Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Biofuels Boom Could Fuel Rainforest Destruction, Researcher Warns

Farmers across the tropics might raze forests to plant biofuel crops, according to new research. "If we run our cars on biofuels produced in the tropics, chances will be good that we are effectively burning rainforests in our gas tanks," she warned.[...]

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Chemists Offer New Hydrogen Purification Method

One of the hydrogen economy's roadblocks to success is the hydrogen itself. Hydrogen needs to be purified before it can be used as fuel for fuel cells, but current methods are not very clean or efficient. Researchers have developed a class of new porous materials, structured like honeycomb, that is very effective at separating hydrogen from complex gas mixtures. The materials exhibit the best selectivity in separating hydrogen from carbon dioxide and methane.[...]

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Scientists to tap river currents to create clean energy

Scientists to tap river currents to create clean energy


In the eerie green glow of flashing lasers in a darkened University of Michigan lab, a cylinder on springs moves methodically up and down in a giant tank as water flows over it, simulating a stream.

Wind energy gathers steam, US biggest market: survey

Wind energy gathers steam, US biggest market: survey


Global wind energy capacity surged by 28.8 percent in 2008, as the United States became the world's leading market, an industry survey showed Monday.

SNL study: Biofuels can provide viable, sustainable solution to reducing petroleum dependence

SNL study: Biofuels can provide viable, sustainable solution to reducing petroleum dependence


(PhysOrg.com) -- An in-depth study by Sandia National Laboratories and General Motors Corp. has found that plant and forestry waste and dedicated energy crops could sustainably replace nearly a third of gasoline use by the year 2030.

Paris digs deep to harness Earth's green energy

Paris digs deep to harness Earth's green energy


A major new project is under way in Paris to provide ecologically clean heating for an entire district by extracting piping hot water from nearly two kilometres under the earth.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Nuclear Power A Viable Alternative

Nuclear Power A Viable Alternative by Dk-Publishers

Widespread use of nuclear energy will eradicate a large portion of fossil fuel use. A nuclear fission reaction produces massive quantities of power which pushes scientists to develop technology with which to harness this energy.

Nuclear power plants are amazingly efficient and produce relatively small amounts of waste. A nuclear power plant generates electricity with an efficiency rating of 80 of the power used to produce the fission reaction. When measured against the efficiency of an oil-fired plant, 38, it is astounding, indeed. Nuclear fission produces small amounts of waste material. The controversy over the use of nuclear power stems from the conundrum of what to do with the waste produced by the nuclear power plants. The waste is in the form of radioactive gas.

After containing the gases, they must be sealed and permanently stored because the radiation in these gases remains active and deadly for thousands of years. The hazard of contained nuclear waste being released is very low. When contrasted with the volume of carbon monoxide released into the atmosphere daily by the millions of cars on the earth, this is amount seems to dwindle. Radiation is certainly more deadly than carbon monoxide, however, it is also far easier to contain and store. Nuclear power is, in fact, an environmentally friendly form of renewable energy; despite the reservations of the environmentalists. The volume of waste material is comparatively small and secure storage and technologies for the long term disposal of these wastes are being developed.

Splitting atoms releases energy in the form of heat and light. The design of nuclear power plants is such that the enormous amounts of power released is harnessed to generate electricity. The possibility of a nuclear power plant exploding like a nuclear bomb is nonexistent. This is due to the fact the specialized conditions and enriched plutonium requisite do not exist inside a nuclear power plant. Nuclear meltdown has occurred in the past, most notably the Chernobyl incident, yet the risks are also very low. Nuclear power has been in use since the 1950’s and there are more than 430 nuclear reactors in 33 around the world. When seen in the light of these facts, nuclear meltdown is, indeed, a rare occurrence. Neglect has been ascertained to be the main cause of most nuclear accidents. At this time, six states in America generate over half of their electrical energy demands through nuclear power.

Nuclear power can be a boon in the suppression of fossil fuel use; but only if we allow it to.

Nuclear Power A Viable Alternative

For more information on alternative energy and various other subjects, please check our site at:http://www.dk-publishers.com/

Article Source: ArticleRich.com

Keywords:renewable resources, alternative energy, solar power, wind power, hydroelectric power, geo-thermal energy,bio mass, bio-mass, bio-fuel