Green Technology Creative Thinking

September 26, 2004 – Vol.9 No.27

GREEN TECHNOLOGY CREATIVE THINKING.

Is investment the driver of innovation? Or is innovation motivated simply by creative thinking at a time when a need must to be fulfilled?

There’s no shortage of creative thinking in the green energy technology arena. And we need green energy more than ever.

--- Konarka is developing solar photovoltaic products using nanomaterials on a flexible plastic substrate. The company is attempting to replace silicon solar technology with technology that, they claim, should be much less expensive.

The technology can be made in a variety of colors and patterns which would allow building-integrated solar arrays that would meet architectural and design demands.

The company has recently purchased organic solar technology from Siemens. It has also received additional funding from the Massachusetts Green Energy Fund, a state-run funding program for Massachusetts-based green energy technology companies. The Angeleno Group, a California-based clean technology fund, is also an investor. Visit Konarka at http://www.konarka.com/ .

--- XsunX is developing semi-transparent solar cells that, according to the company, could be used as glazing (window material) in large buildings or in homes. A side of a skyscraper could become a power plant. Solar electric windows in a home could provide a portion of a home’s power.

The company claims its product is practical and could be inexpensive because it utilizes two readily available processes; those used to make thin-film amorphous silicon solar cells and those used to make flat panel video displays.

The company has recently announced it has expanded its research and development process by collaborating with MVSystems, a manufacturer of thin film deposition systems. Visit XsunX at http://www.xsunx.com/ , MVSystems at http://www.mvsystems.info/ .

--- RailPower Technologies, a developer of hybrid electric rail yard locomotives, known as Green Goat, has reached a partnership agreement with Swedish Train Technology (STT) to convert locomotives to diesel/battery electric power. The move was made to begin seeking the European market for lower-emission, more efficient rail yard switching vehicles.

RailPower has also recently received a purchase contract from the U.S. Department of Transportation for three Green Goat hybrid switcher locomotives. Visit Rail Power at http://www.railpower.com/ , STT at http://www.stt-train.se/ .

--- Reg Technologies is developing an alternative to traditional diesel reciprocating engines. Rand Cam (tm) is a rotary internal combustion engine (but not a Wankel such as used by Mazda) that the company says would be lighter, quieter and cheaper to build than a conventional diesel.

Diesels, in general, are more energy efficient than gasoline engines. Diesel/electric hybrid vehicles are said to be more energy efficient than hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in a full cycle analysis. If proven, this technology could help reduce the cost of diesels and lead to the possibility of affordable diesel/electric hybrid cars and trucks.

The company has announced the beginning of in-house testing of the Rand Cam (tm) technology. Visit Reg at http://www.regtech.com/