System changes that will propel sustainable energy
Some energy analysts propose that system changes will seriously slow down the advent of sustainable and intermittent energy sources. Grid instability and/or its prevention would add appreciably to sustainable energy costs. But some system changes will propel, rather than slow down the development of renewable energy. New entrants like electric car producers will soon develop
Cellulose nanofibrils pave the way for biobased 3D printing
3D printing has the future. It will change the way in which we produce objects – maybe much less in factories and much more in shops around the corner. But so far, biobased materials have been difficult to 3D print. Most 3D printers use heat to melt the plastic or metal to be printed, and
Smart grids: the power of the small scale
In a first article on renewable energy system costs we concluded that these costs may be formidable if the electricity grid would remain much the same. This could jeopardise the future of renewable energy, and by implication, have major consequences for the earth’s climate. But smart grids may show another way, as exemplified by the
Nano3Bio: promising results for chitosan
Nano3Bio is the name of an EU-funded program that investigated production and properties of chitosan, a promising biobased material. Recently the consortium held its final conference in Hyderabad, India. Chitosan holds important promises for medicine, agriculture, cosmetics and other industries like paper and textiles. Among others, Nano3Bio developed new perspectives for cancer treatments and repair
Renewable energy system costs – the untold story
In the early days of renewable energy development, its adversaries would tell the world that renewable sources would be hopelessly inadequate. Traditional (fossil and/or nuclear based) systems would be indispensable because we would also need energy when the wind wouldn’t blow and the sun wouldn’t shine. In this crude form, this position proved to be
Solar industry evolves to the TW scale
The solar industry is in turmoil. The price of solar panels falls continuously and each year demand grows by 30%. This poses a major challenge to an industry that is quite sizeable already, with an expected turnover of some $ 60 billion this year, and expectations of continued high growth rates for many years to
Marker posts
Bio-based park benches in Bergen op Zoom were in the news during the first week of September. The initiative to acquire eleven bio-based benches, constructed from a composite of lightweight concrete with fibres of elephant grass, came from the Bergen op Zoom municipality, thus acting as launching customer for this product. It is an example
