Energy

Solar Plane Soars Into Record Book

- Adam Clare

Plane
A solar plane that flew without a human to control it stayed aloft for 54 hours. That’s right a plane that relies on energy from the sun continued to operate overnight. The plane, the QinetiQ’s Zephyr, broke the previous record for a solar plane staying the air.

The Zephyr, developed by UK based QinetiQ, is a lightweight unmmaned aircraft which uses a combination of a solar array and batteries to power its flights. The plane weights a relatively low 31kg and has a wingspan of about 16 metres. The total flight lasted for a total of 54 hours, which, if you do the math, is a very impressive number for a solar powered vehicle. The Zephyr went for two straight nights without stopping or refueling relying on its solar powered batteries for flying. It made it all the way up to 18,000 meters (58,000 ft).

Pee-Powered Batteries in Japan

- Adam Clare

This is too good to be true:

NoPoPo (Non-Pollution Power) Aqua Batteries are available in both AA and AAA form, although the company page shows they are producing the technology for all sizes of battery, and can only be currently purchased in Japan.

The batteries can be recharged with various different fluids using the new development which forms electric power using liquid as a catalyst.

Keep it Cool with no Energy

- Adam Clare

The other day in Vancouver I was discussing the inefficiencies of refrigeration and now it seems kinda freaky that the headline “MAGNETIC REFRIGERATOR NEEDS NO ELECTRICITY” appeared on my monitor the next day. To get straight to the meat of the matter:

The new method uses opposing magnetic fields to increase the temperature of the materials employed. The heat energy is transported through a non-volatile fluid, such as water, and then thermodynamically reversed to a cold temperature. The scientists have already been able to cool a 20° C room to 11°C using the new technology.

Solar is Hot in Germany

- arvin

A german co-worker told me how it rains practically everyday in his native town. So how does the country become the world’s top solar power producer?

Apparently, what’s good for the planet is also good for the German economy:

There are now 250,000 jobs in Germany in the renewables energy sector… jobs in solar power alone to double to 90,000 over the next five years and hit 200,000 in 2020.

As with any new development, there are critics who want to slow down government incentives for solar power use, but the government has other plans:

So far just 3 percent of Germany’s electricity comes from the sun, but the government wants to raise the share of renewables to 27 percent of all energy by 2020 from 13 percent.

But why in Germany and not anywhere else in the world? Frank Asbeck of SolarWorld AG explains:

Germans have a fondness for inventing and developing technologies — especially when it might lead to big export rates. Helping fight climate change is a bonus.

European Plan to Create a Vast Wind Power Network

- Craig J

The Economist reports that a continent-wide DC power network to transmit wind power could be built in Europe. Power could even be stored hydrodynamically by pumping water into reservoirs during times of low power use.

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