Beacon is building a 20 MW storage tank based on flywheel technology. It is the first such grid scale plant to be built. Flywheel systems store energy until it’s needed with less cost and maintenance than batteries. They do this by capturing excess energy and saving it as kinetic energy.
Technology for a greener future
Archive for the ‘energy saving tips’ Category
The “CleanAir” invention saves energy and improves health
Professor Matthew Johnson has developed a new way to clean indoor air that saves energy, improves health and the climate. He has patented the “CleanAir” invention that uses photochemical air purification.
NASA radiant technology improves home climates
The NASA space program developed radiant materials that would keep astronauts comfortable during space walks and would keep rocket boosters from being destroyed. This technology involves the capture and reflection of radiant heat. One of the best known comsumer adaptations is the space blanket that is a thin metal coated plastic. It is used by emergency rescue squads to preserve body heat. It works by reflecting your own body heat back to you. The same principle can be applied to your house to keep it warm in winter and cool in the summer.
University of Leeds researchers propose storing excess energy for peak times
Researchers are proposing that excess energy produced during normal electricity generation be stored for use during peak energy draws. This would involve using the excess energy to create a nitrogen and oxygen mix called cryogen. Once a peak is detected nitrogen would be boiled to turn a turbine or generator to produce “top up” energy. This process could result in a savings of up to 50 percent on fuel needs during peak hours.
Entergy will match your CO2 offsets
Utility company Entergy is launching its Double Your Difference initiative this Thursday. The initiative allows people to purchase Carbon Offsets that Entergy will match dollar for dollar up to five tons of purchased offsets.
AT&T”s ZERO Charger stops vampire draw
If you leave your phone charger plugged in all of the time it will continue to draw power whether or not your phone is plugged in and charging. This continued sucking of energy is called “vampire draw”. AT&T’s ZERO Charger stops drawing power when your phone is fully charged completely eliminating vampire draw.
Jackie Chan will be selling Brammo’s Enertia in Asia
Jackie Chan has teamed up with Brammo to sell its motorcycles in Asia through his company JCAM Advanced Mobility Company Ltd. Brammo’s initial offering is the Enertia, a motorcycle that will reach speeds of 60+ miles per hour and will travel 20 to 40 plus miles depending on your driving habits and route.
Get rid of all of your chargers with the ChargeHub
The ChargeHub lets you charge five different gadgets at the same time. That frees up numerous outlets and clears away lots of wires. You don’t need to go looking for that camera charger that you “stuck somewhere,” you just need the appropriate adaptor. The ChargeHub will also save you energy since only one charger is drawing electricity and not two or more.
Joos Orange promises lots of solar power
Joos Orange by Solar Components is being billed as one of the most powerful portable solar charges soon to be released. Joos Orange is expected to be 20 to 30 times more powerful than current chargers. It will be light, thin, waterprooof and can work in low light conditions.
Bloom Energy provides advanced fuel cell power to companies
Bloom Energy Corporation revealed its solid oxide fuel cell technology today at eBay’s headquarters with such dignitaries as California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and General Colin Powell. The company’s fuel cell technology is packaged into Bloom Energy Servers that provide customers cleaner more reliable energy while cutting costs.