Devices from electric cars to laptops could benefit from a new kind of capacitor, which combines the best features of conventional devices to store a large quantity of charge and release it rapidly.
Read more here: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16768-atomic-construction-yields-punchier-power-store.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news
Scientists there have come up with a preliminary design for a reactor that requires only a small amount of enriched fuel–that is, the kind whose atoms can easily be split in a chain reaction. It’s called a traveling-wave reactor. And while government researchers intermittently bring out new reactor designs, the traveling-wave reactor is noteworthy for [...]
Solar power continues to be a focus for the United States—a nation continuing to strive for breakthroughs in alternative energy. Last night, when President Barack Obama addressed Congress, he mentioned solar power in the United States. “We invented solar technology, but we’ve fallen behind countries like Germany and Japan in producing it.” While other countries [...]
The US Department of Energy invites comments and suggestions on all key topics, findings, themes, and suggestions found in the Proceedings of their Wind Energy Workshops. Input is especially encouraged on possible analytical and R&D pathways which could contribute to the achievement of the 20% Wind by 2030 scenario.
Read more here: http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/progress_alerts.cfm/pa_id=149
A solar power milestone was reached on Tuesday when First Solar Inc. brought its manufacturing costs for solar panels down to $1 per watt. But a study from the University of California and Lawrence Berkeley National Labs suggests that this might be the bottom for a price-point—if solar power is ever going to scale up [...]