The Future Of Concentrating Solar Power Technologies

Washington DC (SPX) 
April 01, 2011

Solar thermal power generation depends on both a high solar intensity and a large amount of direct incident radiation not scattered by clouds. The best sites are generally in arid, desert regions with high annual sunshine levels. Most of these sites are found between 15 and 40 of latitude either side of the equator.

Camelina-Based Biofuel Breaks Sound Barrier

Bozeman MT (SPX) 
April 01, 2011

Sustainable Oils, a producer of renewable, low carbon and domestically made fuels, announced jet fuel derived from its camelina powered the successful test flight of a U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor aircraft. The aircraft was powered by a 50/50 fuel blend of conventional petroleum-based JP-8 and biofuel derived from camelina.

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China may double solar power capacity goal

Peoples Daily
April 1, 2011

China, the world's largest solar panel exporter, is likely to boast 10 gigawatts (gW) of solar power capacity by 2015 from the current 1 gW, doubling its existing target amid rising doubts about the safety of nuclear power.

The country may double its target for solar power capacity to 10 gW in 2015 from the 5 gW originally planned the China Securities Journal reported on Wednesday, citing unnamed sources. 
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Green Machine: Electric charging, fast as petrol

New Scientist
April 1, 2011


The humble hairbrush could hold the answer to building fast-charging electric car batteries.
Existing batteries used to power electric cars take up to eight hours to charge, compared to the few minutes it takes to fill a tank with petrol. While fast-charging units that can fill up a car in around 30 minutes are available, Amy Prieto and colleagues at Colorado State University in Fort Collins have now built a prototype battery with hairbrush-like electrodes that can be charged in just a few minutes.
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Chrysler Experiments with Hydraulic Hybrid Minivans

Technology Review
April 1, 2011

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Chrysler Group have partnered to test a hydraulic hybrid system for minivans that could be cheaper than conventional hybrid systems and could save more gasoline. EPA and Chrysler are each spending $2 million (for a total of $4 million) on the project, and they expect to begin road testing next year.
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UK researchers pioneer development of robotic bureaucrats

The Engineer
April 1, 2011

Engineers at the UK’s Robotics Research Institute (RRI) have received a £60 million grant to develop intelligent robots that could dramatically reduce the operating costs of local authorities and even central government.

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Spain seeks to develop value chain for aviation biofuel

The Engineer
March 30, 2011

The Spanish government, Iberia Airlines and Airbus have signed an agreement to develop a complete Spanish ‘value chain’ for sustainable and renewable aviation biofuel for commercial use.

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