Archive for the 'Renewables' Category

American Utilities: Hot for the Smart Grid and Warming to Renewable Energy

blog grid American Utilities: Hot for the Smart Grid and Warming to Renewable EnergyA new survey of American utility companies offers some very revealing information about the U.S. energy industry and renewable energy.  Black & Veatech, a construction and engineering company focused on energy and water infrastructure has published its annual “Strategic Directions in the Electric Utility Industry Survey.”  Their research shows that for the second year in a row capital spending on electric grid infrastructure by utilities has dropped — this has not happened since the days of the Great Depression in the 1930s.

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Voonami, Inc. Opens a Super Green Data Center

blog voonami 300x203 Voonami, Inc. Opens a Super Green Data CenterVoonami, Inc. has unveiled one of the most energy efficient data centers in the United States.  Voonami says its new giant data center will reduce energy costs by 80% compared to other data centers making it the greenest in the state of Utah, and one that will rival Google’s most efficient data centers.

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Feingold-Ensign Bill May Be a Windfall for Renewable Energy Businesses

blog capital Feingold Ensign Bill May Be a Windfall for Renewable Energy BusinessesProposed legislation in the U.S. Senate may help the renewables sector.  U.S. Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI) and John Ensign (R-NV) have introduced renewable energy legislation that could be a boon for businesses that produce renewable energy technologies, lead to green job creation, and help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.

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Need For Clean Energy Policy Still Strong

blog cleanenergy 300x201 Need For Clean Energy Policy Still StrongThose in the clean energy industry continue to play the waiting game in the policy arena.  The question remains as what type of, if any, energy and climate change legislation will be put into action in the US in 2010. I  put my own spin on things this week, heavily relying on EnergyBoom’s archives.  So, if you are trying to get caught up with what has been happening in the renewables game - join me as I venture through the dusty vaults of our past work.

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U.S. Department of Energy Reports on Environmental Effects of Hydropower

Future of Marine TechnologiesThe U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently released the Report to Congress on the Potential Environmental Effects of Marine and Hydrokinetic Energy Technologies.  This report analyzes the potential environmental effects of technologies that capture energy from waves, tides, ocean currents, the natural flow of water in rivers, and marine thermal gradients. Since such marine and hydrokinetic technologies are not widely used at this point, their environmental effects are not well documented.

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The End of Corn as Biofuel?

Next Generation BiofuelsUniversity of Central Florida Research Team Produces Cellulosic Ethanol from Orange Peels.  University of Central Florida professor Henry Daniell has developed a novel method of producing cellulosic ethanol from orange peels and other organic waste.

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Pepperbox Studio Makes Music Using Renewable Energy

Investing in Renewable Technologies: Wind, Solar, Geotherm, Hydro, BiomassSongwriter Kristina Stykos is making music in a unique way. Stykos is the owner, engineer and producer of a music recording studio located in rural Vermont.  The Pepperbox Studio is not your run-of-the-mill recording studio. Unlike traditional recording studios, Pepperbox Studio relies on alternative energy to record music. The off-the-grid studio, located on the top floor of the Stykos home, sits at the end of a dirt road about five miles from Chelsea and is nestled between pastures and the beautiful Green Mountains.

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Michigan’s Energy Giant Goes Green

Wind Power Report Detroit, Michigan, may be best known as the world’s automotive capital, but it’s also home to the state’s largest energy company, DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE).  When it comes to energy, DTE has been as traditional and they come. The company’s energy business is largely comprised of the utility operations of Detroit Edison and Michigan Consolidated Gas Company (MichCon).  Detroit Edison generates, purchases, distributes and sells electricity to about 2.2 million customers in southeastern Michigan, while MichCon buys, stores, transports and sells natural gas to some 1.2 million customers throughout the state.

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Bloom Box is the Rage, but is it Better than Solar?

Miniature Solar Cells Market PotentialWith Bloom Energy stealing all the clean energy headlines with its release of its fuel cell powered Bloom Box, Greentech Media has performed a comparison for potential consumers between fuel cells and solar power.

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Honda Unveils New Solar Hydrogen Station Prototype

Developing a Hydrogen Economy: Challenges and PotentialDue to the recent invention made by the automobile giant Honda, users of fuel cell electric vehicles can now expect a relief from refueling. Honda’s attempt has finally eliminated the requirement of a separate electrolyzer and compressor. This all-in-one system of Honda Solar Hydrogen station has both the electrolyzer and the compressor together, thus allowing accommodation of the complete system in a small home garage. The system can provide up to 0.5 kg of hydrogen over 8 hours. Further to the reduction in size, this new system is 25% more efficient as compared to its earlier versions.

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