Project Energy

Storing megawatts: Liquid-metal batteries and electricity

Image via Wikipedia

Making aluminum requires a lot of electricity. That’s because the metal bonds tightly to oxygen and it takes a lot of energy to break that bond. In essence, the process of making aluminum is a giant battery with the silvery metal being reduced to purity at the cathode while oxygen [...]

Tags: aluminum industry, aluminum smelters, energy density, liquid metal, liquid metal battery, liquid metals, lithium ion, luis ortiz, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Posted in 5 Years Out, Cutting-edge Research, Innovation, Innovation Needed, Project Energy, Resources, Scientific American, Shape of Things to Come? | 1 Comment »

The Lithium Chase

Image by lennox_mcdough via Flickr

For many years, few metals drew bigger yawns from mining executives than lithium, a lightweight element long associated mostly with mood-stabilizing drugs.
Suddenly, the yawns are being replaced by eurekas. As awareness spreads that lithium is a crucial ingredient for hybrid and electric cars, a global hunt [...]

Tags: electric cars, electric transportation, global hunt, lithium, lithium mining, magna international
Posted in 5 Years Out, NY Times, Project Energy, Resources | No Comments »

Carbon nanotubes offer new way to produce electricity

Scientists have discovered that a moving pulse of heat traveling along the miniscule wires known as carbon nanotubes can cause powerful waves of energy.
These “thermopower waves” can drive electrons along like a collection of flotsam propelled along the surface of ocean waves, creating an electrical current. The previously unknown phenomenon [...]

Tags: carbon nanotube, carbon nanotubes, combustion waves, energy research, nanowire
Posted in 5 Years Out, Innovation, Nanotech, Project Energy, gizmag | No Comments »

Antro SOLO human-electric-hybrid aims for double the fun

Hungarian designers Antro are aiming to introduce a new fuel efficient vehicle to the consumer market by 2012
which (like the recently covered HumanCar) will rely on the muscle-power of driver and passengers as well as a hybrid fuel/electric engine. The designers are also looking to have the three-seater SOLO link up to [...]

Tags: Carbon fiber, fuel efficiency, fuel efficient vehicle, muscle power
Posted in Automotive, Cutting-edge Research, Innovation, Project Energy, environment, gizmag | No Comments »

Google Busting Out Breakthrough Solar Thermal Technology in 1-3 Years?

Image via CrunchBase

Google “green czar” Bill Weihl has just reported that if all things go as planned, we could see Google rolling out breakthrough solar thermal technology within 1-3 years.
Google “green czar” Bill Weihl has just reported that if all things go as planned, we could see [...]

Tags: energy czar, Google, green energy, rachel fielding, renewable energy, solar energy, solar technology, solar thermal power, solar thermal technology
Posted in 5 Years Out, Cutting-edge Research, Innovation, Project Energy, Scientific American | No Comments »