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A short video by NASA discussing how the solar and thermal energy balance effects climate change and global warming. for more information see: NASA

Alternative-energy firm starts testing its innovative airborne wind turbines

The Canadian startup Magenn Power has started testing its airship-based wind turbines. The Magenn Power Air Rotor System, or MARS, consists of a blimp-like device that is tethered to the ground, and rotates about its horizontal axis in the breeze. This action generates electrical energy, which is sent down the tether to a transformer, and eventually routed through to the grid.

Magenn says that it’s air-based turbine system will surpass all the other wild airborne wind-power schemes out there in terms of cost, efficiency and more. The advantage over ground or sea-based turbines is that the blimps, floating at high altitudes, should be able to tap into stronger, more consistent breezes. Depending upon the size of the model, it should produce between 10 kilowatts and several megawatts of power. Of course, that’s assuming that it works.

The company recently tested a scale version in a massive indoor facility, and plans to move outdoors for testing soon. The first working versions will probably be at industrial sites, with commercial versions to follow. More on how it works here.

Via MetaEfficient

Many systems are near their capacity

Mass transit systems across the country are experiencing surges in ridership, pushing many of them to the brink of capacity for the first time. As the price of oil continues its inexorable climb—now past $125 a barrel—some metropolitan areas have seen an increase in use as large as 15% over this past year. While cities with integral systems, like New York, have reported a small bump, it is municipalities in which car transport has been the norm which are now overflowing with new subway, light rail, and bus riders.

While this may be seen as a boon to public transportation, it is not without its unfortunate downsides. The cost of fuel and electricity are at recent highs and climbing. Building materials for system expansion are also on the rise. Only a quarter to a third of the actual cost of a fare is paid by the rider; taxes and government budgets account of the remainder. In some states, like Rhode Island, the public transit system relies on the state’s gas tax. This creates a kind of mad circle in which commuters buy less gas to instead use mass transit more—and the increased ridership actually results in a revenue shortfall.

Via New York Times