New Solar Cell Material Is 23% More Efficient, Captures Infrared Light

Spain (TGW) – Researchers in Spain have developed a new material that can absorb infrared light, in contrast to today’s solar cells which only absorb visible light.
Because infrared light makes up half of the sun’s output that reaches the Earth, current solar cells that can only absorb visible light have a theoretical absorption limit of 40%, and only 30% in practice.

The new material, because it can capture both types of light, has a theoretical limit of 63%.

Researchers led by Perla Wahnon added titanium and vanadium into a conventional semiconductor, giving the material its special properties.

Via :: New Scientist

World's Largest Wind Farm To Date Approved in Oregon

Oregon (TGW) – The construction of the world’s largest wind farm to date took a big step forward this week when the Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council gave its approval of the project.


The Shepherd's Flat Wind Farm will have 303 wind turbines and a peak capacity of 909 megawatts.

The current largest wind farm in the world is Horse Hollow in Texas at 736 megawatts and 421 turbines.

Oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens has plans to build a 4000 megawatt farm by 2014.

Via :: Portland Business Journal

First Driver-Caused Tesla Crash

San Francisco (TGW) – The unnamed owner of Tesla #6 crashed his $98,000 car last Friday, it has been revealed.


The Tesla ended up between a Mercedes and a Toyota Camry, according to pictures taken by eyewitness Alex Volkov.

It was originally believed a Tesla engineer caused the accident, not according to Darryl Siry, Tesla’s Vice President of Marketing: “It was a Tesla customer who got into that accident. We're aware of it because we service our vehicles.”

Volkov said in an interview that those who were around at the time of the accident told police officers that the Tesla was silent, unnoticed, and small. However, Volkov noted, the front car’s “sudden stop ignited it [the accident]”. As well, the Tesla driver was trying to “go bumper to bumper between the cars.”

“The rear-ending caused [the Tesla driver] to go under the car in front of him -- my guess is that's why the airbags didn't deploy,” said Siry.

Via :: Hey! :: EVcast :: Wired




Photos via Alex Volkov

...And We're Back

So we're back. Tomorrow regular service will resume, but for today only, here's a list of some of the most exciting stories from the past four weeks:

EcoTech Daily: Dirt Cheap Dye-Sensitized Solar Passes Benchmark Test

Greentech Media: Prius to Get Solar Panels?

Greentech Media: Tesla Unveils Electric Sedan Model S

Green Wombat: First U.S. solar power plant factory goes online

Gas 2.0: Volkswagen to Produce Plug-in Hybrid in 2010

Technology Review: First gasification in North America to be built in Ottawa

Solve Climate: Georgia Judge Kills State's 1st Coal Plant in 20 Years

NYT: Cheney’s Office Said to Edit Global Warming Testimony

NYT: G8 Leaders Pledge to Halve Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2050

NYT: U.S. Lifts Moratorium on Solar Projects

Inhabitat: Hot New Solar Hybrid by Mindset AG

Inhabitat: Giant Anaconda Tube Generates Energy from Waves

Inhabitat: Foster + Partners Build Green in Amsterdam

Inhabitat: Philippe Starck’s Designer Wind Turbine

MetaEfficient: 90% of Israeli Homes Have Solar Water Heaters

Greentech Media: MIT Technology can Increase Solar Efficiency by 50%

Greentech Media: New Turbine Design Improves Efficiency 10% at Low Wind Speeds

Popular Mechanics: Konarka says Solar Cells Successfully Produced with Inkjet Printer

New Scientist: Organic Dye Lets Window Panes Generate Electricity from the Sun

CNET: Tesla Roadsters Now Rolling off Production Line

EcoGeek: Solar Powered Bubble Plane is Awesome

Inhabitat: Volkswagen’s Car of the Future

Inhabitat: Ferrari Hybrid by 2015

AutoblogGreen: Honda Hybrid Looks Suspiciously Like Prius

Gas 2.0: ZPM’s 106 MPG Compressed Air Car

Reuters: Gore: 100% Renewable Energy by 2018

NYT: Court Rules ‘The Great Global Warming Swindle’ Unfair

New Scientist: Why ‘Global Warming Swindle’ Still Dangerous

Inhabitat: Mazda Unveils Fuel Efficient Crossover Car

Environmental Leader : Postal Service Wants to Green 90% of Fleet

Autoblog Green: Lightning GT Unveiled at the British International Motor Show

Greentech Media: Aptera Receives $24 Million in Funding

NYT: Mississippi River Reopened After Oil Spill

Gizmag: Converting Livestock Manure Could Power 2.9% of the U.S.

Science Daily: Eating Less Meat and Junk Food Could Cut Fossil Fuel Use in Half

Reuters: U.S. Army Works to Cut Its Carbon ‘Bootprint’

Site News

Information for all 144 feed subscribers: There'll be no new articles for the next 4 weeks. After that, regular daily posting will resume, better than ever.

Expect to see new writers and even a new site, after we come back.

Mercedes Will Eliminate Petroleum From Its Lineup by 2015

Mercedes HQ (TGW) – Mercedes plans to eliminate petroleum powered vehicles from its lineup in the next 7 years - by 2015.

Mercedes wants to save the industry by making cars independent of oil – to improve costs, become more eco-friendly and because the oil supply will eventually run out.

The company is developing electric, fuel cells, and biofuel powered cars, including the electric Smart car and the efficient F700.

The company has already invested $4 million in its “Sustainable Mobility” plan and plans to invest up to $14 billion by 2014.

Via :: EcoGeek :: The Sun

World's Largest Thin Film Solar Farm Goes Online

East Germany (TGW) – The world’s largest thin film solar farm, built by Juwi, has begun operation in Germany at the Waldponez Solar Park.

The power plant was built on the site of a former East German air base and has the surface area equivalent to 200 soccer fields.

Though the farm is not yet fully operational, it will be by 2009, when it will be able to produce 40 megawatts of electricity.

The facility will use 550,000 thin film modules, of which 350,000 have already been installed.

Via :: Deutsche Welle

$2000 "Wind Turbine in a Box" for Homeowners Unveiled

Your roof (TGW) – The Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center today unveiled its first commercial product, a $2000 wind “wind turbine in a box”.

Source: EarthTronics

The 36-inch turbines are planned to be sold at home improvement centers for homeowners to provide from 10 to 20% of their electricity.

The genius is in the design (patent pending) of the turbine; it is gearless and therefore there is less friction.

The company Earthtronics will develop, manufacture, and market the turbine under the name WindTronics, which could be put into production by the first quarter of 2009.

The company is also looking at developing a smaller, cheaper version for developing countries that need very little power.

Via :: World of Renewables

Sleek, 137 MPG, Solar Powered Car Unveiled

Hungary (TGW) – The three-seating, 137 mpg Antro Solo was unveiled today in Hungary by Antro.


The lightweight car weighs only 600 pounds and can go as fast as to 87 mph; the car is made mostly of carbon fiber composite materials.

The Antro Solo is powered by three sources: solar power, human power, and a standard gas-electric hybrid engine. The small combustion engine can run on gas or ethanol, is designed purely for long trips. The solar panels on the roof of the car charge the battery to extend the electric battery for short trips. Pedals in the car allow for human powered travel at night or when it is cloudy.

Antro plans to sell the car for $18,000 after mass production begins in four years.

The company is also thinking of producing an Antro Duo, which would seat six. The car in fact could just be two Antro Solos joined together.


Via :: AutoblogGreen :: EcoFriend

Nanosolar Unveils Machine That Can Ink 100 Feet of Solar Cells a Minute

Nanosolar HQ (TGW) – Nanosolar unveiled Wednesday its thin film coater that it says can coat 1 gigawatt worth of solar cells a year, the solar industry’s largest coater.

Credit: Nanosolar

The tool, which cost $1.65 million, can ink 100 feet of solar cells a minute. The ink used is Nanosolar’s trademark nanoparticle ink.

The machine delivers solar cell with efficiencies of up 14.5% efficiency.

Company CEO Martin Roscheisen said the speed can be increased to up to 2000 feet per minute.

“At the 100 feet-per-minute speed shown in the video, that’s an astonishing two orders of magnitude more capital efficient than a high-vacuum process: a twenty times slower high-vacuum tool would have cost about ten times as much per tool,” he also said, in a press release.

Via :: Press Release

Those Crazy Japanese: Car Unveiled That Supposedly Runs on Nothing but Water

Genepax HQ (TGW) – Japanese company Genepax today unveiled its car that, they claim, runs on nothing but water.

Water is poured into the tank, and an energy generator in the car takes hydrogen from the water releasing electrons, that power the car. “No external input is needed,” said a company representative.

According to Genepax, a liter of water will keep the car going at 80 kilometers per hour for an hour. The company hopes to go in to mass production with a Japanese manufacturer soon.

However, the car appears to violate the First Law of Thermodynamics. Energy must be supplied to break the water into hydrogen and oxygen to produce the hydrogen fuel for the fuel cell. Oxidizing the hydrogen within the fuel cell can at best produce only as much energy as it took to break apart the water in the first place, leaving no energy left to power the car. Yet the company claims that water is all that is needed to make the car go. (Wikipedia)

Via :: Reuters

Honda Begins Commercial Production of First Commercial Hydrogen Car

Honda HQ (TGW) – Honda’s hydrogen fuel cell powered “FCX Clarity” began commercial production today, the first commercial production of a zero-emission, hydrogen fuel-cell powered vehicle.


The four-seater emits only water, is twice as efficient as a hybrid and three times as efficient as regular gasoline powered car, can go 270 miles on one tank, and can reach speeds up to 100 miles per hour.

The company will start by leasing out the car at a rate of $600 a month for three years. Only those who live by hydrogen stations will be able to lease the car.

Via :: Press Release

Next Generation Wind Turbine Unveiled Which Supposedly Breaks $1 a Watt Barrier

Houston (TGW) – BroadStar Wind Systems has unveiled its “next generation” wind turbine in Houston.

According to BroadStar, the turbine produces 250kW for $250,000, which would break the $1 a watt barrier.

The company spent four years researching and patenting the product, and is in talks to place the product with two different Fortune 100 companies.

The parallel rotor blades of the AeroCam wind turbine make it look significantly different from conventional turbines, and according to BroadStar, significantly cheaper. The design is also more 30% smaller than conventional turbines, and therefore can be discretely enclosed in a less obtrusive way.

The AeroCam has a horizontal axis with multiple blades, giving it the appearance of a water wheel.

The major innovation in the design, however, is the ability to automatically and interactively adjust the pitch or angle of attack of the aerodynamic blades as the turbine rotates, thereby optimizing its performance for much the same reasons a bird changes the shape of its wing in flight.

Also, because AeroCam is smaller and sits on the ground, it takes up much less space than would a conventional turbine.

The company says that they are probably 6 months away from production.

Via :: Press Release :: PESwiki

Second Tallest Building in the World to be Chicago Spire - Will be Green!

Chicago (TGW) – Foundation work has begun on the Chicago Spire, a rotating residential building that is likely to achieve an LEED Gold Rating.

Upon completion, the spire will be the world’s second tallest building.

The building will have many green elements, including a fluid facade shrouded in high performance glass, a rainwater recycling system, high energy efficiency, a intelligent building and management systems, waste storage and recycling management, monitored outdoor air delivery, and a geothermal power system.

The building’s design is based on nature, the architect of the building said.

Via :: Inhabitat :: Wikipedia

Waste Heat Engine Can Run On Solar Panel Waste Heat

Your car (TGW) - Cyclone Power Technologies has developed an engine which runs on waste heat, even in fairly low temperatures and pressures.

The Waste Heat Engine (WHE) is capable of running on heat from any heat producing source including exhaust emissions from an internal combustion engine, waste heat from solar panels, or even the waste heat from another WHE.

When installed with to the exhaust system of a regular engine, the WHE could increase horsepower and reduce fuel consumption.

Via :: EcoGeek