Alternative Energy

Biggest Solar Deal Ever

Monday, February 16th, 2009

Biggest Solar Deal Ever Announced
“The largest series of solar installations in history, more than 1,300megawatts, is planned for the desert outside Los Angeles, according toa new deal between the utility Southern California Edison and solarpower plant maker, BrightSource.”
http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/02/bigsolar.html
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Enhanced Geothermal Systems - to supply 10% to 20% of future engergy needs?

Thursday, January 1st, 2009

Geothermal energy isn’t sexy but it is a viable alternative engergy system that is getting more attention and hopefully more funding for some good problem solving, otherwise known as, engineering.
Hot Rocks
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Fusion reactors: progress but slow

Friday, December 5th, 2008

The science associated with power generation through fusion continues to progress.  But slowly:Fusion reactors inch toward commercialization
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Solar power as inexpensive as fossil-fuels (coal) within 5 years

Friday, December 5th, 2008

Even as momentum has been building in recent years for wind energy installations - it looks like solar is getting close to perhaps an even more rapid ramp up:
Will solar power ever be as cheap as coal?
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New thin film solar cells boost efficiency by 50%

Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008

MIT has come up with a new solar cell technology that boosts efficiency of the cells by 50%, uses less material, and thus should approach per-KW power generation costs similar to current power grid costs.
Solar cell efficiency boosted
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New method to capture energy from slow moving water

Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008

Traditional power generation via water turbine has been around for quite a long time.  But here is an interesting new idea whereby power can be generated through slow moving water.  The idea came in part by paying attention to the way a fish motivates in water:
http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/36907
Here’s the company established to commercialize the idea:
Vortex Hydro Energy
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