Green Energy News - 7/24/08
Nissan Predicts That There’s Plenty of Profit in Electric Cars
Zero tailpipe emissions and a range of 100 miles in the US versions is Nissan’s goal for the line of electric cars it’s planning to start selling in 2010. Unlike other EV manufacturers, Nissan is adamant that there will be no range-extending gasoline engine on their models.
The European models will have about half the range and may take longer to charge, which reflects the difference in patience and driving habits between Europeans and Americans. More …
All Of Europe Powered By Solar?
Will a vast grid of renewable energy someday power all of Europe? This is the plan gaining momentum in Europe, where several leaders have voiced support for tying solar, wind, tidal and geothermal energy into a giant “pipeline” of DC transmission lines that would funnel solar from North Africa’s Sahara desert, wind from the Netherlands and other renewable energy to homes and businesses.
Because of the intensity of the sun’s rays in the Sahara, photovoltaic cells would have 3 times the power of other solar panels and DC lines would allow for power to be carried farther without the energy loss inherent in AC lines. More …
Low Cost LEDs May Revolutionize Lighting
Purdue University scientists have discovered a way to drastically reduce the cost of LEDs by eliminating the costly sapphire base that they required up until now. They replaced it with silicon wafers coated with metal.
Researchers note that if all the incandescent and fluorescent bulbs in the United States and other countries were replaced with these “solid-state” LEDs, power consumption could be cut by as much as ten percent. More …
Tesco Adds To Its Green Ways With Straw
The European grocery chain has already instituted many energy-saving measures. Three-quarters of its vehicle fleet runs on alternative fuels and it has labeled the biggest part of its products with carbon counts.
Now, in addition to plans for energy from wind-turbines, Tesco will build a facility that gets its power and heat from a steam-engine that runs on straw. Even the ashes will be recycled and excess energy will be sold back to the power grid. More …
Will Our Next Energy Source Be Super Bugs?
Extremophiles are strange organisms that survive in environments that would kill any other organism. They can breathe metal and nuclear waste and boiling toxins are meat and drink to them - literally. These little “bugs” can even heal themselves.
What does this have to do with alternative energy? Well, scientists think that we may be able to use their survival secrets to create new sources of renewable energy. More …