Human waste might someday turn human urine or waste into useful electricity for radios or space robots EcoBot-III was able to both eat and crap inside its lab environment. Image: Bristol Robotics Laboratory, UK

For the Asia Pacific region, 2011 was a good year for photovoltaic installations and growth, with the region as a whole growing the photovoltaic market by 165% year over year, with an additional 40% expected to be added in 2012.

Vietnam saved about 1.31 billion kWh in 2011 accounting for 1.42 percent of the amount of commercial power and exceeding what was planned for the year, said Electricity of Vietnam (EVN).

Imagine a do-it-yourself, neighborhood farm that provides sustainably grown food using renewable resources and recycled production equipment.

A team of scientists has devised a new way to more accurately compare how efficiently plants and photovoltaic, or solar, cells convert sunlight into energy, which could ultimately help researchers improve plant photosynthesis, a critical first link to enhancing the global supply of food, feed, fiber and bioenergy.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the Song Lo 3 hydroelectric power plant was held in the northern province of Ha Giang on December 21.

The most important element in future urban planning will relate to the scope of green development, Vice President of the Viet Nam Urban Planning and Development Association Luu Duc Hai has said.

HCM CITY — Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has given his approval to the Malaysia-based Toyo Ink Group to build a thermo-power plant in Hau Giang Province.

Vietnam places top priority on using nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and ensuring its safety and security, says Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Le Dinh Tien.

HCM CITY — Businesses must save energy, protect the ecosystem and take steps to deal with climate change while maintaining development, experts told attendees at a forum held yesterday in HCM City.

The Binh Dinh provincial People’s Committee has allowed the Phuong Mai joint stock company to develop the project.

From the 16th to the 19th of January, twenty renewable energy and cleantech developers from across Egypt, Ghana, India, Jordan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, UAE and USA will showcase cutting-edge projects and conduct full business presentations at the Project Village at the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) 2012 in Abu Dhabi.

Industrial parks and export processing zones in the southern region, including HCM City and the provinces of Dong Nai, Binh Duong and Ba Ria – Vung Tau, are turning their attention to attracting hi-tech and supporting industry projects that are environmentally friendly.

The small farming community of Phu Tho has a golden opportunity as the world’s oil reserves continue to dry up. This poor, rural area may provide the world with part of the solution to the global fuel crisis by offering a unique, renewable, and sustainable alternative fuel source.

Simpa is about a year old and has raised a seed round of $1.3 million from angel investors (which it is calling a Series A round) to launch its product commercially

Scientists and managers from Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) gathered at a training programme on building green growth capacity for Vietnam, in Hanoi on December 12.

The second Green Conference, jointly organised by Kohler Viet Nam and HCM City Association of Architects, attracted more than 200 delegates representing property developers, architects, and design consultancy firms.

After a long period of making research, Cu and his co-workers have successfully made biofuels from ethanol with the concentration of 92 percent and higher, while no need to use anhydrous ethanol. Ethanol 92 percent means that there are 92 percent of pure alcohol and 8 percent of water in a unit.

Ho Chi Minh City plans to invest around VND1.4 trillion (US$70 million) in bio-technology during the period 2010-2015, with 89 percent of the amount or VND1.2 trillion coming from state budget.

Around 25,000 low-income homes in the Philippines have been lit up after the launch of a scheme to fit sunlight-powered "bulbs" made from old plastic bottles.