Norwegian researchers have developed a floating turbine that can operate in waters deeper than 360 feet, enabling it to function virtually anywhere. The initial design was launched off the coast of Stavanger, an oil town located in southwestern Norway back in June.

Texas has moved a step closer to hosting what would be the largest wind farms in the US. Baryonyx, an start-up committed to innovative energy solutions (specializing primarily in wind power), has won three land lease bids from the State of Texas to construct data centers which would be powered by wind farms, and other forms of energy that operate with zero CO2 emissions. This would include two offshore farms, and one on land. The offshore sites would be more than 19,000 acres each.
When these farms are fully functional, Baryonyx would supply power to the Texas General Land Office, who [...]

Bedol has created a tiny, inexpensive ($16 USD) time piece that runs entirely on water- no cords, batteries, or winding necessary.
How does it work? According to ThinkGeek:

“The internal converter simply extracts electrons from water (or other liquid) molecules and provides a steady stream of electrical current acting as a fuel cell to generate power to the clock.”

Despite it’s size and lack of additional features, perhaps this is the first small step towards seeing our household gadgets powered by alternate sources of energy.
You can buy one here.
[via Gizmag/ThinkGeek]

Situated somewhere between the Biosphere 2 construction of the late 1980’s and the dystopian future imagined by the film (flop) Waterworld, lies artist Mary Mattingly’s experimental vision for creating a floating ark of sustainability. The project, appropriately named Waterpod, is a livable sculpture housed on 30×100 foot barge, combining elements of hydroponic farming, alternative energy, rainwater collection and waste recycling to form a working model of self-sufficiency.
Mattingly along with three other permanent artist/crew members will call the converted vessel home for the next five months as it docks at various ports throughout the five boroughs of New York City. The Waterpod is currently [...]

RuralLight is a Philippine-based non-profit organization that’s using renewable energy to create sustainable businesses, improve local education and reduce poverty while keeping the environmental impact carbon-neutral. There are still 2,400 villages in the country living off the grid and the government is finding it too expensive to hook them up to the power plants. This is because the multi-island structure of the Philippines would require extending electrical cables across water, which is simply too costly. Alternatives such as solar panels and geothermal energy will allow these communities the opportunity to finally integrate with the mainstream economy by providing them with [...]

When we were in New Orleans recently we learned about plans by an organization called Free Flow Power to generate electricity by harnessing the power in the deep Mississippi river close by. As part of our ongoing NOLA Changemakers interview series we talked to Jon Guidroz, Director of Project Development at Free Flow Power, about his clean energy project and the unique spirit of NOLA.
Can you tell us a little about what Free Flow Power does?
Free Flow Power Corporation was founded to produce clean renewable energy, using the force of rivers, streams, ocean currents, or tides, to generate electricity, without [...]

Sainsbury’s, a UK based chain of grocery stores is beginning a new program that will transform wasted food into electricity. 42 tons of waste food from 28 Sainsbury’s locations in Scotland will be delivered weekly to a biomass power plant for processing. This food waste is expected to generate enough electricity to power about 500 homes. This summer, the waste to electricity program will be expanded throughout the UK, as part of Sainsbury’s plan to no longer send any waste whatsoever to landfills.
[via Treehugger]