MIT: We've found a better way to store solar energy

MIT: We've found a better way to store solar energy from the Boston Globe. I don't understand it, it's a cheap way to make Hydrogen and Oxygen (which may be good for Hydrogen Cars. But for household there is the historical issue of... The Hindenberg.

In Beijing, Blue Skies Prove Hard to Achieve

In Beijing, Blue Skies Prove Hard to Achieve from the NY Times and Beijing Considers New Curbs As Pollution Threatens Games from the Wall Street Journal.

And yet today, a miracle of you believe the official reporting... The Beijing Sky Is Blue

It's amazing how much has been done to reduce pollution in Beijing. Of course there is a question if bribes are allowing some factories to keep on operating.

Green Air Conditioning?

Interesting, GreenCore Sells Its Solar Air Conditioners to the United States Navy

Looks like:

• DC Motor
• Batteries making it a UPS
• Solar Cells

What would have been really interesting if they had looked at the local environment to see what could be used there in the way of air flow, shade, soil temperature, to improve efficiency.

LED Bulbs - Getting Closer

The NY Times has an update on LED Bulbs. - Fans of L.E.D.’s Say This Bulb’s Time Has Come

The article is a bit confusing. First it says a LED bulb would be $100, vs. $1 for an incandescent. Then it mentions somebody used LED's for outside lighting and it cost $18,000 vs. $6000 for regular lighting, but it would save $6000 per year. 3 x to 1 vs 100 to 1 is a big ratio difference.

Fuel Subsidies fuel growth

Fuel Subsidies Overseas Take a Toll on U.S. - Great article. Fuel is subsidized in India, Indonesia, and China. Per a report by BP, 96% of oil usage growth was in countries with subsidies. And the cost to the government? China and India may be able to afford it, but can Indonesia? The argument is to prevent rioting, subsidies are required. But of what cost to the entire economy? If the government is spending money on oil, that could be better used for improving the economy? Would targeted subsidies help? For commercial transportation? This would encourage less usage by part of the economy that don't help growth.

My guess is the subsidies will continue, since this is the easiest to do. It solves the immediate problem, but does not focus on what is best long term.

GT Solar Falls 12% in a Blow

GT Solar Falls 12% in a Blow - not sure what this is saying. Solar Stocks in general seem to be down, and may be the lowering of the price of oil?

Combined Photovoltaic Thermal Solar Systems

I was looking at the thermal solar system my daughter's friend has at her house, and I wondered if anyone was selling a combined system. Since a huge cost is the housing and photovoltaic does not like to much heat, this could be a win win solution.

IEEE has done some work on it - Control of a combined photovoltaic / thermal energy syste

Seems to be a lot of research last energy crisis into this, but I am not seeing any products yet.