| 08/24/2010 03:38 AM PETE Process Promises Successful Technology Fusion
A new joint venture research work at Stanford and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, supported by Department of Energy and DARPA has come up with a new solar energy conversion process that can potentially double the efficiency of solar cells. Stanford engineers have discovered this new and totally different process to harvest energy from sun. [...]Posted in: Inventions, PhotoVoltaics, Solar Power |
| 08/23/2010 03:10 AM Audi Testing Water in Electric Car Production
The entrepreneurial Audi is planning to take advantage of changes portended in the automobile market with an eye towards emission-free vehicles. Until now Audi has not shown any interest in electric car production but now that there is a growing demand for small and electronically-driven cars, Audi is keen to join the race. [...]Posted in: Electric Cars, Industry, Transportation |
| 08/17/2010 04:33 PM Wind Energy Instruments getting Bigger & Better
Renewable energy production and demand growth is gaining momentum in many ways across the world. There is a booming demand of wind power today and all wind energy equipment manufacturers are gearing up to meet the demand and take advantage of it. Wind power capacity growth will be reaching 447GW in the next five [...]Posted in: Wind Farms, Wind Power, Wind Turbines |
| 08/10/2010 04:48 PM Graphene: Solar Cells of the Future?
A southern California University team has come up with what could be the alternative new breed of economical and flexible solar cells. For some decades now, organic photovoltaic cells (OPV) have been acclaimed as the new solar cell prototypes and extolled for their light weight, flexible substrates, low cost and easy manufacturability. Research [...]Posted in: Inventions, PhotoVoltaics, Solar Power |
| 08/09/2010 04:20 PM USPS Goes Green
In strict adherence to guidelines released by the Department of Energy, the United States Postal Service gets on a fast track to reach the goal for energy reduction. Green roofs, green buildings and an optimally efficient management system of energy consumption form part of the energy-reduction strategy.
Power Guzzlers:
Use of air conditioning is one [...]Posted in: Environment, Industry, Transportation |
| 08/03/2010 04:41 PM First Factory Built Solar Charging Station
International Green Energy Expo Korea 2010 was chosen as the venue where SunPods SP-300 was first displayed. This is the first factory built-to-order solar-powered integrated electric-vehicle charging station – ready for powering up immediately. This ready-to-use solar power platform from SunPods is called EV Plug-N-Go.
Perfect launch pad:
Deagu, South Korea, played host to [...]Posted in: Industry, PhotoVoltaics, Solar Power |
| 07/29/2010 02:05 AM Hybrid Organic Solar Cells Now More Efficient
Success greets the research team of National Research Council’s National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT) and the University of Alberta. The plastic solar cells have now an operating life of 8 months instead of mere hours. And they are low-cost, environmentally efficient, unsealed plastic dollar cells – a green energy source. Developing economically viable plastic [...]Posted in: Industry, PhotoVoltaics, Solar Power |
| 07/28/2010 02:46 AM Breakthrough in Thin-Film Solar Cells
Scientists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) have come out with positive news about increased efficiency of thin-film solar cells. As we know that scientists are trying to increase the efficiency of the solar cells so that they can be considered as serious alternative to the fossil fuels. Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz [...]Posted in: Inventions, PhotoVoltaics, Solar Power |
| 09/02/2010 11:15 PM Some Diesels Cleaner Than Electric Cars, Swiss Researchers Say European cars often get a fuel economy of about 42 mpg, with some newer models even getting 60 mpg or more. The technology adopted for electric cars, on the other hand, uses mainly lithium ion batteries, made of metals extracted from mountains by using complex chemical processes that not only generate CO2, but also pollute the environment and help to deforestation. |
| 09/02/2010 10:33 PM Self-Repairing, Leaf-Mimicking Solar Cells Invented by MIT Scientists A new and effective way of harnessing solar power comes from the researchers at MIT. Once again trying to mimic the way green plants work, the scientists now have a different approach, pointing to the fact that, otherwise invisible, the effects of sunlight over solar cells are often damaging. |
| 09/02/2010 07:21 PM Clean energy aid leadership from Norway
Key to the initiative's approach has been the electrification of small villages in remote areas and over 44% of the money has been spent on building transmission and distribution infrastructure. The largest type of generation deployed has been hydroelectric, with 15% of expenditure going on these projects, some of which have been large scale but many of which have been small and localised. Other forms of generation considered include wind, geothermal and biomass, each depending upon the particular needs of the country and neighbourhood within which the initiative is operating. Rather pointedly, the report states that it spent 0% of its money on power generation from non-renewable sources. |
| 09/02/2010 11:41 AM Car sharing, nuclear fusion attract funds, China IPO market heats up Of 39 deals the Cleantech Group spotted in the past seven days, PE firm Spring Capital Asia closes a $250M fund expected to invest in cleantech, among other sectors. |
| 09/02/2010 10:19 AM N. America Weekly: Cisco’s smart grid acquisition Plus the week’s largest round of at least $50M goes to stealthy nuclear fusion technology firm Tri Alpha Energy. |
| 09/02/2010 09:39 AM UW Oshkosh is going solar From an article by Jaime Hunt in The Northwestern, Oshkosh: The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is installing its first solar energy systems to provide the campus with electricity and hot water. This is the first wave of solar power installations that will soon be commonplace on the campus. A photovoltaic array has been installed on a popular walkway adjacent to the campus tennis courts. The 2.9-kilowatt system slowly adjusts position to track the sun as it moves from east to west and as it rises and falls in the sky. The system was installed by Appleton Solar and funded as a State of Wisconsin Energy Conservation Project with support from Focus on Energy and Wisconsin Public Service. Water will be heated by 120 solar panels being installed on the rooftops of four buildings to serve a wide range of needs. Blackhawk Commons will generate hot water for food service and dishwashers. Hot water for showers will be provided in Taylor Hall. Albee Hall solar collectors will heat an indoor swimming pool. The campus Heating Plant will pre-heat water used to generate steam and heat campus buildings. These solar systems will replace natural gas or coal-based heat. The Solar Thermal Energy Systems are being installed and maintained by H&H Energy Services of Madison. Funding is through a State Solar Energy Agreement that allows the systems to be owned privately by Regenesis Power of California, who will then sell the heat to UW Oshkosh at a set cost. Focus on Energy is also providing financial incentives. New construction and refurbishment projects at UW Oshkosh are planning to add more solar power in the future. “University buildings have long lives, so it makes sense to build them with solar power upgrades in mind and to install the systems that are affordable today,” said Michael Lizotte, UW Oshkosh director of sustainability. |
| 09/02/2010 08:37 AM Fans Crank up Bumbershoot with Pedal-Power Seattle music fans are in for a treat at the 2010 Bumbershoot festival -- though, they'll have to work for it with a little bit of sweat as they seesaw and pedal for snow cones this weekend. |
| 09/02/2010 07:08 AM New Zealand Launches Cap and Trade as Off-Shore Oil Giants Move In
New Zealand imports most of its oil, but nearly half of the emissions are agricultural, due to the volume of exports from the isolated nation, and they have increased by 25 percent over the last 20 years. Its nearest neighbor is Australia, but much of its trading is much further away, with the EU. New Zealand has long been a land of sheep farmers, and with an economy of only 4 some million people, has a very high carbon footprint in shipping its products to customers far overseas. When you factor in the carbon footprint of ocean transport, not just exporting, but also, importing, New Zealand is actually not as green as its reputation. And now, with oil giants like Petrobras nosing around the island nation for an off-shore killing, the announcement is timely. |
| 09/02/2010 02:10 PM Michigan Researchers Turn Wet Algae into Biodiesel Researchers have found a feasible way to turn wet algal biomass directly into biodiesel. In the first step, wet algal biomass contained 80 percent moisture and was reacted with subcritical water to hydrolyze intracellular lipids, conglomerate cells into an easily filterable solid that retained the lipids and produced a sterile, nutrient-rich aqueous phase. In the second step, the wet, fatty acid-rich solids underwent supercritical transesterification with ethanol to produce fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs). The team used Chlorella vulgaris algae, which contained 53.3 percent lipid content.
The research yielded promising results, Savage added, but the project is anticipated to be refined and optimized in order for to demonstrate greater economic and environmental feasibility of the process on a larger scale. The researchers say more work will need to be done to improve the yields and cut down on inputs. |
| 09/02/2010 01:40 PM Denver to Host Alt Fuel Trade Alliance Workshop
Sponsored by our friends at the Renewable Fuels Association, the National Biodiesel Board, the Clean Vehicle Education Foundation and the Propane Education & Research Council, this one-day event promises to be a must-attend event for a wide range of alternative fuel users, producers and marketers: This training seminar will cover alternative fuel quality, infrastructure, available vehicles, safety, and environmental impact of propane, ethanol, biodiesel, and compressed natural gas. Attendees will include fleet managers, petroleum marketers, policy makers, fuel station owners, and media. To register and for more information, check the alliance's website, www.altfuelsalliance.org, or contact Julie Puckett at julie@thesales.net or 703-675-0520. |
| 09/02/2010 11:57 AM Help Gulf Coast Move Beyond Oil A Florida company is trying to win a $250,000 grant from Pepsi to bring alternative fuels to the Gulf Coast region.
We will create an Alternative (to petroleum) Oasis. It becomes a “community center” by offering information and access to a product mix that is unavailable in the marketplace. It will become the local resource for green/eco products and services. It will utilize solar panels to decrease energy consumption, harvest rainwater to diminish its use onsite, and be surrounded by lush native landscaping. The market will engage its customers by offering services such as local volunteer information, educational presentations, and encourage local buying habits. You can vote for the Pura-Vida plan here and find out more on their Facebook page. |
| 09/02/2010 11:56 AM Federal Ag & Energy Depts. Team Up for Bioenergy
This USDA release says the announcement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Energy Secretary Steven Chu will make $8.9 million available: “Cost-effective, sustainable biofuels are crucial to building a clean energy economy,” said Secretary Chu. “By harnessing the power of science and technology, this joint effort between DOE and USDA will help accelerate research in the critical area of plant feedstocks, spurring the creation of the domestic bio-industry while creating jobs and reducing our dependence on foreign oil.” “Developing a domestic source of renewable energy will create jobs and wealth in rural America, combat global warming, replace our dependence on foreign oil, and build a stronger foundation for the 21st century economy,” Secretary Vilsack said. “This scientific investment will lay the foundation for a source of fuel made from renewable sources.” The research grants will be awarded under a joint DOE-USDA program focused on fundamental investigations of biomass genomics, with the aim of harnessing lignocellulosic materials–i.e., nonfood plant fiber–for biofuels production. Emphasis is on perennials, including trees and other nonfood plants that can be used as dedicated biofuel crops. Since such crops tend to require less intensive production practices and can grow on somewhat poorer quality land than food crops, they will be a critical element in a strategy of sustainable biofuels production that avoids competition with crops grown for food. Combining DOE's leadership in genome-scale technologies with USDA's long experience in crop improvement will help accelerate development of such specialized crops and improve their effectiveness as feedstocks for biofuels production. The Energy Department will be handing out $6.9 million for seven projects across the country and USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture will give $2 million for two projects in Illinois and Texas. |
| 09/02/2010 11:35 AM Canada Mandates Biofuels
“Regulating renewable fuel content in gasoline is just one of several steps the Government is taking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector, which account for about a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions,” said Environment Minister Jim Prentice in a statement. This regulation is part of a strategy by the government to lower greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent from 2005 levels by 2020. “Support for renewable fuels is support for farmers, rural communities and our economy,” said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz in a statement. “This is a vital step in generating new market opportunities for our farmers and maximizing Canada’s high quality resources to produce food and fuel for the world.” |
| 09/02/2010 11:09 AM REG Biodiesel Featured at Farm Progress & Beer Tour
The Tour de Fat—named for the brewery’s signature Fat Tire beer—spreads the good word about the positive societal offerings of bicycle use as well as showcases the outstanding green practices of New Belgium.
Decker Truck Lines, LLC of Fort Dodge, Iowa served as the event hauler for the Midwest portion of the Tour de Fat’s and burned B100. “New Belgium has made a commitment to using biodiesel made from sustainable sources like waste oils, fats and greases in order to help reduce our corporate carbon footprint by at least 25 percent. We are pleased that we can continue that commitment by burning Iowa-produced biodiesel produced from another industry’s waste stream,” stated tour impresario Matt Kowal, who works at the brewery year ‘round producing the festival and emceeing its 13 stops (this year) around the country. Now that's something you can truly raise a cold one to. |
| 09/02/2010 10:30 AM Aussie Customer to Get Algae-Oil Single Step System A California-based producer of renewable oil from algae production products is getting ready to ship a system that uses a single step to get the oil out of the green pond scum to one of its customers down under. OriginOil, Inc. has notified Australian MBD Energy Limited that it is ready to ship a Single-Step Extraction™ System (seen in the video below), a cheaper method of algae-oil extraction that eliminates the use of petrochemicals or alcohol solvents and is the second product to be delivered in its multi-phase commercialization agreement: OriginOil Extracts Oil from Algae Timelapse from OriginOil on Vimeo. “We believe OriginOil’s concentration and extraction technology holds promise of reducing costs and energy requirements in the algae harvesting process,” said Andrew Lawson, Managing Director at MBD Energy Ltd. “We look forward to now using the equipment we’ve purchased from OriginOil to finalize preparations for our 1 hectare Bio CCS algal synthesizer test facility we’re about to construct at Tarong Power Station in Queensland. If performance tests go to plan we expect to later expand the 1 hectare synthesizer to 80 hectares at which point we hope to produce approximately 10,000 tonnes of oil per year.” OriginOil’s unit is the second product to be shipped in the test phase of a multi-phase commercialization program under which OriginOil has agreed to supply MBD Energy with progressively larger installations of its algae-to-oil technology as the scale of MBD’s algal synthesizer projects grows. The two products are supplied under a 1 year lease-to-own program. Subject to achieving success in the initial test phase, MBD will purchase significantly larger systems to serve its power station projects in Australia, beginning with the 1 hectare algal synthesizer test plant at Tarong Power Station in South Eastern Queensland, and potentially expanding to full production at all three of MBD’s power station project sites in Australia. MBD Energy officials say that each of its power station projects can grow 80 hectare commercial pilot plants for algae, each capable of producing about 3 million gallons of oil that can be used for renewable energy and plastics, as well as producing 25,000 tonnes of animal feed each year. Furthermore, the plants could eventually be expanded to 1,500 hectares each, feeding the the algae with the power station's flue-gas emissions. |
| 09/02/2010 09:49 AM BP Closes Sale on Verenium Cellulosic Business
“We are very pleased that our strategic development partnership with BP has successfully advanced our cellulosic ethanol technology to the cusp of commercialization,” said Carlos A. Riva, President and Chief Executive Officer at Verenium. “We believe that BP is the right company to make the investment needed to carry this forward and expedite the commercialization of the technology.” BP will also become the sole investor in Vercipia Biofuels and Galaxy Biofuels; both 50-50 joint ventures of the two companies. |
| 09/02/2010 06:17 AM Ethanol E-Xchange Blog Offers RFA Commentary The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) recently debuted a new blog on their website that offers commentary from RFA staffers on various topics.
Speculators returning to the grain market is the topic of the most recent post by RFA Vice President for Research Geoff Cooper, who notes that “hedge and index fund investors have quietly returned to the agricultural commodities market in droves over the past few weeks.”
Cooper gives a nice analysis of what happened in 2008 when oil, gas, and corn prices skyrocketed and then the bubble burst and what is happening right now in the market. Speculators are returning to the agricultural commodities markets in numbers not seen since the weeks leading up to the spectacular bursting of the 2008 bubble. In fact, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC) latest Commitments of Traders report shows speculative investors hold as many corn futures contracts today as they did at the height of the 2008 bubble. Not since May 2008 have “non-commercial” investors (CFTC’s parlance for “speculators”) held as many net long positions as they do today (long, or “bullish,” positions are contracts that are purchased and held in the hope of profiting from an increase in prices). Speculators held 358,000 net long positions on corn last week, which is the equivalent of 1.8 billion bushels. That compares to a previous high of 360,000 net longs in mid-May 2008, at the height of the bubble. Read Cooper's entire commentary here. |
| 09/02/2010 04:52 AM Access, Policy & Predictability Needed for Ethanol “The 50th Anniversary of OPEC made our nation and others dependent on a few countries for oil – many that don't have our best interest at heart,” said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy during a press conference at the Farm Progress Show currently being held in Boone, Iowa. OPEC was formed on September 14, 1960 and today, America's dependence on oil from OPEC countries has put our country's security at risk. One answer to this is ethanol; yet ethanol's future in uncertain with several policies in jeopardy including the E15 waiver, ethanol tax credit and ethanol tariff.
There is still some hope for this year, as Senator Reid (D-NV) has called for a lame duck sessions to help on November 15, 2010. Buis has stressed that the ethanol industry doesn't have a production problem, but a market access problem and passing these varied policies, especially the E15 waiver, will help to open up new markets. The simple act of doing this, says Buis, is that ethanol will help reduce an additional 7 billion gallons of ethanol per year. “It's like saying to Hugo Chavez and Venezuelan oil, we're not buying your oil any more.”
He continued, “Certainly we need some of those incentives to continue. We need some predictability, we need more than three months predictability with those incentives going off this December. We need a longer-term vision of what can happen out there.” A longer term vision is definitely needed if America truly wants to meet is goal of achieving energy independence, and a major step to achieving this is passing more comprehensive policies including the ethanol tax credit, E15 waiver and flex-fuel vehicle policy. You can listen to the Growth Energy press conference here. Growth Energy Press Conference During Farm Progress Show |
| 09/03/2010 04:00 AM Researchers discover proton diode: Water is an active element in proteins Biophysicists in Germany have discovered a diode for protons: just like the electronic component determines the direction of flow of electric current, the “proton diode” ensures that protons can only pass through a cell membrane in one direction. Water molecules play an important role here as active components of the diode. The researchers were able to observe this through a combination of molecular biology, X-ray crystallography, time-resolved FTIR spectroscopy and biomolecular simulations. |
| 09/02/2010 04:49 AM Hydrogen Car Wins Asia Shell EcoMarathon Students and faculty from the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) won the 2010 Asia Shell EcoMarathon with a hydrogen fuel cell car. The car was able to attain approximately 1,400 miles per gallon equivalent to capture the $1,000 USD prize. I’ve talked about the Shell EcoMarathon several times in the past and have been to one of their events. The cars don’t look at all like consumer automobiles as they are small, cramped, lightweight one-person vehicles geared towards squeezing out gas mileage. In the winning Asian EcoMarathon car was a Horizon fuel cell. According to the company, “This year’s leading teams are now looking forward further developing and optimizing their power systems for next year’s race while Horizon Fuel Cell continues its development of higher performance, highly efficient fuel cell technologies. The company’s evolving hydrogen fuel cell technologies offers an attractive technological alternative that brings winning results to Eco-marathon competitors: ultra-light fuel cells with limited peripherals, increasing simplicity, reducing weight, and improving overall vehicle efficiency.” It’s likely that some of the student engineers working on these hydrogen fuel cell cars will in the very near future graduate and go on to develop the next generation hydrogen cars that the rest of us will be driving. |
| 09/01/2010 10:00 PM Metal-mining bacteria are green chemists Microbes could soon be used to convert metallic wastes into high-value catalysts for generating clean energy, say scientists. |
| 09/01/2010 04:16 AM Hydrogen Haters Come Out for Fueling Station Accident Two days ago I talked about a hydrogen fueling station in Rochester, NY catching fire and this would mean that hydrogen haters would be coming out in droves. Over at Jalopnik there is an example of fanning the flames (so to speak) of the hydrogen haters (plus to be fair a few defenders) to come out and show their true colors over the safety of hydrogen fuel. The hydrogen haters are showing their ignorance by talking about the Hindenburg explosion (of course). But also someone posted a picture of a nuclear explosion as well. Another person speaks of Hiroshima. Yet, there is another person talking about hydrogen being stored at 1,000 psi in cars inside steel tanks prone to hydrogen embrittlement. It’s not hard to conceive that a small group of people are spreading misinformation and fear-mongering about hydrogen to move along their own agendas. As an analogy, in this country 25-percent of the population believe that President Obama is a Muslim and a large percentage say he was born outside the U. S. This is due largely do to a small group of people spreading misinformation and fear-mongering. Hydrogen has enough technical issues right now in regard to widespread rollout of cars. But, because of this kind of ignorance and fear being disseminated to the public, the largest hurdle for hydrogen cars may be education and public relations. The hydrogen deniers and delayers have their own agendas to stall the spread of hydrogen vehicles and fueling stations and the example I’ve posted is just a microcosm of what hydrogen advocates must overcome in order to assure widespread public acceptance of H2. By the way, in case you’re interested here are some videos of some traditional gasoline station related fires and explosions: |
| 08/31/2010 07:00 PM Fuel-efficiency formula needs cars wired with better brainpower, less vroom A researcher says it's possible to triple fuel economy in gasoline-powered cars by 2035, but it'll mean getting our automotive kicks from smart electronic technology and other forms of virtual performance rather than horsepower. |
| 08/31/2010 04:15 AM Formula Zero Car Pulls Up Number 1 Against Gasoline Car
At The Hague, the Netherlands, the Technical University Delft’s Greenchoice Forze hydrogen fuel cell race team won, beating a gasoline powered go-kart. And not only did it win, but it did so with zero emissions. The Dutch students who built the Greenchoice Forze set a record time for the last lap of 22.91 seconds. The demonstration of the racing go-karts shows that hydrogen can be used in a wide range of vehicles, ranging from ultra high mile cars such as the ETH Zurich Pac Car II to other hydrogen race cars which have more oomph to everything in-between such as hydrogen powered go-karts. Formula Zero is a fun event that gets hydrogen fuel vehicles out before the public eye. And the fact that they can kick the butts of gasoline powered vehicles is just icing on the cake. |
| 08/30/2010 05:00 PM Green Tech Businesses Face Tough Realities in Sales and Marketing |
| 08/30/2010 04:46 AM Spin on Hydrogen Fueling Station Explosion and Fire
Now, if you’re a hydrogen detractor as they apparently are at Cars.com you’ll run a headline such as this: “Hydrogen Explosion Deals Blow to Fuel Cell Advocates”. Of course they relate this event to the Hindenburg fallacy that so many hydrogen haters will latch onto. According to Cars.com, “During a swap of hydrogen tanks by a company that supplies GM with tanks for its fuel-cell fleet, one tank exploded, and the resulting fire led to a second tank exploding.” Now, this sounds pretty bad, having two hydrogen tanks fully exploding creating all sorts of fire and chaos such as a mini Armageddon. People must have been running to and fro yelling about the End of Days, getting on their cell phones and telling friends and relatives to leave town, now. But, here is another report about the same event from 13wham.com, “Friday morning, Praxair crews were on the scene surveying their tanks and beginning the process of emptying those tanks of the remaining hydrogen gas. Upwards of 2,500 pounds of compressed gas remained in the tanks and it was slowly released through a small hose.” They go onto say, “A preliminary investigation conducted by Monroe County Fire Officials and Praxair is giving a lot of credit to a one-inch thick steel plate that separates the hydrogen tanks from the manifolds nearby. That plate and other safety features on the trailers prevented potentially much more serious, and subsequent, explosions according to fire officials.” So, who to believe? Do we believe Cars.com with the apocalyptic view that the sky is falling for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and this is the last gasp for this industry? Or do we believe a neutral news agency without an agenda who reports that yes, there was an explosion, no one died and in fact the person closest to the explosion will survive and the event could have been much worse if it wasn’t for the safety features in place to prevent further explosions? Cars.com failed to report was that there was a substantial amount of hydrogen left in the tanks that did not explode or catch on fire because of the safety features. What they also failed to report is that gasoline carrying trucks and gasoline fueling stations do experience fires and explosions which can be much more devastating than this incident. In fact in the 5-plus years I’ve been writing about hydrogen this is the first time I’ve come across a story about an explosion at a hydrogen fueling station. Here is a video of the explosion taken from a security camera at the nearby Rochester, NY airport. The explosion and fire are in the upper left hand corner of the screen. The video seems a bit shocking when you play it for the first time and not so shocking the second time. You’ll see the camera shake from the shock wave of the explosion and some fire that quickly shuts down. Trucks, cars and other vehicles continue to drive by. I don’t want to understate that hydrogen has the potential to catch fire and explode because it does. It is both combustible and flammable. I also don’t want to hype hydrogen incidents such as this are akin to the Hindenburg explosion with fear mongering that says “Oh, the Humanity” this could shut down the entire hydrogen industry. Chalk this one off to yes, fuel sometimes does catch fire and explode. Yes, we need to be careful in handling fuel. Yes, hydrogen fuel like any other fuel needs safety precautions in place for handling, storage and transportation. And because of this false paranoia by some of the public and detractors about hydrogen, the manufacturers of hydrogen fueling equipment have created safety features that far exceed that for other fuels. The incident that happened in Rochester should be a wake-up call that handling hydrogen fuel will have accidents and incidents. But these accidents and incidents will be no scarier than those involving other fuels. In fact, there are so many safety features in place, such as automatic shutoff valves and one-inch thick steel plates, that one would expect the incidents that do happen will be of a much smaller scale that incidents involving other fuels. So, to recap, the whole fuel cell industry is not in jeopardy because of this one incident. The one person closest to the flames is in the hospital in satisfactory condition. Another person was treated and released for minor hearing problems after the explosion. There is nothing more to see here folks, now let’s move on. |
| 09/02/2010 01:04 PM Reducing electricity waste: Unplug and manage it! September 2, 2010 This is the first guest blog post from Wako Takayama, sustainability consultant and author of Everyday Sustainable. Wako is committed to living and working sustainably and helps companies develop sustainable products and services. When people find out that I have a passion for energy efficiency and have been conducting basic residential energy efficiency audits (as a volunteer with Acterra Green@Home HouseCall,) they often ask what they can do to be more efficient at home.
A recent study of energy usage in Minnesota shows that “Home electronics is a growing portion of each household's electricity usage, close to 20 percent.” In 1980, the average home had three electronic devices. We might guess a TV, stereo/radio and how about a blender? These days, think about all the gadgets plugged in around a typical house. And we keep bringing new ones home, eager to try out the new computer, brew a cup of coffee or play the latest video game. The last thing on our minds is wasted electricity and how to manage it. But it turns out that a lot of these things are drawing power even though we don't see it–for example when electronics are is “standby mode.” And then there are the things that we forget are even plugged in because we don't use them, like that extra fridge out in the garage that is empty except for a couple liters of soda left over from last Thanksgiving. The Minnesota study names 5 low-cost and no-cost energy reducing opportunities:
So here is what I suggest for cutting down wasted electricity at home. Walk around your house and give it a one-time plug load audit. A device like a Kill-a-Watt can help you “see” the watts used by a device when it's on and off and on standby. You can also feel the heat on devices that are drawing power when they are “off.” As you review the devices in your house, consider which of the opportunities above might work for it. And don't forget to do this every time you bring home your next latest-and-greatest-gadget. The study was conducted by the Energy Center of Wisconsin. To read the full report of the study and video presentations, go to http://www.ecw.org/plugload. |
| 09/02/2010 10:21 AM Greening the Office Space: How You and Your Coworkers Can Cut Costs
As nations gear up toward Peak Oil, conserving energy becomes increasingly important. This includes the office, where the business of business takes place at the highest levels, with executives establishing production quotas even as they develop downsizing plans to boost the bottom line. You, as an office worker or manager, can help in that effort, and also help yourself, since the better your company does, the more likely you are to keep your job and even (someday, sigh) get a raise. Take baby steps, like:
Make the steps bigger as you and your coworkers become more comfortable with change. For example, urge your company to install overhead fans to eliminate cubicle overheating or chilly spots, which can be symptoms of a potential “sick building” problem. When everyone has gotten behind your “green office” campaign, go big-time. Ask the office manager to buy occupancy sensors for the offices, so that lights automatically turn off when occupants leave. This alone can save up to 40 percent of lighting costs. Then ask your IT guru to do the same for the computers, using software that automatically logs them off after they stand idle for more than 15 minutes.
Another big but important step is switching out incandescent-lit areas and signs with newer, true-white LEDs, which are even more energy efficient than compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), and don’t contain dangerous mercury. Advance to the lavatories and install low-flow faucets and water-miser toilets. If you can’t afford to go whole-hog, given the lingering recession, adapt toilets by filling an empty gallon milk jug with water and dropping it into the right side of the tank, clear of the valve and stopper assembly. And a final, though very expensive step: switch ink-jet and laser printers for a PrePeat printer, which works without ink or plain paper, and reuses special plastic sheets hundreds of times by essentially “erasing” them with heat. Photo Credit: ecotopia |
| 09/02/2010 07:53 AM Solar For the Masses At Minnesota State Fair September 2, 2010
Last weekend, I was in Minnesota, where I had the chance to visit the “Great Minnesota Get Together”, also known as the Minnesota State Fair. There was a lot of buzz around solar power and the excitement was absolutely infectious! If one thing was clear, it's that people are extremely curious about new ways to get energy. Luckily, the number of available resources is quickly growing! One of the main attractions at the Minnesota State Fair was an expo hall dedicated to smart homes, including homes powered by solar, called the Eco Experience Building. Inside the Eco Experience Building, there were several demo homes outfitted with smart solutions like cork flooring and no-VOC wallpaper. One of the demo homes also had an entire room dedicated to home solar, with presentations, displaying information about everything from solar monitoring to solar panel equipment to solar power inverters. Here are some of the audience's questions from one of the smart home sessions I attended: Do solar panels work in the harsh winters? Can I make money by selling extra power back to the grid?
Solar was featured in other parts of the Eco Experience Building, as well. There were displays from Fifty Lanterns International, a solar charity, an interactive area sponsored by the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society, as well as a solar boat on display! The curiosity and creativity buzzing around solar was thrilling; it was wonderful to see how solar technology is spreading across the country. The Minnesota State Fair ends this Labor day, September 6, so be sure to check it out and visit the Eco Experience Building this weekend! Curious about going solar in your home? Check out our Solar By Location pages to learn more about solar in your state! |
| 09/02/2010 06:49 AM Wind and solar developers and suppliers to discuss Ontario Feed-In Tariff Risks and Opportunities TORONTO, Sept. 2 /PRNewswire/ - Wind and solar developers, manufacturers, suppliers and Ontario Feed-in Tariff administrators are looking forward to discussing the challenges and opportunities of building the province's wind and solar supply chains next month. All will be gathering on October 5-6 in Toronto for the Ontario Feed-in Tariff Supply Chain Forum which aims to answer the critical questions around supply chains challenges for wind and solar FIT projects including transmission expansion and Economic Connection Tests (ECTs). This timely event includes 50+ speakers and is sponsored by Navigant Consulting, Siemens and Enfinity. "Ontario's FIT program has accelerated the adoption of solar PV in Ontario, however; the long-term success of the program will rely heavily on the supply chain," says Chris Young, General Manager, Enfinity Canada Ltd, who is speaking at the event. "Collaboration between stakeholders is important as we work toward achieving a supply chain that is responsive and sustainable while delivering solutions that are cost-competitive, reliable and bankable in the global market and meet domestic policy requirements." The forum presents an excellent opportunity for FIT project developers, wind and solar manufacturers and suppliers, and scheme administrators to discuss the FIT scheme and outline the necessary steps to ensure the program's success. "I am looking forward to the opportunity to visit with colleagues in the wind energy industry - clients, competitors, developers and others," comments Michael Barczak, VP of Sales for DMI Industries, who is also presenting at the forum. "I also look forward to learning about any breaking news and developments that typically surface at these types of events." Vancouver-based Day4 Energy, who is licensing its solar technology to select Ontario manufacturers looking to diversify, is also presenting at the forum. "I'm looking forward to hearing the issues that others in PV supply are facing and how they are dealing with them," comments John Stonier, Vice President of Strategic Planning and Treasurer at Day4 Energy. "This is a new market with many opportunities to explore. The forum provides an excellent opportunity to understand them." The Ontario Feed-in Tariff Supply Chain Forum is being supported by a strong group of industry organizations and partners including the Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA), The Great Lakes Wind Network (GLWN), the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association (OSEA), the Association of Power Producers of Ontario (APPrO), Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME), The Green Energy Act Alliance, the Canadian Renewable Energy Alliance (CanREA), Canada Newswire, Electricity Today, Renewable Energy World, Recharge, and McMillan LLP. |
| 09/03/2010 12:06 AM Cranefree foundations in comparison to the Norwegian parliament building |
| 09/03/2010 12:05 AM The Cranefree foudnations can be towed to site by barges |
| 09/03/2010 12:04 AM the Cranefree foundations are designed for quayside manufacture and assembly |
| 09/02/2010 11:30 PM What’s new about gravity base foundations for offshore wind? WindEnergyUpdate speaks to Petter Karal, CEO of offshore wind turbine foundation technology provider, Seatower, to learn how the latest gravity base foundations resolve installation issues that have plagued the offshore wind industry to date. |
| 09/02/2010 11:30 PM Petter Karal, CEO, Seatower |
| 09/02/2010 04:16 AM Composites One China to exhibit at China Composites Expo Material distributor Composites One says that Composites One China will be an exhibitor at China Composites Expo in Beijing. The International Composites Industrial Technical Expo, now in its 16th year, will be held September 15 to 17 at the China National Convention Center. ![]() Closed-mold expert Charles Tur will conduct demonstrations at the Expo on September 15 and 16 at 1:30 pm “We have found the China Composites Expo to be the best place for us to introduce new products and process technologies and also to meet with both existing and new customers to better understand their requirements and how we can help them to improve the products they manufacture.” said Don Hairhoger, President of Composites One China. “As this is our fourth year exhibiting at the China Composites Expo and we hope to continue to build upon the Composites One brand as the one resource for manufacturers, offering the highest quality products and technical support.” This year the company will conduct a live closed mold demonstration in its exhibit at the expo. The demonstration will feature the Light Resin Transfer Molding (LRTM) Process and will be presented with assistance from Magnum Venus Plastech and industry renowned closed-mold expert Charles Tur. The demonstrations will be held on September 15 and 16 at 1:30 pm “The LRTM process is being accepted by China’s open-mold manufactures as an affordable option to convert to a process that produces better quality parts with good surface appearance, reduced labor costs, and gives better overall control of the cost of materials ” said Philip Condron, General Manager Composites One China. “The company is becoming known as the leader in closed mold technologies for the China Composites Industry” In addition, several suppliers have partnered with Composites One to exhibit at the expo. Those suppliers include: Acrastrip, AGY, ATC, Chomarat, Cray Valley, I-Core, Magnum Venus Plastech, Specialty Products, and Syrgis Initiators. Visitors to the expo can stop by the Composites One booth #1428/1430/1529 and visit with these suppliers to discuss their new products, latest technologies and technical solutions. Composites One compositesone.com |
| 09/02/2010 04:01 AM New device lets turbines float offshore A new floating platform would allow wind turbines to float offshore without water-depth restrictions. The WindFloat platform was conceived by engineering firm Marine Innovation & Technology and owned by Principle Power. The device is a floating support structure for offshore wind turbines. The structure would let turbines sit in locations with excellent wind resources that were previously off limits because water depth exceeded 50m. The WindFloat foundation has many advantages. It’s economic because it reduces the need for offshore operations during final assembly and commissioning. Also, its static and dynamic stability offers low pitch and yaw performance, enabling use of existing commercial wind turbine technology. Its design and size allow for onshore assembly, while its shallow draft allows for depth-independent sitting and towing it to sites not visible from shore. The design and size of the WindFloat enables overall structure assembly onshore. Horizontal water-entrapment, or heave, plates at the base of each column significantly improve the motion performance of the system, due to additional damping and entrained water effects. A closed-loop active ballast system mitigates wind-induced thrust forces, restoring the system to optimal efficiency following changes in wind velocity and direction. A catenary mooring system uses conventional components, such as chain and polyester lines to minimize the cost. Pre-laid drag-embedded anchors minimize site preparation and impact. Marine Innovation & Technology engineers used digital prototyping to create the WindFloat. The software from Autodesk, Inc. helped design and render the device in just three weeks. Multiple project proposals are being submitted for full-scale demonstration and utility-scale developments in the UK, Europe, and U.S. Marine Innovation & Technology www.marineitech.com Autodesk usa.autodesk.com
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| 09/01/2010 09:10 PM New construction strategies emerge for farshore, deepwater wind farms Despite a buoyant European offshore wind market, offshore construction & installation contractors that fall short of budget and technology challenges risk falling by the wayside. |
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Real Renewable Energy - Algae Fuel
Algae fuel is exactly what it sounds like… fuel refined from farmed algae. The algae can be grown using fresh water, salt water, and even brackish water. It can also be grown on land that is not suitable for other types of crops so it ... |
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Algal aviation fuel pioneer Heliae expands : Biofuels Digest ...
The world's most widely-read biofuels daily - biofuels, biodiesel, ethanol, algae, jatropha, green gasoline, green diesel, and biocrude daily news. |
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Aussie Customer to Get Algae-Oil Single Step System - Domestic Fuel
A California-based producer of renewable oil from algae production products is getting ready to ship a system that uses a single step to get the oil out of the green pond scum to one of its customers down under. ... |
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Algae: The Next Big Fuel Source? | Algal Biomass Organization
Kojo Nnamdi Show – A decade from now, will we be talking about Big Algae in the same way we now refer to Big Oil? Scientists around the country are racing to develop a cost-effective fuel source derived from algae. ... |
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Algae Bio-Fuel from Waste : Algae Industry Magazine
Bio-fuel from Algae grown in settling ponds at Christchurch Municipal sewage works... |
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Argentina company opens first algae bio-diesel plant — MercoPress
Some researchers say algae-based fuel would be too costly to produce commercially, but plants that use algae oil have sprouted everywhere, from Australia to China as companies bet on growing demand for renewable fuels. ... |
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Mascoma's magic world for magic bugs : Biofuels Digest - biofuels ...
The world's most widely-read biofuels daily - biofuels, biodiesel, ethanol, algae, jatropha, green gasoline, green diesel, and biocrude daily news. ... For the former, the pristine environment, the precision equipment are gone, and their fuel-making Mighty Microbes have lo leave the womb and make fuel in the cruel world of the industrial factory. For the latter, the inorganic catalysts and compounds are gone, and all the work, and all their progress, depends on a microbe ... |
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Environmental, Health and Safety News: Direct conversion of wet ...
"Additional research and process optimization are likely to improve yields and reduce process inputs (e.g. ethanol), thereby minimizing the overall environmental impact of algal biodiesel production. To be economically viable, biodiesel yields must be above 95 percent and preferably higher than current norms achieved with alkali-catalyzed processes." Read the full story in Biodiesel Magazine. (Via Laura B) .... Debating “ethanol” as a viable fuel source. Hazardous Answers ... |
| 12/31/1969 06:00 PM Government Grants for Alternative Energy | Green Energy Ideas In his State of the Union Address for 2007, President George W. Bush called for a 22% increase in federal grants for research and development of. |
| 12/31/1969 06:00 PM The Best Peak Oil Investments: PTRP - Powershares Global ... These technologies are designed to improve energy efficiency and reduce the costs for fuel or time in transit and include renewable energy harvesting or production, energy conversion, energy storage, improvements in energy efficiency, power delivery, ... As I've discussed in this series, my favorite progressive transportation stock are alternative forms of transportation such as bike stocks, mass transit stocks (especially bus stocks such as New Flyer Industries (NFI-UN. ... |
| 12/31/1969 06:00 PM Resources for Alternative Energy Article from Article Intelligence and entitled Resources for Alternative Energy - By David King. |
| 12/31/1969 06:00 PM Alternative Energy Wind Power-What Are Advantages And ... by boston7513 Kevin What Are Advantages And Disadvantages Of Wind Energy? - Wind Power For Home Use It is almost impossible to imagine a world. |
| 12/31/1969 06:00 PM Nuclear vs Alternative Energy – TED Talks Debate Personally I support alternative energy. The growth we've seen over the past 30 years in adoption and technological advancement has been tremendous and there is absolutely no signs of slowing. Between solar, wind, hydro, ... |
| 12/31/1969 06:00 PM Alternative Energy | Raise A Wind Turbine In Just Hours – With ... Municipal officials have selected a stretch of land, known tomany as Duck Island, to be the city's first Alternative EnergyDistrict, with plans to possibly construct electricity-generatingfacilities using renewable forms of energy such ... |
| 12/31/1969 06:00 PM Quicken Loans Blog — Bloom Box - Alternative Energy Game Changer? Bloom Box - Alternative Energy Game Changer? Bloombox Today I learned about something that has given me a great lift. Something that gives me more hope for the future of mankind than I've had in a very long time. ... |
| 12/31/1969 06:00 PM Renewable Energy University The race is called that deals with renewable energy, and teaches students how to design things like Solar Panels and wind power generators. Let universities universities Subject:? Also someone can provide a link with the university to ... |
| 03/31/2010 01:16 PM Purdue discovery could lead to improved biofuel production A hidden second option plants have for making an essential amino acid that could be the first step in boosting plants' nutritional value and improving biofuel production potential, has been discovered by scientists at Purdue University, it was announced today (31st March). The amino acid phenylalanine is required to build proteins and is a precursor for more than 8,000 other compounds essential to plants, including lignin, which allows plants to stand upright but acts as a barrier in the production of cellulosic ethanol. |
| 03/31/2010 12:44 PM Pennsylvania pushes biofuels as part of $5m energy investment New investments totalling more than $5 million are to be made by the state of Pennsylvania, according to an announcement made by Governor Edward G. Rendell today (31st March). The projects are in six counties across the state and include three geothermal system installations, two biofuel projects, and one study that will examine the feasibility of mixed-income housing in Pittsburgh that would reduce utility consumption by up to 90 percent for its occupants. |
| 03/31/2010 12:37 PM Biofuels projects for India unveiled A Memorandum of Understanding covering the research and development on a range of biofuels technologies and projects in India has been signed between the Indian Oil Corp. Ltd. (IOCL) and UOP LLC, a Honeywell company, it was announced today (31st March). As part of the MoU the companies would evaluate installation of a demonstration-scale unit to produce green transportation fuels at an existing IOCL site using non-food feedstocks available within India. They would also evaluate the viability of pyrolysis oil technology to convert lignocellulosic materials, or plant biomass, into renewable power and heat. |
| 03/19/2010 01:55 PM UK unveils £8m push to commercialise algae biofuels A group of 11 UK institutions has come together with the aim of developing a commercial algae biofuel process capable of producing 70 billion litres of algae biofuel a year by 2030. The plan, unveiled by the Carbon Trust today (19th March), sees the group looking to develop an algae biofuels process which will bring the cost of the finished fuel down to less than $1 a litre. |
| 03/15/2010 01:55 PM UK consortium to develop waste to biofuel process A consortium of British businesses has been brought together by the Carbon Trust to develop a commercially viable process to turn municipal and wood waste into transport biofuel. The consortium, which will be led by Axion Energy, will work on the enhancement of the pyrolysis process to convert waste biomass into biofuel on a mass scale, to blend with fossil fuels.A key advantage of developing a process which will use existing organic waste, rather than plant crops, is that it overcomes many of the issues associated with some current biofuels, and can lead to even greater carbon savings by avoiding methane emissions from landfill. Carbon Trust analysis shows that the carbon footprint of this new pyrolysis biofuel could potentially achieve a carbon saving of 95% when compared to fossil fuels. This is a significantly higher carbon saving than some existing biofuels1 , which also do not currently factor in the impacts of land use change when calculating the carbon saving. |
| 02/25/2010 12:23 PM Waste could generate up to 7% of electricity in Spain Researchers from the University of Zaragoza (UNIZAR) have calculated that urban solid waste in Spain could be used to generate between 8.13 and 20.95 TWh (terawatt hours) or 7.2% of the country's electricity demand in 2008. The residues, from water treatment plants and livestock slurry, are, they say, alternative sources of renewable energy, which are more environmentally friendly and, in the case of solid urban waste, more cost effective. |
| 02/25/2010 12:11 PM UK research highlights reed canary grass as suitable biomass Reed canary grass is an excellent fuel for biomass power stations according to research published this week by a team at Teesside University’s Contaminated Land and Water Centre. The project, started in 2004 by the BioReGen (Biomass, Remediation, re-Generation) project team, sought to see which plants could best be grown on brownfield sites as a way of improving unsightly blots on the landscape. |
| 01/18/2010 01:02 PM Aviation bioenergy research programme launched An agreement to establish a major aviation bioenergy research institution and demonstration project in Abu Dhabi was unveilled today (18th January) by Boeing, the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, Etihad Airways and Honeywell's UOP. The Sustainable Bioenergy Research Project (SBRP) will, says the compaies, use integrated saltwater agricultural systems to support the development and commercialization of biofuel sources for aviation and coproducts. |
California approves plan by San Diego Gas and Electric to build 100 MW of ... - CanadianBusiness.com
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Word To Obama: Put Solar Panels On the White House - Care2.com (blog)
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California Utilities Approved for 616 Megawatts of Solar Deals - Bloomberg
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PRINCETON: Township utility poles to get solar panels - Packet Online
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Arizona utility seeks five solar power arrays - BrighterEnergy.org
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Energy Use Down But Wind, Solar Power Production Up - allvoices
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Three Polk schools selected for solar power system - News Chief
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Advanced Energy Launches Ascent(R) DC Power Supply Product Suite - MarketWatch (press release)
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The Top Five Global Biofuel Companies and Clean Energy Technology Trends in ... - NewsBlaze
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Biofuel plan looks like beef plant fiasco - Hattiesburg American
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Neighborhoods fighting plans for biofuel plant west of Delray Beach - Sun-Sentinel
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Danville Institute gets federal biofuels grant - WSLS.com
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Biofuels Mandated for Canadian Gas Tanks - The Epoch Times
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Ground breaking ceremony held for Enerkem's biofuel plant - Biofuels International
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Firm to build 75 biofuel filling stations in California - BrighterEnergy.org
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BP Closes Sale on Verenium Cellulosic Business - Domestic Fuel
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Barbour: Biofuel project tops Miss. session agenda - BusinessWeek
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Africa, Biofuels, and Sustainable Development... An Oxymoron? - Justmeans
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| 09/01/2010 04:57 AM Exelon to buy Deere & Co's wind power division - Industrial Fuels and Power (blog)
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| 09/02/2010 01:35 PM Bliss, Idaho Welcomes State's Largest Wind Power Project - Area Development Online
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| 08/31/2010 08:24 PM Denver Mint to coin new energy approach, use wind - The Associated Press
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| 09/01/2010 05:14 PM Alternative Energy - Nevada Business Journal
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| 09/02/2010 10:27 AM Public Utility, BPA Piloting Water Heater/Wind Power Smart Grid Project - Renew Grid
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| 09/02/2010 06:29 AM Nakoda to invest Rs 329 mn on wind power project - Economic Times
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| 09/02/2010 04:59 PM ANTI-WIND POWER RALLY DRAWS CROWD AT LOCAL WIND FARM - WMGM
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| 09/01/2010 04:48 PM Cape Wind Completes Massachusetts Permitting With Legal Victory - Environment News Service
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| 02/16/2008 11:42 PM Biofuel: A Short Review Ethanol, as in beer and wine, is an alcohol modified to utilize it as a fuel and making it undrinkable. Ethanol is produced by fermentation through a method similar to beer brewing of any biomass containing carbohydrates. At the present time, ethanol is derived from starches and sugars however there have been constant research to [...] |
| 01/21/2008 11:32 AM Biofuel and Its New Developments Among the most promising replacement for nonrenewable fossil fuel (petroleum, coal, etc) are fuels made from organic materials, the so-called “biofuels”. The two widely used biofuels are ethanol and biodiesel. Each has its own pros and cons. However, the present technologies result in limitation of production for the reason that not all parts of a [...] |
| 12/15/2007 06:24 AM The Pros and Cons of Biofuels There have been studies that prove the many benefits of substituting fossil fuels (petroleum, etc) with biofuels such as biodiesel and ethanol. In its simplest sense, such biofuels are biodegradable which means they are derived from organic materials. They are naturally renewable. It can create numerous jobs since our own farmers can practically make them [...] |
| 11/19/2007 10:21 AM Ethanol and Biodiesel: A Biofuel Comparison The two most widely used types of biofuels are ethanol and biodiesel. Just a brief review, ethanol is an alcohol fuel derived from sugarcane, wheat, corn and biomass, thus including wasted cooking oil. It can be blended with conventional petroleum diesel to improve its octane level resulting in reduced greenhouse gas emissions. On the other [...] |
| 10/06/2007 07:43 AM Uncovering a Biofuel: Ethanol Ethanol is alcohol fuel derived from sugars found in crops such as rice, potato skins and sugarcane and it is commonly made from corn, sorghum and wheat. Corn is commonly the base material in the United States due to its affordability and availability. But in Brazil, sugarcane is widely used. Since it is produced from [...] |
| 09/14/2007 08:33 AM Biodiesel: In Depth A type of biofuel that is now frequently used is biodiesel. Considered to be biodegradable and nontoxic, biodiesel is primarily produced from a chemical reaction of alcohol (commonly methanol) and a wide range of fats which include vegetable or animal oils and plant extracts such as corn, soybean, canola, and sunflowers. This reaction gets [...] |
| 08/28/2007 02:23 PM Why Choose Biodiesel? How It Works To generate biodiesel, the raw oil is subjected to a process called “transesterification.” This refining method uses of an industrial alcohol (ethanol or methanol) and a catalyst (substance that speeds up the chemical reaction) resulting to a conversion of the oil into a fatty-acid methyl-ester fuel (biodiesel). It can be utilized in single pure [...] |
| 07/22/2007 04:40 PM Precautionary Measures in Using Biodiesel in Your Engines One of the main biofuels which is biodiesel is now widely used in the United States, Canada, Thailand, and many countries in Europe. Since it turns out to be increasingly common and generally used by the public as they become more knowledgeable of the positive effects, it is advisable to consult the manufacturer’s recommendations and [...] |
| 08/30/2010 03:36 PM 'Next generation' scientists join forces to support biodiesel The next generation of thought leaders is gearing up to lead America's energy efforts. And biodiesel, our nation's only commercially available advanced biofuel, is front and center. Student scientists from Dartmouth College in New Hampshire to Oregon State University in Corvallis are leading a new Next Generation Scientists for Biodiesel initiative. The group has formed to demonstrate and grow support for biodiesel among tomorrow's scientific leaders. |
| 08/17/2010 09:35 AM "Big Apple" takes a bite out of air pollution New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg yesterday signed into law an air quality bill that includes a provision to ensure that cleaner burning Bioheat® is used within the city for heating homes and buildings. |
| 08/11/2010 12:34 PM Crude Awakening: Biodiesel producers stand ready to help clean up oil spill Biobased solvent could help clean up Gulf, without damaging marshes or wildlife. |
| 08/06/2010 10:48 AM Iowa lab becomes first in world to earn BQ-9000 accreditation A state-of-the-art laboratory in Fort Dodge, Iowa has raised the bar on biodiesel fuel quality testing, and other labs are likely to follow its lead. The nonprofit Iowa Central Fuel Testing Laboratory has become the first to earn accreditation as a BQ-9000 laboratory. |
| 08/04/2010 09:53 AM Food v Fuel Debate Deflates World Bank ousts energy costs as true culprit for rising food prices. The World Bank recently released a report reversing claims that wrongly faulted biofuels for food price increases. |
| 07/12/2010 03:29 PM EPA Requires 800 million Gallons of Biodiesel in the U.S. Domestic Market in 2011 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it would require the domestic use of 800 million gallons of biodiesel in 2011. This is consistent with the renewable goals established in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA), which expanded the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2) and specifically requires a renewable component in U.S. diesel fuel. RFS2 provides specific volume requirements for Advanced Biofuels such as Cellulosic Biofuels, Biomass-based Diesel and undifferentiated Advanced Biofuels. Today, biodiesel is the only widely, accepted, commercial scale Advanced Biofuel produced in the U.S. that meets the definition of Biomass-based Diesel and undifferentiated Advanced Biofuels under the RFS2 program. According to the EPA, biodiesel produced from waste greases, animal fats and agricultural oils reduces greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by as much as 86 percent compared to petroleum diesel. The RFS2 program, consistent with the EPA’s announcement, requires a minimum of 800 million gallons of Biomass-based diesel, which included biodiesel, to be entered into the commercial marketplace in 2011. |
| 06/24/2010 04:19 PM Governors' Biofuels Coalition Chair determined to help pass biodiesel tax incentive Iowa Governor Chet Culver, who is Chair of the Governors' Biofuels Coalition, told the nation's biodiesel industry that he is more determined than ever to help get the extension of the federal biodiesel tax incentive passed in Congress. |
| 06/15/2010 01:50 PM Biodiesel Industry: Americans Strongly Support Tax Incentives for Clean Energy With the U.S. Senate poised to consider legislation this week that includes reinstatement of the biodiesel tax incentive, a new poll released by Stanford University found 84 percent of respondents favored federal tax breaks to encourage alternative energy, including water, wind and solar. |