ScienceDaily: Renewable Energy News

Classifying solar eruptions

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:38:38 EST
Solar flares are giant explosions on the sun that send energy, light and high speed particles into space. These flares are often associated with solar magnetic storms known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs). While these are the most common solar events, the sun can also emit streams of very fast protons -- known as solar energetic particle (SEP) events -- and disturbances in the solar wind known as corotating interaction regions (CIRs). All of these can produce a variety of "storms" on Earth that can -- if strong enough -- interfere with short wave radio communications, GPS signals, and Earth's power grid, among other things.

New material to remove radioactive gas from spent nuclear fuel

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:03:03 EST
Research by chemists could impact worldwide efforts to produce clean, safe nuclear energy and reduce radioactive waste. They have used metal-organic frameworks to capture and remove volatile radioactive gas from spent nuclear fuel.

Power generation is blowing in the wind

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:16:16 EST
By looking at the stability of the atmosphere, wind farm operators could gain greater insight into the amount of power generated at any given time. Power generated by a wind turbine largely depends on the wind speed. In a wind farm in which the turbines experience the same wind speeds but different shapes (such as turbulence) to the wind profile, a turbine will produce different amounts of power. This variable power can be predicted by looking at atmospheric stability, according to new research.

Solar energy: New sunflower-inspired pattern increases concentrated solar efficiency

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:40:40 EST
A new sunflower-inspired pattern increases concentrated solar efficiency.

Greenhouses and solar power: Crop testing with a special photovoltaic panel for greenhouses

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:38:38 EST
A new photovoltaic module allows electricity to be generated without greenhouse crops being affected by over-shading.

New research helps predict bat presence at wind energy facilities

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:59:59 EST
An interactive tool developed by researchers from the USDA Forest Service's Pacific Southwest Research Station will help wind energy facility operators make informed decisions on efficient ways to reduce impacts on migratory bats.

Weather deserves medal for clean air during 2008 Olympics

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 11:17:17 EST
New research suggests that China's impressive feat of cutting Beijing's pollution up to 50 percent for the 2008 Summer Olympics had some help from Mother Nature. Rain just at the beginning and wind during the Olympics likely contributed about half of the effort needed to clean up the skies, scientists found. The results also suggest emission controls need to be more widely implemented than in 2008 if pollution levels are to be reduced permanently.