Energy Archives - Page 3 of 96

Transparent solar cells could mean rooms with an electric view

Energy August 1, 2012

A new breakthrough could bring us a bit closer to a future in which building and car windows could generate electricity from the sun without interfering with the view. Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, have developed a solar cell made from plastic that’s 70 percent transparent... Read more

Which countries produce the most coal?

Energy July 26, 2012

While the world continues to put up more wind turbines and solar panels, it also continues to use more and more coal, one of the dirtiest fossil fuels. World coal production increased by 6.1 percent in 2011. And fossil fuels in general still dominated the energy market, accounting for... Read more

Algae shells could hold secret to better solar cells

Energy July 19, 2012

Algae could help us build a cleaner, more sustainable energy future, but not necessarily in the way you might think. While research continues into ways of converting algae into biofuels, scientists at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) are studying algae for secrets to building better solar... Read more

Big ‘liquid batteries’ could mean a better, cleaner grid

Energy July 17, 2012

“Liquid batteries” could provide the answer to the large-scale energy storage challenges of a smarter, cleaner electricity grid. A grid-scale switch to cleaner power such as wind or solar would require some form of energy storage to ensure the lights stay on even when the sun isn’t shining or... Read more

BP: World sees challenges for oil at ‘reasonable prices’

Energy June 15, 2012

What’s the most telling comment in this year’s BP Statistical Review of World Energy? It’s this statement from chief executive Bob Dudley’s introduction to the report: “The world is not structurally short of hydrocarbon resources — as our data on proved reserves confirms year after year — but long... Read more

Floating, deep-water wind farms inch closer to reality

Energy June 6, 2012

The tantalizing prospect of deep-water wind farms, using vast, floating turbines, is coming closer to reality. Until now, commercial offshore farms have all featured “bottom-mounted” turbines in depths below 50 meters. This has allowed the UK, with its shallow coastal waters, to install 538 offshore turbines totaling 1,708 megawatts... Read more

Which countries produce the most geothermal electricity?

Energy June 4, 2012

The global geothermal energy market continues to grow significantly in 2012. However, in the US, the world’s largest producer of geothermal power, growth has slowed. So which countries are fueling the surge in geothermal development? Let’s take a look: Much of the progress is occurring in East Africa, Central... Read more

7 reasons why the ‘golden age of gas’ is a trap

Energy June 1, 2012

Let’s get a few potential objections out of the way up front: Yes, natural gas is cleaner than coal. Yes, strategies like hydrofracturing have unlocked large new sources of natural gas we previously weren’t able to tap into. Yes, new developments of natural gas resources in the US have... Read more

Which countries produce the most wind energy?

Energy May 21, 2012

The world was producing nearly 238 gigawatts (GW) of wind energy as of the end of 2011, with the fastest development of new capacity taking place in China and India. That total comes to about 3 percent of the world’s current electricity consumption, according to the World Wind Energy... Read more

Colorado welcomes world’s largest concentrating PV power plant

Energy May 16, 2012

With the opening of the Alamosa Solar generating facility, Colorado is now home to the world’s largest concentrating photovoltaic electric power plant in the world. Located in the San Luis Valley, the 30-megawatt plant was developed by Cogentrix Energy. Covering 225 acres, the project features more than 500 pedestal-mounted... Read more