ScienceDaily: Renewable Energy News

Mandate For Biofuels Production Requires Science-based Policy And Global Perspective

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT
In his State of the Union Address on Jan. 23, 2007, President Bush stated that, in order to substantially lower foreign oil imports, "We must increase the supply of alternative fuels, by setting a mandatory fuels standard to require 35 billion gallons of renewable and alternative fuels in 2017."

Global Warming Fix? Carbon Dioxide Captured Directly From Air With Simple Machine

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:00:00 EDT
An energy and environmental system expert has shown it is possible to reduce carbon dioxide -- the main greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming -- using a relatively simple machine that can capture the trace amount of carbon dioxide present in the air at any place on the planet. The technology could dramatically reduce emissions from transportation.

New European Record Efficiency For Solar Cells Achieved: 39.7%

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EDT
At 39.7% efficiency for a multi-junction solar cell, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems have exceeded their own European record of 37.6% which they achieved just a short time ago. III-V semiconductor multi-junction solar cells are used in photovoltaic concentrator technology for solar power stations.

Deactivating Radioactive Waste In Hundreds, Not Millions, Of Years

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 05:00:00 EDT
It may be possible to dramatically reduce the radioactive waste isolation time -- from several million years to as little as 300 - 500 years. In order to decrease the isolation time for radioactive waste, first of all, the actinides - elements whose nuclei are heavier than uranium (i.e. curium, actinium) - must be removed from the waste by processing (transmutation) into short-lived nuclei.

Breakthrough In Energy Storage: New Carbon Material Shows Promise Of Storing Large Quantities Of Renewable Electrical Energy

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:00:00 EDT
Engineers and scientists have achieved a breakthrough in the use of a one-atom thick structure called "graphene" as a new carbon-based material for storing electrical charge in ultracapacitor devices, perhaps paving the way for the massive installation of renewable energies such as wind and solar power.

New Rechargeable Lithium Batteries Could Jump-start Hybrid Electric Car Efficiency

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EDT
Researchers are helping to develop new rechargeable batteries that could improve hybrid electric cars in the future. For hybrid cars, new materials are crucial to make the batteries lighter, safer and more efficient in storing energy.

Compost Heap Bacteria Could Provide 10% Of UK Transport Fuel Needs

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 05:00:00 EDT
Bacteria found in compost heaps able to convert waste plant fiber into ethanol could eventually provide up 10% of the UK's transport fuel needs, according to new research.