We've all seen weather maps showing moving storm cells. But have we ever heard them?Using an OpenSource program call SuperCollider, researchers at Penn State started to sonify hurricane data. They discovered changes in hurricanes, not easily shown visually, can be quickly identified once the data is turned into sound. Turns out our ears are quicker and better at following multiple patterns simultaneously.The researchers hope this might help save lives during big storms, but also think sonification of complex data sets, can & should, play a more important role in science, technology, engineering and maths. https://theconversation.com/turning-hurricanes-into-music-can
The World Economic Forum estimates the world needs a 35% increase in the production of batteries by 2030 to meet the 2°C goal of the Paris Agreement. Attracting this level of investment is challenging enough, but consider also the additional problems of ethical mineral sourcing, the re-use and recycling of batteries, as well as the inevitable final life treatment of residual waste.The Global Battery Alliance takes a holistic view of the value chain & seeks to influence Government's, businesses & NGO's to support 10 actions to deliver a more sustainable value-chain for the electrification of transport.http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_A_Vision_for_a_Sustainable_Battery_Value_Chain_in_2030_Report.pdf
Mallorca is a Spanish island known for its sun, coastline, architecture, wineries, fresh produce farms, and stunning beaches. It is also aspiring to be a self-sufficient green island or perhaps a Green Hysland. In their latest bid to reducing the island's emissions Acciona, Enagas, Hydrogenics, Cemex, the Government's Instituto para la Diversificacion y Ahorro de la Energia (IDAE) are collaborating on a green hydrogen pilot. Once operating it should produce up to 330 tonnes of green hydrogen (via solar power) for industrial energy needs. Any excess could potentially be injected into the gas grid. https://renews.biz/65509/acciona-partners-on-mallorca-green-hydrogen-scheme/
No-one wants an unstable electricity grid. With more renewables coming on-line every day, system strength and stability relies in part on effective management of inertia.Reactive Technologies have developed a data measurement & analytics tool which provides real-time tracking of grid inertia at a previously unavailable level of granularity and precision.This in turn supports more immediate, targeted and cheaper, system interventions to stabilise the grid. https://www.reactive-technologies.com/grids/
Farming is energy intensive and gas, diesel & electricity are not cheap or necessarily emission friendly. But the farming community abounds with innovative approaches to improve energy productivity, reduce costs and emissions. So the establishment of a new Community of Practice, called Energy Smart Farming, provides a way for farmers, service providers, advisors, researchers & community advocates to share energy knowledge, research & solutions. https://extensionaus.com.au/energysmartfarming/
