Mathew Gard, ERS, for Zondits In March, Arizona-based solar panel manufacturer First Solar set a new efficiency record for cadmium telluride solar cells at 22.1%. What makes this such an achievement is that until recently silicon-based cells have been more efficient at converting light into electricity. But that’s not all. First Solar thinks that within … Read more
Scientists Can Recycle CO2 Using Gold ENERGY, May 27, 2016 Using sunlight and gold to change carbon dioxide (CO2) into fuel may sound like a task for a Hogwarts graduate, but it’s the kind of magic that researchers at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) are performing to make a positive impact on the world’s … Read more
3 ways the IoT is already making cities smarter GreenBiz, June 1, 2016 Smart city case studies Cities across the nation and the world are using sensors and smart devices to transform every sector of public service. 1. Transportation Smart traffic management will enable car drivers to face less traffic jams, and real-time data will … Read more
Interior Announces Milestone for New York Offshore Commercial Wind Energy U.S. Department of the Interior, June 2, 2016 Furthering progress on President Obama’s Climate Action Plan to create American jobs, develop domestic clean energy sources and cut carbon pollution, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell today announced the proposed lease sale for 81,130 acres … Read more
Ryan Pollin, ERS, for Zondits Denmark is famous for its wind resource, and the small country routinely breaks record after record for wind energy and power records. Forty-two percent of Denmark’s electricity came from wind over the entire year of 2015, with surplus power exported to its European neighbors during 16% of those days! Denmark … Read more
Allison Donnelly, ERS, for Zondits. Image credit: Unsplash / 8180 images This is a good time to be working in clean energy. Nationwide, the costs of rooftop solar, LEDs, electric vehicles, and other sustainable technologies are coming down at an impressive rate. Technologies that once seemed to be on the fringe are becoming mainstream – even … Read more
Walter Schaefer, ERS, for Zondits. May 18, 2016 The recent rapid expansion of rooftop solar capacity in the United States has several well-documented causes, including falling system prices, generous (and extended[note]http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/breaking-house-passes-1.1-trillion-spending-bill-with-renewable-energy-tax[/note]) subsidies, and innovative financing schemes. But can these factors alone explain a boom that has resulted in year-over-year growth rates between 60-70%[note]http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/us-solar-market-sets-new-record-installing-7.3-gw-of-solar-pv-in-2015[/note] and has … Read more
A Zondits Rundown: French Electricity Utility, ENGIE, Acquires an 80% Stake in Californian Battery Maker Green Charge Networks ENGIE and Green Charge Networks were introduced through ENGIE subsidiaries Ecova and OpTerra Energy Services. In 2014, ENGIE (known as GDF Suez prior to April 2015) purchased Ecova to reinforce their expertise in energy data management combined with their multi-technical … Read more
Race for renewable energy technologies charges lithium market Business News Network, May 7, 2016 Global adoption of new transportation technologies and electronics are powering massive growth in lithium-ion battery sales. Google has recently announced a partnership with Fiat Chrysler to develop a self-driving hybrid minivan. Uber, Apple, BMW, Audi, Ford and Mercedes-Benz are also moving … Read more
Energy: technology and free markets beat mandates The Hill, May 4, 2016 Bill Gates is the latest prominent thinker to suggest that it is wrong to achieve our clean energy goals with a carbon tax, or even greater government intervention in the energy marketplace. Gates believes we would be better served by focusing on the … Read more