NASA develops liquid methanol fuel cell to produce electricity

Scientists at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, have developed a direct methanol fuel cell technology that uses liquid methanol to produce electricity without additional processing. The novel fuel cell, which was developed in partnership with the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, uses liquid methanol, an alcohol compound usually known as wood alcohol or methyl alcohol, to produce electricity.

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Method to reduce biofuel costs by 80 percent developed

The research team at the Biodesign Institute of Arizona State University has developed a method that can reduce biofuel production costs by 80 percent through removing key obstacles to producing the clean fuel by reprogramming microbes. “The real costs involved in any biofuel production are harvesting the goodies and turning them into fuel.

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Argonne researchers look to hydrogen extraction from carbohydrates in biomass

In its aim to find ways of harvesting hydrogen based on plant material sources, Argonne National Laboratory scientists are now looking at another option of effectively extracting the element from biomass. Carbohydrates, the sugar that plants produce in the occurrence of photosynthesis, are the next source material that scientists are considering to harvest hydrogen from.

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Aviation biofuel industry in Pacific Northwest possible with government backing

A recent study made by the Sustainable Aviation Fuels Northwest revealed that the establishment of an aviation biofuel industry in the Pacific Northwest, if backed by the US government, is possible. The 10-month study conducted by the group examined all phases of aviation biofuel development, including biomass production and harvest, refining, transport and airport infrastructure and actual use by airlines.

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General Electric introduces 1.6-100 wind turbine, already has 393 unit orders

General Electric Company has launched its new onshore wind turbine targeted at the low wind speed market and already received more than 630 megawatts worth of orders from projects in the United States and Brazil.The 1.6-100 combines parts from G.E.’s 1.5-MW turbine with its 2.5-MW turbine. It is designed to have blades that extend 100 meters— a height of 33 stories — increasing the area it can sweep and capture wind by 47 percent compared with previous models.

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Argonne researchers replicate photosynthesis for hydrogen production

Researchers from Argonne National Laboratory found a way of mimicking the photosynthesis process of plants to harvest hydrogen, opening up another way of producing the element for potential fueling applications. The group developed a platinum nanoparticle catalyst which they linked with Photosystem I, a type of protein complex which enables light reaction on plants, algae and some types of bacteria.

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PowerGenix builds nickel-zinc batteries for micro-hybrid industry

Battery company PowerGenix has started producing prototypes of nickel-zinc batteries designed for the micro-hybrid vehicles industry. The company claimed that the power storage can compete with the three commonly used battery types in the hybrid industry: lead-based, lithium ion and nickel hydride batteries. The nickel-zinc power storage has a better charge acceptance and lifespan than lead-acid types, despite being shorter and lighter than lead-based batteries.

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U.S. weather extremes show ‘new normal’ climate

WASHINGTON, May 18 (Reuters) - Heavy rains, deep snowfalls, monster floods and killing droughts are signs of a "new normal" of extreme United States weather events fueled by climate change, scientists and government planners said on Wednesday. "It's a new normal and I really do think that global weirding is the best way to describe what we're seeing," climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe of Texas Tech University told reporters.

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Too much hydro: Bonneville Power Administration to shut off wind power

The Bonneville Power Administration, a federal transmission utility, will start implementing a policy of shutting down wind turbines as a last resort in periods of excess generation from hydropower in the Pacific Northwest. B.P.A.'s Environmental Redispatch policy, which will remain in place until March 30 next year, will limit, if needed, wind energy generation connected to the Pacific Northwest’s power transmission system and allow free hydropower from federal dams on the Columbia River system to fill the gap with their excess capacity.

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Eight U.S. biomass projects get needed funding from $ 47-million federal grant

The United States Department of Energy and Department of Agriculture jointly launched a new $47 million grant program to fund researchers and start-up companies developing renewable fuels from biomass sources. The federal grant program divides $47 million among eight projects located in different areas of the country, including Hawaii, chosen through a competitive selection process.

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