king – Page 7 – Alternative Energies

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berlin
January 4, 2016
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Scientists demonstrate how to improve ultrathin CIGSe solar cells by nanoparticles

CIGSe solar cells are made of a thin chalcopyrite layer consisting of copper, indium, gallium and selenium and can reach high efficiencies. Since indium is becoming scarce and expensive, it is interesting to reduce the active CIGSe layer, which however decreases the efficiency quite strongly. Now, scientists have produced high quality ultrathin CIGSe layers and increased their efficiency by an array of tiny nanoparticles between the back contact and the active layer.

Clive Thompson
california
climate & energy
January 4, 2016
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No parking? Self-driving cars could have a huge effect on our cities

This story was originally published by Mother Jones and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. If you drive out to visit Disney’s Epcot center in Orlando, Fla., you will arrive at one of the biggest parking lots in America. With room for 12,000 cars, it sprawls out over 7 million square feet — about the size of 122 football fields. If you look at the lot on Google Maps, you realize that it’s nearly the size of Epcot center itself. Disney built one Epcot to hold the visitors. Then it built another to hold the cars. Disney isn’t alone in its expansive approach to parking. Parking is, after all, what cars do most of the time: The average automobile spends 95 percent of its…

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Alternative
countries
January 4, 2016
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Matched ‘hybrid’ systems may hold key to wider use of renewable energy

The use of renewable energy in the United States could take a significant leap forward with improved storage technologies or more efforts to ‘match’ different forms of alternative energy systems that provide an overall more steady flow of electricity, researchers say in a new report.

Rebecca Leber
cities
climate
January 3, 2016
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The EPA’s role in Flint’s water crisis

This story was originally published by The New Republic and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder in recent weeks has come under intense pressure over the water crisis in Flint, Mich., which was precipitated two years ago when his administration, in an effort to cut costs, changed the city’s water supply from Lake Huron to the Flint River. The move led to a dangerous increase in lead in the water supply; just 5 parts per billion is cause for concern, especially for children, but Flint’s tap water has had five times that amount. And yet, officials insisted until late last fall that the water was safe for its 100,000 residents to drink. In response to a public outcry, Snyder has released…

AENews
bridge
company
January 3, 2016
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Brooklyn Bridge Park: Greenest Destination in New York City

Energy Politics | Environment and Sustainability | Solar PowerNew York City’s Brooklyn Bridge Park is getting even greener with the addition of a solar powered electric vehicle (EV) charging station – the first of its kind in New York City. Brooklyn Bridge Park has already added a number of green areas with lush grass, making it a great spot for both locals and […]

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california
chemistry
January 2, 2016
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‘Nano-reactor’ created for the production of hydrogen biofuel

A highly efficient biomaterial has been created that catalyzes the formation of hydrogen — one half of the ‘holy grail’ of splitting water to make hydrogen and oxygen for fueling cheap and efficient cars that run on water.

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general
institute
December 31, 2015
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Nano-mechanical study offers new assessment of silicon for next-gen batteries

A detailed nano-mechanical study of mechanical degradation processes in silicon structures containing varying levels of lithium ions offers good news for researchers attempting to develop reliable next-generation rechargeable batteries using silicon-based electrodes.