The promoting of renewable energy is at the heart of the current debate on energy policy. From an economic perspective, the question focusses on determining the cost of the feed-in tariff systems. Firstly, whether the incentives are as expensive as has been maintained in the most recent regulatory modifications, and secondly, whether the effect is similar with respect to all renewable technologies.
Non-native invasive plants have overrun some parts of the Galapagos Islands, finds a new study by The University of Western Australia. Mandy Trueman, a PhD researcher at UWA School of Plant Biology, has led the study and has delivered a map and a related database that provides information about native species as well as introduced species.
The Environmental Protection Agency has won a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, which will allow it to progress with its strategy for reducing pollution generated by coal-fired power plants in many states. Scientists have found that this endeavor could help save many lives.
Oberon Fuels has received EPA approval for inclusion of its biogas-based dimethyl ether (DME) fuel under the Renewable Fuel Standard.
Leading solar photovoltaic(PV) product technology provider, ReneSola, has declared its plans of developing a 13MW Solar Farm in England. The solar project in Dorset is expected to reach full operational capability by the end of 2014.
Researchers from different universities studied the potential health and economic benefits of plans proposed on the control of air pollution in over-polluted regions of China. According to them, the costs related to the fatality and disability caused by air pollution came down by 50% in Taiyuan, China’s Shanxi Province capital between 2001 and 2010. The result of the study is published online in the Environment International journal.
A team of scientists from the University of Turku and the Imperial College London have engineered gut bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) for generation of renewable propane fuel. These bacteria are harmless and the novel method can lead to development of an alternate fuel instead of fossil fuels.
By Alessandro Pirolini
4 Sep 2014
A Commission led by Ohio State University Professor, William Martin and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine Professor, Stephen Gordon, studied the health effects of indoor air pollution. The study, published in the journal - The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, estimated that solid fuels like coal, charcoal or wood are being used for heating, cooking and lighting purposes by one-third of the human population, globally.
By Alessandro Pirolini
4 Sep 2014
Tufts University’s Charles C. Chester, Wildlife Conservation Society’s Jodi A. Hilty and World Commission on Protected Areas/IUCN’s Lawrence S. Hamilton have together published a new paper on conservation, climate change and connectivity in mountain regions. This study has been published in the Journal of Mountain Ecology.
By Alessandro Pirolini
4 Sep 2014
The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill's (UNC) Water Institute and Water and Sanitation for Africa has conducted a new study on the usability of wells that were drilled for drinking water. These wells remained in use when the community members had the training to fix wells and were also collecting fees for repair and maintenance.
A new model created by the University of New South Wales researchers could be helpful in determining the countries to be blamed for causing the ocean garbage patch, a gyre of floating rubbish.
By Alessandro Pirolini
3 Sep 2014
Irina Ovcarenko, a scientist at Finland's MTT Agrifood Research, has as part of her thesis, conducted research on the ecology and genetic diversity of the greenhouse whitefly. Her study provides new insight about their survival in Finland and would also help in planning pest management.
Etrion is partnering with Hitachi High-Technologies to construct 34MW solar projects in Japan. The Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited (SuMi Trust) is providing the funding for the projects.
EPFL and Leclanché S.A., Romande Energie with funding from the Canton of Vaud are working on a project to develop a comprehensive energy storage device. The Leclanché storage device will function in tandem with the Romande Energie solar park in Switzerland.
By Stuart Milne
3 Sep 2014
Scientists at MIT, in collaboration with the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel have discovered that corals are not as passive as previously thought. The team have found that corals manipulate their environment to force water into turbulent patterns which enables them to exchange nutrients and dissolved gases with their surroundings.
By Stuart Milne
2 Sep 2014