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admin /1 June, 2008
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Like this hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus),
most of the bats killed by wind turbines
roost in trees during summer. Paul Cryan.
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In the push to develop new forms of sustainable energy, the wind power industry is at the forefront. Turbines that harness the power of wind already serve as effective power sources across the globe, and this proven effectiveness has led to vast increases in the number of turbines currently under construction.
The general impact of wind turbines on the environment is likely far less than that of conventional power sources. However, recent evidence shows that certain species of bats are particularly susceptible to mortality from wind turbines. Bats are beneficial consumers of harmful insect pests, and migratory species of bats cross international and interstate boundaries.
admin /1 June, 2008
Wind power is capable of becoming a major contributor to America’s electricity supply over the next three decades, according to a report released today by the U.S. Department of Energy. The groundbreaking report, 20% Wind Energy by 2030: Increasing Wind Energy’s Contribution to U.S. Electricity Supply, looks closely at one scenario for reaching 20% wind energy by 2030 and contrasts it to a scenario of no new U.S. wind power capacity.Â
admin /1 June, 2008
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| Credit – IBM |
Last week, IBM announced a research breakthrough in photovoltaics (PV) technology that could significantly reduce the cost of harnessing the sun’s power for electricity.
In the same way that children in science class use a magnifying glass to burn a leaf, IBM scientists are using a large lens to concentrate the sun’s power, capturing a record 230 watts onto a centimeter square solar cell, in a technology known as concentrator photovoltaics, or CPV. That energy is then converted into 70 watts of usable electrical power, about five times the electrical power density generated by typical cells using CPV technology in solar farms.
If it can overcome additional challenges to move this project out of the lab, IBM believes it can significantly reduce the cost of a typical CPV-based system. By using a much lower number of photovoltaic cells in a solar farm and concentrating more light onto each cell using larger lenses, IBM’s system enables a significant cost advantage in terms of a lesser number of total components.
admin /26 May, 2008
By Steve Andrews and Randy Udall – American Society for Peak OilOn April 13, Reuters reported the following from Riyadh:Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah said he had ordered some new oil discoveries left untapped to preserve oil wealth in the world’s top exporter for future generations…“When there were some new finds, I told them, ‘no, leave Continue Reading →
admin /25 May, 2008
A public meeting in Muswellbrook this morning puts further pressure on the Iemma government to abandon their electricity sell-off. Greens NSW MP John Kaye, who is visiting the Hunter as part of the state-wide campaign to stop the sale, is a speaker at the meeting.
Dr Kaye said: “Power workers, pensioners, environmentalists and households are getting very angry as Premier Morris Iemma and his Treasurer Morris Iemma push ahead with their scheme to privatise the state’s power stations and electricity retailers.
admin /25 May, 2008
Authors Micheal Pollan and Elizabeth Farrelly told the Sydney Writers Festival on Friday May 23rd that simplifying our diet is good for our health, the environment and for building a robust economy. The difficulty is that eating simply is actually quite complicated, because existing food distribution systems are geared against it. Pollan said, “Eat food. Continue Reading →
