Energy and Business

After posting the “Algae to Biodisel” story, below, we saw this posting on Energy Answers by Jeff Goettemoeller. 

“New Source for Biofuels Discovered by Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have managed to develop cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae, but not a true algae) that produces glucose and cellulose. The glucose and cellulose can be harvested without destroying the cyanobacteria. The cellulose is in a form that is easily made into biofuels such as ethanol. This could be a step toward producing much more biofuels on much less land, and on land unsuitable for food crops.”

Inventors at Stormblade Turbine Inc. may have made the windmill a neighborhood-friendly device, solving the noise issue associated with wind turbines, while doubling the efficiency of current models.

This prototype, which looks more like a jet engine-on-a-stick than a wind turbine, works by accelerating the wind onto the blades and is therefore more efficient at low and high wind speeds.

As a result of this design, Stormblade is bird and bat friendly and is near silent in operation.  It has fewer parts and higher generating capacity than other models and can theoretically, operate at any wind speed.

“Stormblade Turbine can convert up to 70 percent of wind power into electricity, double the current average. Operational wind speed is expected to be 7mph to120mph, double the current average range.”

Stormblade is also unique in that it produces less drag, has more power per rotation, requires less maintenance and is a third of the size of comparable industrial wind turbines. 

[via] www.jovanovic.f2s.com/

Investors’ Circle is a network of over 200 angel investors, professional venture capitalists, foundations, family offices and others who are using private capital to promote the transition to a sustainable economy. Since 1992, Investors’ Circle has facilitated the flow of over $120 million into 190 companies and small funds addressing social and environmental issues.

[via] www.investorscircle.net

Plants such as soybeans and sunflowers produce oil that can be used to make biofuels.  Although these crops have received a lot of media attention in the last several years, they require intensive management and may not be sustainable in the long term due to rising development and production costs.  We believe a different type of oil crop that holds great promise for the future is micro-algae.

Extensive research was conducted to determine the utilization of microalgae as an energy source, with applications being developed for biodiesel, ethanol, and bioplastics. Independent studies have demonstrated that algae are capable of producing in excess of 30 times more oil per acre than corn and soybean crops. Biodiesel produced from algae contains no sulfur, is non-toxic and highly biodegradable.

One of the biggest advantages of biodiesel compared to many other alternative transportation fuels is that it can be used in existing diesel engines, which relieves manufacturers of having to make costly engine modifications. Biodiesel can also be mixed, at any ratio, with conventional petroleum diesel. As a result, the alternative fuel can be used in the current distribution infrastructure, replacing petroleum diesel either wholly, or as a diesel fuel blend with minimal integration costs.

In April PetroSun Inc. announced the algae-to-jetfuel teaming relationship with Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). The companies are working to transition algal biofuel technology to the commercial sector for government contracts.

PetroSun has made twenty acres of ponds available at its Rio Hondo, Texas facility for research and development related to an algae-to-jetfuel project.

[via] www.petrosuninc.com/alternative-energy.html

Images [via] hrw.org

Israel’s attempt to pressure Hamas with fuel cuts may impact Hamas’s ability to carry out attacks against Israeli soldiers and civilians. It also impacts civilian life in Gaza. It affects essential services for the civilian population.  Hamas may be using what little resources are available to feed its terrorist activities, thus robbing the population of what resources are available.

Mohammad Al-Sawwaf, a correspondent for IslamOnline.net has been out talking to people on the streets of Gaza city: “The fuel shortage has forced more than 80 percent of Gaza taxis to stop working,” according to the Popular Committee Against Siege. “The suspension of fuel supplies to the besieged Gaza Strip has grounded thousands of vehicles and forced many Palestinians to experiment.”

“We had to take some tough decision,” Ahmed Abu-Haseera, a taxi driver, told IslamOnline.net. “I know that the engine could break down over using cooking oil and that I would not find spare parts to repair it because of the siege,” he recognizes.” But what else can I do? I have a family to support and the taxi is my only source of income.”

Since Hamas routed rival Fatah and took control of the territory Israel has tried to control the export of terrorism by closing the Gaza Strip’s supply points. It has completely locked down the coastal area since January, banning food and fuel shipment into the Strip, home to 1.6 million Palestinians. ”The cooking oil is very sticky which could cause the engine to break down,” notes Mohamed Al-Dabs, a mechanic.” But the people are risking their lives to make a living,” or at least their engine. Despite the risks, Kamal Al-Gayyar, a driver, has no other option.  “I initially refused to use cooking oil to run my car but I changed my mind when I saw my friends doing this,” he notes.

“I will take the risk. I need to put food on the table,” fumed Al-Gayyar.  “I used to work as a fiberglass technician but I lost my job because of the (conflict). I don’t want to be a jobless again.”

The conflict is making some Gazans richer.  ”We got a fortune,” Mohamed Fathi, a restaurant owner, told IOL. He said many people are coming to his restaurant to buy used cooking oil.

“We are selling it at high prices,” he said, adding that the prices rocketed to 10 shekels per liter.

Palestinians, desperate because of ongoing conflict, are throwing in jokes about the new creative way to run cars: ”What does your car smell of potato or falafel?” a passenger asked jokingly. “It smells like hamburger,” answered the driver; “I’m using Ketchup and mayonnaise to run my car,” quips another.

Surrounded by the most oil-rich countries in the world it’s interesting that the Palestinians have to use vegitable oil to run their cars.

John McCain is modifying on his position on offshore oil drilling. On June 17 he called for an end to the federal ban on offshore oil drilling, as a response to high gasoline prices. This will immediately change his relationship with the environmental groups that the presumptive Republican presidential nominee has courted for months.

The move is of course aimed to ease voter anger over rising energy prices by freeing states to open vast stretches of the country’s coastline to oil exploration.

“We must embark on a national mission to eliminate our dependence on foreign oil,” McCain told reporters. And he adds that “we have untapped oil reserves of at least 21 billion barrels in the United States.  But a broad federal moratorium stands in the way of energy exploration and production. It is time for the federal government to lift these restrictions.”  washingtonpost.com

At the same time the Telegraph.co.uk is bringing this headline “John McCain Hires Former CIA Director Jim Woolsey as Green Advisor.”

The article is calling Mr. Woolsey one of a new generation of so-called Greenocons, campaigners who are making the case for a green American foreign and energy policy not just to save the planet, but to keep America safe too.

Mr. Woolsey believes that the plug-in hybrid car is the answer.  He has played a key role in developing Mr. McCain’s support for a “cap and trade” system for carbon emissions and support for renewable energy.

The Telegraph goes on to write “Mr. Woolsey has written a chapter for a new book on energy security, in which he warns that global warming could cause sea levels to rise, creating mass migration and bitter competition for resources.”

He also fears that terrorist attacks on Middle East oil reserves could cripple the West, creating a “widespread and extended blackout,” driving cars from the roads and leaving the military without the “fuel to fight.”

According to the Telegraph, Mr. Woolsey’s solution to eliminate our dependence on foreign oil seems to be very different than McCain’s.  Woolsey says: “I think that the problems with oil are almost too many to count. Not only is it responsible for about 40 percent of our CO2 emissions, two-thirds of the world’s proven reserves are in the Middle East. You have the vulnerability to cut-offs such as the al-Qaeda attempted attack in Saudi Arabia two years ago.  From the point of view of both strategic instability and climate change there’s really almost nothing good about it.”

His goal now is to make oil, which accounts for 97 percent of transport fuel in the US, just another commodity without the ability to cripple the West. “At the end of the 19th century it was still true that salt still had a monopoly on preserving meat,” he said. “Countries fought wars over salt mines. The coming of the electricity grid destroyed salt’s monopoly very quickly. Nobody goes to war any more over salt mines. We need to do the same for oil.”

Now how does this fit with McCain’s new stand on offshore oil drilling?

Nothing makes the world greener than water and sunshine.  Big Green Monster stands in awe of Mother Nature. We like hydroelectric power for many reasons.  One reason is that, other than solar, water power is the oldest, cleanest and simplest form of large-scale renewable power generation.  Shouldn’t we be building more dams? Should the risks of localized ecological damage always trump the gains from clean efficient sustainable energy generation?

Brookfield Renewable Power Inc. has developed and successfully operated hydroelectric power facilities for over 100 years. Brookfield Renewable Power’s portfolio comprises over 3,900 megawatts of capacity and includes almost 160 hydroelectric power generating stations located on over 60 river systems, 1 wind farm, and 2 thermal plants, principally in the northeastern North America and Brazil.

Brookfield Renewable Power is investing in the development of wind energy projects to offer clean renewable electricity. For more than five years, they have pursued development opportunities in the wind energy sector.

Brookfield Renewable Power has been conducting extensive research to identify the viable wind resource base in Ontario. They are developing high value projects, through the application of advanced wind resource technologies, and acquisitions of productive wind lands.

The Prince Wind Energy Project comprises 126 wind turbines extending over nearly 20,000 acres. With a total installed capacity of 189 megawatts (MW), Prince is now the largest wind farm in Canada.

Completed in November 2006, the Prince Wind Energy Project is located northwest of Sault Ste. Marie, in Northern Ontario. The project was constructed in two phases, each with its own 20-year power purchase agreement with the Ontario Power Authority.

[via] www.brookfieldpower.com

Skystream 3.7 Backyard Wind Turbine

As the small-wind industry continues to experience major growth, a new breed of residential wind turbines has emerged that could change the energy landscape of how homes and small businesses receive electricity. With improved generator technology, blades that adjust to wind conditions, and units that report their power output wirelessly, these turbines are paving the way for small-wind power in style.

Developed by Arizona-based Southwest Windpower, the Skystream is a fully integrated system that produces energy for less than the average cost of electricity in the United States. Its grid-tie turbine design integrates all necessary electronics into the system. With no batteries, Skystream 3.7 connects directly to the home to supply power. It is anticipated that this will save the average homeowner $500 to $800 per year, based on 4,800 to 6,600 kWh produced per year and a $.12/kWh cost of electricity. Even former president George H. W. Bush is jumping on the wind power bandwagon with his reported purchase of a 1.5 kW Skystream.

Air Breeze

Air Breeze is quieter and more efficient than its predecessor, Air, which is currently the world’s most popular small wind turbine. The Air Breeze is outfitted with a microprocessor-based smart internal regulator for peak power tracking and improved performance, optimized energy output, improved battery charging. The reduced sound due to an updated design complements the increased reliability and durability of the composite blades. Best of all, with only two moving parts, the Air Breeze maintains an efficient energy delivery with little to no maintenance.

The Airdolphin is an ultra-light small wind turbine from Zephyr. The newly-developed Swing Rudder System ensures the turbine’s superior response to sudden changes in the direction of wind. It moves in a fashion like a fish does against strong water currents keeping the propellers functional against strong winds, improving the efficiency of power generation. The Airdolphin’s blades are light weight, thin and etched with grooves much like an owl’s feather to minimize the noise produced. Guaranteed to last 25 years, the Airdolphin seems suited to perform not only in open spaces and uniform wind but also in urban areas. Small things come in big packages.

We came across this Italian firm at the WIREC 2008 conference in Washington, D.C. in 2008.  They have some innovative designs and manufacture a marine-current to electric-current converter, a gas diffusion electrode fuel cell and submerged floating tunnel.

Ponte di Archimede International Company was established in 1983 as a part of the Caronte Shipping Group. Ponte di Archimede works in the field of research and development into alternative and renewable energy sources, specializing in the environmental aspects of this work.

Ponte di Archimede International Company has worked with several important scientific institutions, including the Academy of Sciences of the People’s Republic of China, on a study of a permanent link to be made with an Archimedes Bridge, in the Jintang Strait, Zhejiang Province.

Ponte di Archimede International Company carries out their international scientific researches with the support of important Italian scientists from the Italian Shipping Register (RINA), the National Council of Research (CNR), the University Politecnico di Milano, the University of Naples “Federico II” and INSEAN - the Italian Ship Model Basin.

[via] http://www.pontediarchimede.it/language_us/

Energy consumption worldwide has become an everyday concern as consumers fight to find ways to reduce costs and decrease harmful emissions.  It is a fight that likely won’t subside as worldwide energy demand is projected to increase 35 percent by 2030, according to the Energy Information Administration. The EIA says energy demand from 1980 to 2005 outpaced supply.

“And only five states offer incentives to utility companies that help its customers use less energy”, said Stephen Heins, vice president of corporate communications for Orion Energy Systems Inc., of Manitowoc, Wis.

In most states, including Heins’ home state of Wisconsin, electric utility companies lose money by encouraging its customers to conserve energy. When consumers use less electricity, utilities’ profits decline. Only California, New York, Idaho, Delaware and Maryland use a different rate structure.

“Obviously, this disincentive impairs utilities’ willingness and ability to promote energy efficiency, despite its benefits to consumers’ bills, electrical reliability, national security and the environment,” Heins said.  “In California, the results of offering incentives to power companies that reduce electricity usage have been impressive.”

Companies like Orion provide high-efficiency platforms that reduce carbon dioxide emissions and electricity bills.  Since 2001, Orion has helped approximately 3,655 industrial and manufacturing facilities displace more than 334 megawatts, save more than $351 million and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 4.4 million tons.

In December 2007, Congress passed a wide-reaching energy bill requiring the reduction of energy consumption nationwide. The Alliance to Save Energy, a national non-profit, bipartisan public policy organization promoting energy efficiency, applauded the government for its action.

As a result of the bill, lighting standards by 2020 are projected to lower consumers’ annual electricity bills by more than $13 billion and save more than 140 billion kilowatt-hours per year, according to the Alliance to Save Energy.

The reduction in energy use means approximately 100 million tons of carbon dioxide will not enter the atmosphere annually, the Alliance says. Carbon dioxide is the main global warming pollutant.

In addition to the lighting standards approved by the federal government, the energy bill requires improvements to the efficiencies of home appliances including dishwashers, clothes washers, refrigerators and freezers, the Alliance to Save Energy says.

According to the Alliance to Save Energy, the bill also:

1) Raises vehicle fuel economy standards to a level that can save American families up to $1,000 annually in gasoline costs by the year 2020.

2)Encourages development of commercial buildings that produce as much energy as they use.

3) Requires federal agencies to reduce their energy use.

[via] http://www.oriones.com/home.html