Latest Green Technology News

Exclusive: New advances made in using plant molecules for solar and hydrogen

2012-02-14 18:31:44

Molecular structures extracted from plants could become the key both for making electrons out of sunlight and hydrogen for fuel cells, a concept thats continuously being explored by scientists. In an interview, biochemist Barry D. Bruce of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville told EcoSeedthat a key protein complex (or photosystem) in photosynthesis known as photosystem-I or PSI can be extracted and integrated in devices that either convert light into electricity or that produce hydrogen fuel when exposed to sunlight.

Quantum dots to improve solar efficiency by up to 45 percent

2012-01-24 18:25:47

A trio of researchers for the University of Buffalo founded a new company, Optoelectronic Nanodevices L.L.C., to commercialize their technique of improving the efficiency of solar panels through the use of embedded solar dots. Though the idea of embedding quantum dots nanoparticles of semi-conductor material in solar cells is not new, the researchers claim to have been able to successfully use the theory to increase the efficiency of their solar cells to up to 45 percent.

Grass genes, computer simulation employed for biofuel productivity

2012-01-18 16:42:01

With more and more countries seeking to bring down their emissions by increasing the amount of biofuel in their fuel mix, the race is on to see which biomass feed stock can be the source of a sustainable biofuel industry. While ethanol is an established biofuel, it has come under criticism for using food-based feedstock such as corn and sugarcane. Advocates for the next generation of biofuel are lobbying for the use of non-food biomass, such as fibrous grasses as well as residue from the wood processing and agricultural industries.

2011 in Tech: Catalyst search continues; Gold for cheaper solar

2011-12-21 11:55:55

Every year, new and improved means to incorporating low-carbon technologies into our daily lives are being developed. While sun, wind and bioenergy are well-covered topics in EcoSeed, lets look back at a few more technological trends and developments.

Engineered E. coli transforms switchgrass to fuels

2011-12-01 18:27:17

Scientists seeking to formulate the next generation of biofuels often turn to genetically engineered microorganisms such as the Escherichia coli bacteria to process biomass into biofuels. The most recent example of this phenomenon was reported by a group of researchers from the United States Department of Energys Joint Bioenergy Institute.

Second batch of e-mails hounds Durban talks

2011-11-24 03:02:16

A new wave of e-mails allegedly written by climate scientists disproving the existence of global warming and the need for international climate talks and policies have surfaced a week before the scheduled United Nations climate conference in Durban.

Gene found limiting acetate, boosting cellulosic ethanol process

2011-11-18 23:55:59

A team of researchers from the Energy Biosciences Institute discovered a plant gene that could help fight the production of a fermentation-preventing acid in the process of producing cellulosic ethanol. The researchers found that a mutation of a gene found in a plant from the mustard and cabbage family causes a reduction of acetylation. Acetylation is the release of acetate during the process of breaking down the lignocelluloses of plants to get to the plant sugars that are then fermented into fuel.

Gene found limiting acetate, boosting cellulosic ethanol process

2011-11-18 23:55:59

Gene found limiting acetate, boosting cellulosic ethanol process

2011-11-18 23:55:59

Gene found limiting acetate, boosting cellulosic ethanol process

2011-11-18 23:55:59