Hybrid solar converter harvests both sunlight and heat at 85% efficiency

Engineers have developed a new type of hybrid solar energy converter, which uses energy from the Sun to create both electricity and steam. The device reportedly has high efficiency and runs at low cost, allowing industry to make use of a wider spectrum… Continue reading Hybrid solar converter harvests both sunlight and heat at 85% efficiency

Zaps of electricity clean up wastewater from biofuel production

Scientists are getting creative with new ways to produce fuels and electricity, but they can introduce their own problems too. Making biofuel from algae, for example, is showing promise, but it does create large amounts of toxic wastewater. Now, resear… Continue reading Zaps of electricity clean up wastewater from biofuel production

Conductive plastic uses sandwiched materials for extra transparency

Traditional plastics are so poor at conducting electricity that they are often used to insulate against it instead, making it the shielding material of choice for things like wiring and circuit boards. But scientists have long hoped to flip the script … Continue reading Conductive plastic uses sandwiched materials for extra transparency

SEG tech generates electricity using shadows and light

When it comes to regular photovoltaic panels, the fewer shadows that are cast upon them, the better. An experimental new device, however, actually generates electricity via the contrast between shadows and light on its surface.Continue ReadingCategory:… Continue reading SEG tech generates electricity using shadows and light

Biohybrid battery harvests energy from electric bacteria

Some bacteria are known to produce their own electricity, which could make them useful in batteries and fuel cells. But so far, attempts have been inefficient and inflexible. Now, researchers at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have created a “b… Continue reading Biohybrid battery harvests energy from electric bacteria

Air-gen tech harvests humidity to generate electricity

We’ve already heard about so-called “fog harps” that use thin wires to collect airborne water droplets, providing drinking water even in arid regions. Well, an experimental new device also uses wires to capture water vapor, although it proceeds to gene… Continue reading Air-gen tech harvests humidity to generate electricity

Solving The Mysteries Of Grounding While Improving A Power Supply

Grounding problems and unwanted noise in electrical systems can often lead to insanity. It can seem like there’s no method to the madness when an electrical “gremlin” caused by one of these things pops its head out. When looking more closely, however, these issues have a way of becoming more …read more

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The Hornsdale Power Reserve And What It Means For Grid Battery Storage

Renewable energy has long been touted as a major requirement in the fight to stave off the world’s growing climate emergency. Governments have been slow to act, but prices continue to come down and the case for renewables grows stronger by the day.

However, renewables have always struggled around the …read more

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What Will We Do with the Turbine Blades?

As the global climate emergency continues to loom over human civilization, feverish work is underway around the world to find technical and political solutions to the problem. Much has been gained in recent years, but as global emissions continue to increase, there remains much left to do to stave off …read more

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How The Power Gets To The Outlet

[Practical Engineering] is ready to explain how power substations get electricity to you in his latest video, which you can see below.  One of the things we always notice when talking to people either in our community or outside it is that most people have no idea how most of …read more

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