Renewable Fuels For Alternative Energy
The Germans have really taken off when it comes to renewable fuel sources, and have become one of the major players in the alternative energy game. Under the aegis of the nation’s electricity feed laws, the German people set a world record in 2006 by investing over $10 billion (US) in research, development, and implementation of wind turbines, biogas power plants, and solar collection cells.
Germany’s “feed laws” permit the German homeowners to connect to an electrical grid through some source of renewable energy and then sell back to the power company any excess energy produced at retail prices.
This economic incentive has catapulted Germany into the number-one position among all nations with regards to the number of operational solar arrays, biogas plants, and wind turbines.
The 50-terawatt hours of electricity produced by these renewable energy sources account for 10% of all of Germany’s energy production per year. In 2006 alone, Germany installed 100,000 solar energy collection systems.
Over in the US, the BP corporation has established an Energy Biosciences Institute (EBI) to spearhead extensive new research and development efforts into clean burning renewable energy sources, most prominently biofuels for ground vehicles.
BP’s investment comes to $50 million (US) per year over the course of the next decade.
This EBI will be physically located at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
The University is in partnership with BP, and it will be responsible for research and development of new biofuel crops, biofuel-delivering agricultural systems, and machines to produce renewable fuels in liquid form for automobile consumption.
The University will especially spearhead efforts in the field of genetic engineering with regard to creating the more advanced biofuel crops.
The EBI will additionally have as a major focal point technological innovations for converting heavy hydrocarbons into pollution-free and highly efficient fuels.
Also in the US, the battle rages on between Congress and the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA). The GEA’s Executive Director Karl Gawell has recently written to the Congress and the Department of Energy, the only way to ensure that DOE and OMB do not simply revert to their irrational insistence on terminating the geothermal research program is to schedule a congressional hearing specifically on geothermal energy, its potential, and the role of federal research.
Furthermore, Gawell goes on to say that recent studies by the National Research Council, the Western Governors’ Association Clean Energy Task Force and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology all support expanding geothermal research funding to develop the technology necessary to utilize this vast, untapped domestic renewable energy resource.
Supporters of geothermal energy, such as this writer, are amazed at the minuscule amount of awareness that the public has about the huge benefits that research and development of the renewable alternative energy source would provide the US, both practically and economically.
Geothermal energy is already less expensive to produce in terms of kilowatt-hours than the coal that the US keeps mining.
Geothermal energy is readily available, sitting just a few miles below our feet and easily accessible through drilling.
One company, Ormat, which is the third largest geothermal energy producer in the US and has plants in several different nations, is already a billion-dollar-per-year business–geothermal energy is certainly economically viable.
Sourse: Renewable Fuels For Alternative Energy
Alternative energy from methane hydrates
I recently learned about methane hydrates, deposits rich in methane. Popular Mechanics reports that “Methane bound in hydrates could provide the world with an astounding amount of natural gas–if it could be safely extracted.”
The article states that “100,000 to 300 million trillion cu. ft. (tcf) of methane exists globally in hydrate form–most of it in the ocean floor.” The trick is extracting it safely. If it’s not harvested properly, it will release into the atmosphere and speed up global warming.
The process needs Carbon Dioxide to make it work. And the best source of CO2 is from Fischer-Tropsch, which produces diesel from coal, with CO2 as a byproduct.
Sourse: Alternative energy from methane hydrates
Alternative sources of energy
Energy from renewable sources, such as the sun, wind and water, emit little or no carbon and could play a role in addressing climate change. In an ideal world, energy would be limitless, affordable, and clean. Of course, the real world isn’t always ideal. Today, most of the world’s population gets its energy from carbon-based fuels […]
Sourse: Alternative sources of energy
Los Alamos scientists propose turning CO2 into gasoline
Apparently it’s not rocket science to do this but it would require a lot of power so they are proposing creating a nuclear-powered gasoline generation plant that would convert carbon dioxide into gas.
Just one more technology solution to throw into the mix. This one becomes viable when gas at the pump hits $4.60/gallon. The national average cost a year ago was $2.26, today its around $3.20 but oil closed above $100/barrel yesterday for the first time so that $4+ number could happen this year.
The economics of alternative energy sources get a lot more compelling as prices rise, just as do those of public transportation.
Sourse: Los Alamos scientists propose turning CO2 into gasoline
Group: Clean energy investments to jump
“High oil prices and growing concerns about the environment may drive more than $7 trillion of new investment in so-called clean energy technologies by 2030, an energy research group says.”
France’s new Super Train
</aThe BBC reports today that France has unveiled “the launch of a new high-speed train made by engineering giant Alstom.”
The train reaches approximately 220 miles per hour (rivaling air travel), can carry 300-700 people and weighs less, using “30% less energy.”
Sourse: France’s new Super Train
Investment into Alternative Energy Research and Development
Investment into Alternative Energy Research and Development
The US government must continue to back the expansion of the role of alternative energy research and development and its implementation by companies and homeowners. Although this writer believes in the reign of the free market and that “that government is best which governs least”, our current system has companies and people expecting federal backing of major initiative with direct investment, in the form of tax breaks, rebate incentives, and even direct central bank investment into the alternative energy industry.
The US and its citizenry need to invest all of the time and energy that they can spare to the conversion from a fossil fuel burning society to one that is green for several different reasons. The green economy will not harm the environment or the quality of our air like fossil fuel burning does. We can become the energy independent nation that we need to be by cutting away our need to import oil, especially oil that is produced by anti-American nations such as Iran. Ultimately, renewable energies and extremely efficient energies like atomic energy are far less expensive than the continuous mining and drilling for fossil fuels. If we do not invest in our future now, catastrophe awaits us. We are going to need to consume more energy than ever in our history as we sail into the 21st century and beyondour dependency on foreigners for meeting these energy needs only leaves us open to sabotage while draining our coffers in order to fill other nations’.
It can be argued that federal, state, and local governments should work in conjunction on the issue of alternative energy research and development and implement mandatory programs for new home construction and all home remodeling that stipulate the installation of alternative energy power sourceseventually over a certain period of years transforming into 100% installation of alternative energy sources for any new home or corporate buildingas well as backing a similar program to have all new vehicles produced in the nation be hybrid vehicles or hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicles by the year 2020. All levels of government could also impose mandatory compliance laws on construction and utilities companies. The utility companies in all 50 states should be required to invest in alternative energy research and development while also being required to buy back, at fair rates, excess energy produced by homeowners through their use of alternative energy power sources. Strong financial incentives need to be in place for new companies to invest in developing renewable energies. This would not only make the US energy independent at the fastest possible rate, but it would stimulate the growth of the economy and provide tens of thousands of new, good-paying jobs for people.
Alternative energy generation in the forms of solar, wind, hydroelectric, biofuel, geothermal, and atomic; alternative energy storage systems such as more efficient batteris and hydrogen fuel cells; and alternative energy-furthering infrastructures with superior energy efficiency all need to be brought into the affordable price range through development. Government investment into these matters would surely help us along.
Sourse: Investment into Alternative Energy Research and Development
Human-Powered HumanCar Enters Production [Alternative Energy]
HumanCar are ready to begin sales of their human-electric hybrid, the Imagine NEV. The vehicle has pedals and steering mechanisms for all four occupants as well as an electric motor. It achieves its fastest speeds - up to 60mph - when all four humans work with the battery for propulsion, but is capable of running on either human or battery power alone. It’s unclear if pedaling can recharge the battery, but it does appear that there is some kind of regenerative braking system. The Neighborhood Electric Vehicle isn’t as bare bones as you might think, featuring an iPod compatible stereo and even optional air-conditioning. The company expects the final price to be around $15,000 — about $14,000 more than four bicycles. [HumanCar via MotorAuthority]
Sourse: Human-Powered HumanCar Enters Production [Alternative Energy]
Blending sewage with garbage to produce fuel
A new kind of waste treatment system has been developed by Viridis Waste Control LLC, that holds the potential to improve water quality, reduce landfill usage, and to provide a large supply of renewable fuel. The process is called Septage Bioreactor Landfill technology, and it does something that hasn’t been done before (in a way that is considered sustainable); blending sewage with garbage.
Both sewage and the organic matter in garbage decompose and produce methane on their own, resources that are both already tapped for their energy potential at many waste facilities. This occurs because anaerobic microorganisms in the waste process the organic matter and produce methane as a by-product. The greater the amount of bacteria and organic matter, the faster the decomposition.
Landfill garbage breaks down relatively slowly due to the small amounts of bacteria and the separation of the organic matter by plastic bags and other non-degradable materials. While landfills do promote decomposition and the production of methane, this process is quite slow. With the Septage Bioreactor Landfill technology, septage is blended with ground garbage, allowing the organic matter to decompose much faster than it otherwise would. This creates large quantities of methane in a short period of time, which can be tapped for fuel. The other advantage of this technology as a fuel source, is it produces methane constantly as long as there is organic material fed into it. We have no shortage of garbage or sewage, so this will create a very plentiful and reliable source of energy.
The accelerated decomposition also results in less space being used in the landfill, extending its lifespan, as well as reducing groundwater leaching or runoff. On a similar note, separating septage from the rest of the sewage flow would allow for much smaller, decentralized wastewater treatment facilities since only greywater would be left; a substance that can be easily and quite effectively treated with natural systems.
It should be noted that while this technology is well suited to our current situation, in the long run it would be rendered obsolete by more sustainable practices both in garbage disposal (through recycling practices such as Cradle to Cradle style product design and biodegradable plastics and other packaging) and wastewater treatment, such as biofilters, and constructed wetland systems.
Sourse: Blending sewage with garbage to produce fuel
Japan to spend $40 Billion to combat climate change
Bloomberg reports that Japanese PM Fukuda has announced plans to take the lead in developing alternative energy and controlling emissions:
“Over the next five years, Japan will spend $30 billion on new environmental technology at home and provide another $10 billion for developing countries, Fukuda said in a speech today at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Fukuda also proposed a 30 percent improvement in energy efficiency globally by 2020.”
Sourse: Japan to spend $40 Billion to combat climate change
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