Tag Archives: technology
New Battery Can Store Solar and Wind Energy
Scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University have developed a relatively cheap, long-life “flow” battery that can be used to mitigate power fluctuations from solar and wind energy plants, therefore enabling them to become major suppliers to the electrical grid. The research, led by Yi Cui, a [...]
BMW and SOLARWATT Team on EV+PV Systems
Looking at BMW’s highly anticipated i line of flashy electric vehicles (EVs), you’d likely think to yourself that the future is now, or, “didn’t I see that vehicle in a sci-fi movie?” BMW hasn’t started selling the EVs yet, they’re expected to hit the market towards the end of 2013. But the company has been [...]
IBM’s Next Generation Solar Array
The company sometimes called itty bitty machines, IBM, which revolutionized the personal computer, is bringing its technological knowhow to solar through a new partnership with Airlight Energy, ETH Zurich and Interstate University of Applied Sciences Buchs NTB. The group recently won a three-year, $2.4 million grant from the Swiss Commission for Technology and Innovation to [...]
In Focus: Futuristic Green Energies
The Time Lists has released its ‘Top 20 Green Tech Ideas’, and what a list it is. At Decipher CM, we’ve picked our Top 5 favourite futuristic green energies to share with the new breed of technological hippies out there. 1. Biofuels One of the ‘green industries’ best kept secrets is biofuels. This includes products [...]
NREL Gets 2nd Solar Canopy
The U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) now has a second Envision Solar International Solar Tree array at its Vehicle Testing and Integration Facility. Envision completed the installation of the solar EV charging canopy at NREL’s Golden, Colo. facility in mid-April. “I’m proud that we have been chosen again by NREL. They are delighted the [...]
Solar-Powered Wi-Fi is Here
Our current centralized energy and financial systems often fail the poor. In order to meet the energy needs of people in less developed countries in a sustainable way, a distributed energy framework is necessary. Already we’re seeing entrepreneurs making this vision reality by leveraging off-grid mobile phone penetration to deliver distributed clean energy access. Now entrepreneurs are [...]
LDK Solar Defaults on Convertible Notes
On the heels of Suntech’s bankruptcy last month, LDK Solar Company Ltd. (Xinyu City, China) failed to make full payments of $23.8 million-worth of 4.75% convertible notes due this year. LDK was able to reach a private agreement on some cash payments and payment postponement with two other holders of $16.6M in notes. The company [...]
Will Nanocrystals Power Electric Cars?
It is well known that one of the main problems with modern electric cars is the problem of energy storage. New better batteries are required to increase the range of electric cars and make them more attractive commercially. A new nanomaterial for lithium ion batteries developed in the labs of chemists at ETH Zurich and [...]
Foxconn Goes Solar
Infamous Foxconn, best known for the deplorable working conditions for Chinese workers that make Apple’s iPod and other products, is intent on developing a strong presence in the solar industry. The company first announced this decision in 2011 at the height of overcapacity in the industry. The last thing that was needed was a big new player that would bring [...]