Clean technology
Locals risk being left behind on clean technology
The Australian business community risks being left behind by global competitors unless it takes advantage of opportunities to invest in clean technology, the federal government says.
The politics of clean energy
Australia is well regarded for its innovative scientific research, but unhelpful government policies often force companies to commercialise their inventions overseas.
Solar power: the dark side of the sun
In a carbon-constrained world hungry for alternative energy, why isn’t the solar sector’s star rising?
US venture capital investments rise
Software and clean tech startups were the big winners of US venture capital funding during the first three months of 2011, with venture capitalists investing more cash into less companies, according to a study released on Friday.
The technology of driving and energy
Motorists in Nevada are to be the first in the United States to share the road with cars that drive themselves. Internet search company Google has taken a lead in driverless car technology with a Toyota Prius that has clocked up more than 200,000 kilometres without causing any accidents.
Garnaut wants $2.5bn for clean energy
Australia should be spending $2.5 billion a year on new low-emissions technologies by 2017, a doubling of current expected expenditure, climate change adviser Ross Garnaut says.
Australian inventors lead world in water technology
Investors tell us they are desperate for clean-tech opportunities, yet thousand of water technology inventions languish.
Australia fails to catch wave
Australia is falling behind Europe in the race to develop clean wave-powered energy.
China No.1, Australia 12th in clean energy
China leads the world in green energy, Germany has outpaced the US as the number two player, while Italy is fourth and Australia is 12th, a study said.
Flannigan moves to UXC
Patrick Flannigan, the executive who suddenly quit as NBN Co’s head of construction last week, has re-emerged as a full-time adviser to listed technology and environmental services group UXC.
Toshiba to recover rare earths from uranium
Toshiba Corp has developed technology for extracting rare earths and rare metals from a byproduct of uranium processing and will soon begin trials at a Kazakhstan mine.
UXC rejects offers, names new MD
Geoff Lord, the long-standing executive chairman of UXC, steps down as the environmental services conglomerate says it has not yet fielded a suitable sale offer for the company.
Mining: the final frontier, robots to dig on asteroids
In a theory straight out of science fiction, plans are afoot to use space-faring robots to mine precious resources like gold, platinum and rocket fuel from asteroids.
Linc in talks to sell Qld coal assets
Shares in Linc Energy Ltd soared after the clean coal technology company said it was in detailed talks with several parties interested in buying its non-core coal tenements in Queensland.
Brazil pushes clean energy
Brazil hopes to demonstrate its commitment to renewable energy, which currently provides half the country's power, at a clean energy summit in Washington this week, Energy Minister Marcio Zimmermann said on Saturday.
Aussie wave energy projects surge ahead
Australian wave energy projects are gaining a groundswell of interest, with locally designed technology starting to deliver stable power to the grid.
Global clean energy investment at record $236bn
Global investment in clean energy rose to a record $US243 billion ($235.97 billion) last year with the vast majority concentrated in the world's top 20 economies, the United Nations said on Wednesday.
The technology of space mining and power lifting
In two ideas straight out of science fiction, robots have been developed that could mine outer space and make lifting a breeze.
Big banks cool on clean coal plant
The backers of a proposed “clean coal” power plant in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley face a shrinking field of financiers after several large foreign banks have signalled they will not bankroll the project..
Japan nano-tech team creates new alloy
Japanese researchers have created an alloy with properties similar to palladium, a precious metal used in many high-tech goods, a news report said on Thursday, dubbing the breakthrough "present-day alchemy".
Orders roll in for Ceramic Fuel Cells
The Canberra Institute of Technology is to install a gas-to-electricity BlueGen power generating unit, the company that developed the device, Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd says.
Queensland government denies scrapping solar town
The state government says it remains committed to a project to make a northwest Queensland town the first in the state to completely rely on solar technology.
Buzz about electric planes
The concept of electric aircraft generated a resounding buzz amid the drone of pistons and the roar of gas turbine jet engines at the Experimental Aircraft Association's annual AirVenture air show.
Ceramic Fuel wins innovation award in Germany
Australian company Ceramic Fuel Cells that develops energy efficient electricity generation units has won an innovation award in Germany.
Solar industry assured of leftover cash
The federal government has vowed that all the money originally allocated for the solar hot water rebate program will be spent to support the industry.
China's wind power capacity to increase
China's wind power capacity will increase more than five-fold over the next decade from 2009, a report forecasts as the country steps up its drive to develop clean energy.
Newcastle homes to generate smart power
A small number of homes in Newcastle will be fitted with low emission, gas-powered fuel cells as part of the Labor government’s $100 million smart grid project.
US energy chief calls for smart-grid convergence
The world needs common standards for the technologies used to make smart power grids, and the US is ready to lead the effort to develop them, US Secretary of Energy Steven Chu says.
Sale in the bag for UXC
UXC chief executive Cris Nicolli says the group has all but completed offloading its field services division, with Cashel House agreeing to acquire the business.
China uses oil-eating bacteria on spill
Authorities in China are using more than 23 tonnes of oil-eating bacteria to help clean up an oil spill in the Yellow Sea caused by a pipeline explosion and fire at the weekend, state media said.
