The alternative energy sector was one of many sectors hit hard by the recent recession. Recently, the United States’ Energy Secretary, Steven Chu, suggested that the U.S. was lagging behind other countries’ investments into alternative energy, namely China. One of the sectors the government has been investing in steadily is wind energy, however.

Many analysts have stated that the wind energy sector has faired better than predicted and better than other alternative sectors. This is ...

There is an increasing concern among hybrid manufacturers and others who tout the vehicles for their reduced emissions. The concern is the metals which are required to make these hybrid vehicles and their availability in the future.

Rare earth metals, which are fifteen different elements on the periodic table, are an intricate part of any hybrid vehicle. Popular models such as the Toyota Prius, Honda Insight and Ford Focus all use these metals. Some experts of metals consider the Prius as ...

New age composite materials are evolving old technologies and yielding better ways and better results. The search for alternative sources of energy is closely aligned with research into composite materials. Whether it is better batteries or more efficient solar cells, each day opens up new possibilities. New age materials are contributing to better designs. Wind energy is just one example.
 
Generating energy from the natural force of wind using windmills is now old hat. Turbines are the modern avatars of the windmills. But even turbines are changing shape, thanks to new designs being tried out. Maximizing ...

Scientists in Scotland have discovered that radar could be key to helping bats survive wind turbines. Bats, along with other wildlife such as birds, are at great risk in areas with wind turbines. With the growing number of wind turbines going up around the world, bats and other species are facing growing hazards.

Wind turbines are an excellent source of emission free energy, however there are obvious dangers to nature. Some statistics involving bat deaths are alarming when it comes to areas with ...

The United States recently announced the first ever licenses for offshore wind farms. Five different leases were given to four different companies last week. The wind energy development would occur offshore of New Jersey and Delaware. The farms would be placed along the Outer Continental Shelf.

Unfortunately, until this point there have been no wind farms built in the United States. There have been numerous proposals of such farms, but none have been built as of yet. These leases are allowing for companies to attain information ...

In the near future you could stare up at the New York sky and see a multitude of kites sailing in the wind. No, it won’t be a kite festival but a flight of high altitude energy generators. Scientists at the Carnegie Institution and California State University cite the winds over the Big Apple as a potential wind energy mine. The high altitude winds (or more known as Jet streams) globally have enough energy to supply the world’s energy 100 times over.

Jet streams are never-ceasing all year round, only changing direction with ...

Decreasing wind may prove to be a potential disturbance for alternative energy across the United States. Early information compiled is pointing to dying wind speeds across the United States, which would be an immense hit to the growing wind energy sector.

Two scientists, Eugene Takle from Iowa State University and Sara Pryor from Indiana University, are publishing their findings in the August edition of the Journal of Geophysical Research. Based on their study, winds across ...

Statoil recently installed the world’s first floating wind turbine off the coast of Norway. The experimental turbine will be in place for two years while the company determines future steps for the turbine. The turbine, if successful, is expected to resolve numerous issues currently involved in wind farms on land and sea.

The turbine will be anchored to the seabed with cables and can be in waters upwards of 700 meters. The aspect of the turbine allowing it to float lies below ...

The hero of this story is a one of a kind microbe called Methanobacterium palustre. This microbe discovered recently has the unique ability to synthesize methane from electric current. You might wonder that the reverse would have better for an energy starved world. After all, isn’t methane a greenhouse gas.

But look at it this way - alternative energy sources like solar and wind have long struggled with feasible ways to store the energy they generate during the day for use at night. And they are notoriously fickle with continuous supply. Nature dependent it is difficult to regulate ...

There is no doubt that alternative energy has the potential to replace some of the more inefficient energy producers such as coal plants, nuclear energy and oil, but which alternatives will have the most influence? Utilizing the following forms of alternative energy may be more sustainable for the planet and cheaper for the U.S. A study by Mark Jacobson of the Atmosphere and Energy Program at Stanford University determined that these seven alternative energy sources were on top.
Wind: In ...