Better Biofuels Through Plant Engineering

image via Berkeley Lab

More or less xylan? Biofuels researchers find that engineering plants in either direction could be beneficial. Read more →

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Two Berkeley Labs Put Green Materials To The Test

Berkeley FLEXLAB 1

Two new initiatives at Berkeley Lab could have long-range effects on how green building engineers evaluate the performance of tomorrow’s most environmentally friendly materials. Read more →

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For Higher Biofuel Yields, An Old Technique Shows Promise

biofuel cellulosic ethanol

A fermentation process used in World War I to make cordite for bullets and artillery shells has been recruited to the task of turning stuff that grows cheaply into fuel. Read more →

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Solar In Your Gas Tank: US Will Rev Up Research

Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis

The U.S. breaks ground on a new solar research center that will help in the search for ways to turn sunlight, water and carbon into hugely efficient transportation fuels Read more →

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ARPA-E Backs Software To Smooth Grid Flow

image via Shutterstock

In California, government scientists and a Palo Alto startup called AutoGrid Systems are coding a path toward improved energy delivery in real time. Read more →

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Virus Makes Producing Power A Walk In The Park

berkley

Government scientists say they have uncovered a way to produce electricity by harnessing the power from simple every day tasks, such as walking or shutting a door. Read more →

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India’s Wind Potential Is Big, But Incentives Aren’t

image via Shutterstock

A Berkeley Lab study finds India is uniquely poised to develop wind power with rich wind resources—but shrinking tax incentives could forestall development. Read more →

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The Insight Behind Record Solar Efficiency

Alta Devices thin-film cell

Berkeley researchers realized that external fluorescence output was the key to building a solar cell that busted the old efficiency records. Read more →

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Biofuel Hopes Rise With Rice Genome Model

rice genome

Berkeley Lab researchers say a model of rice gene interactions should help speed the development of new crops for the production of advanced biofuels. Read more →

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Fuel Cell Rethink: What’s The True Cost?

bloom-energy

Berkeley Lab scientists are building a “big picture” model to capture often-overlooked benefits of fuel cells and thus reflect their true cost to users. Read more →

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