What East Coast Cities Can Learn About Wildfire Policies From the West
Hazardous smoke from wildfires has become a near-annual occurrence on the West Coast since 2017. But the hazy
2023-06-10 00:25
Wildfires spread in British Columbia, Quebec sees signs of progress
By David Ljunggren OTTAWA (Reuters) -Wildfires spread in the western Canadian province of British Columbia on Friday, while in the
2023-06-10 00:24
How to Get Optimus Primal in Fortnite
Optimus Primal is now available in the Fortnite Item Shop for 1,800 V-Bucks, along with a Maximal-themed Back Bling, Pickaxe, and Emote.
2023-06-09 23:46
Fortnite WILDS Adds New Reality Augments: Full List
Fortnite WILDS features seven new Reality Augments, like Wildwasp Weaponry and Primal Companion, that give players advantages in the new jungle biome.
2023-06-09 23:29
Factbox-Jefferies sees AI fuelling next wave of innovation in oil and gas sector
With AI rapidly becoming a buzzword across industries, oil and gas companies are exploring ways to use this
2023-06-09 23:25
Netflix password crackdown boosts new subscribers to highest level since Covid began
Early results indicate Netflix's new plan to crack down on password sharing is working.
2023-06-09 23:18
Fortnite Chapter 4 Season 3 Map: New POIs
The Fortnite Chapter 4 Season 3 map contains three new POIs, including Rumble Ruins, that bring a jungle biome to the Battle Royale.
2023-06-09 23:17
Why Are Peaches Fuzzy?
Whether you enjoy the velvety skin on peaches or peel it off, you may wonder why they developed fuzz in the first place.
2023-06-09 22:24
Robinhood Removes 3 Crypto Tokens Following Regulatory Crackdown
Robinhood Markets Inc. will remove three tokens from its crypto trading platform, after a high-profile regulatory crackdown on
2023-06-09 22:19
Solar trees offer unique solution to charging electric cars
A UK startup is close to full-scale commercial production of solar trees that serve as clean energy charging stations for electric cars, according to the company’s chief executive. SolarBotanic Trees, which was founded last year, is developing two different sized versions of the tree, one 5.5 metres tall tree and another 3.5 metres tall, with the first installations planned for early next year in Oxford. “The idea is to put solar panels on a domed surface like the canopy of a tree, and then place a battery storage system into the trunk,” Chris Shelley, CEO of SolarBotanic, told The Independent. “Putting solar cells and batteries into the same structure is very practical, as it allows them to store excess energy without having to solely rely on its backup grid supply.” The number of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in the UK has risen by more than a third over the last year in an effort to keep up with growing demand. There are now more than 25,000 locations as of May 2023, according to EV mapping service Zapmap, though this is still well short of the 325,000 charging points that the UK’s Climate Change Committee claims will be necessary by 2032. SolarBotanic already has deals in place with EV infrastructure suppliers to build trees for several sites in the UK, Mr Shelley said, including an order of 200 trees from the Raw Charging Group. The initial idea was to create a structure capable of harvesting both solar and wind energy, using photovoltaic leaves that flutter in the wind to generate additional power. Preliminary research found that wind harvesting via this method is not sufficiently advanced at present to be commercially viable in the near term, however it remains a prospect fot the future. For now, SolarBotanic’s focus is on entering production later this year in order to deliver the solar trees to UK customers at the start of 2024. From there, the company plans to enter other markets, including Europe and the US, as well as develop customisable structures to suit other applications. These include large trees with integrated seating underneath to be used in town squares or pub gardens, with people able to charge their phones or even warm themselves up from inbuilt infrared heating fixtures. “There are quite alot of variations on the core theme,” Mr Shelley said. “Offgrid versions that don’t need to meet the electricity demands of an electric vehicle could serve as work or social areas in town squares with telephone and laptop charging, seating and shelter. “Beyond commercial and municipal uses, the trees could go in people’s gardens to supplement rooftop solar panel setups, or several of them could even meet the annual electrical requirement of a medium-sized house.” Read More Scientists figure out how to turn rocks into batteries Japan aims to beam solar power from space by 2025 Scientists break world record for solar power window material Electric cars could save more than 100,000 lives, study claims Scientists smash world record for solar power window material Instagram has stopped working properly
2023-06-09 21:29
What America Learned From the Demise of its EV Battery Pioneer
Only battery industry veterans or political buffs are likely to recall the tale of A123 Systems. Spun out
2023-06-09 21:27
EU Looks to Boost Efforts to Store Captured Carbon Underground
The European Union has started work on a key element of its plans to reach climate neutrality by
2023-06-09 21:25