Home: Renewable Energy News: Wednesday 14 October, 2009

Renewable Energy News

WEDNESDAY 14 OCTOBER, 2009 |

Solar Powered Cyborg Spy Beetle

Cyborg beetles and solar power
Look at that fly on the wall.

It seems to be watching you; rubbing its front legs together with glee as it records your every move on a miniature camera hooked into its eyes that transmits a live feed to THEM.

You know THEM. THEY are everywhere.

Nah, that's crazy right? Well, isn't it? Hang on; what's that reflection on its back? Is it a solar panel?

This may seem like the stuff of pure paranoia, but it could become reality soon - and actually, the technology has already been demonstrated

The development of micro air vehicles (MAV’s) is now seeing the use of insects due to their as-yet unmatched flight capabilities and increasingly well understood muscular and nervous systems.

A research team at the University of California, Berkeley; led by Hirotaka Sato and Michel Maharbiz, have created implantable bio-interfaces to remotely electrically stimulate the nervous and muscular systems of an insect, effectively hijacking its flight control system. Their first subject has been a 'cyborg beetle'.

Using three different sized beetles, the researchers have been able navigate insects into tiny spots while larger subjects have carried heavier extra instruments such as a miniature camera. The neural stimulator consists of a micro-controller and a micro-battery, mounted on dorsal thorax of the beetles. The microcontroller was connected with wire electrodes inserted into left and right optic lobes. The team has successfully executed flight initiation, cessation, elevation and turn control.

One of the remaining challenges for the team is the issue of power. Batteries, solar cells and piezo electrics that harvest energy from movement cannot provide enough power to run electrodes and radio transmitters for very long... yet.

Read more about cyborg beetles.

Australian Off Grid Solar Rebates Review - Call For Submissions

Off grid solar rebates review
The Renewable Remote Power Generation Program (RRPGP), which closed to new applications in all states except Western Australia on 22 June 2009, provided generous rebates on solar power and other forms of renewable energy systems to people in areas of Australia not close to a main grid.

Rebates of up to 50 per cent of the price of equipment were available to applicants that complied with the eligibility requirements.

The RRPGP was replaced by the Solar Credits Program, which in its current form offers far less financial assistance.

The abrupt closure of the RRPGP created an uproar in rural communities; with many people who were about to purchase equipment suddenly no longer able to afford to install an off grid solar power system and instead continuing to rely on fossil fuel based power generation.

When the original program was axed, the government committed to a review of the situation - and that time has finally arrived.

The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) will be reviewing the potential for introducing a measure to provide additional support to off-grid renewable generation and are encouraging input from individuals, businesses and organisations to inform the review process.

The RET COAG Review Terms of Reference state that the Review will consider whether the Solar Credits or a similar mechanism under the RET should be used to provide incentives for off-grid renewable generation, and the extent to which it would benefit remote communities

The COAG Renewable Energy Sub Group has released a discussion paper seeking input on the issues being considered. All submissions are due close of business 30 October 2009 and submissions should utilise the templates provided here to address the questions raised in the discussion paper.

Don't have time to make a formal submission? Have your say in Energy Matters' Forum!