New technology could see your windows help power your house. Scientists are currently working on new solar cell technology which could see a transparent film applied to window glass so that windows can become power generators. Norwegian firm EnSol AS, who are developing the technology, have already patented the film and are hoping that it will be commercially available by 2016.

When the film is applied to glass, a small amount of light has to be absorbed in order to generate the power thus the windows would have a small tinting effect applied. However it isn’t just windows that could have the film applied – scientists have said that it would be possible to coat other materials for use in a wide range of applications.  Read more... (208 words, 1 image, estimated 50 secs reading time)

Solar hot water panels are one of the most popular ‘green’ energy home products of the moment. Many new builds now feature solar panels on their roofs, whilst many current homeowners are currently contemplating whether to retrofit them to their current property. However do their green credentials and money-saving features really stack up?

Solar panels aren’t cheap – they cost thousands of pounds to install. However these costs are said to be offset by the reduced amount of energy that the household will require once they are installed – with some companies claiming that solar panels will reduce gas and electric bills by up to 70%. So although the up front cost is high, over time the solar panels should pay for themselves thanks to significantly reduced bills.  Read more... (352 words, estimated 1:24 mins reading time)

A design flaw could mean that hundreds of wind turbines are sinking. The turbine design problem affects offshore wind turbines meaning they could be slowly sinking into the sea.

It is understood that concrete used to fix some wind turbines to their steel foundations can wear away. This erosion then causes te turbines to drop by a few inches. This fault was discovered at a wind farm in the Netherlands. Wind turbines with single cylinder foundations are the ones which are affected by this flaw.  Read more... (170 words, 1 image, estimated 41 secs reading time)

UK researchers have discovered another environmental issue to do with wind farms. Already, wind farms have been criticised for harming the local environment in several ways, and researchers have discovered that wind farms may be acting as scarecrows, scaring birds away from the areas.

Scientists have discovered that birds such as buzzards, golden plovers and curlews are all avoiding wind farm areas. It is believed that the birds are avoiding the area because the wind turbines are acting like big scarecrows.  Read more... (257 words, 1 image, estimated 1:02 mins reading time)

A Nepalese inventor believes he has found the solution to the World’s energy needs thanks to a new type of solar panel which uses human hair.

Milan Karki, 18, comes from a rural village in Nepal. The young inventor uses hair as a conductor in solar panels instead of silicon, one of the normal components used in solar panels. Silicon is very pricey whereas hair is not therefore the new solar panels are a lot more cost effective.

Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world. Many rural areas in the country lack any electrical supply and even in areas with electricity, there may be shortages of up to 16 hours a day.  Read more... (260 words, estimated 1:02 mins reading time)

The British government has approved the construction of a biomass and waste power plant in Tilbury Docks, southern England.

The biomass and waste power plant will have the dual purpose of helping the UK tackle climate change whilst also reducing the amount of rubbish heading for landfill.

The construction of the new power plant will take three years and will create 380 jobs during the build. Once the power plant is complete, around 120 permanent jobs will be created.  Read more... (149 words, estimated 36 secs reading time)

The Energy Saving Trust have released their results of their domestic wind turbine survey. The results showed that domestic wind turbines can be good for energy production however their use depends on their location.

The trial was launched in January 2007 and surveyed 57 UK-based domestic wind turbines for at least 12 months. The results of the trial show that anyone considering installing a wind turbine should research local wind speed carefully to establish whether a domestic wind turbine is suitable for their location.  Read more... (207 words, estimated 50 secs reading time)

BBC presenter Jonathan Dimbleby has been given permission to erect a 50 ft wind turbine in his Devon garden. Dimbleby’s neighbours are not impressed by the decision by South Hams Council and have written letters opposing the turbine.

The wind turbine will be visible from the surrounding countryside and houses. Campaigners have said that the turbine will be a blot on the landscape, with others deeming it a ‘monstrosity’.

Dimbleby has responded by saying that he feels the ‘anxiety’ over his wind turbine is misplaced and that he has carefully considered the best place for it to reduce its visual impact. Dimbleby has said that the wind turbin will be below the skyline and therefore won’t be in direct view of any of the neighbours.  Read more... (154 words, estimated 37 secs reading time)

British households look set to be hit with increased energy bills after a green White Paper was unveiled last week. The charges have been dubbed by some as ‘green stealth taxes’. The funds raised will be used to help tackle climate change by building alternative power generators such as wind turbines.

At present, the renewables part of power bills stands at around £55 on average. Subsidising renewable energy further could more than double this figure to as much as £120 per year by 2014. The UK Energy Research Centre has predicted by 2050, the renewable energy subsidy will cost the economy £17 billion a year – around £700 per household.  Read more... (277 words, estimated 1:06 mins reading time)

UK technology firm Quantasol has come up with specially tailored solar cells to help boost their efficiency.

The premise behind the invention is that there are different forms of light around the world – at the equator, the sun may be burning hot however at higher latitudes, the sunlight is a lot weaker. Partly this is because the atmosphere acts as a light filter so the light reaching the ground will vary from place to place, and will also vary according to different atmospheric conditions.  Read more... (322 words, estimated 1:17 mins reading time)