A Blog for Browsing Mining, Mineral Processing, and Metals Info

#TeslaMotors wants to win the #EnergyStorage war — but one of the biggest energy storage players is gearing up for battle, and it’s not clear who will come out ahead. Here’s what you need to know.

Big G Is Back
#GeneralElectric Company recently announced that it’s getting back into the energy storage game. After a strong start in 2009 and the grand opening of a $170 million production factory in 2011, GE nearly threw in the towel earlier this year.

Read more at: http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/09/10/move-over-tesla-whos-winning-energy-storage.aspx

#BHPBilliton Ltd plans to spend millions of dollars in a venture with a #Canadian power company to promote #CarbonCapture technology to help shore up coal demand.

BHP, the top global miner and biggest exporter of coal used in steel plants, and Canada’s #SaskPower said on Thursday they planned to set up a center to support research and cut the costs and risks facing new carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects worldwide.

Read more at: http://ca.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idCAKCN0RA21820150910

Innovate #UK and the #EngineeringAndPhysicalSciencesResearchCouncil, #EPSRC, are seeking to stimulate exploitation of the high-performance material Graphene by investing £2.5 million in feasibility studies.

Businesses can apply for a share of the money to carry out studies into the use of graphene or other related two-dimensional carbon-based materials in specific industrial applications.

Read more at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/commercial-use-of-graphene-apply-for-business-funding

For the world of power #Electronics the next big thing is #SiliconCarbide (SiC). Silicon-based #Chips are currently used to manage power in everything from portable electronics to industrial-scale equipment. Silicon-based chips are the workhorse of the industry. The technology is familiar and the chips are readily available. A decade of work and a keen eye for the future have enabled scientists at #GEGlobalResearch to introduce the first industrially ready #SiC devices to the world. These devices operate at higher frequencies and temperatures and convert electric power at higher efficiencies. Additionally, SiC-based devices manage the same level of power at half the size, enabling dramatic increases in power density and reliability.

Read more at: http://www.geglobalresearch.com/impact/the-building-blocks-of-silicon-carbide-a-rising-star

The #Smartphones launched this year have all been replete with new features – faster processing, big screens, super cameras, huge memory, elegant casings, etc. But ’till now, none of the handset manufacturers have come up with a #Battery that carries on for even two days with normal usage. Any company that brings out a device with a seriously longer lasting battery will have leapt much ahead of its competitors.

#Samsung seems to be doing some research on extending battery life and has reportedly spent around $13.8 billion on research and development last year. This investment was justified when in June this year, researchers and scientists at the #SAIT – #Samsung’sAdvancedInstituteOfTechnology – found a way to prolong the life of the standard #LithiumIonBatteries by using the combination of #Graphene and #Silicon. If this research is integrated into the handsets soon enough, it is possible for the Samsung #Galaxy #S7 to be launched with this 5-day battery.

Read more at: http://www.graphene.eu/en/news/page_1/2015/09/09/596/samsung-graphene-batterie-revolution.php

#MIT Technology Review: #Tennis fans who watch the #USOpen in person or around the world on TVs, PCs or smartphones might not be aware of all the sophisticated technology behind the two-week professional tennis event. Since 1990, #IBM has worked with the United States Tennis Association or #USTA to provide a richer technology experience for millions who visit the US Open’s digital platforms worldwide – as well as the media, coaches and players. This year we’re using the latest in #Cloud, #DataAnalytics, #Mobile and #SocialTechnology for an even better fan experience, which tennis fans demand, year-after-year.

Read more at: http://www.technologyreview.com/

#MIT has invented a new web-based software that makes it much simpler for users to make modifications to 3D models they would like to print out on #3DPrinters. The software has the ability to cut down CAD geometry calculations from hours down to minutes.

Read more at: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/mit-simplifies-3d-printing-by-making-it-easier-modify-3d-models-1518781

Commodities trading firm #Glencore Plc on Monday said it is set to announce fresh plans to cut its $30 billion in net debt, as it called a trading halt on its #HongKong shares.

Read more at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/07/glencore-debt-idUSL4N11D0QN20150907