Suntech Breaks Solar Panel Efficiency Record – Again
Suntech Breaks Solar Panel Efficiency Record – Again
Energy Matters 24 SEPTEMBER, 2009
“…… The company announced yesterday it had again beaten all previous records for polycrystalline silicon module conversion efficiency. The new world record conversion efficiency (aperture area only) was measured at 16.53% by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE in Germany. Continue reading
Decentralised renewable power, not centralised nuclear, is the answer
the true Solartopian solution to our energy crisis.
COUNTER PUNCH Harvey Wasserman 23 Sept
Mycle Schneider, Paris-based author of WHAT FRANCE GOT WRONG in NUCLEAR ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL, gets it right: “For least cost and greatest security, the energy future lies in affordable, distributed, superefficient technologies, smart grids and sustainable urbanism. Continue reading
Germany OKs Huge Offshore Wind Farms
Germany OKs Huge Offshore Wind Farms
The German cabinet has approved a plan for 40 more North Sea and Baltic wind parks that could create 30,000 jobs and power 8 million homesSPIEGEL ONLINE September 21, 2009, Continue reading
US govt considers phasing out fossil fuel subsidies
White House eyeing phasing out fossil fuel subsidies
(ChattahBox) 20 Sept 09 —Ending subsidies to dirty fossil fuel industries is on the agenda for the upcoming G-20 summit to be held in Pittsburgh later this month. Continue reading
‘Clean coal’ funds robbing renewable energy
Clean coal funds are robbing renewable energy
COAL MINING 16 September 2009CAPRICORN Conservation Council vice-president Ian Herbert says money spent on clean coal should be funding renewable energy technology.
Clean coal technology is an umbrella term used to describe technologies being developed that aim to reduce the environmental impact of coal energy generation such as carbon capture and storage (CCS).
Herbert claims clean coal is still unproved and Australia would be far more advanced if the funds were spent on developing renewable energy sources.
The representative says even if clean coal is proven, workable clean coal technology is still at least 20 years off.
Myth that nuclear power promotes ‘energy security’
European Expert: U.S. Policymakers Are ‘As Wrong As They Can Be’ About The French Experience With Nuclear Power Marignac Says
REUTERS WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire
“………– Nuclear power in France has not promoted energy independence. Nuclear power in France is a major presence, providing 76 percent of electricity produced in 2008. However, electricity accounted for only 20.7 percent of the final energy consumption in France that year. Excluding electricity exports, the overall contribution of nuclear power to France’s final energy consumption is only in the range of 14 percent. Continue reading
International energy agency says India could be renewables leader
India has potential to be leader in renewable energy: IRENA
Business Standard Press Trust of India / New Delhi September 11, 2009,
India has the potential to be the leader in the renewable energy sector, International Renewable Energy Agency chief Helene Pelosse said today….. Continue reading
Renewables, not nuclear, best for India
Energy – Indian Perspective
MyNews.in 11-Sep-2009 Dr. Hitesh Bajpai
“…………….Solar power relies on the energy produced by nuclear fusion in the Sun. This energy can be collected and converted in different ways, such as simple water heating for domestic use or by the direct conversion of sunlight to electrical energy using mirrors, boilers, or photovoltaic cells. The technology is improving and the economics are getting more competitive. Continue reading
Nuclear is not “the answer”
Nuclear is not the answerL slowing down in a sped-up world
Science blogs Rebecca Solnit 9 Sept 09
“………….Well, the first problem is that they still think like big science–that there is “the answer.” In fact, there are hundreds of little answers that don’t include nuclear, including scaling back our consumption and travel and building better and using a lot of the elegant new engineering Continue reading
Coal on the outer as US goes green
Coal on the outer as US goes green
THE AUSTRALIAN Peter Beattie | September 05, 2009
“………Projects to build new coal-fired power stations are being abandoned from Florida to Utah. Money is pouring in for renewable energy and legislation is being enacted to support it……………. Continue reading
Edward Kennedy’s legacy for clean energy, and a clean environment
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, champion of the environment and clean energy, dies at 77
Grist by Joseph Romm 26 August
“He was a great champion of progressive causes, and his death is a great loss,………..
His legacy on “Protecting the Environment and Promoting Energy Efficiency” is below. How many Senators would even mention “energy efficiency” among their achievements?……
Promoting Energy Research and Development
In 2007, Senator Kennedy’s “America COMPETES Act” was passed by both chambers of Congress and sent to the White House to become law. That bill established an Advanced Research Projects Authority at the Department of Energy to be the focal point of federal efforts to support breakthrough research on new clean energy technologies.
In 2009, Senator Kennedy urged that funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act be used to build a wind blade technology testing facility in Massachusetts, and in May 2009, Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced that $25 million of such funds will be available for the project at the Autoport in Charlestown.
Improving Energy Efficiency
Senator Kennedy was a strong proponent of increasing energy efficiency, which is an essential part of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. He was a long time supporter of programs like the weatherization assistance program and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program that helps those most in need reduce their energy bills by improving home energy efficiency.
…. Kennedy Fought to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Address Global Warming. During consideration of the FY 2002 Budget Resolution, Senator Kennedy cosponsored an amendment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address concerns related to global climate change. The amendment sought to promote voluntary programs for reducing emissions in the near term. In addition, Senator Kennedy’s amendment included provisions designed to assist developing countries in addressing the danger of global warming and specifically increased funding to help them reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Finally, the amendment provided additional funding for programs that assist U.S. businesses willing to export clean energy technologies to developing nations………
Kennedy Opposed the Permanent Nuclear Waste Storage Facility at Yucca Mountain. Senator Kennedy is a strong opponent of the plan to create a permanent storage facility for nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. The potential for groundwater contamination from the site is yet to be determined, and the transfer of nuclear materials to Nevada from almost every state in the nation raises serious safety concerns. In addition, in March 2005, the Department of Energy admitted that falsified documents were used to ensure the credibility and safety of operations at Yucca Mountain. Until questions are resolved that will guarantee the health of both the public and the environment, it is irresponsible to approve a permanent storage site for nuclear waste.
‘Fourth Generation’ Nuclear Power
ENERGY BULLETIN by Jim Green 25 August 09
‘Integral fast reactors’ and other ‘fourth generation’ nuclear power concepts have been gaining attention, in part because of comments by US climate scientist James Hansen.
…… There are two main problems……. nuclear power could at most make a modest contribution to climate change abatement, mainly because it is used almost exclusively for electricity generation which accounts for about one-quarter of global greenhouse emissions. Continue reading
German customers are saying ‘No Thanks” to nuclear power
Many German customers are saying ‘No Thanks” to nuclear power
American German Business News Flavia Westerwelle 24 August 09
After the recent nuclear reactor shutdown at the Vattenfall Kruemmel nuclear plant near Hamburg, Germany, many German customers are preferring green energy.On July 4th, 2009 the Kruemmel nuclear plant near Hamburg had been running for less than two weeks after a two year shutdown, when a sudden drop of voltage send shopping centers and traffic lights in Germany’s second largest city into an hour long blackout.After this incident the green energy company Lichtblick saw a dramatic jump in customers, with ca. 200 new customers per day.
This corresponds to a 70 % increase in customers for Lichtblick, a Hamburg-based company providing energy from renewable sources, with a mix of hydro, wind, solar and biomass power.It looks like the recent series of problems at nuclear plants combined with the issue of storing the nuclear waste has trigger a process of rethinking by many German customers eager to find a long term solution for Germany’s energy needs.
Many German customers are saying ‘No Thanks” to nuclear power « American-German Business News
Economic Climate Opens Door for Small Wind Energy Projects
Economic Climate Opens Door for Small Wind Energy Projects
REUTERS Renewable Energy World By Sarah Lozanova, Aug 18, 2009
Very few large-scale wind projects are able to obtain financing under the current economic climate. But falling turbine, steel and labor prices have created the perfect environment for mid-scale wind energy projects to thrive. Although total new installed capacity in 2009 may not rival the impressive 8,900 MW installed in North America in 2008, a golden opportunity exists for smaller wind development.
Small wind projects range in size from 100 kW to 30 MW and typically serve schools, farms, rural villages, businesses and municipal utility companies. Because these type of installations can access funding from various sources, they are less vulnerable to the credit crisis than their large-scale wind farm counterparts…………………
…………
Although 2009 may be a year to survive for some players in the wind industry, it presents a golden opportunity for the mid-scale market. Time will tell if this opening will result in a boom in this segment of the industry. “If this opportunity for smaller projects is successful, we will start seeing the turbines ordered this year for projects to be installed later in the year or in 2010,” says Slaymaker. “It sounds like there are a number of small to mid-size projects working towards turbine purchase right now.”
Reprinted with permission from
Economic Climate Opens Door for Small Wind Energy Projects | Green Business | Reuters
Chile: tidal power more likely than nuclear
Chile sees tidal power filling energy gap
SANTIAGO, Chile, Aug. 17 (UPI) — Chile is actively considering several tidal energy installations as a way of filling a major gap in its future energy needs and reducing dependence on coal-fired power generation. A feasibility study on the potential for exploiting the renewable energy resource in Chile found the country had a “unique” wealth of natural sites that, if harnessed only up to 10 percent of available tidal power, could exceed the installed capacity of Chile’s central grid. The study was conducted for the Inter-American Development Bank by Garrard Hassan energy consultancy, based in Bristol, England………………….. Electricity generation from tidal waves is a proven technology, more predictable than solar or wind power, and already used on a commercial scale by France since 1966. The French tidal barrage at Rance, operated by Electricite de France, produces 240 megawatts at peak time. Uses of tidal power in mills date back to Roman times. Tidal power generation units of varying capacity are in different stages of completion or operation in the United States, Canada, China, Russia, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand and India…………………… Chile’s tentative tilt toward tidal power follows intense debate over a switchover from coal-fired electricity generation to “clean” nuclear power, but the idea has led to an outcry from environmental campaign groups………………… If the environmental groups win the argument for renewable sources such as tidal power, Chile’s nuclear power generation program could be pushed to the back burner……………………. Chile’s environmental groups oppose the nuclear option also because they cite the country’s earthquake fault lines as a major risk. Amid the ongoing discussions, for now at least, tidal power seems to stand a greater chance of winning friends among politicians who will fund its introduction to Chile. Chile sees tidal power filling energy gap – UPI.com
1 This Month
PLEASE OPPOSE HR 8255 AND S.3639 – bills would accelerate satellite deployment, with no environmental review or safeguards – https://ncstd5li.quorum.us/campaign/169331/
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity – go to https://nuclearinformation.wordpress.com
-
Archives
- September 2026 (330)
- August 2026 (330)
- July 2026 (355)
- June 2026 (287)
- May 2026 (306)
- April 2026 (356)
- March 2026 (251)
- February 2026 (267)
- January 2026 (308)
- December 2025 (358)
- November 2025 (359)
- October 2025 (375)
-
Categories
- 1
- 1 NUCLEAR ISSUES
- business and costs
- climate change
- culture and arts
- ENERGY
- environment
- health
- history
- indigenous issues
- Legal
- marketing of nuclear
- media
- opposition to nuclear
- PERSONAL STORIES
- politics
- politics international
- Religion and ethics
- safety
- secrets,lies and civil liberties
- spinbuster
- technology
- Uranium
- wastes
- weapons and war
- Women
- 2 WORLD
- ACTION
- AFRICA
- Atrocities
- AUSTRALIA
- Christina's notes
- Christina's themes
- culture and arts
- Events
- Fuk 2022
- Fuk 2023
- Fukushima 2017
- Fukushima 2018
- fukushima 2019
- Fukushima 2020
- Fukushima 2021
- general
- global warming
- Humour (God we need it)
- Nuclear
- RARE EARTHS
- Reference
- resources – print
- Resources -audiovicual
- Weekly Newsletter
- World
- World Nuclear
- YouTube
-
RSS
Entries RSS
Comments RSS
