A semiconductor is a material with electrical conductivity intermediate in magnitude between that of a conductor and an insulator. Semiconductor materials are the foundation of modern electronics, including radio, computers, telephones, and many other devices. Such devices include transistors and digital and analog integrated circuits. Transition metal oxides also (more…)

Two years ago, an explosion on BP’s Deepwater Horizon drilling platform killed 11 workers and marked the beginning of a prolonged environmental disaster now acknowledged as the worst in American history. Before the Macondo well was finally capped, more than two hundred million gallons of crude oil had gushed into the Gulf of Mexico, killing untold (more…)

U.S. and UK officials have announced plans to work together in developing floating wind turbine technology, an innovation that could open new areas of the world’s oceans to wind energy generation.

In a collaboration announced before a meeting of global energy leaders in London, U.S. Energy (more…)

In previous posts (here and here), I discussed the IP litigation in China between American Superconductor (AMSC) and Chinese wind energy system maker Sinovel.

The of heart of the dispute is AMSC’s allegations that Sinovel misappropriated its proprietary software code for controlling wind turbines and power converters. (more…)

Wind density is an issue for the wind power industry. The windier the site, the higher the energy output will be. But a new product, launched at the EWEA 2012 in Copenhagen, promises to achieve maximum returns from low-wind sites. The makers hope it will become a benchmark in the industry thanks to its low power (more…)

Recently, Belgium created the Belgium Plan, providing the required steps the European country will need to achieve in an effort to meet their renewable energy and energy efficiency objectives. As the capital of Belgium, the city of Brussels is looking to do its part to streamline the objectives and have Brussels (more…)

Solar power tends to be big because it covers a large amount of area with its panels. The world’s largest solar thermal power plant (by physical size) is nearly double the size of the original largest in Denmark — is now online in Saudi Arabia, reinforcing the notion that this Saudi Arabia has a lot of oil and a lot of sunlight. As long as the sun shines this sort of power is virtually (more…)

For many villagers in rural areas of India, personal banking comes at a high cost. In addition to the expense of traveling to the nearest branch, often in distant cities, they must often forgo a day’s work. Vortex Engineering, a start-up incubated at Chennai’s Indian Institute of Technology, has come up with a solution that not only saves rural Indians the day’s (more…)

Water and wasterwater facilities in California, Arizona and Nevada will be enjoying the benefits of solar power thanks to a new partnership struck with Kennedy/Jenks. Water treatment is an energy-hungry method, therefore introducing clean, renewable energy can reduce its environmental footprint. (more…)

First Solar, Inc., the U.S.’s biggest solar manufacturer, will lay off 2,000 workers and close its German factory, citing what the company called fundamental changes to the industry and “deteriorating market conditions” in Europe.

The Arizona-based company, which had been the (more…)