Energy: Alternative Fuels
Published

Collision hotspots for migrating birds revealed in new study      (via sciencedaily.com) 

New research highlights the areas in Europe and North Africa where the construction of wind turbines or power lines is likely to increase the risk of death for migrating birds.

Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Fossil Fuels
Published

Scavenger nanoparticles could make fuel cell-powered vehicles a reality      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Engineers have developed a material that could give fuel cell systems a competitive edge over the battery systems that currently power most electric vehicles.

Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Fossil Fuels
Published

New method purifies hydrogen from heavy carbon monoxide mixtures      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Refining metals, manufacturing fertilizers and powering fuel cells for heavy vehicles are all processes that require purified hydrogen. But purifying, or separating, that hydrogen from a mix of other gases can be difficult, with several steps. Chemical engineers have now demonstrated that the process can be simplified using a pump outfitted with newly developed membrane materials.

Geoscience: Geomagnetic Storms Space: Exploration
Published

Researchers discover source of super-fast electron 'rain'      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Scientists have discovered a new source of super-fast, energetic electrons raining down on Earth's atmosphere, a phenomenon that contributes to the colorful aurora borealis and poses hazards to satellites, spacecraft and astronauts.

Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Fossil Fuels
Published

Fuel from waste wood      (via sciencedaily.com) 

According to the latest assessment report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a considerable reduction in CO2 emissions is required to limit the consequences of climate change. Producing fuel from renewable sources such as waste wood and straw or renewable electricity would be one way to reduce carbon emissions from the area of transportation.

Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Fossil Fuels
Published

Carbon-coated nickel enables fuel cell free of precious metals      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A nitrogen doped carbon-coated nickel anode can catalyze an essential reaction in hydrogen fuel cells at a fraction of the cost of the precious metals currently used, researchers have found.

Energy: Alternative Fuels
Published

The opto-ionic effect: Light may increase performance of fuel cells and lithium-ion batteries      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Lithium-ion batteries, fuel cells and many other devices depend on the high mobility of ions in order to work properly. But there a large number of obstacles to such mobility. Researchers have now shown that light can be used to increase the mobility of ions and improve the performance of such devices.

Energy: Alternative Fuels
Published

Bionic wing flaps improve wind energy efficiency      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Scientists show a bionic approach combining features of a seagull's wing with an engineered flow control accessory, known as a Gurney flap, can greatly improve wind turbine performance. To achieve the best aerodynamic performance, the scientists simulated the use of the combined flow control accessory in a variety of situations, including high and low angle of attack and pre- and post-stall scenarios. They compared their computational simulations to experimental results for an aircraft wing undergoing a dynamic stall.

Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Fossil Fuels
Published

Wind, solar could replace coal power in Texas      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A fraction of the wind and solar projects already proposed in Texas could eliminate the state's remaining coal power plants and their emissions, according to engineers.

Energy: Alternative Fuels
Published

Cheaper, more efficient ways to capture carbon      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have developed a new tool that could lead to more efficient and cheaper technologies for capturing heat-trapping gases from the atmosphere and converting them into beneficial substances, like fuel or building materials.

Energy: Alternative Fuels
Published

Making green energy greener: Researchers propose method for wind turbine blades' recycling      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Wind turbine blades made from glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) laminate composites can serve for up to 25 years. After that, they end up in landfills which has become a real challenge for the renewable energy industry. Researchers have proposed a method for wind turbine blades' recycling. Using pyrolysis, they broke the composite materials into their constituent parts. According to scientists, the extracted materials can be reused, and the process is virtually waste-free.

Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Nuclear
Published

Selecting the right structural materials for fusion reactors      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Do two promising structural materials corrode at very high temperatures when in contact with 'liquid metal fuel breeders' in fusion reactors? Researchers now have the answer. This high-temperature compatibility of reactor structural materials with the liquid breeder -- a lining around the reactor core that absorbs and traps the high energy neutrons produced in the plasma inside the reactor -- is key to the success of a fusion reactor design.

Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Fossil Fuels
Published

New, nature-inspired concepts for turning CO2 into clean fuels      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have developed an efficient concept to turn carbon dioxide into clean, sustainable fuels, without any unwanted by-products or waste.

Energy: Alternative Fuels
Published

A new, inexpensive catalyst speeds the production of oxygen from water      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have developed a new type of catalyst material, called a metal hydroxide-organic framework (MHOF), which is made of inexpensive and abundant components. The catalyst speeds up the electrochemical reaction that splits apart water molecules to produce oxygen, which is at the heart of multiple approaches aiming to produce alternative fuels for transportation.

Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Fossil Fuels
Published

From the streets to the stratosphere: Clean driving technology enables cleaner rocket fuel      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A chemical used in electric vehicle batteries could also give us carbon-free fuel for space flight, according to new research.

Energy: Alternative Fuels
Published

Nuclear power may be the key to least-cost, zero-emission electricity systems      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Nuclear power generation can play a crucial role in helping the world reach a key goal of zero carbon emissions by the middle of the century, especially in countries with low wind resources, according to new work.

Energy: Alternative Fuels
Published

Solar and wind power are key to decarbonizing Switzerland      (via sciencedaily.com) 

How can we reduce the carbon footprint of electricity consumption in Switzerland? The country relies on electricity imports from fossil fuel power plants, which are major emitters of greenhouse gases.

Energy: Alternative Fuels
Published

Jet stream models help inform US offshore wind development      (via sciencedaily.com) 

With the federal government planning to hold the largest sale of offshore wind farm leases in the nation's history, a new study could help inform the development of offshore wind farms by providing detailed models characterizing the frequency, intensity and height of low-level jet streams over the U.S. Atlantic coastal zone.

Energy: Alternative Fuels
Published

Scientists develop insect-sized flying robots with flapping wings      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A new drive system for flapping wing autonomous robots has been developed, using a new method of electromechanical zipping that does away with the need for conventional motors and gears.

Geoscience: Geomagnetic Storms Space: The Solar System
Published

Ancient ice reveals mysterious solar storm      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Through analysis of ice cores from Greenland and Antarctica, a research team has found evidence of an extreme solar storm that occurred about 9,200 years ago. What puzzles the researchers is that the storm took place during one of the sun's more quiet phases -- during which it is generally believed our planet is less exposed to such events.