Compressed Air Energy Storage from LightSail Could Run a Whole City Clean Power Published on November 10th, 2012 | by Tina Casey The company LightSail Energy started out a few years ago with a student’s modest idea for a compressed air scooter, and now it has just raised $37.3 million in private funding to bring utility scale, compressed air energy storage to the market. That’s a big leap not only for the company but for compressed air technology itself, which has long been eyed for its clean energy potential. The problem has been to make the process efficient enough to deliver power at a commercial scale, so let’s take a look and see how LightSail solved the problem. The Compressed Air Conundrum As aptly described by writer Rachel Metz over at the MIT Technology Review, half of the compressed-air equation is simple enough from a clean energy perspective. The hard part kicks in when you try to store large quantities of compressed air. LightSail’s Compressed Air Solution Compressed Air Meets Wind Power Alternative Energy and Democracy About the Author
Clean storage: These scientists are making an organic, water-based battery for the power grid Most batteries — whether they’re embedded in your iPhone or they’re plugged into the power grid somewhere — use some kind of metal to create the chemical reaction that stores the energy. In laptops and Teslas, that metal is lithium; in traditional cars it’s lead. But researchers at University of Southern California are developing an all-organic, water-based battery that can be entirely synthesized (not using materials mined from the earth) and uses no metals or toxic chemicals. USC chemistry professor Sri Narayan told me he thinks that in the future, when batteries are scaled up to the point where they’re commonly used on the power grid at large sizes, then using metals and toxic chemicals in them will be a big problem. He thinks the notion of “clean storage” — batteries made using more sustainable methods — will be important down the road. USC research on an organic flow battery. The USC battery isn’t designed like the closed ones used in your phone and laptop.
8 Completely Awesome DIY Home Energy Projects | Ecoble Small-scale renewable energy is a must for a sustainable home – but converting your home to clean energy options can carry a huge initial price tag. We’ve scoured the web for some of the most innovative examples of homemade energy solutions to compile a collective list of DIY projects to make your home greener and more energy efficient without costing you a fortune. From solar water heaters and gadget chargers to homemade super-efficient refrigerators, you’ll find links (with instructions) to some of the best projects you can make at home… Homemade Energy-Save Fridge The ‘Ambient Air Fridge’ isn’t quite a year-round green appliance but when things cool down in the winter, this homemade fridge will definitely shave a few dollars off the electric bill! The insulated wood box fits snugly in an out-of-the-way doorway and even controls the temperature with an inexpensive thermostat and a couple of computer fans. DIY Electric Lawn Mower Make Your Own Wind Turbine Low Cost Solar Water Heater