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Renewable revolution
Renewable technology news on the transformative technologies changing the world’s energy supplies. We cover the projects making power generation green, from solar innovations to future energy solutions, as well as some of the wider environmental initiatives using tech to improve our impact on the planet. Technology and the environment don’t have to be in competition.
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6 Aug
New airship technology could see zeppelins return to our skies
On May 6 1937, the infamous Hindenburg disaster, in which an airship caught fire after an electrical spark ignited highly flammable hydrogen that had leaked out, claiming the lives of 36 people on board.
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5 Aug
Bioreactor bricks: The building blocks of ecological architecture?
According to the International Energy Agency, the building construction industry is responsible for 36% of global energy consumption, highlighting the urgent need for ecological architecture.
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5 Aug
Saildrone completes circumnavigation of Antarctica – uncharted waters for unmanned systems
Saildrone, a wind-powered surface vehicle, has become the first unmanned system to successfully circumnavigate Antarctica, bringing back valuable climate change data with it.
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25 Jul
UK solar capacity growth stalls as heatwave rocks the UK
As the UK faces what looks to be the hottest day on record, the latest figures on solar capacity growth have been published – and the results are fairly disappointing.
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10 Jul
Researchers develop PV solar panels capable of producing drinking water
Researchers at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology have developed a method of purifying water and generating electricity from a single solar device.
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10 Jul
Off-grid solar is Africa’s best hope for prosperity – but business must take the lead
The World Bank recently announced it will invest $225m in off-grid solar electrification in Africa.
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9 Jul
Researchers engineer tobacco plants for biofuel creation
Researchers from Cornell University and the University of Illinois have developed a way of producing proteins useful in agricultural processes inside the cells of tobacco plants.
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1 Jul
Retire fossil-fuel burning infrastructure early or miss climate goals, study warns
A new study warns how failing to retire existing fossil-fuel burning infrastructure early will result in nations missing their climate goals, which aim to stabilise global mean temperature by 2050.
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27 Jun
‘Unprinting’ recycling method blasts paper with light to remove ink
Researchers have developed a way to ‘unprint’ paper to reduce the environmental impact of recycling paper, using technology that could one day be installed in a home printer.
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24 Jun
Climate change to fuel dramatic rise in energy demand by 2050
An exhaustive global study has found that climate change is set to drive up energy demand significantly by 2050, suggesting policymakers and the energy industry need to take action now to prevent a surge in energy related costs over the next few decades.
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19 Jun
From ocean to office: HP turns 25 million plastic bottles into printer cartridges
With 8 million tonnes of plastic waste making its way into the ocean every year, the issue of plastic pollution has gained increasing attention over the last few years.
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6 Jun
Dell calls on EU to address problem of e-waste
Dell Technologies has called for urgent action to tackle the growing problem of e-waste.
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28 May
World’s first fully autonomous offshore wind farm repair system to replace humans with robots and drones
A cross-sector project launched in the UK today is set to see humans replaced by robots and drones on offshore wind farm inspection and repair, creating the first fully autonomous system of its kind in the world.
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28 May
Compostable bioplastic to bring biodegradability to food packaging
Scientists have developed a bioplastic that can biodegrade in conventional compost bins within two years, making it a suitable alternative to conventional plastics current used in food packaging.
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2 May
Electric vehicles are key to meeting 2050 zero-carbon goal
Amidst growing pressure for the government to commit to a legally binding target of a carbon-neutral UK by 2050, the Committee on Climate Change has said that the UK can end its contribution to global warming if a commitment is made now.
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25 Apr
Why has wave power lagged behind other renewable energy sources?
With the UK going coal-free for a record-breaking 90 hours over the weekend, energy sources such as solar and onshore wind now play a key role in generating electricity.
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16 Apr
Wooden solar evaporator could provide cheap, safe water
Scientists have created a prototype for a wooden solar evaporator that could lead to cheaper small-scale desalination devices.
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16 Apr
Lithium-ion material breakthrough signals better, faster charging batteries
Researchers have shown how it is possible to create a lithium-ion battery that can charge in minutes but still operate at a high capacity.
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12 Apr
Apple renews clean energy commitments by adding more suppliers to renewables list
Apple has announced it has nearly doubled the number of suppliers that have committed to run their Apple production on 100% clean energy, bringing the total number to 44.
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1 Apr
Electric vehicle charging could soon take as little as ten minutes
Electric car owners could soon charge their vehicles in as little as ten minutes as plans for 100 ultra-fast “Electric Forecourts” are unveiled.
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4 Mar
Algae fuel production method “really important step” towards viable biocrude
Algae fuel has long been discussed as a sustainable alternative to traditional fuels for ships, vehicles and jets, but making it a commercial reality has proved a challenge.
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27 Feb
Scientists discover way to convert CO2 back into coal in “world first”
Researchers have come up with a method of turning CO2 back into coal, which could transform carbon capture and storage.
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21 Feb
Is squid protein the answer to the plastic waste problem?
Littering our cities and clogging up our oceans, causing environmental issues and ill-health to wildlife, humanity has a serious plastic waste problem.
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20 Feb
Software aids development of kite and drone renewable energy
Researchers have developed flight simulator software for airborne wind energy systems (AWES), a technology that generates electrical energy through tension created by kite tethers or turbines located on drones.
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19 Feb
CO2 removal technology vital for achieving climate change goals
The European Academies’ Science Advisory Council (EASAC) has said that CO2 removal technology will be vital for reducing global emissions in the atmosphere.
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13 Feb
Scientists have developed artificial leaves 10x better at absorbing CO2 than the real thing
As deforestation continues to diminish the number of trees, vital for absorbing carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels, scientists are looking for ways to replicate natural processes to reduce pollution levels.
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24 Jan
50 million tonnes of e-waste could triple by 2050
$62.5bn is lost in 50 million tonnes of electrical and electronic waste annually, but new and available technology could lead to the process of dematerialisation, changing physical assets to electronic.
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24 Jan
Super Bowl LIII goes green… thanks to beer
Super Bowl LIII is going green, with Budweiser pledging to offset 100% of Atlanta’s electricity use throughout Super Bowl week with renewable energy.
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23 Jan
Jack Ma: “Don’t be evil is not enough — technology companies must help the world”
Developing the technologies that are expected to — and in many cases are already beginning to — shape the future, technology companies must do more to protect the earth and humanity from the problems they create, Jack Ma, founder and chairman of Alibaba, has warned.
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14 Jan
Air cleaning technology: Are these emerging technologies the answer to poor air quality?
The government of the United Kingdom has unveiled a new Clear Air Strategy, setting a “bold new goal” to reduce pollution and grow clean energy use over the next decade.