• Category Archives: Alternative Energy

    UK tweaks gas pipeline network with turbines for renewable electricity

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    UK will soon boast of a turbine generated power but one that is generated underground. Excuse me if I have confused you but the fact is that by British engineers’ intend to place turbines in the thousands of gas pipes that zigzag their way beneath the country. The turbines will help to generate clean and renewable electricity from the natural gas, which is otherwise being wasted as it is created in the piping network. Developed by the geo-pressure clean energy company 2OC, the new geo-pressure technology will work by capturing the natural gas and decompressing it at hundreds of sites installed throughout the network known as letdown stations. Further, the decompression of the gas will propel a turbine to produce power that can be piped out to stations and homes. 2OC is collaborating with the National Grid, which owns most of the gas pipes in the UK, to install mini power stations at various locations.

    Posted in Alternative Energy on January 22, 2009
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    Green Energy Machine squeezes energy out of garbage

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    Instead of resorting to tap the nature for providing alternative energy, doesn’t it make sense to squeeze out energy from the trash that we generate? IST Energy’s Green Energy Machine (GEM) is just the right system to transform your building’s trash into electricity and heat. Though you may need a little extra space to house this shipping container-size contraption, it will certainly help to cut down on your electricity bills as well as trash disposable charges. Instead of burning the trash it uses gasification, a process that overall pollutes less than combustion. Spreading over almost three parking spaces, it is ideal for office buildings, hospitals, and the like. Except recyclable metal and glass, everything else like food, cardboard, plastics, agricultural wastes is churned to into usable energy. It is reported that with three tons of trash a day, a unit can provide about 120 kilowatts of electricity and about double that in heat for a 200,000 square-foot building holding about 500 people.

    Posted in Alternative Energy on January 22, 2009
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    A $30 million grant for the best innovative projects in wind and marine power in U.K.

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    U.K. government set up an energy research and development institute, dubbed Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) to bring about the green revolution. In an attempt to help the country to meet its future energy and climate targets, the institute boasts of a £1.1bn kitty that will be used to fund green engineering solutions. The first four projects to receive from this grant has just been announced. These projects will demonstrate new technologies which can deliver significant cost savings compared to current renewable energy sources. Of the four concepts, Project Nova aims to assess the feasibility of a unique wind turbine with a pair of giant vertical wings. Such a design scores over the traditional horizontal axis turbines with enhanced ruggedness, stability and easy maintenance. Since the government is committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% from 1990 levels by 2050 and likely to adopt an interim target of a 34% reduction by 2020, such colossal upright wings may be future power providers of U.K.

    Posted in Alternative Energy on January 19, 2009
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    Solvatten – Solar powered water purifier promises potable water to the needy

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    Being connected to the rest of the world via cell phones and internet isn’t on the top of the priority list of the residents of the third world countries. What matters most is an access to purified and potable water. Petra Wadström from Sweden has worked for more than a decade to shape up a device that helps to purify water with the rays of sun. Dubbed, Solvatten, this solar-powered water purifier can render up to 10 liters of clean water at one go. Designed to be uber user-friendly, it appears like a jerry can and simply needs to left out in the sun to deliver sun-cleaned water. A red and green indicating face lets the user know if the water is ready to be gulped. Tweaked to create temperature turbulence, this box-like gadget purifies the turbid water by filtrating disease causing macro-organisms with the UV rays.

    Posted in Alternative Energy on January 12, 2009
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    LG’s Solar and Wind powered Sky Charger at CES 2009

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    Yesterday we spoke about a solar powered Bluetooth speakerphone from LG and today it’s the Sky Charger that has bought LG back on Greenlaunches. Harnessing sun and wind’s energy, this colossal mobile phone charger is ideal for public gathering where almost 144 folks can add juice to their cell phones at one time. This tent like structure houses the same number of lockers with the relevant mobile chargers that are attached to the central generator. Simply get hold of one vacant locker, connect the handset and lock it back to return in an hour for an energetic cell phone. LG has been generously green by not limiting this service to LG handsets only. This pyramid shaped green mobile phone charger is certainly a boon for the visitors at the ongoing CES 2009.
    [ShinyShiny] [Omio]

    Posted in Alternative Energy, Other Stuff on January 10, 2009
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    Eco-toys – OWIKits rolls out 6-in-1 Solar Building Kit at CES 2009

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    CES 2009 isn’t all about biggest, largest, thinnest or smallest gadgets only. The fair also has space for the cutest and the greenest too. Take a break from weighty green news about technology and devices to play with the 6-in-1 Solar Building Kit by OWIKits. Presented at the current CES, this kit is a must for educating young generation as well the grown-up adults who are ignorant about the powers of solar energy. An array of solar-powered toys, like an airboat, a car, a walking puppy, a windmill or two different planes can be shaped out of the 21 parts of this kit. Affordably priced such green educational kits need to find a place in every kid’s play trunk.

    Posted in Alternative Energy on January 9, 2009
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    World’s smallest working fuel cell is full of green energy

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    Shrinking the size to the bare minimum and be tagged as the world’s smallest can ring in lots of recognition. And this fact holds true for the world’s smallest working fuel cell. Sized at 3 millimeters (across) by US chemical engineers, such an itsy-bitsy teeny-weeny fuel cell will generate more power than consuming it. Comprising of four components, a thin membrane separates a water reservoir above from a chamber containing metal hydride below. And underneath lays an assembly of electrodes that do the needful. Measuring just 9 mm3, it is the surface tension and not gravity that controls the flow of water through the system. Such an arrangement is ideal for powering on-the-move gadgets.

    Posted in Alternative Energy on January 8, 2009
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    Solar and wind powered house concept rocks

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    We have penned down about many realistic solar power towns and communities that boast of solar-panels fitted on almost all the residential and official structures. But this solar and wind powered house concept reminds you of a Stone Age structure but with a green roof. Designed by Andreas Angelidakis, this New Menir house stands out for its floral shaped umbrella on its roof. This green add-on plays a dual role of energizing the rock-shaped house with solar power as well as wind power. During the day the umbrella shelters the house from the harsh rays of the sun and at the same time absorbs the solar rays to power up the setup. When the sun shies down, this umbrella collapses in to a wind turbine that energies the house through the night. A smart green set up for a clean green future!

    Posted in Alternative Energy on January 8, 2009
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    A solar power system will energize the Grand Canyon Visitor Center

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    If bitten by green bug, along with the travel bug, then solar powered Grand Canyon Visitor Center is the place to hitch the next flight to. A powerful and inspiring landscape, the Grand Canyon overwhelms our senses through its immense size. And now we have a green reason to marvel about this majestic location. The Grand Canyon Visitor Center near the South Rim is getting a solar-power system which will enlighten at least 1 million visitors per year about the benefits of sun’s energy. An $185,000 grant by the Arizona Public Service Co. will help to raise three ground-based solar-panel platforms and a digital readout to show how much electricity is being generated, it will also explain about the working of the system. More solar panels will find their way on to the roof. The 18-kilowatt system is large enough to generate about 30 percent of the center’s annual electricity and save $2,500 annually.
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    Posted in Alternative Energy on January 6, 2009
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    American Flag is illuminated by solar powered light

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    Very few are aware that the United States Colors of the American flag should be properly illuminated, when left up overnight. And here is a green way to light up the red and blue flag! Franklin, a small town in U.S., flaunts of a flag that is lit by solar powered light. Army Airborne veteran and DPW Director Brutus Cantoreggi is the person behind this progress. The townies take pride in following the protocol and honoring the country as well as the veterans who served under the flag. The solar-powered spotlight will save the town at least a few hundred dollars a year. Energy is stored in a battery, which the spotlight draws upon at night to illuminate the flag. The green light source for the American flag wouldn’t have been possible without the $6,000 grant from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative.
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    Posted in Alternative Energy on January 5, 2009
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