Volker Wachenfeld explains on the Renewable Energy Focus website that industries in remote areas globally with weak or even no grid infrastructure typically use fossil fuel generators to ensure a reliable energy supply. Integrating solar power into diesel-powered systems creates a reliable, resource-friendly and efficient energy supply. Integrating Solar into the Diesel Power Supply … Continue reading Ensuring electricity through hybrid solar-diesel systems
Author: Rod Janssen
This week’s briefs
There are a couple of good briefs this week. • WSED Young Researchers Conference The annual World Sustainable Energy Days in Wels, Austria has grown from strength to strength over recent years. The World Sustainable Energy Days are organised by the OÖ Energiesparverband, the energy agency of Upper Austria with the mission of promoting … Continue reading This week’s briefs
New IEA technology roadmap on hydrogen and fuel cells
The IEA has recently published an important new report on hydrogen and fuel cells. Hydrogen is an energy carrier that partly offers the advantages of fossil fuels – flexibility and energy density – with potentially a low carbon footprint. As a storehouse of low-carbon energy, it offers a means to integrate high shares of variable … Continue reading New IEA technology roadmap on hydrogen and fuel cells
Summer thoughts
Chris Mooney writes a timely article in the Washington Post about the benefits of nature. EiD certainly hopes you enjoy those benefits. Just looking at nature can help your brain work better, study finds While still relatively novel in the United States, so-called “green roofs” — urban rooftops covered with grasses, plants and other … Continue reading Summer thoughts
Impact of low oil prices on the deployment of renewable energy technologies in developing countries
Pilita Clark writes in the Financial Times about how the recent oil price plunge is affecting the installation of renewable energy technologies in many developing countries. Cheap oil endangers poorer nations’ switch to renewable energy After oil prices started edging back up above $100 a barrel at the start of this decade, a Canadian … Continue reading Impact of low oil prices on the deployment of renewable energy technologies in developing countries
Potential effects of low frequency noises from wind turbine blades
Sarah Knapton, Science Editor of the Daily Telegraph writes about new research showing that low frequency noises from turbine blades can be picked up and can trigger a part of the brain linked to emotions. Wind turbines may trigger danger response in brain Living near a wind turbine could harm emotional wellbeing after scientists … Continue reading Potential effects of low frequency noises from wind turbine blades
Understanding why smart meters could benefit consumers
There is a lot of controversy about the full benefits of the introduction of smart meters. Marcus Scheiber of ROC-Connect explains on the energyefficiencymarkets website about how to persuade consumers to adopt smart meters. As the author states, utilities understand the value of smart meters, but consumers still don’t get it. Do you? Helping … Continue reading Understanding why smart meters could benefit consumers
Developments in new energy-efficient houses in Ukraine
There has not been a lot of good news coming out of Ukraine. Mark Rachkevych writes on the Kyiv Post website about important new developments in energy-efficient housing. One developer's solution to energy efficient houses Some 20 kilometers northwest of Kyiv stands a 129-square meter, single-family country home that is as green as it … Continue reading Developments in new energy-efficient houses in Ukraine
Do you know how to use your thermostat?
Chris Mooney provides a good article in the Washington Post about how programmable thermostats in our homes are being misused. Many people have no idea how to use their thermostats — and it’s costing them With Americans cranking up their air conditioning to bear the summer heat, it’s time to talk about those confusing … Continue reading Do you know how to use your thermostat?
UK position on energy efficiency getting clearer but not good
Florian Kern, co-Director of the Sussex Energy Group, a Research Fellow working on a project on ‘policy synergies and trade offs for low energy innovation‘ at the Centre on Innovation and Energy Demand, and a Senior Lecturer at SPRU-Science Policy Research Unit, writes about another about face for the UK government. This blog is on … Continue reading UK position on energy efficiency getting clearer but not good
