Renewable Energy Growth Is Rising Around The World, IEA Says

By JONATHAN FAHEY 06/26/13 02:41 PM ET EDT

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NEW YORK — Renewable energy is growing fast around the world and will edge out natural gas as the second biggest source of electricity, after coal, by 2016, according to a five-year outlook published Wednesday by the International Energy Agency.

Developing countries are building more wind, solar and hydro-electric power plants to meet rising power demand and combat local pollution problems. And the costs of renewables are falling below the cost of traditional power sources such as coal, natural gas and oil in some markets with high-priced power.

Renewable power, including hydropower, is the fastest-growing power generation sector and it is expected to increase by 40 percent in the next five years. By 2018 it will make up a quarter of the world's energy mix, according to the report, up from 20 percent in 2011.

Eighty percent of the renewable power generated in the world, however, is hydropower, a technology frowned upon by environmental groups and sustainability experts because it requires the construction of dams that can damage river ecosystems.

Non-hydroelectric sources such as wind, solar, geothermal and energy derived from plants are also expected to grow quickly, but they contribute a far smaller amount of energy to the global mix. These technologies will supply 8 percent of the world's energy by 2018, up from 4 percent in 2011 and 2 percent in 2006.

Still, renewable power is facing uncertain times as subsidies in developed countries wane. Investment in renewable projects fell in 2012, according to the IEA, an energy security and research organization based in Paris that serves 28 oil-importing countries, including the U.S.

In a report published in April, the IEA said the world's energy is no cleaner than it was 20 years ago because of rising reliance on coal-fired generation in China, India, and parts of Europe that are phasing out nuclear power and facing high natural gas prices.

"The rapid growth of renewables continues to beat expectations and is a bright spot in an otherwise bleak assessment of global progress toward a cleaner and more diversified energy mix," the report concludes.

The use of biofuels is expected to grow, though at a slower rate than renewable electricity, in part because companies haven't succeeded in developing technology that can squeeze fuels from plant waste or dedicated biofuel crops such as grasses at commercial scale. The vast majority of biofuel used today is alcohol – called ethanol – made from sugar cane or corn.

Solar Panel Costs Drop, Fueling Rise In Renewable Energy

Green Energy, Solar Panels, Global Solar Power, Renewable Energy Costs, Solar Energy Costs,Solar Panel Costs, Solar Panel Investments, Solar Power Costs, Solar Power Investments, Green News

Wayne Goode with Inman Solar installs solar panels on the roof of Buckman Hall at the St. Agnes Academy and St. Dominic School in Memphis, Tenn., Tuesday March 12, 2013. (AP Photo/The Commercial Appeal, Jim Weber)

BERLIN -- A dramatic drop in the price of solar power technology last year helped the continued growth of renewable energy, according to a U.N.-backed report published Wednesday.

Global energy-generating capacity from renewable sources rose by 115 gigawatts in 2012, compared with 105 gigawatts the previous year, the report by the Paris-based think tank REN21 showed.

Installed renewable energy capacity rose to over 1,470 gigawatts, equivalent to about 1,500 nuclear reactors. Two thirds of all renewable capacity still comes from hydropower, but wind and solar have been gaining. The worldwide capacity of photovoltaic cells, which convert sunshine into electricity, reached 100 gigawatts last year, the report said.

The drop in solar prices – fuelled by Chinese manufacturers – helped bring the overall cost of investment in renewables down 12 percent to $244 billion from $279 billion in 2011, effectively boosting the amount of generating capacity investors can get for their money.

"This is not only normal in a rapidly growing, high tech industry but is likely to lead to even more competition, with even bigger gains for consumers, the climate and wider sustainability opportunities," said Achim Steiner, the head of the U.N. Environment Program.

Whether this glut of cheap solar products can last is unclear. Last week the EU announced new import duties on Chinese-made solar panels, cells and wafers, alleging they were being sold abroad at a lower price than at home, or below the manufacturing cost. Last year, the United States imposed tariffs on Chinese solar panels following similar complaints.

UNEP said investment in renewables was strong in developing countries and Japan last year, but stagnated or fell in the United States and many European countries grappling with high government debt and uncertainty over future feed-in subsidies.

China alone invested $67 billion in renewable energy last year, compared with $36 billion in the United States and almost $80 billion for all European countries combined.

Source: Huffington Post

Global smart grid market to more than double by 2020

By BusinessGreen Staff

Published June 18, 2013

More Stories On: Smart Gadgets, Smart Grid

The global market for smart grid technologies is poised to deliver stellar growth over the next seven years, according to a report from analyst firm Navigant Research.

The report argues that the global smart grid market, which includes the markets for smart meters and appliances as well as smart infrastructure technologies, is already well established and was worth more than $33 billion globally last year.

But it predicts that there is plenty of room in the market for "robust growth" during the rest of the decade, given that a significant number of large markets with populations of over 100 million people are yet to deploy the technology.

As such, Navigant predicted the market for smart grid technologies will reach $73 billion in annual revenues by 2020, totaling $461 billion in cumulative revenue between 2013 and 2020.

Bob Lockhart, research director with Navigant Research, said demand was being driven by the compelling value proposition offered by smart grid technologies that promise to reduce costs for both utilities and their customers.

"Smart grid technologies improve the reliability and efficiency of the power grid via the application of modern IT capabilities alongside or in place of existing utility assets and networks," he said in a statement.

But he also warned that the sector may have to improve its communications efforts if it is to break into markets that are yet to engage with the technology. "The term 'smart grid' has been overused to the point of losing its meaning," he added. "A more precise definition includes five key applications: transmission upgrades, substation automation, distribution automation, smart grid information and operations technology, and smart metering."

The report predicts that in terms of investment transmission upgrades will dominate the market, driving nearly $250 million of infrastructure spending through to 2020 and accounting for more than half the total smart grid market.

This story originally appeared at BusinessGreen and is reprinted with permission.

Image credit: CC license by Christian Haugen/Flickr

This Hideous Creature Could Hold the Key to Curing Cancer

Takepart.com – Sat, Jun 22, 2013

Question: What happens when a hairless, bucktoothed rat secretes goo that clogs a vacuum in a research lab at the University of Rochester, New York? 

Answer: Two scientists accidentally stumble upon a chemical that may prevent cancer in humans. 

According to the journal Nature, a lab tech mentioned those excretions to the researchers who were investigating why mole rats are so resistant to cancer; the hideous-looking creatures live an average 30 years cancer-free.

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When one of the study’s authors, Andrei Seluanov, learned about the goo, he told the tech that they should examine it because it could be related to the rats’ resistance.

They did, and discovered that it was a high molecular substance called hyaluronan which, when removed from the mole rats’ cells, made the rats more susceptible to tumors.  

Upon further examination they also discovered that the gene responsible for producing the chemical is different than the ones found in any other animal.

While hyaluronan itself is found in other mammals including humans, study author Vera Gorbunovasays that the molecules in hyaluronan in mole rats are significantly longer. Their length creates an environment that prevents the rats’ cells from bunching together, which would allow for the growth of cancerous tumors.

Meanwhile, the much shorter molecules found in human hyaluronan do allow cell bunching, she says. 

"Naked mole rats need good elasticity in their skin, because they don't have any fur," Seluanov toldLiveScience. "When they move through their tunnels, it's important that they do not rupture their skin."

The demands of their subterranean lifestyle may explain why naked mole rats developed higher levels of hyaluronan in their skin in the first place, the researchers told LiveScience. 

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Gorbunova says that she and her team are now looking at ways to “manipulate enzymes to increase the length of hyaluronan in humans.”

The substance is already used as a replacement to Botox to fill wrinkle, and some doctors use it as a way to relieve arthritis in knee joints. So far, Gorbunova says, no significant side effects have been reported. 

The scientists’ next project is to see if gene responsible for mole rat hyaluronan is effective in mice, and if that works, they plan to test the effectiveness in human cells.

“If we can figure out a way to manipulate enzymes to increase the length of hyaluronan, we may soon be able to not only prevent cancer but cure it in patients,” says Gorbunova.

“Our hope is that one day we’ll be able to not only stop the growth of primary tumors but to stop metastasis throughout the body.” 

Gorbunova adds that she and her fellow researchers have also found a kind of beauty in the hideous mole rat. “When you look at them in still pictures, yes, they’re ugly. But they’re very busy, and in motion, there is some beauty to them,” she says. 

Easy Techniques To Improve Battery Life!

All batteries will fail at some point, when they have been in use for longer periods of time. But premature battery failure is one of the main frustrations people face.

Common thinking is that turning devices off extends battery life, but what happens is the opposite. Devices consume more power when they are starting up, so turning them off is not such a good idea if they are going to be switched on frequently.

Cars and Other Automobiles

It is important to protect the car battery from high under the hood temperatures with the use of a case or a heat shield. The battery life can be extended by keeping the battery charged at all times. Electrolyte levels will have to be checked frequently during the hot months. A recent study revealed that relocating the battery outside the engine compartment has increased its life by almost eight months. Car manufacturers are relocating the starting battery to the passenger compartment or the trunk to avoid under the hood temperatures. It also helps to use wet batteries vented to the outside or cells that do not produce gas when recharged. Based on the driving of each individual, some batteries are undercharged and this leads to sulfation, where lead sulfate gets accumulated, reducing the battery capacity. An external battery can be used for charging.

For any battery, the most important factor to consider is the temperature. Ensuring they are not exposed to too much heat can extend the life of a battery. It is common sense that high temperatures lead to faster chemical reactions. They need to be watered more often with only deionized or demineralized water. However, rain water is a good substitute in an emergency. In addition to the temperature, a reduction in the number of discharge/charge cycles significantly improves battery service life. In extremely cold climates, the car battery needs to be continuously kept fully charged when not in use.

Portable Electronic Devices

Battery life can be increased for iPods, cell phones, laptops etc. by lowering the brightness when not necessary. For example, when using these devices in a dark room, it is not necessary to set the brightness to 100%. The brightness can be lowered enough so that the screen can be seen without exerting any strain on the eyes can be done. The amount of time the backlight stays on can also be decreased. For iPods it doesn’t have to stay on for 10 seconds, 2 seconds should be good enough. Laptops can be set in hibernate mode when not in use.

One most important point that not many people are aware of is that turning down the volume increases battery life. Use headphones that are louder and leave the volume at 50%.

Background applications are power hungry monsters. Stop everything that is not being used. Defragmenting the hard drive once in a while helps decrease file scatter on the hard drive and uses up less power. Send the computer into standby mode after a certain period of inactivity as it conserves battery. Although, standby resume also uses some power but not as much as starting up. Interestingly, leaving a CD or DVD in the drive can decrease battery life, as it hogs power whenever the drive spins up.

In Wi-Fi Applications

Battery life in Wi-Fi apps can be prolonged by either increasing battery capacity or reducing Wi-Fi product power consumption and through control methods. It is easy to increase battery capacity; however, due to technological limits, it may lead to an increase in cost and size of the battery. That brings us to the option of reducing power consumption, which can be done by prolonging the standby time and shortening the time of the active cycle. You can also turn off the WiFi on the iPod when not in use as it consumes a large amount of life.

These techniques of low power consumption can improve battery life dramatically. Most of them are common sense usage techniques and can easily be made part of our daily lives.

Save water, and make plants stronger and healthier, by watering in the morning.

Water Plants in the Morning

Save water, and make plants stronger and healthier, by watering in the morning.

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By Brian Clark Howard

The best time to water plants is usually in the early morning, both to maximize the efficiency of water used and to promote healthy flora.

Mornings tend to be cool and without strong winds, so the amount of water lost to evaporation is much less than during the middle of the day. Yes, evenings are typically similar, but if plants stay damp overnight they are more likely to be damaged by fungal and bacterial diseases. Ideally, use a drip or soak system instead of a regular sprinkler, which wastes a lot of water and drenches the leaves, which are prone to damage as well as disease.

Most experts recommend substantial, infrequent watering for established plants, typically a total of about one inch of water per week (including rain). One or two applications a week encourages deeper rooting, which promotes stronger plants. To avoid shocking tender greenery, try to use water at or near air temperature (collected rainwater is best).

With population growth and climate change putting increasing pressure on freshwater supplies, it is becoming more important than ever to save water.

Related: 5 Commonsense Lawn Watering Tips for Healthy Lawns

Read more: When to Water Plants - Why To Water Plants in the Morning - The Daily Green

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Malaysia State of Emergency

Malaysia's Air Pollution Calls For State Of Emergency As Indonesia Continues Smoking

Reuters  |  Posted: 06/23/2013 12:42 am EDT  |  Updated: 06/23/2013 12:53 pm EDT

KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 (Reuters) - Malaysia declared a state of emergency in two parts of the southern state of Johor on Sunday, as smoke from land-clearing fires in Indonesia pushed air pollution above the level considered hazardous.

The illegal burning of forests and other land on Indonesia's Sumatra island, to the west of peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, to clear space for palm oil plantations is a chronic problem during the June-September dry season.

The "haze" caused by fires in Riau province on Sumatra has also shrouded neighbouring Singapore but air quality in the city state improved over the weekend after reaching hazardous levels.

"Prime Minister Najib Razak has agreed to declare emergency status in Muar and Ledang with immediate effect," Malaysian Natural Resources and Environment Minister G. Palanivel said in a Facebook post.

Palanivel said the air pollution index in the two districts had exceeded 750. A reading above 300 indicates that air pollution is hazardous.

Domestic media quoted the minister as saying cloud seeding would be carried out in the affected areas.

All 211 schools in the area are to be closed until further notice, residents have been advised to stay indoors and face masks have been distributed, Khaled Nordin, chief minister of the state, said, also via posts on Facebook.

Schools have been ordered shut in the neighbouring state of Malacca, where pollution has also reached hazardous levels. Schools were also ordered to close in one district in Pahang state.

All domestic airports managed by Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) are operating as usual despite the haze, the national news agency quoted the airport operator as saying.

The current visibility level of 1 km was still safe, but runways would have to close if visibility fell under 300 m, it quoted Malaysian airports official Azmi Murad as saying.

Indonesian officials have deflected blame by suggesting companies based in Malaysia and Singapore may be partly responsible. Malaysia-listed Sime Darby and Singapore's Wilmar Group both deny the charge. (Reporting by Siva Sithraputhran; Editing by Clarence Fernandez).