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From soil microbe to super-efficient biofuel factory?From soil microbe to super-efficient biofuel factory?

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory scientists are exploring whether a common soil bacterium can be engineered to produce liquid transportation fuels much more efficiently than the ways in which advanced biofuels are made today. The process would be powered only by hydrogen and electricity. The goal is a biofuel—or electrofuel, as this new approach is called—that doesn’t require photosynthesis.

Commercial building owners can save big with energy controls

Commercial building owners can save big with energy controls

According to a recent report from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, U.S. commercial building owners could save an average of 38% on their heating and cooling bills if they installed a handful of energy efficiency controls that make their heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems more energy efficient.

Luminescent LED-type solar cell design breaks efficiency record

Luminescent LED-type solar cell design breaks efficiency record

Theoretically, a solar cell can achieve 33.5% efficiency under ideal conditions, but until now researchers had hit only 26%. This past year, a company called Alta Devices acted on the theory that emission and voltage go hand-in-hand by creating solar cell that acts like a light-emitting diode. Its prototype broke the record, achieving 28.3% efficiency.

Summer gas prices to be stable if...

Gasoline prices this summer could stay relatively steady provided that an already-tense Middle East doesn't flare up and nothing else happens to disrupt supplies, a Purdue University economist says.

Civil engineers find savings where the rubber meets the road

Civil engineers find savings where the rubber meets the road

A new study by civil engineers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology shows that using stiffer pavements on the nation's roads could reduce vehicle fuel consumption by as much as 3%—a savings that could add up to 273 million barrels of crude oil per year, or $15.6 billion at today's oil prices. This would result in an accompanying annual decrease in carbon dioxide emissions of 46.5 million metric tons.

Romney oil adviser also a big super PAC donor

Oklahoma oil billionaire Harold Hamm didn't wait long to make a nearly $1 million donation to a group supporting Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney after he became one of Romney's top energy advisers in March. Just weeks after Hamm joined the Romney campaign, he gave $985,000 to a...

Coalition to develop world’s cleanest passenger train

Coalition to develop world’s cleanest passenger train

Plans to create the world's first carbon-neutral higher-speed locomotive were unveiled this week by the Coalition for Sustainable Rail, which has the goal of proving the viability of solid biofuel—torrefied biomass—and modern steam locomotive technology. The first step in those plans is to break the world speed record for steam trains.

Judge to weigh lifting engineer's travel limits

A federal magistrate has scheduled a hearing on a former BP engineer's request for permission to travel freely throughout the U.S. while he awaits a trial on charges he deleted text messages about the oil company's response to the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.U.S. Magistrate Daniel...

Methane reported in 2 northern Pa. water wells

State environmental regulators say methane had to be vented from a pair of private drinking wells near a northern Pennsylvania natural gas drilling well.The Department of Environmental Protection says gas bubbling has also been reported in wetlands near the homes in LeRoy Township, Bradford...

Head of US nuclear safety agency to step down

The chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, under fire for what fellow commissioners called an intimidating, even bullying style, announced his resignation Monday.NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko said in a written statement that it was the right time to step down, adding that he hoped his...

Pa. firm announces $380M gas pipeline expansion

A Pennsylvania company will invest $380 million to expand natural gas pipelines in the state.Penn Virginia Resource Partners, L.P., of Radnor, said Monday that some of the expansions to its Lycoming County pipeline will begin in the next two weeks and be finished later this year. Other parts of...

Reaction uses carbon dioxide to make carbon-based semiconductor

A materials scientist at Michigan Technological University has discovered a chemical reaction that not only eats up the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, it also creates something useful. And, by the way, it releases energy.

MDU Resources buys stake in Bakken project

A subsidiary of Bismarck-based MDU Resources Group Inc. has purchased 50 percent interest in oil and natural gas facilities near Belfield, in western North Dakota.Bitter Creek Pipelines LLC says it paid Denver-based Whiting Petroleum Corp. $66 million for ownership interest. Bitter Creek...

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Judges wanted for the 50th Annual R&D 100 Awards

Judges wanted for the 50th Annual R&D 100 Awards

Expert in electronics? Professional in process science? Do you breathe biotech? If you have an area of expertise (and better yet, interest) consider spending a couple hours of your time and helping us evaluate some of the best and most unique high-technology products of the year.

Wanted: 2011's Top Technologies

Wanted: 2011's Top Technologies

The editors of R&D Magazine have opened the nominations for the 2012 R&D 100 Awards competition, which will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the awards. If your organization introduced a new product this year, or is planning to, you can begin the entry process now.

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How to Bring Solar Energy to Seven Billion People

April 6, 2009 Science at the Theater talk: By exploiting the powers of nanotechnology and taking advantage of non-toxic, Earth-abundant materials, Berkeley Lab's Cyrus Wadia has fabricated new solar cell devices that have the potential to be several orders of magnitude less expensive than...

Video #1 Amperage Regulation- EnergyResearchToday.com

This video demonstrates our patent pending Hydro-Safe controller which has a many integrated features. These features were developed as a result of Lab and field testing performed by our team since 2006. This demonstration shows how the current limiting function portion of the controller...

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Electricity management system gives sports trike a boost

At the Consumer Electronics Show last week, San Jose, Calif.-based Nuvation Engineering showed a new type of battery management system for OptaMotive’s E. Rex electric sports trike. The system, which includes driver interface, was developed with partner Maxim and handles output from a 35-kW/h pack. Made from 106 lithium-iron phosphate cells, it delivers six times the efficiency of a Toyota Prius.

Optically clear PV adhesives stand up to harsh conditions

NuSil Technology, a manufacturer of silicone materials for the solar, photonics, electronics and aerospace industries, has recently launched two clear silicone adhesives for solar module assemblies.  These adhesives are suitable for applications subject to harsh environments, such as high-power LEDs or satellites.

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A Replacement for Lead Acid Batteries

A123 Systems' Nanophosphate Engine Start Battery is a lithium ion battery system designed as a lighter-weight, longer-lasting replacement for lead acid batteries in passenger and commercial vehicles.

Coherent introduces “meterless” laser energy sensors

The meterless laser measurement concept from Coherent has been expanded with a new range of energy sensors in which all meter electronics are miniaturized and integrated within the sensor head cable.

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