Good News Notes: “By combining a CeO2 catalyst with atmospheric carbon dioxide, researchers from Osaka City University, Tohoku University, and Nippon Steel Corporation have developed an effective catalytic process for the direct synthesis of polycarbonate diols without using dehydrating agents. Their method, published in Green Chemistry, does not rely on toxic chemical feedstock like phosgene and carbon…
Tag: green
Record Electricity Generation in Faroe Islands Tidal Energy Project
Good News Notes: “Leading marine energy developer Minesto has reached further improved power production performance through upgrades and modifications of the company’s DG100 marine power plant. Furthermore, key aspects of test operations and electricity production with the DG100 system have now been third-party verified by DNV in accordance with international standards. Minesto recently resumed…
Study suggests bacteria in cow’s stomach can break down plastic
Good News Notes: “Bacteria found in one of the compartments of a cow’s stomach can break down plastic, research suggests. Since the 1950s, more than 8bn tonnes of plastic have been produced – equivalent in weight to 1 billion elephants – driven predominantly by packaging, single-use containers, wrapping and bottles. As a result, plastic pollution is all-pervasive, in the…
Australia’s first solar panel recycling plant swings into action
Good News Notes: “One of Australia’s first solar PV recycling facilities is up and running in Melbourne’s north, with video footage posted on LinkedIn on Wednesday showing the panel-crushing plant in action. The plant, which was completed last September in Thomastown by Melbourne based co-operative Lotus Energy, claims to recycle 100% of end-of-life solar PV…
Biodegradable plastic that can break down in your compost developed by scientists
Good News Notes: “Biodegradable plastic bags, cutlery and coffee cup lids may seem like a win for the environment, but they often introduce more problems than solutions. Despite being touted as “green”, many of these plastics take just as long as their conventional counterparts to break down in home composts and landfill, leading to more pollution…
World’s wind power capacity up by fifth after record year
Good News Notes: “The world’s wind power capacity grew by almost a fifth in 2019 after a year of record growth for offshore windfarms and a boom in onshore projects in the US and China. The Global Wind Energy Council found that wind power capacity grew by 60.4 gigawatts, or 19%, compared with 2018, in one of…
Germany Gets Over Half of Their Electricity From Renewable Sources In The First Quarter of 2020
Producing almost 52% of the domestic electricity it needed with renewable power sources, the first quarter of 2020 marked a record for Germany. Compare that to only 44% in the first quarter of 2019. Several factors contributed to this landmark event. The country had record wind power production in February as well as particularly high…
Elon Musk says Tesla has now produced 1 million electric vehicles
Good News Notes: “Tesla has produced 1 million electric vehicles, according to the firm’s CEO Elon Musk, who congratulated the ‘Tesla team’ on the milestone via a tweet.” “Currently, Tesla offers four models of electric vehicle: the Model 3 and Model S, which are sedans, and the Model Y and Model X, which are types…
Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative Plants 500,000th Tree
Good News Notes: “The Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative (HLRI) today announced the planting of its 500,000th native tree in Hawaii. More than 1,200 acres of former pastureland on both Oahu and Hawaii Island have been reclaimed and returned to native forest. ‘It’s wonderful to witness the birth of a forest, but there is much more…
Albany council passes law creating energy choice program
Good News Notes: “A reduced Common Council voted 8-1, with two members voting present, to approve a new law on Monday that will automatically enroll city residents in a program that relies more on renewable energy sources to power their homes. The program, known as Community Choice Aggregation, allows local governments to band together to negotiate…