Posted on March 11th, 2011 by axb
The structure may resemble a postmodern radio tower or perhaps the lair of a James Bond supervillain, but it’s actually designed to be a hydrogen power plant.
Hydra, named after a tubular freshwater creature, is listed as an honorable mention in this year’s eVolo Magazine Skyscraper Competition (see more winning designs here). Its creators hail from Serbia, and include Milos Vlastic, Vuk Djordjevic, Ana Lazovic, and Milica Stankovic.
The most remarkable aspect of this structure is its ability to harvest energy from lightning bolts, which is then stored in several huge batteries at the base.
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Filed under: Architectural, Environmental, e-News | 1 Comment »
Tags: Architectural, Energy, Environmental, renewable energy
Posted on February 1st, 2011 by axb
Every hour, the sun beams down more energy than the whole planet consumes in a year. Although solar cell technology has advanced considerably in recent years, many challenges related to reliably capturing and storing the sun’s energy still remain.
Sossina Haile, a professor of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering at CalTech, is developing a new approach to solar power. Using cerium oxide (or ceria), a metal most commonly found in self-cleaning ovens, Haile and her research team have created a prototype reactor that has the power to transform sunbeams into clean fuel.
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Filed under: Chemical, Environmental, Nuclear, e-News | 4 Comments »
Tags: Chemical, Energy, Environmental, Green Technology, Nuclear, renewable energy, Solar
Posted on October 6th, 2010 by axb
Americans of Hispanic descent have made notable contributions to science, engineering and technology. They include a 1968 Physics Nobel laureate, the current head of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and the first Latina astronaut, now Number 2 at NASA’s Johnson Space Flight Center. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15), here are the stories of a scientist and two engineers of Hispanic descent who have made a significant impact in their fields.
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Filed under: Aerospace, Environmental, e-News | Comment »
Tags: Aerospace, Energy, Environmental
Posted on September 22nd, 2010 by jxh
The Army is currently developing tanks that run on hydrogen fuel cells
The U.S. military often struggles – unsuccessfully – to supply enough batteries for troops’ equipment. GPS units and radios demand a lot of energy, so a sustainable source would be really beneficial.
That’s why the U.S. Army has created the Rucksack Enhanced Portable Power System (REPPS), which collects solar energy for the troops in Afghanistan, where there are high levels of sunlight.
The REPPS features a 62-watt, anti-glint solar panel blanket tucked into a backpack. Not only can the system recharge batteries in a matter of hours, it can also be hooked up to electronic devices, providing them with more power.
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Filed under: Electrical, Environmental, e-News | 1 Comment »
Tags: Electrical, Energy, Environmental, Green Technology, Military, renewable energy, Technology
Posted on September 20th, 2010 by axb
Installing solar panels on the roof of buildings has become very en vogue recently. But in a few years charging up your home might be cheaper and easier than ever.
The Norwegian company EnSol AS has developed a thin, transparent solar film that can be sprayed onto windows and other surfaces, rendering them able to absorb the sun’s energy just as efficiently as solar panels.
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Filed under: Chemical, Environmental, e-News | 2 Comments »
Tags: Chemical, Energy, Environmental, Nanotechnology, Solar
