By Michael d'Estries
May 2, 2008 – 12:51 pm
Overcoming another obstacle to their adoption (once they’re eventually mass produced and practical), the US Department of Transportation has given the green light to fuel cell accessories on airline flights. According to CNet’s Green Tech Blog, the department has decided that passengers will be allowed to carry approved methanol fuel cells and up to two spare fuel cell cartridges in their carry-on luggage. The ruling isn’t much of a precedent as Canada, China, Japan, and the UK already let passengers carry their nonexistent fuel cells onboard.
Fuel cell technology is not yet widely available on the market — however, several cell phone makers — such as Motorola and Samsung — are planning on introducing the technology sometime in 2009. The application of fuel cells as an energy source is considered safe — as one would have to hold a flame to the enclosed methanol to create a fire. As many of us know, lighters and matches are generally scooped up by aviation security before boarding.
For more information, check out the CNET article here.
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Skynet anyone?
By Michael d'Estries
April 28, 2008 – 3:02 pm
A government agency has awarded a new contract to Aurora Flight Sciences for the development of a radical and ultra-efficient aircraft capable of staying aloft in the stratosphere for five years — or more. The latest design, called Odysseus, uses solar energy to power the aircraft during the day and stored solar energy for the night. From the article,
” The objective of the Vulture program is to develop an aircraft capable of remaining on-station uninterrupted for over five years to perform intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and communication missions over an area of interest. The technology challenges include development of energy management and reliability technologies capable of allowing the aircraft to operate continuously for such extended durations. Vulture, in effect, will be a persistent pseudo-satellite capability, in an aircraft package.”
This would be an incredible UAV if expectations are fulfilled. Currently, global climate change research, weather monitoring, and regional-scale telecommunications are the expected uses.
via ecofriend
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By Michael d'Estries
April 5, 2008 – 3:01 pm
The world’s first commercial energy-producing tidal system has just passed an important milestone in its construction. The 1.2MW SeaGen Tidal System is being placed at Northern Ireland’s Strangford Lough — a site chosen for its combination of fast tidal current and ability to provide shelter from bad weather. The company behind the project, Marine Current Turbines, recently positioned the 1000 tonne structure onto the seabed about 400m from the shoreline. From the article,
It is expected that the breakthrough power plant will be operational around mid-year with its massive 16m diameter twin rotors harnessing the tides to produce the equivalent amount of energy it takes to power 1000 homes. “Tidal energy has the great advantage of being predictable and no other system can harness the power of the tidal currents in the way this one can. We take great pride and see enormous potential in the technology and hope it will eventually make a significant contribution to the future energy needs of the British Isles, Ireland and beyond,” said Martin Wright, Managing Director of Marine Current Turbines.
Indeed, there are other potential sites around the world that could use the tides to harness a great amount of energy. The Bay of Fundy in Canada — which has some of the highest tides in the world — could especially benefit from this technology.
For more information, jump here.
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By Michael d'Estries
March 21, 2008 – 8:32 am
Back in December, we told you of a new company called Skysails that was reintroducing the concept of harnessing the wind on the open seas to save fuel for cargo ships. For its maiden voyage, it would travel from Germany to Venezuela, the United States and Norway under the assistance of a $725,000 computer-controlled kite. Now, after two months, the trip has been achieved — and according to all those involved, a complete success. From the article,
“With that [trip] we impressively validated the original expectations we had for the system“, was how SkySails managing director Stephan Wrage assessed the first practical trials aboard the Beluga ship. “In the future, depending on the route and weather conditions, we’ll be able to post fuel savings of between 10% and 35% using wind power.”
During its time at sea, the kite-assisted ship traveled a total of 11,952 nautical miles. During the time that the kite was deployed — which lasted anywhere from a few minutes to up to 8 hours — it pulled the ship with up to 5 tons of power at force 5 winds — a relief of more than 20% on the ship’s engines. Projected onto an entire day, this performance by the “Beluga SkySails” represents savings of about 2.5 tons of fuel and more than $1,000 a day.
As this is just the initial stage of a pilot program expected to last 12 months, company officials are gearing up for more ambitious testing in future trips. A kite that is twice the size of the original will soon be deployed for double the energy productions and cost savings. The Beluga shipping company is even considering passing on these savings to the crew as an incentive. Nice!
For more on this successful voyage — the future plans for kite-assisted ships, jump here.
Skysails via Green Daily
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By Michael d'Estries
March 18, 2008 – 9:52 pm
Just look at this thing! While it may seem like something Bruce Wayne would deploy in one of the Batman movies, it’s actually a concept under development between the US Military and scientists at the University of Michigan. Not only is it a small bionic bat with stereo cameras, miniaturized radar, and ultra-sensitive self-guidance — but it also is a renewable critter mean to take advantage of energy from solar, wind, and vibrations.
Piezoelectric technology, anyone?
Here’s what Gizmodo had to say on the development of this cool technology:
For energy recovery, UMich will work to develop “quantum dot solar cells,” making current solar cells twice as nice. The bat’s autonomous navi system will be 1,000 times smaller than current systems, and that much more energy efficient too. The comms system will be shrunk to one-tenth the current size, too. You can see how all of this shrinkage will have positive impact outside the bionic-bat community as well.
The bat-bot’s intended use is to run surveillance ops and relay data in realtime (as well as radiation and poison gas readings) back to HQ. UMich will receive $10 million over 5 years to develop the technology. You can grab more details here.
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By Michael d'Estries
March 12, 2008 – 4:52 pm
We’ve seen motorbike concepts powered by small fuel cells, but this is the first time in my memory that a full-scale commercial test of such technology has actually gotten off the ground. Such is the case for the Clear Air Bike — a joint venture between Masterflex and German bike maker Hawk. Supposedly, this cargobike can handle loads up to 150 kg and travel 250km on one fuel cell needing only 90 grams of hydrogen within a 2.2kg storage unit. If that wasn’t enough, there’s even enough energy left over to power secondary functions such as lighting or cooling for transporting temperature sensitive goods. From the article,
With a motor rated at 250 watts it’s exempt, just like a ‘normal’ bike, from European vehicle registration laws (in other words no MOT, insurance or tax requirements). Potential uses include postal delivery services, city cleaning divisions, large industrial site transport and tourist applications.
Of course, practical use of this vehicle is limited to the nearest hydrogen station — but manufacturers are confident such infrastructure will become available once companies latch onto the advantages of fuel cell technology. “Pound for pound, hydrogen-powered fuel cells deliver three times the energy of conventional batteries and unlike petrol motors the only emission is water,” said one representative.
For more information, jump over to the article.
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By Michael d'Estries
March 4, 2008 – 3:47 pm
Increasing their commitment to utilizing alternative forms of energy, Virgin Atlantic announced yesterday that they will be partnering with General Motors to offer complimentary Chevy Equinox hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to first class passengers. Three “green” SUVs will be available for those arriving at Los Angeles International Airport. From the article,
“The program will last for 30 months. Virgin and Chevrolet are studying the possibility to expand this service to New York. Branson stated that this program was one of Virgin’s initiatives to reduce the airline’s carbon footprint. GM’s Larry Burns said that it was a perfect endorsement of GM’s fuel cell technology and ‘an important new avenue for demonstrating the new DNA of the automobile.’”
As we’ve mentioned time and again, hydrogen vehicles are a glimpse of what the future of alternative energy sources might look like. Currently, simply creating hydrogen for cars is an energy-intensive process — coupled with the fact that the infrastructure for such an industry will be expensive and daunting. Still, if cleaner methods of production can be found — and Big Oil doesn’t find a way to kill it — we may yet see a hydrogen economy in our lifetimes.
via autobloggreen
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By Michael d'Estries
March 3, 2008 – 2:13 pm
Back in September, I mentioned a giant battery being developed in the UK to help store energy during times when a wind farm’s output decreases due to calm winds. One of the critiques of wind energy generation is that it can be fairly fickle. Developers therefore, are looking to alternatives to capture energy during peak hours and release it when needed. Now it appears a wind farm in southwest Minnesota will be one of the first to experiment with this idea; employing the use of two 80-ton tractor-trailer size batteries to provide power to over 500 homes for seven hours when the wind isn’t blowing. From the article,
“Xcel also will see whether it is profitable to store wind-generated electricity at night, when power is cheaper, and release it to the grid during peak hours when it is needed more and is more costly. ‘If it turns out these batteries can store enough electricity to use the electricity on the peaks when the demand is highest and the wind is not blowing, that really is a game changer. If they can do that cost effectively, it could spur the development of renewable energy even beyond the 20 to 25 percent most people now think we could integrate onto the grid,’ says Rolf Nordstrom, executive director of the Great Plains Institute.”
Beyond massive batteries, there are also plans in motion to store wind energy underground in massive chambers. When the grid demands more, these chambers would release their pressurized air into a turbine which would then generate electricity. Iowa is looking to make this a reality by 2011. Obviously, this is highly dependent on geography to even be practical; which might make giant battery trailers that much more effective for wind farms all around the world. Minnesota hopes to start the ball rolling this coming October. We’ll keep you updated.
via Argus Leader
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By Michael d'Estries
February 28, 2008 – 2:06 pm
Here we go again. For the fourth time over the past 12 months, a bill that would rescind a tax break for the five biggest oil companies and use the revenue to boost incentives for wind and solar energy and energy efficiency is headed to the Senate. The measure passed the House yesterday by a vote of 236 to 182, but the $18 billion dollar package faces tough opposition from the likely suspects. The Bush administration, Republican lawmakers and big oil companies are all against the bill — saying it unfairly discriminates against a single industry. While they’re busy wiping their tears with record profits (Let’s not forget oil hit $102 a barrel this week), those in favor of the bill say that oil companies are more than healthy enough to afford paying an additional $1.8 billion a year in taxes over the next 10 years. My heart goes out to them. From the article,
“Supporters of the measure also said that by extending tax breaks for wind and solar energy, the bill would prevent the loss of jobs linked to those fast-growing industries. Solar and wind energy companies have been arguing that investment would slow sharply without an extension of investment and production tax breaks for their industries, which are set to expire at the end of the year. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) issued a statement saying that 116,000 jobs were at risk.”
Oil companies are threatening that removing the tax breaks will drive up costs at the pump and limit research into new drilling locations. I’m not buying it — sounds more like corporate greed to me. I personally believe that to help foster the development of new, clean, energy sources here in America (and remain competitive with worldwide innovation), the government needs to step up and throw some serious weight behind this initiative.
Then again, it may take a certain person leaving office in 2009 before any of that becomes a reality…
via The Washington Post
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With so many disasters appearing in the news over the last 10 days, something like the Solarial should be made a reality as soon as possible. According to the creator, this unmanned airship provides “mobile support infrastructure for disaster relief and remote communities, generating renewable energy and supplying communications links where they are needed most.”