A group of scientists from the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Korea, has developed a new metal-free fuel cell catalyst using edge-halogenated graphene nanoscale platelets. As a replacement for the expensive platinum-based catalysts this graphene application opens a way to affordable fuel cells. The research team of Profs. Jong-Beam Baek and Noejung Park of UNIST, and Prof. Limin ...

The International Finance Corp has stepped up its investment in Chinese water companies and will help them seek opportunities at home and abroad, demonstrating its confidence in China's water sector. Its latest move is providing a $70 million loan to Hong Kong-listed China Everbright International Ltd, a leading investor and operator in environmentally friendly businesses, IFC said last Wednesday in Beijing ...

South Korea's nuclear safety regulator has approved the restart of Hanbit (formerly Yonggwang) unit 3, which has been offline for almost eight months for repairs. The move will ease concerns of power shortages over the coming months. Plant operator Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP) shut down the 1000 MWe Hanbit 3 for scheduled maintenance and refuelling in October 2012. It was kept offline for the repair ...

The great Australian resource rush has undoubtedly been the primary reason for the countries impressive projection into the realms of AAA credit rating, but the outlook is seemingly not so rosy with old dogs learning new tricks and global market conditions changing in a way that was not part of the plan. The bright future flagged for Queensland's gas exporters has been confronted by the prospect of rivals f ...

Itron deploys water, heat and gas meters, wireless fixed network, and software to measure and manage energy and water, enabling Tianjin to make smart decisions about city services. LIBERTY LAKE, Wash. and TIANJIN, China — June 4, 2013 — Itron, Inc. (NASDAQ: ITRI) announced today that it has successfully completed the installation of a combination of 25,000 smart water, heat and gas meters and communication ...

Mitsubishi have released plans to turn Japan’s farms into solar farms. In October, Mitsubishi created a joint venture with the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations, JAMC Solar, to promote installation of distributed rooftop solar systems using the rooftops of facilities owned by farmers in Japan. On June 5th, JAMC Solar will break ground on the first of a pipeline of about 30 megawat ...

The Water Authority of Fiji in the South Pacific announced last Wednesday (29 May 2013) that four of Fiji's outer islands will now be using Desalination Plants as an alternative water-supply source. The project, costing F$ 2.5 million (US$ 1.34 million), has been funded by the Japanese government under the PALM5 Pacific Environment Community Fund through the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. The islands ar ...

Nepal's Kulekhani hydroelectric plant is back in partial operation following a fire in April. The fire damaged several transformers in the Kulekahni 2 (or "Kalakhani") powerhouse, forcing the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to import power from India while repairs were being completed. NEA officials say the 32-MW Kulekhani 2 is now producing about a third of its overall capacity, but should be back in ful ...

The Saudi Ministry of Housing last week announced plans to build $247 million USD worth of water and sanitation infrastructure in the Jazan, Najran and Baha regions. The projects include drinking water and sewage pipelines, wastewater pipeline networks, and a wastewater treatment plant. “These infrastructure projects are meant to put an end to housing problems in different parts of the kingdom,” said Housin ...

Hydropower is slated to be the solution to the growing energy needs of the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) and its related projects, which has seen more demand for energy with increasing investments. SCORE has to date seen RM24 billion worth of investments, whereby RM12.318 billion were foreign investments and RM6.635 billion were in joint ventures between local and foreign investors, according ...