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Energy & Environment
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Optimizing the sun's energy capacity
Durham College and industry partner Green Works Solar Power collaborated in developing a new ground-mounted solar tracking system. The solar panels, mounted on a 90-foot cylinder, rotate to track the sun. This innovative system optimizes the energy capacity of the sun due to its ability to track through East-West and North-South declinations regardless of the season. Ground mount trackers are becoming increasingly popular with farmers as the solar tracker can be used as a complement to cash crop production, helping farmers offset some of the high costs associated with farming. When complete, the unique solar tracking system will offer a safe and effective product to consumers in the fast-growing renewable energy industry.
Turning toxic waste into bio fuel
A University of Guelph chemist has discovered that red mud - an alkaline waste byproduct of the aluminum industry - can potentially be used to turn agricultural and forestry biomass into usable oil. About 70 million tonnes of red mud are produced each year worldwide. This toxic byproduct is stored in massive reservoirs several square kilometres in size. The discovery was made while investigating ways to lower the high acid levels found in bio oil which is formed by subjecting biomass to high temperatures for short periods while excluding air. By combining red mud with oil from agricultural and forestry byproducts, they were able to create higher-grade heating fuel. The chemical process transforms the acid components into something non-acidic, and the upgraded state would then make the oil compatible with existing technology. The ultimate goal is that this process of making fuel would be carried out all over the world, including rural and developing areas as well as subtropical regions, where there is often a lot of biomass available. The research was featured in Chemical and Engineering News.
- Association of Power Producers of Ontario
- Biofuel Canada Ltd.
- Canadian Biogas Association
- Canadian Geothermal Energy Association
- Canadian Hydrogen Association
- Canadian Renewable Energy Network
- Canadian Solar Industries AssociationÂ
- Canadian Wind Energy Association
- Durham Strategic Energy Alliance (DSEA)
- Ontario Biofuels Association
- Ontario Centre for Environmental Technology Advancement (OCETA)
- Ontario Clean Water Association
- Ontario Sustainable Energy Association
- Ontario Waste Management Association
- Think Green Alliance
What's New
Ontario adds 700 new clean energy projects More Ontario announces $17M Showcasing Water Innovation program More Sungrow Canada invests $10M; opens North American HQ in Vaughan More Ryerson University launches Centre for Urban Energy (CUE)MoreOntario invests$1.86 million in Morgan Solar More
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