Regular readers will know that The Ferret is a big fan of solar power. No other technology has the potential to replace our energy needs so efficiently and conveniently as solar. Sure, wind and sea turbines offer superb output at scale, but unless you have a few million in spare change, it’s not likely that you’ll be able to enjoy your own wind or sea power anytime soon. It’s only solar, with it’s local, household level (or even vehicle level)…
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Flexible Solar Sheets – new solar option could expand implementation
Solar panels are, well, panels but what if they were more like fabric? A new type of solar sheet developed by the company, Solivus, is thin, flexible and can be attached to just about anything giving a variety of structures their own renewable energy option without major installation needed.
Read MoreHarnessing the Dark – new solar cell draws power at night
Solar energy is the go to for renewable energy but what happens at night? Especially when you can’t store the energy gained during the day? Rather than what are currently expensive battery options, we may be able to harness the power of darkness.
Read MoreLithium-Sulphur Batteries – charge your phone once a week
Battery life is the bane of all modern technologies. Doesn’t matter how awesome something is, if the battery doesn’t last long enough, it’s functionally worthless. This is true for our phones, cars and renewable energy options. A new type of lithium-sulphur battery may change all of this though.
Read MoreHydrogen in Natural Gas – the future of heating
Natural gas is commonly used for heating and it, like so many other things, causes emissions. In order to help cut those emissions, a test is going on at Keele University where natural gas is blended with 20% hydrogen to make a gas that releases less emissions.
Read MoreMore Speed for Wind Power – global winds pick up speed
Good news for wind energy enthusiasts! The planet’s wind speeds are up which means this method of energy generation could potentially be even more efficient over the next decade or so. This is likely due to climate change but at least it can be part of the solution instead of adding to the problem.
Read MoreThe Future Needs Batteries – in order to get the most renewable energy, we need energy storage
Renewable energy is the future because emissions caused by current energies are literally killing us. But the sun doesn’t always shine, the wind doesn’t always blow so how do we keep up with demand? The answer is simple: Batteries! But to become fully sustainable, we’re going to have to ramp up their production and quality.
Read MoreFacebook Buys Wind Power – social media company locks in deal for chunk of renewable energy
Social media uses a lot of power. Those servers full of baby pictures and memes aren’t running on sunshine and good will, they need energy. Facebook has signed up to by 200-megawatts worth of power from Aviator Wind.
Read MoreSynthetic Fuel from Air Conditioning – new research into turning air cons into oil plants
Air conditioning uses a lot of energy but some people really need it because it gets hot out there! In the future though, such systems may actually be able to create fuels making a new synthetic renewable energy source.
Read MoreSunflower Solar Islands – these solar panels will track the sun
Alternative energy farms are getting a lot of flack on the ground as they’re big and interrupt wildlife which is why we’re putting them in the ocean. Dutch engineers are putting a new spin on them by building solar islands that follow the sun, like a sun flower!
Read MoreCalifornia Hits 33% Renewable – the state makes it’s goal of a third before 2020
Locations around the world are making moves toward more sustainable energy solutions. Slowly but surely, everyone is jumping on this bandwagon which makes sense since the alternative is. . . not good. Although there’s still a whole lot of work to be done, it’s good to celebrate the successes! California has met its goal of being 33% renewable and it did it early.
Read MoreMore Wind-farms for the UK – country strikes deal for massive uptick in renewable energy
In order to combat climate change we need to move to more renewable ways to generate it. Lucky for us, we don’t need to figure out what these are because some of the answers are already out there. One of them is offshore wind power and the UK has just committed to using more of it. Yay!
Read More30 million solar panels could cover Florida by 2030
Renewable energy is the focus of many countries, and right now the easiest tool to get things done, are solar panels. This industry is set to boost, and this is evident with a plan to have up to 30 million solar panels installed throughout Florida by 2030.
Read MoreSolar Windows could lead to the end of the solar panel era
The sun is probably the best source for renewable energy, and solar panels are the tools designed to extract that energy for use in our daily lives. As it stands, solar isn’t being used to its full potential, but the folks at Solar Window are aiming to change that.
Read MoreInCharge – these charge ports coming to the UK use all renewable energy
Electric cars need places to juice up and Vattenfall is going to be installing charging stations in the UK which is awesome because their ports are powered totally by renewable energy making driving an electric car, that much more eco-friendly as long as they’re using one of the InCharge ports.
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