Giant solar farms in the Southwest, compressed air chambers to store excess energy, a switch to a DC backbone, and $420 billion for 69% of the US electricity to be generated by the sun by 2050. The plan will result in 62% less CO2 emissions than 2005 levels. Interesting stat: For the plan to work installed watts need to cost $1.20, could Nanosolar’s modulars be the answer? Read more here.
US based solar start-up, Nanosolar manufactures solar cells by printing them similar to newspaper on aluminum foil. This process is said to decrease the cost of manufacturing by half. These cells are first meant to be used for solar power stations, generating up to 10 MW. Interesting stat: Nanosolar believes they can bring the costs of manufacturing down to 99 cents a watt. Read more here. Learn about Nanosolar here.
Spanish bioenergy company, Abengoa, has announced a $250 million investment in cassava plantations in the Philippines. Cassava is a woody shrub native to South America. The edible root will be used for ethanol production. Abengoa anticipates the 50,000 hectare of cassava plantations will produce 1.5 million tones of feedstock and resultantly 150 to 200 million liters of ethanol a year. Read more here. Read more on Cassava here.
Formed in Nov. 2006, MIT’s Energy Initiative announced a five-year collaboration with Ford Motor Company and British Petroleum. Ford’s funded research will obviously focus on automotive technologies. Read more HERE. British Petroleum’s funds will support research in feedstock conversion and decarbonization. BP committed up to $5 million for five years. Read more HERE.
John Doerr of venture capital firm KPCB gives a great and passionate speech about the convergence of business, investing, technology, and legislation in green technology.
