A Japanese group was able to charge a Li-ion secondary battery with DC power generated by solar cells and supply it to home appliances without using AC conversion.

The test was part of the Development Project of Energy-saving Technologies for Weak Energy Storage Type Eco House.

The program was conducted by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment with an aim of developing technologies to prevent global warming.

Until now, existing home-use solar power systems converted DC power into AC power before supplying it to homes. Power generated by solar cells had to be converted twice because home appliances use DC power.

This new system can boost efficiency use because it directly supplies generated power without converting it, much less converting it twice.

CO₂ emissions generated by a typical home over a period of four hours can be cut by 40%.

Next up, a wooden laboratory building that uses the DC power supply system by 2010.

Get this – the group aims to cut CO₂ emissions by charging Li-ion secondary batteries with hydroelectricity generated by:

1. a waterwheel set in the drain in the bathroom
2. by a light breeze that blows through a room
3. by a man riding on a fitness bike.

Go Japan!

Source: NikkeiBP (Image by Marufish)

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Beijing is a city of about 11 million people. Since 2001, in the lead up to the 2008 Summer Olympic Games the city has spent some $8.8 billion to improve its power supply capability. What does the city have to show for it?

1. Total power supply capability is up 124%

2. The city now has 344 transformer sub-stations

3. The sub-stations generate 37,840 kilovolts of power or more.

4. Blackout times per household have decreased by 40%

5. Natural gas transmissions have reached 15.3 billion cubic meters/year UP 400%!

6. Central heating network for the city is 837 km (500+ miles) and 130 million square meters up 100% from 2001.

7. The city’s total heating area is up 70% from 200.

And, of course, the city is burning enough energy to supply all of central Africa. But, then wh0’s comparing? The Games happen in about 2+ weeks. I don’t know about you, but I am betting the Opening Ceremony will definitely be worth watching. China does know how to throw a party even if it doesn’t care about the cost.

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