Why Sugarcane’s Genome Mapping Matters
Following a decade of research, it’s thought that the recent decoding of the complex genome of sugarcane could pave the way for advanced breeding techniques, more agricultural sustainability, and perhaps for developing a cost-effective and sustainable aviation fuel. What Happened? Scientists from The University of Queensland, Australia’s national science agency CSIRO, and Sugar Research Australia (SRA) […]
Prototype Means Solar Farms In Space Getting Closer
Oxfordshire-based Space Solar has reported a world first with the development of a UK Prototype for space-based solar panels that could mean a constant, sustainable energy supply to the planet. Solar Farms In Space Space Solar’s plan is to be able to power more than a million homes by the 2030s using a mile-wide complex […]
600% Data-Centre Electricity Increase In a Decade
In a speech shared on LinkedIn, National Grid Chief Executive, John Pettigrew, highlighted how demand for electricity from commercial data centres will increase six-fold, within just ten years. Double The Demand On The Grid By 2050 Comparing today’s problem of grid network constraint to that of the 1950s, Mr Pettigrew identified the key challenges of […]
World’s First Bio-Circular Data Centre
French data centre company, Data4, says its new project will create a world-first way of reusing data centre heat and captured CO2 to grow algae which can then be used to power other data centres and create bioproducts. Why? The R&D project, involving Data4 working with the University of Paris-Saclay, is an attempt to tackle […]
First For Energy-Saving Magnetic Levitation Train
Italian firm IronLev has claimed to have completed the first-ever magnetic levitation (maglev) test on an existing train track. Energy Saving Potential The use of maglev technology for trains is particularly valuable because, if scaled up, it has the potential to reduce costs and energy usage as the industry seeks more efficient systems. This is […]
How Cheese Helped Extract Gold From E-Waste
ETH Zurich researchers have reported discovering an effective method for recovering gold from e-waste with the help of byproducts from the cheesemaking process. Protein Fibre Sponge The group of researchers, led by ETH Professor Mezzenga, have reported using a sponge made from a protein matrix (a cheesemaking byproduct) to extract gold from e-waste. The protein […]
New £4 Billion EV Battery Factory in Somerset
Tata Group’s global battery business ‘Agratas’ has confirmed previous announcements that it will invest £4bn in a brownfield site near Bridgwater in Somerset to make it the UK’s biggest electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing facility. Somerset To Be Centre Of UK’s Green Energy Revolution Somerset Council has reported that the Agratas factory should create up […]
‘Gasification’ of Waste Tea Powers Factories
The ‘gasification’ of waste tea prunings is being used to both provide free energy for factories in Kenya and to decarbonise the tea sector. Gasification UK-based waste-to-energy company Compact Syngas Solutions (CSS) has developed a ‘gasification’ process which can convert biomass and other feedstocks into synthesis gas (syngas), which can be used to generate heat […]
Dirt-Powered ‘Forever’ Fuel Cell
Researchers at Northwestern University in the US have created a fuel cell that harvests energy from microbes living in soil so that it can potentially last forever (or as long as there are soil microbes). Why? As Bill Yen (who led the research) suggests, the value may lie in its ability to supply power to […]
Promising Lithium Breakthrough For EV Market
Stanford researchers have discovered a simple way to boost the range of lithium metal batteries to twice the range of conventional lithium-ion batteries which could provide a massive boost to the EV market. Lithium-Ion Batteries Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are currently used in a wide array of electronic devices, including smartphones, laptops, tablets, power tools, […]
First 3D Metal Printer In Space
With the world’s first metal 3D printer being sent to the International Space Station (ISS), we look at what impact being able to print metal parts in space could have on space-travel plus potential environmental considerations and more. 3D Metal Printer Although the ISS already has several plastic 3D printers on board, the new Airbus-produced […]
Data-Centres Using One-Third Of Ireland’s Electricity By 2026
A report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts that almost one-third of electricity demand in Ireland is expected to come from data-centres by 2026. Doubling Of Electricity Demand The IEA’s ‘Electricity 2024 – Analysis and forecast to 2026’ highlights how having one of the lowest corporate tax rates in the EU (12.5 per cent) […]