Cold Fusion 2.0

In 1989 two of the world’s leading electrochemists, the Brit Fleischmann and American Frenchman Pons, shocked the world with their announcement that they had found a way to initiate a exogenous nuclear fusion reaction at room temperature. After initial world wide excitement, things calmed down. Cold fusion research however never really stopped and now an Italian inventor and entrepreneur Andrea Rossi claims to have developed a cold fusion or Low-Energy Nuclear Reaction (LENR) thermal power source. 1-megawatt cold fusion power plant now available, that is on pre-order – yours for just $1.5 million.

[extremetech.com] – 1-megawatt cold fusion power plant now available – yours for just $1.5 million
[forbes.com] Finally! Independent Testing Of Rossi’s E-Cat Cold Fusion Device: Maybe The World Will Change After All
[forbes.com] – Psstt! Want An E-Cat LENR Generator? For Free?
[wikipedia.org] – Cold fusion

Breakthrough Iranian Nuclear Program

For more than a decade the Iranian nuclear policy has been on the top of the international political agenda, but today a breakthrough was accomplished in Geneva between Iran and the P5 (China, France, Germany, Russia, United Kingdom, United States). Terms of the agreement: Iran can continue to enrich uranium but no more than 5% and limits the stockpile of enriched uranium. More transparency is agreed upon. In return some sanctions will be lifted and the basic right of uranium enrichment is acknowledged. The agreement is intended for six months, creating time for a permanent settlement. The most important conclusion is that the agreement is acceptable for all and that military strikes are off the table.

[spiegel.de]
[reuters.com]
[rt.com]

New Apple HQ Proposed With Solar Array

[source]
Youtube, published 21 Oct 2013 – Apple’s Senior Director of Real Estate & Facilities, Dan Whisenhunt, provides a presentation on the Apple Campus 2 project at the October 1, 2013 Joint Study Session of the Cupertino City Council and the Cupertino Planning Commission.

Keep a Room Warm for 14 $ Cent a Day

Here a guy who claims you can keep your little study warm during the winter with a computer installation, one human exothermic chemical process… plus 2 * 4 = 8 waxine lights.

P.S. We did not test this idea. Our hobby horse remains thermo-wired cloths as the cheapest way to stay warm during the winter. And the safest. Other simple means to stay warm: 5 minutes/hour of intensive physical exercise on a home trainer or rowing machine.

Renewable Energy Charts & Facts

[nrel.gov] – Renewable Energy: Capturing the Potential (pdf)
[ren21.net] – Renewables 2013 Global Status Report (pdf)

Varese Ligure 100% Renewable

[source]
Varese Ligure is located in northern Italy and has 2400 inhabitants and produces more electricity from renewable sources than it consumes. The number of tourists increased six fold as a result. Varese Ligure has four wind turbines. Several buildings have solar panels and to top it off: 108 organic farms supply 98 percent of the town’s food.

[go100percent.org]
[wikipedia]

Freiamt 100% Energy Autarkic

Freiamt is a community of 4200 people, located in the Black Forest in SW-Germany. Taking advantage of the feed-in tariff system, Freiamt currently produces more electricity (15.4 GWh) than it strictly needs (12 GWh). Breakdown (2009):
Wind – 11 GWh
Biogas – 2.6 GWh
Photovoltaics – 1.3 GWh
Hydropower – 0.5 GWh

[gaccny.com] – data sheet
[go100percent.org]
[csmonitor.com]
[wikipedia]

Samsø 100% Powered by the Wind

[source]
Samsø is an island of four thousand inhabitants situated in central Denmark and 100% electricity self sufficient and 75% of its heat comes from solar power and biomass energy. Samsø achieved that in less than ten years.

[cleantechnica.com]
[wikipedia]

Germany To Increase Speed Energy Transition

[source]
Old target of 35% renewable power by 2020, increased to 40%. This is the outcome of coalition talks between the CDU and SPD parties that are to constitute the next government. Other results: less emphasis on wind power, more on solar and biogas. Less offshore wind: 6.5GW rather than 10GW. Subsidies for wind only on promising locations, that is in the windy north, not in southern Bavaria or Baden-Württemberg. No agreement on the target for 2030 yet; CDU wants 50-55%, SPD 75%. Furthermore, in the past the cost of the Energiewende was shouldered by private persons only. In the future corporations should contribute as well.

[spiegel.de]

Biofuel Breakthrough: Quick Cook Method Turns Algae Into Oil

Michigan Engineering researchers can “pressure-cook” algae for as little as a minute and transform an unprecedented 65 percent of the green slime into biocrude… Once producing biofuel from algae is economical, researchers estimate that an area the size of New Mexico could provide enough oil to match current U.S. petroleum consumption.

[ns.umich.edu]