Nissan has released its next generation Fuel Cell Stack (FCS, 2011 Model) for its Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (EVs), which boasts significant power density improvements up to 2.5 times better than its 2005 model. This allows it to achieve a world’s best of 2.5 kW per liter according to the car manufacturer, with the company also reducing the overall size of the FCS by over half compared to conventional models. All these improvements have luckily not resulted in an increase in the price of the unit though, as Nissan reduced the usage of both platinum as well as parts variation to one quarter, bringing down the cost of it to one-sixth of the previous model.

 

 

 

Social networking behemoth Facebook has announced that it has formed a new partnership with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and software service company Opower. This partnership will exploit the power of social media in order to raise consumer awareness about issues of energy efficiency. These companies are developing a new social energy application for Facebook that will enable users to compare their home’s energy usage against the national US average of similar sized homes, as well as with that of their friend’s homes. Users will also be able to enter energy-saving competitions and share tips on how to become more energy efficient. 

 

 

 

Solar energy firm BrightSource Energy has filed an application for certification with the California Energy Commission, to develop three 250 megawatt solar power plants (750 megawatts nominal combined), in California’s Riverside County. If approved, the Rio Mesa Solar Electric Generating Facility will use BrightSource’s next generation 250 megawatt solar plant design, which reduces land use by 33% compared to similar solar plants. The electricity generated by the proposed plants is enough to serve over 300 000 Californian homes during daily peak hours and the complex will reduce CO² emissions by almost 20 million tons over its 25 year life cycle. If approved the Rio Mesa plant is expected to be complete by 2016.

 

 

 

Winner of new generation electricity pylon announced. bit.ly/pylonstyle 

 

How Apple and Greenpeace buried the eco hatchet. cnet.co/greenerApple