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Tesla’s New Gigafactory Is Entirely ‘Off-Grid’ And Powered By 100% Renewable Energy

Elon Musk, CEO and product architect of the company Tesla Motors, is an entrepreneur not only interested in making money, but also advancing solutions to humanity’s pressing problems. Musk is unabashed in his commitment to help transition our energy paradigm from toxic fossil fuels into clean, renewable energy.

Besides producing state-of-the-art electric cars which will be ready for the renewable future, Tesla has innovated something called the Powerwall. This home battery system is charged using electricity generated from solar panels, which has helped to open the floodgates to residential solar power generation.

Tesla’s next technological marvel is currently being built in Nevada, called the Gigafactory. It is so-named because it will ultimately manufacture 35 gigawatt-hours of lithium-ion batteries—more than the number produced worldwide in 2013. As full capacity is reached in 2020, Tesla intends to drive down the cost of their battery pack by more than 30 percent.

“Tesla’s mission is to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable transportation. To achieve that goal, we must produce electric vehicles in sufficient volume to force change in the automobile industry. With a planned production rate of 500,000 cars per year in the latter half of this decade, Tesla alone will require today’s entire worldwide production of lithium ion batteries. The Tesla Gigafactory was born of necessity and will supply enough batteries to support our projected vehicle demand.”

In true visionary form, Tesla Motors announced that it will power the Gigafactory with 100% renewable energy, through a combination of sources such as solar panels covering the entire rooftop and wind turbines on a nearby slope. It will essentially be off-grid.

The Gigafactory’s forward-thinking design will make it a net-zero facility, which Tesla Chief Technical Officer JB Straube expanded upon in a recent talk.

“The other interesting thing is we wanted to manage the emissions from the Gigafactory. Solar power can do some of that, but we took kind of a radical move in the beginning and said we are not going to burn any fossil fuels in the factory. You know, zero emissions. We are going to build a zero-emissions factory — just like the car. So, instead of kind of fighting this battle in hindsight, we just said we are not even going to have a natural gas pipeline coming to the factory, so we didn’t even build it. And it kind of forced the issue. When you don’t have natural gas, you know, none of the engineers can say, “Oh, but it will be more efficient, let me use just a little bit.” Sorry, we don’t even have it.

So it’s kind of been a fun activity and just, a lot of challenges that come up. But in every single step of the process, we have been able to reinvent and come up with solutions. There’s a heat pump technology that actually ends up way more efficient than just burning natural gas for steam. And then, we have a facility that has basically no emissions. The only emissions are related to the vehicles that might go there that aren’t electric or things like that. But we’ll try to attack that one piece at a time.”

Elon Musk and his team at Tesla Motors are proving that success can be achieved through responsible means. The transition to renewable energy is inevitable, and they realize that the sooner it happens, the more we can avoid damage to environmental and human health.

The Free Thought Project reported in November that within 25 years, humanity will undergo its greatest energy shift since the industrial revolution. This is being achieved through market forces, and Tesla Motors is helping to drive that market. In turn, they will justifiably profit from being on the forefront.

Earth Could Go 100% Renewable By 2050, Says New Report

According to a new report from Greenpeace, the world could be 100% renewable by 2050, and 85% renewable within just 15 years.

A new report from Greenpeace declares that the world can be 100% renewable by 2050, and 85% renewable in just 15 years.

According to the non-profit’s 2015 (R)evolution report, the path to 100% renewable is cost-neutral for the first time ever. Not only that, no new technological advancements are needed at this point to make the vision a reality.

The report is the latest in a series that has offered the most accurate projections of any major analysis, worldwide.

Emily Rochen of Greenpeace said:

“It’s basically political will. The primary premise of the Energy [R]evolution scenario is we have all of the solutions already on the table to get there.”

Under the scenario outlined in the report, global CO2 emissions would be stabilized by 2020 and would approach zero in 2050. Of course, during this period, fossil fuels would be phased out starting with the most carbon-intensive sources.

The report predicts that by 2030, two-thirds of the word’s electricity could come from renewable sources such as wind and solar.

It’s been shared many times before that transitioning to renewable energy is the only way to significantly decrease carbon emissions. In the United States, for example, a third of emissions come from the electricity sector. Another quarter comes from transportation, and industry – largely through electricity use and fossil fuel consumption – accounts for another 20%.

As part of its participation in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Untied States has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28% by 2030. And in December, global leaders will meet in Paris with the intention to develop a broad climate treaty to prevent average global temperatures from climbing past 2°C.

Some countries are already doing their part to benefit the environment and become carbon-neutral as fast as possible. Denmark, for example, produced 140% of its energy needs via wind power in one day, and Germany recently generated 78% of its electricity from renewable sources.

Although economic considerations are often cited as the major hurdle to transitioning to renewable energy, the report relays how the shift is will actually benefit the job market. According to the Greenpeace report, at every point during the transition there would be more energy jobs than before. Rochen also pointed out that during the economic downturn, the solar industry experienced a double-digit job growth. She said,“Renewable energy definitely means more on the jobs front.”

By 2030, renewable energy will account for 87 percent of the jobs in the energy sector, the report says. The authors estimate there will be 9.7 million people working in solar PV.

“The cost of developing renewable energy sources has fallen steeply in recent years, and, at this point, the fuel savings are “cost neutral” with investment in renewable energy,” Rochon said.

That’s incredible news, especially considering that worldwide, governments pay $5.3 trillion annually to subsidize fossil fuels, according to a study by the International Energy Agency.

“Despite the fact that the playing field isn’t level and is tilted in the favor of fossil fuels, renewable energy sources are still winning,” Rochen said.

Think Progress shares that policies that support renewable energy, such as federal tax credits and net metering for residential solar installations, are considered critical drivers of renewable industries in the United States. The solar industry’s tax credit is set to expire at the end of 2016. None of the fossil fuel tax credits are set to expire at this time.

As Rochen says, a renewable energy future is within reach. Now, it’s really up to our political leaders to say, “Yes, we can do the work to get there.”

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Brazilian Builds Water-Powered Motorbike, Gets 310 Miles Out Of 1 Liter Of Water!

For decades there have been stories about vehicles that could run on water, and now we can actually see one of these vehicles in action. The T Power H20 motorbike was developed in Sao Paulo, Brazil by a man named Ricardo Azevedo.

The motorcycle can travel up to 310 miles on just a liter of water, and it does not require any specific type of water. Azevedo has even demonstrated how the motorcycle works using polluted water from a nearby river.

The motorcycle works by combining a battery with a water combustion system that helps to generate electricity.

In the video demonstrating his invention, Azevedo uses clean water to power the bike and drinks it on camera to show that it is not fuel.

“The advantage of this motorcycle, which works with the hydrogen that comes from the water, is that the result that comes out of the exhaust is water vapour. This is different from gasoline, which the result is carbon monoxide,” Azevedo said.

Azevedo’s invention could entirely change the transportation industry, but he should be careful because inventors like him have been discredited and even killed in the past. The best way to keep Azevedo and his invention safe is to spread the word about it so it is more difficult for competing interests to sweep it under the rug.

John Vibes writes for True Activist and is an author, researcher and investigative journalist who takes a special interest in the counter culture and the drug war.

This article (This Man Converted His Motorcycle To Run On Water!) is free and open source. You have permission to republish this article under a Creative Commons license with attribution to the author and TrueActivist.com.

Aspen, Colorado Becomes 3rd US City To Run On 100% Renewable Energy!

Aspen, Colorado will be running on 100% sustainable energy after 2015, an 84% increase from 2014.

Aspen, Colorado, the gentle and chilly tourist hub renowned for its ski slopes, is now the third city in the United States to consider itself fully powered by renewable resources.

As Go 100% Renewable Energy reports, the city will be running on 100% sustainable energy after 2015, an 84% increase from 2014. Aspen presently draws most of its energy from hydropower but has entered into a contract with wind farms in Nebraska and South Dakota to make its sustainability goal(s) a reality.

Because the mountainous area is especially vulnerable to rising global temperatures, the city decided to step up its sustainability efforts about ten years ago. The 2005 Canary Initiative sought to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to preserve the area’s climate, its powdery snowfall being a major draw for tourists from around the world.

Said David Hornbacher, director of the city’s Utilities and Environmental Initiatives:

“It was a very forward-thinking goal and truly remarkable achievement. This means we are powered by the forces of nature, predominantly water and wind with a touch of solar and landfill gas.”

The spokespeople for Aspen’s Sustainability and Utility department told the source that the biggest benefit to their residents was “setting an example for other communities to follow suit and do right by the environment.” This monumental achievement will help reduce greenhouse gases and also provide a more stable electricity rate for consumers in the area. Win-win!

Made very clear when Denmark generated 140% of its power needs in one day, renewable energy sources are a viable alternative to fossil fuels. With every technological advance, it’s becoming easier and cheaper to “go green,” and cities around the world are proving it.

Burlington, Vermont and Greensburg, Kansas were the first two cities to run on 100% renewable energy, and Aspen, Colorado is now the third. Which cities in America will be next?

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This Eco Friendly Foldable Dome Home Is The Perfect All-Season Camper

The DOM (E) geodesic home can be easily transported, is powered by the sun, captures rainwater, and is made from environmentally-friendly materials. What more could one want?

Do you value eco-friendly homes that are easy to transport, can endure types kinds of weather, and have much lower costs to maintain than traditionally constructed living spaces? If so, you’re bound to love the DOM (E) all-season home.

DOM (E), a foldable geodesic home, is truly the perfect solution for those who love to venture in life and live comfortably at the same time. The home is designed for both the sweltering desert heat and the frigid cold. Perhaps the best part? It can be transported easily.

According to its creators, the dome home is “easily foldable,” and is made from “environmentally friendly” construction materials. It also costs less to put up and tow around than other living structures.

As No Rules Just Architecture (NRJA) shares, DOM (E)’s shape allows for great ventilation and conducts airflow with help from underground ducts. The top of the geodesic structure can gather rain, and it also obtains solar power from the blazing sun. In addition, the home “connects to the hot water tank, providing toilet facilities and kitchen with warm water.”

The exterior of the home is constructed with concrete and liquid rubber. It’s well-insulated interior is made with an inviting birch plywood and allows for plenty of space to relax and enjoy life. It even has a fireplace for those who adore snuggling up with hot cocoa and watching flames in the winter.

This incredibly innovative and accommodating structure is one of the most intriguing eco-homes we’ve seen. It compares to the egg-shaped Ecocapsule Tiny Home that lets you live off-grid anywhere, and that one is on many peoples’ waiting lists.

What are your thoughts on this unique dome home? Would you consider living in a structure like this long-term? Comment below and share this article.

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Denmark Shows Promise To Be The First European Country To Go 100% Renewable Energy

by number23 via AnonHQ.com

Despite the incredible environmental progress we have made over the past decade, in today’s society, many still believe that renewable energy sources cannot fully replace fossil fuels and nuclear energy. Thankfully, last month, Denmark proved that this is simple not the case.

On the evening of July, 9 Denmark’s wind farms generated enough electricity to meet all of its nations needs and more. On that particularly blustery day, the wind turbines created 116 percent of Denmark’s required electricity. By 3 am the following morning— as energy use subsided through the night— this figure had reached an incredible 140 percent.

“It shows that a world powered 100 percent by renewable energy is no fantasy,” said Oliver Joy, a spokesman for trade body the European Wind Energy Association. “Wind energy and renewables can be a solution to decarbonization – and also security of supply at times of high demand.”

As a result of this sudden influx of electricity, Copenhagen sold 40 percent of the excess energy to neighbouring countries Norway and Germany, and 20 percent to Sweden. The figures of this day emerged on the website of the Danish transmission systems operator, energinet.dk, which had tracked the input of renewable energy minute-by-minute. According to the site, Denmark’s windfarms were not even operating at their full 4.8GW capacity during the extraordinary weather conditions.

As described by the European Commission Joint Research Center, wind energy technology is steadily becoming popular across many European countries. In its annual report, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Portugal, Romania and Spain were credited for their successful use of wind energy technology. According to the report, each of the countries “generates between 10 percent and 40 percent of its electricity from wind.”

In addition, it also appears that many of these nations are also preparing to involve themselves in the technologies future advancements; on July 7, Statoil, Norway’s oil and gas giant, announced that it is considering investing is a floating wind farm off the east coast of Scotland. In Germany, since May 11, 2014, when the country’s solar panels and wind turbines gave Germany a day’s worth of free electricity, the county has increasingly promoted the use of renewable energy.

Amongst Denmark’s other environmental goals, the country aims to produce half of its electricity with renewable sources by 2020, and 84 percent by 2035. As Denmark has made significant investments in the construction of more wind farms, the country could possibly beat their first target date.

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