Penn State researchers have discovered a low-energy way to harvest hydrogen fuel that may offer a limitless supply of the clean-burning power source. Hydrogen is a dream fuel that was not so long ago touted as the best alternative to a fossil fuel powered society. It holds more stored energy than any fossil fuel, such as coal, natural gas or oil, and its byproduct isn’t poisonous carbon monoxide or dioxide, but rather chemically pure water. The only problem in propagating this miracle fuel is that, since hydrogen does not naturally occur on earth, it has traditionally required excessive energy to generate the fuel through means such as electrolysis, where an electrical current is passed through water to break apart oxygen and hydrogen molecules. The Penn State researchers, however, may have found the answer, and it lies in bacteria.
Bacteria have been a cornerstone in the quest for alternative fuels such as biodiesel and ethanol, yet few have examined the possibility of bacterial hydrogen generation. But in 2009, researchers discovered a special strain of bacteria that splits water molecules. The only problem is that the bacteria need a small electrical charge to activate, again requiring excess energy to produce energy. But the Penn State team led by professor of environmental engineering Bruce E. Logan has found a way to excite the bacteria using an electrochemical reaction between saltwater and freshwater.
]]>In spite of the Western mainstream media’s continual provocation of the idea that there’s a looming war with Iran over its nuclear energy program, the country has gone ahead and brought its first nuclear reactor online. The Bushehr nuclear power plant started feeding energy into the Iranian power grid on September 12, 2011. The 1,000 megawatt plant is generating electricity at only 40 percent of its total capacity, but will reach full capacity by the end of the year pending further tests.
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An explosion rocked the Electricite de France SA (EDF) nuclear waste treatment plant in southern France Monday, killing one and leaving four others injured, one with serious burns. The blast occurred at an oven in the Centraco waste processing facility. Despite the injuries, apparently no radiation is reported to have leaked as a result of the explosion.
The plant that experienced the blast is used by EDF to treat low-level radioactive waste. The fire was brought under control within one hour of the initial blast, however, the loss of a life and other injuries resulted. The cause of the blast is still unknown.
]]>Due to budgetary restrictions, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has agreed to pursue a closure of the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump site just 90 miles outside of Las Vegas, Nevada. Though the commission has been split 2-2 on whether to uphold or reject the decision by an independent nuclear licensing board to close the facility, the NRC has issued an order implicitly stating that the Yucca Mountain site should be closed by the end of the month due to budgetary limitations.
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After having received a $535 million loan guarantee from the U.S. government, solar panel manufacturer Solyndra LLC filed for bankruptcy. The Fremont, California-based company has now been served with multiple search warrants by the FBI at its headquarters. The FBI is carrying out an investigation in collaboration with the Department of Energy’s Office of the Inspector General.
Solyndra was once hailed by President Barack Obama as a beneficiary of his administration’s investments in a green American economy. However, last week the company laid off 1,100 workers and filed for bankruptcy, which is odd considering the company posted 2,000 percent growth in sales revenue over the past three years. Along with the massive loan guarantee, Solyndra secured over $1 billion in private investment.
]]>In 1992, Toyota launched an initiative to design and market the world’s first fuel cell automobiles. Coincidentally, this was the same year that the Earth Summit was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, highlighting among other things the negative effects of excessive CO2 emissions released into the atmosphere. Toyota has been working to answer the call to develop lower or no-emission automobiles utilizing advanced fuel cell technology ever since.
]]>The United States is heading into a boom period for natural gas thanks to the recent discovery of shale gas reserves. New hydraulic fracturing technology is giving companies access to oil and gas reserves once thought to be unreachable. Domestic and international companies are scrambling to buy up as much shale land as possible, but there’s a crucial link in the natural gas supply chain that has also drawn much attention. With the shale boom will come the need for increased pipeline capacity to move the abundant natural gas from place to place. Southern Union Company owns and/or operates over 15,000 miles of natural gas pipelines throughout the American Midwest and southern states, and summer 2011 has seen a heated bidding war arise as pipeline companies Energy Transfer and Williams compete to acquire Southern Union.
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Nickel is one of the most sought after metals in the industrial world for its use in magnets, coins, rechargeable batteries, and most importantly, stainless steel. In fact, roughly two-thirds of global nickel production goes to make stainless steel, and China produces and consumes the majority. But China has a secret that has helped it keep costs of producing stainless steel incredibly low, allowing the country to ramp up production and dominate the global market in recent years. What is this secret you ask? Nickel pig iron.
Nickel pig iron was developed in China specifically for stainless steel production. It is made from low-grade nickellaterite ores, which make up the majority of nickel resources in the world (about two-thirds), but until recently have been much more difficult to process than the more commonly mined nickel sulfide.
]]>Wireless telecommunications providers—a.k.a. mobile phone companies—are becoming some of the most powerful and profitable entities in the world. However, as their sphere of influence increases, so does their carbon footprint. Always on mobile devices like smartphones and tablet computers are making their way into the homes and businesses of billions of people around the world. Telecommunications giant Verizon has decided to seek help from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to improve energy efficiency in its products and for the industry as a whole.
]]>In June, ConocoPhillips was responsible for 3,200 barrels of oil and drilling fluids spilling into China’s largest offshore oil field, Pengai 19-3, in the Bohai Bay. The spill spread over 324 square miles. Now, the Chinese maritime authority is seeking damages, and suing ConocoPhillips for the spill.
]]>Hurricane Irene is about to slam into the east coast of the United States. As if the earthquake earlier this week wasn’t enough to shake up the region, a massive storm is going to wreak havoc on communities along the U.S. coast, and both communities and businesses are preparing for the onslaught. Stores like Wal-Mart, Home Depot, and Lowe’s are seeing unprecedented sales of disaster preparedness goods such as generators, flashlights, batteries and more.
Throughout North Carolina, where the storm is expected to strike first, lines at the Kitty Hawk Home Depot have been out the door, and the Ace Hardware store in Elizabeth City has reported tripled sales.
]]>Russia has always had its eyes on North Korea for commerce purposes, and while the rest of the world has targeted North Korea as a “rogue nation,” Russia recognizes the small country as its only hope for land access to both North and South Korean markets. In maintaining good relations with North Korea, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has earned an unprecedented pledge from North Korean President Kim Jong-Il to abandon nuclear testing and processing. Kim also agreed to provide passage to Russian gas suppliers for construction of gas pipelines to both North Korea and rival South Korea.
]]>Carsharing is a wonderful concept being adopted by several metropolitan cities. The idea is simple, carshare members have access to vehicles parked in lots throughout a given city. Instead of dealing with the headaches of owning a vehicle in a congested urban setting, carshare members have access to community vehicles. Most carshares have convenient online portals where members can sign up for a car model and time of pickup, go to one of the neighborhood carshare lots, and borrow the car for the day. Québec is putting a unique spin on the concept by offering North America’s largest all-electric carsharing service.
Communauto, Hydro-Québec, and Nissan Canada have teamed up for the partnership, preparing to launch the service in early 2012. Communauto has added 50 new Nissan LEAF electric vehicles to its fleet as part of the service.
]]>For fears of encroaching mining operations inhibiting rural residential quality of life, Queensland, Australia’s Premier Anna Bligh has announced a freeze on granting new exploration permits within a 2-kilometer boundary of towns with 1,000 people or more. The move will likely see litigation cases arise as mining companies already hold roughly 285 concessions in zones that violate the new boundaries.
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