Menu

Blog

Archive for the ‘energy’ category: Page 137

Aug 3, 2022

Net zero carbon in the concrete industry will require not just changes in manufacturing standards

Posted by in categories: economics, energy, sustainability, transportation

The concrete industry is just one of many looking at new manufacturing methods to reduce its carbon footprint. These efforts are essential to fulfilling the Paris Agreement, which asks each of its signees to achieve a net-zero carbon economy by 2050. However, a new study from researchers in Japan and Belgium and focusing exclusively on Japan concludes that improved manufacturing technologies will only get the industry within 80% of its goal. Using a dynamic material flows analysis model, the study claim that the other 20% will have to come from changes in how concrete is consumed and managed, putting expectations on the buyer as well as the seller.

Electric cars, fluorescent lights, water-saving shower heads, these are all examples of efforts to lower our . However, the are made from the supply side, with companies developing new technologies that reduce the amount of energy consumed for the same amount of use. Notably, they put little demand on the user, who can use the product no differently than before.

The same holds true for concrete, the most consumed human-made material in the world. Many studies have shown the potential for making the concrete industry more energy efficient through esoteric efforts like “clinker-to-cement ratio reduction,” “cement substitution with alternative binders,” and “ capture and utilization.” The problem, explains Dr. Takuma Watari, a researcher at the Japan National Institute for Environmental Studies and lead of the new study, is that supply-side efforts are not enough if nations are serious about achieving net-zero carbon emissions.

Aug 3, 2022

Researchers propose affordable and sustainable alternative to lithium-ion batteries

Posted by in categories: chemistry, energy, sustainability

Concerns regarding scarcity, high prices, and safety regarding the long-term use of lithium-ion batteries has prompted a team of researchers from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to propose a greener, more efficient, and less expensive energy storage alternative.

In research published recently in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS), corresponding author Nikhil Koratkar, the John A. Clark and Edward T. Crossan Professor of Engineering at Rensselaer, and his team, assert that could be used as an alternative to lithium-ions in batteries because of its abundance and low cost.

“The vast majority of rechargeable battery products are based on lithium-ion technology, which is the gold standard in terms of performance,” said Dr. Koratkar. “However, the Achilles’ heel for lithium-ion technology is cost. Lithium is a limited resource on the planet, and its price has increased drastically in recent years. We are working on an inexpensive, abundant, safe, and sustainable battery chemistry that uses ions in an aqueous, water-based electrolyte.”

Aug 3, 2022

Why Quantum Money Could Replace Blockchain-Based Cryptocurrencies

Posted by in categories: blockchains, cryptocurrencies, economics, energy, quantum physics

A new type of quantum money could make energy-sapping blockchains obsolete, say researchers.

Aug 3, 2022

The Kardashev Scale Type I, II, III, IV & V Civilization — Documentary

Posted by in categories: education, energy

https://youtube.com/watch?v=pCA7HE1FvXg

We have reached a turning point in society. According to renowned theoretical physicist Michio Kaku, the next 100 years of science will determine whether we perish or thrive. Will we remain a Type 0 civilization, or will we advance and make our way into the stars?

Experts assert that, as a civilization grows larger and becomes more advanced, its energy demands will increase rapidly due to its population growth and the energy requirements of its various machines. With this in mind, the Kardashev scale was developed as a way of measuring a civilization’s technological advancement based upon how much usable energy it has at its disposal (this was originally just tied to energy available for communications, but has since been expanded).

Aug 3, 2022

Augmented reality could be the future of paper books, according to new research

Posted by in categories: augmented reality, education, energy

“Augmented books, or a-books, can be the future of many book genres, from travel and tourism to education. This technology exists to assist the reader in a deeper understanding of the written topic and get more through digital means without ruining the experience of reading a paper book.”

Power efficiency and pre-printed conductive paper are some of the new features which allow Surrey’s augmented books to now be manufactured on a semi-industrial scale. With no wiring visible to the reader, Surrey’s augmented reality books allow users to trigger with a simple gesture (such as a swipe of a finger or turn of a page), which will then be displayed on a nearby device.

Aug 3, 2022

Chesapeake Energy to supply gas to Golden Pass LNG

Posted by in category: energy

U.S. oil and gas company Chesapeake Energy has entered into a term gas supply agreement (GSA) with Golden Pass LNG Terminal, a joint venture of QatarEnergy and ExxonMobil.

Under the deal, Chesapeake is to deliver 300 milllion cubic feet per day of gas from Haynesville to Golden Pass’s LNG terminal on the Gulf Coast near Sabine Pass, Texas.

The GSA is to start in 2024 with a 36-month term at an NYMEX-based price less a fixed differential.

Aug 3, 2022

World could install 250 GW of solar this year, claims Bloomberg analyst

Posted by in categories: energy, sustainability

Rob Barnett, a senior clean energy analyst for Bloomberg, forecasts a 30% increase in global PV deployment this year, and double-digit growth through 2025.


Demand is pushing solar growth across the world to new heights, as Bloomberg senior analyst Rob Barnett forecasts deployment to increase by 30% this year. Total global solar deployment is closing in on 1 TW installed – an impressive milestone for the energy transition.

“The global solar picture is just staggering at this point,” Barnett told Yahoo Finance. “We are on track to install something like 250 GW of solar capacity this year.”

Continue reading “World could install 250 GW of solar this year, claims Bloomberg analyst” »

Aug 3, 2022

Why The High Plains Turns Off Its turbines To Limit Wind Production While The Texas Power Grid Is Stressed

Posted by in category: energy

While wind farms in the region could help power and lower energy costs for at least 9 million homes, significant infrastructure upgrades would be needed to supply electricity from the region to other parts of the state.

Aug 3, 2022

This tiny camera can show the world from a bug’s point of view

Posted by in categories: electronics, energy

Steerable arm helps save energy while capturing panoramic views.

Aug 2, 2022

This giant ‘water battery’ under the Alps could be a game-changer for renewable energy in Europe

Posted by in categories: energy, sustainability

? Hydroelectric generation?


New pumped storage hydropower facility Nant de Drance uses state-of-the-art technology to store renewable energy for on-demand use. It could play a vital role in stabilizing Europe’s grid as the continent transitions to renewable energy.