There’s been a lot happening on the home energy front recently as standards get set to rise. And that’s big news for consumers and construction professionals. For a start all Australian governments have now agreed to raise the bar on energy efficiency standards for new-build homes. It’s the first change to the National Construction Code […]
Solar Shines On “Copper Paste”
A USA startup has come up with a commercial process to swap silver paste in solar panels for copper—known as “CuBert”—with impressive results and new investors. Co-founded in 2015 by an engineering professor and a post-doctoral researcher at Kentucky’s University of Louisville, Bert Thin Films is on a mission to promote copper paste as a […]
Global “Materials Movement” Update
The second phase of Australia’s landmark Zero Emission Copper Mine of the Future Project–or ZECMotF–is rapidly developing a picture of global Materials Movement innovation. The Final Report is not due till July, but already ZECMotF is producing groundbreaking insights into new ideas, technologies and systems around the world. Like the Water and Zero Emission Copper Mining snapshot […]
Are Aussie Homes “Glorified Tents”?
Aussie homes are being called “glorified tents” costing residents hundreds more on their energy bills each year as pressure grows to build in higher efficiency standards. That chance comes this July when the country’s building ministers get together to review possible changes to the National Construction Code—NCC—which is only done once every 3 years. I […]
Your Home Gets Charged
The global spend on electric vehicle charging at home will exceed $16B in 2026, up from $3.4B in 2021 says a new snapshot. Those are big numbers, but the biggest shake up could be how we go about making sure our homes can actually handle it. It’s clear that the way homes use and store […]
Low Cost Solar Gets Copper Breakthrough
Australian startup Sundrive creates world’s most efficient commercial-sized solar cell by replacing expensive silver with affordable copper during manufacturing. Efficiency is a big deal when it comes to solar and refers to the amount of power you generate based on the amount of sunlight coming in. A decade ago commercial-sized solar cells had an efficiency […]
Aussie Copper Home Is Standout
Australian architectural studio Casey Brown Architecture has recently completed an unusual corrugated copper tiny home two hours from Sydney. “Permanent Camping 2” in the Berry countryside has a two-story tower structure clad in copper designed to withstand bushfires, gale-force winds and driving winds. The external sides to pen up the home to the outdoors, while […]
Mining Water Technologies
Two years ago consultancy group Wood Mackenzie predicted copper demand would keep rising, warning that water use at mines would also soar, with all the costs and problems that entails. It’s the sort of threat that is urging mines right around the world to find more sustainable, efficient ways to use water. And it’s the […]
Water And Copper Mining
Water is the first theme being tackled by the Zero Emission Copper Mine of the Future project and results of the ‘deep tech dive’ due mid 2021. The Technology Roadmap on the Zero Emission Copper Mine of the Future (ZECMotF) launched last year highlighted 5 emission themes—material movement, minerals processing , discovery, ventilation and water. […]
All Electric Roads Lead To Copper
Israel and Sweden experiment with a new way to increase the uses of electric cars. Wider up take in electric cars face challenges, including few charging hubs, slow charging & costly batteries. But copper embedded ‘electric highways’ may be the answer. Two companies-one in Israel & the other in Sweden-are already testing the concept says […]
Japan Wire Makers Go Asia For EV’s
Japan’s electric wire manufacturers are shifting production to Asia for region’s growing electric car market. Japanese wire companies are investing in new plants in China & South East Asia to meet an expected surge in demand for electric vehicles (EVs). EV sales in China are expected to roughly quintuple to about 2.46 million vehicles in 2035, […]
Copper In Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging
Wireless charging is coming, especially for electric vehicles, and copper is an essential part of the solution. A wireless charging system consists of fixed and mobile modules. In the case of leading wireless-charging technology company, WiTricity, the fixed part has a wall mounted power converter that changes normal mains electricity to the much higher frequency […]
