The Ten Essential Renewable Energy Stories This Week

Another week has come and gone.  And, what a week it was.  Some may say renewable energies and technologies are expensive, insignificant, or a waste of money.  However, no one can ever claim renewable energies are not exciting.  Once again this week was littered with unusual, spectacular, wildly creative, and downright crazy inventions and ideas for generating clean energy. 

Some of these ideas include the development of a solar lamp; increasing the lipid content of cyanobacteria to generate more oil for algae biofuel; studying moth eyes to make solar energy more efficient; and, even using yeast that feed on blood as fuel cells.  Wacky? Yes.  Practical?  Possibly.

So, before your head explodes, let's get you to the important stuff:

This week's 10 Hottest Renewable Energy Stories You May Have Missed:

1.  Vampire Fuel Cells Feed on Human Blood - What??  Yes.  Researchers at the University of British Columbia have developed a small microbial fuel cell using yeast.  The yeast cells generate power by feeding on the glucose in blood.  These fuel cells can potentially be used to create better pacemakers and devices for treating paralysis.

2.  Government Study Forecasts Manageable Consumer Costs - A new study by the Energy Information Administration shows that the Waxman-Markey Bill will only have a minimal impact on American energy bills.  According to the report, energy bills will rise $134 by 2020.

3.  Eye-Tech:  Moth Eyes Inspire Solar Technology - Scientists around the world are studying the way moth's eyes absorb light.  This research is leading to the development of more efficient solar cells.

4.  Costly Renewable Energy:  The Cause of and Solution to America's Woes - Harry Tournemille canvases several renewable energy sectors in the United States in a quest to explain why the country only generates 4% of its power from alternative sources.  The major reason for renewable energy's insignificance?  Money.

5.  Seattle Firm Increases Algae Oil Yield--Discovery Will Decrease Cost of Production, Make Algae-Based Biofuels Price Competitive - Bioscience firm, Targeted Growth, Inc. has discovered a way to increase the lipid content of cyanobacteria by 400%.  This development will lead to a greater oil yield per acre; decrease the cost of algae biofuel production; and help algae-based biofuel compete with petroleum.

6.  Hybrid Car Sales Reach Record Highs in July - Sales of hybrid vehicles were up 35% in July compared to June.  This increase gave hybrid cars a 3.55% share of the new car market--this is the largest market share hybrid vehicles have ever had.

7.  Wind Giant Vestas' Next Target: Africa - Wind turbine manufacturer, Vestas is preparing to build Africa's largest wind farm in Kenya.  The wind farm will generate 300 megawatts of power, and is expected to be completed by 2012.

8.  Award-Winning Solar Reflectors Will Cut Production Costs - SkyFuel Inc. has developed concentrating solar collectors which are composed of silver polymer instead of glass.  Silver polymer is cheaper to produce, easier to install, and has the same performance and durability as glass reflectors.

9.  Reva - The $12,000 Electric Car From India - This electric vehicle has a range of 50 miles, a top speed of 50 miles per hour, can be charged in eight hours, and seats four individuals.  One other thing, it retails for $12,000 USD, much cheaper than other electric cars, such as the Chevy Volt ($40,000 USD).

10. Green Stocks Are A Bull on the Market - Alternative energy, "green," mutual funds have outperformed the S&P index by a margin of three to one in 2009.  Analysts expect this growth to remain strong and to carry on throughout the year.

Well, that wraps up this week at EnergyBoom.  Have a great weekend.  And, remember, if you have the inkling for some renewable energy news, come look through our Solar, Wind, Biofuels, Geothermal, Emerging, and Policy channels.  There is loads of content available.