energy storage
An energy company in China is installing a large battery system at its plant in Hangzhou to test how advanced energy storage can help deal with the challenges posed by the country’s rapid wind-energy growth. The 500-kilowatt system from A123 Systems is set to be installed at Dongfang Electric
photovoltaics
Arizona-based photovoltaics (PV) firm First Solar says it’s achieved a new world record in efficiency for a cadmium-telluride (CdTe) solar cell. The test cell made using commercial-scale manufacturing equipment and materials reached an efficiency of 17.3 percent, according to the company. The test cell’s performance, confirmed by
networking
Nusajaya, a 24,000-acre real-estate development on the southwestern tip of the Malaysian peninsula, is working to become a “smart,” digitally connected city. The initiative supports the government’s goal of creating a Digital Malaysia master plan for a more integrated, interconnected and innovative economy. Nusajaya’s development will be
energy monitoring
More than two-thirds — 71 percent — of the people who took part in a smart-meter pilot program in Texas last fall say they have changed their energy consumption habits as a result of the usage data they could view on in-home displays. A survey of the 500 participants was released today
innovation
Maldives President Mohammed Nasheed and Oscar-award-winning actor and environmental activist Leonardo DiCaprio are among the new members of the jury for the Zayed Future Energy Prize, which recognizes innovation, leadership, long-term vision and impact in renewable energy and sustainability. Other new jury members include: * Elizabeth Dipuo Peters, Minister of Energy
energy
Joule Unlimited Technologies, which is working to produce “Liquid Fuel from the Sun,” has been awarded its first two US patents for its new ethanol production method. The patents relate to Joule’s methods for increasing the ability of a photosynthetic microorganism to produce ethanol. According to the company, its
Software from Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES) helped Canada’s Arctic College improve the energy efficiency of two of its Nunavut Research Institute (NRI) buildings. Located in a remote part of Canada with extremely high heating demands and energy costs, the Government of Nunavut Community and Government Services (GN CGS) brought
photovoltaics
DuPont has boosted its position in the solar energy market with the acquisition of Innovalight, a company that specializes in advanced silicon inks and process technologies that increase the efficiency of crystalline silicon solar cells. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. DuPont reported more than $1 billion in
energy storage
Advanced battery company Altair Nanotechnologies has closed on a $57.5 million investment from Canon Investment Holdings Limited. The investment was first announced in September of 2010. “While this transaction took considerably longer to close than expected, the Canon investment allows us to now focus on growing the business and
smart buildings
Agilewaves, a building energy management firm based in California, has developed a turnkey system that meets the requirements of the new LEED Advanced Energy Metering credits. The Agilewaves Building Optimization System supports: * Permanently installed meters with recording intervals stored in 5-minute increments * Measurements for consumption, demand and power factor * Ability
energy grid
The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) this week changed its requirements for transmission planning and cost allocation. The changes are aimed at helping consumers by enhancing the electricity grid’s ability to support wholesale power markets and ensuring transmission services are provided at “just and reasonable rates.” The new
energy
A new initiative announced today aims to find the top sustainable energy innovations that can be quickly and cost-effectively brought to both developed and developing countries on a large scale. The LAUNCH: Energy Challenge is the third challenge to be tackled by LAUNCH, a program led by the US Agency
