types of alternative fuels Archives

Department of Energy funding developing of wireless charging system for electric vehicles

April 9, 2012April 9, 2012 Stephen Vagus

Look Mom, no wires! Electric vehicles are beginning to gain traction in the U.S. as more charging stations take root throughout the country and bolster the transportation infrastructure. These charging stations have been well received by drivers of electric vehicles, but they do not appear to be good enough for the Department of Energy. The DOE is looking to further bolster the electric transportation infrastructure by funding the development of wireless charging stations. This funding is going through the agency’s Vehicle Technologies Program, which aims to promote advanced technologies that…

United Kingdom launches Marine Energy Array Demonstrator project to fund development of wave energy

April 9, 2012June 6, 2013 John Max

Alternative wave energy project moves forward. The United Kingdom has launched a new funding program for wave energy called the Marine Energy Array Demonstrator (MEAD). The project will fund two initiatives that are focused on developing wave energy systems and technologies that will harness the power of tides. These initiatives will split $31 million in funding and will be tasked with developing systems that will generate at least 7 gigawatts of electricity each year. MEAD receives funding from the Department of Energy and Climate change, which is currently pursuing alternatives…

Geothermal Energy Association reports on growth seen in the U.S.

April 9, 2012August 26, 2012 Alicia Moore

Geothermal energy being tapped in the United States Geothermal energy is experiencing strong growth in the U.S. according to the Geothermal Energy Association. Geothermal energy has been growing in popularity in the U.S. recently as an alternative to fossil-fuels. The country is focused on an “all-of-the-above” energy plan which has it pursuing various renewable fuels. Geothermal power is common in Japan, where the energy is used to heat homes throughout the country. The association has released a new report showing the growth of the geothermal industry in 2011. According to…

Saab may be revived as a maker of electric vehicles

April 8, 2012April 7, 2012 Erin Kilgore

Defunct automaker Saab may soon be revived as a maker of electric vehicles if new investors have their way. Saab closed its doors in January 2012 after more than 65 years of business. The company had struggled financially for several years before it was closed down and hosted a sleuth of complicated, and sometimes tense, relationship with other automakers. General Motors purchased the company in 1990, but Saab was unable to live up to the larger automaker’s expectations. Saab closed its doors in January this year after a Chinese consortium…

BMW unveils its electric-gas hybrid i8 Spyder concept car

April 7, 2012April 6, 2012 John Max

Hybrid cars just got sexy BMW is looking to expand its portfolio of alternative energy vehicles and has begun branching off from its interest in hydrogen fuel cells. The automaker is one of the many in the industry that has been focusing on hydrogen recently. Fuel cells have become the primary focus for the industry due to the fact that they can match or exceed the performance of internal combustion engines. BMW believes that hydrogen will not be the only thing powering future vehicles and claims that gasoline will still…

Opower launches Facebook application to give people an understanding of energy efficiency

April 6, 2012April 5, 2012 Alicia Moore

Social networking app helping alternative energy awareness Alternative energy and environmentalism are two concepts that go hand-in-hand. Both subjects are surrounded by a significant amount of controversy which has led progress on these fronts to stagnate and people to lose interest. Alternative energy and environmentalism are often political issues, but psychology may play a bigger role in the matter that some people may think. In 1984, Doctor Robert Cialdini, a professor of psychology and marketing at the Arizona State University, introduced the concept of “social proof” in his book Influence:…

San Francisco named as North America’s Cleantech Capital by the Cleantech Group

April 4, 2012April 4, 2012 Bret Williams

San Francisco, California, has claimed the title as “Cleantech Capital” of North America this week. The title is awarded by the Cleantech Group, a market intelligence firm focused on alternative energy and sustainability. San Francisco was chosen because of its exemplary commitment to alternative energies like solar, hydrogen and wind power. Cleantech noted that the city is also quite attractive to renewable energy groups looking to expand and attract investors. The Cleantech Group notes that San Francisco is home to more than 200 alternative energy companies and investment groups. These…

2011 natural disasters spur renewed enthusiasm for alternative energy

April 3, 2012 Stephen Vagus

The Munich Reinsurance Company, a reinsurance and ratings firm serving the global insurance industry, has released a new report concerning the economic losses of natural disasters in 2011. The report notes that last year saw more than 820 natural disasters, many of which were man-made. These catastrophes resulted in 27,000 deaths and more than $380 billion in losses around the world. In terms of casualties, 2011 was more lenient than 2010, but was much more damaging to the global economy. The report notes that one of the worst disasters of…

Direct methanol fuel cells could lead to consumer acceptance of hydrogen energy

April 2, 2012 Erin Kilgore

Alternative energy is becoming a popular subject as more people grow conscious of their impact on the environment. As such, more attention is being drawn to various types of energy systems that have, until recently, been ignored by the community at large. One of these energy systems is direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). These variants of the hydrogen fuel cell were first developed by the Caltech/NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory with the help of the University of California in 1990. Unlike their hydrogen counterparts, these fuel cells are well suited for…

Bill Gates trumps the importance of clean and accessible energy for developing countries

March 31, 2012March 31, 2012 Stephen Vagus

Bill Gates is well known around the world as the founder of Microsoft, the technology company of gargantuan influence. In recent years, Gates has been playing a larger role in the world of philanthropy, using his position as one of the world’s wealthiest men to help developing countries liberate themselves from poverty. Gates has long been a proponent of ending poverty and has been focusing his efforts on helping impoverished countries through the use of alternative energy. Speaking at the Wall Street Journal ECO:nomics forum this week, Gates expressed the…

Obama administration launches Green Button Initiative to make America more aware of its energy consumption

March 30, 2012 Tami Hood

Last week, the Obama administration launched a new program it is calling the Green Button Initiative. Simply put, the Initiative is a website featuring a large green button. Clicking on the button allows U.S. residents to submit their energy consumption data, which will be converted into an easy to understand format. This data is meant to help people understand how they use energy and suggest ways to help them be more efficient about their consumption. The Green Button Initiative aims to provide consumers with access to their energy data on…

Karabag launches world’s first nationwide electric vehicle service network in Germany

March 29, 2012March 28, 2012 Alicia Moore

The auto industry is undergoing a bit of a technological revolution these days. Automakers are adopting new technologies to power their vehicles, such as hydrogen fuel cells and lithium-ion batteries. While this may be a welcome change for environmentalists, many drivers are not very keen on the shift in technology. Drivers have long been capable of fixing any problem they may have with their cars themselves, if motivated enough to do so. Such do-it-yourself fixes are popular, allowing drivers to sidestep costly trips to mechanics. New technology, however, is not…

Energy Information Administration report shows oil imports are at their lowest point since 1999

March 28, 2012March 28, 2012 Erin Kilgore

A new report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), a branch of the Department of Energy, shows that imports of crude oil have fallen since 2005. Several factors have contributed to the drop in imports over the years, including political tension with the Middle East and a new focus on alternative energy and efficiency. The report indicates that in 2011, oil imports hit the lowest point they have been since 1999. According to the report, oil imports have dropped by 12% since 2005. In recent years – 2009 and…

New Zealand on track to become an alternative energy powerhouse

March 25, 2012March 23, 2012 Tami Hood

Alternative energy is on the rise in New Zealand, according to Industrial Info, a market intelligence firm specializing in renewable fuel. The firm has been tracking the progress of alternative energy projects in the country for some time and notes that the country could be on the verge of becoming one of the world’s alternative energy powerhouses. New Zealand has been home to very ambitious sustainability projects, including wind and solar farms as well as hydrogen power installations. This year, the country will see several new energy projects taking root,…

OriginOil looks to build urban algae farm to treat wastewater and generate heat for homes

March 25, 2012March 23, 2012 Angie Bergenson

Algae are getting more attention from the world of science for its possible uses as a source of alternative energy. These simple organisms are very easy to manage and have shown strong resilience to a variety of environments that would be somewhat hostile to other life forms. As such, Algae have become a popular subject for use as a form of organic power. OriginOil, a company that converts algae into fuel, is looking to show off the uses for the organism in a new pilot project that will be launched…

Staten Island’s old landfill to be home to new alternative energy projects

March 24, 2012March 23, 2012 Angie Bergenson

New York City’s Staten Island is known for a great many things. Often called the “Forgotten Borough,” Staten Island is home to some of New York City’s largest marathons as well as one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions, the Staten Island Ferry. Unfortunately, the Island is also known for its expansive garbage dump. The landfill houses a significant amount of the waste produced by New York City. The landfill was closed in early 2011 after having serviced more than two billion tons of garbage. Now, the dump could…

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