“Want of foresight, unwillingness to act
when action would be simple and effective, lack of clear
thinking, confusions of counsel, until the emergency comes,
until self-preservation strikes its jarring gong – these are
the features that constitute the endless repetition of
history.” -- Winston Churchill
Welcome
to the
International Clearinghouse for Hydrogen Commerce
BUILDING A WORLD THAT WORKSTM
Billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov plans to challenge Prime
Minister Vladimir Putin for the Russian presidency in March
elections after the biggest anti-government demonstrations
in a decade emboldened Russia’s opposition.
"We are set to develop hydrogen energy
on a world scale."
Russian Billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov
Hydrogen Fuel is the Way Ahead, Says Oligarch Mark Leftly The
Independent (UK) March
23, 2008 "A compelling advantage of energy produced from
hydrogen fuel cells is that it can, thanks to
nanotechnology advances, be stored. It can therefore be
produced to coincide with consumption peaks."
Prokhorov Planning $17Bln Fund
Tal Adelaja Moskow Times (Russia)
Mikhail Prokhorov on Thursday announced plans to form a giant
$17 billion investment fund, Onexim, from his assets in
Norilsk Nickel, Interros and Polyus that would branch out
into areas as diverse as hydrogen fuel cell technology and
nanotechnology. The fund will focus on "innovatory
projects in the fields of hydrogen fuel cell technology,
nanotechnology and mining and metals ... in which Russia
has objective competitive advantages," Prokhorov told a
news conference. ...Onexim Group would put hundreds of
millions of dollars into nanotechnology over the next
three years, Prokhorov said.
Russian Metals Tycoon Sets Up $17BN Holding
Platts
May 31, 2007 Onexim will prioritize the
development of hydrogen energy which was one of Norilsk Nickel's
scientific focuses over the past three years, Prokhorov said.
Although it is still too early to
speak about concrete schemes, it is known that Norilsk Nickel's energy
assets not directly involved in the power supply of the Norilsk industrial
area are soon to be split off to form a separate company. The new energy
company will be headed by former Director General of 'Norilsk Nickel'
Mikhail Prokhorov, who for several years has provided active support to
scientific research in the sphere of hydrogen energy and its practical
applications.
Mikhail ProkhorovFis (Russia)
April 4, 2007
YOU HAVEN'T SEEN
ANYTHING NYET
YEARS OF AMERICAN R&D INVESTMENT
BOUGHT BY RUSSIA FOR A SONG
RUSSIA TO SEIZE THE FUTURE OF HYDROGEN AND NANOTECHNOLOGY IN A PUTKIN-SUPPORTED
PLAN. AS PROKHOROV GOBBLES UP
PLUG POWER,
GENERAL HYDROGEN AND
CELLEX POWER, THE OILMEN WHO RUN
THE UNITED STATES LOOK THE OTHER WAY, ALLOWING RENEWABLE ENERGY AND
HYDROGEN COMPANIES TO LANGUISH AS THEY SQUANDER AMERICA'S WEALTH ON
FOOLISH ETHANOL AND COAL SCHEMES, IMPORTED OIL & LNG, AND SENSELESS,
CATASTROPHIC OIL WARS. -- RDM
Mikhail Prokhorov Hands Over Norilsk Nickel Prime-Tass (Russia)
Mar 20 2007 According
to Prokhorov, the new company will include the assets he is planning to
acquire in Russia. The American Plug Power will also join the newly
created company. Prokhorov will continue work jointly with Norilsk Nickel
on a number of project in Norilsk. These mainly concern hydrogen energy
production. Prokhorov will attempt to achieve a breakthrough in the
development of high technology in Russia. ...He is planning to create an
energy company with the capitalization of $10 billion. But he says, 'It’s
only the beginning, I will develop it, I want to create a very big
company, at least twice as big."
M. Prokhorov’s presentation at the joint meeting of the Presidium of the
Russian Academy of Sciences and the MMC Norilsk Nickel Management Board
Norilsk Nickel Dec
9 2003 "Nowadays our
world is on the verge of a new technological revolution and industry
transition to a new level of technology. We are aware of several mistakes
made in the recent history of Russia. In the ‘60s, for example, the USSR
actually lost its chance to achieve a technological breakthrough, and this
resulted in a lag between Russian and Western industries, becoming really
insurmountable by the end of the ‘80s. However, the countries which are
“kings-of-the-hill” today could miss the important moment of retrofitting
on their march to a new level of technology, and this will lead them to
dramatic retardation in developing necessary up-to-date infrastructure.
"Today our country is given an opportunity to break immediately
into the new economy. Actually I’m convinced that we have no other choice.
The main objective of hydrogen technology development is to reduce our
dependence on the existing energy sources – oil and gas. Presently they
are the core of our economy, the basis of our budget. But if the
implementation of new economy results in 15 years in decreased oil and gas
consumption, Russia will be exposed to a depression model of development.
We can and we should start immediately to develop the hydrogen energy.
"In order to compete in high technologies a competitive
advantage is needed. And Russia obviously has such a competitive
advantage. It is based on the fundamental research of the Russian Academy
of Sciences and palladium metal stock required for the production of
hydrogen-fueled engines. Moreover, our country controls about 50% of this
metal world’s production. This allows me to conclude that as a matter of
fact we are given a historical chance to propose to the President and the
Government of the RF to consider the hydrogen energy development program
as the national economic strategy that will restore Russia’s status of the
great economic power."
Hydrogen Fuel to Account for 20 % of Global Power Kommersant (Russia)
March 23, 2007 Roughly 20 percent of global power
industry will be based on the hydrogen fuel in future, GMK Norilsk Nickel
General Director Mikhail Prokhorov said in Krasnoyarsk Friday, Interfax
reported. Prokhorov is also Norilsk Nickel co-owner. In early April, Prokhorov
will vacate the GD office at GMK Norilsk Nickel to establish a new company that
will focus on projects of hydrogen power generation.
The Fuel
Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association begins to understand
the motivation of Obama's nuclear industry puppet Steven Chu
- RM April 14, 2011
This week, DOE Secretary Steven Chu appeared in front of the
Senate Energy and Water Development Subcommittee to face
questions about the President's FY2012 energy budget.
The first question out of the gate from Committee Chair
Diane Feinstein was about Sec. Chu's "current
view on hydrogen technology and whether it can be successful
or not."
Sec. Chu gave incorrect information on hydrogen that
contradicts real world data as well as numerous DOE studies
and reports. He claimed that hydrogen obtained from natural
gas had "no benefit" in terms of carbon elimination. Yet,
DOE-funded research has shown that the most clean and
efficient use of natural gas for transportation is to use it
to create hydrogen to power a fuel cell electric vehicle.
Chu also said hydrogen storage was a problem due to high
pressure. What's the problem Sec. Chu? These tanks have
logged nearly 3 million miles, had more than 27,000 fill
ups, and managed to fuel vehicles for more than 114,000
hours of operation.
We need you to
tell Congress that the DOE should stop giving misleading
information - it is up to DOE to fairly represent the
current state of the technology. Right now, they aren't
doing that.
We need critical decisions on our energy future made based
on fact!
The time is now to redouble our efforts to ensure that fuel
cells and hydrogen energy are included in any clean energy
strategy.
We need Congress to know that the head of the Energy
Department is not giving the White House and the rest of the
country the facts on how robust fuel cell and hydrogen
technologies have become. We are asking for fairness. The
DOE owes the President and the country that much.
Thank you for your continued commitment to our campaign.
Sincerely,
Ruth Cox
President and Executive Director
Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association
www.fchea.org
Chu
on this:
RELEASED
The facts disclosed
here, stated correctly and cited carefully to
reputable sources, unravel the dense curtain of myths
surrounding this deeply troubled industry. Readers may be
surprised to learn, for example, that every nuclear
power plant under construction in the world was chosen by
central planners: not one was a free-market purchase
fairly competed against or compared with alternatives.
By contrast, renewable electricity generators rule the
marketplace, providing half the world’s new generating
capacity in 2008–09. But while wind and solar power boom,
nuclear and coal-plant orders wither. Their cost and risk
dissuade investors. Any new U.S. nuclear plants are
100-percent subsidized and more, but even in the three
pre-crash years starting in August 2005, with the
strongest capital markets, political support, and public
acceptance in history, they couldn’t raise a penny of
private capital (nor have they since) because they have no
business case.
-- Amory B. LovinsApril 17 2011
Chu on this:
GOODBYE PLATINUM! “For all
intents and purposes, this is a zero-cost catalyst in
comparison to platinum, so it directly addresses one of
the main barriers to hydrogen fuel cells.” Piotr Zelenay, Los Alamos
National Lab
Discovery Makes Fuel Cells ‘Orders of Magnitude Cheaper’ Chuck Squatriglia Wired
April 22, 2011
Los Alamos scientists document utility of
non-precious-metal catalysts
LOS ALAMOS, New Mexico, April 22, 2011—Los Alamos
National Laboratory scientists have developed a way to
avoid the use of expensive platinum in hydrogen fuel
cells, the environmentally friendly devices that might
replace current power sources in everything from
personal data devices to automobiles.
In a paper published today in Science, Los Alamos researchers
Gang Wu, Christina Johnston, and Piotr Zelenay, joined
by researcher Karren More of Oak Ridge National
Laboratory, describe the use of a platinum-free catalyst
in the cathode of a hydrogen fuel cell. Eliminating
platinum—a precious metal more expensive than gold—would
solve a significant economic challenge that has thwarted
widespread use of large-scale hydrogen fuel cell
systems.
Polymer-electrolyte hydrogen fuel cells convert hydrogen and
oxygen into electricity. The cells can be enlarged and
combined in series for high-power applications,
including automobiles. Under optimal conditions, the
hydrogen fuel cell produces water as a "waste" product
and does not emit greenhouse gasses. However, because
the use of platinum in catalysts is necessary to
facilitate the reactions that produce electricity within
a fuel cell, widespread use of fuel cells in common
applications has been cost prohibitive. An increase in
the demand for platinum-based catalysts could drive up
the cost of platinum even higher than its current value
of nearly $1,800 an ounce.
The Los Alamos researchers developed non-precious-metal
catalysts for the part of the fuel cell that reacts with
oxygen. The catalysts—which use carbon (partially
derived from polyaniline in a high-temperature process),
and inexpensive iron and cobalt instead of
platinum—yielded high power output, good efficiency, and
promising longevity. The researchers found that fuel
cells containing the carbon-iron-cobalt catalyst
synthesized by Wu not only generated currents comparable
to the output of precious-metal-catalyst fuel cells, but
held up favorably when cycled on and off—a condition
that can damage inferior catalysts relatively quickly.
Moreover, the carbon-iron-cobalt catalyst fuel cells
effectively completed the conversion of hydrogen and
oxygen into water, rather than producing large amounts
of undesirable hydrogen peroxide. Inefficient conversion
of the fuels, which generates hydrogen peroxide, can
reduce power output by up to 50 percent, and also has
the potential to destroy fuel cell membranes.
Fortunately, the carbon- iron-cobalt catalysts
synthesized at Los Alamos create extremely small amounts
of hydrogen peroxide, even when compared with
state-of-the-art platinum-based oxygen-reduction
catalysts.
Because of the successful performance of the new catalyst,
the Los Alamos researchers have filed a patent for it.
"The encouraging point is that we have found a catalyst with
a good durability and life cycle relative to
platinum-based catalysts," said Zelenay, corresponding
author for the paper. "For all intents and purposes,
this is a zero-cost catalyst in comparison to platinum,
so it directly addresses one of the main barriers to
hydrogen fuel cells."
The next step in the team’s research will be to better
understand the mechanism underlying the
carbon-iron-cobalt catalyst. Micrographic images of
portions of the catalyst by researcher More have
provided some insight into how it functions, but further
work must be done to confirm theories by the research
team. Such an understanding could lead to improvements
in non-precious-metal catalysts, further increasing
their efficiency and lifespan.
Project funding for the Los Alamos research came from the
U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy (EERE) Office as well as from Los
Alamos National Laboratory’s Laboratory-Directed
Research and Development program. Microscopy research
was done at Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s SHaRE user
facility with support from the DOE's Office of Basic
Energy Sciences.
more
The radioactive
core in a reactor at the crippled Fukushima nuclear power
plant appears to have melted through the bottom of its
containment vessel and on to a concrete floor, experts
say, raising fears of a major release of radiation at the
site.
Japan's Chernobyl Taken all
Fukushima Daiichi reactors into consideration this is
obviously an INES 7 event.
Fukushima – INES scale rating Helmut Hirsch
Greenpeace
March 23, 2011
Yet
in addition to the grief and empathy I feel for the
Japanese people, I am beginning to develop another
emotion, and that is anger.
Nuclear Energy Isn't Needed Kumi Naidoo
NYT
March 22, 2011
"We are somewhere between a disaster and a major
disaster. ...There is talk of an apocalypse, and I think
the word is particularly well chosen." EU energy
head Gunther Oettinger
Fukushima Daiichi
Unit 2
Fuel Core
Meltdown
Reported Underway
Beyond Nuclear
7:39AM EST March 14,
2011
We have received a
report from our Japanese colleagues that Tokyo Power
Electric Company is reporting that Fukushima Daiichi
Unit 2 has lost all cooling water and the fuel core
is completely exposed. The fuel rods are very likely
melting. There is no word on efforts to flood Unit 2
to avert an uncontrolled meltdown.
Two hydrogen gas explosions have already rocked Unit 1 and
Unit 3. A third explosion is now likely in Unit 2
potentially releasing significant amounts of
radiation into the atmosphere if the vessel fails
followed by containment failure as the result of a
possible full scale meltdown.
"The
[International Atomic
Energy Agency] is only a fake
organization because every
organization which depends on the nuclear
industry -- and the IAEA depends
on the nuclear industry -- cannot perform
properly. It always will try to hide the reality." Iouli
Andreev
former director of
the Soviet Spetsatom clean-up agency
Chernobyl Clean-up Expert Slams Japan, IAEA Michael Shields
Reuters
March 15, 2011
ABOVE: Vertical plume of the explosion at Reactor 3
appears to be shot from a cannon, with some very
heavy elements falling out of the cloud. A bright red/orange flash can be seen at the moment
of the explosion -- but hydrogen flame is invisible.
BELOW: The hydrogen explosion at Reactor 1 blows the top and
sides off the outer containment shell, hurling light dust and
debris evenly away from the center. Note the
shockwave propagation typical of hydrogen ignition
events -- this is not evident in the Reactor 3
explosion.
-- RDM
WILL MULTIPLE MELTDOWNS OF GIANT NUCLEAR REACTORS RENDER
CENTRAL JAPAN UNINHABITABLE FOR CENTURIES?
"Events over the last day indicate that volatile
radioactive elements such as xenon, krypton, cesium,
iodine, and strontium are already being released from the
Fukushima nuclear reactor. The fuel rods have lost their
integrity and, EVEN IF the reactor maintains its
integrity, are being released into the environment through
open relief valves on top of the reactor. Whether or not
there is a meltdown, enormous quantities of radioactive
gases will continue to be released through the failed
nuclear fuel." Arnie
Gunderson, a former U.S. nuclear power plant operator
Meltdown: The Japanese Earthquake and Fukushima Reactors Robert Alvarez
Huffington Post
March 12, 2011
Russia's Warning of a Nuclear Explosion
from the Stuxnet
Worm at Iran's Bushehr Reactor Illustrates a Looming
Threat
to Mankind Presented by
"Peaceful Nuclear Energy"
January 31, 2011
I have long advocated a renewable
energy hydrogen economy as a sensible alternative to
nuclear fission power plants. Although nuclear energy
could be an elegant solution to much of mankind's energy
needs in a perfect world, this is not a perfect world.
Aside from the many issues concerning radioactive waste,
its transport and contamination, decommissioning of old
plants, and the security concerns involving terrorism,
there looms the unthinkable threat of nuclear power plants
as a target in international warfare.
A surgical nuclear strike on a nuclear power plant would
spread radioactive material from the reactor's core across
thousands of square miles, rendering vast areas
uninhabitable. If you think Hiroshima and Nagasaki were
not so bad, consider the fact that the explosion of
one of the Chernobyl reactors released 400 times more radioactive material.
The advent of the Stuxnet Worm, a
stealth computer program designed by "unknown adversaries"
to cripple automated SCADA control systems in Iran's
uranium enrichment program, now forces a re-evaluation of the
global nuclear power industry. The popular belief that
Struxnet is designed solely to attack uranium enrichment
centrifuges has been belied by the last-minute panic on
January 25 of Sergei Kiriyenko, head of Russia's Rosatom,
and his dire warning to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to stop the
startup of Bushehr, ordered by Iran last Tuesday. Bushehr
is not a centrifuge facility. It is a nuclear power plant,
similar to many others in the world.
Some experts who have examined the code believe it
contains the seeds for yet more versions and
assaults. “It’s like a playbook,” said Ralph Langner,
an independent computer security expert in Hamburg,
Germany, who was among the first to decode Stuxnet.
“Anyone who looks at it carefully can build
something like it.”
-- Israeli Test on Worm
Called Crucial in Iran Nuclear Delay
William Broad, John Markoff and David Sanger NYT Jan 15
2011
Stuxnet is the first
example of international cyber warfare on nuclear
facilities. It would be naive to think that variations of
Stuxnet are not being developed by other nations to
unleash havoc in the event of war. Even more disturbing is
the threat that variations of Stuxnet may be employed by
terrorists or used for the monstrous entertainment of
cyber vandals.
Fears Over New Leak at Chernobyl Spark Plea for
Radiation Shield
Shaun Walker The Independent
(UK)
February 28, 2011 The new shelter will be the largest moveable
structure ever built, and one of the world's biggest
buildings, at over 108 metres high, 257 metres long and
164 metres wide.
Bushehr Fuel to be Unloaded
BBC February
26, 2011 "Upon a demand from Russia, which is
responsible for completing the Bushehr nuclear power
plant, fuel assemblies from the core of the reactor will
be unloaded for a period of time to carry out tests and
take technical measurements," Mr Soltanieh said,
according to the semi-official Isna news agency.
Stuxnet Could Trigger Atomic Calamity, Intel Report
Warns
Global Security Newswire
February 1, 2011 "The minimum possible
damage would be a meltdown of the reactor," says the
document. "However, external damage and massive
environmental destruction could also occur ... similar
to the Chernobyl disaster."
Stuxnet Returns to Bushehr Reactor. Russia Warns of
Nuclear Explosion
Debkafile January 31, 2011 Debkafile's intelligence and
Moscow sources reveal that on [Jan 25, 2011], Iran's
hand on the switch was held back at the last minute by
Sergei Kiriyenko, chief of Rosatom (the Russian national
nuclear energy commission which oversaw the reactor's
construction). He came hurrying over to warn Tehran that
Stuxnet was back and switching the reactor on could
trigger a calamitous nuclear explosion that could cost a
million Iranian lives and devastate neighboring
populations. ...Activating the reactor in these
circumstances could cause an explosion far more powerful
than the disaster at the Russian reactor at
Chernobyl....
Elena's Chernoybl
In places where roads have not been travelled by trucks or
army vehicles, they are in the same condition they were
20 years ago - except for an occasional blade of grass
or some tree that discovered a crack to spring through.
Time does not ruin roads, so they may stay this way
until they can be opened to normal traffic again........
a few centuries from now.
The most interesting determination made as a result of the
team's due diligence to the world of energy creation and
use was just how much energy the world wastes producing
and transporting other energy. The scientists estimated
that the world could reduce its overall energy demand by
as much as 30 percent just by transitioning away from
combustion processes to more efficient electric processes
for producing energy and hydrogen fuel cells. Jacobson and
Delucchi claim that the world's energy could be originated
from 50 percent wind, 40 percent solar, 4 percent
geothermal, 4 percent hydroelectric, and 2 percent wave
and tidal power. They also agree that financial incentives
and management systems aimed at conserving energy during
peak demand times would be key. Much of the plan revolves
around the use of electricity and hydrogen fuel cells.
That hydrogen would be produced by electricity which could
be generated from wind and solar power. The duo breaks
down, step by step, which energy would be most efficient
for a given use and how their idea of a world using
renewable energy could work:
• Vehicles, train, and boats would run on electricity and
hydrogen fuel cells.
• Airplanes would run on liquid hydrogen.
• Home heating and cooling systems would run on
electricity.
• Hot water would be heated by solar.
• Commercial processes would run on a combination of
electricity and hydrogen.
A Plan to Power 100 Percent of the Planet with Renewables Wind, water and solar technologies can provide 100
percent of the world's energy, eliminating all fossil
fuels
Mark Z. Jacobson and Mark A. Delucchi
Scientific American
October 26, 2009
If the U.S. government is stepping back on fuel cells,
governments in Germany, Japan, South Korea, China, and
Scandinavia are stepping forward with long term subsidies
and other support. This could mean not only that the
United States will fall behind in developing a domestic
fuel cell market, but also that U.S. companies will have
trouble exporting into these foreign markets.
...EVs could be more expensive than fuel cells in less
than five years. By 2015, the company believes that a fuel
cell car won’t cost more than a four-cylinder diesel
hybrid meeting the Euro 6 emissions standard....
Food prices are soaring all over the world. The global
food chain is reportedly stretched to the limit, fueled by
the fact “that more than a third of the corn produced in
the U.S is now used to make ethanol.” As a result of such
“bio-fuels” subsidies, one of the world’s largest food
producers predicts a “global food crisis.” ...By
increasing world food prices, ethanol subsidies also
foster Islamic extremism in poor countries...
Amber Waves of Ethanol
The Wall Street Journal
January 22, 2011 At a time when the world will need
more corn and grains, it makes no sense to devote scarce
farmland to make a fuel that exists only because of
taxpayer subsidies and mandates. If food supplies
tighten and prices keep rising, such a policy will soon
become immoral.
Hawaii Hydrogen Infrastructure Gets
Boost
Collaboration of Industry, Academia and Government
Commits to 2015
General Motors
Dec. 8, 2010
Ten companies, agencies and
universities have joined an initiative between The
Gas Company (TGC), and General Motors to make
hydrogen-powered vehicles and a fueling
infrastructure a reality in Hawaii by 2015.
The plan, called the Hawaii
Hydrogen Initiative (H(2)I), aims to integrate
hydrogen as an essential building block for Hawaii's
sustainable energy ecosystem. The effort to reduce
the state's 90 percent dependence on imported oil is
expected to make hydrogen available to all of Oahu's
1 million residents by 2015. The goal is for 20 to
25 hydrogen stations to be installed in strategic
locations around the island.
"Hydrogen, used as a fuel, will
reduce our dependence on petroleum starting today,"
said Jeff Kissel, TGC president and CEO.
The plan builds on a May 2010
memorandum of understanding between TGC, one of
Hawaii's major utilities, and GM. TGC today produces
enough hydrogen to power up to 10,000 fuel cell
vehicles and has the capacity to produce much more
hydrogen. GM is a leader in hydrogen fuel cell
vehicles and fielded the world's largest fuel cell
demonstration fleet – more than 100 vehicles –
beginning in 2007.
The hydrogen initiative partners
are evaluating methods to distribute hydrogen
through existing natural gas pipelines, addressing
the long-standing problem of how to cost effectively
produce and distribute hydrogen.
"In Hawaii, we want to address the
proverbial chicken or egg dilemma," said Charles
Freese, executive director of GM Fuel Cell
Activities. "There has always been a looming issue
over how to ensure that the vehicles and the
necessary hydrogen refueling infrastructure are
delivered to market at the same time. Our efforts in
Hawaii will help us meet that challenge.
"Once the key hydrogen
infrastructure elements are proven in Hawaii, other
states can adopt similar approaches," Freese said.
"Germany, Japan and Korea are all building hydrogen
infrastructures within this same timeframe. The work
in Hawaii can provide a template for other regions."
In addition to GM and TGC, the
hydrogen initiative partners include the state
Department of Business, Economic Development and
Tourism (DBEDT); U.S. Department of Energy; FuelCell
Energy; Aloha Petroleum Ltd; Louis Berger Group;
U.S. Pacific Command, supported by the U.S. Pacific
Fleet, U.S. Pacific Air Forces, U.S. Army Pacific,
and U.S. Marine Forces, Pacific; National Renewable
Energy Laboratory; the County of Hawaii; University
of California - Irvine, and the University of
Hawaii.
"Hawaii is on the cutting edge of
developing the infrastructure for hydrogen-powered
vehicles and adopting the latest clean energy
technologies to move our islands toward energy
independence and sustainability," said Richard Lim,
acting director, state Department of Business,
Economic Development and Tourism. "H(2)I is a
unique, innovative partnership that has brought
together public, private and community partners to
improve the quality of life for our citizens and
become a worldwide model."
In 2008, the state launched the
Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative (HCEI), a partnership
with the U.S. DOE with a goal of generating 70
percent or more of Hawaii's energy through energy
efficiency and clean, renewable resources such as
solar, wind, wave, biofuels, and geothermal.
About General Motors – General
Motors Company (NYSE: GM, TSX: GMM), one of the
world's largest automakers, traces its roots back to
1908. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM
employs 209,000 people in every major region of the
world and does business in more than 120 countries.
GM and its strategic partners produce cars and
trucks in 31 countries, and sell and service these
vehicles through the following brands: Buick,
Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Daewoo, Holden, Isuzu,
Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall, and Wuling. GM's largest
national market is China, followed by the United
States, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada,
and Russia. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry
leader in vehicle safety, security and information
services. General Motors acquired operations from
General Motors Corporation on July 10, 2009, and
references to prior periods in this and other press
materials refer to operations of the old General
Motors Corporation. More information on the new
General Motors can be found at www.gm.com
About The Gas Company LLC – The
Gas Company is a Hawaii-based, wholly owned
subsidiary of Macquarie Infrastructure Company
(NYSE: MIC – www.macquarie.com/mic). MIC owns,
operates, and invests in a diversified group of
infrastructure businesses that provide basic
services to customers across the United States.
www.hawaiigas.com
GM, Hawaii Boost Hydrogen
Goal is network of fueling stations for fuel cell cars by
2015 Christina Rogers The
Detroit News
General Motors Co. is taking a big step toward making
hydrogen-fueled vehicles a retail reality — at least on
the Hawaiian Islands. The Detroit-based automaker will
announce today it is partnering with 12 major stakeholders
in the Aloha state to build a network for fueling
hydrogen-powered cars.
...The project, code-named the Hawaii Hydrogen Initiative or H2I,
includes government agencies, utility companies, gas
retailers and the military, which has a large presence and
many bases on the islands. It aims to install as many as
25 hydrogen fueling stations on Oahu by 2015 and work with
utilities to find ways of piping the fuel throughout the
island.
Isle Initiative Fuels Hydrogen Cars
Honolulu Star Advertiser
Dec 8, 2010
The other partners will be the state Department of Business,
Economic Development and Tourism; U.S. Department of
Energy; FuelCell Energy; Aloha Petroleum Ltd.; Louis
Berger Group; U.S. Pacific Command, which is supported
by the U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. Pacific Air Forces, U.S.
Army Pacific and U.S. Marine Forces, Pacific; National
Renewable Energy Laboratory; the County of Hawaii;
University of California, Irvine; and the University of
Hawaii. Ted Peck, state energy administrator, said the
hydrogen collaboration between the various parties
"totally dovetails" with the Hawaii Clean Energy
Initiative, which seeks to generate at least 70 percent
of Hawaii's energy through energy efficiency and clean,
renewable resources such as solar, wind, wave, biofuels
and geothermal.
"Right now, there’s
a lot of hidden costs in oil. We’ve got people fighting in
the Middle East. But those kinds of factors aren’t
factored into the price of oil. And the other thing is,
when you look at renewable energy? Hey, that’s money that
we’re keeping in our economy. We can create jobs. We can
get the money
re-circulating within our economy instead of sending it
out to Indonesia, Australia, China – areas that we buy our
fossil fuel from." Mina Morita,Chair, Energy and
Environmental Protection Hydrogen Hawaii
Transcript February 13,
2001
RAND
Study Says
Advanced Biofuels Offer No
Compelling Military Benefit
"There is no direct benefit to the
Department of Defense or the services from using
alternative fuels rather than petroleum-derived fuels. Our
analysis of forward-based production concepts indicated
that none provide a compelling military benefit. In
contrast, most, if not all, would increase the logistics
burden on deployed units. If a domestic alternative fuel
industry does develop, alternative fuels will be sold at
the then-prevailing fuel prices, which over the
foreseeable future will be determined by crude oil prices
in the world oil market. There is no evidence that
producers of alternative fuels will offer their products
at lower or more stable prices than producers of
petroleum-derived fuels." -- Page 83 ...The authors
also find that the prospects for commercial production of
appreciable amounts of alternative fuels suitable for
military applications within the next decade are highly
uncertain, that current efforts by the services to test
and certify alternative fuels are far outpacing commercial
development, and that certain efforts are directed at
fuels with a very limited potential for sustainable
production. -- ABSTRACT
--
Alternative Fuels for Military Applications James T. Bartis and Lawrence Van Bibber
Rand Corporation
2011
Commentary by
Richard D. Masters
Patrolling the Des Moines River?
U.S. Military Embraces Biofuel Insanity Richard D. Masters, ICHC
December 1, 2010
The latest ugly evidence that the U.S.
military continues to be used as a tool by
corrupt
politicians to garner the votes of farm states while
crippling the development of cost-effective and sensible
renewable energy has been revealed by the Marine Corp
News. Due to the extraordinary water demands of biodiesel
crops, claims that a national yield of any meaningful size
is possible have been
completely discredited by the James A. Baker III
Institute for Public Policy. Regardless, the Air Force and Navy
continue to be instructed by Washington to waste millions
on the dead-end development of biodiesel.
"...federal policy on clean tech seems to have gone from an annoying
laissez-faire, lack-of-leadership approach to outright hostility,
bordering on the ridiculous, against meaningful policy action." Federal Clean-Tech Policy is Theater of the Absurd Clint Wilder
Renewable Energy World
February 26, 2008
This time, instead of the US
Air Force obstructing wind farm development with
vacuous whining about their faulty radar software, the US
Navy is now wasting precious appropriations, as only the
military can do,
by spending a reported US$424.00 per gallon for a contract on
biodiesel in 2009 -- now to be followed by
a 150,000 gallon order in 2010-11. To put that in
perspective, the 2009 order was for two and a half
semi-truck trailers of biodiesel for a cool eight and a
half million dollars from taxpayers. You've got to be kidding me. No matter what you do to biodiesel, no matter how much
money you throw at it, biodiesel can only become a
slightly less substandard alternative to diesel from
petroleum. And since we already know what diesel can do,
it's hard to look at this as real research. It is more of
a political setup for farm subsidies from the military and
part of an ongoing, orchestrated raid on any real
renewable energy funding.
But if you look at all bio and petroleum fuels as hydrogen
carriers, the need for the further refinement of hydrogen
technology is obvious. Hydrogen at 10,000 psi is the most
highly concentrated form of transportation energy short of nuclear power.
Hydrogen used in a fuel cell coupled to an electric drive
provides the most efficient motive force ever developed.
Renewable ammonia holds more hydrogen than liquid hydrogen
itself. The promise of stabile metallic hydrogen or carbon
storage would change the world. All this without
significant pollution at the point of use.
“With today’s technology, we can
produce hydrogen for less than the cost of gasoline.… The technology to
create hydrogen cheaply has been around for quite some time. The challenge
is to get it to the fueling stations.” Patrick Serfass, National Hydrogen
Association
Yet hydrogen funding is miniscule compared to that of nuclear and
biofuels. Why? Because, in the same way that legalizing
marijuana would destroy the drug cartels, a wind and solar
hydrogen economy would cripple the rapacious petroleum
octopus that holds our economy, our health and our future,
hostage. Biofuels provide an outstanding bad example of
what "renewable energy" represents. This is the message
the petroleum octopus strives to deliver.
Navy Department Seeking Alternative Fuels Philip Ewing Marine Corp
News October
26, 2010 Last year, the Navy
paid $424 per gallon for 20,055 gallons of biodiesel
made from algae, which set a world record at the time
for the cost of fuel.
Recently, China's first new energy fuel cell light-rail
train, jointly developed by the China North Vehicle Yongji
Electric Motor Corporation and the Southwest Jiaotong
University, was successfully launched. China's first
new-energy fuel cell light-rail locomotive adopts hydrogen
as the energy for the fuel cells as well as the world
advanced permanent-magnet synchronous motor and frequency
converter independently developed by the China North
Vehicle Yongji Electric Motor Corporation as its main
source of power.
Renewable Energy in America
Markets, Economic
Development and Policy in the 50 States
Discussion Draft August 2010 Update ACORE - American
Council on Renewable Energy
Right in time for the Los Angeles Auto
Show, Mercedes-Benz is presenting the new B-Class F-CELL
as the first fuel cell powered electric car produced under
series production conditions in the USA.
The first vehicles will be handed over to selected customers
before the end of this year. In 2012 a total of around 70
of these environmentally friendly cars, which are being
made available on a rental basis, will be operating on a
daily basis in California. The full-service rental rate is
849 US Dollars excl. tax, with a contractual duration of
up to 36 months.
With the model year 2011 B-Class F-CELL, Mercedes-Benz is the
first manufacturer to date to bring a fuel cell powered
Zero Emission Vehicle onto the roads which has been
certificated by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
and CARB (California Air Resources Board). Dr. Thomas
Weber: "After more than 580,000 kilometers covered with
the A-Class F-CELL trial fleet in practical operation, we
will continue to build on our experience with the latest
generation of electric cars with fuel cell drive. The 70
B-Class F-CELL cars in customer hands in California alone
are more than twice the size of the U.S. A-Class fleet and
a further milestone on the way to market maturity of this
technology by 2015."
The technical basis for the drive system of the B-Class
F-CELL is the optimised, latest-generation fuel cell
system. This is some 40 percent smaller than the system in
the A-Class F CELL, which has been undergoing practical
trials in the USA since 2004, but generates 30 percent
more power while consuming 30 percent less fuel. The
cold-start capability of the B-Class F-CELL is down to
minus 25 degrees Celsius.
The hydrogen used to run the fuel cell is stored in three
tanks at a pressure of 700 bar. Thanks to the high
compression ratio, the B-Class F CELL can cover long
ranges of up to 400 kilometres with the tanks full, over
twice as far as the A-Class F CELL of 2004.
Once the tanks are empty, they can be filled simply and
quickly in less than three minutes, thanks to a
standardised refuelling system. There are currently five
public hydrogen filling-stations in the greater Los Angeles
area, with four more due to be opened by the end of 2010
and one more in the San Francisco Bay area.
In order to further the commercialization of fuel cell
powered vehicles, Mercedes-Benz is involved in the
California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP), an association
of automobile manufacturers, energy suppliers, government
bodies and technology companies, as well as in the newly
formed Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Asso-ciation (FCHEA).
While the CaFCP is currently furthering the transition
from a demonstration pro-ject to early commercialization
of fuel cell drive systems at all levels, the State of
California has already made $27 million available towards
the development of a hydrogen infrastructure, with an
additional $14 million anticipated in 2011.
Key data at a glance:
Drive Electric motor with fuel cell Rated output
(kW/hp) 100/136
Rated torque (Nm) 290
Max. speed (km/h) 170
NEDC fuel consumption (diesel equivalent in l/100
km) 3,3
FTP combined EPA-Label consumption (mpg) 54
CO2 comb. (g/km min.–max.) 0,0
Range (km) NEDC 380
Energy content / output lithium-ion battery (kWh/kW)
1,4 /35
Engaging in the regulatory approval process, QUANTUM
became the first to achieve a hydrostatic burst test in
excess of 24,000 psi on a 10,000 psi (700 Bar)
ultra-lightweight, all-composite, hydrogen storage tank --
higher than the European Integrated Hydrogen Project (EIHP)
regulatory safety requirement of 23,500 (a 2.35 factor of
safety). Hydrostatic burst testing records the maximum
pressure the storage cylinder can sustain. The procedure
entails filling the cylinder with water until the point of
rupture. ...As part of the EIHP testing, in addition to
hydrostatic bursting, the QUANTUM tanks will be verified
for safety under other extreme conditions such as
penetration by armor piercing bullets, diesel fires and
severe corrosion.
“This is a great
moment in the 50-year history of inertial confinement
fusion. It represents significant progress in our ability
to field complex experiments in support of our NNSA
Stockpile Stewardship, Department of Defense, fundamental
science and energy missions.”
Ed Moses, Director of the National
Ignition Facility
First Successful Integrated Experiment at National
Ignition Facility Phys.org Oct
8, 2010
The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) today
announced that the National Ignition Facility (NIF)
recently completed its first integrated ignition
experiment. In the test, the 192-beam laser system fired 1
megajoule of laser energy into its first cryogenically
layered capsule, raising the drive energy by a factor of
thirty over experiments previously conducted at the Omega
laser at the University of Rochester. With the completion
of this test, NIF is beginning its next phase of the
campaign to culminate in fusion ignition tests.
"China's steady rise to pole position has been underpinned
by strong and consistent government support for renewable
energy." Ben Warren
Ernst & Young's environment and energy infrastructure
advisory leader
China Tops U.S. As Most Attractive Place
To Develop Renewable Energy Projects North American Windpower
September 8, 2010
Help us beat Big Oil on November 2nd Robert Redford
September 9, 2010
I
wonder what it will take to finally get America to wake up
and pass comprehensive clean energy and climate change
legislation. I thought we would finally see landmark
environmental change this year.
But what did we get from the U.S. Senate? Nothing.
I’m convinced we need more focus on key
solutions -- like electing new leaders. Leaders who will
again pick up the fight for strong climate policies that
crack down on corporate polluters and transition us to a
clean energy economy.
In July, we learned that the U.S. Senate wouldn’t take up
comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation before
their summer recess, likely dooming its chances this year.
Then the Senate left town without even voting on a bill to
hold BP responsible for the catastrophe in the Gulf.
An unquestionably broad majority supports moving to clean
energy and addressing climate change. But again and again,
Big Oil, Dirty Coal and their allies in Congress, led by
the Republican leadership stand stubbornly in the way of
progress.
They have polluted the halls of Congress long enough.
Because of their obstruction, we’re sending $1 billion
overseas to buy oil every single day. Because of their
defiance, we have more pollution but fewer green jobs.
Because they’ve been bought by the special interests, Big
Oil and Dirty Coal’s cronies in Congress have more to say
about U.S. energy policy than you or I.
But we can fix this. We don’t have to tolerate this attack on
our energy future. Election Day 2010 gives us our chance
to bring to U.S. Senate new environmental champions – like
Paul Hodes, Robin Carnahan and Joe Sestak – who will fight
for the laws we need to protect the planet.
When it comes to educating the public about environmental
issues, no one runs a better program than the League of
Conservation Voters Victory Fund. I can assure you that
your gift will be a sound investment in a shrewd strategy
and the most state-of-the-art campaign tactics. But in
order to have all the pieces in place, all the money needs
to be in the door by September 20.
Give to the LCV Victory Fund today and
contribute to an early retirement for the Dirty Dozen.
This is an opportunity to finally break the vice grip that
the Big Polluters have on our environmental laws.
Together, we can make an impact.
Sincerely,
Robert Redford
The failure of the U.S. Senate to act on a comprehensive
climate change and clean energy bill before the August
recess makes it highly unlikely that such legislation will
pass this year – which only serves to underscore the
importance of the make-up of the U.S. Senate following
this November’s midterm elections.
Unfortunately, a disturbing trend has emerged this year among
the Republican Senate candidates running as challengers or
in open seat races: a refusal to accept the sound and
settled science that man-made carbon pollution is causing
the planet to warm. Simply put, these candidates are
full-fledged global warming deniers. If they win, the
number of card-carrying members of this "Flat Earth
Society" will rise exponentially in the world’s greatest
deliberative body.
To be clear, despite an orchestrated misinformation campaign
– funded in large part by the oil industry and other
corporate polluters – independent scientific bodies across
the world have found that climate change is unequivocal
and driven largely by human activities, primarily the
burning of fossil fuels and the clearing of forests. Worse
yet, the impacts are occurring far faster than the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change projected in its
comprehensive 2007 report. Arctic sea ice is melting
faster than anticipated. We just witnessed the hottest
decade, hottest year, and hottest 6 months in the history
of recorded temperature. The devastating floods in
Pakistan and the forest fires in Russia are yet the latest
reminders of the deadly impact of a warming world.
Yet most of the Republican candidates looking to join the
U.S. Senate have taken positions on climate change that
are decidedly outside of the mainstream. A few samplings
are included below:
Wisconsin: Ron Johnson
"I absolutely do not believe that the science of
man-caused climate change is proven. Not by any stretch of
the imagination. I think it's far more likely that it's
just sunspot activity, or something just in the geologic
eons of time where we have changes in the climate."
(8/19/10)
New Hampshire: All Republican Senate Candidates
It was symbolic when the six Republican candidates for
U.S. Senate stood up together side-by-side during a debate
Wednesday. It resembled their positions on major issues. …
All said man-made global warming hasn't been proven.
(8/18/10)
Alaska: Joe Miller
"We haven’t heard there’s man-made global warming." (8/10)
Pennsylvania: Pat Toomey
"There is much debate in the scientific community as to
the precise sources of global warming."
6/14/10
Nevada: Sharon Angle
"I don't, however, buy into the whole ... man-caused
global warming, man-caused climate change mantra of the
left. I believe that there's not sound science to back
that up." (5/26/10)
California: Carly Fiorina
(Asked "Is climate change real?") "I’m not sure. I think
we should have the confidence and courage to test the
science." (3/18/10)
Colorado: Ken Buck
"I'll tell you, I have looked at global warming, now
climate change, from both sides. While I think the earth
is warming, I don't think that man-made causes are the
primary factor. I am one of those people that Al Gore
refers to as a skeptic."(3/10)
Florida: Marco Rubio
"I don't think there's the scientific evidence to justify
[climate change]." (2/13/10)
Kentucky: Rand Paul
"...[climate change] may or may not be true, but they’re
making up their facts to fit their conclusions." (2/10)
Missouri: Roy Blunt
"There isn’t any real science to say we are altering the
climate path of the earth." (4/29/09)
RENEWABLES 2010
GLOBAL STATUS REPORT Renewable Energy Policy Network
for the 21st Century
By 2010, renewable energy had reached a clear tipping
point in the context of global energy supply. Renewables
comprised fully one quarter of global power capacity from
all sources and delivered 18 percent of global electricity
supply in 2009. In a number of countries, renewables
represent a rapidly growing share of total energy
supply—including heat and transport. The share of
households worldwide employing solar hot water heating
continues to increase and is now estimated at 70 million
households. And investment in new renewable power capacity
in both 2008 and 2009 represented over half of total
global investment in new power generation.
"We are really big news here," Ceramic chief executive
Brendan Dow told AAP from Germany. "(In Australia) we are
treated like a science project. It's really quite
frustrating."
The big news is Ceramic's BlueGen fuel cell device. Roughly
the size of a dishwasher, the device uses solid oxide fuel
cell technology to convert natural gas into electricity and
heat. In Germany, utility companies supply the device free
of charge to households, who then pay for the natural gas
they use....
"I'm frustrated as an Aussie that we don't have more success
in Australia," Mr Dow said. "Our smallest utility partner
here in Germany is bigger than AGL, bigger than Origin. The
big guys are spending money."
...In October 2009 Ceramic Fuel Cells opened a high volume
manufacturing plant in the Industriepark Oberbruch, 40
minutes’ drive from Dusseldorf in the North Rhine-Westphalia
region of Germany. The plant is one of the first in the
world for the volume production of solid oxide fuel cell
stacks. Ceramic Fuel Cells has secured orders for just under
50 BlueGen gas-to-electricity generators from major
utilities and other foundation customers in Europe, Japan
and Australia, including German utilities EWE, E.On Ruhrgas,
Rheinenergie, Alliander and the German Gas Association.
About the size of a dishwasher, BlueGen uses patented fuel
cell technology to convert natural gas into electricity and
heat with very high efficiency. BlueGen units can generate
electricity at a peak electrical efficiency of 60 percent,
far higher than any other technology in the large global
market for small scale electricity generation. When heat is
recovered for hot water, total efficiency is up to 85
percent – twice as efficient as the current European power
grid.
Battery-powered cars may be on the cusp of the mainstream
auto market, but scientists and car makers still have high
hopes for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, which should refuel
faster and travel longer distances between fill-ups.
Hydrogen fuel cells have their own Achilles' heel, however:
They are easily poisoned by carbon monoxide (CO). Now,
researchers report that they've created novel catalysts for
fuel cell cars that strongly resist carbon monoxide
contamination, potentially solving a problem that has vexed
the industry for years....In a paper posted online this week
in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, the Cornell
team reports that when its new nanoparticle catalysts
carried out their job with hydrogen spiked with 2% CO, their
performance dropped only 5% compared with a 30% drop for
commercial catalysts.
"The program is
moving quickly, and it’s exciting to be part of such a unique
aircraft," said Drew Mallow, Phantom Eye program manager for
Boeing. "The hydrogen propulsion system will be the key to
Phantom Eye's success. It is very efficient and offers great
fuel economy, and its only byproduct is water, so it's also a
'green' aircraft." Phantom Eye is powered by two 2.3-liter,
four-cylinder engines that provide 150 horsepower each. It has
a 150-foot wingspan, will cruise at approximately 150 knots
and can carry up to a 450-pound payload. Key Phantom Eye
suppliers and partners include Ford Motor Company (engines);
Aurora Flight Sciences (wing); Mahle Powertrain (propulsion
controls); Ball Aerospace (fuel tanks); Turbosolutions
Engineering (turbochargers); the Defense Advanced Research
Projects Agency; and NASA.
As you may
have heard, we learned that the U.S. Senate will not take up
comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation prior to the
August recess. Even more distressing, it’s very unlikely the
Senate will push for a comprehensive bill at all this year. It's
deeply disappointing that Big Oil, Dirty Coal and their allies
in the Senate, led by the Republican leadership, continue to
stand in the way of creating a clean energy economy that creates
jobs, makes America more energy independent and protects the
planet. Gene Karpinski,
President
League of Conservation Voters
Linc Energy, the world leader in
Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) technology, and AFC
Energy (LSE:AFC), the world’s leading developer of low-cost
alkaline fuel cells, have successfully trialled hydrogen
fuel cell technology to produce electricity at Linc Energy’s
Chinchilla Demonstration Facility in Queensland.
Linc Energy’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Peter Bond said his
company’s exclusive agreement with UK-based AFC Energy for
application with UCG and the delivery of an Alpha Unit
Hydrogen Fuel Cell to the Chinchilla facility had been
completed. “This is a major
innovation and the first time that a hydrogen fuel cell has
been successfully trialled with UCG,” said Bond. “It
represents a huge step towards the worldwide opportunity of
combining UCG and alkaline fuels cells as a breakthrough
technology for creating the cleanest possible power
generation from coal.”
Initial testing with the hydrogen fuel cell unit at Linc
Energy’s Chinchilla Demonstration Facility was performed
following successful trials at AFC UK facilities of mock
syngas of comparative composition to that generated at the
Linc Energy facility.
The trial demonstrated the successful ability to generate
clean electricity from alkaline hydrogen fuel cell
technology from syngas derived from UCG operations.
“What is so remarkable about this trial is that the fuel cell
configuration was able to produce reliable and efficient
clean electricity from a much lower percentage hydrogen
content gas than other fuel cells require,” said Bond. “This
effectively demonstrates that combining the AFC Fuel Cell
technology with hydrogen from Linc Energy’s syngas produced
from the world-class UCG at Chinchilla is a feasible route
to achieve the ultimate in clean electricity from stranded,
sub-economic coal, of which there is an abundance in the
world.”
more
Although speeds of 145-150 km/h were
recorded, the official new world speed record for
electrically-powered class C aeroplanes is 135 km/h, while the
aircraft also broke the endurance record of 45 minutes.
The aircraft, called Rapid 200-FC,
completed its maiden flight on 20 May 2010, using a completely
electrical hybrid power system, comprising a 20kW PEM fuel
cell and a 20 kW Li-Po battery. Test Pilot Marco Locatelli
carried out a first aero-mechanical take off, followed by an
eleven-minute test flight for investigations of the flight
envelope.
“Unfortunately, we now have killed the Gulf of Mexico.”
Matt Simmons Says Gulf Clean Up Will
Cost Over $1 Trillion Tyler Durden
Canada Free Free Press
July 22, 2010
This is a joint cover up effort between the
administration and BP.
The Coast Guard's acknowledgement
of the two metal tubes Friday -- and a subsequent reference by
BP to its plans to tie the two pipes together as the company
installs a new oil collection system over the shaved-off riser
-- actually comes more than a month after the Department of
Energy noted the existence of two pipes using special imaging
technology. At the time, BP dismissed the Energy findings as
"impossible" because only one pipe in sections was used for
drilling, a Tribune News Service story reported last month.
Discovery of Second Pipe in Deepwater Horizon Riser
Stirs Debate Among Experts David Hammer
Times-Picayune, LA
July 9, 2010
As word of the supposed, “cap” spreads
like wildfire, the American people are being lead down a road of false hope...
The Intel Hub
July 15, 2010
Matt Simmons tells a 'real ugly story'
Linda Clancy
Herald Gazette (Maine-US)
Jul 14, 2010
Simmons believes the image of the
oil spewing from the blowout preventer displayed on news sites
around the world fails to illustrate the reality of the
situation. He maintains that a vast lake of oil seeping from
the ocean floor and the well head lies approximately six miles
from the site where BP says it is trying to cap the oil flow —
"flowing like lava and now probably the size of two Washington
states," said Simmons.
BP Stock Jumps on Plan to Sell Assets Ronald D. White
Los Angeles Times
July 12, 2010
BP spokesman Mark Salt in Houston said the company intended to
sell
about $10 billion in "noncore, upstream assets" in the next 12
months.
Cellulosic biofuel was 250 million gallons, now 6.5-25.5
million gallons Biomass-based diesel was 800 million
gallons, and stays there Advanced biofuel was 1.35
billion gallons, and stays there. Keep in mind,
confusingly, that cellulosic biofuels and biomass-based
biofuels are “nested” within advanced biofuels, which
means that a gallon of cellulosic ethanol counts towards
the cellulosic biofuel mandate and also rolls up into
the overall advanced biofuel volumes.
Power
generated by burning wood, plants and other organic
material, which makes up 50 percent of all renewable
energy produced in the United States, according to
federal statistics, is facing increased scrutiny and
opposition.
That, critics say, is because it is not as
climate-friendly as once thought, and the pollution it
causes in the short run may outweigh its long-term
benefits.
Plans are Done: Organizations Say It Is Time For
Action
To End Oil Dependence
June 15, 2010
Washington, DC--In his speech on the Gulf oil
catastrophe tonight, President Obama can give the
nation not only a message of hope, but also a concrete
plan to cut the nation's oil dependence dramatically,
said fourteen national, regional and local
organizations said today.
"The nation's dependence on petroleum need not be permanent.
The road to freedom from oil imports has already been
mapped. The President can start our nation on
the journey tonight," the organizations said in a
joint statement. "We don't need more analysis -
it has already been done. With the President's
leadership we can start implementing the solution
immediately."
"This transition will produce
millions of American jobs, recapture hundreds of
billions of dollars that now go offshore, rather than
being invested in America and American jobs, and most
importantly, make America and the world more secure,"
they said. The organizations represent a wide
spectrum of corporate, environmental and public
interests.
"We are in a crisis.
It is time to face it head-on with all the tools we
have. Deployment plans by the National Academies of
Science and by various private organizations show the
way. The key remaining ingredient is a national
will. The good news is that the U.S. can virtually
eliminate use of petroleum in our passenger cars by
2050 with the right combination of policies, research
and assistance to commercialize a portfolio of vehicle
and fuel technologies. Efficiency, biofuels,
natural gas, battery electric and fuel cell electric
vehicles all will make a contribution," they said.
"We must set aside notions
about any one 'winning' technology and focus on
results, beginning now and sticking with the program
for the long term. The future of the oil economy
looks even worse than today's grim reality. With
American engineering skill and with committed and
focused leadership from our government, we can, and
indeed we must, build a clean energy economy," the
organizations said.
About the National
Hydrogen Association The National
Hydrogen Association (NHA) is the world's largest
hydrogen trade organization dedicated to commercializing
hydrogen technologies. Since 1989, the NHA membership
has included a wide variety of industry, research and
government organizations.
www.HydrogenAssociation.org
Global Surface Temperature Change J. Hansen, R. Ruedy, M. Sato, and K. Lo
June 2010
NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, New York, New York,
USA
A greater obstacle to
public communication has arisen with the politicization of
reporting of global warming, a perhaps inevitable consequence
of the economic and social implications of efforts required to
alter the course of human-made climate change. We have the
impression that the effect of politicization on communication
of the science is aggravated by the fact that much of the
media is owned by or strongly influenced by special economic
interests. The task of alleviating the communication obstacle
posed by politicization is formidable. The difficulty is
compounded by continual attacks on the credibility of
scientists. Polls indicate that the attacks have been
effective in causing many members of the public to doubt the
reality of global warming.
ARE
FOSSIL FUELS MAKING US STUPID? Particles collected from the air above
Mexico City (two shown) contain metals including manganese,
iron, zinc, tin, lead and mercury (labeled). New research
suggests that the particles can end up in the brain. Credit: Kouji Adachi and Peter R.
Buseck/Environmental Sci. Technol. 2010
Destination Brain Inhaled pollutants may inflame more
than the lungs Janet Raloff Science News
May 22, 2010
Calderón-Garcidueñas has been correlating Mexico City’s stew
of air pollutants with a suite of symptoms in people of all
ages. In March in Salt Lake City at the annual meeting of
the Society of Toxicology, Calderón-Garcidueñas unveiled
some of her latest data. At age 11, Ana shows persistent,
growing brain lesions, the toxicologist reported. As do the
other Mexico City children surveyed. They also exhibit
cognitive impairments in memory, problem solving and
judgment and deficiencies in their sense of smell compared
with age-matched children from a cleaner city 120 kilometers
away.
Other toxicologists at the meeting presented data, largely
from animal studies, tracking the movement of
billionth-of-a-meter–scale particles into the brain, where
they triggered inflammation and abnormalities characteristic
of Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s. Until recently, most air
pollution toxicology has focused on impacts to the lungs and
heart, observes James Antonini of the National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health’s lab in Morgantown, W. Va.
The challenge now, he says, is to identify which pollutants
are harming the nervous systems of Ana and others who live
in areas with particularly dirty air.
After decades of slowly creeping
corporate corruption, some of the biggest environmental groups
have remade themselves in the image of their corporate
backers: they are putting profit before planet. They are
supporting a system they know will lead to ecocide, because
more revenue will run through their accounts, for a while, as
the collapse occurs. At Copenhagen, their behavior was so
shocking that Lumumba Di-Aping, the lead negotiator for the
G-77 bloc of the world's rainforest-rich but cash-poor
countries, compared them to the CIA at the height of the cold
war, sabotaging whole nations.
How do we retrieve a real environmental movement, in the very
short time we have left? Charles Komanoff, who worked as a
consultant for the Natural Resources Defense Council for
thirty years, says, "We're close to a civil war in the
environmental movement. For too long, all the oxygen in the
room has been sucked out by this beast of these insider
groups, who achieve almost nothing.... We need to create new
organizations that represent the fundamentals of
environmentalism and have real goals."
Analysis of Published H2 Vehicle Safety Research "None of the tests resulted in
observable damage or immediate safety hazards
inside the passenger compartment."
Nathan Weyandt, SwRI U.S. Department of
Transportation
February
2010
RELEASED
Baker Institute Study
Nukes Ethanol
"We
need to set realistic targets for ethanol in the United States
instead of just throwing taxpayer money out the window."
Amy Myers Jaffe,
a senior fellow in energy studies at the
Baker Institute and one of the report's authors.
Pedro Alvarez, Joel G. Burken,
James D. Coan,
Marcelo E. Dias De Oliveira,
Rosa Dominguez–Faus,
Diego E. Gomez, Amy Myers Jaffe, Kenneth B. Medlock III,
Susan E. Powers, Ronald Soligo,
Lauren A. Smulcer
James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy of Rice
University
"We
question the scale to which ethanol can enhance U.S. energy
security by replacing oil-based fuel, and recommend
that Congress order a cost-benefit analysis that compares the
volume of renewable fuel being added to the American
transportation fuel system to the cost per gallon to the
American taxpayer to achieve this marginal addition of
non-fossil based supply. We believe that such an assessment
would find that the
extremely high costs of implementing this program outweigh the
indirect benefits to consumers of the small, marginal
reductions in U'S' oil imports. Therefore,
we do not recommend
renewing blender's credits when they expire at the end of
2009." -- Page 10,
Fundamentals of a Sustainable U.S. Biofuels Policy
US Ethanol Production Poses Economic, Environment Risks
Wall Street Journal
January 6, 2010 The report by the Rice University's Baker
Institute for Public Policy notes that in 2008 the U.S.
government spent $4 billion in biofuel subsidies to replace
2% of the U.S. gasoline supply. The average cost to
the taxpayer of those substituted barrels of gasoline was
roughly $82 a barrel, or $1.95 per gallon on top of the
retail gasoline price, according to the
study.
"This is a very
disappointing outcome.
I see nothing here that should drive
investment in low-carbon technology." Trevor Sikorski, director at
Barclays Capital
Carbon Prices Fall in Wake of Copenhagen Chris Flood and Fiona Harvey Financial
Times (UK)December 22, 2009
Leaked UN report shows
cuts offered at Copenhagen would lead to 3C rise
"I am sorry to say that
most of what politicians are doing on the climate front is
greenwashing - their proposals sound good, but they are
deceiving you and themselves at the same time. Governments are
stating emission goals that they know are lies.
Are we going to stand up and give global politicians a hard
slap in the face, to make them face the truth?
It will take lot of us
– probably in the streets. Or are we going to let them
continue to kid themselves and us, and cheat our children and
grandchildren?"
James Hansen
Director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies
Climate Change Odds
Much Worse Than Thought New analysis shows warming could be
double previous estimates David Chandler MIT News Office
May 19, 2009 Image courtesy / MIT
Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change
The new projections, published this
month in the American Meteorological Society's Journal of
Climate, indicate a median probability of surface warming of
5.2 degrees Celsius by 2100, with
a
90% probability range of 3.5 to 7.4 degrees. This can
be compared to a median projected increase in the 2003 study
of just 2.4 degrees. The difference is caused by several
factors rather than any single big change. Among these are
improved economic modeling and newer economic data showing
less chance of low emissions than had been projected in the
earlier scenarios. Other changes include accounting for the
past masking of underlying warming by the cooling induced by
20th century volcanoes, and for emissions of soot, which can
add to the warming effect. In addition, measurements of deep
ocean temperature rises, which enable estimates of how fast
heat and carbon dioxide are removed from the atmosphere and
transferred to the ocean depths, imply lower transfer rates
than previously estimated.
...And the odds
indicated by this modeling may actually understate the
problem, because the model does not fully incorporate other
positive feedbacks that can occur, for example, if increased
temperatures caused a large-scale melting of permafrost in
arctic regions and subsequent release of large quantities of
methane, a very potent greenhouse gas.
A monster iceberg nearly twice the
size of Hong Kong island has been spotted drifting
towards Australia in what scientists Wednesday called a
once-in-a-century event. ...The finding comes after two
large icebergs were spotted further east, off
Australia's Macquarie Island, followed by more than 100
smaller ice chunks heading towards New Zealand.
Could Nickel Replace Platinum as
a Cheaper Catalyst in Fuel Cells? Electric Electric (UK)
Dec 9 2009
A group of researchers in France, however, have
developed a new process in which nickel, a much cheaper
and prolific substance, can be used to replace platinum
as a catalyst. The tests were published this week in an
issue of Science.
From Hydrogenases to Noble Metal–Free Catalytic
Nanomaterials for H2 Production and Uptake Alan Le Goff, Vincent Artero, Bruno
Jousselme, Phong Dinh Tran, Nicolas Guillet, Romain
Métayé, Aziz Fihri, Serge Palacin, Marc Fontecave
Interconversion of water and hydrogen in unitized
regenerative fuel cells is a promising energy storage
framework for smoothing out the temporal fluctuations
of solar and wind power. However,
replacement of presently available platinum catalysts
by lower-cost and more abundant materials is a
requisite for this technology to become economically
viable.
WASHINGTON – After a thorough examination of the
scientific evidence and careful consideration of public
comments, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
announced today that greenhouse gases (GHGs) threaten
the public health and welfare of the American people.
EPA also finds that GHG emissions from on-road vehicles
contribute to that threat.
GHGs are the primary driver of climate change, which can lead
to hotter, longer heat waves that threaten the health of
the sick, poor or elderly; increases in ground-level
ozone pollution linked to asthma and other respiratory
illnesses; as well as other threats to the health and
welfare of Americans.
“These long-overdue findings cement 2009’s place in history
as the year when the United States Government began
addressing the challenge of greenhouse-gas pollution and
seizing the opportunity of clean-energy reform,” said
EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “Business leaders,
security experts, government officials, concerned
citizens and the United States Supreme Court have called
for enduring, pragmatic solutions to reduce the
greenhouse gas pollution that is causing climate change.
This continues our work towards clean energy reform that
will cut GHGs and reduce the dependence on foreign oil
that threatens our national security and our economy.”
EPA’s final findings respond to the 2007 U.S. Supreme Court
decision that GHGs fit within the Clean Air Act
definition of air pollutants. The findings do not in and
of themselves impose any emission reduction requirements
but rather allow EPA to finalize the GHG standards
proposed earlier this year for new light-duty vehicles
as part of the joint rulemaking with the Department of
Transportation.
On-road vehicles contribute more than 23 percent of total
U.S. GHG emissions. EPA’s proposed GHG standards for
light-duty vehicles, a subset of on-road vehicles, would
reduce GHG emissions by nearly 950 million metric tons
and conserve 1.8 billion barrels of oil over the
lifetime of model year 2012-2016 vehicles.
EPA’s endangerment finding covers emissions of six key
greenhouse gases – carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous
oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur
hexafluoride – that have been the subject of scrutiny
and intense analysis for decades by scientists in the
United States and around the world.
Scientific consensus shows that as a result of human
activities, GHG concentrations in the atmosphere are at
record high levels and data shows that the Earth has
been warming over the past 100 years, with the steepest
increase in warming in recent decades. The evidence of
human-induced climate change goes beyond observed
increases in average surface temperatures; it includes
melting ice in the Arctic, melting glaciers around the
world, increasing ocean temperatures, rising sea levels,
acidification of the oceans due to excess carbon
dioxide, changing precipitation patterns, and changing
patterns of ecosystems and wildlife.
President Obama and Administrator Jackson have publicly
stated that they support a legislative solution to the
problem of climate change and Congress’ efforts to pass
comprehensive climate legislation. However, climate
change is threatening public health and welfare, and it
is critical that EPA fulfill its obligation to respond
to the 2007 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that determined
that greenhouse gases fit within the Clean Air Act
definition of air pollutants.
EPA issued the proposed findings in April 2009 and held a
60-day public comment period. The agency received more
than 380,000 comments, which were carefully reviewed and
considered during the development of the final findings.
The UN Copenhagen climate talks
are in disarray today after developing countries reacted
furiously to leaked documents that show world leaders
will next week be asked to sign an agreement that hands
more power to rich countries and sidelines the UN's role
in all future climate change negotiations.
RIO Tinto says it is pulling out
of a carbon capture and storage project in the United
Arab Emirates, and will focus investment in the clean
technology in California. ...The project in California
aims to provide power for more than 150,000 homes, with
a 90 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions as
most of the greenhouse gas will be captured and stored
deep underground.
The Dubai Financial Nuke
Clive Maund IBT Times
December 6, 2009
Dubai was a vast sinkhole into which western banks and
governments unquestioningly poured not just billions
but trillions of dollars which was then leveraged
enormously by means of derivatives enabling Dubai to
build itself up into a latter day Rome, with a level
of opulence and extravagance that would have made
Caesar green with envy. ..What the vast majority don't
realize is that the stupendous leverage afforded by
derivatives has in addition enabled Dubai to create an
immense global empire of businesses, most of the
elements of which are broke, having racked up
staggering levels of debt.
Abu Dhabi Hydrogen-CCS Plant Delayed
February 25, 2009 Masdar unveiled the
project in January last year, as the centre piece of
Abu Dhabi's first World Future Energy Summit. It
represents the first such facility of its type
anywhere in the world and will combine the production
of hydrogen power with carbon capture and storage
technologies.
GE Energy has signed a technology
licensing agreement with Hydrogen Energy for a proposed
250-megawatt power plant that would use integrated
gasification combined-cycle (IGCC) technology, a product
of ecomagination. The plant, to be located near
Bakersfield, in Kern County, Calif., would be designed
to capture up to 90 percent of its carbon dioxide for
enhanced oil recovery and sequestration in an adjacent
oil field.
“This is a homecoming of sorts for GE and IGCC technology,”
said Monte Atwell, general manager, gasification of GE
Energy. “GE technology was involved in the first IGCC
pilot plant in Barstow, Calif., and we are pleased to be
deploying the next generation of this technology to
deliver low carbon power to the people of Southern
California.”
HEI is a joint venture of BP Alternative Energy and
multinational mining company Rio Tinto Hydrogen. In
2007, GE and BP formed a global alliance to jointly
develop and deploy technology for at least five IGCC
power plants that could dramatically reduce carbon
dioxide emissions from electricity generation. The
Hydrogen Energy California County project would be the
first power plant built under that alliance.
“Offering further proof that IGCC with carbon capture and
storage (CCS) is viable commercial technology, this
plant could become a model for new power generating
facilities worldwide and help position the United States
as a leader in low carbon power generation,” said
Jonathan Briggs, regional director of the Americas for
Hydrogen Energy. “We are pleased to team up with GE
Energy, a world leader in IGCC experience, for this
milestone project, which will offer electricity
generators with a low carbon fuel option that can
contribute enormously to the reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions.”
IGCC plants have been deployed worldwide and have
demonstrated the capability to significantly reduce
emissions. The technology converts solid fuels, such as
coal, into a cleaner burning hydrogen-rich fuel, which
then is used by a gas turbine combined-cycle system to
generate electricity, providing a cleaner, economical
coal-to-power option. IGCC also significantly reduces
criteria emissions—sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxide,
mercury and particulate matter—and decreases water
consumption by up to 30 percent (as compared to a
conventional coal plant).
The technology proposed for the Hydrogen Energy California
plant would convert petroleum coke, coal or a
combination of each into a synthesis gas (syngas).
Chemical scrubbers would filter out pollutants and would
separate CO2, leaving a hydrogen-rich fuel to power the
gas turbine combined-cycle system. The carbon captured
from the plant would be piped to an adjacent oil field,
where it would be used for enhanced oil recovery and
sequestration operations.
GE Energy has been at the forefront of IGCC technology for
more than two decades. GE technology was involved in
several milestone projects, including the pilot IGCC
plant, Coolwater, in Barstow, Calif., and the Polk Tampa
Electric IGCC plant in Florida, that helped demonstrate
the commercial feasibility of IGCC. GE also is supplying
IGCC technology for Duke Energy’s plant in Edwardsport,
Ind., that is expected to be the world’s largest IGCC
facility when it reaches commercial operation in 2012.
You wouldn’t think so by looking
at it, but grimy, smudgy coal -- the driver of world
economies, the black-carbon bane of environmentalists --
could well be the next big stepping stone in South
Africa’s clean, renewable-energy ambitions. Following in
the footsteps of the more experienced Russians, Eskom
has been running a pilot project since 2007 in which it
taps into vast but deep-lying seams of coal that
wouldn’t be mined by conventional means. Instead, in a
process known as underground coal gasification, it sets
the coal alight and extracts the resulting synthetic
gas, or syngas. Syngas is made up mainly of carbon
monoxide and hydrogen, but also contains nitrogen,
greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, plus trace amounts of
other gases. But it’s the steam of hydrogen,
specifically, that interests the South African Institute
for Advanced Materials Chemistry at the University of
the Western Cape. Dr Ben Bladergroen wants to perfect
the production of hydrogen from coal and (later) other
sources.
"Fuel cell materials
are anticipated to advance at a double-digit pace
through 2013 as a result of favorable prospects for fuel
cell production as commercialization of these units
continues."
ENERGY-WATER NEXUS
Many Uncertainties Remain
about National and Regional Effects of Increased Biofuel
Production on Water Resources
Report to the Chairman,
Committee on Science and Technology, House of
Representatives
United States Government
Accountability Office November 2009
Water is crucial to many
stages
of the biofuel life cycle and is needed for the growth
of the feedstock as well as for fermentation,
distillation, and cooling during the process of
converting the feedstock into biofuel. As biofuel
production
increases, questions have emerged
about the effects that increased production could have
on the nation’s water resources. ...Many experts and
officials told us that corn cultivation requires
substantial quantities of water, although the amount
used depends on where the crop is grown and how much
irrigation water is used. The primary corn production
regions are in the upper and lower Midwest.... Together,
these regions accounted for 89 percent of corn
production in 2007 and 2008, and 95 percent of ethanol
production in the United States in 2007. Corn cultivation
in these three regions averages anywhere from 7 to 321
gallons of irrigation water for every gallon of ethanol
produced....
Elizabeth Doris, Joyce
McLaren,
Victoria Healey, and Stephen Hockett
National Renewable Energy Laboratory October 2009
...provides a detailed picture of the status of renewable energy
development in each of the U.S. states using a variety
of metrics and discusses the policies being used to
encourage this development.
NREL Report Relates
State Policies to Renewable Energy Development
EERE Network News
December 2, 2009
DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently
issued a report showing that clean energy development is
spreading rapidly throughout the country, often
following public policies designed to spur renewable
energy growth. According to the report, "State of the
States 2009: Renewable Energy Development and the Role
of Policy," California led the nation in terms of total
non-hydroelectric renewable generation in 2007, while
Maine generated the largest percentage of electricity
from renewable resources other than hydropower, at
26.1%. Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia
have adopted a renewable portfolio standard (RPS), a
policy that requires utilities to draw a percentage of
their power from renewable energy sources. All but a
dozen states have implemented policies for connecting
renewable energy systems to the power grid, known as
interconnection, while all but eight allow customers to
earn credit for power fed back into the grid, a policy
called net metering.
The NREL report also went beyond simply tabulating data by
examining the impact of renewable energy policies using
statistical and empirical methods. That analysis found
that states that had a net-metering policy in place in
2005 had more generation from non-hydropower renewable
energy sources in 2007 than states that did not. States
that required utilities to tell their customers the
energy sources used to produce their electricity and
that also required utilities to offer "green
power"—electricity produced from renewable energy
sources—ended up with more renewable energy development.
The report also found several features of RPS policies
that significantly contributed to increased renewable
energy development, but it failed to find a perfect
combination of features for an RPS policy that
correlated with significant increases in renewable
energy.
,,,This station is part of a cluster of hydrogen
refueling stations opened by Shell in New York, in
partnership with the Port Authority of New York and New
Jersey, the US Department of Energy and General Motors.
The cluster of stations, located within approximately 30
miles of each other, is configured to provide New York
drivers of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles with greater
flexibility and convenience.The Quantum refueling
systems use oil free gas compression technology to
deliver hydrogen at high-pressure from a variety of
sources, including high pressure cascade systems,
industrial hydrogen bottles, bulk tube trailers, and
electrolyzer hydrogen generating systems. Key features
of the Quantum hydrogen refueling systems include:
High pressure cascade storage up to 15,000 psi
(1,000 bar)
Available gas pre-chiller system to enable faster
fills
Compression capacity of up to 9.0 kilograms per
hour
Automated purge procedure for elimination of air
and particle contamination
Hydrogen sensors and safety systems including
automated continuous monitoring.
THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT THREW AWAY MORE MONEY ON BIOFUEL GIVEAWAY
PROGRAMS IN 2009 THAN WAS EVER INVESTED IN FUEL
CELL AND HYDROGEN RESEARCH
YOUR ENERGY $$
DOWN THE RAT HOLE!
THE GREAT CELLULOSIC ETHANOL FRAUD Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice, shame on me!
Cellulosic ethanol continues to be a failure
The Ethanol Mandate to Nowhere Dave Juday The Weekly Standard
November 24, 2009
As then-President George W. Bush said in February 2007,
after he proposed mandating cellulosic fuel use, "we're
on the verge of some breakthroughs that will enable a
pile of wood chips to become the raw materials for fuels
that will run your car." What was lacking in all the
euphoria of the time was any common-sense scrutiny of
the product. For example, reconstructing that "pile of
wood chips" into live trees provides a completely
different perspective. It takes one 60 foot tall
softwood tree to produce about 6 gallons of cellulosic
ethanol. So, three trees that size would almost fill up
a 20 gallon SUV tank. It takes 20-30 years of growth to
get a 60 foot softwood tree, so one 15 minute fill up of
cellulosic "renewable fuel" could represent up to 90
years or more of tree growth.
The Naval Research Laboratory's Ion Tiger, a
hydrogen-powered fuel cell unmanned air vehicle (UAV),
has flown 26 hours and 1 minute carrying a 5-pound
payload, setting another unofficial flight endurance
record for a fuel-cell powered flight. The test flight
took place on November 16th through 17th.
The electric fuel cell propulsion system onboard the Ion
Tiger has the low noise and signature of a
battery-powered UAV, while taking advantage of hydrogen,
a high-energy fuel. Fuel cells create an electrical
current when they convert hydrogen and oxygen into water
and heat. The 550 Watt (0.75 horsepower) fuel cell
onboard the Ion Tiger has about four times the
efficiency of a comparable internal combustion engine
and the system provides seven times the energy in the
equivalent weight of batteries. The Ion Tiger
weighs approximately 37 pounds and carries a 4- to
5-pound payload.
The Ion Tiger fuel cell system development team is led
by NRL and includes Protonex Technology Corporation,
HyperComp Engineering, and Arcturus UAV. The program is
sponsored by the Office of Naval Research.
This latest flight test improves on Ion Tiger's previous
unofficial flight endurance record of 23 hours and 17
minutes that took place on October 9th and 10th.
NRL has now demonstrated that PEM fuel cell technology can
meet or surpass the performance of traditional power
systems, providing reliable, quiet operation and
extremely high efficiency. Next steps will focus on
increasing the power of the fuel cell to 1.5 kW, or 2
HP, to enable tactical flights and extending flight
times to 3 days while powering tactical payloads.
A Hotter Planet Means Less on Our Plates Lester R. Brown
Washington Post
November 22, 2009
The vanishing of mountain
glaciers in Asia represents
the biggest threat to the world food supply that we have ever
seen.
The F-Cell B-Class has a range of about 240 miles and,
running on compressed hydrogen, boasts an equivalent
fuel mileage of 86.6 city-highway combined miles per
gallon. In 2010, Mercedes will make 200 production
F-Cell cars available to customers in the U. S. and
Europe, under a special lease program for real-life
testing.
The world is
much closer to running out of oil than official
estimates admit, according to a whistleblower at the
International Energy Agency who claims it has been
deliberately underplaying a looming shortage for fear of
triggering panic buying. The senior official
claims the US has played an influential role in
encouraging the watchdog to underplay the rate of
decline from existing oil fields while overplaying the
chances of finding new reserves. The allegations raise
serious questions about the accuracy of the
organisation's latest World Energy Outlook on oil demand
and supply to be published tomorrow – which is used by
the British and many other governments to help guide
their wider energy and climate change policies.
Colin Campbell's Response to the Guardian IEA
Reporting Colin Campbell Energy
Bulletin
November 16, 2009 Briefly, Regular Conventional Oil peaked in
2005. The shortfall was made good by expensive oil
mainly from deepwater fields and Canadian tar sands,
which led to rising prices. This trend was spotted by
shrewd traders who started buying contracts on the
Futures Market, while the industry maintained high
levels of storage, watching it appreciate in value at
no cost or effort. The rising prices also delivered a
flood of petrodollars to the Middle East where it
still costs on average about $10 to produce a barrel.
The surplus was in turn partly returned to Western
financial institutions, contributing to their
instability. The surge in price reached extreme levels
in mid 2008, approaching $150 a barrel, which prompted
the shrewd traders to start selling short on the
Futures Market and for the industry to start draining
their tanks before they lost value. The high prices in
parallel triggered an economic recession which
dampened demand causing prices to fall back to 2005
levels before edging up to around $75 today.
A pipe with hundreds of pounds of
pressurized hydrogen suffered a "catastrophic failure"
that started Wednesday's explosion at the Silver Eagle
Refinery, a federal investigator said Saturday. When the
10-inch pipe separated, hydrogen spewed to a furnace and
ignited.... The force of a resulting fireball, combined
with the 630 pounds of pressurized hydrogen, burst east
toward homes in a Woods Cross neighborhood. There were
no injuries, but 10 homes suffered severe damage. At
least one was blown from its foundation.
The Swedish government's venture
capital company for the automotive industry,
Fouriertransform, is making its first investment of
SEK60 million (£5.2 million) in Powercell Sweden AB,
which develops, produces and sells fuel cells, fuel
reformers and auxillary power units.
..."We are busy staffing the company and have received more
than 1,000 highly qualified applicants for our
advertised jobs," says Per Wassén. "This will make
Powercell the largest fuel cell plant in northern
Europe."
Disintegration: Greenland ice cap melt enters
6000-foot vertical shaft
Earth’s history reveals numerous cases in which ice melt
caused sea level to rise several meters per century. If
business-as-usual greenhouse gas emissions continue the
human-made climate forcing will be much greater than the
natural forcings that caused these earlier ice sheet
disintegrations. I find it implausible that the West
Antarctic ice sheet could survive this century, if
business-as-usual emissions continue. Thus, in such an
emission scenario, sea level rise of several meters
should be expected this century, with still further sea
level rise continuing, out of control of humanity.
Intelligent Energy, the leading clean power systems
company, in partnership with Suzuki Motor Corporation,
is set to unveil their latest joint development in clean
fuel transport systems at the 41st Tokyo Motor Show –
the Suzuki Burgman Fuel Cell Scooter.
Having stunned the motorcycle world two years ago with the
Crosscage fuel cell motorbike, Intelligent Energy and
Suzuki have now applied this advanced fuel cell
technology to a more accessible form of two-wheeled
transportation. The city-friendly Suzuki Burgman Fuel
Cell Scooter is a demonstration of the potential for
zero emissions motorcycles to significantly reduce
emissions around the world.
The scooter is fitted with a hydrogen fuel tank which
delivers quick refueling, good riding range and a robust
frame for increased safety. The scooter uses the latest
version of Intelligent Energy’s unique and proprietary
PEM clean fuel cell engine, which are light, compact and
well-suited to mass manufacture.
“The zero-emissions Burgman scooter is the latest product of
the successful commercial relationship between Suzuki
and Intelligent Energy”, commented Dr. Henri Winand, CEO
at Intelligent Energy. “Of course, these clean fuel cell
engine powered motorcycles are not simply for motor
shows, and can be widely available to everyone in the
near future. With a mass market of about 40 million
units per annum, there is a lot to go after. As part of
this process, Intelligent Energy and Suzuki will
continue to work on clean fuel cell powered motorcycles
and plan to hold demonstrations of the fuel cell scooter
in the near future”.
more
US Performs Hydrogen Funding U-turn Senate votes to commit about $200m to fuel cell
funding, despite indications from the White House that
it would like to see green investment targeted elsewhere
Cath Everett BusinessGreen
October 22, 2009
The bill is now awaiting the signature of President
Obama, who has said that he would like to see a million
plug-in electric vehicles on the streets by 2012.
Toshiba Launches Direct Methanol Fuel Cell in Japan
as External Power for Mobile Electronic Devices Toshiba (Japan)
October 22, 2009
Toshiba Corporation , a world leader in the development
of fuel-cell technology for handheld electronic
equipment, today announced the launch of its first
direct methanol fuel-cell product: Dynario™, an external
power source that delivers power to mobile digital
consumer products. Dynario™, together with a dedicated
fuel cartridge for refueling on the go, will be launched
in Japan, in a limited edition of 3,000 units only, and
will be exclusively available at
Shop1048, Toshiba's direct-order web site for
digital consumer products in the Japanese market. Orders
will be accepted from October 22, and shipping will
start on October 29.
more
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL REPORT CASTS DOUBT ON DECISION
TO PRODUCE ELECTRIC CARS IN ABSENCE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY
INFRASTRUCTURE
"...When the damages attributable to the other parts of
the lifecycle were included, especially the emissions
from the feedstock and the fuel (emissions from
electricity production),
the aggregate damages for
the grid-dependent and all-electric vehicles become
comparable to, or somewhat higher than, those from
gasoline."
-- page 146
DESPITE ITS
TITLE, THE REPORT OMITS THE GREATEST HIDDEN COST OF
ENERGY: THE MILITARY SECURMENT OF MIDDLE EAST OIL FIELDS
FOR U.S. TRANSPORTATION
A new report
from the National Research Council examines and, when
possible, estimates "hidden" costs of energy production
and use -- such as the damage air pollution imposes on
human health -- that are not reflected in market prices
of coal, oil, other energy sources, or the electricity
and gasoline produced from them. The report estimates
dollar values for several major components of these
costs. The damages the committee was able to quantify
were an estimated $120 billion in the U.S. in 2005, a
number that reflects primarily health damages from air
pollution associated with electricity generation and
motor vehicle transportation. The figure does not
include damages from climate change, harm to ecosystems,
effects of some air pollutants such as mercury, and
risks to national security, which the report examines
but does not monetize.
Requested by Congress, the report assesses what economists
call external effects caused by various energy sources
over their entire life cycle -- for example, not only
the pollution generated when gasoline is used to run a
car but also the pollution created by extracting and
refining oil and transporting fuel to gas stations.
Because these effects are not reflected in energy
prices, government, businesses and consumers may not
realize the full impact of their choices. When such
market failures occur, a case can be made for government
interventions -- such as regulations, taxes or tradable
permits -- to address these external costs, the report
says.
The committee that wrote the report focused on
monetizing the damage of major air pollutants -- sulfur
dioxide, nitrogen oxides, ozone, and particulate matter
– on human health, grain crops and timber yields,
buildings, and recreation. When possible, it estimated
both what the damages were in 2005 (the latest year for
which data were available) and what they are likely to
be in 2030, assuming current policies continue and new
policies already slated for implementation are put in
place.
The committee also separately derived a range of values for
damages from climate change; the wide range of
possibilities for these damages made it impossible to
develop precise estimates of cost. However, all model
results available to the committee indicate that
climate-related damages caused by
each ton of CO2 emissions will be far worse in 2030
than now; even if the total
amount of annual emissions remains steady, the damages
caused by each ton would increase 50 percent to 80
percent.
more
...On Thursday, the Senate agreed to restore nearly all
the money for hydrogen car research that the
administration had proposed to cut. The measure, part of
an appropriations bill previously approved by the House,
is expected to be signed by President Obama.... The
governments of Japan and Germany also are investing
hundreds of millions in the technology, with the Germans
aiming to build 1,000 stations by 2015, according to
auto industry sources. "We're grateful to the Congress
for seeing the value in continuing this work," said
Jerome Hinkle, vice president of government affairs for
the National Hydrogen Association. He added that the
administration has since seemed to moderate its
opposition to H2 cars.
The objective of
this evaluation was to independently and objectively
verify driving ranges of >400 miles from Toyota’s new
advanced Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle (FCHV-adv) utilizing
70 MPa compressed hydrogen. ...
The total range
determined from the testing was 431 miles. ...The
average fuel economy from the day’s driving was 68.3
miles/kg.
Asked what
it would take to get a [United States] hydrogen filling
network going, especially
with a current administration that is openly hostile,
Ito responded "I wish I knew" but that hydrogen must be
promoted to governments and "we must be patient."
Using newly
designed hydrogen engines optimized for NH3, little
difference is expected between the performance of
anhydrous ammonia compared to gasoline or diesel fuel.
from George Thomas. BES workshop 5/13/03
Sandia National Laboratories
NH3
Roadster Steals the Show in Kansas City Richard D. Masters, ICHC
October 13, 2009
Alternative fuel advocates gathering in
Kansas City, Missouri, were treated to a first look at the
promise of ammonia's power with the no-holds-barred,
purpose-built Oxx Cart NH3 Roadster from the
Hydrogen Engine Center and Eliminator Performance.
The roadster project is a showcase
for the Hydrogen Engine Center's introduction of the
"largest spark ignition hydrogen engine yet built," a 572
cubic inch compacted graphite V8 monster, cast and
machined by Eliminator Performance and "intended
for large hydrogen-fueled electrical power generation
systems and for buses." In a unique proprietary
breakthrough, ammonia fuel is "cracked" onboard, releasing
hydrogen at controlled rates which, in turn, ignites the
pure anhydrous ammonia that burns without carbon
emissions.
The roadster project is a result of years of collaboration
between key figures in ammonia and hydrogen fuel. Engine
testing and optimization are scheduled to begin shortly.
Follow the links below for more details.
Ammonia – Carbon-free Liquid
Fuel Conference
October 12 - 13, 2009 • Kansas City, MO
PRESENTATIONS
“GM has invested
more than $1.5 billion in fuel cell technology and we
are committed to continuing to invest, but we no longer
can go it alone. As we approach a costly part of the
program, we will require government and industry
partnerships to install a hydrogen infrastructure and
help create a customer pull for the products.”
Charles Freese, executive director of GM Fuel Cell
Activities
GM Calls for Infrastructure to Justify Fuel Cell
Vehicles NGV Global News
September 30, 2009
General Motors Co. (GM) has put its hand up for
assistance with their fuel cell program in the US,
saying that Government help and industry partnerships
are needed to establish hydrogen fuelling infrastructure
to help create demand.
Provocative New Study Warns of Crossing Planetary
Boundaries The Earth has
nine biophysical thresholds beyond which it cannot be
pushed without disastrous consequences, the authors of a
new paper in the journal Nature report. Ominously, these
scientists say, we have already moved past three of these
tipping points. Carl Zimmer Yale Environment
360 September
23, 2009
Tipping Towards the Unknown Researchers propose critical planetary
boundaries, transgressing them could be catastrophic. But
there is hope. Stockholm Resilience Centre
September 23, 2009
Anthropogenic
pressures on the Earth System have reached a scale where
abrupt global environmental change can no longer be
excluded. We propose a new approach to global
sustainability in which we define planetary boundaries
within which we expect that humanity can operate safely.
Transgressing one or more planetary boundaries may be
deleterious or even catastrophic due to the risk of
crossing thresholds that will trigger non-linear, abrupt
environmental change within continental- to
planetary-scale systems.
Authors
Johan Rockström, Åsa Persson, Björn Nykvist, Uno Svedin,
Louise Karlberg
Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm
University, Sweden Will Steffen
ANU Climate Change Institute, Australian
National University, Australia Kevin Noone, Cynthia A. de Wit Dept of Applied Environmental Science,
Stockholm University, Sweden F. Stuart Chapin, III
Institute of Arctic Biology, University of
Alaska Fairbanks, USA Eric F. Lambin
Department of Geography, Université
Catholique de Louvain, Belgium Timothy M. Lenton
School of Environmental Sciences,
University of East Anglia, UK Marten Scheffer
Aquatic Ecology &
Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen U., Netherlands Carl Folke
The Beijer Institute of Ecological
Economics, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences Hans Joachim Schellnhuber
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact
Research, Germany Terry Hughes
ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef
Studies, James Cook University, Australia Sander van der Leeuw
School of Human Evolution & Social Change,
Arizona State University, USA Henning Rodhe
Department of Meteorology, Stockholm University, Sweden Sverker Sörlin
Div. of History of Science and Technology,
Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden Peter K. Snyder
Department of Soil, Water, and Climate,
University of Minnesota, USA Robert Costanza
Gund Institute for Ecological Economics,
University of Vermont, USA Malin Falkenmark
Stockholm International Water Institute,
Sweden Robert W. Corell
The H. John Heinz III Center for Science,
Economics and the Environment, USA Victoria J. Fabry
Department of Biological Sciences,
California State University San Marcos, USA James Hansen
NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies,
USA Brian Walker
CSIRO - Sustainable Ecosystems, Australia Diana Liverman
Environmental Change Institute, University
of Oxford, UK Katherine Richardson
Earth System Science Centre, Univ. of
Copenhagen, Denmark Paul Crutzen
Max Planck Institute for Chemistry,
Switzerland Jonathan A. Foley
Institute on the Environment, University of
Minnesota, USA
“By the end of this year, China will bypass [the United States] on new wind generation
so fast we won’t even see it go by.” Lester
Brown Tom Friedman
The New Sputnik
NYT
September 26,
2009
The new fuel cell system with a
fifth-generation fuel cell stack can be packaged under
the hood in about the same space as a four-cylinder
engine. By comparison, the current system (with a
fourth-generation stack) is about the size of a file
cabinet.
GM says the new system gets the same performance with 320
cells that is achieved with the 400-cell, 93-kW system
used in the Equinox. ...GM is targeting a sub-10-gram
level for the system -- less than the platinum used in a
conventional catalytic converter -- by the end of the
decade.
205 kW Fuel Cell in P3 Ballard Bus: Vancouver 2000
Hydrogen Hawaii
He thinks the Volt will fall flat, and then the government
will rush to its aid with generous subsidies so as to not look
like a bunch of fools. Nysschen would rather the government
supported more diesels since they produce fewer emissions than
an electric car that's charged by coal.
Mazda, the small Japanese affiliate of Ford Motor Co., is
betting it has a unique weapon in its own powertrain arsenal,
the Wankel, or rotary engine. Small, simple and lightweight,
it was once seen as a promising substitute for the piston
engine, but never lived up to its initial expectations. But
now Mazda believes the Wankel could move from a niche to
mainstream source of power, and one that could be brought to
market sooner and at a significantly lower cost than the fuel
cell vehicles and battery cars on which other manufacturers
are showering their attention —and billions in research
dollars.
The Naval Research Laboratory has completed a successful
flight test of the fuel cell powered XFC (eXperimental Fuel
Cell) unmanned aerial system (UAS). During the June 2 flight
test, the XFC UAS was airborne for more than six hours. NRL's
Chemistry and Tactical Electronic Warfare Divisions are
developing the XFC UAS as an expendable, long endurance
platform for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR).
Compared to internal combustion powered vehicles, battery
powered UAS are inherently stealthy in that they are
relatively free of noise and thermal signature, and are easy
to start, operate and maintain. However, they have poor
payload capacity and endurance. The electrically powered UAS
could have more tactical utility and be a platform for ISR if
endurance could be increased.
NRL and its fuel cell development and manufacturing partner,
Protonex Technology Corporation (Southborough, MA) have
addressed these issues by developing a hydrogen fuel cell
power plant system that greatly extends endurance and permits
increased payload capacity. The technology has been
successfully integrated into the XFC UAS, a folding wing,
expendable UAS that has a small footprint with a standard
lightweight rail launcher. The non-hybridized power plant
supports this fully autonomous aircraft and an EO/IR payload
for a flight endurance that enables relatively low cost, low
altitude, ISR missions of up to seven-plus hours in its
current configuration. In its final form, the XFC will be
capable of self-launching from a folded configuration with
loiter speed of 30 knots and a dash speed of 52 knots.
NRL's XFC UAS will be on display in booth 256 at the 2009
Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI)
meeting in Washington, DC from August 10 - 13.
The Office of Naval Research, the Department of Defense's
Rapid Reaction Technology Office, and the Office of Technology
Transition sponsor this research program.
Warning: Oil Supplies Are Running Out Fast Catastrophic shortfalls threaten economic recovery,
says world's top energy economist Steve Connor The Independent
(UK) August 3, 2009
The first detailed assessment of more than 800 oil fields in
the world, covering three quarters of global reserves, has
found that most of the biggest fields have already peaked and
that the rate of decline in oil production is now running at
nearly twice the pace as calculated just two years ago.
...In a stark
warning to Britain and the other Western powers, Dr Birol said
that the market power of the very few oil-producing countries
that hold substantial reserves of oil – mostly in the Middle
East – would increase rapidly as the oil crisis begins to grip
after 2010.
The automaker fully expects the next iterations of the fuel
cell technology – currently used in the FCHV – to be ready to
meet all customer demands of range and operating temperature,
and it will bring the cars to market whether the refueling
infrastructure is in place or not.
Jetstream Wind Inc. officials said the $219 million plant
would use electricity from wind, solar and other renewable
energy sources to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen. The
hydrogen would then be burned in a turbine — similar to those
used by natural gas-fired power plants — to generate enough
electricity to power about 6,000 homes and businesses.
The Jetstream Initiative
Jetstream An economic solution for the United States utilizing
renewable energy.
Daimler Sells 4% of Tesla to
Abu Dhabi Sam Abuelsamid
AutoBlogGreen
July 13, 2009
Aabar has indicated it would be
interested in pursuing some kind of joint venture with Tesla.
The fund is controlled by the Abu Dhabi government and managed
by the International Petroleum Investment Company with the
intent of diversifying beyond oil.
Tesla Teams with Daimler
Los Angeles Times
May 20 2009
Tesla was recently unable to
complete a $100-million round of outside venture funding and
settled for a smaller, $40-million round from investors who
already had a stake in the company.
Carbon Trading on the Cheap If the United States wants
to build a market-based approach to reducing carbon dioxide
emissions, it should learn from Europe's failures. Peter Fairley MIT Technology Review
July/August 2009
A glut of pollution
credits, distributed without cost during both the first,
transitional phase of the program and the current working
phase, drove down the value of the EUAs [CO2 release
allowances]. As a result, Europe's carbon dioxide emissions
remain priced well below 20 euros per ton. With the price of
pollution so low, economists say, industries that generate and
consume energy have no incentives to change their habits; it
is still cheaper to use fossil fuels than to switch to
technologies that pollute less.
EUROPE
ASSUMES LEADERSHIP ROLE IN HYDROGEN ENERGY ABANDONED BY THE
UNITED STATES
"We
are just in time to seize the opportunity to make Europe a
leader in [hydrogen] technologies." Gijs van Breda Vriesman,
Chairman
Governing Board of the Joint Undertaking
The 29 project topics aim to put fuel cell and hydrogen energy
technologies on the market two to five years sooner than what
is estimated without the support it offers. Selected teams of
researchers will investigate bottlenecks in the whole range of
applications for these energy technologies, from cars to large
scale power plants, as well as the whole supply chain from
hydrogen production to demonstration of the market-readiness
of applications. Breakthrough research should foster the use
of hydrogen-fuelled buses and fuel cell vehicles. It will help
develop hydrogen storage and improve fuel cells' durability,
performance and the cost-efficiency to make green applications
such as power stations or laptops ready for the market. This
call is the second being launched by this EU-wide
collaborative private-public partnership whose total budget
amounts to around €1bn to be invested by 2014
...The 29 topics of the call address key issues that need to
be tackled to achieve market breakthroughs. They are divided
in 5 application areas: transportation and refuelling
infrastructure; hydrogen production and distribution;
stationary power generation; and early markets, such as
portable applications or small utility vehicles. ...The
founding members of the Joint Undertaking are the European
Commission and an Industry Grouping (the NEW IG) established
as an international not-for-profit association representing
European industry interests. The NEW IG currently has 64
companies, including major players in the automobile sector
and in the energy sector. In terms of size, the member
companies represent the whole range from multinationals to
SMEs. Most are based in the Member States but there are also
companies from Associated Countries.
The
scariest thing about geo-engineering, as it happens, is also
the thing that makes it such a game-changer in the
global-warming debate: it’s incredibly cheap. Many scientists,
in fact, prefer not to mention just how cheap it is. Nearly
everyone I spoke to agreed that the worst-case scenario would
be the rise of what David Victor, a Stanford law professor,
calls a “Greenfinger”—a rich madman, as obsessed with the
environment as James Bond’s nemesis Auric Goldfinger was with
gold. There are now 38 people in the world with $10 billion or
more in private assets, according to the latest Forbes list;
theoretically, one of these people could reverse climate
change all alone.
Chicken feather
fibers are mostly composed of keratin, a natural protein that
forms strong, hollow tubes. The breakthrough moment came when
researchers heated feathers to 700 degrees, causing a process
called carbonization that created billions of tiny pores. They
had found an ideal place to pack large amounts of hydrogen.
The new feather-based material can be produced at a small
fraction of carbon nanotubes' cost. A 20-gallon feather-based
tank would be about $100.
A Recipe for Clean, Green Hydrogen Power Kathy Gray
The Dalles Chronicle
June 25 2009
The process captures
nitrogen from the air, which is 70 percent nitrogen, hydrogen from
a commercial water source using an off-the-shelf electrolyzer. The
two elements are then combined through the early 20th century
Haber-Bosch process, which fixes one atom of nitrogen with three
atoms of hydrogen to produce anhydrous ammonia.
RELEASED
Copenhagen Report:
"Climate Inaction
is Inexcusable"
Potsdam Institute for Global
Science Research June 18,
2009
The most up-to-date report on
climate science notes that global temperatures, sea levels,
and frequency of extreme weather events are all increasing
beyond the patterns of natural variability within which our
contemporary society and economy have developed. That doesn't
bode well for the future of global economies and of
civilization itself, nor on the ecosystems that our
civilization depends on, unless global societies rise to meet
the challenge of climate change.
“If humanity is to learn from history and to limit these
threats [of anthropogenic climate change], the time has come
for stronger control of the human activities that are changing
the fundamental conditions for life on Earth,” the writing
team states in the Synthesis Report. To decide on effective
control measures, an understanding of how human activities are
changing the climate, and of the implications of unchecked
climate change, needs to be widespread among world and
national leaders, as well as among the public. The report
communicates this understanding through six key messages:
Key Message 1
Climatic Trends Recent observations show that greenhouse gas emissions and
many aspects of the climate are changing near the upper
boundary of the IPCC range of projections. Many key climate
indicators are already moving beyond the patterns of natural
variability within which contemporary society and economy have
developed and thrived. These indicators include global mean
surface temperature, sea-level rise, global ocean temperature,
Arctic sea ice extent, ocean acidification, and extreme
climatic events. With unabated emissions, many trends in
climate will likely accelerate, leading to an increasing risk
of abrupt or irreversible climatic shifts.
Key Message 2
Social and environmental disruption The research community provides much information to
support discussions on “dangerous climate change”. Recent
observations show that societies and ecosystems are highly
vulnerable to even modest levels of climate change, with poor
nations and communities, ecosystem services and biodiversity
particularly at risk. Temperature rises above 2°C will be
difficult for contemporary societies to cope with, and are
likely to cause major societal and environmental disruptions
through the rest of the century and beyond.
Key Message 3
Long-term strategy – Global Targets and Timetables
Rapid, sustained, and effective mitigation based on
coordinated global and regional action is required to avoid
“dangerous climate change” regardless of how it is defined.
Weaker targets for 2020 increase the risk of serious impacts,
including the crossing of tipping points, and make the task of
meeting 2050 targets more difficult and costly. Setting a
credible long-term price for carbon and the adoption of
policies that promote energy efficiency and low-carbon
technologies are central to effective mitigation.
Key Message 4 Equity Dimensions
Climate change is having, and will have, strongly differential
effects on people within and between countries and regions, on
this generation and future generations, and on human societies
and the natural world. An effective, well-funded adaptation
safety net is required for those people least capable of
coping with climate change impacts, and equitable mitigation
strategies are needed to protect the poor and most vulnerable.
Tackling climate change should be seen as integral to the
broader goals of enhancing socioeconomic development and
equity throughout the world.
Key Message 5
Inaction is inexcusable
Society already has many tools and approaches – economic,
technological, behavioural, and managerial – to deal
effectively with the climate change challenge. If these tools
are not vigorously and widely implemented, adaptation to the
unavoidable climate change and the societal transformation
required to decarbonise economies will not be achieved. A wide
range of benefits will flow from a concerted effort to achieve
effective and rapid adaptation and mitigation. These include
job growth in the sustainable energy sector; reductions in the
health, social, economic and environmental costs of climate
change; and the repair of ecosystems and revitalisation of
ecosystem services.
Key Message 6 Meeting the Challenge
If the societal transformation required to meet the climate
change challenge is to be achieved, then a number of
significant constraints must be overcome and critical
opportunities seized. These include reducing inertia in social
and economic systems; building on a growing public desire for
governments to act on climate change; reducing activities that
increase greenhouse gas emissions and reduce resilience (e.g.
subsidies); and enabling the shifts from ineffective
governance and weak institutions to innovative leadership in
government, the private sector and civil society. Linking
climate change with broader sustainable consumption and
production concerns, human rights issues and democratic values
is crucial for shifting societies towards more sustainable
development pathways.
Published Papers from Conference on CLIMATE
CHANGE: GLOBAL RISKS, CHALLENGES AND DECISIONS
Copenhagen, Denmark
March 10–12, 2009
Hydrogen-Powered Two-Seater Unveiled in UK
Sustainable
Business/Reuters
June 16, 2009 "Many people lost track of the fact
that fuel cell cars are electric cars, since fuel cells
store and deliver electrical energy, just like
batteries--only with significantly more storable energy
per unit of weight. Batteries and ultra capacitors on
the other hand, offer more power per unit of weight, but
less storable energy. Technologies have evolved, but
more importantly, Riversimple brought them together as
one system, in a way that greatly exceeds the sum of
their individual benefits. This next generation
hydrogen-electric car brings electric vehicles into a
new stage where range, charge-time and cost are no
longer commercial barriers."
Taras Wankewycz,
Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies
The vehicles employs a 6kW fuel cell made by
[Singapore's] Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies that
converts hydrogen into electricity, which is used to
power motors on each of the vehicles four wheels. These
motors also function as the vehicles brakes, and can
store regenerative braking energy in ultracapacitors for
later use.
Combine with lightweight composite materials, Riverside said
the vehicle maximizes efficiency, cutting the need for a
large hydrogen storage tank. Riverside said the vehicle
can travel 240 miles on one small tank of hydrogen
weighing only 2.2 lbs.
Riversimple is
a revolutionary transport company aiming to create a
cleaner world through the design, manufacture and
ownership of hydrogen vehicles.
Our vision is of a future where our relationship with the car
and with fossil fuels has changed dramatically for the
better, with new solutions in place for sustainable and
responsible mobility.
Our first project, an urban two-seater car, will be unveiled
in London on 16th June 2009. Powered by hydrogen fuel
cells, with a network hybrid design and made from carbon
composites, it has been designed to achieve over 300 mpg
(energy equivalent). --
Riversimple
Horizon's Fuel Cells Power the World's First Affordable
Hydrogen Car
Horizon Fuel Cells
June 16, 2009
The
networked fuel cell power-train design led to a
reduction in fuel cell power requirements by a factor
of 6 compared to other urban vehicles of similar
performance and by a factor of 15 compared to other
fuel cell prototype vehicles - an effort further
magnified by Horizon's ability to supply high power
fuel cells at greatly reduced costs.
Radical New British Small Fuel Cell Car Set for Launch Platinum Today (UK)
June 12, 2009
The car - which is being backed financially by the
grandson of Ferdinand Porsche - can reach 50 mph and
run for over 200 miles at an equivalent of 300 mpg.
...Riversimple intends to build ten prototypes
initially and will run a pilot scheme - possibly in
Cambridge or Peterborough - before rolling out the
cars on a 20-year lease.
Small Hydrogen City Car Will be Open Source Megan Treacy
Ecogeek
June 11, 2009
The
car will be about the same size as the smart fortwo,
weigh 770 pounds, reach speeds of 50 mph and have a
range of at least 200 miles. The hydrogen fuel cell
will only be 6kW and there will be electric motors in
each wheel. A bank of ultracapacitors will take the
place of a battery.
Fuel cells of this kind usually max out
at energy efficiency rates of 55-60%, but NGK Insulators'
product is offering 63%.
It’s able to continuously generate 700
watts at 800°C.
The new fuel cell is currently just a
prototype, but NGK expects a commercial version by 2012 or
2013. The company says it will first target businesses, for
example malls or convenience stores, possibly followed by a
version for homes.
“Well-funded, well-organized interests from the petroleum,
food-processing, and factory-farming industries are stepping
up the paid propaganda campaign against U.S. ethanol. They
are working overtime to persuade public policymakers,
opinion leaders, and the general public that ethanol is
responsible for all the ills of the world.”
Bob Dinneen, president and
CEO
Renewable Fuels Association
Ethanol Producer MagazineJune 16, 2009
The issue came down to a simple question, says [US Energy
Secretary Steven] Chu: "Is it likely in the next 10 or 15 or
even 20 years that we will convert to a hydrogen-car economy?
The answer, we felt, was no."
But many
scientists and energy experts believe Chu asked the wrong
question and, therefore, made the wrong call.
No alternative-vehicle technology will make a major impact on
carbon emissions, petroleum use, or anything else within the
next 20 years, they say, because it takes longer than that for
a new technology to displace what is already on the road.
In the long run, they say only two technologies—hydrogen fuel
cells and electric vehicles—are capable of getting the job
done. And only one variation, plug-in hybrids, will be on the
market anytime soon.
"There are uncertainties with both these technologies," says
Joan Ogden, who heads the sustainable transportation energy
program at the University of California, Davis. "So the idea
of taking one off the table seems shortsighted."
The AC electric motor drives
the front wheels and is rated at 100 kW, or 134HP, with a 189
ft-lb torque which is plenty for a car like that. Why is 134 hp
enough? An electric motor delivers 100% of its torque as soon as
it spins and the horsepower curve comes in much sooner than with
an ICE.
Oil Price Leaps to Year's High
Guardian (UK)
June 10, 2009
Predictions of $250 a barrel on fears
for oil reserves, hopes of economic recovery and hedging against weak dollar
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--National organizations
representing health, environmental and energy policy interests
joined four national trade associations today in calling for the
restoration of the federal hydrogen and fuel cell research and
deployment program.
“Fuel cells are essential to achieving national goals for
energy security, sustainability and global competitiveness,” the
organizations wrote in a letter to the House and Senate Energy &
Water Appropriations Subcommittee leadership.
The seven groups are the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers
(AAM), American Lung Association (ALA), Electric Drive
Transportation Association (EDTA), Union of Concerned Scientists
(UCS), The Stella Group, Ltd, the National Hydrogen Association
(NHA) and the U.S. Fuel Cell Council (USFCC).
The Obama Administration’s 2010 Department of Energy (DOE)
budget proposes to cut the federal hydrogen fuel cell research
and deployment budget by more than two thirds, or $130 million,
eliminating funds for the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle program and
market transformation programs.
The organizations wrote that “attaining our national goal of
sustainable transportation will require a diverse portfolio of
advanced vehicles. Fuel cell vehicles should be part of our
portfolio.”
“Industry, academic researchers, and the Department of
Energy, working together, have achieved substantial success in
addressing technology, infrastructure and cost challenges. Real
world data collected by DOE and others confirms that fuel cell
vehicles are inherently low in smog-causing emissions, cut
carbon emissions by more than half and achieve nearly 60%
efficiency, which is two to three times the fuel economy of
comparable combustion vehicles,” they wrote.
“We need to maintain momentum in the hydrogen fuel cell
pathway…We urge you to maintain U.S. leadership in developing
and deploying fuel cell transportation by restoring fuel cell
funding to FY 2009 levels,” they wrote.
June 8, 2009
Dear Chairman Dorgan and Ranking Member Bennett:
In its FY2010 budget request, the
Department of Energy (DOE) asks for important resources to
support research and development of advanced vehicle
technologies and fuels. These are essential to achieving
national goals for energy security, sustainability and
global competitiveness.
Attaining our national goal of sustainable transportation
will require a diverse portfolio of advanced vehicles.
Fuel cell vehicles should be part of our portfolio. Yet
the Department of Energy proposed to eliminate funding for
hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and for fuel cell deployment
activities, cutting the program overall by two-thirds. We
ask that you restore funding to FY 2009 levels.
Industry, academic researchers, and the Department of Energy,
working together, have achieved substantial success in
addressing technology, infrastructure and cost challenges.
U.S. and international vehicle manufacturers have hundreds
of vehicles on the road today and have made near-term
commitments to building the fuel cell vehicle fleet.
Together they have spent billions of dollars on research,
an investment many times greater than the U.S.
government’s. Real world data collected by DOE and others
confirms that fuel cell vehicles are inherently low in
smog-causing emissions, cut carbon emissions by more than
half and achieve nearly 60% efficiency, which is two to
three times the fuel economy of comparable combustion
vehicles.
Projected system costs in volume production have been cut by
three-fourths since 2002 and long term fuel cost targets
have already been achieved. Federal support in research,
technology validation and hydrogen refueling
infrastructure would build on these successes, preserve
and create green jobs and establish a durable national
energy policy.
Additional research and development are necessary in all the
advanced vehicle and fuel pathways. All the pathways have
a role to play in attaining national goals for greenhouse
gas reductions and oil-free transportation. None of the
advanced pathways are fully commercial yet. As the
National Research Council concluded in its 2008 report on
hydrogen:
At any point in time, a well-founded energy policy
would support a portfolio of improving, emerging, and
potentially revolutionary technologies, and it would
influence both established companies and entrepreneurial
ventures.
We need to maintain momentum in the
hydrogen fuel cell pathway as part of our national energy
portfolio.
We urge you to maintain U.S. leadership in developing and
deploying fuel cell transportation by restoring
fuel cell funding to FY 2009 levels.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers
American Lung Association
Electric Drive Transportation Association
National Hydrogen Association
Stella Group, Ltd.
Union of Concerned Scientists
U.S. Fuel Cell Council
Singapore - AEROPAK, a next-generation fuel cell power system recently
developed by Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies will increase the flight
endurance of small and stealthy electric unmanned aerial systems (UAS) by
as much as 300 percent. The fuel cell technological advancements will
bring significant enhancements to UAS, making them more effective in
persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, a
main focus area for leading defense and security organizations around the
world.
Starting evaluation shipments this summer, Horizon’s new AEROPAK brings an
immediate performance improvement over today’s best available battery
systems. Designed for high-impact and able to operate at up to 22,000 feet
(6500m), the complete system integrates Horizon’s record-setting fuel cell
technology with new refillable dry-fuel cartridges. Storing 900Wh of
usable electrical energy and weighing just 4.4 lbs (2kg), the AEROPAK
provides up to four times the endurance capability of advanced lithium
batteries currently in use. The miniaturized power system makes it very
easy to use as
drop-in replacement for battery packs currently in service, eliminating
costly airframe modifications.
According to G2 solutions, a Seattle-based market research
firm specializing in Aerospace/Defense, “The use of pervasive UAS is
increasing because the persistent ISR capabilities they bring are
unmatched.”
more
More than a dozen hydrogen-powered cars
participated in a rally race of sorts to mark the opening of a
560-kilometre stretch of highway that is conveniently lined
with hydrogen refilling stations for alternative fuel
vehicles. Statoil is looking ahead, however, and is considering linking
the highway to a similar hydrogen autobahn in northern Germany.
California and Japan are two of the other places where
hydrogen fuel stations can be found.
The Hydrogen Road Rally Hits the West Coast
Jim Motavilli The Daily Green
May 28, 2009 Both the Department of Energy and the Department
of Transportation were sponsors of last year's much longer
tour, but are absent from this one. Is the U.S. falling
behind in the hydrogen race? How about falling off the map
completely?
As Federal Government Holds Back on Hydrogen, California
Remains Bouyant The Car Connection
June 1, 2009 California has invested $24 million in hydrogen
and fuel cells since he took over the state’s top office;
that’s been matched with about $300 million per year from
the auto industry, with automakers investing up to a billion
dollars each to develop their respective vehicles.
Listening to battery enthusiasts wax
poetic about the Tesla recently - - and seeing a few of them
appearing on the streets of west Los Angeles - - I began
thinking about the old Tony Curtis film "The Great Race"
(remember every time he smiled, there was a shiny sparkle of
superiority that gleamed from his teeth?). The roads and
Holiday Inns have improved dramatically since the period
depicted in the movie, but the idea of testing the claims of
exciting new technology at the dawn of a new transportation
age is very much the same. So let's have a 21st Century "Great
Race" and pit the Tesla against the other electric car on the
market today, the Honda Clarity.
The Tesla is an electric sports car powered by batteries,
while the Clarity is an electric sedan powered by hydrogen (a
fuel cell converts the hydrogen to electricity). The range of
each is rated by USEPA-approved testing at about 230 miles.
The similarities end there however - - the Tesla is the
fastest production car ever built at zero to 60 mph, giving
the little hot rod a distinct advantage that would seem to
make a race with a Clarity anything but "great". Or would it?
The venue for the race has already been set - - in late May,
hydrogen enthusiasts are staging a road rally from BC to BC
(Baja California to British Columbia), some 1400 miles up the
west coast of North America. The idea is to demonstrate the
commercialization of numerous hydrogen vehicles and the
fueling stations along the way - - the "Hydrogen Highway" - -
that will power the 2010 winter Olympics in Whistler near
Vancouver. Already, clean electric buses powered by hydrogen
fuel cells shuttle skiers around the resorts and slopes of the
soon-to-be Olympic venue.
So all that's
needed for The New Great Race is to get a Tesla to
participate. Surely the champions of battery
technology, the undisputed 0-60 mph speed record-holders,
would accept such a challenge. Well, given that they haven't,
let's use a little math and imagination to stage The New Great
Race anyway.
Acceleration speeds aside, highway laws in the four
states/provinces along the route will limit competitors to
something around 60 miles an hour. The 1400-mile distance
means that each car will be driving for about 23.3 hours. At
230 miles range between fueling stops, the cars will also each
stop 6 times. It
takes me about 7 minutes to refuel my Honda Clarity,
so add about 40 minutes for refueling and it will take Team
Hydrogen about 24 hours to get from Tijuana to Vancouver.
Team Battery, however, will need four hours of charging time
for each battery refueling according to the Tesla
website. That's 24 hours for charging stops in addition to the
23.3 hours of driving for a total of about 48 hours to cover
the same distance. Oh well, The New Great Race isn't so great
after all. In recent
testimony before Congress, Energy Secretary Steven Chu
acknowledged that for batteries to compete with the
performance expected by consumers - - and delivered today by
the Honda Clarity and other hydrogen vehicles - - it will take
$2 billion of taxpayer subsidies (in the current energy bill
for starters) and many years of R&D. The results are
uncertain, as recent announcements by MIT researchers suggest
- - their "breakthrough" in the lab with lithium batteries
that dramatically decreased charging times is years from
commercialization and doesn't address the half ton of
batteries you still need to lug around to power a car, which
makes the battery-electric vehicle much less efficient than
hydrogen-electric vehicles. By the way, the
hype around plug-in electric/gasoline hybrids is also deflated
when examined in a distance-driving setting like this. That
technology would either make all but 40 miles of the trip on
gasoline (the range of the batteries) or stop 35 times to
recharge, adding days to the trip.
While all of these technologies are important to help us kick
our oil addiction and solve climate change, the clear winner
of The New Great Race is definitely hydrogen. Cue the
sparkling smile and roll the cameras!
The high-output Honda fuel cell powertrain
and a sleek, aerodynamic body contribute to the vehicle's
performance potential. A modular approach to fuel cell component
packaging and the electric drivetrain contribute to the FC
Sport's low center of gravity with the majority of vehicle mass
distributed between the axles, creating the balanced weight
distribution sought after in sports cars.
The ideal placement of the Honda V-Flow fuel cell stack and
related components demonstrates the benefits of a
platform-specific, hydrogen-powered fuel cell powertrain. The FC
Sport is configured to accommodate a custom-formed high-power
fuel cell stack, located between the rear seats, and a battery
pack placed low in the middle of the vehicle. The electric motor
resides just forward of the rear axle. Two fuel storage tanks,
visible from above, are located above the rear axle.
The optimal placement of fuel cell components for performance
also allows for a relatively large passenger cabin by
conventional supercar standards with enough space for three
seating positions. The interior layout focuses primarily on the
driver with a racecar-like center driving position. The enclosed
canopy opens upward from the rear to allow for entry and exit.
Two rear passenger seats flank the driver's left and right side.
"At every crossway on the road that leads to the future, each
progressive spirit is opposed by a thousand men appointed to
guard the past."
Count Maurice Maeterlinck, 1911 Nobel Laureate
in Literature
"Canceling support for automotive fuel cells
at the brink of commercial introduction is
a political blunder of historic proportions." Richard D. Masters
International Clearinghouse for Hydrogen Commerce
"We're going to be a second-rate country." Thomas Friedman
CNN MoneySeptember 16, 2008
DOE has characterized the budget cuts as a focus on
more near-term opportunities. In fact, fuel cells, an ultra-clean and
efficient energy source, are available today. They are gaining traction in
various motive applications including buses and material handling; they are
gaining market share in backup power and large stationary combined heating,
cooling and power applications as well; and soon they will begin to replace
batteries in many portable devices. DOE’s own fuel cell market
transformation strategy recognizes that fuel cell products and services are
on the cusp of achieving commercial success in every imaginable energy
market. Clearly these budget cuts are ill-timed for the future
health of an American made technology and send a conflicting message to
commercial fuel cell markets that have been painstakingly developed for over
a decade.
In his presentation of the proposed DOE budget, Secretary Chu
stated, “The President’s budget for energy reflects his commitment
to...restoring our scientific leadership and putting Americans back to work
through investments in a new green energy economy...” There are at least
nine university programs and countless commercial laboratories in the U.S.
specifically dedicated to fuel cell and hydrogen research. They are all
pioneers in the “new green energy economy”. Not only are these budget cuts
counterproductive of that goal, but threaten our nation’s preeminence in the
fuel cell industry and open the door to possible foreign domination.
-- The Fuel Cell Seminar & Exposition Speaks Out Against U.S. DOE Funding
Cuts June 2, 2009
OBAMA'S
BLIND EYE "Fuel
cells hold out the best hope, however remote, of putting GM back in the position of world
automotive leader that it once commanded."
Jonathon Fahey Hydrogen Gas Forbes April 25, 2005
This reversal on one of the most
promising clean technologies is troubling. Funding of $2.4
billion for research into gasoline powered hybrids and plug-in
hybrids was announced in March of 2009. Research in to
hydrogen fuel cells and hydrogen combustion technology was
funded at a minuscule 1.5% of the level for “cleaner” fossil
fuel based transportation. If the research dollars had been
historically reversed, with 98.5% of research funds being
spent on hydrogen fueled cars, we would already be pulling up
to a filling station to buy hydrogen, not gasoline
and diesel. When Secretary Chu stated that a hydrogen
infrastructure was still 10, 15, or 20 years away, no one
could argue. The lack of funding has put the common goal of a
truly clean fuel technology just out of reach. By cutting
research funds, the Chu and the Obama administration are
putting one of the most promising potential source of clean
energy even further out, to possibly 20, 30, or even 50 years.
“I just got the Clarity, which is a wonderful hydrogen vehicle,”
Schwarzenegger told reporters at California’s first retail
station to sell both gasoline and hydrogen, in West Los Angeles.
“We’re all fighting over who is driving it. My daughters want to
drive it all the time and take it away from me.” Schwarzenegger
dropped by the Shell station, which opened last summer, to lend
his star power to the Hydrogen Road Tour, a rally designed to
highlight advances in fuel-cell technology. Seven automakers are
taking part in the nine-day, 1,700-mile trip from San Diego to
Vancouver, Canada.
The Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid comes
billed as Mazda’s latest hydrogen rotary engine vehicle which
can use either hydrogen or gasoline as fuel. The dual system was
developed in the another Mazda hydrogen vehicle, the RX-8
Hydrogen. However, the Premacy, a boxy crossover vehicle, has a
more advanced system that gives it a range of 125 miles on
hydrogen alone. That's double the capability of the RX-8
Hydrogen.
A new report released today by the
Copenhagen Climate Council at the World Business Summit on
Climate Change reveals that a firm commitment to low-carbon
energy sources would create millions of sustainable new jobs
in the United States alone.
Authored by Dan Kammen and Ditlev Engel, the report, Green
Jobs and the Clean Energy Economy, demonstrates that
appropriate policy frameworks and large-scale strategic
investment in clean energy technologies will both spur greater
employment than fossil fuel investment and pay dividends for
the planet.
Based on a job-creation model developed at the Renewable and
Appropriate Energy Laboratory at the University of California,
Berkeley, and featuring a case study of Danish wind power
giant Vestas Wind Systems, the latest installment of the
Council's Thought Leadership Series provides analytical
support for solutions that promote clean sources of energy and
job creation simultaneously.
The report reveals a combination of policy scenarios that
demonstrate that renewable energy investment and energy
efficiency measures can generate 2 to 8 times more jobs per
unit of energy delivered than the fossil fuel-based sector.
Green Jobs further indicates that in the United States alone a
national Renewable Portfolio Standard of 25% in 2025 coupled
with a 0.5% annual electricity growth rate would generate more
than 2 million jobs, and further increasing low-carbon sources
by around 50% would generate more than 3 million jobs. This
would result in a massive 90% of U.S. electricity supply
coming from renewable or low-carbon sources.
"This report dramatically illustrates the growth and real
employment power of green energy jobs not just in the future,
but today. Who would not want to replace foreign debt for
energy for investing in a trained and innovative workforce?,"
says Professor and Co-Director of the Berkeley Institute of
the Environment Daniel M. Kammen.
The report highlights the pivotal role that the public sector
must play if we are to de-carbonize our electricity supply and
embark on a sustainable path. An example of this is the E.U.'s
consistent record of progressive regulation that has spurred
decades of innovation.
One such example of entrepreneurial sustainability is Vestas'
visionary investment in green tech. Ditlev Engel, CEO of
Vestas, explains: "This report shows once again that the wind
energy industry provides jobs on a massive scale and engenders
economic development. The recipe for growth and sustainability
is very simple: long-term commitments for greenhouse gas
emission reductions plus investment in power generation
infrastructure.
"This will drive the market on a sustainable business
platform; at Vestas we call that simply – Modern Energy," he
adds. In 2005, Vestas employed 10,000 people worldwide. Today,
this number has risen to nearly 20,000 employees in 62
countries."
...Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) said he
was “stunned” by the flat funding for hydrogen, calling it a
“significant mistake” that was “not a smart thing to do.” He
said he will “do everything we can to restore the program.”
...More to the point, J. Byron McCormick, GM’s former
fuel-cell chief, resigned from a DOE hydrogen advisory group
when the funding cut was announced.
Hydrogen Shortchanged at the Department of Energy Congressman Joe Pitts The Phoenix
(PA) May 23, 2009 Secretary Chu has decided to choose electric cars
over hydrogen fuel cell cars in an unnecessary and unwise
zero sum game for federal research dollars.
San Francisco International Airport Boosts Hydrogen Highway Katie Worth San Francisco Examiner
(CA) May 24, 2009 California has only 250 hydrogen-powered cars
rather than the 2,000 the administration had envisioned by
2010, and just 26 fueling stations have been built. But the
hydrogen movement has not completely dragged to a halt.
Though plans for proposed hydrogen fuel stations in Menlo
Park and San Carlos have been dropped, San Francisco
International Airport is moving forward with plans to
construct a hydrogen fuel station in Millbrae by the end of
the year. It will become the third hydrogen station in the
Bay Area, after Oakland and Milpitas.
"I do think that among
investors there are a lot of expectations that there will be
the equivalent of Moore's Law in the battery industry, but
that is not going to happen.
You can only get so many electrons out of a given atom." Jonn Peterson, Fefer Petersen &
Cie
Rechargeable Batteries:
Small Advances Rather Than Large Strides TMCNet May 23,
2009
...battery power has been doubling about every other decade
-- and there is some question as to whether even that pace can
be maintained. ...Lithium-ion battery performance can improve
only a few percentage points per year, most observers agree.
Climate Change Odds
Much Worse Than Thought New analysis shows warming could be
double previous estimates David Chandler MIT News Office
May 19, 2009 Image courtesy / MIT
Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change
The new projections, published this
month in the American Meteorological Society's Journal of
Climate, indicate a median probability of surface warming of
5.2 degrees Celsius by 2100, with
a
90% probability range of 3.5 to 7.4 degrees. This can
be compared to a median projected increase in the 2003 study
of just 2.4 degrees. The difference is caused by several
factors rather than any single big change. Among these are
improved economic modeling and newer economic data showing
less chance of low emissions than had been projected in the
earlier scenarios. Other changes include accounting for the
past masking of underlying warming by the cooling induced by
20th century volcanoes, and for emissions of soot, which can
add to the warming effect. In addition, measurements of deep
ocean temperature rises, which enable estimates of how fast
heat and carbon dioxide are removed from the atmosphere and
transferred to the ocean depths, imply lower transfer rates
than previously estimated.
...And the odds
indicated by this modeling may actually understate the
problem, because the model does not fully incorporate other
positive feedbacks that can occur, for example, if increased
temperatures caused a large-scale melting of permafrost in
arctic regions and subsequent release of large quantities of
methane, a very potent greenhouse gas.
THE GREAT ETHANOL
FRAUD
WELFARE-FRANKENSTEIN ETHANOL STATES THREATEN CLIMATE BILL
Ethanol Rebellion Building in
Congress House Ag chair says he'll 'bring this
climate bill down' over indirect land use Dan Looker Agriculture Online
May 16, 2009
Next week, Peterson
expects the House Energy and Commerce Committee, headed by
Representative Henry Waxman of California, to pass a climate
change bill. But he thinks he may have enough votes to defeat
Waxman's bill when the full House votes on it. Peterson's bill
that reins in the EPA has the backing of his committee's top
Republican, Representative Frank Lucas of Oklahoma, all 29
Democrats on the committee, and by Monday, probably most of
the Republicans. As of Friday his bill had support from a few
other House Democrats, with 42 co-sponsors joining Peterson
and Lucas in opposing the EPA. House Republicans are expected
to vote as a block against the climate bill, anyway. So
Peterson said he'll need 37 Democrats to defeat the climate
bill.
Ethanol Eyes Only
Minnesota's Collin
Peterson is evidently willing to throw climate-change
legislation under the bus to coddle an unsuccessful industry.
Craig Cox, Midwest VP for the Environmental
Working Group
Minneapolis StarTribune (MN)
May 20, 2009
On
Friday, Peterson's anger turned to threats in comments to
Agriculture.c
"We
are just in time to seize the opportunity to make Europe a
leader in [hydrogen] technologies."
