Important Innovations

Based On Photosynthesis in a Leaf, Artificial Photosynthesis Source" stock image of leaves in the Sun Lawrence Berkeley National Lab The new technology is an artificial version of photosynthesis.  It's a dreamed-for renewable energy technology that top scientists and engineers have been chasing for decades.  Artificial photosynthesis has just been achieved by a team of scientists at the renowned Lawrence Berkeley National Lab in California. Photosynthesis Photosynthesis is the sunlight-driven, chemical reaction process that leaves and algae use to convert CO2 into cellular fuel.  Led by scientist Heinz Frei, the Berkeley Lab team has developed an artificial photosynthesis system.  It's composed of nano-sized tubes capable of all of the key steps in fuel generation. Big Green Deal This new green, renewable energy technology is a very big deal.  The new technology has the potential to generate vast amounts of renewable energy by using the CO2 i

New Device Generates Electricity from Moisture in the Air Source:  UMASS Amherst Potential Green Energy Gamechanger Scientists at UMASS Amherst have invented a device that uses a natural protein to create electricity from the moisture in the air.  They call it the "Air-Gen" for air powered generator.  The device doesn't need sunlight or wind and creates clean energy 24/7.  It's a renewable process that works off the moisture in the air, both outdoors and indoors.  The inventors say it is low-cost, renewable and nonpolluting. Big Energy Possibilities The system now can power small electronic devices.  The team wants to take it to the commercial level to power electronics wearables and smartwatches.  They foresee the day when this system could eliminate the need to plug in your smartphone for energy.  Their system eliminates the need for batteries. How It Works The UMASS system connects electrodes to unique protein nanowires.  It results in low cost elect

New Tech for Green, Sustainable Energy  Source:  Toyota Hydrogen Powered Car Real Time Energy Source Hydrogen is abundant, affordable and clean.  It's considered a feasible alternative to fossil fuels that could transform the energy economy and cut Climate Change.  Up until now, ways to separate hydrogen from the compounds that it's contained in have been slow, inefficient and expensive. Now,  scientists in China have invented a new technology that produces hydrogen fuel on the spot. Novel Process Chinese scientists at Tsinghua University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences just announced that they've developed a separation process that generates hydrogen "on-demand", "on the spot".  Using the chemical alloy bismuth along with tin, gallium and indium, they pressed the unique alloy material on an aluminum plate in water.  It immediately produced hydrogen in real-time.  They placed the hydrogen in a proton exchange membrane fuel cel

Eden GeoPower Source:  Stock Image Oil Well Cleaner Oil Extraction Eden GeoPower is a green energy startup founded by MIT PhD. candidate Paris Smalls and Saudi Aramco geophysicist Ammar Alali who recently graduated from the University of Houston.  They've invented a unique, electric and environmentally sound technology that provides much cleaner and environmentally sound oil and gas extraction. Fracking Wells Current fracking techniques rely on water under high pressure to extract oil and gas.  The process generates runoff that is highly polluted and can seep into groundwater.  Eden GeoPower offers a Pulsed Electric Reservoir Stimulation technology that's inexpensive and environmentally correct.  The process is not water intensive and results in no water runoff and no noise pollution.  It's a cleaner energy alternative in extracting gas and oil. The process results in higher extraction rates of oil and gas from fracking wells without causing environmenta

Motosola Solar Canopy Source:  Motosola Solar Biking The Motosola solar canopy mounted on top of an electric motorcycle charges the battery of an electric bike by solar energy. In Asia, canopies on bikes are common to protect the riders from the sun.  Motosola has taken that concept to a new level by inventing a canopy that's essentially a solar panel to pull in and utilize the energy of the sun to charge electric vehicles.  The system consists of the canopy and a charge inverter.  It's available as a 100 W or 150 W system.  The company's prototype system in Shenzhen, China has been driven for more than three months without needing any recharge.  The solar system has been sufficient to keep the batteries charged. Green, Clean Biking The company says that the system can generate up to 1.5kWh of electricity per day whether the bike is being ridden or it's parked.  It's said to be easy to install and compatible with most motorbikes.  When parked th

Wearable  Solar Panel Source:  SunUp Innovation from UK This is a wearable solar panel that's called SunUp for easy use to travel with you.  There's a lot unique about this technology.  But a couple of outstanding points.  These are flexible solar panels that can fit around your backpack as you walk to university.  Or they are flexible enough to fit around a tent as you go on a forest adventure.  Or they wrap around your boat in a stream.  This portable system pulls in 15 watts of solar energy to fully charge a mobile device within 12 hours. This device is a national top runner-up at the James Dyson Awards. UK Brunel University Innovation This new, green energy system comes from the UK's Brunel University and design student Bradley Brister.  The design overcomes low efficiency, thin film silicon panels that have traditionally been used in flexible displays to pull in solar energy.  What's innovative is that Brunel has changed the game by using triangles of pol

Audiobooks on the Latest Global Innovations Written & Narrated by US Network TV Journalists Informative & Entertaining Listening I'd like to share some free audio samples of our three audiobooks on innovation on ACX, Audible and iTunes - "Important Innovations Collection" by Edward Kane  These audiobooks provide our news summaries on the latest innovations in robotics, energy and travel, like flying car technology, commercial kite energy and breakthrough robotics that serve your medical needs. Ed and I are US national television journalists and we've wrote and narrated these news summaries.  Here are links for a listen on Renewable Energy  https://www.amazon.com/Important-Innovations-Collection-Energy/dp/B07XTQK5M4/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= For Robotics  https://www.amazon.com/Important-Innovations-Collection-Innovation-Impressive/dp/B07XTQW4JJ/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= For Travel  https://www.a

Trump Administration Promising More Biofuels Source:  US Department of Agriculture Ethanol Use Mandated To Rise President Donald Trump has never claimed to be a Green "What's good for the environment is good for the nation and the world" President.  In fact, he dismisses the very existence of Climate Change. But the Administration just made a slight move into a greener direction.  They've unveiled a plan to boost US biofuel consumption, specifically corn based, ethanol fuel, starting in 2020.  The purpose is to help struggling farmers in the Corn belt, which is a big voting constituency for Mr. Trump.  The plan is getting applause from the agricultural industry and big boos from big oil, another Republican voting base. EPA The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is revamping ethanol rules. The plan is in partnership with the US Department of Agriculture.  The plan requires an increase in the amount of ethanol that oil refineries must add to the

Important Innovation Collection Audiobooks Just Published Latest Innovations in Robotics and Renewable Energy This week ACX published two more of our innovation news audiobooks:  "Important Innovations Collection:  Robotics" and "Important Innovations Collection:  Energy".  They join "Important Innovations Collection:  Travel" that was first published. Unique News Summaries on Breaking Global Innovations The co-authors and narrator are US national television journalists Ed Kane and Maryanne Kane. The audiobooks are unique and highly valuable news accounts, written by Ed and Maryanne, of the latest global breakthroughs in innovation. Sample Links and Free Codes for Important Innovations Collection:  Energy For easy access for a free sample listen, in the US  https://www.audible.com/pd/B07XTP1N8Z/?source_code=AU In the UK,  https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/B07XLNX35Y/?source_code=AUKFrDlWS02231890H6-BK-ACX0-164309&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0

New, Transformative Device to Generate Power from Night Sky Source:   UCLA Renewable and Complements Solar Power This new, inexpensive thermoelectric device may be transformative in energy generation.  It harvests the coldness of space during the night to generate electricity - enough right now to power a LED light at nighttime, but the inventors say it's very scalable.  The device is a significant new innovation from engineers at UCLA and Stanford University.  The gadget works at night when solar systems don't.  The inventors say it's a new approach to power generation when power at night is needed.  It complements solar power that doesn't work at night, giving a 24/7 approach to green, renewable energy. Phenomenon Like Frost Formation The device takes advantage of radiative cooling, the process by which frost forms on grass during above freezing temperatures at night.  The sky facing surface of the technology passes heat to the atmosphere as thermal radiat

New Hydrogel Invention from Singapore to Harvest Fresh Water from Ocean Air Source:  Stock Ocean Image Huge Water Resource Scientists from the National University of Singapore have invented a system to pull fresh water out of ocean air.  They've developed a hydrogel using a zinc based material that is able to absorb more than four time its weight in water.  Huge amounts of water evaporate every day from the ocean, lakes, rivers and reservoirs.  The team in Singapore has found an innovative way to harvest the water in the humid surface air above the water surface. Secret Ingredient - Sunlight The system has been successfully tested.  The team put the gel in devices floating on the ocean surface where it collected water vapor created during evaporation.  By placing the gel in a glass container in sunlight, fresh water was created and harvested.  The salt content in the water was negligible. Renewable, Reusable Energy Rather than relying on electricity, the new hydroge

Massachusetts' Brayton Point Power Station Towers Demolished in 2 Seconds Source: Stock Image of Brayton Point, MA. New Wind Energy Coming to Replace Coal Fired Plants Brayton Point in Somerset, Massachusetts on Mount Hope Bay was the last coal-fired generating plant in MA.  It stopped production in 2017 as environmental groups pushed for cleaner sources of energy generation. Landmark to Old Energy Demolished Today its two, 500 foot cooling towers were demolished by controlled explosions in two seconds. The plant had burned coal since 1963. Anyone who has travelled the I-195 corridor through Fall River, MA over the Braga Bridge going to Cape Cod or south to New York City is very familiar with these landmarks of old energy. They are now gone and are making way for new energy systems like wind. New Base of Wind Energy The new owner of the property is Commercial Development Co.  They say they plan to convert the property into a multi-use facility, primarily to support

Lists of Top New Global Innovations - 8 Book Series by Journalist Edward Kane Free Borrowing on Kindle To be in the know about the latest, top global innovations, you might enjoy taking a look at the 8 book series written by my fellow journalist Edward Kane and co-authored by me.  We just enabled them for free borrowing on Kindle.  For more information, go to Important Innovations Collection: Top New Global Innovations : My Innovation Books on Kindle and Amazon Free Borrowing in Kindle Lending Library I wanted to make you aware that I've ...

SK's New Commitment to Renewables Source: South Korea Coal-Generating Power Plant Accelerating with Renewable Energy South Korea is accelerating its shift to cleaner, greener energy.  It has set long term renewable energy targets. The government of South Korea wants to reach a goal of 35% renewable sources of energy by 2040.  That is about four times the amount of renewables they are using right now. South Korea Energy Mix South Korea is currently utilizing 8% of renewable energy sources as part of its energy mix.  They are highly reliant on coal generating plants and nuclear power for their electricity.  They hope to have renewable energy sources up to 20% by 2030 and increase that significantly by 2040.  The great news here is how many nations are setting schedules and agendas to make more renewable sources a significant part of the energy mix.

Huge, Industrial-Scale Wave Power Project Just Announced in Italy Source:  Wave Power Stock Image Renewable Energy from the Force of Waves Eni, the Italian oil and gas energy company, along with the power grid group Terna, shipbuilder Fincantieri and state lending agency CDP just announced their plans to launch a huge wave energy power project.  They call it industrial scale.  It's composed of wave power stations and they say the application is immediate.  For more on this breaking news, go to Important Innovations Collection: Italian Wave Power Renewable Energy : Industrial-Scale Renewable Energy Project off Italy Source:  Waves off coast of Italy New Wave Power Stations Italian oil and gas ...

New Innovation to Forward Constant Use of Green Energy Source:  Vattenfall Salt-Based Storage Tech for Wind and Solar Power The main disadvantage of wind and solar power is their intermittent stop and start nature.  SaltX of Sweden has a new technology solution.  It's a salt based power storage system that Vattenfall, the Swedish power producer, is putting to an industrial level test.  If this works, it could make wind and solar energy more constantly available for our use.  The test is based in Berlin and goes through the summer.  For more details, go to Important Innovations Collection: Making Green Energy More Constantly Useable : Renewable Energy Innovation from Sweden New Salt-Based Storage Technology System For Green Energy Vattenfall is a Swedish power produc...

Massive Solar Thermal Power Project Megalim Starts Up in Israel Source:  Israel's Megalim Solar Project  Renewable Energy: Multi Billion Dollar Solar Valley The Megalim Solar Project in Israel is now in commercial operation. It's being called Israel's Multi-Billion Dollar Solar Valley. This is the largest renewable energy project in Israel and one of the largest and most complex in the world. It's a huge, concentrated solar thermal power plant delivering renewable energy in the Negev Desert. It's provides a daily clean energy supply to Israel's National Grid. It reminds you of Israel's first Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion's promise 60 years ago "to make the desert bloom again". Commitment to Renewable Energy Israel is committed to reaching a goal of 10% of its electricity generation from renewables by 2020. The Megalim is a big part of that goal and it's one of the largest solar plants of its kind in the world. It is a joint ve

New Wave, Ocean Energy Device Source:  Dielectric Elastomer Generator - University of Edinburg European Engineers Invent Successful Wave Device to Generate Electricity for Homes It's a simple, inexpensive wave device that generates clean, green electricity potentially for thousands of homes at first.  The brilliant device was invented and successfully tested by a group of European university engineers from Scotland and Italy.  It's called a Dielectric Elastomer Generator and is a vertical cylinder tied to ships that converts ocean wave energy to electricity.  For a great news blog on this latest innovation in renewable energy, go to Important Innovations Collection: New Wave Energy Power : Ocean Power to Generate Electricity Source:  Stock Image New, International Engineered Device An international team of engineers from...

Chinese Big-Scale Energy Innovation Source:  Shenzhen SHL From Waste to Energy - World's Largest Project This is an energy innovation project under development set to go on line in 2020. China's Shenzhen East Waste-to-Energy Power Plant.  It's the world's largest power plant to convert waste into energy, enough to power 100,000 homes. It's something to be aware of and worthy of watching as a new source of energy from waste.  To learn more, go to Important Innovations Collection: World's Largest Waste to Energy Plant : China's Renewable Energy Innovation Source: Shenzhen SHL Online 2020 China has many very impressive, breakthrough innovations i...

Wind Power For Houses Source:  Semtive Nemoi Wind Turbines New, Small, Noiseless Wind Turbines The renewable energy technology has been developed by a team of Argentines.  It's called Semtive Nemoi Wind Turbine and it delivers electricity from the kinetic energy of the wind into the home. Semtive Nemoi just opened a US headquarters in Silicon Valley, CA and they are rolling out their wind technology across the US.  The system has been cited as one of the top inventions of 2018.  For a new blog from my journalist colleague Ed Kane, go to Important Innovations Collection: Wind Powered Homes : New Renewable Energy Source for Residences Source: Semtive Nemoi Wind Turbine New Wind Power System It's the Semtive Nemoi W...