Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Green Energy Innovations

Recently we attended the West Coast Green Innovation Convention in San Francisco. We had the pleasure of meeting many of you, the sincere providers of Green Energy Products and Services. We plead for and received your support in Green Energy Education, our Mobile Demonstration Exhibit for Rural Schools and Communities, our Mass Media Awareness Campaign and GRNNRG.ORG.
Things get done with public support.
Thank You
D.H.

Innovations Abound
The technology is advancing very fast.
Today, the Noble Prize was given for the innovation called "Graphene" a transparent film that is 100 time stronger than steel.
The following article is from NPR and we think that this innovation will make a remarkable impact in a relatively short period of time.

Last Week, the University of North Carolina announce their plan to develop the "photo leaf", a gel filled leaf that collects solar energy much like photosynthesis.

This Last February, British researchers announced their research in "Biomimicry" (nature inspired technology design), with the "nano leaf", a leaf that uses "flutter" energy. When the leaf flutters in the breeze, it produces pico watts.
When thousands of Nanoleaves flap back and forth due to wind, millions and millions of Pico watts are generated, the stronger the wind, the more energy is generated.

The Inevitable!!?
Combine the Nanoleaf flutter system with the Photo-leaves and we have the "Electricitree"

The following article is reprinted from NPR and we think that this innovation will make a remarkable impact in a relatively short period of time. Kudos to NPR.


Nobel Awarded For Thin, Versatile Carbon Material
by NPR STAFF AND WIRES
October 5, 2010
Two Russian-born scientists shared the Nobel Prize in physics on
Tuesday for "groundbreaking experiments'' with the thinnest, strongest
material known to mankind, a carbon vital for the creation of faster
computers and transparent touch screens.
Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov, professors at the University of
Manchester in Britain, in 2004 isolated graphene, a form of carbon only
one atom thick but more than 100 times stronger than steel, and showed
it has exceptional properties, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said.
Experiments with graphene could lead to the development of new superstrong materials to make
satellites, airplanes and cars, as well as innovative electronics, the academy said in announcing the
10 million kronor ($1.5 million) award.
Graphene transistors are predicted to be substantially faster than today's silicon transistors and
result in more efficient computers,'' the academy said in the citation. "Since it is practically
transparent and a good conductor, graphene is suitable for producing transparent touch screens,
light panels and maybe even solar cells.''
And researchers at the University of Southern California are using
graphene in organic photovoltaic solar cells as a highly transparent
material that's also good at conducting electricity. OPV cells are cheaper
and more flexible than silicon cells, and researchers say they could be
Jannik Meyer/Science via The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Graphene is a one atom-thick layer of ordinary carbon atoms, organized in a flat sheet. It conducts both electricity and heat
extremely well.

and more flexible than silicon cells, and researchers say they could be
hung as curtains or even made into fabric and worn as power-generating
clothing, but they convert sunlight to electricity far less efficiently.
Geim, 51, is a Dutch national while Novoselov, 36, holds British and
Russian citizenship. Both are natives of Russia and started their careers
in physics there. They first worked together in the Netherlands before
moving to Britain.
Novoselov is among the youngest winners of a prize that normally goes to
scientists with decades of experience. The youngest Nobel laureate to
date is Lawrence Bragg, who was 25 when he shared the physics award
with his father William Bragg in 1915.
Geim told The Associated Press he didn't expect to win the prize this year
and had forgotten that it was Nobel time when the prize committee called
him from Stockholm.
The two scientists used simple Scotch tape as a crucial tool in their
experiments, peeling off thin flakes of graphene from a lager piece of
graphite, Geim said.
"It's a humble technique. But the hard work came later,'' he said,
comparing the material to plastics in its ability to revolutionize the world.
"It has all the potential to change your life in the same way that plastics
did,'' he said."It is really exciting.''
Geim last year won the prestigious Korber European Science Award for
the discovery, the University of Manchester said.
"This was a well-deserved award,'' said Phillip F. Schewe, spokesman for the American Institute of
Physics in College Park, Maryland.
"Graphene is the thinnest material in the world, it's one of the strongest, maybe the strongest
material in the world. It's an excellent conductor. Electrons move through it very quickly, which is
something you want to make circuits out of,'' Schewe said.
He said graphene may be a good material for making integrated circuits,
small chips with millions of transistors that are the backbone of all modern
telecommunications. Its properties could also lead to potential uses in
construction material, Schewe said, but added it would take a while
"before this sort of technology moves into mainstream application.''

1 comment:

  1. The development of Graphene has unlimited potential in many areas. We are excited about the potential of graphene in Renewable Energy development especially in photovoltaics at this time. Our congratulations to the developers of graphene. GRNNRG.org Cofounder- Chuck Hooper

    ReplyDelete