Tag: clean technology news

Genesis showcases new concept car equipped with clean technology

Alicia Moore
Clean Technology - Hyundai Genesis Prada

New concept car makes use of a fuel cell and battery system Hyundai’s luxury brand, Genesis, has showcased a new concept car at the New York Auto Show. The new vehicle is a full-sized SUV and equipped with a plug-in hydrogen fuel cell system. Called the GV80, the concept car is meant to highlight one of the directions that luxury brands are moving towards in terms of clean technology. Genesis is one of several companies that have showcased new fuel cell vehicles recently. Clean technology may have a promising future…

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New flow battery could bring about a brighter future for renewable energy

Stephen Vagus
Flow Battery - Renewable Energy

SEAS researchers have developed a new flow battery Researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have developed a flow battery that can operate for a decade. The new battery could be a major breakthrough in energy storage and the use of clean power. With an extensive lifespan, the battery could have a major impact on the residential sector, where renewable energy is becoming much more popular. The battery could also be used for other purposes, such as storing electricity for industrial purposes or…

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Tesla and Toyota rank highly in their support for renewable energy and clean technology

Bret Williams

Automakers win high ranking from MIT Technology Review Tesla Motors and Toyota are considered two of the “smartest” companies in the world, partly due to their focus on renewable energy, according to the MIT Technology Review. The magazine is published by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Every year, the magazine chooses 50 companies that best combine innovative technology with an effective business model. This year, Tesla and Toyota were the only two automakers to make the cut. Recently, these two companies have begun winning a significant amount of praise for…

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Researchers develop a supersonic solar fuel cell

Stephen Vagus

Research team develops a new type of fuel cell that collects solar energy A team of researchers from Sweden’s Lund University is currently developing what they refer to as a “supersonic solar fuel cell.” This fuel cell is meant to mimic the photosynthetic process, deriving electrical power from the sun to produce hydrogen fuel, which is then consumed to produce electricity. Currently, much of the world’s supply of hydrogen fuel is produced through the consumption of natural gas, which is a type of fossil-fuel. This makes hydrogen somewhat environmentally hazardous…

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DOE offers more funding for hydrogen fuel cell research and development

Bret Williams

Federal agency announces new funding opportunity for hydrogen fuel cells The U.S. Department of Energy has announced that as much as $35 million in funding is currently available for projects that seek to advance hydrogen fuel cell technology. This funding may help propel the fuel cell industry to new heights and accelerate the adoption of fuel cell vehicles in the near future. The federal agency has been showing strong support for fuel cells in recent years. In the past, the Department of Energy had believed that fuel cells were not…

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Researchers develop new catalyst that could improve fuel cells

John Max

Metal-free catalyst developed by research team from Case Western Reserve University Researchers from the Case Western Reserve University have developed a metal-free catalyst that can be used in fuel cells. The research team has also developed a conventional catalyst that could speed the oxygen reduction reaction in acidic fuel cells. The metal-free catalyst could be an inexpensive solution to some of the problems that fuel cells are facing currently. Conventional fuel cells use a catalyst comprised of platinum, which makes these energy systems quite expensive. New catalyst is resistant to…

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New catalyst could lead to less expensive fuel cells

Erin Kilgore

Research team develops a new catalyst for fuel cells comprised of iron and carbon Researchers from Finland’s Aalto University have successfully developed a new catalyst that can be used in fuel cells. The catalyst is meant to serve as an alternative to platinum catalysts that are quite common in fuel cell energy systems. Conventional catalysts are notoriously expensive, because they are made from platinum, and this affects the total cost of a fuel cell system. By replacing platinum, fuel cells can be more affordable and attractive to those interested in…

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Graphene may be an effective catalyst for hydrogen fuel cells

Tami Hood

Research team makes a breakthrough with graphene material Researchers from the University of Manchester have discovered an interesting quality in graphene material. This material is relatively unknown to the public but has become quite prominent in various fields, including renewable energy. Graphene has become particularly attractive in the fuel cell space, where the material can be used to develop durable hydrogen storage solutions and even in catalysts that allow fuel cells to produce electrical power. The recent breakthrough concerning graphene may have serious implications for fuel cell development. Graphene allows…

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Researchers design new catalysts for hydrogen fuel production

Angie Bergenson

Research team develops catalyst comprised of single gold atoms Tufts University School of Engineering, along with various other collaborators, has developed new catalysts that could lead to low cost production of new fuels, such as hydrogen. The catalysts are comprised of a structure of single gold atoms, which are bound with oxygen and sodium or potassium atoms supported by non-reactive silica materials. A team of researchers has demonstrated that these catalysts are able to perform on par with conventional catalysts that make use of platinum. New catalysts are needed to…

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New solar energy technology has the ability to store its own electricity

John Max

Team of researchers develop a solar panel that can also store energy A team of researchers from Ohio State University have made a major breakthrough, creating a way for solar panels to store electrical energy without using an external battery. Typically, solar panels, and other photovoltaic systems, produce electrical power, not store it. Solar energy systems must rely on batteries in order to store the power they produce, but finding ways to enable solar panels to store their own energy may lead to less expensive energy systems overall. Solar battery…

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Hydrogen fuel production may soon be much less expensive

Bret Williams

HyperSolar makes significnant technological breakthrough concerning hydrogen and gas separation HyperSolar, a developer of hybrid technology that uses sunlight to generate hydrogen, has announced that it has reached a significant technological milestone. The company has been making strides in the efficient production of hydrogen fuel, leveraging the power of the sun to accomplish this process. Hydrogen production is becoming an issue that requires serious attention and conventional production methods may no longer be viable if hydrogen is meant to serve as a suitable alternative for fossil-fuels. Current hydrogen production methods…

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Researchers develop new catalyst for hydrogen fuel cells

Stephen Vagus

New catalyst comprised of graphene quantum dots has been created Researchers at Rice University have developed a new catalyst that can be used in fuel cells. The new catalyst is comprised of graphene quantum dots that are meant to attach themselves to graphene material. The dots have shown that they can outperform platinum when it comes to facilitating some of the chemical processes found in fuel cells. This alternative catalyst could go a long way in improving the attractiveness of hydrogen fuel cells, especially when it comes to cost. Fuel…

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Solar energy “gigafactory” coming to New York

Stephen Vagus

SolarCity has plans to build a gigafactory of its own in New York SolarCity, a leading solar energy company, has plans to build its own “gigafactory” in New York. The company was founded with the aid of Elon Musk, one of the founders of Tesla Motors. Tesla has been working on developing its own gigafactory that will be responsible for the manufacture of next generation lithium-ion batteries that plan to be more efficient and less expensive than current models. SolarCity’s factory will have a similar purpose and may go a…

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New solar device produces hydrogen fuel efficiently

Stephen Vagus

Researchers develop new hydrogen production device using perovskites rather than silicon An often overlooked class of materials is beginning to have a major impact on the solar energy world and may be a valuable tool in hydrogen fuel production. Researchers from the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne in Switzerland have built a new photovoltaic device using perovskites, materials that have been found to be more efficient and less expensive than silicon. The photovoltaic device uses the power of sunlight in order to generate hydrogen fuel. Device is able to use…

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AMO seeks information concerning clean technology

Bret Williams

AMO launched a request for information concerning the challenges that clean technology faces The Department of Energy’s Advanced Manufacturing Office has issued a request for information concerning clean technology and renewable energy. The agency is seeking out information regarding mid-Technology Readiness Level research and development issues, hoping to establish a better understanding of the challenges that face renewable energy in the global market. The agency is also looking to better understand the challenges that exist in the development of clean technology and discover how these challenges can be overcome. Initiative…

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Researchers develop new catalyst for hydrogen fuel cells

John Max

New catalyst could be a major breakthrough for the world of hydrogen fuel Researchers from the Kyushu University in Japan have made a significant breakthrough in fuel cell technology. The researchers have developed a new catalyst that promises to be less expensive and more capable than conventional models. Most modern fuel cells are equipped with catalysts comprised of platinum. This material is favored for its electrochemical properties, but is also notoriously expensive. Platinum is one of the primary reasons why fuel cells are as costly as they are and researchers…

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