Self cleaning solar panels a solution to dusty desert areas
The researchers found that 90 percent of deposited dust can be removed by the transparent screen in fewer than 60 seconds.
Self-cleaning solar panels could find use in the dusty environs of Arizona, the Middle East or Mars, Scientific American, By Larry Greenemeier, Aug 22, 2010, The best places to collect solar energy are also some of the dustiest on Earth and beyond, a quandary that leads to inefficiencies in how well the cells are able to convert strong sunlight into renewable electricity. The solution, according to new research, is to coat solar cells with material that enables them to chase away dirt particles on their own with the help of dust-repelling electrical charges. Continue reading
Australia’s error – dig it up, ship it out, high carbon mentality
Lack of certainty on a carbon price stunts the growth of fledgling alternative energy industries, stifles consumer behavioural change and, combined with conflicting regulatory measures, leads to non-optimal short-term decisions, while both main political parties lack the stomach to take on the vested interests. So we fall back into the comfort zone of our dig-it-up and ship-it-out high carbon mindset. In so doing, we are making arguably the greatest strategic error in Australia’s history.
Our great strategic error, ABC The Drum Unleashed, 21 Aug 2010, “…Our resource base is formidable and expanding. But that bounty is fast becoming our Achilles heel. Continue reading
Renewable energy growing more than coal or nuclear
Both the US and Europe added more renewable power capacity in 2009 than they added coal, gas, and nuclear capacity. Globally, 80,000 megawatts of renewable capacity was added, with China adding nearly half the total and nearly three-quarters of the total
Renewable Energy Investment is Growing – 24/7 Wall St., Paul Ausick, 21 Aug 2010, An international policy network called the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century, or REN21, has released its global status report for 2010. Continue reading
Both Australian Labor and Liberal would cut renewable energy funding
Australian Greens Blast Gillard For Cutting Solar Power Funding : Renewable Energy News, 20 Aug 2010, The Australian Greens say they are the only party serious about tackling climate change and transitioning Australia into a renewable energy economy. Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, has attacked both Labor and the Coalition for cutting $416.5 million out of renewable energy funding. Continue reading
Business needs a carbon tax, says Bob Brown
business sees the Greens as being economically responsible, I talked about saving Australia from recession. I talked about our proposal for a carbon tax. I believe it’s that proposal which one of the big parties, the next party in office is going to have to come back to because business wants it, because business is saying we need a carbon signal for investment into the future. Only the Greens are offering it
Greens say business wants carbon tax, Radio Australia:, Linda Mottram interviews Bob Brown, Australian Greens leader. August 19, 2010 “……..BROWN: The Australian Greens are in favour of transforming our economy from burning coal and forests to renewable energy and energy efficiency, and we have to do it urgently. My colleague Christine Milne has put forward a proposal for Australia to be carbon neutral; that is not putting any further carbon into the atmosphere between 2030 and 2050. Continue reading
Renewable energy – Australia’s opportunity
Australia has larger potential resources of renewable energy than any other country. We have abundant sunshine, wind, geothermal and tidal power. The great positive is that we can harness these over the next decade or two to supply most or all of our electricity and perhaps also enough to run our transport systems. We might even be able to export renewable energy
Climate change: the biggest campaign gaffe, Sydney Morning Herald, Barrie Pittock, August 20, 2010 – Climate change is costing us now – and it’s both a challenge and an opportunity – but you wouldn’t know it from the election campaign. Continue reading
Renewable energy score – Australia’s election
Here’s how the parties stack up in terms of their major national commitments to renewable energy and climate.
Australia’s Election 2010 – Renewable Energy And Climate Change : Renewable Energy News, 19 August 21 is nearly upon us …Australia’s 2010 Federal Election. While climate change and renewable energy were major platforms in the last election and appeared to have top billing again from the two major parties during the initial stages of the 2010 election campaign; it has somewhat taken a back seat to other issues, leading some to ask – where’s the green? Continue reading
Nuclear power raised at Brisbane politicians’ forum
The issue of nuclear power as a clean energy fuel source stirred the candidates….Mr Bartlett explicitly rejected the idea
No debate dramas for Brisbane candidates, Brisbane Times, Tony MooreAugust 18, 2010 – Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott may have spent days bickering about another election debate, but there were no such problems for the three major candidates for the seat of Brisbane. Continue reading
Australia’s politicians hold back investment in renewable energy
“Australia has adopted a posture of being a follower rather than a leader,”
Australia’s `Depressing’ Clean Energy Policies Deter Investors – Bloomberg, by : James Paton // Aug 18, 2010 , The Arkx Clean Energy Fund’s managers are Australians who don’t have a dollar invested in Australia, a stance that’s unlikely to change after the Aug. 21 election. Continue reading
Australian scientist world leader in solar energy research
Professor Green holds the world record for solar cell efficiency – 25%, a level thought to be impossible.
Solar Scientist Takes Out Australia’s Eureka Prize : Renewable Energy News, 18 Aug, 2010, Some have hailed Professor Martin Green as the “father of photovoltaics”. That label has now been justified with Professor Green taking out the 2010 CSIRO Eureka Prize for Leadership in Science. Continue reading
A noisy minority: Australia’s Climate Sceptics
It seems that the opinions of a noisy minority have been amplified by the media because of a love of conflict, the need to promote a false balance and partisan zealotry (the last one refers to you, Mr The Australian).
Australian politicians overestimate the electorate’s skepticism about global warming : Deltoid, August 14, 2010 , by Tim Lambert The University of Queensland has surveyed Australian politicianson their attitude to climate change: “Labor politicians are more influenced by scientists than Liberal/National politicians – 85 per cent of Labor politicians are highly influenced by this group compared to 44 per cent of Liberal/National politicians,” Dr Fielding said. Continue reading
Australia in the round the world electric vehicle race
Zero Race, for electric vehicles powered by renewable energy, will take competitors 30,000km across 16 countries in 80 days of driving…..”We expect our car to be by far the most energy efficient,”
All eyes on Trev in electric-powered race Jennifer Foreshew: The Australian August 17, 2010 IT has three wheels and a top speed of 120km/h, and it’s Australia’s entry in the first zero-emission around-the-world electric vehicle race. Continue reading
Feed-in tariffs, tax incentives needed to fire up Australia’s Big Solar
In Spain, Germany and Italy, feed-in tariffs have driven massive growth in big solar. In the United States, loan guarantees coupled with tax incentives and renewable energy targets have driven growth. Along with the exiting renewable energy target (RET), these incentives should be adopted by whoever wins the federal election to ensure Australia meets its solar potential.
CLIMATE SPECTATOR: Big solar’s big potential, Business Spectator. John Grimes, 16 Aug 2010 This week, the Australian Solar Energy Society joined the Australian Conservation Foundation in calling for an additional 5 per cent of Australia’s electricity to come from ‘big solar’ by 2020. Continue reading
Huge potential for ocean wave energy in Australia
Ocean Waves Can Power Australia’s Future, Scientists Say – ABC News, 18 Aug 2010, SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Waves crashing on to Australia’s southern shores each year contain enough energy to power the country three times over, scientists said on Tuesday in a study that underscores the scale of Australia’s green energy. Continue reading
Australia left behind in Climate Change action
Abbott doesn’t even accept that climate change is a problem, though there is no evidence he has attempted to understand the work of leading climate scientists.
Sorry state of play when China leaves us for dead on climate, Sydney Morning Herald, Adam Morton, August 18, 2010 tGillard believes and Abbott doesn’t – but neither will do anything anyway………A series of announcements over the past month underlines what Ross Garnaut has been saying for a while – that China is miles ahead of Australia on the path to a greener economy, and the gap is widening……….. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 