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The A to Z of green IT
Green is the new black...

By Gemma Simpson

Published: Wednesday 21 November 2007

Nanogeneration

Within green IT, companies tend to think big but nanogeneration is bucking that trend by getting businesses to think small to help the environment.

Green IT from A to Z

Click on the links below to find out more...

A is for Abroad
B is for Blades
C is for Carbon footprint
D is for Data centres
E is for Energy sources
F is for Freecycle
G is for Government
H is for Homeworking
I is for Ice caps
J is for Jobs (Steve)
K is for Kilowatts
L is for Landfill
M is for Mercury
N is for Nanogeneration
O is for Offsetting
P is for Paperless office
Q is for Queen
R is for Recycling
S is for SmartPlanet.com
T is for Travel
U is for Upgrade
V is for Virtualisation
W is for WEEE
X is for Xmas
Y is for You
Z is for Zero emissions

Nanogeneration is the generation of zero or low-carbon heat and power on a local scale - in effect the greening up of everyday products so they are as self-sufficient in terms of energy consumption as possible.

This could be done in a variety of ways - for example by fitting a backpack with solar panels so you can plug your iPod into the pack and it charges while you walk around. It might seem like a wacky idea but scientists are already coming up with ways to make nanogeneration work - with a tailor made solar bikini with an in-built solar iPod charger already on the market.

And nanogeneration does not suffer from the same inefficiencies as large grid systems, because the electricity is not transmitted through wires over many miles - what is generated is used.

Cardiff-based nanogeneration company G24 Innovations recently announced the development of a thin film that can generate renewable power in a process much like photosynthesis in nature.

The solar cells and products which might result from the films are lightweight, durable and unique, in that the thin film produces electricity in both low light and indoor conditions and under all real-world conditions - sunrise, sunset, rainy and cloudy days.