Martin Ferguson AM MP, Minister for Resources and Energy, launched the $100 million Australian Solar Institute on Friday.

While the idea of wind turbine in the back yard may be attractive to many, the British Wind Energy Association has warned that home owners may be disappointed by the performance of wind turbines in built-up residential areas. 

Solar panels get hot – very hot at times, which can negatively impact on their efficiency. That wasted heat is also wasted energy, so why not use it to heat water instead of needing to have a separate solar hot water system? Entech Solar have done just that.

The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC) has released a report expressing concerns regarding the environmental and health hazards of solar panel manufacturing. A number of media outlets and commentators have been somewhat exaggerating the contents of the report, bringing the “green” nature of solar energy equipment under the spotlight in very unfavourable terms. 

As the world moves closer towards the uptake of vehicles that don’t rely so heavily on crude oil, many questions remain about the actual environmental impact of “green” cars and their associated fuel source technologies. 

Suntech Power Holdings, the world’s largest manufacturer of solar panels, has experienced mixed fortunes over the last few months, largely thanks to an uncertain economy.

When given lemons, make lemonade – so the old saying goes. The current global economic meltdown is causing a great deal of pain, but it’s also providing an opportunity not seen since World War II.

The rumours of a solar powered car has created a lot of buzz lately, particularly in relation to whispers of Toyota creating such a vehicle – which turned out to be just whispers. A company that is currently developing such a car, with the added element of wind power, is RORMaxx Automotive.

On Friday, China offered a partnership for generating and manufacturing solar power equipment in Pakistan to help meet its growing power shortages.

According to the Greenhouse Indicator Report released by The Climate Group today, emissions originating with energy consumption in Australia’s eastern states rose during 2008.