Every alternative energy source has its disadvantages, right? Natural gas, while cleaner than coal or oil, still produces carbon emissions. But, without backup energy storage, wind and solar can’t be depended upon when the wind isn’t blowing or the sun isn’t shining. A growing number of concentrating
solar energy
What parts of the world have the best potential for solar energy developments? Desert regions like the Sahara and Death Valley seem like obvious locales, but they’re not the only places on Earth to receive a wealth of sunlight. Scientists and engineers use a measure of “direct normal irradiation”
electric cars
It doesn’t take a genius to understand why electric vehicles (EVs) would seem especially appealing in a state where the lowest gas prices are currently over $4 per gallon. While electric car sales in the US have yet to reach critical mass (GM, for example, has put a temporary
lighting
Is “Change your lightbulbs” really a useful answer to the energy and climate challenges we face? While it sounds almost trite today from an individual perspective, switching to more efficient lighting technologies really can make a big difference in energy, money and carbon savings when done on a large scale.
photovoltaics
Which countries are getting the most energy from solar panels? Germany continues to lead the way globally, with nearly 25 gigawatts (GW) of installed solar-energy capacity at the end of 2011. Starting 2011 with a solar base of 17.4 GW — which was already 43.5 percent of the entire
energy security
How dependent are we on a steady supply of fossil fuels? In particular, how much does a fully functioning society depend on the gasoline flowing from gas pumps? People in the UK are getting a rude reminder right now as the simple suggestion of a strike by fuel truck drivers
Greenbang
Smart-grid technology and renewables are the keys to a more energy-secure and sustainable future, a lot of people believe. But how do we get from here to there, and which innovations will be most important? We’d like to know what you think, so — if you haven’t already — please
gas
What’s the potential downside to a “Golden Age of Gas,” the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) description of a future with vast new riches of unconventional natural gas and advanced technologies like hydraulic fracturing? For one answer, we might look to one of Total’s gas developments in the
Energy
What’s not to like about energy efficiency? Every little improvement we can make in that area is a bit more energy saved, a bit less carbon sent into the atmosphere, right? Wrong. As good a thing as it is, energy efficiency alone won’t help us “leave oil before
cloud computing
There’s little doubt the cloud is helping businesses of all sizes — mega, medium or small — do a lot more than they used to. Cloud-based software, platforms and infrastructure are making it possible for organizations to provide more information to customers, offer more services and expand in new directions, and
oil
Standards of living aren’t the only thing rising in so-called BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China): along with a growing middle class, developing economies are also seeing a growing demand for oil. While oil consumption is steady or dropping in many developed nations, it’s rising rapidly among
sustainability
A lot of discussion about low-carbon transport centers on vehicle technology, but that is only part of the solution. Zero-emission cars certainly have a part to play in terms of reducing reliance on fossil fuels and reducing environmental impacts but they don’t begin to address the issue of congestion.
