The process, loosely based on plant photosynthesis, uses solar energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen gases. When needed, the gases can then be re-combined in a fuel cell, creating carbon-free electricity whether the sun is shining or not.

According to project leader Prof. Daniel Nocera, “This is the nirvana of what we’ve been talking about for years. Solar power has always been a limited, far-off solution. Now, we can seriously think about solar power as unlimited and soon.”

Nocera has also explained that the process (video) uses natural materials, is inexpensive to conduct and is easy to set up. “That’s why I know this is going to work. It’s so easy to implement,” he said.

Other prominent scientists in the field have rushed to highlight the revolutionary potential of the new process. According to James Barber, biochemistry professor at Imperial College London, this research is a ‘giant leap’ towards generating clean, carbon-free energy on as massive scale. In a statement, he also said:

“This is a major discovery with enormous implications for the future prosperity of humankind. The importance of their discovery cannot be overstated since it opens up the door for developing new technologies for energy production, thus reducing our dependence for fossil fuels and addressing the global climate change problem.”

No news has yet been released of a predicted timescale to commericial development or mainstream adoption. However, Nocera has said that he’s hopeful that within 10 years homes will no longer be powered using electricity-by-wire from a central source. Instead, homeowners will be able to harness solar power during daylight hours and use this new energy storage method for electricity at night.

Source: CleanTechnica

Space Based Solar Power (SBSP) is an idea first voiced by scientist Dr. Peter Glaser over 40 years ago, and during times of high energy costs or crises in fossil fuel supplies, the idea keeps rearing its head. The premise is that large photovoltaic arrays can be assembled in a geosynchronous orbit at 22,000 miles above the Earth, generating electricity that can then be transmitted via microwave or lasers to Earth.

On the positive side of SBSP, power can be produced 24 hours a day, regardless of the time of year, and…Read More.

But not to fret. A boost in federal incentives could trigger a rapid sector rebound and ultimately global solar leadership by 2014.

According to cleantech market researcher Pike Research, “The United States has become one of the more aggressive nations in promoting alternative energy technologies.” But here’s the problem:

“At the federal level tax credits and depreciation incentives are not currently enough to encourage sustainable demand growth.”

Washington’s latest boost in clean energy subsidies, in other words, is just not cutting it with investors, not in the face of this financial crisis.

“Financing for solar projects remains elusive,” says the forecast, U.S. Solar Energy Demand Dynamics.

The report find that solar demand in the U.S. lags behind market leaders Spain and Germany in 2009 — despite fizzling subsidies and slow starts to the year in both those nations. In America, project cancellations and delays are also…Read More.

In addition to the flowers, Toyota is also demonstrating solar ventilation bus shelters in some cities. The shelters feature solar panels on the…Read More.

• Plan all your daily stops into one smooth route.
• Walk for short distances.
• Try using public transportation once a week.

2. Cruise Control.

• Use it, when driving on flat terrain.

3. Coasting.

• When traveling down an incline, let gravity do the work.

4. Limit Use of Heating and AC.

• When hot, keep the AC on until the interior is cool, then keep it off or on low.
• When cold, wear thicker clothing and keep the heating off or low.

5. Drive and Accelerate Slower.

• Driving smooth and steady uses much less gas.

6. Avoid Unnecessary Braking.

• Allow the car to decelerate naturally when stopping, instead of slamming the brake.

7. Replace Your Air Filter Every 12,000 Miles.

• A clogged air filter can drastically reduce a car’s fuel economy.
• You can save as much as 22 cents per gallon reducing a clogged air filter.

8. Get Rid of Junk.

• Reducing the weight of the car increases mileage.

9. Don’t Idle.

• Idling for more than 15 seconds uses more gas than restarting the engine.

10. Keeping Your Car Clean

• A washed and waxed car is more aerodynamic, which can benefit you with a 7-percent improvement in fuel economy.
• Plus, it looks good .

11. Check Your Tire Pressure.

• Under inflated tires can cost a 3.3-percent decrease in fuel economy.

12. Follow Your Cars Recommended Maintenance.

• A well maintained car performs better and uses gas more efficiently.

Solar power has historically been restricted to being a daytime source of energy as conventional photovoltaic solar panels produce energy only when the sun is shining. Storing solar energy for use at night has been expensive and inefficient. However, the Massachussettes Institute of Technology, or MIT, has announced that they have developed a simple, inexpensive, and very efficient solar energy storage process.

“This is the nirvana of what we’ve been talking about for years,” said MIT’s Daniel Nocera, the Henry Dreyfus Professor of Energy at MIT and senior author of a paper describing the work in the July 31 issue of Science. “Solar power has always been a limited, far-off solution. Now we can seriously think about solar power…Read More.

Nuclear power plants now provide about one-fifth of all the electricity used in the United States. Adding more nuclear plants—or getting more power out of the ones we have—could help us meet growing energy demand without adding to greenhouse gas emissions or oil imports.

At MIT, researchers are looking to improve both current and future plants by changing the design—or “geometry”—of the fuel inside the reactor. “We’ve had many…Read More.

U.S. businesses and individuals could save money, curb emissions of global warming pollutants, reduce our dependence on foreign oil and cut energy consumption by 23 percent by 2020, merely by taking sensible, practical steps to use energy more efficiently, says a report from McKinsey & Company released today.

What’s more, energy efficiency is the very best way to create so-called green jobs — yes, even better than subsidizing solar or wind power — because it makes the economy more productive in the long run.

So what’s standing in the way?…Read More.

The bright sparks at the country’s Technion Institute of Technology in Haifa have developed a road that generates power when vehicles pass over it.

And they hope the technology will reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.

In a university car park, Haim Abramovich and his team run a heavy truck repeatedly over a special…Read More.