To CleanTechnica, a new film developed by HyperSolar, a Californian company, could halve the costs of solar panels and boost their efficiency by 300 percent. The film would replace the sheet of glass currently used with solar PV panels. “With HyperSolar as the top layer, manufacturers can use significantly fewer solar cells in the production […]
Solar film increases efficiency by 300% Read More »
If you think gasoline is too expensive, you haven’t seen anything yet… To the Wall Street Journal : ” Nomura Securities says that if Algeria joins Libya in the land of chaos, oil prices could shoot to $220 a barrel. That’s in a worst-case scenario.” “To back up that headline grabber, Nomura compares the current
Oil prices could reach $220 this year Read More »
We all know it : energy – and resource – efficiency is the panacea to all our energy and environmental woes. As I finished reading another excellent book on the very matter, I am sharing with you today the main findings. Factor Five is the sequel of the 1997-book Factor Four. It demonstrates how our
Book review : Factor five Read More »
It made the headlights last week on practically all environmental websites. The hidden costs – the negative externalities if you prefer – of coal are of 500 billion Dollars per year for the United States alone. Yes, you read it right : burning coal costs the country half a trillion dollar on health costs, premature
Coal costs the United States $500 billion each year Read More »
The WWF believes it can be done in four little decades. As they state on their website: ” All of the world’s energy needs could be provided cleanly, renewably and economically by 2050. “ They are right on one point : energy efficiency’s potential is gigantic. Indeed I am reading a book which thesis is
Can the world be powered by 100% renewables ? Read More »
According to Reuters : ” The world added about 16 gigawatts of new solar photovoltaic (PV) power in 2010, double the growth seen a year earlier, the European Photovoltaic Industry Association told Reuters on Monday.” Out of these 16 gigawatts, Europe is behind the vast majority of the growth with an impressive 13 gigawatts. Out
16 GW of solar PV capacity added in 2010 Read More »
To the Guardian : ” The US fears that Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest crude oil exporter, may not have enough reserves to prevent oil prices escalating, confidential cables from its embassy in show. The cables, released by WikiLeaks, urge Washington to take seriously a warning from a senior Saudi government oil executive that the
Saudi Arabia overstated its oil reserves by 40% Read More »
To the AFP news agency : ” Brent crude rose on Tuesday, holding above $101 on fears that worsening turmoil in Egypt could disrupt supply flows through the strategic Suez Canal, analysts said. “ It had been more than two years than oil didn’t reach such levels. This happens as I read yesterday an interesting
Oil prices back above $100 Read More »
Italy is currently in the news more because of Berlusconi’s taste for orgies but little is written on the expansion of solar photovoltaic there. However, there is much to write as it installed 6,000 MW of solar PV capacity in 2010 alone. To Cleantechies : ” 7 GWs of PV power will yield well over
Avanti ! Italy goes forward on solar Read More »
The State of the Union speech given yesterday by President Barack Obama might well stay in the History books like John Fitzgerald Kennedy moon shot speech that sent Americans on the moon in less than a decade. Indeed President Obama asked for 80% of America’s electricity from ‘clean energy’ by 2035 (including clean coal and
Was it Obama’s “moon shot speech” ? Read More »
