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| Gas prices prompt push for hydrogen incentives |
| 04.30.05 (9:08 am) |
By Mark Hollis | Tallahassee Bureau
Posted April 26, 2005
TALLAHASSEE -- Sky-high gasoline prices are fueling interest in legislation by a Palm Beach County Republican to increase the use of hydrogen-powered vehicles.
Rep. Adam Hasner, R-Delray Beach, is sponsoring Gov. Jeb Bush's proposal to offer millions of dollars in new grants and tax incentives for companies that help Florida develop and use the clean-burning fuel.
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| Energy Independent Buildings |
| 04.30.05 (8:14 am) |
By Michael Johnston
Are buildings that produce their own energy the wave of the future? So it would seem as two more such buildings are about to be completed. One of them, an office building in Scotland is expected to be completed by 2007 and will use solar panels and wind turbines to produce electricity. It will store excess power as hydrogen gas which will be produced by the electrolysis of water and then used to in fuel cells when there isn't enough power being generated by other sources.
The other is a 2 millions dollar home in Arizona will use solar energy to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen and use the hydrogen to run an electric generator.
In a somewhat related development the Ford Motor Company is using the hydrogen in paint fumes to run fuel cells in one of it's plants.
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| Fear that giant ‘burp’ could trigger global warming |
| 04.28.05 (3:43 pm) |
As evidence for global warming stacks up, it is the speed of change that is now alarming scientists. As a result, climatologists are turning to our geological record to investigate what may have amplified global warming events in the past and how quickly we might expect things to change in the future.
At the beginning of the Eocene period, 55 million years ago, the Earth warmed very rapidly by an unprecedented amount. In some places, temperatures rose by eight degrees in a few thousand years. In 1995, geologist Gerald Dickens put this down to an enormous ‘burp’ of methane released from soils and from beneath the ocean floor. Since methane is a greenhouse gas, the trillions of tonnes of methane that were released into the atmosphere acted like an enormous blanket, warming things up and causing sea-levels to rise. The trigger for the belch, however, is unclear; it could have happened as ocean temperatures rose above a certain threshold, or due to a comet impact or a sea floor landslide.
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| News turns bad for Arctic ozone layer |
| 04.28.05 (3:34 pm) |
The protective ozone layer over the Arctic has thinned this northern winter to the lowest levels since records began, alarming scientists who believed it had begun to heal. The increased loss of ozone allows more harmful ultraviolet light to reach the Earth's surface, making children and outdoor enthusiasts such as skiers more vulnerable to skin cancer - a disease that is already dramatically increasing. Research by Cambridge University in south-east England shows that ...
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| Honda and Climate Energy Launch New Energy Technology for the Home |
| 04.28.05 (3:02 pm) |
Micro-CHP System Will Allow Homeowners to Produce Their Own Electricity While Heating Their Homes ALPHARETTA, Ga., April 26 -- American Honda Motor Company will work with Massachusetts based Climate Energy, LLC to bring a unique and innovative new form of home heat and power technology to market, the company announced today. The system uses micro combined heat and power (MCHP) cogeneration
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| Clean Energy Finalists to Square off at MIT |
| 04.28.05 (2:51 pm) |
On April 27th, entrepreneurs will compete at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the final round of a business plan presentation contest designed to encourage innovative solutions and investment in Massachusetts' clean energy industry. The competition, initiated by The MIT Enterprise Forum's Energy Group, is the first in Massachusetts to specifically target the emerging clean energy sector. The goal of the competition is to spur the economic development of a growing, viable clean energy business cluster in the Commonwealth. The final round of the contest will take place on April 27th at MIT's Stata Center and is open to the public. It will feature ten-minute presentations from eleven finalists, chosen from an initial group of nearly 40 companies.
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| The Dead Zone |
| 04.28.05 (2:31 pm) |
Every year there is an area in the Gulf of Mexico that goes "dead". Nothing can live there because of a depletion in the oxygen in the water. This is caused by the fresh water from the Mississippi river flowing into the Gulf and laying on top of the heavier salt water. The Dead Zone covered an area of some 6000 square miles last year and experts say that this year it may be larger due to record levels of flow in the Mississippi.
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| APPLY FOR A ROLEX AWARD |
| 04.28.05 (1:04 pm) |
Do you have a project to advance human knowledge or improve the human condition?
The Rolex Awards for Enterprise provide generous funding for original projects that contribute to the betterment of humankind. If you want your project to be considered by the Selection Committee for 2006, you need to apply as soon as possible.
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| Good Resource From The Union of Concerned Scientists |
| 04.28.05 (11:42 am) |
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The Union of Concerned Scientists are known for their work in various areas such as food, vehicle safety, and the environment. If you would like to contribute your time energy or money to any of these causes the group has a very nice website to give you more information on their activities. It also lists many local conferences and activities which are linked to these causes. For more information on their efforts in the area of clean energy please go here.
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| Articles: Switzerland: UN Report: Ozone-Friendly Gases Contribute To Climate Change |
| 04.28.05 (11:14 am) |
A new report finds that ozone-friendly chemicals used in air-conditioners and refrigerators are continuing to have a harmful impact on climate.
A report by the U.N. Panel of Climate Change Experts released Monday found that many of the chemicals put into products nearly a decade ago as part of a global pact on reducing the use of chlorofluorocarbons, called CFCs, can also cause environmental problems.
A spokesman for the U.N. Environment Program, Michael Williams, explains:
"We are getting rid of CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) and other gases which destroy the ozone layer. This is something we have been doing since the 1980s. But, the replacements that have been found for CFCs that can be used effectively in refrigerators and air conditioners and other such systems, unfortunately, also turn out to be greenhouse gases. So, the risk is that we are saving the ozone layer-and we actually are making very good progress at the moment on that issue-but, we are contributing, in a small way, but, nevertheless, in an important way to global warming," he said.
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| Experts: New Data Show Global Warming |
| 04.28.05 (10:41 am) |
Climate scientists armed with new data from deep in the ocean and far into space have found that Earth is absorbing much more heat than it is giving off, a conclusion they say validates projections of global warming.
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| In Renewable Energy Portfolios, Biomass is #1, US Govt Confirms |
| 04.26.05 (4:34 pm) |
Green Energy Resources (nasdaq otc.GRGR.pk) citing the US Energy Information Agency, (EIA) confirms biomass is the number one renewable energy in the world. Wood biomass comprises 48% of all current renewable energy and is the 4th largest energy after oil, gas, and coal. The total biomass available in the US is 2,740 quads or 29 times total current electric power used in the US. Wind and Solar energy are distant seconds and not expected to contribute more than 1% of the total US electric power supply before 2020. Wind energy in particular, is extremely limited because of the unsightly turbines and a "not in my back yard" attitude in the US and Europe. Wood biomass has potential applications in 60% of the total worldwide energy markets,estimated in hundreds of trillions of dollars per day. Other “Renewables” are estimated to 100 billion dollars after ten years, according to a recent report.
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| Spray-On Solar-Power Cells Are True Breakthrough |
| 04.26.05 (4:30 pm) |
Stefan Lovgren
for National Geographic News
January 14, 2005
Scientists have invented a plastic solar cell that can turn the sun's power into electrical energy, even on a cloudy day.
The plastic material uses nanotechnology and contains the first solar cells able to harness the sun's invisible, infrared rays. The breakthrough has led theorists to predict that plastic solar cells could one day become five times more efficient than current solar cell technology.
Like paint, the composite can be sprayed onto other materials and used as portable electricity. A sweater coated in the material could power a cell phone or other wireless devices. A hydrogen-powered car painted with the film could potentially convert enough energy into electricity to continually recharge the car's battery.
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| Pig Manure Converted to Crude Oil |
| 04.26.05 (3:43 pm) |
Stefan Lovgren
for National Geographic News
July 2, 2004
Crude oil and gasoline prices are near an all-time high. But don't despair. One scientist has found an alternative source of energy: pig manure.
Yuanhui Zhang, an agricultural engineering professor at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, has succeeded in turning small batches of hog waste into oil.
The process, called thermochemical conversion, uses heat and pressure to break down carbohydrate materials and turn waste into liquid. The project is still in its infancy.
For now, each half-gallon (two-liter) batch of manure converts to only about 9 ounces (0.26 liter) of oil.
(If you ask me there is a certain poetic justice to this concept...ED.)
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| Soft vs. hard energy path: the political lines harden |
| 04.26.05 (1:40 pm) |
By Brad Knickerbocker | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor
There's nothing like paying $2.50 per gallon at the gas pump to shift your attention to energy issues. And that may be especially true of politicians faced with grumbling constituents tired of forking out wads of cash to fill 'er up.
In Washington this week, President Bush and lawmakers of both parties are pushing their energy agendas. Mr. Bush, who began developing his still-languishing energy strategy shortly after he took office in 2001, prodded Congress to "get a bill to my desk before the summer recess."
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| Green Living With The GUPPYS |
| 04.26.05 (12:59 pm) |
By Elizabeth Armstrong Moore
Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor
PORTLAND, ORE – Bryan and Chris Higgins didn't set out to save the world. But one look at their home, built on a tiny lot with tall windows and radiant floor heat that result in low utility bills, and it's obvious the young couple has a mission: to leave the lightest footprint possible on mother earth's soil.
Mr. Higgins, an architect, and Mrs. Higgins, a civil engineer, are proud to own just one car and walk to work every day, dropping their daughter Frances off at child care along the way. They love their energy-efficient kitchen appliances and feel fortunate to live in a place that cools so well they don't need an air conditioner, even on Portland's 90-degree days.
The Higgins are at the forefront of a boom in green building.
Much of it is being driven by a generation of young professionals interested in anything "earth friendly" to create their own urban oasis. Call them GUPPYS - green urban professionals who are young.
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| Fuel Cells Go Niche |
| 04.26.05 (10:57 am) |
The first commercially available fuel cells weren’t for laptops. They weren’t for cell phones. And they certainly weren’t for automobiles.
Despite many analysts’ expectations, the first fuel cells on the market are for such applications as recreational vehicles, RFID readers, residential power generators, and industrial equipment.
Jadoo Power Systems’ latest news is one example of fuel cells popping up everywhere except where expected. The Folsom, California-based company said this week it plans to unveil a hydrogen fuel-cell system for professional video cameras during the National Association of Broadcasters Convention from April 16 to 21 in Las Vegas. The system is the second version of the product.
Other examples are plentiful. Nuvera Fuel Cells said last month it will take orders for its 5-kW PowerFlow hydrogen fuel-cell system for industrial applications, such as material handling, ground support equipment, construction, mining, forestry, and utility vehicles, starting April 11.
Germany’s Smart Fuel Cell launched a direct methanol fuel cell for recreational vehicles and industrial equipment, A25, as early as 2003. The company came out with a more powerful second version, A50, last year. New York City’s MTI MicroFuel Cells in December announced it had shipped fuel cells to warehousing gear vendor Intermec Technologies for use in radio frequency identification (RFID) readers.
And Tokyo Gas, Matsushita Electric Industrial, and Ebara, all of Japan, last month introduced what they claim are the world’s first commercial fuel-cell power generation units for a home—the home of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.
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| Fuel cell car for TOMORROW |
| 04.26.05 (10:47 am) |
The story referenced below is a nice look at the new Honda hydrogen powered car(with illustrations). It is the standard story line about all of the virtues of hydrogen energy, etc. It sounds like Honda has done a relly nice job on this car. Still though the writer points out that it's cruising range between fillups of only 190 miles is less than ideal and that building a car that could store enough hydrogen to increase it's range to what are considered to be practical levels is still somewhere down the line.
He mentions petroleum as the primary source of hydrogen for today in his hydrogen FAQ's at the bottom of the story but says that hydrogen produced by wind and solar paower looks good in the future. Unfortunately he dosent tell the readers that solar or wind produced H2 will come from water, nor does he mention that gasoline is technically hydrogen stored in a liquid form by binding it to carbon molecules (hence the name "hydrocarbon"). He also dosent mention that water (H2O) is yet another example of hydrogen fuel stored in a liquid form by being bound to another molecule (oxygen in this case). So we already have to perfect storage vehicles for our hydrogen fuel, one of which we have been using for a very long time. And the other which is endlessly renewable. Maybe it is time someone started talking aboput the REAL potentials of hydrogen energy?
ED.
Fuel cell car for TOMORROW
By MARK PHELAN
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
4/25/2005
DETROIT - There's something inspirational about driving nearly 120 miles and producing no noxious emissions.
Carbon monoxide? Zero.
Nitrous oxide? Nada.
Carbon dioxide? Nyet.
Particulates? Mais non, cher.
Just a trickle of lukewarm water from the tailpipe.
The hydrogen fuel cell-powered Honda FCX, a four-door hatchback, boasts the first fuel cell any automaker has developed that works in subzero temperatures.
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| U.S. research targets hydrogen fuel cells, infrastructure |
| 04.24.05 (5:57 pm) |
The 35th anniversary of Earth Day, April 22, represents a growing global commitment to a cleaner environment and to replacing finite stores of coal, oil and natural gas with renewable energy sources. One of the most challenging and potentially promising of these renewable resources is hydrogen.
Hydrogen is the simplest, most abundant element in the universe. The idea of using it as an energy source has been around at least since 1870, when Jules Verne incorporated the concept in his science-fiction classic, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
Hydrogen does not occur naturally as a gas on Earth -- it is always combined with other elements. Water, for example, combines hydrogen and oxygen (H2O). Many organic compounds also contain hydrogen, including the hydrocarbons that make up fuels such as gasoline, natural gas, methanol and propane.
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| Obama, Emanuel seek funding for ethanol-to-hydrogen fueling station |
| 04.24.05 (5:23 pm) |
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama and Rep. Rahm Emanuel said Friday they plan to seek federal funding for an ethanol-to-hydrogen fueling station for Chicago to provide energy for emission-free vehicles that will be operated by the city.
The Illinois Democrats held the Earth Day event at an existing city fueling station. Emanuel said about $3 million will be sought for the ethanol-to-hydrogen fueling stop in the next year's budget.
"Developing new ways to use hydrogen is vital to building a sustainable future," said Emanuel, of Chicago. "Vehicles running on hydrogen are pollution free. ... By investing now, we can develop this technology to fit our country's growing energy needs."
The fueling station would be installed by the city of Chicago in conjunction with the Gas Technology Institute. Water mixed with liquid ethanol — a corn-based fuel additive — would break down the fuel to produce hydrogen.
(Please note that the fuel is a water/ethanol mix and it is from this that the process exyracts hydrogen. ED)
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| H2Expo 2005: Low-temperature fuel cells going hot and cold |
| 04.24.05 (4:19 pm) |
What are the trends in low-temperature fuel cells? The latest developments and innovations were revealed by the industry leaders in a survey commissioned by H2Expo, International Conference and Trade Fair for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies, to be held at the CCH Congress Center Hamburg from 31 August to 1 September 2005. This 5th event in the annual series will be a meeting place for delegates from industry, politics and research, to discuss developments, joint ventures and orders.
The findings of the survey show a trend towards more flexible operating temperatures in low-temperature cells, progress in Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFC) and more economies in use of platinum. The increase in operating temperature of PEM cells (Polymer Electrolyte Membrane) from the conventional 80°C to between 100°C and 200°C has led to the definition of new categories, with experts now talking about medium-temperature and high-temperature PEM.
The Frankfurt based company PEMEAS, which is pursuing the fuel cell research activities of Celanese and of the former Höchst AG, is working with a PBI (polybenzimidazole) system that stores phosphorus acid instead of water in the membrane. This means there is no need for membrane moistening with water. The preferred temperature range is 160°C to 180°C. From 160°C upwards, the Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) becomes carbon-monoxide tolerant, i.e. the noble metal catalyst is no longer deactivated by CO. Application goals of this "Celtec" method are reformate operated stationary systems, with simple gas cleaning of the reformate. The cooperation partners include Plug Power.
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| Let's go to hydrogen |
| 04.24.05 (3:20 pm) |
Sen. Pete Dominci | Commentary
April 24, 2005
The rising global demand for oil continues to drive gasoline and oil prices to troubling heights, while climate change continues to raise questions about the role carbon emissions play in our weather. Partly due to these pressures, I believe we are poised to move toward a hydrogen-based economy.
Right now, our society is at transportation crossroads similar to where we were a century ago. In the early 1900s, people still relied on the horse and buggy. The new-fangled automobile was too expensive, unreliable and hard to maintain. Gasoline was impossible to get in most places, and paved roads didn't exist in most areas.
We are there today with hydrogen. Hydrogen cars are too costly, their performance is unreliable (particularly in humid climates) and hydrogen is virtually impossible to get. We still don't know how to store it or transport it effectively.
We face precisely the same hurdles our great grandparents faced more than a hundred years ago with the automobile. The choices we make today will determine how swiftly and successfully we overcome these hurdles and move toward the freedom and opportunity a hydrogen society offers us.
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| Masterflex cooperates with Hawk Bikes on development of hydrogen-powered bicycle |
| 04.24.05 (3:13 pm) |
German company Masterflex, which specialises in the processing of high-tech plastic materials, has collaborated with Hawk Bikes E&M, the German manufacturer of bicycles, on the development of a so-called 'Cargobike', which uses hydrogen fuel cells for energy.
The new bicycle is intended as an alternative to battery-powered bicycles. The fuel cells are said to provide five times as much energy, despite being the same size; with a hydrogen cartridge, the bicycles can travel up to 250km. The two companies expect to be able to deliver the first Cargobikes by the beginning of 2006.
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| Microbial fuel cell: High yield hydrogen source and wastewater cleaner |
| 04.24.05 (10:37 am) |
Using a new electrically-assisted microbial fuel cell (MFC) that does not require oxygen, Penn State environmental engineers and a scientist at Ion Power Inc. have developed the first process that enables bacteria to coax four times as much hydrogen directly out of biomass than can be generated typically by fermentation alone.
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| Power on the prairie |
| 04.24.05 (10:17 am) |
On a ridge in western Minnesota stands a new breed of skyscraper -- a wind turbine that rises 365 feet from a pasture. In a stiff prairie wind Friday, the blades spun fast, generating electricity and high hopes.
Just east of the farm community of Morris, about 700 students, farmers and others gathered on international Earth Day to celebrate what this new-generation windmill owned by the University of Minnesota represents.
New industry in rural areas could come from building wind turbines and storing hydrogen that creates electricity, and from biomass plants that heat and cool schools and businesses.
Farmers could earn money from new perennial crops that could be planted in low-lying areas, slowing erosion.
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| Inslee Amendment on Wind Energy is Successful |
| 04.21.05 (4:12 pm) |
Washington, D.C. -- During today's consideration of the Energy Policy Act, the House passed an amendment offered by U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee to promote wind energy production on federal lands. The wind energy amendment was supported by the Chairmen of the House Energy and Commerce and the House Resources Committees. Inslee's amendment will help lower wind energy costs and increase wind energy production by cutting in half the amount of rental fees that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) can charge wind energy producers for wind turbines placed on federal lands. This measure will allow the wind industry to pay fees that are more equitable to market based rates. In Washington State, the BLM administers over 400,000 acres of land, 38,000 acres of which are potentially developable for wind energy.
Said Inslee, "Wind energy is a very abundant source of power in Washington State and this amendment provides an opportunity to maximize our wind potential on federal lands, while lowering the costs of wind energy. By cutting the royalty payments that the wind industry will have to pay Uncle Sam, we can push the prices for wind energy even lower and give a boost to this promising form of renewable energy. This amendment is one step in the direction of creating well-paying wind industry jobs in America, instead of in Denmark where many are currently located."
The Inslee amendment will cut the current rental fees on BLM lands from approximately $2,365 per Megawatt per year to approximately $1,182 per Magawatt per year. This amendment will also help meet the goals of another amendment offered by Inslee and included in the energy bill, which expresses the sense of Congress that the generation capacity of renewable energy on federal public lands in the United States should be at least 10,000 megawatts within ten years of the date of the enactment of the legislation.
The United States has a significant potential for wind energy development, especially on its public lands in the West. The Bureau of Land Management is responsible for over 260 million acres of public lands, and currently administers 25 wind energy "right-of-way" authorizations in California and Wyoming, which encompass approximately 5,000 acres and generate about 500 Megawatts of electric power. In addition, BLM is considering about 70 new proposals for commercial wind energy projects.
BLM encourages the development of wind energy because it provides many environmental advantages over other types of energy resource developments and because continued growth of this renewable resource will be extremely important in delivering larger supplies of clean, domestic power to consumers.
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| Peugeot Quark: futuristic fuel-cell quad for the road. |
| 04.21.05 (3:30 pm) |
Peugeot has unveiled a prototype two-person four-wheeler powered by fuel-cell technology. Named "Quark," the vehicle runs off electric motors located on the hub of each of the unit's four 17-inch alloy wheels. The motors are fed through a complex air-cooled hydrogen fuel-cell system developed by Montreal-based hybrid-specialist TM4.
from: Peugeot Quark: futuristic fuel-cell quad for the road.(first look)(Brief Article) by Ebert, Guido
source: ATV Sport, May 1, 2005.
via:  HighBeam™ Research
COPYRIGHT 2005 Ehlert Publishing Group
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| Hydrogen village on P.E.I. will use wind power to create hydrogen fuel |
| 04.21.05 (1:38 pm) |
Prince Edward Island will become the testing ground for a new clean energy system that uses wind power to produce hydrogen fuel.
The federal government will join with its provincial counterpart and at least one private partner to announce Friday the creation of a hydrogen village near the community of Tignish on the Island's eastern tip. Sources told The Canadian Press on Thursday that the five-year project, estimated to cost about $10 million, will be a pioneering experiment using one of the oldest forms of energy to produce one of the newest.
"The deal with wind energy is that, for the most part, you have to use it while it is being generated," said a federal official.
"This project will test the concept of taking wind energy and storing it for future use through the creation of hydrogen fuel."
(The hydrogen produced will come from the electrolysis of water ED.)
*http://news.yahoo.com/news?tm..."Source
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| Study Shows Antarctic Glaciers Shrinking (AP) |
| 04.21.05 (1:16 pm) |
The first comprehensive survey of glaciers on the Antarctic peninsula has shown that the rivers of ice are shrinking, mostly because of warming of the local climate.
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| First Field Trial for Australian Fuel Cell Appliance |
| 04.21.05 (12:58 pm) |
Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited (CFCL) and Central Gippsland Institute of TAFE (GippsTAFE) announce their agreement for Australia's first field trial of a fuel cell powered micro-CHP (combined heat and power) generator appliance.
CFCL has teamed up with GippsTAFE for its expertise in training in the electrical, gas, energy, water and telecommunications industries.
The prototype trial will be conducted at GippsTAFE's Chadstone campus, in Melbourne's south-east, by their subsidiary Energy and Telecommunications Training Australia (ETTA). The trial will also utilise the expertise developed by GippsTAFE in its long association with the Latrobe Valley electricity generation industry.
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| Officials Want to Wire Earth for Continuous Readout of Vital Signs |
| 04.21.05 (12:53 pm) |
Imagine the planet wired for a nearly continuous readout on its vital signs, shared by all. That's the essence of a White House plan announced Monday.
The new "Strategic Plan for the U.S. Integrated Earth Observation System" envisions linking nearly 60 nations within a decade to gather and share information from satellites, ocean buoys, weather stations and other surface and airborne instruments.
"Whether it's agriculture, or land use, or water planning, or transportation, or energy, there's a lot of data about the environment that has to be collected," said John Marburger III, President Bush's top science adviser.
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| High Gas Prices Push Car Buyers to Hybrids |
| 04.21.05 (12:45 pm) |
Ted Kelley, a private investigator in Boca Raton, is a happy convert to hybrid auto technology.
Kelley, who puts about 3,500 miles a month on his car visiting clients as far north as Jacksonville, recently purchased a Toyota Prius. The hybrid vehicle -- which runs on a gasoline engine linked to a battery-powered electric motor -- is saving Kelley about $400 a month on gasoline.
"I was driving a Land Rover before and getting about 13-14 miles per gallon," said Kelley, whose 2005 Prius advertises average mileage of 55 miles per gallon. "I had to fill up after about 260 miles with the other car. Now I can get about 500 to 600 miles out of a tank full," he said. "Gas prices are only going to get worse and I'd rather have that money myself."
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| IBM and Sanyo unveil prototype of methanol fuel cells for IBM laptops |
| 04.21.05 (12:03 pm) |
IBM and Sanyo are working together to develop a methanol fuel cell system for use in IBM ThinkPad notebook computers. The current prototype can supply eight hours of power per cartridge on current models of IBM's signature notebook line. The prototype was designed to be compatible with existing notebook...
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| Energy Bill Won't Ease Fuel Prices Quickly, Bush Says |
| 04.21.05 (11:42 am) |
House Democrats on Wednesday criticized an $8 billion energy bill they said favored big oil companies and President Bush acknowledged the legislation would do nothing to immediately ease record gasoline prices.
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| Growth in biomass could put US on road to energy independence |
| 04.21.05 (11:37 am) |
Relief from soaring prices at the gas pump could come in the form of corncobs, cornstalks, switchgrass and other types of biomass, according to a joint feasibility study for the departments of Agriculture and Energy.
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| Some Like It Hot |
| 04.19.05 (8:54 pm) |
Forty public policy groups have this in common: They seek to undermine the scientific consensus that humans are causing the earth to overheat. And they all get money from ExxonMobil.
By Chris Mooney
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| Now's Your Chance to Support IMPORTANT Solar Legislation - ACT TODAY! |
| 04.19.05 (7:01 pm) |
California is now considering the largest solar energy legislation ever introduced in the United States. The Million Solar Roofs Initiative (SB1) provides ten years of incentives to help Californians install one million solar energy systems on homes and businesses by 2018, creating 3000 megawatts of new clean power - the equivalent of 60 peaking power plants - and preventing the release of 50 million tons of greenhouse gases. The bill is scheduled to have its first hearing in the legislature on April 26.
Please click here to send a message to key members of the Senate Energy Committee in support of the Million Solar Roofs bill and help bring solar energy into the mainstream.
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Cell-out: Energy innovation ignored |
| 04.19.05 (6:41 pm) |
IT looks like an Australian breakthrough: a compact, clean and efficient hydrogen generator claimed to supply enough power and heat for a four-person household.
But after field trials here - probably including an eco-village display home - this new fuel cell product will go to market first in Europe, not Australia.
"It is a sad fact," said Helen Millicer of Melbourne-based Ceramic Fuel Cells, the country's only commercial developer of hydrogen fuel cell systems.
"If there was greater (government) support given to energy efficiency in this country then micro CHP (combined heat and power systems) would be more favoured here."
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| This week in the news |
| 04.18.05 (9:15 pm) |
By Michael Johnston
C 2005
The past week was a busy one for me. I was in on vacation from Sunday to Wednesday night and got absolutely nothing done. It was great. I spent the time with a very good friend of mine and we just hung out with each other and had a good time. I flew in an airplane for the first time, ate Sushi for the first time. It was quite the interesting vacation.
While I was away the news stories piled up and my solution to that problem is to write this story as a single post and include in it all of the news stories from the past week that I think are worth reading rather than post them all individually. Hopefully I can make it interesting by commenting a bit here and there.
Let's have a look at the environment first. After all, the condition of the world around us is one of the main
stimuli for all of the current interest in the development and implementation of new and alternative energy
sources. First off we look at the fact that the seasons are changing, spring is arriving earlier and earlier. Of course not
everyone can agree on this fact
Link
Even so here is a database of unseasonal events that were submitted by the public
Link. Then again,
Scientists are being urged to spread word on global warming.
Mark Morford, who writes for the San Fransisco Chronicle had some thoughts on the subject that I felt my readers would enjoy
Link.
It is a fact that the United states is a World Leader and a Superpower. We take comfort in that as citizens.
Here is another area in which America is clearly in the lead, trashing the planet
Link. It is good to be number one. Of course we do have to remember that
"Fossil Fuels Will Not Last Forever". This being the case it is a wonder that anyone would even care that clean fuel cars will be a shock to the oil industry
Link.But aparrently the US Congress dosen't care too much about dwindling oil reserves as a
US House Panel Rejects Boost in Car Mileage Rule. And they do this even though we all know that Stricter Auto Fuel Use Would Slow Oil Demand. And yet we don't believe ourselves to be the slightest bit hypocritical when we
Press China to Invest in Cleaner Energy
With global warming will come some interesting changes to everyday things such as where food can be produced and sea levels and such. Here are a few stories on thse changes.
(1) Tasmanian Sea LevelPredicted to rise 80cm
(2) London left underwater without climate action
(3) Currents could disrupt
ocean food chain
(4) Rising water puts Irish homes at risk
(5) Global warming threat to future of Scotland's lochs
(6) Global climate change may damage habitat for young
salmon, Sequim science research indicates
(7) Professor says global warming could trigger monsoons
here
(8) Quiet surrounds
our energy crisis
(9) Ocean Energy -- Putting It
All In Perspective
Since we are seeing these stories with their dire warnings on a more regular basis now you would think that our devoted
public servants in Washington would be working frantically to find a way to save us, wouldn't you? Well it seems they are.
THier solution? A Global Warming Tax. No shame, none.
Luckily companies such as Starbucks are stepping up to the plate on their own to try to lend a hand. Sometimes even good intentions go haywire though as evidenced by the fact that Ozone Protective Gases Found to Boost Global Temperatures
For those of you who remember my story on Mercury pollution, this week brought us some more news. Wisconsin Joins States' Mercury Lawsuit Against EPA Mercury Rule.
That is a good thing, why knowingly poison children? Of course it is coal fired electric utilities who are causing the
mercury pollution but even so the rest of us can recycle mercury thermostats. Of course that won't do much to help fish in the Spokane River but it is a nice gesture.
A recent UN study has found that Developing
Nations Ripe For Wind, Solar Energy. And what a surprise that is. On the other hand the UN has also completed a project which involved Mapping Earth's Best Sites for Wind, Solar Power which seems like a very good endeavor.
Solar and wind power are two of the hottest areas in renewable energy right now with some facinating developments just coming on the scene in both. Wind power is a mature enough technology that I wouldn't hesitate to invest my own money in a wind farm today. With solar I think that I might wait just a bit for newer types of cells to hit the market. Below are the solar and wind links for this week.
(1)
(2) ICP SOLAR'S NEW CORE TECHNOLOGY DELIVERS UP TO 50% MORE
POWER
(3) Rising sun helps power Japan's new eco-mansion
(4) New Photovoltaics Made with Titanium Foil
(5) Ultra high performance plastic solar
cells
(6) GE Financing Residential Solar Systems
(7) Doyle
Aker's $30 Homestead Solar Water Heater
(8) Let Mother Nature Power Your RV
(9) Tunisia Encouraging Solar Energy Usage
(10) Venture with wind beneath its wings
(11) Windmill energy at Cornell
(12) Cape Breton 'wind farm' will
power 4,000 homes
(13) Nine Pa. colleges increase their commitment to wind
energy
(14) City turns to wind for
water answer
(15) Scots wind farms facing rate hike
(16) Not solar alone, Rajasthan has a new wind
theme
Of course no report from me would be complete without an in-depth look at what's movin and shakin in the world of hydrogen
energy. Not a whole lot this week actually but let's go ahead and take a look at what is going on. I am feeling the bug
myself here and may start building some demos of the technoligy I have developed and soo what happens. At any rate, we have a
Kerosene-based 1kW-class Fuel Cell System now. See again the
carbon in the hydrocarbon is just acting like a storage platform for the hydrogen fuel that we actually use.
(1) The company Ceramic Fuel Cells has increased it's power
output.
(2) Honda Develops Hydrogen-
powered Car That Works
(3) Residential Fuel Cell Delivery Ceremony Held at the Japanese
Prime Minister's Official Residence
(4) Motorbikes Ride High on Hydrogen
(5) Hydrogen fuel cells power TV news crews
(6) Japan-Estimate Puts Fuel Cell Market at 1.2 Trillion Yen in
2020
(7) =http://www.iht.com/articles/2..."Honda changes the odds with fuel-
cell car
(8) Reva plans hydrogen fuel cars
(9) Toho Gas Develops Low-Cost Way To Produce High-
Pressure Hydrogen
(10) US researchers discover highly-efficient new fuel cell design
(11) Iceland uses existing renewable power sources to create a hydrogen
economy
(12) New fuel cell design uses gasoline to produce more power than internal
combustion engine
(13) Investors Back Solar "Tandem Cell"
(14) First International Hydrogen Rail Conference
Thanks for reading my posts.
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| News From The H2 Expo |
| 04.11.05 (3:22 pm) |
Soaring gas prices make hydrogen cars attractive
Hydrogen Expo USA shows market-ready solutions
09-April-2005 - A revolutionary thing that went almost unnoticed happened at the
Hydrogen Expo USA technology showcase in Washington, DC: for the first time a
hydrogen-fueled vehicle was able to drive inside the exhibit hall. No anxious fire
marshal, no safety concerns on behalf of the venue. While in the past vehicles had
to have their engines cut before move-in, the Honda FCX meant for indoor display at
the leading North American hydrogen and fuel cells exhibition was simply driven to
the booth. Hydrogen vehicles have come a long way from sci-fi-type oddities to an
increasingly attractive alternative to cars running on expensive gasoline.
Seventeen hydrogen vehicles, including a flashy BMW racing car, a golf cart and
three buses, were presented at Hydrogen Expo USA and the National Hydrogen
Association's 16th Annual Conference from March 29 to April 1, 2005 at the Marriott
Wardman Park Hotel. The majority of the cars participated in a ride and drive which
gave attendees the chance to get behind the steering wheel and see what the mobility
of the future is going to be like. Manufacturers at the ride and drive included
DaimlerChrysler, Ford, GM, Honda, Toyota, and UTC Fuel Cells who developed the
powertrain for one of the buses.
"To believe that energy prices will come down significantly in the near future is
whishful thinking", concludes Ines Freesen, Managing Director of Hydrogen Expo USA
organizer Freesen & Partner. "On the contrary, there is worse to come, and it first
hits us at the gas station. This makes hydrogen fueled vehicles not only an
environmentally-friendly alternative, which helps us to reduce inner-city pollution
and the effects of greenhouse gas emissions. These cars also become increasingly
attractive from an economic standpoint."
The expo showed the whole chain from hydrogen production to the compression or
liquefaction and storage of the gas, to its distribution at hydrogen fueling
stations. Also on display were fuel cell technologies, materials and components for
the design and manufacture of the clean energy converter, test stations and complete
systems for applications in transportation, stationary energy supply and portable,
grid-independent power.
"As a power source for residential and commercial heat and power alike, hydrogen
fuel cells provide a clean, safe and reliable option", adds Freesen. "And with the
price for oil and electricity exploding, this technology which used to be
brandmarked as too expensive is now on our doorsteps as a very viable alternative."
65 international suppliers presented market-ready technologies at Hydrogen Expo USA,
which drew attendance of some 1,100 delegates. Compared to the last Annual
Conference and Expo in Washington, DC in 2003, this means an increase in exhibitor
numbers by 180 (!) percent and an increase in attendance by 70 percent. The surge in
interest in the topic and the event can also be seen in the increase in visits on
www.hydrogenexpo.com which tripled in comparison to last year to almost 40,000
visits. Accordingly, participants in the 2005 event were very satisfied.
"Hydrogen Expo USA remains a tremendous opportunity to network with potential
customers, partners and investors." said Ricky Gujral, CEO of Hydrogen Power Inc., a
manufacturer of hydrogen generation technology. "Both the exhibition and the
presentation forums provide a valuable showcase for our technology. Hydrogen Power
Inc. first debuted at the 2004 Hydrogen Expo and we look forward to these annual
networking opportunities to continue to demonstrate our progress."
"This event has been an excellent networking forum for us", stated Osama Al-Qasem,
Sales & Marketing Director at PDC Machines, Inc., a hydrogen compressor technology
company. "Most of Hydrogen Expo USA's exhibitors are now our customers and buy our
diaphragm compressors. We already signed up for the expo in 2006."
"Pressure Products Industries Inc. very much appreciated the opportunity to exhibit
our hydrogen compressor technology", commented Michael Walsh, Sales Manager for
Pressure Products Industries Inc., another supplier of diaphragm compressors. "The
expo was a great way to display our working model of a diaphragm compressor. The
exhibit was well run and went very smoothly for us. The networking receptions
presented a great opportunity for exhibitors and conference attendees to get
together and have discussions in a relaxed atmosphere."
The next Hydrogen Expo USA and NHA Annual Conference will be held on March 11 to 16,
2006 in Long Beach, CA.
About Hydrogen Expo:
Hydrogen Expo(TM) USA is the leading showcase for hydrogen and fuel cell
technologies in North America. It is organized by Germany-based Freesen & Partner
GmbH, a consulting and event management firm specialized in the energy,
environmental and waste recycling markets. In 2001, the company launched H2Expo in
Hamburg, the first stand-alone hydrogen and fuel cells exhibition and conference in
Europe. In the United States, Freesen & Partner has teamed with the National
Hydrogen Association (NHA) and puts together the Hydrogen Expo USA alongside the
prestigious NHA Annual Conference. For more information visit: www.hydrogenexpo.com
and www.h2expo.com
Press contact:
Ines Freesen, Freesen & Partner GmbH, Schwalbennest 7a, 46519 Alpen, Germany
Tel. +49-2802-948484-0, Fax +49-2802-948484-3
Email: info@hydrogenexpo.com, Web: www.hydrogenexpo.com
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| Nanostructured Power Sources? |
| 04.09.05 (6:41 pm) |
By Michael Johnston
c 2005
Let's face it my friends, most of the energy around us in the world is what we usually consider to be waste energy. The heat that radiates away from your body, the heat that is lost by your car's engine, the waves of heat that seem to float above an asphalt parking lot in the summertime...all waste energy.
Now two researchers say that they have found a much better way to convert all of that waste heat into usable electrical energy.
For more info go here: http://www.azonano.com/news.a...
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| The Duke of York finds out about hydrogen technology |
| 04.09.05 (6:12 pm) |
Munich 04/09/2005; A V.I.P. has visited the BMW Group in Munich: His Royal Highness Prince Andrew, Duke of York, found out the facts about hydrogen technology as part of his visit to Germany. Immediately after his arrival from Hamburg, the first stop in his schedule was the hydrogen filling station at Munich Airport, before the Duke visited MAN Commercial Vehicles, the BMW Group Research and Innovation Centre and Siemens AG. These three companies are amongst the largest investors in the United Kingdom. His Royal Highness was visiting Munich in his capacity as the United Kingdom's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment. His visit centred on the maintenance of the excellent economic relationship between Bavaria and the UK.
Story Source: http://www.theautochannel.com...
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| Fiat Takes a First at Monte Carlo with Hydrogen Seicento |
| 04.09.05 (4:32 pm) |
Fiat’s Seicento hydrogen fuel cell prototype (photo at right) took 2nd place in the overall fuel cell category at the recent Monte Carlo Fuel Cell and Hybrid Rally held in conjunction with EVS-21, and took 1st place among compressed hydrogen-powered vehicles. Final points took into account total fuel consumption, the fuel-consumed to vehicle-weight ratio and any penalties accumulated during the race.
Cars in the rally covered a mixed motorway-main road itinerary totalling 410 km (255 miles), taking them through Turin, Cuneo, Col di Tenda and Val Roia to arrive in the Principality of Monaco.
Fiat introduced the Seicento H2 prototype in 2003. The Seicento uses compressed hydrogen stored at 350 bar (5,000 psi) to feed a PEM stack capable of producing 200 V of electrical energy, with a maximum power output of 40 kW. The fuel cell car, with axle-power output of 30 kW, has a top speed of 130 km/h (81 mph) and a range of 200 km (124 miles).
Story Source: http://www.greencarcongress.c...
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| Hydrogen village project good news for West Prince |
| 04.09.05 (4:28 pm) |
ALBERTON — Will Tignish become the first hydrogen village in North
America? Anne Arsenault, manager of Tignish Initiatives, the community development arm, was pleased to hear that her village will be adding hydrogen production to its list of alternative energy sources in the near future.
Story Source: http://www.journalpioneer.com...
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| Hydrogen Can Lurk in Ice for Fuel Use |
| 04.09.05 (4:21 pm) |
By Kim Tae-gyu
Staff Reporter
A team of international scientists have found an affordable way to store hydrogen, the element many researchers believe is the key to the world’s future energy problems.
The team, headed by Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology professor Lee Huen, yesterday said they uncovered the hydrogen storage mechanism by researching ice.
``Purified water does not have a space to embed hydrogen but we found water combined with organic metals creates a nano-space to stably hoard hydrogen at about 0 degrees Celsius when water turns to ice,’’ Lee said.
The 53-year-old professor added the newly found storage method will help enhance the viability of hydrogen as an alternative energy source to the current dominance of fossil fuels.
Story Source: http://times.hankooki.com/lpa...
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| Village Becomes Green Hydrogen Showcase |
| 04.09.05 (4:14 pm) |
Vancouver, British Columbia [RenewableEnergyAccess.com] It takes a village to promote hydrogen from renewable energy in British Columbia. The Vancouver Village of Anmore has plans to develop a renewable energy center that will contribute to the community's energy requirements while serving to publicly showcase how other communities can produce renewable energy for their own use.
"It is very logical for a village such as Anmore to move on this type of renewable energy project."
- Anmore Mayor Hal Weinberg
The proposed renewable energy center will employ proven green energy technologies using the water, solar and wind resources available to Anmore, and apply the energy to the production of hydrogen. Stored hydrogen would then be used to power municipal vehicles, and for heating and cooling the infrastructure of the village.
Story Source: http://renewableenergyacc ess....
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| On-Site Continuous Hydrogen Generators Producing Solid Results, Cost Savings for Power Plants |
| 04.09.05 (4:11 pm) |
Historically, onsite hydrogen generation systems have been deployed at remote, hard to reach locations around the globe. In recent years however, onsite hydrogen generation systems have been adopted by an increasing number of power plants as an alternative method for cooling electric power generating equipment.
When the method of continuous hydrogen replenishment is coupled with the implementation of onsite hydrogen generation, advantages may include increase generator efficiency, lower fuel usage and emissions, reduced maintenance and hydrogen costs, and increased safety.
Story SOurce: http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/0...
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| Wintry Canada to Use Solar Power to Heat Homes |
| 04.06.05 (7:06 pm) |
Canada, better known for snow than sun, plans to build a 52-home solar powered community in Alberta that will harvest the sun's rays in summer and use them to heat homes in winter, the government said Wednesday.
Story Source:http://www.enn.com/alt.html?i...
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| Rolls-Royce in Venture to Develop Fuel Cell-Based Power System |
| 04.06.05 (7:02 pm) |
Luxury car maker Rolls-Royce plc signed an agreement Wednesday with a Singapore consortium that includes several Singapore government-linked entities to jointly invest US$100 million in a new venture to develop a commercially viable power system based on fuel cell technology.
Story Source:http://www.enn.com/alt.html?i...
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| Windmills in the Sky |
| 04.06.05 (6:59 pm) |
By David Cohn
Australian engineer Bryan Roberts wants to build a power station in the sky -- a cluster of flying windmills soaring 15,000 feet in the air -- but is having trouble raising enough money to get the project off the ground.
After 25 years of research, Roberts has designed a helicopter-like rotorcraft to hoist a wind turbine high into the air, where winds are persistent and strong. The craft, which is powered by its own electricity and can stay aloft for months, feeds electricity to the ground through a cable.
Story Source: http://www.wired.com/news/pla...,2782,67121,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_2
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| Colorado Finalizes Fuel Cell Research Center Plans |
| 04.05.05 (3:13 pm) |
While fuel cell technology is proven, considerable research and development remains to be tackled before it's adopted at a wider, mainstream level throughout the U.S. The federal government is one of the technology's greatest supporters, but states too are getting on-board by initiating their own fuel cell development programs.
Story Source: http://www.renewableenergyacc...
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| Solar, Fuel Cell Demonstration Project for Long Island |
| 04.05.05 (2:54 pm) |
The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) dedicated the first combined use of solar power and fuel cell systems on Long Island. The unique combination of alternative energy technology systems are located at the Local 25 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) headquarters in Hauppauge. The 15 kW solar power system and 5 kW fuel cell unit will provide electric power and domestic hot water to the facility.
Story Source: http://www.renewableenergyacc...
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| U.S. Army Begins Testing of Fuel Cell Truck |
| 04.05.05 (2:20 pm) |
The vast, often treacherous distances covered by the U.S. military in Iraq have exposed the inherent vulnerabilities of the military being dependant on a liquid petroleum-based infrastructure.
(If the source of the hydrogen was water then the Army would have fuel in some form no matter where it was on the planet. ED)
Story Source: http://www.renewableenergyacc...
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| Hydrogen on the Eastern Horizon? |
| 04.05.05 (1:21 pm) |
The Challenge Bibendum is the anti-Nascar, a road rally where dozens of cars, two-wheelers, and buses vroom the straightaways like a pack of DustBusters, cough out water vapor instead of sooty exhaust, and corner at peak speeds of 35 mph. Named for the morbidly obese mascot of Michelin, which sponsors the event, Bibendum is the proving ground for alternative-fuel and low-emissions vehicles.
(NASCAR for folks on heavy depressents. ED)
Story Source: http://www.wired.com/wired/ar...
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| Auto makers' transition to hydrogen fuel will be in phases |
| 04.05.05 (12:35 pm) |
As the average American driver waits for hydrogen-powered
fuel cell cars, he or she will face a range of "bridge" technologies meant to
gradually accustom them to the new class of cars over the next decade or so.
Three major automakers -- Ford Motor Co., General Motors and Honda -- discussed
their individual paths to the hydrogen future Thursday morning at the National
Hydrogen Association's 16th annual conference.
Hydrogen, the world's most abundant element, can be split in devices called fuel
cells to make pollution-free power. That electricity can power cars, buildings,
computers and more. Supporters include President Bush, who promised two years
ago to spend $1.2 billion on hydrogen research over five years.
(Not to be a nit-picker or anything here but you would think someone at Knight Ridder would know that you don't produce hydrogen by splitting hydrogen [see above] ED)
Story Source: http://article.wn.com/link/WN...
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| Hydrogen's fan club remains small |
| 04.05.05 (12:19 pm) |
By Kurt Blumenau
Of The Morning Call
The estimated 1,000 people who attended the National Hydrogen Association's 16th annual conference in Washington, D.C., last week emerged with a wealth of technical data about hydrogen production, storage and use as fuel.
But beneath the number-crunching, a more human theme emerged at session after session: How can hydrogen's backers convince a skeptical, gasoline-reliant public to embrace hydrogen as a potentially pollution-free energy source of the future?
(First thing to remember in trying to sell people on hydrogen fuel is that we ALREADY use hydrogen as our primary fuel. Hydrocarbon fuels such as gasoline or natural gas are simply hydrogen fuel stored on carbon atoms. Once people understand that all we are doing is changing the way that their hydrogen fuel is produced and stored thsy may be more open to it. ED)
Story Source: http://www.mcall.com/business...,0,7776018.story?coll=all-businesslo cal-hed
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| Ottawa gives Westport Innovations and partners $6M to develop hydrogen energy |
| 04.05.05 (12:07 pm) |
VANCOUVER (CP) - The federal government will give Westport Innovations Inc. and its partners $6 million to develop and demonstrate hydrogen technology in energy and transportation applications.
Story Source: http://article.wn.com/link/WN...
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| Indian Ocean climate watch network grows |
| 04.04.05 (10:05 pm) |
The development of a huge observing network to monitor ocean currents and temperature and understand the conditions that bring rain - and drought - to nearly two thirds of the world's population is underway in the Indian Ocean.
"This is a significant initiative that will be as relevant and important to the wheat farmers of Western Australia as it will be to rice growers in India or Indonesia," says Dr Gary Meyers, from CSIRO's Wealth from Oceans Flagship.
Story Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub...
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| Glacier goes under wraps |
| 04.04.05 (9:53 pm) |
A Swiss ski resort is taking a novel approach to the problems posed by global warming: it plans to wrap up a glacier. Geographers at Zurich University have predicted that within the next 30 years 70 per cent of Switzerland's glaciers will have disappeared. Without preventative intervention, skiing could be restricted to a handful of high-altitude resorts. In May, once the ski season is over, more than 3,000 square metres of the Gurschen glacier above the resort of Andermatt is ...
Story Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/tr...
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| Upland Birds In Peril From Climate Change |
| 04.04.05 (9:49 pm) |
Rarely studied upland birds may be as vulnerable as songbirds to climate change, according to a study by researchers who include a Newcastle University scientist. Scientists from the RSPB and Newcastle and Manchester universities have found that the golden plover, a typical upland bird found on the moors and peat bogs of the Pennines – including the North Pennines and Teesdale – Northumberland, Peak and Lake Districts and Highlands, is breeding significantly earlier than 20 years ...
Story Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/r...
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| Royal Society Criticizes US on Climate Change |
| 04.04.05 (9:46 pm) |
London, United Kingdom [RenewableEnergyAccess.com] The UK's prestigious and influential Royal Society called out the Bush Administration on its resistance to overwhelming scientific evidence regarding global warming and the administration's general lack of a consistent message about where they stand with regard to climate change. "The Bush administration appears to be out on a limb on climate change and in disagreement with its own scientific advisers." - Lord May of ...
Story Source: http://renewableenergyacc ess....
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| Adaptation the key to surviving climate change, scientists say |
| 04.04.05 (9:41 pm) |
A climate change conference in Canberra has been told Australia needs to consider focussing on ways of adapting to our changing environment, rather than pouring money into trying to stop global warming. The conference was organised by the Australian APEC Study Centre to consider the approach to climate change, in the wake of the failure of countries such as the United States and Australia to ratify the Kyoto protocol. Several other key parties such as China, India and Italy ...
Story Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/ne...
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| US in race to unlock new energy source |
| 04.04.05 (9:33 pm) |
More than a mile below the choppy Gulf of Mexico waters lies a vast, untapped source of energy. Locked in mysterious crystals, the sediment beneath the seabed holds enough natural gas to fuel America's energy-guzzling society for decades, or to bring about sufficient climate change to melt the planet's glaciers and cause catastrophic flooding, depending on whom you talk to. No prizes for guessing the US government's preferred line. This week it will dispatch a drilling vessel to the ...
Story Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa...,12271,1451542,00.html
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| Climate change becoming a matter of life and death |
| 04.04.05 (9:31 pm) |
Mount Kilimanjaro is drying up. Climate change, coupled with widespread deforestation of the slopes, is melting the ice and snow that has crowned Africa's highest peak for more than 11,000 years, dramatically altering the surrounding ecosystem. Scientists warn most of the glaciers may be gone by 2020. "The situation on Kilimanjaro is only one of the situations around the world that will only get worse unless we take concerted action in the next ...
Story Source:http://www.irinnews.org/repor...
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| Seabirds starving as climate changes |
| 04.04.05 (9:28 pm) |
AN increasing number of shags are being found starved to death around Scotland be-cause of climate change. The trend is being attributed to a change in currents which are stopping the flow of cold water into the North sea, according to the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). About 40% of the world's shag population is found in the British Isles, with the majority breeding off the east and west coasts of Scotland.
Story Source: http://www.theherald.co.uk/ne...
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| An Old Solar Hydrogen Source |
| 04.03.05 (7:31 pm) |
By Michael Johnston
C 2005
Recently there have been stories in the news about advances in new and interesting ways to use the energy of sunlight to produce hydrogen fuel from water. This is a very good thing as it would be a limitless supply of totally renewable, non polluting fuel. Of course the technology to produce large amounts of hydrogen by this method may be a few years down the road.
On the other hand once the hydrogen is produced it must be stored until it is used. New storage methods are being devised now and some look quite promising. If there was only a way to produce hydrogen fuel now though using the energy of the sun and have it come produced in an already perfect storage vehicle, wouldn't that be wonderful?
Well, there is such a system already available. It is called Ethyl alcohol. Ethyl Alcohol (or ethanol) is the type of alcohol that is in beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages. This type of alcohol can be produced from plant matter such as grapes through a process known as Fermentation.
Ethyl Alcohol is composed of three elements, hydrogen, carbon and oxygen. So in a sense we can say that the ethyl alcohol we have produced through fermentation is storing the hydrogen atoms for us for future use. And since we have produced the Ethyl Alcohol using the energy of the sun we can also say that we have produced hydrogen fuel using solar energy and produced it in a reqady made storage medium.
How can we use this stored hydrogen? It can be used directly as a fuel itself in cars. There have also been fuel cells developed which can use Ethanol or we can use a reformer to release the hydrogen fuel from the alcohol.
So you see, when you read about all of the high tech promise in the news just remember that some things are possible right now which, although quite different, can produce the same results.
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| National Security Experts Call for Renewables Deployment |
| 04.01.05 (8:33 pm) |
by Jesse Broehl, Editor, RenewableEnergyAccess.com
April 1, 2005
Peterborough, New Hampshire [RenewableEnergyAccess.com] For decades, renewable energy has had its grassroots, leftist-leaning, environmentally conscious supporters. A recent letter delivered to the President and Congress by major figures in the policy and national security realm, however, perhaps best exemplifies a recent shift to mainstream support for renewable energy from even the most cautious, conservative ranks of society.
SMA America
Story Source: http://renewableenergyacc ess....;jsessionid=aYTzFEO8dNKe? id=24455
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| Hydrogen Industry Convenes at National Conference |
| 04.01.05 (8:30 pm) |
Hydrogen took center stage in Washington this week as the Secretary of Energy, industry and policy leaders from around the world, and more hydrogen- powered vehicles than have ever been assembled at a public event all converged at the opening of the NHA Annual Hydrogen Conference and Hydrogen Expo USA.
Story Source: http://renewableenergyacc ess....
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| GM Rolls Out World's First Fuel-Cell Truck |
| 04.01.05 (8:10 pm) |
General Motors Corp. rolled out the world's first drivable fuel cell truck Friday and handed over the keys to an exacting patron: the Army.
Story Source: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin...
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| Nine States File Lawsuit Challenging New EPA Mercury Regulations |
| 04.01.05 (8:04 pm) |
Nine states filed a lawsuit against the federal government Tuesday, challenging new regulations they say fail to protect children and expectant mothers from dangers posed by mercury emissions from power plants.
Story Source: http://www.enn.com/today.html...
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| Scientists Mystified by Herring Decline |
| 04.01.05 (8:01 pm) |
A steep decline in Puget Sound-area herring, a critical food source for larger fish, marine mammals and sea birds, has scientists mystified.
Story Source: http://www.enn.com/today.html...
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| Washington State Lawmakers would Require New State Buildings Be 'Green' |
| 04.01.05 (7:55 pm) |
Schools, universities and other public buildings would have to be built to meet energy efficiency, water conservation and other environmental standards under a bill given final approval by lawmakers Wednesday.
Story Source: http://www.enn.com/today.html...
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