Grid Alternatives: Providing free training for women in or interested in solar industry

Grid Alternatives is playing its part to increase the number of women working in the solar industry by providing free training programmes. The Women in Solar Program, run by the US-based nonprofit Grid Alternatives, enables those women who already work in the solar industry the chance to gain more skills, develop their leadership potential, and access solar job opportunities. Meanwhile, those women who have no … Continue reading Grid Alternatives: Providing free training for women in or interested in solar industry

IKEA branch out into selling “affordable” renewable energy to households, starting in Sweden

IKEA is branching out into selling renewable energy to households, starting with Sweden’s home market from September. Ingka Group, the owner of most IKEA stores worldwide, said households would be able to buy affordable renewable electricity from solar and wind parks, and track their usage through an app. Ingka’s partner Svea Solar, which produces solar panels for Ikea, will buy the electricity on the Nordic … Continue reading IKEA branch out into selling “affordable” renewable energy to households, starting in Sweden

WaterLight: Portable light converts salt water into electricity

Colombian renewable energy startup E-Dina has developed a portable lantern that converts salt water into electricity . Known as WaterLight, the device requires 500ml of saltwater – or urine in emergency situations – to emit up to 45 days of light. The portable light was developed as a more reliable alternative to solar lamps in off-grid communities. It can also be used to charge a mobile … Continue reading WaterLight: Portable light converts salt water into electricity

Shine: Portable wind turbine enabling outdoor enthusiasts to recharge devices

A compact and lightweight wind-powered turbine is enabling outdoor enthusiasts to recharge electronic devices using renewable energy while camping. The Shine turbine provides renewable power day and night, rain, cloud, or shine. Shine’s patent-pending technology instantly converts wind into power to charge a variety of devices or rapidly stores energy in its internal 12,000 mAh battery for later use. This 40-watt ultra-compact wind charger, designed small enough to fit into a backpack, … Continue reading Shine: Portable wind turbine enabling outdoor enthusiasts to recharge devices

Women boosting the solar energy transition in Morocco

An initiative in Morocco is establishing energy cooperatives led by women, with the aim of contributing to inclusive and climate-resilient development in the regions, especially rural areas, and to promote gender equality. The Faredeic (Argan and Rural Women Engaged for Inclusive Economic Development and Climate) initiative aims to develop a local sector of renewable energy through the creation of energy cooperatives led by women, to … Continue reading Women boosting the solar energy transition in Morocco

Austrian solar farm deploys sheep to assist with rewilding efforts and to mow grass

An Austrian solar farm has deployed sheep to assist with rewilding efforts and to mow the grass around the panels. The Vienna-based Schafflerhofstrasse PV plant has brought in 90 sheep to trim the 12-hectares of grass around the solar panels. The solar panels, whose electrical components are installed in a sheep-safe manner, are higher off the ground than normal enabling the panels to also serve as shelter … Continue reading Austrian solar farm deploys sheep to assist with rewilding efforts and to mow grass

Aceleron: Giving renewables a boost with sustainable battery packs designed to be repaired

Clean technology company Aceleron has developed lithium-ion batteries that are designed to be repaired and that eliminate the waste problem. Through a compression-based approach to assembling lithium-ion batteries, Aceleron have designed sustainable battery packs using fasteners to connect the parts and complete the circuit. This makes the batteries easy to disassemble and to replace parts when needed. The design also has the additional benefit of making … Continue reading Aceleron: Giving renewables a boost with sustainable battery packs designed to be repaired

Younger generations helping families across the generations to make greener choices, survey shows

Families, across the generations, are making cheaper, greener lifestyle choices on advice from children and grandchildren, according to a survey by Pure Planet. UK-based renewable energy provider Pure Plant surveyed 2000 adults including parents with kids of all ages – from very young to grown up with children of their own. Almost nine in 10 of the parents asked about their habits (88%), said they would always … Continue reading Younger generations helping families across the generations to make greener choices, survey shows

Tidal powered electrical vehicles in Shetland helping to drive Scotland to net zero

Electric vehicles in Shetland are now being fuelled purely by the power of the sea. Marine energy experts Nova Innovation have created the first ever electric vehicle (EV) charge point where drivers can “fill up” directly from a tidal energy source. The EV charge point is located at Cullivoe harbour on the island of Yell in Shetland, an an archipelago of roughly 100 islands north of mainland Scotland. The … Continue reading Tidal powered electrical vehicles in Shetland helping to drive Scotland to net zero

ZEBRA project to develop “world’s first” 100% recyclable wind turbine

A consortium of industrial and technical companies have joined forces to develop what they claim to be the “world’s first” 100% recyclable wind turbine. The ZEBRA (Zero wastE Blade ReseArch) project, driven by French research centre IRT Jules Verne, aims to investigate the technical, economic and environmental feasibility of thermoplastic wind turbine blades, with an eco-design approach to facilitate recycling. To accelerate the wind power industry’s … Continue reading ZEBRA project to develop “world’s first” 100% recyclable wind turbine