Conservancy: Pearl Jam Mitigates CO2 from World Tour

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• Pearl Jam Mitigates CO2 footprint: “PEARL JAM TOUR CARBON CALCULATION: Pearl Jam’s 2009 carbon emissions were calculated by Michael Totten chief adviser, climate and water for Conservation International, a nonprofit that works with businesses and governments to ensure that sustainable practices are undertaken that preserve biodiversity and reduce climate change. “
• Via Puget Sound Business Journal: Pearl Jam plants trees around Puget Sound: “The band created more than 5,400 metric tons of carbon emissions on its 32-date, 2009 tour, according to estimates.”
• Via Seattle Post Intelligencer: Pearl Jam to offset carbon emissions: “Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard said Monday that the band views the offset as a cost of doing business. “
• Via Boston Globe: Pearl Jam plants trees to offset emissions: “The band, which will perform in Boston in May, also plans to offset whatever emissions its current tour generates. “
• Via Reuters: Pearl Jam guitarist on climate: “It will store Pearl Jam’s carbon, make cities more livable and show citizens how to be good stewards,’ said Gene Duvernoy, head of the Cascade Land Conservancy managing the project. “

Pearl Jam on Carbon Offset: “Pearl Jam has used its influence to affect change locally and internationally through direct involvement in many environmental and socially conscious issues. ”

The largest solar boat launches in Germany. …

… “solar-powered boat made a gentle plop as it was lowered by a huge crane on to the waters of the Kiel firth in northern Germany today … ” …

Via Guardian: Solar-powered boat Türanor

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at SUNY Oswego to build awareness among the student body and community. …

… “The first Sustainability Fair on April 21 will offer campus and community members a chance to see and test drive a fuel cell vehicle and view an electric sports car, a wood-to-gas truck, a Smart car and hybrids. Visitors will meet vendors of green products and services, from organic farming and gardening to solar and other energy contracting to ecofriendly cleaning and more. ” …

Via SUNY Oswego: Earth Week Events

Ford teams up with Microsoft to integrate the Hohm energy management system into its future electric vehicle products. Electric vehicle owners will benefit from information provided through Hohm and be enabled in their transition to this type of transportation. …

… “The two companies are teaming up to implement the Microsoft Hohm energy management application for Ford’s electric vehicles. Ford is the first automaker announcing the use of Hohm, starting with the Focus Electric next year. Hohm will help owners determine when and how to most efficiently and affordably recharge battery electric (BEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles. It also should help utility companies manage the added demands of electric vehicles on the electric grid. ” …

Via Ford: Microsoft Hohm as platform for Ford’s electric vehicles

Princeton researchers see role for plastic electronics to reduce cost of solar cells in future. …

… "By allowing plastic solar cells to be manufactured using low-cost printing techniques and by replacing ITO as the primary conducting material, the plastics the team developed hold potential for lowering the cost of solar panels. Currently, the electricity generated by plastic solar cells is collected by a transparent metal conductor made of ITO. The conductor must be transparent so that sunlight can pass through it to the materials in solar cells that absorb the light energy. " …

Via Princeton University: Plastic electronics integrated into solar panels

Arizona State University and the University of Tokyo, Japan will partner on collaborative research to advance solar energy technology. The partnership is planned for three years and will involve collaboration on research, education, symposia, and talent. …

… “The University of Tokyo is rated by the Global University Ranking organization and others as one the leading universities and research institutions in Asia, and it is the leading solar-energy research institution in Japan. ” …

Via Arizona State University: Solar energy technology research

• University of Tokyo: Hashimoto Lab Organic Solar Cell Research: “Organic photovoltaic devices are drawing much attention these days because of their potentialsSchematic imgage of bulk heterojuction solar cells for the production of flexible and large-area solar cells at dramatically low costs. “
• University of Tokyo: Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Systems Solar Research: “Our aim is to develop innovative photovoltaic technologies on high-efficiency solar cells and materials.”
• University of Tokyo, Hashimoto Lab: Polymer Solar Cell Research: “The structure of the polymer solar cells is very simple. The organic materials were sandwiched between two electrodes (at least one of them must be transparent to allow the sun light reach to the organic layer). “

Kaiser Permanente collaborates with Recurrent Energy to implement fifteen megawatts of solar power at fifteen California facilities by 2011. …

… “Installing solar panels on Kaiser Permanente hospitals, medical offices, and other buildings is the first part of a larger plan to use onsite renewable energy sources to power Kaiser Permanente’s buildings nationwide. A focus on renewable energy sources is just one aspect of the organization’s industry-leading work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce the use of harmful chemicals, and promote sustainable food choices. ” …

Via Kaiser Permanente: California Facilities Solar Power

• Recurrent Energy Kaiser Permanente Solar: “Several projects are underway and all sites are expected to be completed by the summer of 2011. “

City of Auburn wastewater treatment plant will be fully powered by a 680 kilowatt solar power system, installed by Pacific Power Management. …

… “The new photovoltaic system will consist of more than 3,300 panels that will be installed on single-axis ground mount trackers at the plant. The city entered into a 20 year contract and will buy power from PPM, as if PPM were a utility company. The city won’t pay for the installation of the panels. ” …

Via Pacific Power Management: Auburn California Wastewater Treatment Plant Solar Power

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• City of Auburn, Wastewater Treatment Plant, Placer County: “The Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), which serves the community, is located to the southwest of Auburn and discharges to Auburn Ravine. The treatment plant currently serves a population of approximately 13,000. “
• City of Auburn Sewer Services: “The City of Auburn owns its own wastewater treatment and collection system, which serves the municipal boundaries of the city. Operation and maintenance of the wastewater treatment and collection system is performed under contract by Operations Management International (OMI). “

Chevron Technology Ventures’ Project Brightfield will leverage AboundSolar photovoltaics to pilot commercial scale ground mount installation. …

… “The ground-mount facility built on land in Bakersfield, CA formerly occupied by a refinery, has a nameplate capacity of 190kW and is projected to produce more than 300 MWh per year. The array of Abound Solar’s AB1 modules comprises one of the largest components of Chevron’s Project Brightfield, a test facility to compare the performance of multiple emerging solar technology products. ” …

Via Abound Solar: 190kW Photovoltaic Installation

• Chevron Project Brightfield video.
• Chevron Technology Ventures: “Chevron Technology Ventures (CTV) helps Chevron embrace emerging technologies to create new commercial opportunities, reduce costs and improve performance. “
• Chevron tests Solar Technologies via NYT Green Inc. Blog: “test bed for seven advanced photovoltaic solar technologies … “

Insights into the Spanish solar power tower …

… “the tower has 624 heliostats, or giant mirrors, which reflect the sun’s rays into a receiver at the top of the tower. The receiver is similar to giant boiler, creating steam … ” …

Via BYU-Hawaii: Power Tower in Spain

Stadtwerke Erding implements GE smart grid technology to enable homeowners in Germany to become more aware of their energy consumption and efficiency impacts. …

… “The smart meters are connected to a central office for analysis and planning via a data concentrator, providing data to optimize usage efficiency and minimizing waste. Benchmarking data from last year will contribute to emissions and efficiency programs in 2010 and beyond. ” …

Via Yahoo! Finance: Smart Grid Technology in Germany

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University of Minnesota Solar Decathlon entry, the ICON house, is coming up for sale. …

… “The 550-square-foot home, which took fifth place overall (out of 20 teams) in October’s Solar Decathlon (a DOE-sponsored contest that challenges universities from around the globe to design and construct the most efficient and appealing sun-powered dwelling), is known as the ICON Solar House due to its classic gabled roof design.

It was designed and built by a consortium of professionals and students in the U of M’s Institute of Technology, College of Design and College of Continuing Education. Minimum bid on the house will be $200,000. ” …

Via University of Minnesota: Solar house available for purchase

The ICON house deploys LED lighting, graywater recycling for drip irrigation, and natural light daylighting.