Energy

Whatever concerns energy and the ways to produce it goes here

A brilliant solution for abandoned coal mines

What if old coal mines could provide us with clean and renewable energy ? No, I am not giving credence to clean coal, I am writing about a great idea a Dutch village had. Heerlen inhabitants thought about repurposing their old coal mine – flooded with hot water – and thought about tapping all this […]

A brilliant solution for abandoned coal mines Read More »

Help in finding new solar technologies

If you let your computer idle while you are away or asleep, you might consider to allow Harvard and IBM to use it to do calculations for the Clean Energy Project, which is part of the World Community Grid. Due to find new ways to create more efficient solar photovoltaïc panels and later of batteries,

Help in finding new solar technologies Read More »

An idea of green bailout for The Big Three

The three large US automakers are facing huge problems. Meanwhile, many people think their cars would be able to sell better if US cars had better mileage. While driving I had an idea that very topic: increasing the mileage to enable it to reach 50 MPG by 2010 would be great. This would be much

An idea of green bailout for The Big Three Read More »

UNEP highlights central role of solar

I have been for five years a huge fan of solar energies – both photovoltaïc and thermal – and I am still hoping that one day I will have the privilege to work in this booming industry. Today, the UNEP and three CEOs of this industry issued a joint statement at the current Poznan Conference

UNEP highlights central role of solar Read More »

Vivace, another renewable energy source

After my writing of two articles on renewable energy sources from the oceans in October, here comes VIVACE or vortex-induced vibrations for aquatic clean energy. According to an interesting article by The Telegraph, this prototype could enable us to harness some energy from our rivers and waterbeds around the world. The potential is huge as

Vivace, another renewable energy source Read More »

Limiting the methane emissions of cows

You perhaps remember the article on backpacks for cows’ farts I published this summer. It seems there is another way to limit methane emissions produced by bovines. Collecting their manure – and thus the methane – could decrease global warming and provide energy as this greenhouse gas is quite similar to natural gas. This seems

Limiting the methane emissions of cows Read More »

Reforming the EU energy sector is necessary

According to the European Environment Agency the generation of electricity and heat in the 27 country members account for 80 percent of of European Union’s greenhouse gases emissions. This occurs as the sector progressively steps back from both coal and oil to embrace natural gas and renewable energy sources. It also increased its efficiency. But

Reforming the EU energy sector is necessary Read More »

Mini-nuclear plants available within five years

I never mentioned before today mini nuclear plants. It is now time to do so as the company Hyperion Power Generation plans to sell mini nuclear modules within five years. Relatively small (see left for scale), these modules could bring affordable and greenhouse gases-free electricity to up to 10,000 households for seven to ten years

Mini-nuclear plants available within five years Read More »

IEA’s World Energy Outlook 2008

The International Energy Agency published today its famous World Energy Outlook. This edition stresses even more than last year’s version the importance of energy conservation and efficiency. With the booming energy demand from developing countries, energy saving mechanisms have to become more important if we want to avoid massive energy scarcity and climate change. As

IEA’s World Energy Outlook 2008 Read More »

The Grenelle: 440 billion euros of investments

The Grenelle de l’Environnement, the cornerstone of the French environmental policies, might lead to investments worth of 440 billion euros (or $560 billion) by 2020. An important part of this money will be allocated to transport and doubling the amount of fast train lines (TGV, left). Other major sectors will be renovating buildings and renewables.

The Grenelle: 440 billion euros of investments Read More »