batteryResearchers at Hong Kong Polytechnic University claim to have invented a new kind of graphene-based "battery" that runs solely on ambient heat. The device is said to capture the thermal energy of ions in a solution and convert it into electricity. The results are in the process of being peer reviewed, but if confirmed, such a device might find use in a range of applications, including powering artificial organs from body heat, generating renewable energy and powering electronics.

savannahThe US Department of Energy (DOE) will support the construction of three small nuclear reactors at its Savannah River Site in South Carolina. The reactors are designed to generate heat and electricity for use at remote facilities such as mines, oil fields or isolated communities. The three companies involved are Gen4 Energy (formerly Hyperion), Holtec International and NuScale Power.

2150 lo_res-720x2601The sun pours out an amazing amount of energy. Only a small fraction of the sun's total output reaches us, yet it powers our entire ecosystem. All the plants and animals on planet earth rely on this warmth for light and food. Surprisingly, though, the sun is not a terribly good fusion reactor, for its size. In terms of energy output per volume, JET at its best is over 700 times better, and ITER will be a staggering 2150 times more efficient fusion reactor than the sun.

mediaLarge1F4E's first Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA) for the design of Diagnostic components for the ITER machine is signed. Amounting to 3.7 million EUR for a period of up to four years, the FPA has been awarded to a consortium consisting of three laboratories from the Hungarian Fusion association: Wigner RCP (formerly KFKI RMKI) and MTA EK (formerly KFKI AEKI) as well as Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME).

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On the 7th March 2012, the representatives of the French Embassy in Poland: Philippe Pierrard, Conseiller nucléaire, and Klara Tucholka, Chargée de mission - Energie nucléaire, visited the Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion.

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Research projects carried out at the IPPLM are funded by the Polish Ministry of Education and Science, the National Science Centre and by the European Commission within the framework of EUROfusion Consortium under grant agreement No 101052200. Financial support comes also from the International Atomic Energy Agency, European Space Agency and LaserLab Consortium as well as from the Fusion for Energy Agency.

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