Press Release September 23, 2013 The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, Soitec, CEA-Leti and the Helmholtz Center Berlin jointly announced today having achieved a new world record for the conversion of sunlight into electricity using a new solar cell structure with four solar subcells. Surpassing competition after only … Continue reading
Category Archives: REFERENCE
Applications
A multi-billion-dollar hydrogen industry currently exists in the United States, serving a myriad of hydrogen end-use applications; however, about 99 percent of that hydrogen currently is used in chemical and petrochemical applications. Of the end uses, the largest consumers are oil refineries, ammonia plants, chlor-akali plants, and methanol plants. Some … Continue reading
Storage
Because hydrogen gas has such a low density, and because the energy requirements for hydrogen liquefaction are high, efficient hydrogen storage generally is considered to be among the most challenging issues facing the hydrogen economy. For current chemical applications, storage issues are not so critical, because the large producers of … Continue reading
Distribution
Centrally produced hydrogen must be transported to markets. The development of a large hydrogen transmission and distribution infrastructure is a key challenge to be faced if the United States is to move toward a hydrogen economy. A variety of hydrogen transmission and distribution methods are likely to be used. Larger … Continue reading
Production
Hydrogen production processes can be classified generally as those using fossil or renewable (biomass) feedstocks and electricity. The technology options for fossil fuels include reforming, primarily of natural gas in “on-purpose” hydrogen production plants, and production of hydrogen as a byproduct in the petroleum refining process. Electrolysis processes using grid … Continue reading
Supply
Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe. Yet, there is effectively no natural hydrogen gas resource on Earth. Hydrogen gas is the smallest and lightest of all molecules. When released, it quickly rises to the upper atmosphere and dissipates, leaving virtually no hydrogen gas on the Earth’s surface. … Continue reading
Man-Cession
In the mid 1950s, nearly every man in his prime working years was in the labor force, a category that includes both those who are employed and those actively applying for jobs. Early in 1956 the “participation rate” for men ages 25 to 54 stood at 97.7%. By late … Continue reading
Demographic Change And Racial Inequalities
07/14/2013 The success of minority children who will form a new majority is crucial to future U.S. economic competitiveness. A wave of immigration, the aging of non-Hispanic white women beyond child-bearing years and a new baby boom are diminishing the proportion of children who are white. Already, half of U.S. … Continue reading
Unrecognizable Planet?
Planet ‘unrecognizable’ by 2050 – Experts 2/20/2011 A growing, more affluent population competing for ever scarcer resources could make for an “unrecognizable” world by 2050, researchers warned at a major US science conference Sunday. The United Nations has predicted the global population will reach seven billion this year, and climb … Continue reading
Dying Oceans
Acid Test: Rising CO2 Levels Killing Ocean Life (Op-Ed) Matt Huelsenbeck, Oceana 07/17/2013 Matt Huelsenbeck is a marine scientist for the climate and energy campaign at Oceana. Huelsenbeck contributed this article to LiveScience’s Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights. The ocean absorbs approximately one-third of all human-caused carbon dioxide emissions at … Continue reading