• Category Archives: Alternative Energy

    Renault unveils the automotive world’s biggest solar-powered vehicle canopy


    French automaker Renault has come up with a fabulously green way to shelter the cars that roll out of its assembly lines. The company has recently installed a canopy soaked through with solar panels that has been termed as “the world’s largest photovoltaic system in the auto industry”. The canopy generates green energy and also shelters the company’s cars beneath. Six of Renault’s production sites including Douai, Maubeuge, Flins, Batilly, Sandouville and Cléon will make use of these systems covering 40 hectares or 400,000 square meters in all.

    Posted in Alternative Energy on November 8, 2012
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    The world’s largest wind-farm, the London Array, begins operations!


    The world’s largest wind-farm, the London Array has finally begun generating energy. Located in the Thames Estuary, the project will be worth 630 MW when completed. Currently, just 15 of the total 175 turbines have been installed, with the rest being set up. The remaining turbines are expected to be constructed by the end of this year.

    Posted in Alternative Energy on November 6, 2012
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    Tokelau, the world’s first country powered completely by the sun!


    Nestled in the South Pacific lies a paradise-on-earth, called Tokelau. In essence a group of islands, this beautiful country has now been crowned as the world’s first nation to go 100% solar-powered! Using a one megawatt array spread across three atolls, Tokelau is capable of powering 1,400 residents’ lives with renewable energy, generating enough power to satisfy 150% of their electricity needs!

    Posted in Alternative Energy on November 2, 2012
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    Siemens begins testing 6MW offshore wind turbine sporting the world’s largest rotor blades


    Siemens has just pulled the veil off its new 6MW offshore wind turbine in Østerild, Denmark and has begun field testing the system. Sporting the world’s largest rotor blades, this turbine has a rotor diameter of 154 metres and can generate nearly 25m kilowatt hours of electricity! Simply put, this direct-drive wind turbine can power up nearly 6,000 homes and will bring to the wind energy industry a new benchmark. Weighing in at 200 tonnes, this 6MW turbine is also the lightest in its class and has been built keeping offshore weather conditions in mind. A technological breakthrough to be precise, this 6MW offshore wind turbine is bound to find many takers across the globe.

    Posted in Alternative Energy, Featured on October 10, 2012
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    Warrant Buffet’s MidAmerican purchases two wind-farms capable of generating 300 megawatts!


    American business magnate, investor, and philanthropist better known as the “Wizard of Omaha”, Warren Buffet has now shown his greener side. The billionaire’s Berkshire Hathaway’s subsidiary, MidAmerican, has recently purchased to massive wind farms in California. Generating a total of 300 megawatts of electricity, these wind farms will be part of the Wind Energy Center located in Tehachapi. The energy generated will be sold to Southern California Edison as part of a long-term power purchase agreement. That apart, the project is expected to generate just about enough energy to power up nearly 80,000 American homes. Also, the move could help Warren Buffet offset the pollution his coal trains have been spewing in the environment!

    Posted in Alternative Energy on October 4, 2012
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    V3Solar Spin Cell generates 20 times more energy than conventional solar panels


    As technology progresses, solar power harvesting systems are quickly receiving long-awaited upgrades. Recently, we stumbled across this revolutionary new solar energy harvester called the V3Solar Spin Cell. Developed by V3Solar, this cone-shaped apparatus is capable of generating roughly about 20 times more energy than the traditional flat solar panel. Using concentrating lenses, dynamic spin, a conical shape and advanced electronics, the V3Solar Spin Cell sports two cones, one of which uses hundreds of triangular PV cells. The outer cone works as a static hermetically-sealed outer lens concentrator.

    With a 56% angle, the V3Solar Spin Cell is capable of generating more energy from the rays of the sun than its peers, making it the next best way to power up the world today.

    [gizmag]

    Posted in Alternative Energy on October 2, 2012
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    Velopresso, the pedal-powered mobile coffee-store


    Looking to grab a quick cup of coffee on the go? Well, the next time you find it difficult to spot a coffee-shop, simply look around for the Velopresso. A coffee-store-on-wheels, this one was designed by Royal College of Art graduates Amos Field Reid and Lasse Oiva. In essence a pedal-powered cart, the Velopresso uses an old tricycle frame while the gears are alternatively used to propel the cart or work the coffee grinder! Using a small gas canister to boil water when needed, the Velopresso works as a low-carbon and low-energy business solution. Also, the designer duo is currently working on a system to recycle the coffee grinds into ethanol, which in turn could be used to create energy!

    [inhabitat]

    Posted in Alternative Energy on September 25, 2012
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    Bath gets solar-powered waste-compressing street bins


    The City of Bath now plays home to a spectacular way to dispose of trash. Powered by solar energy, these 26 bins installed around the city are an upgraded version of the conventional street bin and compress waste thrown inside making it all easier to dispose later. Using two volume sensors that trigger a compactor when the waste reaches a particular level inside, this solar-powered trash can also makes waste-collection less-frequent and more meticulous. Priced at a £1,000 each, these solar powered bins are expected to help the Bath and North East Somerset Council save nearly £30,000 a year and will soon turn cost-neutral.

    Posted in Alternative Energy on September 11, 2012
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    Salt-water-powered LED lamp charges USB devices too!


    Lighting up living spaces in areas away from grid connections, particularly in under-development regions isn’t all that easy and at times, using renewable energy sources to do the same proves beneficial. Take this LED lamp for instance. Extremely green and cleverly designed, this one’s developed by Green House Co Ltd. and functions on a mix of water and salt! The GH-LED10WBW works perfectly fine with 350ml of saline water containing 16g of salt, which then works as an electrolyte with the lamp making use of a magnesium (Mg) rod (negative electrode) and a carbon rod (positive electrode). With a luminous flux of 55lm, the lamp can be used for up to 120 hours before the magnesium rod requires replacement. And that’s not all. The energy generated from the saline solution can also be used to juice up USB devices with the lamp packing a USB port for the same!

    Posted in Alternative Energy on September 5, 2012
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    China’s wind-energy industry grows 96% in six years, surpassing US


    China has on previous account been pulled up for constantly pumping dreadful emissions in the air and has taken up the cause to go green. The country seems to have lived up to its word, surprising the world with its continual wind-power growth. Growing from 2,000 megawatts to 52,580 megawatts in just six years time, the country has managed to surpass the United States and is currently drawing plans to reach a whopping 200,000 megawatts by 2020! Statically, China’s wind energy industry has grown nearly 96%, enough to make similarly-prosperous countries around the globe go red-faced. We applaud the effort put in by the Chinese authorities and hope to see this far-eastern land known for creating some of the best in technology go greener by the day, inspiring us all towards a better future.

    Posted in Alternative Energy on September 3, 2012
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