Category Archives: Renewable Energy News

Solar Decathlon

DOE Solar Decathlon Competition 2017

DOE Solar Decathlon 2017 Competition Announced By Department Of Energy

The DOE Solar Decathlon, which is an initiative by the U.S. Department of Energy, is a competition that aims at encouraging the construction of houses that are energy efficient, cost-effective and at the same time, aesthetically pleasing.

The competition is driven by the need to convert to the use of renewable energy in homes as well as the need to produce the energy required for the home with great efficiency. The solar decathlon also has the goal of creating awareness about the cost benefits as well as the environmental benefits that accrue from using clean energy and clean designs in housing.… Read More

wind turbine

U.S. Wind Energy Industry Welcomes Grant Announcement

The American Wind Energy Association welcomed the announcement from the U.S. Departments of the Treasury and Energy, about the Administration has begun issuing renewable energy grants under a program approved by Congress in the economic recovery package earlier this year. The announcement included grants of nearly $500 million for 10 wind power projects in Maine, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Texas.

“For these grantees and many other projects that are preparing their applications, we are seeing business activity picking up and turbine and parts orders being sent all the way up the value chain,” commented AWEA Senior Vice President for Public Policy Rob Gramlich, adding, “That activity had all but dried up and it is very encouraging to see this turnaround underway. Time will tell if that market signal is strong enough to keep the 85,000 people working in the wind industry employed for the next couple of years.”… Read More

Hydrogen-powered vehicles on horizon

Carmakers, Obama clash over fuel cells vs. batteries

Honda Motor Co. Ltd. is encouraging hydrogen power for the cars of the future, waving aside a decision by the Obama administration to drop the fuel-cell technology in favor of battery-run vehicles.

“Fuel-cell cars will become necessary,” said Takashi Moriya, head of Honda’s group developing this technology. “We’re positioning it as the ultimate zero-emission car.”… Read More

kids and solar panels

Solar panel roads could solve energy crisis

Roadways could develop into major energy sources under a government-funded plan to build roads out of solar panels.

Asphalt roads and car parks would be torn apart and restored with glass solar cell panels capable of producing enough power to support local population, under the scheme.

The US Department of Transportation has bestowed a grant of $100,000 on a US firm which is currently working on a prototype panel which can be embedded into existing roads.… Read More