‘Nanotechnology can make a world of difference in virtually every facet of wind and solar energy generation’
An IndustryWeekly.com editorial, entitled ‘Taking the NanoPulse -- Put Some Energy Into It’, revisits the debate around the cost-effectiveness and reliability of renewable energies and finds that ‘opinions seem to be shifting at the speed of wind and sunlight. People are looking in new directions and at new technologies for solutions. At the top of the list: nanotechnology.’
‘For alternative energy,’ he concludes, ‘there's no alternative to nanotechnology.’
In support of this statement, Rickert highlights a few of the many examples in which nanotechnologies already help to make renewable energies reliable and viable:
- nanomaterials for light absorption: [...] By using quantum dots, nanoparticles, nanodots and nanocrystals, the achievable efficiency could climb to 60%.
- environment for solar generation: [...] New self-cleaning and dirt-repelling nano-coatings keep the sun shining through. Others increase the life expectancy of a system with a layer of protection that prevents the micro-scratches and gouges that come from windblown dirt pounding the surface glass day after day.
- wind energy generation: [...] ice-phobic nanocoatings is enabling a surface that impedes ice formation and actually helps shed ice.
Follow this link to read the full editorial on IndustryWeekly.com.
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European Commission Director of International Cooperation in Science and Technology Mary Minch, has called for a full utilisation of the EU New Framework Programme 7. Explaining that the new Framework Programme 7 -- from 2007-2013-- had a total budget of 54 billion Euros, she noted that it was aimed at boosting innovation and research capacity, and that it would, at the same time, enhance EU cooperation with Malaysia. (10th June 2009)
The OECD Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (ENV) and OECD Working Party on Nanotechnology (STI) jointly present an OECD Conference on Potential Environmental Benefits of Nanotechnology: Fostering Safe Innovation-Led Growth. (29th May 2009)
The European Commission has published an FP7 call entitled ‘Energy Second Generation Biofuels - EU Brazil Coordinated Call’. (6th January 2009)