Presented by Energy Matters team member Virginia, we take a look at some of the stories from Australia and around the world recently added to our renewable energy news section.
This week, Virginia reports on Australia’s famous Christmas lights street going solar, cucumbers grown with solar power and sea water, the launch of the Australian Solar Hall of Fame and the ELF – a solar/pedal hybrid vehicle.
In this episode:
– In a world’s first, Australia’s most famous street for Christmas lights has gone solar in order to offset the cost of rising electricity prices. Each year the residents of Borgnis Street in the Sydney suburb of Davidson decorate their houses with festive cheer in order to raise much needed funds for the children’s hospice, Bear Cottage.
Energy Matters donated free solar systems to all the houses with Christmas lights so the residents can offset the energy needed to power the legendary lights. The residents can expect savings of at least $400-600 each year from their electricity bills through the systems. Read more.
– The first cucumbers produced in the Sahara desert using seawater and solar power were served up to participants at UN Climate Negotiations in Doha. The Sahara Forest Project has combined saltwater-cooled greenhouses, concentrated solar power, solar panels and desalination technologies to produce the crop. The project is a new approach to sustainably produce food, water and energy for a world population expected to reach 9 billion by 2050. Read more.
– Australian solar power pioneers are receiving some well-earned recognition via the new Australian Solar Hall of Fame. The inaugural inductees into the Hall of Fame include some of Australia’s greatest scientists, innovators and entrepreneurs. Inductees include Chairman of Suntech, Dr Shi Zhengrong, solar advocate Dr Muriel Watt and Professors Martin Green and Stuart Wenham of the University of New South Wales. Read more.
– The ELF is a solar pedal hybrid vehicle suitable for commuting, deliveries and other short distance transportation applications. The three wheeled electric vehicle is powered by a 750 watt permanent neodymium magnet motor and a lightweight lithium battery pack. A 60 watt solar panel, which can be upgraded, is embedded in the roof section. The team behind the vehicle have launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise the funds needed to commence commercial production. Read more.
