solar panel installation corporation opportunity
Are you Taking Advantage of "The SB-1 Energy Dividend Act"?
Dear Reader:
On August 21, 2006 the government passed "SB-1 Energy Dividend Act" into law. The law allows homeowners a legal way to run their electric meters backwards… and it's making some people rich:
Larry Hagman -- the actor who played J.R. Ewing on the hit drama series Dallas – took advantage of it on his 42-acre avocado farm… and has seen his electric bill fall from $37,000 per year to just $13! He now banks over $36,000 each year!
Debbie and Tom Lake from Long Beach, California also took the plunge. They now pay just $1.34 a month for their electricity. -- Wall Street Journal
All across America, homeowners and businesses alike are slashing their energy costs by switching to a new power source and running their meters backwards.
The new energy source doesn't use coal, natural gas, oil or nuclear. It's completely clean, abundant and rapidly growing in use.
In fact, according to the Wall Street Journal, the number of homes running their meter backwards nearly tripled between 2002 and 2006... going from 2,805 to 7,446. Industry officials say this number will exceed 11,000 this year.
And it's all thanks to a little California government law that's quickly growing in popularity across America -- CA SB-1. It allows you to collect money from the utility companies.
The best part is, there's a company -- the only company publicly traded of its kind -- showing homeowners how to do it.
Turning an obscure government law into the electric company's worst nightmare
Here's how it works...
A typical large house in the San Jose, California area with air conditioning or a swimming pool will use about 1,500 kWh (kilowatt hours) of electricity per month. At current PG&E rates (the area's electric company), this level of consumption works out to about $300 per month for electricity averaged throughout the year.
With a state-wide population of about 39 million, PG&E is cleaning up.
But now, thanks to SB-1, a law, signed in August of 2006, Americans are finding the expensive electric bill to be a thing of the past. And savvy investors are setting themselves up for a windfall...
How is this possible?
Because the energy source I'm talking about is solar energy... and the tiny company I'm about to reveal to you is a solar panel installation company. And that's why I'm writing to you today -- this company is one of two publicly-traded solar panel installation companies in America.
There are a lot of publicly-traded companies that make solar panels like First Solar, SunPower and Suntech. But this tiny $8 company is the only one that actually comes to your home and installs the panels. It's a pure play on the booming panel installation market.
On September 24, this small solar panel installation company finally listed its shares for trading on the NASDAQ exchange.
Prior to that, it traded on the OTC bulletin board, where it didn't get a lot of attention from Wall Street or John Q. Investor.
In the interest of full disclosure, I should tell you that I recommended this stock in my trading service last year. I got my traders into the stock for a measly $3 a share.
Today?
Well, when the stock moved to the NASDAQ, it shot up to record levels!
And my readers banked a gain of over 316%.
Now that this solar stock is trading on the widely-followed NASDAQ, it has matured from a speculative trade to a long-term investment.
Why?
Because now that it's on the NASDAQ, big institutional investors like Bear Stearns and Goldman Sachs can buy this stock easily.
And the buying has begun. On the first day the stock traded on the NASDAQ, volume for this little puppy was over 1 million shares. That's massive, considering the stock's average daily volume was just 175,000!
On the second day?
Another million shares.
But this is just the beginning, trust me.
You see, solar is the new oil. It's an energy source that's abundant, clean and it never runs out. The price of solar energy is coming down... and it'll soon be competitive with oil, gas and coal.
That's why big investment institutions are lining up to buy this stock just like they did with First Solar and SunPower. These solar companies have exploded to the upside as investors have rushed the doors in an effort to participate in the hottest technology in alternative energy. Here are the charts for these two stocks:
I think our tiny solar installation stock will follow the same path. Why?
Meet Jeff Siegel
Jeff Siegel is the managing editor of Green Chip Stocks, an investment advisory service focusing on stocks in the alternative/renewable energy markets, as well as the lucrative organic food and sustainable living sectors.
Jeff's Green Chip Stocks portfolio has earned exceptional returns for his readers each of the last three years. His average yearly portfolio returns:
2005: +40.66%2006: +29.7% 2007: +26.9%Jeff is a new breed of investor. Part entrepreneur, part Renaissance man, Jeff is an accomplished musician and writer, having recorded and performed all over the world - from London to Rome to New York. He was even called upon to score part of the latest Exorcist prequel. From 1994 to 2001, Jeff worked for Agora Publishing, one of the largest financial newsletter publishers in the world. In the past 6 years, he's traveled across America searching for mega-trends that'll usher in a new generation of wealth. Once a week in Green Chip Stocks, Jeff highlights investment opportunities in the fast-growing "Green" market.
First, because the solar bull market is still in its infancy. It's only a year or two old. So we have a lot of time to make a lot of money in the solar market.
And second, because this small company is literally the only pure solar panel installation corporation that's publicly traded. Add the fact that they control the largest solar markets in America--California, New York, Connecticut and New Jersey--and you get the picture. This stock is a Roman candle about to be lit.
Seriously, it's the only game in town, my friend. And when there's only one way to play a certain industry--an industry that's super hot--the chances are high that a massive tsunami of investment dollars will flood into the stock.
What will occur is an investment phenomenon known as "too many dollars chasing one stock".
So you can see why I've turned super bullish on this stock... because there's going to be a feeding frenzy as all these investment dollars rush into it.
But there's more...
Insiders control a ton of shares. In fact, they control roughly 44% of the company's outstanding shares. They own about 12 million shares. That's massive, and I love it. I love it when the company's management has such a large vested interest in seeing their stock perform well.
So far, the stock has done quite well under their leadership. Like I said, my traders have been rewarded with over 316% in the past 12 months.
The rest of the shares--another 15 million--are in the float. That means there are 12 million shares available to individual investors like you and me... as well as to big Wall Street investment firms.
I'm telling you this for a specific reason.
As of this writing, only about 4% of the stock is owned by institutions. That's a paltry 1.3 million shares.
Now, institutions are ready to buy big blocks of this stock. When they do this, the price will be forced up. Buying = increasing stock prices.
That's why it's vital that you buy this stock now... while it's still trading under $8 a share.
How to Play the Solar Bull Market
We've seen this before.
Every time there's a new "angle" to play in the solar market, there's a rush on certain stocks.
For example, about 3 years ago, the largest solar manufacturers were announcing that silicon, a key component in solar production, was in short supply.
In fact, take a look at MEMC Electronic Materials (WFR:NYSE).
MEMC manufactures silicon wafer technology for the solar industry. And in 2004, right before the silicon rush, the stock was trading at $8 a share.
Today, only three years later, it trades around $82 a share.
I'll talk more about the parallels with MEMC in a minute, but first let me tell you why this emerging California solar company is following in the same footsteps.
You see, this stock is small, trading at a market cap of around $200 million. And it's completely under Wall Street's radar.
But that's changing. And changing fast.
Wall Street is tripping over itself trying to find new and promising solar stocks to invest in.
And the reason is simple: Major profits!
Solar Energy Stocks areProducing HUGE Gains!
Trina Solar Ltd.
1/10/07$17.06
2/15/08$36.83
116% Gain
First Solar, Inc.
11/17/06$23.50
2/15/08$227.11
866% Gain
SunPower Corp.
7/18/06$23.75
2/15/08$80.67
240% Gain
MEMC Electronic
9/24/01$17.06
2/15/08$80.09
369% Gain
Not only are alternative energy stocks red-hot right now, posting an average annual gain of more than 40% since 2003, but these companies represent the next generation of energy.
Take a look at the New Alternatives ETF, a fund that tracks solar, geothermal, wind and ethanol stocks:
It's the future. Plain and simple.
To give you an example, when First Solar went public in November '06, the buying frenzy shocked many traders unfamiliar with the progress in the alternative energy markets... but not me.
A Government MandatedBull Market
SB-1 mandates that solar power systems must be offered as a standard item on new homes - developers of more than 50 new single family homes must offer this option to customers beginning January 1, 2011.
You see, this company was bringing updated technology that was disruptive to your run-of-the-mill solar energy company. It was bringing a "new angle".
Much like our young solar installation stock right now.
Analysts originally predicted that First Solar's stock would open somewhere between $16 and $18 a share. But on the morning of November 17, shares of First Solar opened at $25 a share, and never looked back.
Today it trades for $227 a share!
And it commands a market cap of $17.2 BILLION! And that's on sales of $237 million.
Solar's Sunny Days
With the solar energy industry booming, there's been a trickle-down effect, too. Any company directly or indirectly connected with solar is benefiting.
Again, take a look at MEMC Electronic Materials, for example. It's a global supplier of silicon wafer technology to the solar industry.
Its stock has soared in value, going from $1.05 in 2001 to a high today of over $80. That's a gain of nearly 5,995%.
With gains like that, investors are making fortunes in alternative energy stocks.
That's why I'm so bullish on my tiny solar panel installation stock. It's next in line for blockbuster gains.I'm predicting that every $10,000 invested will turn into $20,000 within 12 months.
Double up and you're looking at $40,000.
Sounds too good to be true? One of my favorite solar recommendations, World Water & Power (WWAT.OB), has gone from $0.14 in 2006 to over $2.50 this year.
Take a look:
Likewise, I think this new solar roof stock will easily hit $24.00 by this time next year... and maybe $77 a share (just like MEMC Electronic) within three years.
You can still pick up shares of this solar stock for less than $8 a share!
In a minute, I'll tell you how to get a piece of the action. But first, let me tell you why...
You Must Erase "Alternative" from Alternative Energy
Let me dispel a myth. "Alternative"--as in alternative energy--isn't "alternative" anymore. It's going mainstream.
Solar Fact #1:
Every hour, the sun radiates more energy onto the earth than the entire human population uses in one whole year.
Over the past several years, FedEx, Staples, the Timberland Co., Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft, Macy's, Tiffany & Co, Toyota, Target, Lowe's, corporate behemoth Wal-Mart and even the U.S. Department of Defense have begun installing solar panels at their stores and facilities.
Now listen, I don't want you to be disillusioned. These companies aren't installing solar panels because they've suddenly become concerned about global warming.
No, they've installed solar panels because it'll reduce their electric bills by as much as 90% each month.
That's what's driving the boom in solar energy.
But it's a boom that still hasn't caught on with John Q. Investor.
In fact, the ordinary investor doesn't have a clue about the potential in these stocks. Let me explain...
It wasn't that long ago that I attended the Solar Power Conference and Expo in Washington, D.C.
It's one of the largest, most influential future and clean energy conferences in America, where policymakers and leaders in the energy industries learn about the latest in solar technologies.
It was there that I had an epiphany.
You see, while attending a press conference with Senator Lamar Alexander (chairman of the subcommittee on energy) and three of the most powerful CEOs in the solar industry, I made an important and profitable discovery--one that has already made some investors a lot of money!
Solar Fact #2:
"As prices for coal, natural gas and oil have soared, solar power has been getting perhaps its most serious look from investors since President Jimmy Carter pulled on a cardigan and asked Americans to damp their furnaces. The new interest means that the handful of domestic solar stocks has been surging, too."--The New York Times, September 11th, 2005
On that Friday afternoon, in a makeshift pressroom in the basement of the Hyatt Regency hotel, only eight journalists were meticulously taking notes.
Eight journalists! That's it!
That's when I realized the average investor is still clueless as to just how lucrative this market is.
But that's OK. Because while these guys sleep through what is already shaping up to be one of the most profitable markets of the 21st century, a group of wise investors is making a fortune in solar.
In fact, the last solar manufacturer I recommended has already delivered gains of more than 245% in the past six months.
But I'm expecting even more from this next one.
Let me show you why, of all the publicly traded solar companies, this is the one you must own.
$40 to 50 billion in revenue by 2010
During the energy crisis of the 1970s, serious interest in solar technology took hold in the U.S. But due to prohibitive prices, large-scale applications were nearly impossible.
However, in 2008, with oil trading over $90 a barrel, interest in solar has returned. Only this time, PV is cost-effective.
In 1976, the average selling price per watt was about $100. Today it's significantly less. Take a look:
With such a drastic reduction in price, coupled with the ever-increasing price of oil, it's no wonder that both residential and industrial consumers are starting to flock towards solar alternatives.
In fact, since 2001, the global photovoltaic market has averaged about 40% annual growth. And this year alone, PV production is expected to reach 1.5 gigawatts, representing approximately $11 billion in revenue. That's double its level in 2003.
By 2010, analysts estimate global PV manufacturing will be sufficient to meet one third of new U.S. electric demand annually--representing $40 to 50 billion in revenue!
There's no doubt the PV business is booming.
Mother Nature is bullish on solar!
Something very important is going to happen this winter that's going to push the renewable energy market to new heights--especially solar!
INCREASING THE VALUE OF YOUR HOME:
According to a recent study from the Appraisal Institute, the selling price of homes increases by $20.73 for every $1 decrease in annual electric bills. Using this 20:1 multiplier, a typical 3kW system--costing about $12,000 after incentives and saving about $1,000 in annual energy costs--will increase the value of your home by $20,000.
This winter, Americans will pay nearly twice as much as they paid last year in heating bills.
And mark my words, when the first really nasty cold snap forces consumers (especially business owners) to jack their thermostats past 70, the market is going to warm up to solar, fast!
Here's why...
Over the past two years, the solar industry has hit new highs every time Mother Nature reminded us who's boss.
Last summer, for example, Arizona had record peak usage and almost maxed out capacity when the state endured record-breaking temperatures as high as 108 degrees Fahrenheit.
And only a few days after hurricane Katrina ripped New Orleans to shreds (and devoured its electrical grid), solar stocks soared.
Of course, these are two examples where Mother Nature's effect on energy supplies was relatively short-lived.
But a little later this year will be the beginning of at least three to four months of blistering cold weather--and overwhelming heating bills.
It will be a cold and hard wake-up call for most of the country when we finally realize that natural gas and fossil fuels are no longer cheap and abundant. And the reality of renewable energy is going to take hold more strongly than you've ever seen before.
And one company that's going to exploit this for everything it's worth is featured in my special report, SB-1 Energy Dividends.
Solar Fact #3:
"Few power-generation technologies have as little impact on the environment as photovoltaics. As it quietly generates electricity from light, PV produces no air pollution or hazardous waste. It doesn't require liquid or gaseous fuels to be transported or combusted. And because its energy source--sunlight--is free and abundant, PV systems can guarantee access to electric power."--U.S. Department of Energy
In this report I outline why this solar company--with a market cap of just $220 million--stands to profit more than almost any other solar energy company on the planet.
Even when matched against industry giants like Sharp, Kyocera and BP Solar!
But you have to act fast.
Energy legislation is scorching hot on the Hill right now.
And the extension of the solar tax credit is right around the corner.
The last solar tax credit extension for just one year pushed solar through the roof.
Just imagine what this next eight-year extension's going to do!
Rest assured, this thing's going to get passed. And really, for no other reason than that every politician in Washington knows this one's a big-time vote-getter.
That's why I want you to buy this solar energy stock right now, before it goes up any further.
And that's why I want to offer you my latest report, SB-1 Energy Dividends, completely FREE of charge when you become a member of my cutting-edge investment service, Green Chip Stocks.
Let me explain...
Welcome to Green Chip Stocks
Green Chip Stocks represents the most important stocks traded today, for one simple reason--these are the stocks that will be the catalysts for the first real profit trend of the 21st century.
A profit trend that is already worth more than $30 billion in its infancy!
Grabbing your share now is like getting a piece of the automobile market back in 1908. And I don't mean just Ford, either. I'm talking about the market as a whole. Oil, rubber tires, road construction, etc.
Turning the Green Movement into Mountains of Greenbacks
Let me introduce myself. My name is Jeff Siegel.
I worked for one of America's largest financial publishers 1994 to 2001, learning about the financial markets from some of the top investment minds in the world.
For the past six years, I've been traveling the world investigating the current state and the future of energy.
My travels have taken me to Rome, London, New York... and everywhere in between.
Now, I was taught that the time to invest in a stock or industry is when nobody is talking about it. You sell it when everybody is talking about it.
And that's why I'm writing to you today. Even though solar stocks are rising, the solar industry is where the oil industry was in 1920 -- it's still an infant!
I have a report I want to give you for joining my investment service, Green Chip Stocks.
The report is SB-1 Energy Dividends. This report features my favorite energy stock, the only publicly-traded solar panel company in America.
Now trading for less than $9 a share, I think this stock is a potential blockbuster that could return over 200% in just 12 months.
Simply fill out your membership form and I'll immediately send you a username and password that'll give you access to the report.
Plus, when you join Green Chip Stocks, you'll receive my members-only weekly letter, which updates you on current positions and alerts you to new stocks I'm recommending.
So, you get the report, SB-1 Energy Dividends, plus 52 issues of Green Chip Stocks.
Not a bad deal... for just $79 a year.
Especially when you consider our track record.
The fact is, we were the first to launch this kind of service focusing strictly on "green" markets.
And we were the first to bring our readers stocks like XsunX (XSNX.OB), which we sold for a 545.95% gain, and Regi U.S. (RGUS.OB), which we sold for a 218% gain, and Wild Oats (OATS:NASDAQ), which we sold for a 74.5% gain.
For less than $0.22 a day, you just can't beat gains like that!
If at any time you're not completely satisfied with the quality of service and commentary offered, simply cancel before 30 days and I'll refund every penny.
And this next one--our $7 solar installation stock--is already shaping up to be our next triple-bagger.
So don't wait.
Get it now while it's still trading below $7.
Sincerely,
Jeff Siegel
P.S. - Become a member today, and I'll also throw in my special report, Tapping the $1.42 Trillion Vein. This report highlights opportunities in the burgeoning green building market, and more importantly, gives you the insight you'll need to profit from a market that's worth more than $1 Trillion. That's right, trillion…with a T!
http://www.angelnexus.com/o/op/4755
"Skim over the existing hot political air". Innovation is the life blood of every nation. We encourage an idea exchange on any topics that is break through technology-simple or complex.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Wind farm in chathem kent
Focus on jobs, says chamber; Welcoming Wind farms, but adds community needs more good-paying jobs
Posted By BOB BOUGHNER
Posted 36 mins ago
A proposed $300 million wind energy industry is a plus for Chatham-Kent, but won't create the thousands of good-paying jobs the municipality badly needs, says Brent DeNure.
DeNure, newly-elected president of the Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce, is calling on Mayor Randy Hope and council to step up efforts to attract new manufacturing and processing industries to the area.
His remarks were contained in a speech scheduled to be delivered Tuesday night. It was postponed due to time limitations, but The Daily News received a copy.
"Wind farms are a definite plus for the municipality and show we are open for business,'' DeNure said. "The project also demonstrates that we are an eco-friendly community.''
He said the reality, however, is that the investment in the wind industry will not create a large number of good-paying jobs.
"And as great as it might seem for the municipality, I hope the wind project does not discourage other developments that might be on the horizon,'' he said.
Posted By BOB BOUGHNER
Posted 36 mins ago
A proposed $300 million wind energy industry is a plus for Chatham-Kent, but won't create the thousands of good-paying jobs the municipality badly needs, says Brent DeNure.
DeNure, newly-elected president of the Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce, is calling on Mayor Randy Hope and council to step up efforts to attract new manufacturing and processing industries to the area.
His remarks were contained in a speech scheduled to be delivered Tuesday night. It was postponed due to time limitations, but The Daily News received a copy.
"Wind farms are a definite plus for the municipality and show we are open for business,'' DeNure said. "The project also demonstrates that we are an eco-friendly community.''
He said the reality, however, is that the investment in the wind industry will not create a large number of good-paying jobs.
"And as great as it might seem for the municipality, I hope the wind project does not discourage other developments that might be on the horizon,'' he said.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
High oil prices -ousing reduction in volume
another example of greed
Bizarre Economics: Why High Oil Prices Have Reduced SupplyBy Matt Badiali, editor, S&A Oil Report High oil prices are reducing oil supply.
Nationalization changes that calculation entirely. Companies still take all the risk, but governments bank all the rewards. Less return to oil companies means less investment in exploration. In the end, nationalization will lead to much higher oil prices.
Hugo Chavez hired his cousin to run PDVSA, the state oil company. In spite of record oil prices, the company ran up $12 billion in debt in 2007. In addition, it could wind up responsible for another $10 billion in compensation to Exxon.
That kind of nepotism will eventually destroy the petroleum industry in many of these countries, much as it's done in Mexico. Pemex, the national oil company, is now more than $42 billion in debt, and its single best asset, the Cantarell field, is a debacle. Its production is declining precipitously (down 28% in 2006 alone).
In the meantime, demand for oil is rising... relentlessly.
China, for example, plans to build at least eight 200,000-barrel-per-day refineries in the next five years, which will compete with the U.S. refiners for supply. And, paradoxically, higher oil prices have led to higher demand in the Middle East, as oil wealth trickles down.
So where does that leave us?
Canada. Much of the world – and its oil companies – have turned to Canada for a solution. Canada holds some of the largest untapped oil reserves. It's in the most politically stable region of the world. It's protected by the world's greatest military power.
Bizarre Economics: Why High Oil Prices Have Reduced SupplyBy Matt Badiali, editor, S&A Oil Report High oil prices are reducing oil supply.
Nationalization changes that calculation entirely. Companies still take all the risk, but governments bank all the rewards. Less return to oil companies means less investment in exploration. In the end, nationalization will lead to much higher oil prices.
Hugo Chavez hired his cousin to run PDVSA, the state oil company. In spite of record oil prices, the company ran up $12 billion in debt in 2007. In addition, it could wind up responsible for another $10 billion in compensation to Exxon.
That kind of nepotism will eventually destroy the petroleum industry in many of these countries, much as it's done in Mexico. Pemex, the national oil company, is now more than $42 billion in debt, and its single best asset, the Cantarell field, is a debacle. Its production is declining precipitously (down 28% in 2006 alone).
In the meantime, demand for oil is rising... relentlessly.
China, for example, plans to build at least eight 200,000-barrel-per-day refineries in the next five years, which will compete with the U.S. refiners for supply. And, paradoxically, higher oil prices have led to higher demand in the Middle East, as oil wealth trickles down.
So where does that leave us?
Canada. Much of the world – and its oil companies – have turned to Canada for a solution. Canada holds some of the largest untapped oil reserves. It's in the most politically stable region of the world. It's protected by the world's greatest military power.
Thursday, March 06, 2008
BIO news
What will this do to the sugar price? Are they using the by product?
Latin America could become biofuel player OAK RIDGE, Tenn. (UPI) -- Latin American countries could become major suppliers of ethanol for world markets in the future, an Oak Ridge (Tenn.) National Laboratory report says.
The ORNL study, part of a larger Department of Energy project, focused on the importance of Brazil's sugarcane industry in world trade in fuel ethanol.
ORNL researchers projected that Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and members of the Caribbean Basin Initiative could produce enough feedstock for more than 30 billion gallons of ethanol annually by 2017.
Researchers said about 40 percent of the projected supply is based on the potential of new technology to produce advanced biofuels from cellulosic feedstock that uses residues and forestry byproducts.
"Current feedstock production, based on traditional crops such as sugarcane, soybeans and palm oil, has the potential to double or triple by 2017 in some cases," said researcher Gbadebo Oladosu.
The results suggest that a larger portion of U.S. fossil fuel imports that now come from Africa and the Middle East could be replaced by the renewable biofuels.
"The potential for future biofuel feedstock production in Latin America offers interesting opportunities for the U.S. and developing nations," ORNL researcher Keith Kline said.
Latin America could become biofuel player OAK RIDGE, Tenn. (UPI) -- Latin American countries could become major suppliers of ethanol for world markets in the future, an Oak Ridge (Tenn.) National Laboratory report says.
The ORNL study, part of a larger Department of Energy project, focused on the importance of Brazil's sugarcane industry in world trade in fuel ethanol.
ORNL researchers projected that Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and members of the Caribbean Basin Initiative could produce enough feedstock for more than 30 billion gallons of ethanol annually by 2017.
Researchers said about 40 percent of the projected supply is based on the potential of new technology to produce advanced biofuels from cellulosic feedstock that uses residues and forestry byproducts.
"Current feedstock production, based on traditional crops such as sugarcane, soybeans and palm oil, has the potential to double or triple by 2017 in some cases," said researcher Gbadebo Oladosu.
The results suggest that a larger portion of U.S. fossil fuel imports that now come from Africa and the Middle East could be replaced by the renewable biofuels.
"The potential for future biofuel feedstock production in Latin America offers interesting opportunities for the U.S. and developing nations," ORNL researcher Keith Kline said.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
heat as a green solution
Study: Car exhaust heat may power vehicles CARDIFF, Wales (UPI) -- Welsh scientists are investigating the possible use of heat generated from automobile exhausts to provide a greener power supply for vehicles.
Cardiff University Professor Mike Rowe and colleagues are researching thermoelectric generation -- employing thermocouples to convert heat into electricity. The scientists said such conversion technology is used in controlling central heating systems or refrigerator temperatures and might be able to generate electricity from the waste heat in vehicles.
"The main interest in cars is to decrease (fuel) consumption and reduce CO2 emissions," said Rowe. "If you can utilize the exhaust heat, you could replace the alternator. This would provide a 5 percent saving in fuel straightaway."
Although U.S. auto makers have expressed interest in such technology, Rowe said interest has been lacking in the United Kingdom.
"Thermoelectric generation is a green solution," he added. "It can in many instances cost less than solar energy. It has huge future potential, yet it has been neglected to date in the United Kingdom."
Cardiff University Professor Mike Rowe and colleagues are researching thermoelectric generation -- employing thermocouples to convert heat into electricity. The scientists said such conversion technology is used in controlling central heating systems or refrigerator temperatures and might be able to generate electricity from the waste heat in vehicles.
"The main interest in cars is to decrease (fuel) consumption and reduce CO2 emissions," said Rowe. "If you can utilize the exhaust heat, you could replace the alternator. This would provide a 5 percent saving in fuel straightaway."
Although U.S. auto makers have expressed interest in such technology, Rowe said interest has been lacking in the United Kingdom.
"Thermoelectric generation is a green solution," he added. "It can in many instances cost less than solar energy. It has huge future potential, yet it has been neglected to date in the United Kingdom."
Friday, February 08, 2008
SkySails - Turn Wind into Profit
SkySails - Turn Wind into Profit: "W I N D P O W E R U S E D P R O F I T A B L Y
It's a simple fact: wind is cheaper than oil and the most cost-effective offshore energy source. Yet, despite its attractive saving potential, it is not presently being used by cargo ships - for a simple reason: so far no sailing system has met the requirements of commercial shipping.
SkySails is now offering a wind propulsion system based on large towing kites, which, for the first time, meets the requirements of shipping companies.
By using the SkySails-System, a ship‘s fuel costs can be reduced by 10- 35% on annual average, depending on wind conditions. Under optimal wind conditions, fuel consumption can temporarily be reduced by up to 50%."
It's a simple fact: wind is cheaper than oil and the most cost-effective offshore energy source. Yet, despite its attractive saving potential, it is not presently being used by cargo ships - for a simple reason: so far no sailing system has met the requirements of commercial shipping.
SkySails is now offering a wind propulsion system based on large towing kites, which, for the first time, meets the requirements of shipping companies.
By using the SkySails-System, a ship‘s fuel costs can be reduced by 10- 35% on annual average, depending on wind conditions. Under optimal wind conditions, fuel consumption can temporarily be reduced by up to 50%."
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Car oil dependancy
Q: Is the U.S. actually "addicted" to Middle Eastern oil? Who do we import the bulk of our oil from?
A: I love this question, because our own president bowed to the uninformed public's pressure (what a surprise). In a speech on January 31, 2006, the president announced that the nation was addicted to oil. He didn't name the Middle East per se, but said we import our oil from "...unstable parts of the world."
I think the general public assumes that the Middle East is the source of our imported oil. But that assumption is wrong...
We produce 40% of the oil we consume right here in the U.S. And as far as being addicted to Middle East oil, look at this breakdown of U.S. oil imports:
Country % of Oil Imports
Canada 18%
Persian Gulf 16%
Saudi Arabia 11%
Mexico 11%
Venezuela 10%
Nigeria 8%
Algeria 5%
As you can see, we import more oil from Canada than we do from all the Persian Gulf states. It's the Canadians' fault, eh? Both Mexico and Venezuela are on par with the amount we import from Saudi Arabia.
OPEC oil makes up not quite half our imports, but much of that OPEC oil comes from the African members Angola, Algeria, and Nigeria, not the Middle East. Still, like in 1980s Hollywood, Middle Easterners are the scapegoats.
And truthfully, I don't agree with the idea that we're "addicted" to oil. Saying we're addicted to oil is like saying we're addicted to electricity or copper. Oil is a commodity that has elevated our society. Without oil, you have no airplanes, no Google, no Indy 500... you get the picture.
If you really want to do something meaningful about our oil imports, forget the idea of a substitute for oil. It's not about ethanol or biodiesel... That's just trading crack for heroin. Reduce your gasoline consumption. Fifty percent of the oil we consume is to produce gasoline for our cars.
Sorry to break the news to you, but that's it, that's the solution. There is no pill or patch to make it any easier. Become a one-car family... take the bus... get a fuel-efficient vehicle instead of an SUV troop carrier.
A: I love this question, because our own president bowed to the uninformed public's pressure (what a surprise). In a speech on January 31, 2006, the president announced that the nation was addicted to oil. He didn't name the Middle East per se, but said we import our oil from "...unstable parts of the world."
I think the general public assumes that the Middle East is the source of our imported oil. But that assumption is wrong...
We produce 40% of the oil we consume right here in the U.S. And as far as being addicted to Middle East oil, look at this breakdown of U.S. oil imports:
Country % of Oil Imports
Canada 18%
Persian Gulf 16%
Saudi Arabia 11%
Mexico 11%
Venezuela 10%
Nigeria 8%
Algeria 5%
As you can see, we import more oil from Canada than we do from all the Persian Gulf states. It's the Canadians' fault, eh? Both Mexico and Venezuela are on par with the amount we import from Saudi Arabia.
OPEC oil makes up not quite half our imports, but much of that OPEC oil comes from the African members Angola, Algeria, and Nigeria, not the Middle East. Still, like in 1980s Hollywood, Middle Easterners are the scapegoats.
And truthfully, I don't agree with the idea that we're "addicted" to oil. Saying we're addicted to oil is like saying we're addicted to electricity or copper. Oil is a commodity that has elevated our society. Without oil, you have no airplanes, no Google, no Indy 500... you get the picture.
If you really want to do something meaningful about our oil imports, forget the idea of a substitute for oil. It's not about ethanol or biodiesel... That's just trading crack for heroin. Reduce your gasoline consumption. Fifty percent of the oil we consume is to produce gasoline for our cars.
Sorry to break the news to you, but that's it, that's the solution. There is no pill or patch to make it any easier. Become a one-car family... take the bus... get a fuel-efficient vehicle instead of an SUV troop carrier.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Da Vinci Tower - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Da Vinci Tower - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "Da Vinci Tower"
the future?
Dynamic Architecture Building) is a proposed 313 m (1,027 ft), 68-floor tower in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.[2] The tower is expected to be architecturally innovative for several reasons. Uniquely, each floor will be able to rotate independently.[3] This will result in a constantly changing shape of the tower. Each floor will rotate a maximum of 6 metres (20 feet) per minute, or one full rotation in 90 minutes.[3][1] It will also be the world's first prefabricated skyscraper.[1] 90% of the tower will be built in a factory and shipped to the construction site.[1] This will allow the entire building to be built in only 18 months.[1] The only part of the tower that will be built at the construction site will be the core.[1] Part of this prefrabrication will be the decrease in cost and number of workers. The total cost will be 23% less than a normal skyscraper of the same size, while only 90 people will work on the construction site.[4] The majority of the workers will be in factories, where it will be much safer.[4] The entire tower will be powered from turbines and solar panels, and five other buildings in the vicinity will also be provided with electricity.[2] The turbines will be located between each of the rotating floors.[5] They will generate 1,200,000 kilowatt-hours of energy from the movement of the floors, and the solar panels will be located on the roof.[2][5][4] Construction of the Da Vinci Tower, if built, is expected to be completed in 2009.
the future?
Dynamic Architecture Building) is a proposed 313 m (1,027 ft), 68-floor tower in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.[2] The tower is expected to be architecturally innovative for several reasons. Uniquely, each floor will be able to rotate independently.[3] This will result in a constantly changing shape of the tower. Each floor will rotate a maximum of 6 metres (20 feet) per minute, or one full rotation in 90 minutes.[3][1] It will also be the world's first prefabricated skyscraper.[1] 90% of the tower will be built in a factory and shipped to the construction site.[1] This will allow the entire building to be built in only 18 months.[1] The only part of the tower that will be built at the construction site will be the core.[1] Part of this prefrabrication will be the decrease in cost and number of workers. The total cost will be 23% less than a normal skyscraper of the same size, while only 90 people will work on the construction site.[4] The majority of the workers will be in factories, where it will be much safer.[4] The entire tower will be powered from turbines and solar panels, and five other buildings in the vicinity will also be provided with electricity.[2] The turbines will be located between each of the rotating floors.[5] They will generate 1,200,000 kilowatt-hours of energy from the movement of the floors, and the solar panels will be located on the roof.[2][5][4] Construction of the Da Vinci Tower, if built, is expected to be completed in 2009.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Google's Philanthropy Funds Renewable Energy, Electric Cars
By: GreenBiz.com
MOUTAIN VIEW, Calif., Jan. 18, 2008 -- Google.org's announcement to spend more than $25 million in new grants and investments includes money for monitoring and predicating the effects of climate change, producing renewable energy cheaper than coal, and supporting plug-in vehicles. Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google, announced yesterday a number of initiatives it will support over the next five to ten years. Company founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin have committed to devote about one percent of the company's equity and one percent of annual profits, as well as employee time, to philanthropy. The company’s Renewable Energy Cheaper Than Coal initiative was launched late last year, and it will give $10 million to eSolar, a Pasadena, Calif., company focused on solar thermal power, which uses heat from solar energy instead of fuel in power plants.
Google.org will also invest amounts from $500,000 to $2 million in selected for-profit companies working on commercializing electric vehicles. One of the group’s initiatives, RechargeIT, aims to accelerate the adoption of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, electric vehicles and vehicle-to-grid technology. An additional environmental investment, $600,000 will go to Clark University to develop a system for monitoring, analyzing and predicting the impacts of climate change on ecosystems, food and health in Africa and the Amazon. The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation will provide an additional $600,000 for the effort. The system is aimed at providing environmental, health and development data, information and analysis tools over the Internet for free. The other philanthropic initiatives include money for improving detection and response to global health and humanitarian crises, strengthening national and sub-regional disease surveillance systems in the Mekong Basin area, assessing education and bettering planning in India, and supporting enterprises, job creation and poverty alleviation globally.
Print
By: GreenBiz.com
MOUTAIN VIEW, Calif., Jan. 18, 2008 -- Google.org's announcement to spend more than $25 million in new grants and investments includes money for monitoring and predicating the effects of climate change, producing renewable energy cheaper than coal, and supporting plug-in vehicles. Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google, announced yesterday a number of initiatives it will support over the next five to ten years. Company founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin have committed to devote about one percent of the company's equity and one percent of annual profits, as well as employee time, to philanthropy. The company’s Renewable Energy Cheaper Than Coal initiative was launched late last year, and it will give $10 million to eSolar, a Pasadena, Calif., company focused on solar thermal power, which uses heat from solar energy instead of fuel in power plants.
Google.org will also invest amounts from $500,000 to $2 million in selected for-profit companies working on commercializing electric vehicles. One of the group’s initiatives, RechargeIT, aims to accelerate the adoption of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, electric vehicles and vehicle-to-grid technology. An additional environmental investment, $600,000 will go to Clark University to develop a system for monitoring, analyzing and predicting the impacts of climate change on ecosystems, food and health in Africa and the Amazon. The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation will provide an additional $600,000 for the effort. The system is aimed at providing environmental, health and development data, information and analysis tools over the Internet for free. The other philanthropic initiatives include money for improving detection and response to global health and humanitarian crises, strengthening national and sub-regional disease surveillance systems in the Mekong Basin area, assessing education and bettering planning in India, and supporting enterprises, job creation and poverty alleviation globally.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Photos: Solar power for the masses of gadgets | TechRepublic Photo Gallery
Photos: Solar power for the masses of gadgets TechRepublic Photo Gallery: "Photos: Solar power for the masses of gadgets"
interesting
interesting
new energy technology
Coskata's process is feedstock flexible, and enables the use of cost- effective, locally abundant materials to achieve the lowest ethanol production cost targets in the industry. This groundbreaking approach addresses many of the constraints lodged against current renewable energy options, including environmental, transportation and land use concerns.
Using patented microorganisms and transformative bioreactor designs, Coskata ethanol is produced via a unique three-step conversion process that turns virtually any carbon-based feedstock, including biomass, municipal solid waste, bagasse and other agricultural waste into ethanol, making production a possibility in almost any geography. Coskata's process technology is ethanol- specific and enzyme independent, requiring no additional chemicals or pre- treatments; environmentally superior, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 84% compared to conventional gasoline; and has the ability to generate 7.7 times as much energy as is required to produce the ethanol, compared to corn ethanol which generates approximately 1.3 times as much energy according to Argonne National Labs.
"Our technology and proprietary process have been validated by some of the world's most renowned research labs, universities and energy companies," said Bill Roe, CEO of Coskata. "Coskata is poised to revolutionize the ethanol industry with the backing of GM and our partners. Together, we can make ethanol a viable transportation fuel with production costs of under $1 per gallon."
Coskata is working closely with leading research institutions focused on renewable energy to bring this compelling syngas-to-ethanol process technology to market, including Oklahoma State University, The University of Oklahoma, Brigham Young University and Argonne National Laboratory. Founded in 2006 by Todd Kimmel and Dr. Rathin Datta, the company has compiled a strong IP portfolio of patents, trade secrets and know-how and assembled a first-class management team.
"Coskata's announcement is a perfect example of the evolutionary state of the ethanol industry," said Bob Dinneen, president of the Renewable Fuels Association, the national trade association for the U.S. ethanol industry. "Building on the solid foundation grain-based ethanol production has provided, and partnering with companies like General Motors that have demonstrated a commitment to renewable fuels, Coskata demonstrates what is possible when financial and intellectual capital are applied to solving the growing energy crisis in the United States."
Using patented microorganisms and transformative bioreactor designs, Coskata ethanol is produced via a unique three-step conversion process that turns virtually any carbon-based feedstock, including biomass, municipal solid waste, bagasse and other agricultural waste into ethanol, making production a possibility in almost any geography. Coskata's process technology is ethanol- specific and enzyme independent, requiring no additional chemicals or pre- treatments; environmentally superior, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 84% compared to conventional gasoline; and has the ability to generate 7.7 times as much energy as is required to produce the ethanol, compared to corn ethanol which generates approximately 1.3 times as much energy according to Argonne National Labs.
"Our technology and proprietary process have been validated by some of the world's most renowned research labs, universities and energy companies," said Bill Roe, CEO of Coskata. "Coskata is poised to revolutionize the ethanol industry with the backing of GM and our partners. Together, we can make ethanol a viable transportation fuel with production costs of under $1 per gallon."
Coskata is working closely with leading research institutions focused on renewable energy to bring this compelling syngas-to-ethanol process technology to market, including Oklahoma State University, The University of Oklahoma, Brigham Young University and Argonne National Laboratory. Founded in 2006 by Todd Kimmel and Dr. Rathin Datta, the company has compiled a strong IP portfolio of patents, trade secrets and know-how and assembled a first-class management team.
"Coskata's announcement is a perfect example of the evolutionary state of the ethanol industry," said Bob Dinneen, president of the Renewable Fuels Association, the national trade association for the U.S. ethanol industry. "Building on the solid foundation grain-based ethanol production has provided, and partnering with companies like General Motors that have demonstrated a commitment to renewable fuels, Coskata demonstrates what is possible when financial and intellectual capital are applied to solving the growing energy crisis in the United States."
principles of success
personal growth Jack Canfield's Seven Principles of Success and Happiness
jack Canfield has made the study of success in one's personal and professional lives his own life's work. He has interviewed hundreds of successful people, read more than 3,000 books on success and given thousands of lectures on the topic. Now Canfield has boiled down everything that he has learned about success into his new book, The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be (Harper). Some of those principles, such as the importance of goal setting, are well-known. Others are just as crucial but not commonly understood.
Here, Canfield reveals the principles of success that are most often overlooked.
Develop four new good habits each year. Most of everything we do is based on ritual. We eat at certain restaurants... wear certain clothes... brush our teeth in a certain way... and watch certain TV shows simply because that is what we have always done. These are our habits, and we perform them without really thinking.
The trouble with habits is that they preserve the status quo, making dramatic improvement unlikely. If we want more out of life, we must be willing to evaluate and replace some of our rituals with more productive ones.
Example: Instead of spending the hour after dinner watching TV, go for a brisk walk... study a second language... read a book... or make the extra sales calls that you need to advance your career.
It takes a minimum of 25 days for the brain to build the neural links required to make a new behavior a habit. I suggest practicing a new habit for three months to ensure that it sinks in. Once it becomes second nature, add another new habit. At three months per habit, there's time to add four each year. In five years, you will have 20 new habits that will help
fuel your success.
Practice appreciation. Studies of employee motivation inevitably find that feeling appreciated is the single greatest motivator in the workplace, even ahead of higher wages. Yet many people fail to put the power of appreciation to full use in their business and personal lives.
When you show people that you appreciate them, you not only make them feel better, you make yourself more successful. People are more likely to help you achieve your goals if they believe that you appreciate their efforts. There's no downside -- appreciation costs nothing, and no one has ever complained about being over-appreciated.
Helpful: I used to carry in my pocket an index card with 10 circles on it. Every time I let someone know that I appreciated him/her, I filled in one of the circles. If at the end of the day I hadn't filled in all 10, I sent out appreciative E-mails. After a few months, showing appreciation became second nature for me, and I no longer had to carry the cards. I haven't had anyone leave my nine-employee company in more than five years. I attribute a big part of that loyalty to everyone feeling appreciated.
Solicit and respect feedback. Rather than guess how you're doing, ask. Periodically ask employees, employers, customers and loved ones to rate your performance on a scale of one to 10. If the answer is anything less than 10, ask, "What would it take to make it a 10?"
If you follow this strategy, you're encouraging people to help you become great. The main reason that people don't solicit feedback is because they're afraid of what they might hear -- but the information we can obtain is worth facing such fears.
Not all feedback is accurate, but watch for patterns and never get angry at the source, even if you disagree.
Keep all of your agreements. When you break an agreement, the person you let down loses faith in you and is less likely to want to work with you in the future. Even more important, you lose some faith in yourself. It's all but impossible to become a success if you don't have faith in yourself.
To avoid breaking agreements, teach yourself to say no to things that you would rather not do. Then you won't have to back out later. Write down everything you agree to do on your calendar as soon as a commitment is made -- you would be surprised by how many people don't do this.
If you must break an agreement, let the other parties involved know as soon as possible, and do everything in your power to fix any problems that the broken agreement creates for them.
Exceed expectations. Don't ask yourself, How can I get a little more out of this situation? Instead, ask, How can I give a little more to those around me? Sacrificing usually isn't a sacrifice -- it's a path to success. If you consistently go the extra mile for clients, colleagues, employers, family and friends, you'll earn their loyalty for life.
Example: When UPS went on strike, David Morris, the owner of Dillanos, a small, Seattle-based coffee roasting company, rented a truck and drove 2,320 miles to deliver an order to a small client in Southern California. That client, It's a Grind Coffee House, is now a large franchise with 50 stores and an additional 100 planned. It is Dillanos's largest customer and has remained loyal to Dillanos because of the extra effort Morris put in years ago.
Reject rejection. Rejection does not prevent success -- fear of rejection does. What stops a man from asking an attractive woman out on a date? What stops an inexperienced salesman from asking the most successful salesman at his firm for advice? They're afraid of rejection -- afraid that if they ask, the answer might be no. But there's absolutely no rational reason to fear rejection.
Example: You ask a successful person to give you career advice, and he says no. You didn't have his advice before you asked, and you don't have his advice after. You're no worse off than when you began, so why be afraid of asking?
If you want to be a success, you must treat rejection as an illusion -- a negative response conjured up by your mind that really doesn't exist.
Eliminate small obstacles. Make a list of the problems that you would like to remove from your life -- include even minor things, such as a lamp that doesn't work right. Schedule a day or two to fix as many of these problems as you can, starting with the easiest to solve.
In this way, you'll get into the habit of thinking, I know what I want, I know how to get it. Once you're in this mindset, you'll stop resigning yourself to your current situation and start making larger positive changes as well.
jack Canfield has made the study of success in one's personal and professional lives his own life's work. He has interviewed hundreds of successful people, read more than 3,000 books on success and given thousands of lectures on the topic. Now Canfield has boiled down everything that he has learned about success into his new book, The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be (Harper). Some of those principles, such as the importance of goal setting, are well-known. Others are just as crucial but not commonly understood.
Here, Canfield reveals the principles of success that are most often overlooked.
Develop four new good habits each year. Most of everything we do is based on ritual. We eat at certain restaurants... wear certain clothes... brush our teeth in a certain way... and watch certain TV shows simply because that is what we have always done. These are our habits, and we perform them without really thinking.
The trouble with habits is that they preserve the status quo, making dramatic improvement unlikely. If we want more out of life, we must be willing to evaluate and replace some of our rituals with more productive ones.
Example: Instead of spending the hour after dinner watching TV, go for a brisk walk... study a second language... read a book... or make the extra sales calls that you need to advance your career.
It takes a minimum of 25 days for the brain to build the neural links required to make a new behavior a habit. I suggest practicing a new habit for three months to ensure that it sinks in. Once it becomes second nature, add another new habit. At three months per habit, there's time to add four each year. In five years, you will have 20 new habits that will help
fuel your success.
Practice appreciation. Studies of employee motivation inevitably find that feeling appreciated is the single greatest motivator in the workplace, even ahead of higher wages. Yet many people fail to put the power of appreciation to full use in their business and personal lives.
When you show people that you appreciate them, you not only make them feel better, you make yourself more successful. People are more likely to help you achieve your goals if they believe that you appreciate their efforts. There's no downside -- appreciation costs nothing, and no one has ever complained about being over-appreciated.
Helpful: I used to carry in my pocket an index card with 10 circles on it. Every time I let someone know that I appreciated him/her, I filled in one of the circles. If at the end of the day I hadn't filled in all 10, I sent out appreciative E-mails. After a few months, showing appreciation became second nature for me, and I no longer had to carry the cards. I haven't had anyone leave my nine-employee company in more than five years. I attribute a big part of that loyalty to everyone feeling appreciated.
Solicit and respect feedback. Rather than guess how you're doing, ask. Periodically ask employees, employers, customers and loved ones to rate your performance on a scale of one to 10. If the answer is anything less than 10, ask, "What would it take to make it a 10?"
If you follow this strategy, you're encouraging people to help you become great. The main reason that people don't solicit feedback is because they're afraid of what they might hear -- but the information we can obtain is worth facing such fears.
Not all feedback is accurate, but watch for patterns and never get angry at the source, even if you disagree.
Keep all of your agreements. When you break an agreement, the person you let down loses faith in you and is less likely to want to work with you in the future. Even more important, you lose some faith in yourself. It's all but impossible to become a success if you don't have faith in yourself.
To avoid breaking agreements, teach yourself to say no to things that you would rather not do. Then you won't have to back out later. Write down everything you agree to do on your calendar as soon as a commitment is made -- you would be surprised by how many people don't do this.
If you must break an agreement, let the other parties involved know as soon as possible, and do everything in your power to fix any problems that the broken agreement creates for them.
Exceed expectations. Don't ask yourself, How can I get a little more out of this situation? Instead, ask, How can I give a little more to those around me? Sacrificing usually isn't a sacrifice -- it's a path to success. If you consistently go the extra mile for clients, colleagues, employers, family and friends, you'll earn their loyalty for life.
Example: When UPS went on strike, David Morris, the owner of Dillanos, a small, Seattle-based coffee roasting company, rented a truck and drove 2,320 miles to deliver an order to a small client in Southern California. That client, It's a Grind Coffee House, is now a large franchise with 50 stores and an additional 100 planned. It is Dillanos's largest customer and has remained loyal to Dillanos because of the extra effort Morris put in years ago.
Reject rejection. Rejection does not prevent success -- fear of rejection does. What stops a man from asking an attractive woman out on a date? What stops an inexperienced salesman from asking the most successful salesman at his firm for advice? They're afraid of rejection -- afraid that if they ask, the answer might be no. But there's absolutely no rational reason to fear rejection.
Example: You ask a successful person to give you career advice, and he says no. You didn't have his advice before you asked, and you don't have his advice after. You're no worse off than when you began, so why be afraid of asking?
If you want to be a success, you must treat rejection as an illusion -- a negative response conjured up by your mind that really doesn't exist.
Eliminate small obstacles. Make a list of the problems that you would like to remove from your life -- include even minor things, such as a lamp that doesn't work right. Schedule a day or two to fix as many of these problems as you can, starting with the easiest to solve.
In this way, you'll get into the habit of thinking, I know what I want, I know how to get it. Once you're in this mindset, you'll stop resigning yourself to your current situation and start making larger positive changes as well.
Monday, December 17, 2007
reportonbusiness.com: Radler sentenced to 29 months
reportonbusiness.com: Radler sentenced to 29 months: "Mr. Radler, 65, helped build Hollinger with Lord Black over more than three decades. At its peak the company operated newspapers across Canada, the United States, Britain and Israel. However, when prosecutors began probing allegations of fraud in 2004, Mr. Radler quickly cut a deal. He co-operated with investigators for months before reaching a plea agreement in September, 2005.
He instantly became the prosecution's star witness against Lord Black and the others. During the trial last spring, Mr. Radler testified for eight days, offering details about two key phone calls he had with Lord Black in which they hatched the scheme to defraud the company. However, under fierce cross examination by defence lawyers, Mr. Radler's credibility suffered and he was constantly labelled a liar. By the end of the trial, lead prosecutor Eric Sussman told jurors that they could ignore Mr. Radler's testimony.
In court filings, Mr. Radler's lawyers have said that he has faced public scorn and suffered extreme hardship as a result of his co-operation. They also said Mr. Radler acknowledges that what he did was wrong and he is sorry.
Today's ruling by Judge St. Eve comes a week after she sentenced Lord Black to 6.5 years in prison and fined him $125,000 on fraud and obstruction of justice charges. Co-defendants Peter Atkinson and John Boultbee received 24 and 27 months respectively for fraud. The other defendant Mark Kipnis received six months under house arrest for fraud. All four are also on the hook for $6.1-million in forfeiture. Judge St. Eve is expected to rule soon on how much each man must pay. Mr. Radler is not included in the forfeiture order."
The rat is sorry - tsk tsk how hard to believe PR
He instantly became the prosecution's star witness against Lord Black and the others. During the trial last spring, Mr. Radler testified for eight days, offering details about two key phone calls he had with Lord Black in which they hatched the scheme to defraud the company. However, under fierce cross examination by defence lawyers, Mr. Radler's credibility suffered and he was constantly labelled a liar. By the end of the trial, lead prosecutor Eric Sussman told jurors that they could ignore Mr. Radler's testimony.
In court filings, Mr. Radler's lawyers have said that he has faced public scorn and suffered extreme hardship as a result of his co-operation. They also said Mr. Radler acknowledges that what he did was wrong and he is sorry.
Today's ruling by Judge St. Eve comes a week after she sentenced Lord Black to 6.5 years in prison and fined him $125,000 on fraud and obstruction of justice charges. Co-defendants Peter Atkinson and John Boultbee received 24 and 27 months respectively for fraud. The other defendant Mark Kipnis received six months under house arrest for fraud. All four are also on the hook for $6.1-million in forfeiture. Judge St. Eve is expected to rule soon on how much each man must pay. Mr. Radler is not included in the forfeiture order."
The rat is sorry - tsk tsk how hard to believe PR
Innovation Predictions 2008
Innovation Predictions 2008: "Innovation Predictions 2008
Get ready for … anything. As companies, governments—indeed, entire countries—confront an array of dilemmas, the only constant will be change
by Bruce Nussbaum"
Get ready for … anything. As companies, governments—indeed, entire countries—confront an array of dilemmas, the only constant will be change
by Bruce Nussbaum"
Friday, December 14, 2007
Why high-velocity makes innovation THE word for 2007 .... - Weblog of futurist, trends and innovation expert Jim Carroll#000800
Why high-velocity makes innovation THE word for 2007 .... - Weblog of futurist, trends and innovation expert Jim Carroll#000800: "Why high-velocity makes innovation THE word for 2007 ....
Here's a reality that you need to think about: 2007 is the year in which most every organization and individual will begin to focus all their energies on innovation.
As someone who spends a lot of time helping some of the world's largest organizations adapt to and understand the new high-velocity economy, I've long realized that there are big, creative-stumbling-blocks that have restricted the type of thinking that is necessary to 'doing-things-differently.'
Yet, I am encountering a new group of leaders who know that the emergence of the high-velocity economy means that they must have a a team that can constantly adapt and evolve, coming up with a regular stream of new ideas on how to better run the business, grow the business and transform the business."
the key is to plug in with the right like minded people SHT
Here's a reality that you need to think about: 2007 is the year in which most every organization and individual will begin to focus all their energies on innovation.
As someone who spends a lot of time helping some of the world's largest organizations adapt to and understand the new high-velocity economy, I've long realized that there are big, creative-stumbling-blocks that have restricted the type of thinking that is necessary to 'doing-things-differently.'
Yet, I am encountering a new group of leaders who know that the emergence of the high-velocity economy means that they must have a a team that can constantly adapt and evolve, coming up with a regular stream of new ideas on how to better run the business, grow the business and transform the business."
the key is to plug in with the right like minded people SHT
The Google Car -- Futurist, trends & innovation expert Jim Carroll - Keynote speaker, author, columnist
The Google Car -- Futurist, trends & innovation expert Jim Carroll - Keynote speaker, author, columnist: "Business models today change at a furious pace. Since 2004, Jim has predicting that perhaps even Google will get into the car business ..... and the car will arrive with a party in a box! At one time, that seemed like a far fetched scenario."
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Power trends for 2007/8
A Power Shift- review from Business Week
Of course, given the wealth that was generated overseas in countries ranging from Russia to Dubai, the U.S. could be on the verge of a seismic shift, where it is possible to envision a time when it will no longer be the dominant economic superpower. True, it still has the world's largest economy, but others are catching up. China is clocking in its fifth consecutive year of double-digit growth, with gross domestic product expected to grow more than 11.5% in 2007. A swelling trade surplus has contributed to massive foreign exchange reserves of more than $1.4 trillion. India is seeing 9% growth. Russia and the Middle East, even Venezuela, are basking in the reflected glow of vast oil reserves, and they are using that wealth to assert their own economic independence and national direction. But there are hopeful signs. In addition to the blossoming of green technology, Led Zeppelin, the Police, and Van Halen all got back together to the delight of millions of fans around the world. Too bad about Britney, though.
Click here to see the most important trends of 2007, click here to see the most important people of 2007, and click here to see the most important products of 2007. "
Of course, given the wealth that was generated overseas in countries ranging from Russia to Dubai, the U.S. could be on the verge of a seismic shift, where it is possible to envision a time when it will no longer be the dominant economic superpower. True, it still has the world's largest economy, but others are catching up. China is clocking in its fifth consecutive year of double-digit growth, with gross domestic product expected to grow more than 11.5% in 2007. A swelling trade surplus has contributed to massive foreign exchange reserves of more than $1.4 trillion. India is seeing 9% growth. Russia and the Middle East, even Venezuela, are basking in the reflected glow of vast oil reserves, and they are using that wealth to assert their own economic independence and national direction. But there are hopeful signs. In addition to the blossoming of green technology, Led Zeppelin, the Police, and Van Halen all got back together to the delight of millions of fans around the world. Too bad about Britney, though.
Click here to see the most important trends of 2007, click here to see the most important people of 2007, and click here to see the most important products of 2007. "
Monday, December 10, 2007
Wood-the new energy
Last Thursday, Pelosi used the phrase again. And to emphasize her point, she actually held up a baseball signed by Bobby Thomson as she said it.
Pelosi's new "shot heard around the world" is a law called the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, it passed through the House of Representatives last week. This law – if stamped by the Senate – will have huge consequences on our investments.
Let me give you the details:
1. Fuel economy standards for both cars and light trucks will be raised to 35 miles per gallon by 2020. Fuel economy standards for cars haven't been altered since 1975. That's such a big change, I wonder if it's even possible. Right now the fuel economy standard is 27.2 mpg for cars and 22.2 mpg for light trucks.
2. Twenty-one billion dollars will be revoked in tax breaks to oil companies.
3. Electric utilities will be required to get 15% of their energy from renewable sources by 2020.
4. The United States will have to use 36 million gallons of biofuel per year by 2022, up from 9 million today. It can't be just ethanol either. Twenty-two million gallons must come from other "advanced biofuels," not ethanol.
5. Nine billion dollars in tax incentives will be offered to the biofuel and renewable energy industries like wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, small irrigation hydropower, ocean tides, landfill gas, and trash combustion energy.
This bill still has to pass through the Senate. Frankly, it probably won't pass in its current form. Also, President Bush has said he'd veto this bill. So there's a long way to go before it becomes law. Nevertheless, it does show the direction this country is heading in. And I want to profit from this new direction.
My favorite "green energy" investment is wood.
Most people don't realize that wood is an important source of energy. Solar, wind, and ethanol get all the attention. But the fact is, wood was the world's main source of energy until the mid-1800s. And even today, wood waste still fills about 2% of the United States' energy needs.
Last month, the Minister of Energy in Great Britain announced he was going to build the largest bio-energy power plant in the world. They will build the plant in Port Talbot, in Wales. The plant will generate 350 megawatts of power. That's enough electricity to power half the houses in Wales. This plant will run on wood chips. North America will supply these wood chips.
Producing energy from wood chips is also a priority for the U.S. democratic party. Representative Edward J. Markey, a Massachusetts democrat, specifically mentioned wood chips as a destination for the subsidies the democrats want to take away from the oil companies.
Right now, there are millions of dead pine trees all over Colorado and British Columbia as a result of the massive infestation by the Mountain Pine Beetle. This wood is useless to the forestry industry, but it's a huge fire hazard if it's left standing in the forests.
If you can figure out how to move this dead wood from the forest to the wood-fired power plants in Europe, you'll make a fortune... especially if you get Nancy Pelosi and her new "shot heard around the world" legislation to subsidize you...
Pelosi's new "shot heard around the world" is a law called the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, it passed through the House of Representatives last week. This law – if stamped by the Senate – will have huge consequences on our investments.
Let me give you the details:
1. Fuel economy standards for both cars and light trucks will be raised to 35 miles per gallon by 2020. Fuel economy standards for cars haven't been altered since 1975. That's such a big change, I wonder if it's even possible. Right now the fuel economy standard is 27.2 mpg for cars and 22.2 mpg for light trucks.
2. Twenty-one billion dollars will be revoked in tax breaks to oil companies.
3. Electric utilities will be required to get 15% of their energy from renewable sources by 2020.
4. The United States will have to use 36 million gallons of biofuel per year by 2022, up from 9 million today. It can't be just ethanol either. Twenty-two million gallons must come from other "advanced biofuels," not ethanol.
5. Nine billion dollars in tax incentives will be offered to the biofuel and renewable energy industries like wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, small irrigation hydropower, ocean tides, landfill gas, and trash combustion energy.
This bill still has to pass through the Senate. Frankly, it probably won't pass in its current form. Also, President Bush has said he'd veto this bill. So there's a long way to go before it becomes law. Nevertheless, it does show the direction this country is heading in. And I want to profit from this new direction.
My favorite "green energy" investment is wood.
Most people don't realize that wood is an important source of energy. Solar, wind, and ethanol get all the attention. But the fact is, wood was the world's main source of energy until the mid-1800s. And even today, wood waste still fills about 2% of the United States' energy needs.
Last month, the Minister of Energy in Great Britain announced he was going to build the largest bio-energy power plant in the world. They will build the plant in Port Talbot, in Wales. The plant will generate 350 megawatts of power. That's enough electricity to power half the houses in Wales. This plant will run on wood chips. North America will supply these wood chips.
Producing energy from wood chips is also a priority for the U.S. democratic party. Representative Edward J. Markey, a Massachusetts democrat, specifically mentioned wood chips as a destination for the subsidies the democrats want to take away from the oil companies.
Right now, there are millions of dead pine trees all over Colorado and British Columbia as a result of the massive infestation by the Mountain Pine Beetle. This wood is useless to the forestry industry, but it's a huge fire hazard if it's left standing in the forests.
If you can figure out how to move this dead wood from the forest to the wood-fired power plants in Europe, you'll make a fortune... especially if you get Nancy Pelosi and her new "shot heard around the world" legislation to subsidize you...
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Stem cell promising developments
Study: Stem cell transplant holds promise STANFORD, Calif. (UPI) -- U.S. researchers said they found a way to transplant blood-forming stem cells into the bone marrow of mice, effectively replacing their immune systems. The discovery is a small but significant step in mouse studies aimed at transplanting adult stem cells to create a new immune system for people with autoimmune or genetic blood diseases, Stanford University researchers said in a news release. Many aspects of the technique must be adapted before testing can begin on humans, said Dr. Irving Weissman, a co-senior author of the study and director of the Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. Weissman said the work was done on mice that offered a poor mimic for the human immune system. Still, he suggested the remaining hurdles could eventually be overcome. 'It is essentially a surgical strike against the blood-forming stem cells,' Weissman said of the technique his team studied. The team injected mice with molecules that latch on to specific proteins on the surface of the blood-forming stem cells, effectively destroying the cells. The study was published in the latest issue of Science. "
Monday, December 03, 2007
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Proposal
Hydrogen Proposal - Google Docs
Conceptual Proposal for a Wind-Hydrogen System Pilot
R. J. Patrick P. Eng.
Introduction Why we need new fuel cell technology
The age of oil has been the single most important contributing factor in the development of our modern world. The reserves of black gold have allowed us to have unprecented travel potential, unprecented employment potential and took the industrial revolution into the space age.
Unfortunately, there is no free lunch. Not only have we seriously polluted the atmosphere of the planet, but also we are using up the oil infinitely faster than nature can replenish it. We need to do something to limit the flow of oil from the ground. In addition, our greed for oil has allowed the rise of unstable and dangerous political regimes and terrorist groups that now threaten both our economy and our security. In fact, some pundits feel that the quest to preserve access to Middle Eastern oil reserves may cause the war in Iraq to be a war that never ends.
Quite simply, we must do something to get off oil and onto another fuel
What follows is an unsolicited proposal to begin the process. For a minimal level of investment, a well-targeted corporate project can establish world-leadership in the off-oil movement and in restabilizing the Middle East.
What Is The Answer? Hydrogen fuel cells
The interim answer, quite simply said (but not so simply done) is hydrogen. Hydrogen gas H2 is abundant, available and burns cleanly. The combustion product is water. In addition, hydrogen can be used in conventional gasoline engines with a conversion similar to the conversion for natural gas. Hydrogen can also be used in fuel cells - if and when a reliable hydrogen cell is developed.
Hydrogen is generated using electricity, which heretofore has made its use as fuel uneconomical. However, there is an economical electrical resource that is ideally suited for the hydrogen slant on things. Wind generated electricity is a very reasonable answer to the question. The fuel is free, and hydrogen storage allows for the use of the system during times of low wind availability.
Hydrogen can also be used in a conventional engine, an electro-mechanical diesel engine or a fuel cell to generate electricity. CLEAN ELECTRICITY!! Wind energy alone is only partially suitable for direct generation of electricity. When the "fuel", wind, is diminished or absent, something else has to be used to take up the slack in energy. If conventional fossil fuels are used, pollutants are generated which defeat the purpose of using the clean wind energy in the first place. If hydrogen is used to take up the slack, the result is clean energy.
Again, there is no free lunch. This system does not come without a price. The overall efficiency of the system is low. Therefore, sufficient wind generation resources must be provided to overcome this.
Why Are We Concerned? Conventional Energy is beoming more expensive with outages expected
There is an excellent video on the market called "The End of Suburbia" The producer, a man named Barry Silverthorn from Paris, Ontario, has gone to great lengths to examine the suburban way of life and the impact of dwindling oil and natural gas reserves. Some of the experts featured (one in particular from Iran) feel that the world oil production has peaked now . Peaking means that the rate of oil recovery from the ground has reached its maximum and can only decline. With increasing consumption from the Chinese, this means that the western way of life is seriously threatened and that western economies cannot grow. In point of fact, natural gas production has already peaked. Currently, the United States consumes fully 50% of Canadaian gas production. Fixing the worldwide problem is daunting and virtually impossible. The only viable alternative is to live more "locally".
What this means is that we must adjust our way of life to consume much less energy. It also means that we have to consider smaller local energy solutions to take up the slack when the larger more environmentally damaging systems fail.
In addition, we must consider our stewardship of the planet. Existing energy solutions are very damaging to the environment. There are some who have postulated that this damage was a contributing factor in the increasing fury and frequency of hurricanes in the Southern United States. The polar ice caps are receding creating fears of large land mass loss on the coastal areas of North America and Europe. Nunavut Territory, for instance, relies completely on oil for its energy needs (both electrical and heat) and emits more greenhouse gas per capita than any other jurisdiction in the world. We can't continue with this mentality!
Why Not Just Wind?
When wind energy is used, it is cheap, and the fuel is free. You can generate electricity. Wind, however is rarely constant. When the wind doesn't blow, you don't produce energy. This requires other forms of generation to take up the slack. The Danes have managed to get an 18% penetration of their power generation through wind energy. That is about the limit. I recall an installation in Nunavut in Kugluktuk. The penetration was about 50% in that case. When the wind varied, the fossil fired generation could not react to the load and the system collapsed. This was virtually a daily occurrence. It would seem, therefore, that wind alone is not much of an answer.
The Proposal- New generation Fuel cells
This system has been implemented in other jurisdiction as a demonstration project. Each part has also been done before, but the business model has not. In addition, since Fuel cells are desirable, there does not appear to be PEM fuel cells available on today's market for either single dwelling or community use. Therefore, some modifications might be required to allow a natural gas reformer to be removed from another type of fuel cell in order to allow for the use of straight hydrogen. This is a conceptual proposal for evaluation. We will supply a detailed proposal if there is an interest by the client.
Wind energy is a very old technology. It has been used for everything from flour making to water pumping. Recently, more sophisticated wind turbines have been designed to allow for the generation of electricity. In conventional wind-diesel systems, sophisticated control systems and battery backup systems have been used to allow the system to perform seamlessly. In point of fact, the control systems used (noteably in Alaska) do not provide 100% reliability and outages still ensue. The cause of the outage is the inability of the fossil fuelled backup to respond to the failure of the wind turbine within a reasonable period of time, which would prevent a system trip as a result of undervoltage or underfrequency conditions. The control systems are far better than wind-diesel without control, but the overall savings in diesel fuel was only 25%
The proposal at hand is to create a business opportunity to stimulate the wind hydrogen alternative and commercialize it to the point that it can be sold internationally.
First, some details of the technical system:
Wind turbines are mature technology. There are some issues when operating them in colder climates and this is one of the reasons for a pilot scale system. Many turbines have been tried in the Arctic, but only one survived the initial trial and even it required extensive modification. Therefore, there would have to be a monitored trial period for the turbine before commercialization could occur. In addition, solar panels would probably be required for summer use when the wind levels are traditionally lower.
The hydrolyser, unit, which makes the hydrogen gas from water, is a very mature technology and requires no trial period.
If a fuel cell were desired for the production of electricity, this would require the bulk of the work. Conventional fuel cell systems of any decent size are designed to operate on natural gas. The natural gas is "reformed" into hydrogen using the heat from the fuel cell. If straight hydrogen fuel were to be used directly, the reformer would have to be removed from the unit and a suitable heat exchange system to remove the heat designed.
The system, however, can run quite happily with conventional internal combustion engines or electro-mechanical diesels with spark injectors. In point of fact, the most realistic configuration from a repair and system planning perspective might be the use of conventional engines coupled in tandem running a reasonably sized generator (say, 300 KW). This configuration would allow for local resources to maintain the engines and for the replacement of one engine without shutting down the entire generator. Even diesel systems would require some specialized maintenance expertise In either the community or single dwelling model, vehicles could be run by hydrogen as part of the system
The wind system would have to be over provisioned to take the efficiency into account and to allow for the use of hydrogen as a fuel. Hydrogen gas can be used as a fuel in converted vehicles. This would allow for the use of existing vehicular infrastructure in preclude the need for the purchase of new, more technologically advanced vehicles by people who probably couldn't afford them. In addition, the existing natural gas infrastructure could also be used to provide hydrogen as a heating fuel (assuming a suitable accommodation with the gas company could be reached). In the single residence model, the internal systems could be tapped directly.
This system is both technically feasible and could quite easily get a small community or even just a single residence completely off grid power and conventional fuels.
The Scalable Business Model
Why would a client invest in the order of $10 million more or less- to do this (community model)? What we are proposing is just that - an scalable investment to the small or large community. This system is considered as a demonstration and as a marketing vehicle.
Test Market needed
If the client were to invest the money and get a small community or single residence off conventional energy, the project could be used to market the system internationally. Small communities in the Arctic, around the globe could benefit greatly and be potential customers. This would include Alaska and the former Soviet Union. It is quite likely that the United States and/or the World Bank would buy systems to install in these and other underdeveloped areas as a way to increase their access to oil and reduce pollution. In addition, the Chinese might be avid customers. Again, these systems might allow an oil greedy Chinese economy to stop sharing with residential users.
What we are suggesting is a return on investment for the system. In addition, the Federal Government, currently in election mode, would most probably underwrite the costs. We are suggesting Port Rowan, or a similiar small community for this trial because it is a tourist town that would give the project a high profile.
Resources are available to bootstrap this innovation project
For more information or expressions of interest please contact the hydrogen project group
Technical project consultants and development team presentaly available
The Role of R. J. Patrick
What we are proposing is a relationship with the client as project managers for the initial construction, and operation of the project. In addition, we have resources that are very experienced in marketing and product development when the product goes to the market.
Who is R. J. Patrick? A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER with extensive experiene .
Over 20 years of Electrical, I&C design and multidisciplinary hands-on project management and a skilled communicator with the ability to facilitate.
Conceptual Proposal for a Wind-Hydrogen System Pilot
R. J. Patrick P. Eng.
Introduction Why we need new fuel cell technology
The age of oil has been the single most important contributing factor in the development of our modern world. The reserves of black gold have allowed us to have unprecented travel potential, unprecented employment potential and took the industrial revolution into the space age.
Unfortunately, there is no free lunch. Not only have we seriously polluted the atmosphere of the planet, but also we are using up the oil infinitely faster than nature can replenish it. We need to do something to limit the flow of oil from the ground. In addition, our greed for oil has allowed the rise of unstable and dangerous political regimes and terrorist groups that now threaten both our economy and our security. In fact, some pundits feel that the quest to preserve access to Middle Eastern oil reserves may cause the war in Iraq to be a war that never ends.
Quite simply, we must do something to get off oil and onto another fuel
What follows is an unsolicited proposal to begin the process. For a minimal level of investment, a well-targeted corporate project can establish world-leadership in the off-oil movement and in restabilizing the Middle East.
What Is The Answer? Hydrogen fuel cells
The interim answer, quite simply said (but not so simply done) is hydrogen. Hydrogen gas H2 is abundant, available and burns cleanly. The combustion product is water. In addition, hydrogen can be used in conventional gasoline engines with a conversion similar to the conversion for natural gas. Hydrogen can also be used in fuel cells - if and when a reliable hydrogen cell is developed.
Hydrogen is generated using electricity, which heretofore has made its use as fuel uneconomical. However, there is an economical electrical resource that is ideally suited for the hydrogen slant on things. Wind generated electricity is a very reasonable answer to the question. The fuel is free, and hydrogen storage allows for the use of the system during times of low wind availability.
Hydrogen can also be used in a conventional engine, an electro-mechanical diesel engine or a fuel cell to generate electricity. CLEAN ELECTRICITY!! Wind energy alone is only partially suitable for direct generation of electricity. When the "fuel", wind, is diminished or absent, something else has to be used to take up the slack in energy. If conventional fossil fuels are used, pollutants are generated which defeat the purpose of using the clean wind energy in the first place. If hydrogen is used to take up the slack, the result is clean energy.
Again, there is no free lunch. This system does not come without a price. The overall efficiency of the system is low. Therefore, sufficient wind generation resources must be provided to overcome this.
Why Are We Concerned? Conventional Energy is beoming more expensive with outages expected
There is an excellent video on the market called "The End of Suburbia" The producer, a man named Barry Silverthorn from Paris, Ontario, has gone to great lengths to examine the suburban way of life and the impact of dwindling oil and natural gas reserves. Some of the experts featured (one in particular from Iran) feel that the world oil production has peaked now . Peaking means that the rate of oil recovery from the ground has reached its maximum and can only decline. With increasing consumption from the Chinese, this means that the western way of life is seriously threatened and that western economies cannot grow. In point of fact, natural gas production has already peaked. Currently, the United States consumes fully 50% of Canadaian gas production. Fixing the worldwide problem is daunting and virtually impossible. The only viable alternative is to live more "locally".
What this means is that we must adjust our way of life to consume much less energy. It also means that we have to consider smaller local energy solutions to take up the slack when the larger more environmentally damaging systems fail.
In addition, we must consider our stewardship of the planet. Existing energy solutions are very damaging to the environment. There are some who have postulated that this damage was a contributing factor in the increasing fury and frequency of hurricanes in the Southern United States. The polar ice caps are receding creating fears of large land mass loss on the coastal areas of North America and Europe. Nunavut Territory, for instance, relies completely on oil for its energy needs (both electrical and heat) and emits more greenhouse gas per capita than any other jurisdiction in the world. We can't continue with this mentality!
Why Not Just Wind?
When wind energy is used, it is cheap, and the fuel is free. You can generate electricity. Wind, however is rarely constant. When the wind doesn't blow, you don't produce energy. This requires other forms of generation to take up the slack. The Danes have managed to get an 18% penetration of their power generation through wind energy. That is about the limit. I recall an installation in Nunavut in Kugluktuk. The penetration was about 50% in that case. When the wind varied, the fossil fired generation could not react to the load and the system collapsed. This was virtually a daily occurrence. It would seem, therefore, that wind alone is not much of an answer.
The Proposal- New generation Fuel cells
This system has been implemented in other jurisdiction as a demonstration project. Each part has also been done before, but the business model has not. In addition, since Fuel cells are desirable, there does not appear to be PEM fuel cells available on today's market for either single dwelling or community use. Therefore, some modifications might be required to allow a natural gas reformer to be removed from another type of fuel cell in order to allow for the use of straight hydrogen. This is a conceptual proposal for evaluation. We will supply a detailed proposal if there is an interest by the client.
Wind energy is a very old technology. It has been used for everything from flour making to water pumping. Recently, more sophisticated wind turbines have been designed to allow for the generation of electricity. In conventional wind-diesel systems, sophisticated control systems and battery backup systems have been used to allow the system to perform seamlessly. In point of fact, the control systems used (noteably in Alaska) do not provide 100% reliability and outages still ensue. The cause of the outage is the inability of the fossil fuelled backup to respond to the failure of the wind turbine within a reasonable period of time, which would prevent a system trip as a result of undervoltage or underfrequency conditions. The control systems are far better than wind-diesel without control, but the overall savings in diesel fuel was only 25%
The proposal at hand is to create a business opportunity to stimulate the wind hydrogen alternative and commercialize it to the point that it can be sold internationally.
First, some details of the technical system:
Wind turbines are mature technology. There are some issues when operating them in colder climates and this is one of the reasons for a pilot scale system. Many turbines have been tried in the Arctic, but only one survived the initial trial and even it required extensive modification. Therefore, there would have to be a monitored trial period for the turbine before commercialization could occur. In addition, solar panels would probably be required for summer use when the wind levels are traditionally lower.
The hydrolyser, unit, which makes the hydrogen gas from water, is a very mature technology and requires no trial period.
If a fuel cell were desired for the production of electricity, this would require the bulk of the work. Conventional fuel cell systems of any decent size are designed to operate on natural gas. The natural gas is "reformed" into hydrogen using the heat from the fuel cell. If straight hydrogen fuel were to be used directly, the reformer would have to be removed from the unit and a suitable heat exchange system to remove the heat designed.
The system, however, can run quite happily with conventional internal combustion engines or electro-mechanical diesels with spark injectors. In point of fact, the most realistic configuration from a repair and system planning perspective might be the use of conventional engines coupled in tandem running a reasonably sized generator (say, 300 KW). This configuration would allow for local resources to maintain the engines and for the replacement of one engine without shutting down the entire generator. Even diesel systems would require some specialized maintenance expertise In either the community or single dwelling model, vehicles could be run by hydrogen as part of the system
The wind system would have to be over provisioned to take the efficiency into account and to allow for the use of hydrogen as a fuel. Hydrogen gas can be used as a fuel in converted vehicles. This would allow for the use of existing vehicular infrastructure in preclude the need for the purchase of new, more technologically advanced vehicles by people who probably couldn't afford them. In addition, the existing natural gas infrastructure could also be used to provide hydrogen as a heating fuel (assuming a suitable accommodation with the gas company could be reached). In the single residence model, the internal systems could be tapped directly.
This system is both technically feasible and could quite easily get a small community or even just a single residence completely off grid power and conventional fuels.
The Scalable Business Model
Why would a client invest in the order of $10 million more or less- to do this (community model)? What we are proposing is just that - an scalable investment to the small or large community. This system is considered as a demonstration and as a marketing vehicle.
Test Market needed
If the client were to invest the money and get a small community or single residence off conventional energy, the project could be used to market the system internationally. Small communities in the Arctic, around the globe could benefit greatly and be potential customers. This would include Alaska and the former Soviet Union. It is quite likely that the United States and/or the World Bank would buy systems to install in these and other underdeveloped areas as a way to increase their access to oil and reduce pollution. In addition, the Chinese might be avid customers. Again, these systems might allow an oil greedy Chinese economy to stop sharing with residential users.
What we are suggesting is a return on investment for the system. In addition, the Federal Government, currently in election mode, would most probably underwrite the costs. We are suggesting Port Rowan, or a similiar small community for this trial because it is a tourist town that would give the project a high profile.
Resources are available to bootstrap this innovation project
For more information or expressions of interest please contact the hydrogen project group
Technical project consultants and development team presentaly available
The Role of R. J. Patrick
What we are proposing is a relationship with the client as project managers for the initial construction, and operation of the project. In addition, we have resources that are very experienced in marketing and product development when the product goes to the market.
Who is R. J. Patrick? A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER with extensive experiene .
Over 20 years of Electrical, I&C design and multidisciplinary hands-on project management and a skilled communicator with the ability to facilitate.
Thursday, November 08, 2007
poop to energy
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
LabPixies - Add Gadgets To Your Toolbar
LabPixies - Add Gadgets To Your Toolbar: "Add gadgets to your toolbar! Add the coolest gadgets on the web! Browse our over increasing selection of gadgets for your personal toolbar. Simply click the button below each gadget. "
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Could salt water fuel care
Could salt water fuel cars?
by Josh Clark
Inside This Article
1.
Could salt water fuel cars?
2.
Aquygen
3.
Lots More Information
4.
See all Alternative Fuel articles
In the future, you might see a lot of confused seagulls hovering around your local gas station. That's because rather than gasoline, gas stations could smell a lot like the beach. It depends on whether the kinks can be worked out in an invention created by a 63-year-old named John Kanzius that could create an alternative fuel out of salt water. Through sheer serendipity, Kanzius, a former broadcast engineer, found out something incredible -- under the right conditions, salt water can burn at incredible temperatures. With a little bit of tinkering, it might even serve as an alternative fuel for our cars in the future.
Image courtesy WPBF-TVYes, you're seeing water burn.
Kanzius' journey toward surprise inspiration began with a leukemia diagnosis in 2003. Faced with the prospect of debilitating chemotherapy, he decided he would try to invent a better alternative for destroying cancerous cells. What he came up with is his radio frequency generator (RFG), a machine that generates radio waves and focuses them into a concentrated area. Kanzius used the RFG to heat small metallic particles inserted into tumors, destroying the tumors without harming normal cells.
But what does cancer treatment have to do with salt water as fuel?
During a demonstration of the RFG, an observer noticed that it was causing water in a nearby test tube to condense. If the RFG could make water condense, it could theoretically separate salt out of seawater. Perhaps, then, it could be used to desalinize water, an issue of global proportions. The old seaman's adage "Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink" applies inland as well: Some nations are drying up and their populations suffering from thirst, yet the world is 70 percent ocean water. An effective means of removing salt from salt water could save countless lives. So it's no surprise that Kanzius trained his RFG on the goal of salt water desalinization.
During his first test, however, he noticed a surprising side effect. When he aimed the RFG at a test tube filled with seawater, it sparked. This is not a normal reaction by water.
Kanzius tried the test again, this time lighting a paper towel and touching it to the water while the water was in the path of the RFG. He got an even bigger surprise -- the test tube ignited and stayed alight while the RFG was turned on.
News of the experiment was generally met with allegations of it being a hoax, but after Penn State University chemists got their hands on the RFG and tried their own experiments, they found it was indeed true. The RFG could ignite and burn salt water. The flame could reach temperatures as high as 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit and burn as long as the RFG was on and aimed at it.
But how could salt water possibly ignite? Why don't careless litterbugs who flick lit cigarette butts into the sea set the whole planet aflame? It all has to do with hydrogen. In its normal state, salt water has a stable composition of sodium chloride (the salt) and hydrogen and oxygen (the water). But the radio waves from Kanzius' RFG disrupt that stability, degrading the bonds that hold the chemicals in salt water together. This releases the volatile hydrogen molecules, and the heat output from the RFG ignites them and burns them indefinitely.
So will our cars soon run on salt water instead of gasoline? That may be. First, there are a few hurdles to overcome. Read the next page for some of the bugs that need to be worked out before we drive salt-water-fueled cars.
by Josh Clark
Inside This Article
1.
Could salt water fuel cars?
2.
Aquygen
3.
Lots More Information
4.
See all Alternative Fuel articles
In the future, you might see a lot of confused seagulls hovering around your local gas station. That's because rather than gasoline, gas stations could smell a lot like the beach. It depends on whether the kinks can be worked out in an invention created by a 63-year-old named John Kanzius that could create an alternative fuel out of salt water. Through sheer serendipity, Kanzius, a former broadcast engineer, found out something incredible -- under the right conditions, salt water can burn at incredible temperatures. With a little bit of tinkering, it might even serve as an alternative fuel for our cars in the future.
Image courtesy WPBF-TVYes, you're seeing water burn.
Kanzius' journey toward surprise inspiration began with a leukemia diagnosis in 2003. Faced with the prospect of debilitating chemotherapy, he decided he would try to invent a better alternative for destroying cancerous cells. What he came up with is his radio frequency generator (RFG), a machine that generates radio waves and focuses them into a concentrated area. Kanzius used the RFG to heat small metallic particles inserted into tumors, destroying the tumors without harming normal cells.
But what does cancer treatment have to do with salt water as fuel?
During a demonstration of the RFG, an observer noticed that it was causing water in a nearby test tube to condense. If the RFG could make water condense, it could theoretically separate salt out of seawater. Perhaps, then, it could be used to desalinize water, an issue of global proportions. The old seaman's adage "Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink" applies inland as well: Some nations are drying up and their populations suffering from thirst, yet the world is 70 percent ocean water. An effective means of removing salt from salt water could save countless lives. So it's no surprise that Kanzius trained his RFG on the goal of salt water desalinization.
During his first test, however, he noticed a surprising side effect. When he aimed the RFG at a test tube filled with seawater, it sparked. This is not a normal reaction by water.
Kanzius tried the test again, this time lighting a paper towel and touching it to the water while the water was in the path of the RFG. He got an even bigger surprise -- the test tube ignited and stayed alight while the RFG was turned on.
News of the experiment was generally met with allegations of it being a hoax, but after Penn State University chemists got their hands on the RFG and tried their own experiments, they found it was indeed true. The RFG could ignite and burn salt water. The flame could reach temperatures as high as 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit and burn as long as the RFG was on and aimed at it.
But how could salt water possibly ignite? Why don't careless litterbugs who flick lit cigarette butts into the sea set the whole planet aflame? It all has to do with hydrogen. In its normal state, salt water has a stable composition of sodium chloride (the salt) and hydrogen and oxygen (the water). But the radio waves from Kanzius' RFG disrupt that stability, degrading the bonds that hold the chemicals in salt water together. This releases the volatile hydrogen molecules, and the heat output from the RFG ignites them and burns them indefinitely.
So will our cars soon run on salt water instead of gasoline? That may be. First, there are a few hurdles to overcome. Read the next page for some of the bugs that need to be worked out before we drive salt-water-fueled cars.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Cheap solar
Investors have flocked to solar and other renewable energy sources amid worries about the high costs of oil and natural gas and greenhouse gas emissions. Solar is the fastest growing energy source, but still provides less than 1 percent of the world's electricity, in part because its power can cost homeowners twice as much as power from the grid.
But costs could fall 40 percent in the next few years as polysilicon becomes more available, Sawin said,
More than a dozen companies in Europe, China, Japan, and the United States will boost production over the next few years of purified polysilicon, which helps panels convert sunlight into electricity, and is the main ingredient in semiconductor computer chips, according to the report.
Polysilicon's feedstock is abundantly available sand. But a downturn in silicon refining after the high-tech bubble collapse in the late 1990s has constrained the panel market.
In some of the world's sunniest places, like California, electricity from solar panels costs the same as power from the grid. A drop in solar panel prices could expand that to places that only get average sunlight, making solar more of a mainstream choice, Sawin said in an e-mail.
Last year, China passed the United States to become the world's third largest producer of solar panels, trailing only Germany and Japan.
"To say that Chinese PV producers plan to expand production rapidly in the year ahead would be an understatement," Travis Bradford, president of the Prometheus Institute, a Massachusetts-based group that promotes renewables, said in a release.
"They have raised billions from international IPOs to build capacity and increase scale with the goal of driving down costs," said Bradford, who helped write the report.
But costs could fall 40 percent in the next few years as polysilicon becomes more available, Sawin said,
More than a dozen companies in Europe, China, Japan, and the United States will boost production over the next few years of purified polysilicon, which helps panels convert sunlight into electricity, and is the main ingredient in semiconductor computer chips, according to the report.
Polysilicon's feedstock is abundantly available sand. But a downturn in silicon refining after the high-tech bubble collapse in the late 1990s has constrained the panel market.
In some of the world's sunniest places, like California, electricity from solar panels costs the same as power from the grid. A drop in solar panel prices could expand that to places that only get average sunlight, making solar more of a mainstream choice, Sawin said in an e-mail.
Last year, China passed the United States to become the world's third largest producer of solar panels, trailing only Germany and Japan.
"To say that Chinese PV producers plan to expand production rapidly in the year ahead would be an understatement," Travis Bradford, president of the Prometheus Institute, a Massachusetts-based group that promotes renewables, said in a release.
"They have raised billions from international IPOs to build capacity and increase scale with the goal of driving down costs," said Bradford, who helped write the report.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Amateur Yacht Research Society - Down Wind Faster Than the Wind
Amateur Yacht Research Society - Down Wind Faster Than the Wind
interesting how can this principle be adapted to roadsters?
Can a wind powered vehicle sail faster than the wind? Yes - it can!"The key point is that the propeller is a propeller, not a wind vane, and when the cart is rolling, the wheels are powering the propeller, not the other way around. With the right gearing, the propeller will always push backwards against the air, whether or not the air is moving forwards or backwards relative to the cart. The tailwind and the propeller action combine to make the wheels spin fast enough to keep the whole system rolling faster than the wind". Definitely counter-intuitive."(Jack Goodman) More info at the Journal
interesting how can this principle be adapted to roadsters?
Can a wind powered vehicle sail faster than the wind? Yes - it can!"The key point is that the propeller is a propeller, not a wind vane, and when the cart is rolling, the wheels are powering the propeller, not the other way around. With the right gearing, the propeller will always push backwards against the air, whether or not the air is moving forwards or backwards relative to the cart. The tailwind and the propeller action combine to make the wheels spin fast enough to keep the whole system rolling faster than the wind". Definitely counter-intuitive."(Jack Goodman) More info at the Journal
Amateur Yacht Research Society - Down Wind Faster Than the Wind
Amateur Yacht Research Society - Down Wind Faster Than the Wind
interesting how can this principle be adapted to roadsters?
Can a wind powered vehicle sail faster than the wind? Yes - it can!"The key point is that the propeller is a propeller, not a wind vane, and when the cart is rolling, the wheels are powering the propeller, not the other way around. With the right gearing, the propeller will always push backwards against the air, whether or not the air is moving forwards or backwards relative to the cart. The tailwind and the propeller action combine to make the wheels spin fast enough to keep the whole system rolling faster than the wind". Definitely counter-intuitive."(Jack Goodman) More info at the Journal
interesting how can this principle be adapted to roadsters?
Can a wind powered vehicle sail faster than the wind? Yes - it can!"The key point is that the propeller is a propeller, not a wind vane, and when the cart is rolling, the wheels are powering the propeller, not the other way around. With the right gearing, the propeller will always push backwards against the air, whether or not the air is moving forwards or backwards relative to the cart. The tailwind and the propeller action combine to make the wheels spin fast enough to keep the whole system rolling faster than the wind". Definitely counter-intuitive."(Jack Goodman) More info at the Journal
Monday, April 30, 2007
Friday, April 06, 2007
WNYC - News - Tidal Power: Can the East River Generate Electricity?
WNYC - News - Tidal Power: Can the East River Generate Electricity?: "Tidal Power: Can the East River Generate Electricity?
by Beth Fertig
Listen Download MP3
NEW YORK, NY April 05, 2007 —Approximately 14 percent of all electrical power in New York State comes from hydropower. Many environmentalists believe that figure should be higher. They see hydropower as a way of reducing our reliance on the fossil fuels that contribute to global warming. In our ongoing series on how the New York region is preparing for climate change, WNYC’s Beth Fertig looks at one small company that’s now experimenting with a new form of hydro-electric power right in the East River.
CORREN: The turbines actually turn very slowly. They’re five meters in diameter - that’s 16.4 feet - and they turn at about 34 RPM. Quite stately is my term for it. Also leading edges are very rounded and blunt. Also the inner part turns very slowly. So there’s only a very small area that could actually hurt fish if they were to hit it.
REPORTER: And those tests are just beginning. In a former shipping container that’s been turned into a control room, Verdant has spent several months already studying the habits of East River wildlife. Analyst Hannah Abend uses her computer to look at underwater images captured by a different sonar device last year.
"
by Beth Fertig
Listen Download MP3
NEW YORK, NY April 05, 2007 —Approximately 14 percent of all electrical power in New York State comes from hydropower. Many environmentalists believe that figure should be higher. They see hydropower as a way of reducing our reliance on the fossil fuels that contribute to global warming. In our ongoing series on how the New York region is preparing for climate change, WNYC’s Beth Fertig looks at one small company that’s now experimenting with a new form of hydro-electric power right in the East River.
CORREN: The turbines actually turn very slowly. They’re five meters in diameter - that’s 16.4 feet - and they turn at about 34 RPM. Quite stately is my term for it. Also leading edges are very rounded and blunt. Also the inner part turns very slowly. So there’s only a very small area that could actually hurt fish if they were to hit it.
REPORTER: And those tests are just beginning. In a former shipping container that’s been turned into a control room, Verdant has spent several months already studying the habits of East River wildlife. Analyst Hannah Abend uses her computer to look at underwater images captured by a different sonar device last year.
"
Monday, April 02, 2007
GreenBiz News | Waste-to-Energy Plants Could Replace Incinerators
GreenBiz News | Waste-to-Energy Plants Could Replace Incinerators: "
Printer-friendly version | Email this document
Waste-to-Energy Plants Could Replace Incinerators
Source: Edie News
LONDON, Apr. 2, 2007 -- Cutting edge waste-to-energy plants that are smaller and cleaner than incinerators could soon hit the U.K. market, ending the need for polluting incinerator projects.
The plants run a new process that transforms non-recyclable waste into a clean syn-gas, used to generate clean power and a high-strength building material, with the plant itself powered by the syn-gas it produces.
Carbon-neutral and very low in emissions with plants around a third of the size of incinerators, the Gasplasma process can compete with incinerators on a number of counts, according to Andrew Hamilton, CEO of Advanced Plasma Power, the company that patented the process.
'The trick here for us has been the combination of gasification and plasma. The benefit of combining these two existing technologies is that you substantially reduce the power requirements, and that transforms the economics of the process,' Hamilton said.
'You will get some CO2 coming out but a half to two-thirds of the waste is biodegradable, so it's carbon neutral,' he said, adding that the process beats incineration when it comes to the carbon balance.
The process has passed tests in a pilot plant with flying colors and is now ready to be implemented on larger scale, he said. Numerous advantages over incinerators include size, a major selling point as the 50-foot-high plant takes up around a third of the space needed for an incinerator.
'Because it's got a small building footprint with a low profile building and small stack, and it's very clean, it is very suitable for urban"
Printer-friendly version | Email this document
Waste-to-Energy Plants Could Replace Incinerators
Source: Edie News
LONDON, Apr. 2, 2007 -- Cutting edge waste-to-energy plants that are smaller and cleaner than incinerators could soon hit the U.K. market, ending the need for polluting incinerator projects.
The plants run a new process that transforms non-recyclable waste into a clean syn-gas, used to generate clean power and a high-strength building material, with the plant itself powered by the syn-gas it produces.
Carbon-neutral and very low in emissions with plants around a third of the size of incinerators, the Gasplasma process can compete with incinerators on a number of counts, according to Andrew Hamilton, CEO of Advanced Plasma Power, the company that patented the process.
'The trick here for us has been the combination of gasification and plasma. The benefit of combining these two existing technologies is that you substantially reduce the power requirements, and that transforms the economics of the process,' Hamilton said.
'You will get some CO2 coming out but a half to two-thirds of the waste is biodegradable, so it's carbon neutral,' he said, adding that the process beats incineration when it comes to the carbon balance.
The process has passed tests in a pilot plant with flying colors and is now ready to be implemented on larger scale, he said. Numerous advantages over incinerators include size, a major selling point as the 50-foot-high plant takes up around a third of the space needed for an incinerator.
'Because it's got a small building footprint with a low profile building and small stack, and it's very clean, it is very suitable for urban"
Friday, March 30, 2007
globeandmail.com: 'Green' vehicle technology to get financing from Ontario
globeandmail.com: 'Green' vehicle technology to get financing from Ontario: "Developing new technologies that are environmentally friendly is expensive and risky for auto makers, as GM found out with the first electric car, which it developed for sale in the 1990s, but which turned out to be a bust.
Because of those risks, the U.S. government and the European Union have offered hundreds of millions of dollars to their auto industries to help develop green technologies. The U.S. Energy Department helps finance FreedomCAR, which is an attempt to build zero-emission cars and trucks that don't use petroleum.
The Canadian Auto Workers union has called for a mandatory 25-per-cent improvement in the fuel efficiency of vehicles by 2013.
The CAW has also suggested incentives for drivers to get older, more heavily polluting cars off the roads, a measure that Ottawa put in place in last week's federal budget.
But such a program needs to be more comprehensive, so that older vehicles aren't just junked, but the materials in them are recycled, CAW president Buzz Hargrove said.
And $36-million promised by Ottawa isn't nearly enough money, Mr. Hargrove said."
Because of those risks, the U.S. government and the European Union have offered hundreds of millions of dollars to their auto industries to help develop green technologies. The U.S. Energy Department helps finance FreedomCAR, which is an attempt to build zero-emission cars and trucks that don't use petroleum.
The Canadian Auto Workers union has called for a mandatory 25-per-cent improvement in the fuel efficiency of vehicles by 2013.
The CAW has also suggested incentives for drivers to get older, more heavily polluting cars off the roads, a measure that Ottawa put in place in last week's federal budget.
But such a program needs to be more comprehensive, so that older vehicles aren't just junked, but the materials in them are recycled, CAW president Buzz Hargrove said.
And $36-million promised by Ottawa isn't nearly enough money, Mr. Hargrove said."
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Sugar-fueled battery could power portable electronics
Sugar-fueled battery could power portable electronics: "Sugar-fueled battery could power portable electronics
Author: Newswise
Juicing up your cell phone or iPod may take on a whole new meaning in the future. Researchers at Saint Louis University in Missouri have developed a fuel cell battery that runs on virtually any sugar source — from soft drinks to tree sap — and has the potential to operate three to four times longer on a single charge than conventional lithium-ion batteries, they say.
For consumers, that could mean significantly longer time to talk and play music between charges. The new battery, which is also biodegradable, could eventually replace lithium ion batteries in many portable electronic applications, including computers, the scientists say. Their findings were described March 25 at the 233rd national meeting of the American Chemical Society.
“This study shows that renewable fuels can be directly employed in batteries at room temperature to lead to more energy-efficient battery technology than metal-based approaches,” says study leader Shelley Minteer, Ph.D., an electrochemist at Saint Louis University. “It demonstrates that by bridging biology and chemistry, we can build a better battery that’s also cleaner for the environment.”
Using sugar for fuel is not a new concept: Sugar in the form of glucose supplies the energy needs of all living things. While nature has figured out how to harness this energy efficiently, scientists only recently have learned how to unleash the energy-dense power of sugar to produce electricity, Minteer says.
A few other researchers also have developed fuel cell batteries that run on sugar, but Minteer claims that he"
Author: Newswise
Juicing up your cell phone or iPod may take on a whole new meaning in the future. Researchers at Saint Louis University in Missouri have developed a fuel cell battery that runs on virtually any sugar source — from soft drinks to tree sap — and has the potential to operate three to four times longer on a single charge than conventional lithium-ion batteries, they say.
For consumers, that could mean significantly longer time to talk and play music between charges. The new battery, which is also biodegradable, could eventually replace lithium ion batteries in many portable electronic applications, including computers, the scientists say. Their findings were described March 25 at the 233rd national meeting of the American Chemical Society.
“This study shows that renewable fuels can be directly employed in batteries at room temperature to lead to more energy-efficient battery technology than metal-based approaches,” says study leader Shelley Minteer, Ph.D., an electrochemist at Saint Louis University. “It demonstrates that by bridging biology and chemistry, we can build a better battery that’s also cleaner for the environment.”
Using sugar for fuel is not a new concept: Sugar in the form of glucose supplies the energy needs of all living things. While nature has figured out how to harness this energy efficiently, scientists only recently have learned how to unleash the energy-dense power of sugar to produce electricity, Minteer says.
A few other researchers also have developed fuel cell batteries that run on sugar, but Minteer claims that he"
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
A New Battery Takes Off in a Race to Electric Cars - New York Times
A New Battery Takes Off in a Race to Electric Cars - New York Times: "A123Systems, a start-up in Watertown, Mass., says it has created a powerful, safe, long-lived battery. If the cell fulfills the ambitions of its maker, that softer sound will be the future of automobiles.
To date, all-electric vehicles have failed because their batteries were inadequate. General Motors’ futuristic EV1 car of the late 1990s was doted upon by environmentally conscious drivers who admired its innovative engineering, but because the car used large, primitive nickel metal hydride batteries, its range was limited, its acceleration degraded as the batteries weakened with age, and its two-seat layout was not very comfortable for big, corn-fed North Americans.
“The problem came down to usability,” said Nick Zelenski, G.M.’s chief vehicle engineer. “You had to plan your life around when you were going to charge the EV1.” G.M. built only 1,117 of the experimental cars because it believed that American drivers would not buy such an affront to the national ideal of the open road. "
To date, all-electric vehicles have failed because their batteries were inadequate. General Motors’ futuristic EV1 car of the late 1990s was doted upon by environmentally conscious drivers who admired its innovative engineering, but because the car used large, primitive nickel metal hydride batteries, its range was limited, its acceleration degraded as the batteries weakened with age, and its two-seat layout was not very comfortable for big, corn-fed North Americans.
“The problem came down to usability,” said Nick Zelenski, G.M.’s chief vehicle engineer. “You had to plan your life around when you were going to charge the EV1.” G.M. built only 1,117 of the experimental cars because it believed that American drivers would not buy such an affront to the national ideal of the open road. "
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
BSRNews » Reflections » Biomass Energy
A useful summary of alterntive energy sources
BSRNews » Reflections » Biomass Energy: programs; the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) estimated that by 2010, 4% of U.S. transportation fuel could be made from biomass, and that energy crops and crop residue could supply 14% of domestic energy demand.
Reflections » Biomass EnergyFebruary 13, 2007
Topics » Alternative Energy, Biofuel, CO2 Emissions
Save Discuss Print
There are a number of renewable sources that can be used for energy production, and one of the most abundant sources is also one of the least popular commercially. Biomass, or waste materials ranging from sewage and manure to landfill garbage and agricultural waste, can be processed or burned to generate power, and the technology needed to do this is being developed and implemented in a variety of places and ways. Biomass is currently used to generate approximately 3% of the energy consumed in the U.S., according to the Energy Information Administration. Estimates of the potential energy that could be produced using biomass vary and depend on agricultural forecasts and industrial waste reduction programs; the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) estimated that by 2010, 4% of U.S. transportation fuel could be made from biomass, and that energy crops and crop residue could supply 14% of domestic energy demand.
FuelWaste material is most commonly discussed as a source for cellulosic ethanol. Cellulose is a primary component of plant matter that is difficult to ferment directly. Therefore, ethanol is currently made from only the plant parts that contain simple sugars; in the U.S., corn kernels are used. Cellulosic ethanol is not yet commercially produced, but the technology to do so is being developed by a number of public and private organizations. A few companies, like Dyadic International, Inc., are developing enzymes and bacteria that will break down cellulose for fermentation into ethanol. When these techniques can be used economically on a commercial scale, corn stalks and waste plant material from the timber and agriculture industries could also be used to make ethanol.
Waste products can be used to make traditional ethanol as well, but this practice is not widely implemented because these waste sources are not found in large concentrations and don't lend themselves to commercial-scale conversion. Coors Brewing Company refines residuals from the beer brewing process into 3 million gallons of ethanol annually. North Carolina State University has been researching the possibility of converting pig waste to ethanol using steam gasification methods. A Wisconsin company has also recently found a method for converting cheese waste into ethanol. It is technically possible to convert just about any substance containing sugar into ethanol, but it is only economically feasible for companies like Coors that can make their operations self-sufficient.
Biodiesel is made from waste products more often than ethanol is, but like the production of ethanol from common waste sources, large-scale biodiesel production is hampered by the fact that waste sources are scattered and moving the different feedstocks to one place can be very expensive. Used cooking oil is the most popular waste source for biodiesel production; most recycled oil comes from restaurants, though other sources are available. Arizona-based Grecycle holds an annual "grease recycling drive" after Thanksgiving to collect used cooking oil from residences, and a Missouri-based diesel plant uses waste from a nearby turkey processing plant to manufacture biodiesel.
Methane, which can be combined with oil to produce biodiesel, can be found in greater quantities than used cooking oil and some of the other material used to make biodiesel. Methane can be derived from a variety of waste sources, with landfills the most popular. Methane makes up about 50% of the gas emitted from landfill sites as a natural by-product of the decomposition of organic material; extracting the gas involves drilling a series of wells within the landfill and constructing a vacuum system that captures the gas. Agriculture giant Cargill Incorporated plans to use this system to convert methane emissions from a landfill to biodiesel at a new plant in Iowa.
The use of landfill gas is beneficial in that it prevents methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, from entering the atmosphere; landfills account for 13% of the methane emitted worldwide. There are drawbacks to using landfill gas, one of which is the emission of nitrogen oxides that results from the combustion of landfill gas. The use of methane from landfills is not widely practiced, so regulations regarding its use are widely varied and very little governmental support is currently available.
Extracting methane is not the only way that waste products can be used to generate fuel. Japanese scientists at the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology have extracted gasoline from cow manure by subjecting the manure to high pressure and temperature while applying a catalyst; no details have been disclosed. This technology is expected to be introduced to the commercial market by 2011.
PowerMethane can also be refined into natural gas and used for other power applications, including electricity production. An increasingly popular source of methane for power generation is manure, most commonly from dairy cows; anaerobic digesters are used to break the manure down until methane is released. In Vermont, the Central Vermont Public Service's Cow Power program allows customers to purchase power generated using local farm waste. Pacific Gas & Electric Company, the utility subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), plans to buy 8,000 Dth/d of natural gas produced from cow manure to fuel some of its power plants. And utility companies aren't the only ones using manure as a power source: methane from manure is being used by a growing number of industries to generate power. Ethanol plants being planned in Nebraska and Indiana will use cow manure to power the ethanol production. Feedlots will be included in the refinery complex so that transportation of the manure will be inexpensive; completing the cycle, cows in the feedlot will be fed a by-product of the ethanol production process.
Cows are not the only group providing power-generating manure; methane can be extracted from all kinds of manure. The Munich zoo uses waste from the animals to provide power to zoo facilities. Reynolds, Indiana, plans to remove itself from the power grid and use pig manure as a power source instead. There are a number of pig farms near Reynolds and each pig produces seven gallons of manure each day; this amount of manure could be used to produce about 3.2 MW of power, which is more than Reynolds consumes. Dogs are also making a contribution; a garbage company in San Francisco is testing the feasibility of using dog waste collected from area parks to generate power. Any place where manure is collected in large amounts can provide a renewable energy source.
According to Environmental Power Corporation (AMEX:EPG), a company that produces manure power, the potential U.S. market for manure gas is over 250 million BOE per year. EPG estimates that 875 cows produce enough methane to provide power to about 600 homes. The conversion process also produces useful by-products, including pathogen-free livestock bedding and seed-free fertilizer. Another benefit to using manure to generate power rather than letting it decompose in a heap lies in the fact that the methane released into the atmosphere as the manure breaks down is a greenhouse gas 21 times stronger than carbon dioxide. Capturing and burning the methane to generate power prevents its emission; as a result, some farmers who contribute manure to power generation have been able to increase their income by selling greenhouse gas emissions credits on voluntary greenhouse gas markets.
Opponents of manure power point out that it is only economically competitive with fossil fuels when the manure comes from very large, industrial farms, where the manure is stored in large piles or pools that can pollute ground water and streams. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has said that large livestock operations create environmental and human health hazards that are not created by smaller farms, negating some of the environmental benefits of using the manure in the first place. However, transporting manure from a number of smaller farms to a centralized location for processing is not economically feasible. For this reason, manure power may remain a local supplement to the grid rather than a large-scale source of energy.
Another waste source of energy is industrial and agricultural waste, which can be burned directly to create heat or generate electricity. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, biomass can replace up to 20% of the coal burned in boilers at coal-fired power plants; the process, called co-firing, reduces power plants' operating costs and emissions. Alliant Energy Corporation (NYSE:LNT) began testing the co-firing of switchgrass at its Iowa facility in 2005 with help from the DOE; the tests were so successful that Alliant built a permanent biomass processing facility at the site.
HeatAnimal waste can also be used to generate heat. The city of Oslo, Norway, uses raw sewage to heat some residences; a refrigerant sucks heat from the sewage and transfers it to a 250-mile network of hot water pipes that run under the city. Augmented by plants that burn industrial waste, the sewage raises the water temperature 38 degrees Celsius. Oslo's system illustrates the use of biomass power from a number of sources, rather than just one; while this increases complexity, it also increases the resilience of the system since it is no longer dependent on just one energy source.
ConclusionThe number of different waste materials that can be used to generate power seems endless, but the creation of biomass energy is not more widespread because the cost of transporting the waste to commercial production centers is often prohibitive. Biomass contains less energy per pound than fossil fuels, so shipping raw biomass more than 50 miles uses more energy than the biomass will provide. Biomass is best suited for small-scale, local power generation where the feedstock is essentially free and the cost of transporting it is negligible. While biomass energy may never be able to meet global energy demand, it can be used in a variety of ways to supplement the grid; in smaller communities, biomass power plants can be custom-designed to meet the area's energy demand in a self-sustaining manner with no concern that the input will run out. After all, waste is everywhere.
SourcesEnergy Information Administration. "U.S. Energy Consumption by Energy Source." Energy Information Administration. U.S. Department of Energy. Accessed 21 January 2007. http://www.eia.doe.gov
BSRNews » Reflections » Biomass Energy: programs; the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) estimated that by 2010, 4% of U.S. transportation fuel could be made from biomass, and that energy crops and crop residue could supply 14% of domestic energy demand.
Reflections » Biomass EnergyFebruary 13, 2007
Topics » Alternative Energy, Biofuel, CO2 Emissions
Save Discuss Print
There are a number of renewable sources that can be used for energy production, and one of the most abundant sources is also one of the least popular commercially. Biomass, or waste materials ranging from sewage and manure to landfill garbage and agricultural waste, can be processed or burned to generate power, and the technology needed to do this is being developed and implemented in a variety of places and ways. Biomass is currently used to generate approximately 3% of the energy consumed in the U.S., according to the Energy Information Administration. Estimates of the potential energy that could be produced using biomass vary and depend on agricultural forecasts and industrial waste reduction programs; the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) estimated that by 2010, 4% of U.S. transportation fuel could be made from biomass, and that energy crops and crop residue could supply 14% of domestic energy demand.
FuelWaste material is most commonly discussed as a source for cellulosic ethanol. Cellulose is a primary component of plant matter that is difficult to ferment directly. Therefore, ethanol is currently made from only the plant parts that contain simple sugars; in the U.S., corn kernels are used. Cellulosic ethanol is not yet commercially produced, but the technology to do so is being developed by a number of public and private organizations. A few companies, like Dyadic International, Inc., are developing enzymes and bacteria that will break down cellulose for fermentation into ethanol. When these techniques can be used economically on a commercial scale, corn stalks and waste plant material from the timber and agriculture industries could also be used to make ethanol.
Waste products can be used to make traditional ethanol as well, but this practice is not widely implemented because these waste sources are not found in large concentrations and don't lend themselves to commercial-scale conversion. Coors Brewing Company refines residuals from the beer brewing process into 3 million gallons of ethanol annually. North Carolina State University has been researching the possibility of converting pig waste to ethanol using steam gasification methods. A Wisconsin company has also recently found a method for converting cheese waste into ethanol. It is technically possible to convert just about any substance containing sugar into ethanol, but it is only economically feasible for companies like Coors that can make their operations self-sufficient.
Biodiesel is made from waste products more often than ethanol is, but like the production of ethanol from common waste sources, large-scale biodiesel production is hampered by the fact that waste sources are scattered and moving the different feedstocks to one place can be very expensive. Used cooking oil is the most popular waste source for biodiesel production; most recycled oil comes from restaurants, though other sources are available. Arizona-based Grecycle holds an annual "grease recycling drive" after Thanksgiving to collect used cooking oil from residences, and a Missouri-based diesel plant uses waste from a nearby turkey processing plant to manufacture biodiesel.
Methane, which can be combined with oil to produce biodiesel, can be found in greater quantities than used cooking oil and some of the other material used to make biodiesel. Methane can be derived from a variety of waste sources, with landfills the most popular. Methane makes up about 50% of the gas emitted from landfill sites as a natural by-product of the decomposition of organic material; extracting the gas involves drilling a series of wells within the landfill and constructing a vacuum system that captures the gas. Agriculture giant Cargill Incorporated plans to use this system to convert methane emissions from a landfill to biodiesel at a new plant in Iowa.
The use of landfill gas is beneficial in that it prevents methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, from entering the atmosphere; landfills account for 13% of the methane emitted worldwide. There are drawbacks to using landfill gas, one of which is the emission of nitrogen oxides that results from the combustion of landfill gas. The use of methane from landfills is not widely practiced, so regulations regarding its use are widely varied and very little governmental support is currently available.
Extracting methane is not the only way that waste products can be used to generate fuel. Japanese scientists at the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology have extracted gasoline from cow manure by subjecting the manure to high pressure and temperature while applying a catalyst; no details have been disclosed. This technology is expected to be introduced to the commercial market by 2011.
PowerMethane can also be refined into natural gas and used for other power applications, including electricity production. An increasingly popular source of methane for power generation is manure, most commonly from dairy cows; anaerobic digesters are used to break the manure down until methane is released. In Vermont, the Central Vermont Public Service's Cow Power program allows customers to purchase power generated using local farm waste. Pacific Gas & Electric Company, the utility subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), plans to buy 8,000 Dth/d of natural gas produced from cow manure to fuel some of its power plants. And utility companies aren't the only ones using manure as a power source: methane from manure is being used by a growing number of industries to generate power. Ethanol plants being planned in Nebraska and Indiana will use cow manure to power the ethanol production. Feedlots will be included in the refinery complex so that transportation of the manure will be inexpensive; completing the cycle, cows in the feedlot will be fed a by-product of the ethanol production process.
Cows are not the only group providing power-generating manure; methane can be extracted from all kinds of manure. The Munich zoo uses waste from the animals to provide power to zoo facilities. Reynolds, Indiana, plans to remove itself from the power grid and use pig manure as a power source instead. There are a number of pig farms near Reynolds and each pig produces seven gallons of manure each day; this amount of manure could be used to produce about 3.2 MW of power, which is more than Reynolds consumes. Dogs are also making a contribution; a garbage company in San Francisco is testing the feasibility of using dog waste collected from area parks to generate power. Any place where manure is collected in large amounts can provide a renewable energy source.
According to Environmental Power Corporation (AMEX:EPG), a company that produces manure power, the potential U.S. market for manure gas is over 250 million BOE per year. EPG estimates that 875 cows produce enough methane to provide power to about 600 homes. The conversion process also produces useful by-products, including pathogen-free livestock bedding and seed-free fertilizer. Another benefit to using manure to generate power rather than letting it decompose in a heap lies in the fact that the methane released into the atmosphere as the manure breaks down is a greenhouse gas 21 times stronger than carbon dioxide. Capturing and burning the methane to generate power prevents its emission; as a result, some farmers who contribute manure to power generation have been able to increase their income by selling greenhouse gas emissions credits on voluntary greenhouse gas markets.
Opponents of manure power point out that it is only economically competitive with fossil fuels when the manure comes from very large, industrial farms, where the manure is stored in large piles or pools that can pollute ground water and streams. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has said that large livestock operations create environmental and human health hazards that are not created by smaller farms, negating some of the environmental benefits of using the manure in the first place. However, transporting manure from a number of smaller farms to a centralized location for processing is not economically feasible. For this reason, manure power may remain a local supplement to the grid rather than a large-scale source of energy.
Another waste source of energy is industrial and agricultural waste, which can be burned directly to create heat or generate electricity. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, biomass can replace up to 20% of the coal burned in boilers at coal-fired power plants; the process, called co-firing, reduces power plants' operating costs and emissions. Alliant Energy Corporation (NYSE:LNT) began testing the co-firing of switchgrass at its Iowa facility in 2005 with help from the DOE; the tests were so successful that Alliant built a permanent biomass processing facility at the site.
HeatAnimal waste can also be used to generate heat. The city of Oslo, Norway, uses raw sewage to heat some residences; a refrigerant sucks heat from the sewage and transfers it to a 250-mile network of hot water pipes that run under the city. Augmented by plants that burn industrial waste, the sewage raises the water temperature 38 degrees Celsius. Oslo's system illustrates the use of biomass power from a number of sources, rather than just one; while this increases complexity, it also increases the resilience of the system since it is no longer dependent on just one energy source.
ConclusionThe number of different waste materials that can be used to generate power seems endless, but the creation of biomass energy is not more widespread because the cost of transporting the waste to commercial production centers is often prohibitive. Biomass contains less energy per pound than fossil fuels, so shipping raw biomass more than 50 miles uses more energy than the biomass will provide. Biomass is best suited for small-scale, local power generation where the feedstock is essentially free and the cost of transporting it is negligible. While biomass energy may never be able to meet global energy demand, it can be used in a variety of ways to supplement the grid; in smaller communities, biomass power plants can be custom-designed to meet the area's energy demand in a self-sustaining manner with no concern that the input will run out. After all, waste is everywhere.
SourcesEnergy Information Administration. "U.S. Energy Consumption by Energy Source." Energy Information Administration. U.S. Department of Energy. Accessed 21 January 2007. http://www.eia.doe.gov
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Green Car Congress: Researchers Use Ultrasonic Processing for Fast Biodiesel Production
Green Car Congress: Researchers Use Ultrasonic Processing for Fast Biodiesel Production: "Home Topics Monthly Archives Resources Google
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Researchers Use Ultrasonic Processing for Fast Biodiesel Production
26 February 2007
An example of inline ultrasonic processing for biodiesel production. Click to enlarge. Source: Hielscher.
Researchers at Mississippi State University report that ultrasonic processing used in biodiesel production delivers a biodiesel yield in excess of 99% in five minutes or less, compared to one hour or more using conventional batch reactor systems. The work is described in the current issue of the journal Energy & Fuels"
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« Delphi Increasing Fuel Handling and Injection System Development to Support Biofuels | Main | Report: DaimlerChrysler Considering All-Stock Sale of Chrysler to GM »
Researchers Use Ultrasonic Processing for Fast Biodiesel Production
26 February 2007
An example of inline ultrasonic processing for biodiesel production. Click to enlarge. Source: Hielscher.
Researchers at Mississippi State University report that ultrasonic processing used in biodiesel production delivers a biodiesel yield in excess of 99% in five minutes or less, compared to one hour or more using conventional batch reactor systems. The work is described in the current issue of the journal Energy & Fuels"
Friday, February 23, 2007
biofuels international
biofuels international: "Biofuels can make a significant contribution to meeting future road-transport energy needs, helping to promote energy diversity and reducing emissions. Biofuels reach 4% of road-fuel use in the Reference Scenario in 2030 and 7% in the Alternative Policy Scenario, up from 1% today. The United States, the European Union and Brazil account for the bulk of the global increase and remain the leading producers and consumers of biofuels in both Scenarios. But rising food demand, which competes with biofuels for existing arable and pasture land, and the need for subsidy in many parts of the world, will constrain the long-term potential for biofuels production using current technology. New biofuels technologies being developed today, notably ligno-cellulosic ethanol, could allow biofuels to play a much bigger role - if major technological and commercial challenges can be overcome. "
Thursday, February 22, 2007
A sunny forecast for hot water | CNET News.com
A sunny forecast for hot water | CNET News.com: "It's a solar power concept that was popular around the time Calvin Coolidge was president--but now it's poised for a comeback.
Solar thermal water heaters, which use solar energy rather than gas or electricity as a power source, could grow in popularity over the next few years, according to analysts and panel installation companies. While the idea has already caught fire in China, it's barely registered a blip in the U.S.
'The idea that we don't have solar thermal is crazy,' said Bill Green, a partner at VantagePoint Venture Partners who specializes in clean technology.
Interest, nonetheless, is beginning to percolate, said Alex Winch, president of Mondial Energy. Mondial installs solar thermal systems in large buildings and then makes its money by reselling the heat generated by them back to the building owner. The Toronto-based company has put systems in 100-unit senior living centers in Canada, and it recently signed letters of intent for installations in a couple of U.S. hotels.
Solar thermal systems can offset gas consumption even in places not known for sunshine, Winch noted. His first project was the Beach Solar Laundromat in Toronto. It's snowy in that city right now, but the system at Beach Solar has generated 382 kilowatts in the past week, according to its online energy meter. "
Solar thermal water heaters, which use solar energy rather than gas or electricity as a power source, could grow in popularity over the next few years, according to analysts and panel installation companies. While the idea has already caught fire in China, it's barely registered a blip in the U.S.
'The idea that we don't have solar thermal is crazy,' said Bill Green, a partner at VantagePoint Venture Partners who specializes in clean technology.
Interest, nonetheless, is beginning to percolate, said Alex Winch, president of Mondial Energy. Mondial installs solar thermal systems in large buildings and then makes its money by reselling the heat generated by them back to the building owner. The Toronto-based company has put systems in 100-unit senior living centers in Canada, and it recently signed letters of intent for installations in a couple of U.S. hotels.
Solar thermal systems can offset gas consumption even in places not known for sunshine, Winch noted. His first project was the Beach Solar Laundromat in Toronto. It's snowy in that city right now, but the system at Beach Solar has generated 382 kilowatts in the past week, according to its online energy meter. "
Monday, February 19, 2007
Winston-Salem Journal | Current Event: University's prototype uses ocean's energy
Winston-Salem Journal | Current Event: University's prototype uses ocean's energy: "Current Event: University's prototype uses ocean's energy
By Kurt Loft
MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE
An underwater view shows a ship being loaded with hydrogen, the fuel that could result from the power produced.
(Illustrations courtesy of Florida Atlantic University)
An underwater view shows a ship being loaded with hydrogen, the fuel that could result from the power produced.
A perpetual-motion machine is the stuff of fantasy, but clean, renewable energy sources are within the grasp of societies that marry science, industry and economics.
For years, inventors have dreamed and schemed of tapping power from the ocean, yet nobody has come through with a practical plan. That's the hope of a Florida project that will test the waters on a way to generate electricity from Gulf Stream currents. Researchers at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton are developing an underwater energy farm that employs a network of turbines secured to the ocean floor. As strong currents turn the turbine props, spinning magnets create electricity and send it to a power plant along the shore.
"The concept is you have turbine blades in the flow of the ocean, much like turbines that harness the wind," said engineer Rick Driscoll, the director of the Florida Center for Excellence in Ocean Energy Technology, a research arm of the university.
"Ocean currents are much slower than the wind, but water is 700 to 800 times denser than air."
By Kurt Loft
MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE
An underwater view shows a ship being loaded with hydrogen, the fuel that could result from the power produced.
(Illustrations courtesy of Florida Atlantic University)
An underwater view shows a ship being loaded with hydrogen, the fuel that could result from the power produced.
A perpetual-motion machine is the stuff of fantasy, but clean, renewable energy sources are within the grasp of societies that marry science, industry and economics.
For years, inventors have dreamed and schemed of tapping power from the ocean, yet nobody has come through with a practical plan. That's the hope of a Florida project that will test the waters on a way to generate electricity from Gulf Stream currents. Researchers at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton are developing an underwater energy farm that employs a network of turbines secured to the ocean floor. As strong currents turn the turbine props, spinning magnets create electricity and send it to a power plant along the shore.
"The concept is you have turbine blades in the flow of the ocean, much like turbines that harness the wind," said engineer Rick Driscoll, the director of the Florida Center for Excellence in Ocean Energy Technology, a research arm of the university.
"Ocean currents are much slower than the wind, but water is 700 to 800 times denser than air."
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Health Policy - Dr. Mike Magee stem cell and cancer issues.
Health Policy - Dr. Mike Magee provides education and insight into health policy and current healthcare issues.: "And lastly, we know that in some circumstances, normal blood stem cells accelerate aging in response to chemotherapy and radiation while the cancer stem cells for some reason are immune.5,6 This means that with each successive treatment, the cancer stem cells may be gaining a competitive advantage. It’s imperative that we gain better understanding of the biologic and clinical consequences of our current therapies and continue to use this knowledge to design new ones.
If there’s anything in this information to ponder, it should be this. One, stem cell biology is critically related to the behavior of human cancers. Two, the eradication of cancer stem cells will be essential to improving survival rates for people with some cancers. Three, it is possible that current approaches to therapy in some cancers may be preferentially benefiting those cancers’ stem cells, which mean future therapies must take this into account. And finally, in the future, just wiping out the bulk of a tumor may not be an adequate measure of success. Rather, we will need to address the core of the problem, which is likely to reside where the cancer stem cells live and thrive."
If there’s anything in this information to ponder, it should be this. One, stem cell biology is critically related to the behavior of human cancers. Two, the eradication of cancer stem cells will be essential to improving survival rates for people with some cancers. Three, it is possible that current approaches to therapy in some cancers may be preferentially benefiting those cancers’ stem cells, which mean future therapies must take this into account. And finally, in the future, just wiping out the bulk of a tumor may not be an adequate measure of success. Rather, we will need to address the core of the problem, which is likely to reside where the cancer stem cells live and thrive."
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Ethanol speculation?
The Right Way to Speculate in Ethanol
By Jeff Clark
Imagine being able to fuel your cars with energy produced from yard waste. All the sticks and clippings from our lawns, parks, and schoolyards could be turned into a renewable source of ethanol.
It can happen. But not in the same way that corn-based ethanol is produced...
The two biggest expenses in the production of corn-based ethanol are the cost of the corn and the cost of the natural gas used in the production process.
But what if you could produce ethanol from widely available and essentially useless resources, like the aforementioned yard clippings and wood chips? And what if one of the byproducts of that process – lignin – could replace natural gas as the heat source in ethanol production? That eliminates the two largest expenses in the production process and creates an economically viable alternative fuel.
Therein lays the promise of cellulosic ethanol.
Cellulose is the main component of plant cell walls and the most common organic compound on earth. It's more difficult to break down cellulose to convert it into useable sugars for ethanol production.
Yet, making ethanol from cellulose dramatically expands the types and amount of available material for ethanol production. This includes many materials now regarded as waste requiring disposal, as well as corn stalks, rice straw, wood chips, and "energy crops" of fast-growing trees and grasses.
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Until 2005, companies had no financial motivation to aggressively pursue the production of cellulosic ethanol. But as I pointed out in yesterday's issue, that's all about to change. The increasing price of corn has rendered corn-based ethanol inefficient... and so large agricultural companies such as Archer Daniels Midland are pursuing cellulosic ethanol.
And why not? The government is right there to help with the funding...
The Energy Policy Act, signed into law in August 2005, contains several provisions designed to spur cellulosic ethanol production, including:
A credit-trading program wherein one gallon of cellulosic biomass ethanol or waste-derived ethanol is equal to 2.5 gallons of renewable fuel.
A cellulosic biomass program to produce 250 million gallons in 2013.
A loan-guarantee program that provides up to $250 million for the construction of a cellulosic ethanol facility.
Production incentives to deliver the first billion gallons of annual cellulosic ethanol production.
So here we have the potential for a renewable energy product that's made from otherwise useless resources. It's cheap, highly energy efficient, and funded by the government. And there are several terrific speculations on the future fuel
By Jeff Clark
Imagine being able to fuel your cars with energy produced from yard waste. All the sticks and clippings from our lawns, parks, and schoolyards could be turned into a renewable source of ethanol.
It can happen. But not in the same way that corn-based ethanol is produced...
The two biggest expenses in the production of corn-based ethanol are the cost of the corn and the cost of the natural gas used in the production process.
But what if you could produce ethanol from widely available and essentially useless resources, like the aforementioned yard clippings and wood chips? And what if one of the byproducts of that process – lignin – could replace natural gas as the heat source in ethanol production? That eliminates the two largest expenses in the production process and creates an economically viable alternative fuel.
Therein lays the promise of cellulosic ethanol.
Cellulose is the main component of plant cell walls and the most common organic compound on earth. It's more difficult to break down cellulose to convert it into useable sugars for ethanol production.
Yet, making ethanol from cellulose dramatically expands the types and amount of available material for ethanol production. This includes many materials now regarded as waste requiring disposal, as well as corn stalks, rice straw, wood chips, and "energy crops" of fast-growing trees and grasses.
---------- Advertisement ----------
Do You Own the World's Most Valuable Asset?
If you do, then you could expect a 100% upside, starting immediately.
Why? Because an interest in this asset is the best way I know to both protect and compound your money at high rates of return over time...
And the best part is: Based on my research, I believe that owning this asset could be as safe as holding a U.S. Treasury bond.
Learn more in my full report.
-----------------------------------
Until 2005, companies had no financial motivation to aggressively pursue the production of cellulosic ethanol. But as I pointed out in yesterday's issue, that's all about to change. The increasing price of corn has rendered corn-based ethanol inefficient... and so large agricultural companies such as Archer Daniels Midland are pursuing cellulosic ethanol.
And why not? The government is right there to help with the funding...
The Energy Policy Act, signed into law in August 2005, contains several provisions designed to spur cellulosic ethanol production, including:
A credit-trading program wherein one gallon of cellulosic biomass ethanol or waste-derived ethanol is equal to 2.5 gallons of renewable fuel.
A cellulosic biomass program to produce 250 million gallons in 2013.
A loan-guarantee program that provides up to $250 million for the construction of a cellulosic ethanol facility.
Production incentives to deliver the first billion gallons of annual cellulosic ethanol production.
So here we have the potential for a renewable energy product that's made from otherwise useless resources. It's cheap, highly energy efficient, and funded by the government. And there are several terrific speculations on the future fuel
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Cleaner and Greener | Technology | Trends | Canadian Business Online
Capture co2 use thepollutant constructively -soundsappealing SH
Cleaner and Greener | Technology | Trends | Canadian Business Online: "The solution to finding both a clean method for generating coal, then storing the carbon dioxide, could come out of important, world-class research now being headed by Malcolm Wilson, director of CO¸ management with the Energy Innovation Network, a research group sponsored by various government, corporate and university bodies, including the University of Regina, where Wilson is based. He says the technologies needed to develop clean coal power are readily available; it's a matter of combining them in a commercially viable way at a cost that society is willing to accept. Much of the work of Wilson and others at the university--home to the International Test Centre for CO¸ Capture, one of only four major research centres in the world devoted to developing such technologies--centres on a pilot project at Boundary Dam Power Station, near Estevan, about a two-hour drive southeast of Regina. There, they are looking for cost-effective ways for generating electricity with clean coal methods, including the capture of carbon dioxide.
The Boundary Dam project uses the post-combustion process. It is slightly less effective than the oxyfuel method for separating CO¸, but one (continued on page 49) (continued from page 46) advantage it does have is that it can be added on to existing coal-fired plants currently using traditional 'dirty' technology. Oxyfuel and coal gasification technology can only be considered if building a new plant is an option.
Wilson says the Boundary Dam project captures about four tonnes of carbon dioxide each day--admittedly only a tiny percentage of the 6,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emitted daily by the power plant. However, he adds that the initiative has shown good results in reducing the cost of"
Cleaner and Greener | Technology | Trends | Canadian Business Online: "The solution to finding both a clean method for generating coal, then storing the carbon dioxide, could come out of important, world-class research now being headed by Malcolm Wilson, director of CO¸ management with the Energy Innovation Network, a research group sponsored by various government, corporate and university bodies, including the University of Regina, where Wilson is based. He says the technologies needed to develop clean coal power are readily available; it's a matter of combining them in a commercially viable way at a cost that society is willing to accept. Much of the work of Wilson and others at the university--home to the International Test Centre for CO¸ Capture, one of only four major research centres in the world devoted to developing such technologies--centres on a pilot project at Boundary Dam Power Station, near Estevan, about a two-hour drive southeast of Regina. There, they are looking for cost-effective ways for generating electricity with clean coal methods, including the capture of carbon dioxide.
The Boundary Dam project uses the post-combustion process. It is slightly less effective than the oxyfuel method for separating CO¸, but one (continued on page 49) (continued from page 46) advantage it does have is that it can be added on to existing coal-fired plants currently using traditional 'dirty' technology. Oxyfuel and coal gasification technology can only be considered if building a new plant is an option.
Wilson says the Boundary Dam project captures about four tonnes of carbon dioxide each day--admittedly only a tiny percentage of the 6,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emitted daily by the power plant. However, he adds that the initiative has shown good results in reducing the cost of"
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