BLACKSBURG, Va., Aug. 19, 2014 – Two Virginia Tech researchers have received a $1.4 million grant to investigate the genetic regulatory networks that will allow an important bioenergy crop to be bred so it will grow in less than ideal soils and climate. Populus, a genus of fast-growing trees commonly known as cottonwoods and aspens, is being grown for bioenergy because it produces a significant amount of biomass in two years and will re-grow robustly when cut at just above ground level. Woody biomass can be converted to liquid fuels, such as ethanol. “The goal is to develop the species so…

(BAKERSFIELD, CA) AUGUST 14, 2014 – TruStar Energy, a leading developer of compressed natural gas [CNG] fueling infrastructure throughout the US, is excited to announce the contract award to upgrade the CNG fueling station for Kern County Superintendent of Schools bus fleet, located in Bakersfield, Cal. The contract to update and expand the public / private station includes removing older compressors and associated infrastructure and replacing that with new state-of-the art compressors, fueling hoses, new fueling dispensers, and a canopy, said Kern County Superintendent of Schools Energy Conservation Supervisor, Scott Fieber. “Since the original station’s construction in 2005, we’ve gone…

The worldwide expansion of renewable energy and distributed energy production is also driving the development of stationary battery energy storage systems. TÜV SÜD’s new Renewable Energy Storage Systems (RESS) certificate now enables stakeholders to demonstrate the safety and performance of these systems and improves transparency in this high-growth market. “The global market for stationary battery energy storage systems is very dynamic”, says Johannes Brey, Managing Director of TÜV SÜD Battery Testing GmbH. “While a host of different systems are available on the market, reliable assessment of their efficiency and effectiveness is impossible at present because there is not enough data.”…

In recent years, the number of patent applications for electrochemical energy storage technologies has soared. According to a study by the Technische Universität München (TUM), the largest volume of applications by far is submitted by developers of lithium batteries. The study offers a first differentiated analysis of which energy storage technologies will be viable in the exit from fossil-fuel energy. In this area, European and US companies are falling behind economically, as Asian companies apply for a substantially higher number of patents. Wind and solar power are inherently intermittent energy sources. If a large amount of electricity is to be…

A team of researchers at Michigan State University has developed a new type of solar concentrator that when placed over a window creates solar energy while allowing people to actually see through the window. It is called a transparent luminescent solar concentrator and can be used on buildings, cell phones and any other device that has a clear surface. And, according to Richard Lunt of MSU’s College of Engineering, the key word is “transparent.” Research in the production of energy from solar cells placed around luminescent plastic-like materials is not new. These past efforts, however, have yielded poor results –…

While the powerful solvents known as ionic liquids show great promise for liberating fermentable sugars from lignocellulose and improving the economics of advanced biofuels, an even more promising candidate is on the horizon – bionic liquids. Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) have developed “bionic liquids” from lignin and hemicellulose, two by-products of biofuel production from biorefineries. JBEI is a multi-institutional partnership led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) that was established by the DOE Office of Science to accelerate the development of advanced, next-generation biofuels. “What if we could turn what is now…

Top energy leaders to share views on ‘building energy connectivity’ at SIEW 2014 Dr. Leonhard Birnbaum, Board Member of global energy player E.ON to deliver opening keynote Singapore – 14 August 2014 – The 7th Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) will feature a line-up of esteemed speakers who will provide their insights on key energy issues facing Asia. They include energy thought leaders from industry, government, and international organisations. Dr. Leonhard Birnbaum, who will be delivering the SIEW Opening Keynote Address, is a Member of the Board of Management, E.ON SE. He will share his views on this year’s SIEW theme “Building…

CHANGZHOU, China, Aug. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Trina Solar Limited (NYSE: TSL) (“Trina Solar” or the “Company”), a global leader in photovoltaic (“PV”) modules, solutions, and services, today announced it signed an agreement to supply 82MW of its anti-Potential Induced Degradation (“PID”) modules to Sihong Tianganghu Photovoltaic Power Generation Co., Ltd. (“Tianganghu PV Power Generation”) for a solar power plant located in Jiangsu Province. Trina Solar will supply approximately 320,000 TSM-PC05A modules with power outputs of 245 Wp, 250Wp and 255 Wp. All modules are of the highest anti-PID level currently available – up to 85°C / 85% relative humidity. In addition, all modules come with a 25-year linear power…

A new technique transforming stinky, air-polluting landfill gas could produce the sweet smell of success as it leads to development of a fuel cell generating clean electricity for homes, offices and hospitals, researchers say. The advance would convert methane gas into hydrogen, an efficient, clean form of energy. The researcher’s report is part of the 248th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world’s largest scientific society. The meeting, attended by thousands of scientists, features nearly 12,000 reports on new advances in science and other topics. It is being held here through Thursday. Recently, hydrogen has received much…

Barcelona, Spain (Aug. 6, 2014)—The world’s 10 largest photovoltaic (PV) Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) companies are set this year to install a combined 8 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity, equivalent to 20 percent of the world’s non-residential PV demand, according to a new report from IHS Technology (NYSE: IHS). Keeping their top positions in the IHS PV integrator ranking for 2014 similar to last year, Arizona-based First Solar and TBEA SunOasis from China are expected to install more than 1 GW of additions this year. Both companies will focus on completing in-house developed projects in their home markets. Rounding out the…