Solar Impulse is expected to have its first test flights next year and to complete a round-the-world trip in 2012.
It will be a remarkable aircraft, with a 64m wing (about the same as an Airbus A340), the weight of a car (about 1.6 tonnes), 11,268 solar cells and four engines with the combined power of a scooter (40CV), The Australian reports.
New catalyst boosts hydrogen as transport fuel
New catalyst boosts hydrogen as transport fuel
Scientists have developed a cheaper way to make hydrogen from biofuel that could be a solution to previous difficulties with storage and transport of the gas
- guardian.co.uk, Thursday 21 August 2008 09.57 BST
- Article history
A cheaper way to produce hydrogen from biofuels has been developed, a step that could overcome some of the critical obstacles blocking the gas’s widespread future use as a green transport fuel.
Hydrogen is often touted as a transport fuel of the future since it produces only water when it is burned. If the gas is produced from sustainably grown biofuels, its use results in very low carbon emissions. Car manufacturers are already developing vehicles that can run on hydrogen fuel cells but moving to a fully-fledged hydrogen transport system requires solving several key issues. These include how to produce the gas efficiently and transport it, which requires very high pressure containers. Building the infrastructure for consumers to fill their cars with hydrogen is another problem.
Open-source hydrogen car takes to the road
Open-source hydrogen car takes to the road
Designs for the Riversimple urban car, capable of a 50mph top speed and a 240 mile range, will be freely available online in a bid to help grow the hydrogen market
- guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 16 June 2009 14.48 BST
- Article history
The Riversimple Urban car was unveiled today at Somerset House in London, is a new hydrogen-powered vehicle. Photograph: PR
A new hydrogen-powered car, whose designs will be “open source” and posted for free use on the web, was unveiled today in London. The company behind the Riversimple urban car claim the new model proves hydrogen automotive technology is ready for roll-out now rather than in 10 years’ time.
The open-source approach means entrepreneurs around the world could download the designs and manufacture the two-seater prototype locally for free.
Sainbury’s brings green power to the checkout with ‘kinetic plates’
Sainsbury’s brings green power to the checkout with ‘kinetic plates’
Store first in Europe to pioneer green energy system where customers create 30kW an hour by driving over plates in car park
- guardian.co.uk, Monday 15 June 2009 10.49 BST
- Article history
Kinetic energy plates at Sainsbury’s Gloucester Quays store. Photograph: PR
A supermarket chain will open its first “people-powered” store this week using technology that captures energy from vehicles to power its checkouts.
In a European first, Sainsbury’s will install the invention at its new store in Gloucester, opening this Wednesday.
Energy will be captured every time a vehicle drives over “kinetic road plates” in the car park and then channelled back into the store.
AGEC GEOTHERMAL POWER
AGEG
In November 2005 Primary Industries and Resources South Australia (PIRSA) was invited by the geothermal sector to be the Contracting Party for Australia’s membership in the International Energy Agency’s Geothermal Implementing Agreement (external site) (IEA-GIA). PIRSA’s Director of Petroleum and Geothermal (Barry Goldstein) was elected by the Australian geothermal sector as Australia’s Executive Committee representative to IEA-GIA.
PIRSA also acts as the Secretariat for the Australian Geothermal Energy Group (AGEG), formed in 2006 to provide financial and intellectual support for Australia’s membership in the IEA-GIA. Members of AGEG include representatives from:
- Companies with entitlements to undertake geothermal exploration (research), appraisal (proof-of-concept), demonstration and development projects in Australia
- Government agencies responsible for investment attraction and licence regulation for the geothermal sector
- University experts conducting relevant research.
The members of the AGEG have a common interest in sharing information to commercialise Australia’s geothermal resources at maximum pace and minimum cost in Australia’s competitive energy markets.
Australia filthiest nation to make aluminium
Claims by the coal lobby and aluminium manufacturers that an emissions trading scheme will cost jobs are deliberate mistruths according to NSW MLC Dr John Kaye. He said that the government is proposing to spend $200,000 per employee compensating the aluminium industry for the cost of its carbon offsets. “It would be better for the Continue Reading →