Sustainable Energy

A “perfect-storm” of problems ― ranging from skyrocketing fuel prices to concerns about global climate change to dependence on imported oil ― are merging to focus attention on development of new and sustainable sources of energy. This primer focuses on some of the basics of that new energy supply, which aims to serve the needs of people today while ensuring that future generations have ample energy available to meet their needs.

Introduction: Fueling Your Future

A video featuring some highlights in the quest for energy sustainability.

Featured Articles & Presentations:

Artificial Leaf
More on this topic:

• New Fuels: An “artificial leaf” for making solar-energy
• Artificial leaf could debut new era of “fast-food energy”
• Chemists describe solar energy progress and challenges, including the “artificial leaf”
• Blueprint for “artificial leaf” mimics Mother Nature
• Debut of the first practical “artificial leaf”
• Artificial Photosynthesis

Nanogenerators Driven by Muscle Movement
More on this topic:

• First practical nanogenerator produces electricity with pinch of the fingers
• Record long platinum nanowires: An advance toward better fuel cells
• Self-powered nanogenerator uses body movements to generate electricity, transmit data wirelessly
• New nanogenerator may charge iPods and cell phones with a wave of the hand

Biodiesel from Pond Scum
More on this topic:

• Toward a more economical process for making biodiesel fuel from algae
• Book a flight on “Air Algae?”
• “Milking” microscopic algae could yield massive amounts of oil
• “First economical process” to make biodiesel from algae could mean petroleum independence
• Fungus among us could become non-food source for biodiesel production

Biofuel from Pandas

ACS Sustainable Energy Resources

Take a tour of ACS journal articles, presentations, and other resources related to sustainable-energy topics.

• Biofuels
• The Hydrogen Economy
• Nuclear Energy
• Solar Energy
• Tidal Power
• Wind Energy
• Others

Biofuels

Sources:

Alligators

• New Fuels: Biofuels: Alligator fat as a new source of biodiesel fuel: Alligator fat as a new source of biodiesel fuel
• Gator in your tank: Alligator fat as a new source of biodiesel fuel

Chickens

• Biodiesel on the wing: A “green” process for biodiesel from feather meal

Cockroaches

• Biofuel cell generates electricity when implanted in False Death’s Head Cockroach

Sewage

• Developing new sources of energy: Producing cost-effective biodiesel from sewage sludge
• Biodiesel from sewage sludge within pennies a gallon of being competitive
• Two-in-one device uses sewage as fuel to make electricity and clean the sewage
• ChemMatters: How Wastewater Goes from Polluted to Pure
• Developing News Sources of Energy: Sewage treatment plant wastewater as a huge new energy source

Non-food sources (general)

• New Fuels: Biofuels: A more economical process for making ethanol from non-food sources
• Advance toward producing biofuels without stressing global food supply
• Process in big-screen plasma TVs can produce ultra-clean fuel
• From crankcase to gas tank: New microwave method converts used motor oil into fuel
• Potholes on the road to ethanol from crop waste rather than food crops

Considerations:

• New Fuels: Biofuels
• Biofuel production could undercut efforts to shrink Gulf “Dead Zone”
• New biomass charcoal heater: A “new era” of efficiency and sustainability
• New American Chemical Society Prized Science video focuses on “green gasoline”

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The Hydrogen Economy

• Feather fibers fluff up hydrogen storage capacity
• Nuclear power plants can produce hydrogen to fuel the “hydrogen economy”
• Butterfly wings’ “art of blackness” could boost production of green fuels
• New gas storage material: One ounce has surface area of 30 football fields
• “Ice that burns” may yield clean, sustainable bridge to global energy future
• 200-fold boost in fuel cell efficiency advances “personalized energy systems”

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Nuclear Energy

• Toward limitless energy: National Ignition Facility focus of symposium, Aug. 19-20
• “Cold fusion” rebirth? New evidence for existence of controversial energy source
• Nuclear power plants can produce hydrogen to fuel the “hydrogen economy”
• “Cold fusion” moves closer to mainstream acceptance

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Solar Energy

• Our Sustainable Future: A “green grid” for delivering solar and wind-based electricity
• Our Sustainable Future: “Smart” roofs that can save energy
• New type of solar cell retains high efficiency for long periods
• Toward home-brewed electricity with “personalized solar energy”
• Solar energy technology gets more visually-appealing makeover
• Atmospheric engineering scheme to combat global warming could diminish solar power
• Self-cleaning technology from Mars can keep terrestrial solar panels dust-free
• New “smart” roof reads the thermometer, saves energy in hot and cold climates
• Butterfly wings’ “art of blackness” could boost production of green fuels
• The Scoop on Solar Power (Four part audio series)
• Sunshine Science: Green Chemistry and Solar Energy
• New Fuels: The Sun and More

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Tidal Power

• Rivers flowing into the sea offer vast potential as electricity source

Wind Energy

• Our Sustainable Future: A “green grid” for delivering solar and wind-based electricity

Others

• Our Sustainable Future: Saving energy by reducing food waste
• Future Cities: Nanotechnology promises more sustainable buildings, bridges, and other structures
• Our Sustainable Future: Roadmap for preserving the planet
• New Fuels: The Sun and More
• New Fuels: Biofuels
• Our Sustainable Future
• New “smart window” system with unprecedented performance
• Battling the force that wastes 1 out of every 10 gallons of gasoline in cars
• “Smart grid” would save energy, cut costs for U.S. consumers
• New high-performance lithium-ion battery “top candidate” for electric cars
• Light bulb phase-out offers new role for unsung heroes of electronics revolution
• A “shrimp cocktail” to fuel cars and trucks
• Raw material for asphalt eyed as new fuel source
• “Dry water” could make a big splash commercially
• Roadsters embrace green racing
• American Chemical Society earns distinctive Gold LEED® Certification sponsored by the U.S. Green Building Council
• American Chemical Society, Royal Society of Chemistry agree to joint global sustainability efforts
• 200-fold boost in fuel cell efficiency advances “personalized energy systems”
• Juicing up laptops and cell phones with soda pop or vegetable oil?
• A new generation of power: Hi-tech rechargeable batteries developed for military
• Electricity collected from the air could become the newest alternative energy source
• A roadmap for “the only practical way to preserve the planet”
• American Chemical Society launches “green” roof project for headquarters building
• New twist on 1930s technology may become a 21st century weapon against global warming
• More economical way to produce cleaner, hotter natural gas
• New approach to desalinating water using fuel cells powered by microbes
• First global comparison of national carbon footprints
• High-Throughput Identification of Microbial Transformation Products of Organic Micropollutants

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