Energy

Toronto Residents See the Light

- Adam Clare 3 Comments

Solar power maybe coming to a roof near you, if you live in Toronto. Some residents in the city are purchasing solar panels in bulk, so they can get a cheaper rate, and are installing them on their roofs. It’s a great way to save money, the environment, and meet Kyoto Protocol goals, something that Canada should be aware of.

Other communities have done this, and let’s hope that these Toronto purchasers will lead the way for others to do the same.

“In the Riverdale, Leslieville, and Beaches communities, about 75 homeowners have banded together to make a bulk purchase of rooftop solar photovoltaic panels that will meet a portion of each home’s power demands. Solera Sustainable Energies Co. won the contract and will begin installing the panels this week.
Across the city, in an area encompassing Parkdale, High Park, the Annex, and Seaton Village, a group of more than 150 homeowners has been similarly inspired and will soon invite interested solar companies to bid for their business. This grassroots project has caught the attention of the Harbord Village Residents Association, which is now considering its own bulk-purchase initiative.”

The Poop-Powered Generator of the Future?

- Benny Powers 1 Comment

Scientist at Ghent University in Belgium and University of Queensland in Australia are working on a prototype device that generates electricity from the solid waste that we humans produce every day.

The process works by harnessing the energy that waste-eating bacteria make and turning it into electricity.

Not surprisingly, the researchers are hoping to use the technology to power water treatment plants, but they say a domestic power plant is also possible in the future

Major Technical Hurdle to Fusion Power Overcome

- Benny Powers

A major technical problem in the development of fusion reactors has been overcome. Scientists working at an experimental reactor in San Diego have solved the problem of plasma containment.

Before this breakthrough, plasma would leak out of it’s container and cause expensive damage to the equipment. The researchers still don’t fully understand how their solution works, so they will have to do more research before the reactors can go into production, but this is a great step forward.

Fusion reactors utilize the same nuclear reaction that occurs inside the sun to produce electricity. Fusion power is hailed as the next great solution to the energy crisis.

Underwater Turbines

- Adam Clare

There is no more damn need for dams when it comes to harnessing water for hydroelectricity. A company has created and tested underwater turbines that have little effect on the environment. VOA News has an excellent article on why dams are problematic and why these new underwater turbines are a far better way to produce hydroelectricity.

“Taylor says one of the advantages is that it doesn’t damage marine life. “There is lots of room to swim around, they can go through, not a problem. It would be like us walking through a revolving door.””

Green Goo a Go!

- Adam Clare

Algae will be used to power New York State, they will use an algae that consumes carbon-dioxcide (which is a greenhouse gas) to make electricity!

“In a partnership announced Tuesday, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority is funding the project, which will test GreenFuel’s CO2 recycling technology at NRG’s coal-fired power plant in Dunkirk, N.Y.”

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