Half the Energy Needs of Europe from the Oceans?
Saturday, October 30th, 2010
The Marine Board Vision Document, Marine Renewable Energy sees Europe sourcing 50% of its electricity needs from renewable ocean energy, through offshore wind, wave and tidal energy. Such a scenario will have and impact not only on the quality of environment through reducing carbon dioxide emissions and other result but also on energy security, economic and technological development and jobs creation in Europe.
The vision document was presented at the Eurocean 2010 Conference at Ostend during October. The conference sought to highlight the role of the seas and oceans in the earth and climate system and as an important source of wealth and job creation for Europe.
Issues such as sustainable seafood harvest, opportunities from marine biotechnology, blue energy, marine transport, human health, environmental and conservationist challenges such as climate change and marine biodiversity, and governance issues such as maritime spatial planning and importance of international cooperation make the oceans and marine research key focus areas.
Among other things, the conference highlighted the need for clear identification of economic and social benefits arising from marine research and communication of research outputs in a useful and usable format.
Marine Board Position Paper Marine Biotechnology: A New Vision and Strategy for Europe was also presented at the conference. Developments in genomics have created new research possibilities and priorities, for example.
Read about the conference at Afloat, Ireland’s sailing and boating magazine.
Tags: marine biotechnology, oceans, renewable energy
Posted in biotechnology, energy generation, environment, marine life research, renewable energy | No Comments »
Fuel Cells: Significance and Markets
Monday, September 13th, 2010
Fuel cells can theoretically provide energy for everything from running a power plant to running your computer. And they provide it with high efficiency, low emissions and quietly, with the byproducts being heat and water, not carbon dioxide. It is no wonder that governments, businesses and academic institutions are working towards producing this green source of energy.
In essence, a fuel cell combines hydrogen and oxygen to make water, and generates electricity in the process. And unlike a battery, the chemicals needed for a fuel cell, viz. hydrogen and oxygen, do not get exhausted all that easily. What this means is that the fuel cell is not likely to go dead, unlike the battery.
Fuel cell technologies come in different varieties such as PEMFC, SOFC, AFC, MCFC, PAFC and DMFC. Some are more suited for one purpose while others are best in other contexts, such as transportation systems, large power plants and stationary power generators.
Honda’s concept car based on fuel cells has a reported energy efficiency of 60 percent, i.e. 60 percent of the energy that goes in comes out in the form of moving the car. Compare this to the 20 percent efficiency of the fossil fuel burning car, where most of the energy is wasted as heat and for powering incidentals.
Though a battery-powered electric car has an efficiency of 72 percent, the battery has to be charged using AC power, which has a low efficiency, and the charging process itself causes some loss of efficiency. Compared to the 60 percent overall efficiency of the fuel cell, the net battery efficiency is just 26 percent.(See How Fuel Cells Work).
The research report Fuel Cell Technologies Worldwide provides insights into the end user markets for fuel cells and also the various technologies used for making fuel cells.
Tags: energy efficiency, fuel cell technology, green energy, nanotechnology
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The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)
Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
The New Delhi, India headquartered TERI’s stated objective is to deal with the huge problems that humankind is likely to face owing to (i) Depletion of earth’s non-renewable energy resources and (ii) Pollution caused by existing ways of using the energy resources.
Over the years since its establishment in 1974, TERI’s objectives have got enhanced to cover environment and sustainable development. TERI also expanded its operations to North America, Europe and several countries in Asia including Japan, Malaysia and Gulf countries. The Delhi Sustainable Development Summit (DSDS) is an annual event that focuses on sustainable development while pursuing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
DSDS was successful in attracting leaders from government, industry, research and academia and civil society. Buoyed by its success, TERI has now established the World Sustainable Development Forum (WSDF). WSDF will seek to carry the DSDS message to other countries of the world and to evaluate worldwide developments towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals.
The TERI University established in 1998 is a research-oriented institution of higher learning with programs leading to Masters and PhD level degrees.
TERI’s research projects extend over several areas, including Energy-Environment Policy and Technology Development, Environmental and Industrial Biotechnology, Regulatory Studies and Governance, Resources and Global Security, Social Transformation, Sustainable Development Outreach and more.
Read more at the TERI website.
Tags: depletion of energy resources, pollution from energy use practices, sustainable development
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Nanotechnology and Climate Change
Tuesday, May 11th, 2010
Climate change is a major concern for the world. The change is attributed to global warming caused by carbon emissions, caused mainly by human activities. A survey by Environmental Protection Agency of USA estimates carbon emissions from the electric power generation sector at 34%, transport sector at 28%, industries at 20%, residential & commercial properties at 11% and agriculture at 7% in the country.
The study also indicated that carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere have increased 40% since the start of the industrial revolution. While CO2 is the major “greenhouse” gas that leads to global warming, other emissions such as methane also contribute their bit.
Greenhouse gases degrade quality of life by affecting many things from weather to our health. These gases damage the ozone layer that protects our earth from the many dangers to life and health originating from space (through which earth is moving).
With the increasing awareness of the dangers posed by global warming, governments all over the world are looking at ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The suggestions for doing it include :
- Reducing energy consumption by developing technologies that do not involve burning fossil fuels.
- Adopting technologies that use renewable energy and better technologies for energy storage.
- Separation, sequestration and conversion of emitted carbon into useful products.
Nanotechnology can help with these solutions. For example, it can develop high strength materials that help more efficient use of energy and nanocatalysts can improve fuel efficiency.
Read the detailed article on how nanotechnology can help with environmental issues at nanowerk.
Tags: energy efficiency solutions, energy storage solutions, nanomaterials, nanotech solutions for global warming
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Greenpeace Recognizes Climate Change Action by Companies
Friday, April 30th, 2010
Greenpeace has formulated a 100 point scale to measure climate change contributions by companies. It awards 50 points for “climate solutions”, 35 for lobbying and making public statements about climate change, and the remaining points for renewable energy use and setting emission targets.
Cisco received top award with 62 points for its telecommuting, green building design and energy management initiatives, among others. The company had also set a target for reducing emissions by 25 percent during the five year period from 2007 to 2012. The company’s executives were also present at United Nations’ Copenhagen climate negotiations last year.
Ericsson, who came second, had carried out a life-cycle analysis of IT solutions like phones and Internet communication comparing it to the traditional solution of driving to a physical workplace.
The third placed IBM provided a range of emission-cutting services, including smart grid software and supply chain carbon management. IBM also publicized the results of its congestion pricing project in Stockholm that had reduced traffic by 18 percent over a one year period.
Google scored for it public advocacy, particularly its CEO Eric Schmidt’s November 2008 speech calling for federal support for research and development, energy efficiency and broadband infrastructure. However, the company came in for criticism for not disclosing its emissions.
Read the news report at New York Times
Tags: climate change, corporate responsibility, greenpeace
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Investing in Clean Technology is a Trend and Opportunity
Sunday, April 18th, 2010
Technology has provided several benefits to human societies. At the same time, technological progress extracted a price in several forms including depletion of resources critical to our well-being, pollution of air and water and health hazards from toxic wastes. This has led to a focus on clean technology.
By clean technology, we mean any technology that uses resources sustainably, minimizes pollution and avoids toxic discharges. Eenergy generation from renewable sources such as wind and sunlight, use of information technology for enhancing productivity, transport alternatives that have low impact on the environment and chemical processes that minimize the use and generation of hazardous substances are specific illustrations of clean technology areas.
Investment in clean technology is a growing trend and opportunity. Building construction methods that lead to efficient use of energy and mimimizes environmental pollution, and use of lights and devices that consume less power are examples of clean technology processes and products.
Investments in clean technology is being encouraged through incentives like special funding and carbon credits. Companies in the field can also use it as a selling point that is increasingly effective among consumers.
A Reuters Report says that solar power, wind and biotech made record money last year and promise excellent results in the future.
Tags: clean technology, cleantech, energy use, information technology, pollution, toxic waste
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Electricity from Wasted Heat Using Nanotechnology Electrodes
Monday, March 8th, 2010
According to a recent study, thermocells based on carbon nanotube electrodes might prove useful in generating electricity from heat discarded by chemical plants, automobiles and solar power farms. Harvesting the presently wasted energy in this manner can not only lower the energy footprints of individual organizations but can also provide clean energy locally.
Electrolyte-filled, textile-separated nanotube sheets can be wrapped around pipes carrying hot waste streams of manufacturing or electrical power plants. The temperature difference between the pipe and its surroundings create an electrochemical potential difference between the nanotube sheets. The thermocells utilize this potential difference to create electricity.
It is estimated that this new process can generate electricity at a cost 36% less than solar cells. Additionally, it can generate energy even when the sun is not shining, unlike solar cells.
Button sized thermocells are also visualized. Unlike button cell batteries, these thermocells do not run down. Such thermocells can power sensors or electronic circuits.
The high current density offered by carbon nanotubes with their giant surface area and unique electronic structure is tapped by the new thermocells for generating energy with high efficiency.
Read the news at Nanowerk.com
Tags: carbon nanotube, efficient energy generation, energy from wasted heat, thermocells
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Largest Photovoltaic Plant in the World
Saturday, February 20th, 2010
Sunovia Technologies of Florida, USA, is set to construct the world’s largest concentrated photovoltaic power generation plant in Dominican Republic of the Caribbean Islands. The island is blessed with an environment of extreme sunlight, and now this light is going to be turned into energy for the people and businesses of the island.
The $200 million facility will be 2.6 sq.km. in size and will use high-efficiency solar cells. The company claims that as against the normal solar cell efficiency of 10 to 20 percent, the company’s solar cells will have 40 percent efficiency. Sunovia develops the solar cells in partnership with Illinois-based EPR technologies.
Sunovia says that it will be a showcase facility and that already it has attracted the attention of several international companies. The concentrated facility will also be able to generate power at low cost according to the report.
Read this story and others at: World Reports
Tags: photovoltaic cells, power generation, solar cell efficiency, solar power, sunlight
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