"First they laugh at you,
then they ignore you, then they fight with you, then you win." -- Ghandi
"Mankind's future depends
on
sensible energy choices. Let's clean house and abandon the
phony solutions that result in war, environmental ruin,
poverty, hunger, hatred and disease.
We must lead. We must set the example and Build A World That
Works!"TM -- Richard D.
Masters
"Oilgators!"
Advanced nations
are edging beyond fossil fuels. But who will lead?
Who will fall behind?
And who will perish?
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."
Norway moves to transition to
an electric economy before the North
Sea Oil runs out. Above:
HyWind deep off-shore wind turbine.
Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon
fills tank of hydrogen car at opening of both hydrogen
filling station in Oslo and the Hydrogen Road between Oslo and
Stavanger. To right of Prince Haakon are StatoilHydro New
Energy head Alexandra Bech Gjørv and Norwegian Minister of
Transportation and Communication Liv Signe Navarsete.
Photo: Erlend Aas, Scanpix
Norway opened a
350 mile "hydrogen highway" on Monday with more than a dozen
hydrogen-powered cars rallying along a scenic route between
its capital city Oslo and North Sea oil hub Stavanger.
...StatoilHydro sells hydrogen in Norway at around 40
Norwegian crowns ($6.28) per kilo, which it says is roughly
equal in energy terms to the price of petrol. The company
seeks to keep its hydrogen clean by using energy from Norway's
vast
hydropower-plants to split water into oxygen and hydrogen
gas.
StatoilHydro and the HyNor partnership are pleased to announce
the official opening of the Norwegian hydrogen highway, HyNor,
at StatoilHydro's new hydrogen station at Økern
in Oslo. HyNor was opened by Norway's transport minister, Liv Signe
Navarsete.
HRH Crown Prince Haakon Magnus of Norway joined the first
stage of the EVS Viking Rally, from Oslo to Lier, together
with internationally renowned racing car driver Henning
Solberg.
The first hydrogen station was opened at Forus in Stavanger
in 2006, the second in Porsgrunn in 2007, and now the two new
stations are open in Oslo and Lier. HyNor has some 50 partners
and manages a fleet of more than 50 hydrogen vehicles made by
Mazda, Toyota and Think.
"We are very pleased to open up this
hydrogen infrastructure for testing and demonstrating hydrogen
cars. By doing this, we nurture our ambition to help implement
hydrogen as a fuel in the transport sector," says StatoilHydro's head of new energy, Alexandra Bech Gjørv.
The EVS Viking Rally vehicles are the first to drive the
Norwegian hydrogen highway. The rally commences with Prince
Haakon racing together with the famous Norwegian racing car
star Henning Solberg.
Fourteen hydrogen vehicles, two plug-in hybrid cars and 14
battery electric vehicles are starting in Oslo and will reach
the beginning of the EVS (Electrical Vehicle Symposium) 24 in
Stavanger on 13 May.
Events will take place along the way in Porsgrunn, Grimstad,
Arendal, Kristiansand, Lyngdal and Egersund. Another 10
battery electric vehicles will join the rally in Egersund.
Hydrogen may grow significantly as an alternative
transportation fuel and stored stationary energy source. One
of hydrogen's big advantages is that it can be produced from
many power sources, and can be efficiently produced and used
without emitting any pollutants. In addition, hydrogen cars
possess many of the same qualities found in today’s
conventional automobiles.
"As a future clean transport alternative, hydrogen and
fuel-cell technology have big potential. Hydrogen is
potentially a game changing transportation fuel," says Ms Bech
Gjørv.
EVS Viking Rally 2009 is an
international rally for hydrogen cars, electric cars and plug
in-hybrid cars. Starting in Oslo and finishing in Stavanger,
it consists of transport stages and special stages; the latter
are run either on track or road and include regularity tests,
hill race stages, acceleration tests and auto slalom.
The rally is organized in accordance with International
Sporting Regulations (ISR), The Norwegian Sports Regulations (NSR)
and Regulations for the event.
Competition length
Hydrogen Cars: 743,34 km
Electric Cars: 641,48 km
Plug in-hybrid Cars: 743,34 km
Minirally: 69,55 km
NORWAY PROPOSES ENDING
OIL DEPENDENCE THROUGH LEGISLATION
International Business Times
Alister Doyle April 27, 2009
Under her proposal, carmakers could only sell new
cars from 2015 that run fully or partly on fuels such as electricity,
biofuels or hydrogen. Hybrids using fossil fuels and electricity, for
instance, would still be permitted.
"It
could well be that the first country to seriously address
the issues of creating a market for renewables would become
the central location for a major new international business
sector - with all the positive consequences that carries in
terms of economic activity and employment." Rodney Chase, CEO,
BP
While the stimulus is helping to prime the marketplace, there is much hope
and anticipation that the federal government will establish a national
renewable portfolio standard, or RPS, a mandate that the country generate a
specific proportion of its energy needs from wind, solar, geothermal and
other such sources.
Lobbyists Sparring Over Details of Federal Renewable Porfolio
Standards BillAnne C. Mulkern E & E
March 16, 2009 Also at stake is which power sources will
be considered "renewable." The Bingaman draft limits those to
wind, solar, ocean, geothermal, biomass, landfill gas and
hydropower created after passage of the bill. Nuclear power and
clean coal technologies are not included. "In our definition, it
doesn't meet the definition of a renewable," committee spokesman
Wicker said.
U.N.
Proposes OPEC Finance
Visionary Global Green
New Deal
The world today finds itself in the worst financial and economic
crisis in generations. The financial crisis has triggered an
unprecedented policy response: interest rates have been
dramatically reduced, in some cases down to almost zero, and
hundreds of billions of dollars in liquidity support and fresh
capital have been provided to banking systems around the world.
Moreover, governments are planning to deploy fiscal resources on
an unprecedented scale: at the time of writing, proposed fiscal
stimulus packages totaled around USD 3.0 trillion globally. The
question arises: are these responses
going to create a post-recession economy that is sustainable in
the medium to longer term? And would it not be
efficient and wise to invest now to build that future
sustainability, whilst stimulating the economy for growth, jobs
and tackling poverty?
A recent research paper commissioned by UNEP argues that an investment of 1
percent of global GDP over the next two years could provide the
critical mass of green infrastructure needed to seed a
significant greening of the global economy...
We propose that the fiscal stimulus (to be applied over 2009
and 2010) should
prioritize energy efficient buildings and investments in
sustainable transport and renewable energy. Developing
countries should prioritize investment in agricultural
productivity measures, freshwater management, and sanitation, as
these have demonstrable and exceptional social returns. Domestic policy reforms
are recommended to substantially reduce perverse subsidies (eg:
fossil fuels) and instead to create positive incentives and
appropriate taxes which will encourage a greener economy.
UN: $750 Billion "Green" Investment Could Revive Economy Alister Doyle
Reuters
March 19, 2009 "The
opportunity must not be lost," Steiner, head of the U.N.
Environment Program (UNEP), told Reuters of a UNEP study that
will be put to world leaders meeting in London on April 2 to
work out how to spur the ailing economy.
WILL HISTORY
REPEAT?
"Most of us who recall a bit of history
think that constant barbarian invasions caused the western empire
to disintegrate, but actually these invasions were only the most
immediate cause. In the background were more powerful long-term
forces, especially the rising complexity of all parts of Roman
society— including its bureaucracy, military forces, cities,
economy, and laws—as the empire tried to maintain itself. To
support this greater complexity, the empire needed more and more
energy, and eventually it couldn’t find enough. Indeed, its
increasingly desperate efforts to get energy only made its
bureaucracies and laws more elaborate and sclerotic and its taxes
more onerous. In time, the burden on the empire’s peasants became
too great, while rising complexity strangled the empire’s ability
to renew itself. The collapse that followed was dramatic:
populations of cities and towns fell sharply, interregional trade
dwindled, banditry and piracy soared, construction of monumental
buildings and large-scale infrastructure stopped, and virtually
all institutions—from governments to armies—became vastly simpler
in their operation and organization."
FEED-IN TARIFF MOVES GERMANY TO
FOREFRONT
“Although the financial crisis has negatively impacted the
attractiveness of all countries in the indices, the U.S. has borne the
brunt of the economic slowdown. This has allowed Germany, almost by
default, to take the position of most attractive destination for
renewable investment alongside the U.S., largely as a result of its
feed-in tariff making the German market more resilient.” Jonathan Johns, head of
renewable energy at Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young: Germany Takes Lead for Renewable Energy
Environmental Protection
January 8,
2009
“The
governor repeatedly proves he is clueless as far as how to develop a
21st-century economy.” Texas State
Representative Lon Burnam Throwback TX Governor Cringes
from Impending Carbon Caps San Antonio Express (TX)
January 2, 2009
Hydrogen Can Save Economy and Planet Lloyd Stover
Village Soup
December 6, 2008
The American auto industry has
certainly demonstrated an ability to produce uneconomical vehicles
that are hazardous to the health and well-being of the world.
Because of the tremendous urgency of this topic in the early
days of the Obama Administration, we are making this report
available for free download.
The world is now in
the early stages of an energy revolution that over the next few
decades could be as momentous as the emergence of oiland
electricity-based economies a century ago. Double-digit market
growth, annual capital flows of more than $100 billion, sharp
declines in technology costs, and rapid progress in the
sophistication and effectiveness of government policies all
herald a promising new energy era.
Taiwan's Feng Chia University
has succeeded in boosting the production of hydrogen from biomass to
15 liters per hour, one of the world's top biohydrogen production
rates, a researcher at the university said Friday. Lin Chiu-yu, dean
of the Feng Chia College of Engineering, said at a news conference
at the school's campus in Taichung City that the university began
efforts in 1998 to use facultative anaerobic organisms to produce
hydrogen gas, that could one day power fuel cells in cars and other
devices. ...Lin pointed out that so far, the plant's hydrogen
production rate from biomass using a one-liter reactor has reached
15.09 liters per hour per liter of reactor volume, a world-class
standard.
This is America's second chance to get this right, it's very
doubtful there will be a third without unprecedented hardship.
The imperative for our government is to finally make long-term,
strategic policies and investments in alternative, renewable
energy sources while separating the permanent solutions from the
short-term patches. In doing so, we will be far less susceptible
to security risks and serious economic hardships from unstable
oil prices. This has been an obvious fact for 35 years, but
again prices are seeing a temporary fall. The hope is that we
will not again forget that falling gas prices will never protect
us from an oil price or supply calamity that can occur at any
time for any reason. The Country needs to maintain its resolve
to fix this huge problem the way President Nixon meant to fix it
35 years ago; only this time with more urgency and better
technology.
Nanotechnology: Key to Improving Fuel Cell Performance Michael Berger
Nanowerk
October 31, 2008 The platinum nanowires at the cathode of a membrane
electrode assembly prepared in Dodelet's lab can reach much
better performance in fuel cells than a commercial membrane
electrode assembly. "We found that our in-house platinum
nanowire catalyst shows a 50% higher mass activity than the
commercial cathode" says Dodelet. "Quite surprisingly, this
improvement occurred in spite of a 50% lower platinum area for
the platinum nanowire catalyst. Taking into account both
effects, a specific ORR activity of the platinum nanowire
catalyst of 275 µA per square centimeter platinum (at 0.9 V)
was calculated, which is threefold better than that of the
commercial cathode when tested at the same fuel cell test
station."
New technologies ...Even with a favorable policy and funding environment
for biofuels, clean coal, or hydrogen, the transition to new
fuels will be slow. Major technologies historically have had an
“adoption lag.” In the energy sector, a recent study found that
it takes an average of 25 years for a new production technology
to become widely adopted. Despite what are
seen as long odds now, we cannot rule out the possibility of an
energy transition by 2025 that would avoid the costs of an
energy infrastructure overhaul. The greatest possibility for a
relatively quick and inexpensive transition during the period
comes from better renewable generation sources (photovoltaic and
wind) and improvements in battery technology. With many of these
technologies, the infrastructure cost hurdle for individual
projects would be lower, enabling many small economic actors to
develop their own energy transformation projects that directly
serve their interests—e.g., stationary fuel cells powering homes
and offices, recharging plug-in hybrid autos, and selling energy
back to the grid. Also, energy conversion schemes—such as plans
to generate hydrogen for automotive fuel cells from electricity
in the homeowner’s garage—could avoid the need to develop
complex hydrogen transportation infrastructure.
Climate change ...For many developing countries,
decreased agricultural output will be devastating because
agriculture accounts for a large share of their economies and
many of their citizens live close to subsistence levels.
Demand for food ...Today, experts consider 21 countries, with a combined
population of about 600 million, to be either cropland or
freshwater scarce. Owing to continuing population growth, 36
countries, with about 1.4 billion people, are projected to fall
into this category by 2025.
The new Environmental
Energy Technology Centre (EETC) between Rotherham and Sheffield should see
all its power provided by a 225kW turbine. And, even when the wind does
not blow, the turbine should be able to provide the building's power needs
through a hydrogen fuel cell system. The system will generate hydrogen
from excess power from the wind turbine through an electrolyser, which can
then turned back into electricity by the fuel cell during periods of low
wind speed. ...It should be the largest wind-to-hydrogen power system in
the UK, and is being seen as a "proof of concept" development with hopes
that it could help kick-start the use of hydrogen as an alternative power
source to fossil fuels.
"Car makers who
seize the opportunities to harness cutting edge technologies and forge
partnerships with innovative fuel makers up to city planners can make the
transitions society so urgently need - those who do not may go the way of
the steam engine and the pack horse." Achim Steiner
UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP
Executive Director
Daimler and United Nations Environment Program
Call for Hydrogen Infrastructure Fuel Cell Today (UK)
July 4, 2008
Hertz Iceland recently became the first
company to offer fully hydrogen-powered cars for rent. The first hydrogen
fuel station opened in Reykjavik in 2003, which makes filling up one of
Hertz’s three converted Toyota Prius cars a breeze.
For those who want the hydrogen
experience but who don’t want to drive, the first hydrogen powered
commercial vessel started sailing the Icelandic waters in April. The
Elding boat offers whale watching tours for EUR 43 (USD 66) a trip and has
got good reviews. Not only is the hydrogen-powered engine environmentally
friendly, but it is easy to shut down, which allows whale watchers to
enjoy the sounds of whales swimming and blowing, something a diesel engine
on most boats does not allow.
The hydrogen powered ships and cars are just a few ways that
Iceland is using to become a carbon-neutral nation. Already, the country
derives 80 per cent of its electricity from hydropower projects and most
of the rest of its electricity from geothermal projects. Transportation,
including cars and fishing boats, remain the largest challenge to
Iceland’s becoming carbon neutral and if the Elding and the converted
Prius are a success, Iceland could be well on its way to achieving its
environmental goals.
The program, endorsed by EU research
ministers today in Brussels, aims to accelerate the commercialization of
hydrogen and fuel-cell technologies, allowing
"commercial takeoff"
between 2010 and 2020.
MEPs Vote in Support of EU Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Technology
Initiative
Auto Industry
May
30, 2008 The FCH JTI aims to facilitate and accelerate
the development and deployment of cost-competitive European hydrogen and
fuel cell based energy systems and component technologies for applications
in transport, stationary and portable power.
GREEN COMPANIES FORCED TO PAY CARBON
TAX!
Laughable British Carbon Tax Fiasco
Actually Attacks Renewable Energy "The renewables industry is extremely hacked off about the CRC as there
are no incentives for renewables. In fact, if you are switching from a
relatively low carbon energy source, such as natural gas, to a genuinely
green energy source, you could end up paying more for carbon credits..." Leonie Greene, Renewable Energy Association (UK)
Renewables Industry Slams "Crazy" Cap-and-Trade Plans James Murray Business Green
April 17, 2008
John Beddington, the government's
current chief scientific adviser, has already expressed scepticism about
biofuels. At a speech in Westminster this month he said demand for
biofuels from the US had delivered a "major shock" to world agriculture,
which was raising food prices globally. "There are real problems with the
unsustainability of biofuels," he said, adding that cutting down
rainforest to grow the crops was "profoundly stupid".
Mr. Prokhorov told The Independent on
Sunday that the UK's commitment to
a nuclear energy programme overlooked research that suggests hydrogen
technology could be a more efficient option. ..."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."
A phased urban roll-out, known as the
“urban center concept,” was employed to gradually create fueling networks
serving 20 urban centers. Southern California and the Northeast (centered
around New York City) were targeted for early infrastructure introduction
(around 2012 to 2015) during Phase I (“Initial Introduction”). Their
concentrated market potential and populations, numbering around 20 million
people each, are significantly greater than other urban centers. The next
phase, called Targeted Regional Growth, would focus on an additional eight
selected cities with populations ranging from 4 to 10 million people.
Three early corridors—Los Angeles-to-San Francisco; New
York-Boston-Washington, DC; and Chicago-to-Detroit—are also recommended
for inclusion in this phase. Phase III, Inter-Regional Expansion, expands
the infrastructure to 10 additional urban centers with populations of 1.5
to 5 million and adds more corridors connecting the urban centers and
enabling some cross country travel. ...Under Policy Case 3, the analysis
suggests that industry could begin generating a profit as early as 2017.
Policies would also help to reduce the cost of hydrogen to a level well
below gasoline on a cost-per-mile basis, and encourage the build-out of
hydrogen fueling stations.
The new master’s program for hydrogen
engineering is to be offered at the university’s new Ito campus in Fukuoka
Prefecture. Lectures will cover such topics as hydrogen energy and
developing the fuel cells needed to convert hydrogen into heat or
electricity. ...The new graduate school will conduct hydrogen-related
research in a broad range of areas, from basic research to fields tests
using fuel cell vehicles.
Hydrogen Material Research Facility OpensKyushu
University
On November 9, 2007, one of the world’s most advanced
research facilities opened with its dedication ceremony on Kyushu
University’s Ito campus. This facility will house research on materials
related to hydrogen, a substance looked to as a future energy source. In
May 2006, the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and
Technology (AIST), an independent administrative institution, and Kyushu
University signed a cooperative agreement. Following a formal request
from the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO),
the Research Center for Hydrogen Industrial Use and Storage (headed by
Yukitaka Murakami, Kyushu University Vice President) was established on
Kyushu University’s Ito campus on July 1, 2007. Kyushu University
faculty members, serving concurrently as center researchers, are working
with full-time researchers dispatched from AIST to identify the basic
mechanisms for preventing “material susceptibility to hydrogen through
liquefaction and pressurization,” as well as to understand the
“physicality of liquified and pressurized hydrogen” with a goal of
laying the foundation for a society based on hydrogen energy.
"Terrorists kill people. Weapons of mass destruction have the potential to
kill an enormous amount of people," Mr. Bloomberg told reporters after
addressing the U.N. General Assembly, but "global warming in the long term
has the potential to kill everybody."
Confusion Hamstrings Chinese Storm Response Howard W. French
International Herald Tribune
February 3, 2008
Liu Xinfang, a spokesman for the
national grid, said that 2,000 transmission towers and 39,000 kilometers,
or 24,000 miles, of transmission cables were still down in central and
eastern China.... "In towns and villages, life now depends on primitive
means," said Lu Jiang, a spokesman for Southeast Qian Prefecture. "We get
light from burning pine, and families grind grains with stone mortars."
China Snow Leaves Millions in Cold and Dark John Ruwitch
U.S. Daily News
January 31, 2008
More than 160 counties and cities in
central China were suffering blackouts and water shortages, Xinhua news
agency said, including Chenzhou, in Hunan province, a city of 4 million
that has been without power and water for more than a week.
"We guarantee that
the rate for
Steam kg/hr produced by means of Hydrogen will be less expensive than the
steam generated by Diesel." Liliana Silva F., Product
Manager
Intechnology Chile Ltda.
At least
$61.3 billion in
international money has gone to subsidizing the oil and gas and industries
worldwide since 2000.
...The $61.3 billion in oil aid is in
addition to the estimated
$150-$250 billion in domestic
subsidies that national governments provide to their
oil and gas industries annually, according to the recent Stern Review on
the Economics of Climate Change. They also do not include any of the costs
of military operations around the world which are often fairly
characterized as a subsidy to the oil industry.
"The World Bank Group should phase out investments in
oil production by 2008 and devote its scarce resources to investments in
renewable energy resource development..."
Dr. Emil Salim
The World Bank Group's Extractive Industries Review
Report, 2004
The World Bank Group remains the
single largest multilateral leader in oil aid, with about $8 billion since
2000. Recent analysis by the End Oil Aid coalition has revealed very
disturbing trends at the Bank:
In 2006, the World Bank increased its energy
sector commitments from $2.8 billion to $4.4 billion. Oil, gas and power
sector commitments account for 77 per cent of the total energy sector
program while renewables account for only 5 per cent.
In 2007, the International Finance Corporation
private-sector lending arm of the World Bank provided more than $645
million to oil and gas companies. This is an increase of at least 40
percent from 2006.
More than 80 per cent of the World Bank Group's
oil extraction projects since 1992 are designed for export, rather than
the alleviation of energy poverty. -- excerpted from the Executive Summary
...The world's addiction to oil
runs deep and oil corporations are among the most influential companies in
the world. They are actively using their influence to develop allies
within government and block much needed reforms. The result is that we are
pursuing an incoherent and often contradictory energy policy whereby
governments are promoting the expansion of the oil industry and working to
overcome oil addiction at the same time.
The world should keep its promises to the poor. The developed
world has committed to doing its part to fight global poverty, yet every
year it spends some of its valuable development assistance resources on
oil and gas subsidies instead of poverty alleviation. This misuse of funds
must stop.
It's fiscally irresponsible to spend billions of dollars to
subsidize the oil and gas industry while spending billions more to fight
oil addiction and combat climate change. Continuing to subsidize the
fossil fuel industry undermines investments in new, clean energy
technologies, and increases the risk of dangerous climate change.
The report does
"not include any of the costs of military operations around the world
which are often fairly characterized as a subsidy to the oil industry." "Just wait 'till they add in the cost of
WWIII." -- RDM
Denmark's Wind-Hydrogen Projects
Fuel Cell Today (UK)
February 4, 2008
This summer, six new hydrogen plants
will be opened in western Jutland, all of which will use renewable energy
such as wind to produce hydrogen.
Northern Jutland Invests Millions in H2 and Fuel Cell Projects
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark
December 20, 2007 Hydrogen technology
is an innovation and enterprise focus area in Jutland, with the
development of a "Hydrogen Valley" cluster centred around the town of
Hobro, which is centrally located between three of Denmark's leading
centres for hydrogen and fuel cell research as well as bioenergy
research – the universities in Aalborg and Århus, and the Centre for
Danish Agricultural Sciences near Viborg.
Catching the WindJim Motavalli
EMagazine.com
Jan/Feb 2005
Claus Moller of the Danish Wind Energy Association says that
the concept of hydrogen from wind is being actively pursued in Denmark,
with small-scale demonstration projects and long-term feasibility
studies underway in research institutes. If economics of scale come into
play to dramatically reduce the cost of wind-powered hydrogen
electrolyzers, reports a paper by Harry Braun of the Hydrogen Political
Action Committee posted on EV World, then electricity could be generated
at a cost of one cent per kilowatt-hour, resulting in liquid hydrogen
produced for the same cost as gasoline at $1.95 a gallon. Braun calls
for 12 million wind systems to be mass-produced and installed within 24
months and coupled to an interstate hydrogen pipeline. “It is possible
for the U.S. to be energy independent, with a pollution-free and
inexhaustible energy resource within five to 10 years,” he says.
MUTUAL NEGLECT
How the Largest Institutions
in the Stock Market Ignore Health Problems and Financial Threats Stemming
From Toxic Product Liabilities A joint publication of The Investor
Environmental Health Network
and The Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment February, 2008
In this report, we examine the proxy
voting records of 64 major families of mutual funds on 15 toxics-related
shareholder resolutions filed by investors. ...In most cases, these data
show that most mutual funds tended
to vote against resolutions expressing concern about toxics liabilities.
A number of local restaurant operators have been tracking hikes in
wholesale food prices. Restaurants: Nino's, Vincent's, Grappino's, Pronto.
Owner: Vincent Mandola.
Price increases over past 10 months:
Since January, prices
for the crops that make most biodiesel have doubled, driving the cost of a
ton of biodiesel up 50%, to around $1,440 a ton, or about $4.80 a gallon.
Prices for regular crude-oil-based diesel have risen sharply, too, but
only to $840 a ton, or $2.80 a gallon. Biodiesel has become more expensive
for oil companies to buy than fossil fuel, and they are cutting back.
....Europe's governments are finding it difficult to adjust
policy to a new and volatile market. In 2006, when commodity prices were
low and margins were fat, Germany decided to trim the tax breaks it offers
to biodiesel producers. Earlier this year, France raised taxes on
biodiesel. Now that producers are in trouble, governments aren't giving
the tax breaks back.
UK Kyoto commitment
all bluster, no substance ‘‘The
overall message is fairly grim unless we do something radical. We need
fewer, shorter reports and more action from the Government.’’ Professor Rod Smith Chairman of the Future Railway Research
Centre
UK Transport Expert Calls for Government
to Fund Hydrogen Research
Process and Control Today
December 13, 2007
Prof Smith is among a growing number of transport
experts that believe the UK will fail to meet even its first carbon
reduction target, let alone a 60% reduction by 2050.
Energy for Transport Lecture, Institution of
Mechanical Engineers: Professor Rod SmithDecember 13, 2007 This lecture is now fully
subscribed. It will be available on
www.imeche.tv as a webcast from 18 December.
The paper will be available from 14 December so please contact Hazel
Morgan if you would be interested in obtaining either a hard or
electronic copy. Email h_morgan (at) imeche.org or call London 020 7304
6859 to make a request.
Comment
by Richard D. Masters -- posted by the UK Telegraph As a Californian involved in
the hydrogen effort, the reasons why Britain is lagging and failing are
clear to me. Your young companies do not have the support they require
from your government to gain a foothold in a landscape virtually owned by
entrenched fossil and nuclear power. As with my own federal government,
your politicians are bought and paid for by a vast octopus of military,
oil, nuclear and fossil utilities. The "Great Game" hinges on oil riches
and they will not abandon it for the little understood simplicity offered
by limitless, free renewable energy. The difference is that California
does not have a military/industrial complex using national security
rationalisms to guide policy. Our great adventure revolves around
commerce. Our politicians are seen as rogues and pariahs. This is a
wonderful thing. California will lead the world into the new energy future
while most nations, most certainly your own, will struggle ineffectively
to shake off the shackles of oil until it is too late and you become
slaves to OPEC or the new nuclear OPEC on the horizon. This is all very
sad and I do wish you the best, but there are a lot of Brits over here who
have fled, along with a ton of Canadians, all ready to build this new
world in California. We like them a lot. We hope they stay. It's called
brain drain and it happens when nations fail to lead.
November 24, 2007
Reading the Tea Leaves of an Economic Meltdown Scott Sklar
Renewable Energy WorldDecember 3, 2008
Leveraged government procurement
programs along with changes in utilization of federal tax credits (so
as to have refundability and transferability) seem to be the
critically appropriate measures.
AUSTRALIANS DUMP
GOVERNMENT OWNED BY FOSSIL AND NUCLEAR ENERGY TO JOIN KYOTO
Labor Party Wins Big in Australia Rohan Sullivan
AP
November 24, 2007
Conservative Prime
Minister John Howard suffered a humiliating defeat Saturday at the hands
of the left-leaning opposition, whose leader has promised to immediately
sign the Kyoto Protocol on global warming and withdraw Australia's combat
troops from Iraq.
The Environmental Energy Technology Centre (EETC), located at the
Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham, will use Europe's largest
capacity Hydrogen Mini-Grid System (HMGS) - developed by Pure Energy in
the Shetlands and the energy consultancy TNEI - as a primary power source
to the building. The system uses renewable energy produced by a 225kW wind
turbine, which will produce over 500MWh of electricity each year, enabling
the EETC to be self-sufficient for power.
UK:
Foundations Laid for Wind-Hydrogen Mini Grid
New Energy Focus August 18, 2008
The new Environmental Energy Technology Centre (EETC) between
Rotherham and Sheffield should see all its power provided by a 225kW
turbine. And, even when the wind does not blow, the turbine should be able
to provide the building's power needs through a hydrogen fuel cell system.
The system will generate hydrogen from excess power from the wind turbine
through an electrolyser, which can then turned back into electricity by
the fuel cell during periods of low wind speed. ...It should be the
largest wind-to-hydrogen power system in the UK, and is being seen as a
"proof of concept" development with hopes that it could help kick-start
the use of hydrogen as an alternative power source to fossil fuels.
OWNED BY OIL, NUKES AND COAL, THE
BUSHBOTS BLATANTLY DELAY PROGRESS ON CLEAN AIR AND THE PRODUCTION OF
LIMITLESS FREE FUEL.
-- RDM
COMPLAINT FOR UNREASON
WASHINGTON D.C. — In a precedent setting lawsuit,
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Edmund G.
Brown Jr. today sued the U.S. EPA, to force the agency to take action on
California’s request to curb greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles.
The lawsuit, filed today in Washington D.C., charges the EPA with an
unreasonable delay in reaching a decision on California’s landmark law,
known as the Pavley bill, which mandates a 30 percent reduction in motor
vehicle emissions by 2016.
“Despite the mounting dangers of global warming, the EPA has
delayed and ignored California’s right to impose stricter environmental
standards,” Attorney General Brown told a news conference at the state
capitol with Governor Schwarzenegger and California Air Resources Board
chair, Mary Nichols. “We have waited two years and the Supreme Court has
ruled in our favor. What is the EPA waiting for?” Brown asked.
Under the Clean Air Act, passed in 1963, California can adopt
environmental standards that are stricter than federal rules, if the state
obtains a waiver from the U.S. EPA. Congress allowed California to impose
stricter laws in recognition of the state’s “compelling and extraordinary
conditions.” After a California waiver request is granted, other states
are permitted to adopt the same rules.
In the Act’s 40-year history, EPA has granted approximately
50 waivers for innovations like catalytic converters, exhaust emission
standards, and leaded gasoline regulations. In today’s lawsuit, California
asserts that EPA has failed to act in a reasonable length of time. "
In 2002, California passed AB 1493 which require a 30 percent
reduction in global warming emissions from vehicles by 2016, starting with
model year 2009. In December 2005, the California Air Resources Board
applied for a waiver to implement the law. Governor Schwarzenegger wrote
to the EPA in April 2006 and in October 2006, requesting action on
California’s application.
Sixteen other states— Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut,
Florida, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York,
Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Washington —have
adopted, or are in the process of adopting California’s emissions
standards.
The state asserts that EPA does not need any additional time to
review the facts—the California Air Resources Board submitted a detailed
251-page assessment in 2005 and the U.S. Supreme Court already issued a
decision that greenhouse gases are pollutants. In September, a Vermont
District Court ruled in favor of the state regulations, rejecting a
challenge from the automobile lobby.
There are 32 million registered vehicles in California, twice
the number of any other state. Cars generate 20% of all human-made carbon
dioxide emissions in the United States, and at least 30% of such emissions
in California. If California’s landmark global warming law—and the
corresponding 30% improvement in emissions standards—were adopted
nationally, the United States could cut annual oil imports by $100 billion
dollars, at $50 per barrel.
Last year, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the landmark
Global Warming Solutions Act, AB 32, which sets a goal to cut California
greenhouse gas emissions back to 1990 levels by 2020. To meet this target,
California must reduce emissions by 174 million metric tons. If
California’s motor vehicle emissions law is implemented, it will account
for 17% of this reduction target.
Climate research shows that global warming is having a
profound effect on California’s temperature, weather, air quality, and
mountain snowfall. Last year Southern California experienced its driest
year since record-keeping began 130 years ago. Between 1949 and 1999,
average temperature in California increased 1.03 degrees Fahrenheit and
mountain snow accumulation declined ten percent. By 2099 there will be
virtually no snow below 3280 feet.
California’s complaint, filed in the United States District
Court for the District of Columbia is attached. California’s petition for
review, filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of
Columbia Circuit, is also attached.
Later today, fourteen other states are expected to support
California as interveners in the lawsuit.
COULD
THE GLOBAL TRANSITION TO RENEWABLE ENERGY CRIPPLE THE MIDDLE EAST OIL WAR
AND SERVE AS THE FOUNDATION FOR THE RESURGENCE OF ARAB SCIENCE AND
INFLUENCE? OR WILL THE DEEPLY ENTRENCHED OIL AND NUCLEAR INTERESTS STEER
THIS CRITICAL ARAB INVESTMENT TOWARD ANOTHER DEAD END? -
RDM
WFES's inaugural event in 2008
will be held 21-23 January 2008 in Abu Dhabi under the patronage of H.H.
General Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and
Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. This event will stage a
global summit of leadership coming together to discuss key issues around
sustainable and alternative energy solutions and technologies. An
international exhibition will showcase the latest developments in future
energy solutions with a number of educational and inspiration features.
For almost half a century Abu Dhabi has
been a world leader in energy production. Now we as a nation are keen to
play our part in the development and implementation of alternative sources
of energy. We have embarked on a journey to expand and complement the
evolving global energy market.
In this spirit, I look forward to welcoming you to the
inaugural World Future Energy Summit being held by Masdar this January
21st – 23rd, where leaders and experts from around the world will convene
to stimulate innovative solutions for some of the most pressing challenges
of our times: energy conservation, energy security, the environment and
truly sustainable human development.
"We invite you to also play a role in envisioning and
creating a cleaner, more sustainable future by joining us in this
remarkable event"
The World Future Energy Summit brings together the world’s
leading innovators, educators, scientists, venture capitalists and experts
in the field of future energy - people who are champions and catalysts in
creating real and sustainable Solutions. We invite you to also play a role
in envisioning and creating a cleaner, more sustainable future by joining
us in this remarkable event.
For its part, Abu Dhabi is leading significant developments
in this sector through its Masdar Initiative. These efforts include the
world’s first attempt to create a zero-carbon, zero-waste city, the
development of a national carbon capture and storage network, and creating
a whole new economic sector dedicated to sustainable energy and new clean
technologies.
The World Future Energy Summit offers a privileged
opportunity to participate among leaders in a unique forum that is
changing the debate on energy and sustainability. It also offers the
chance to become part of a new global platform that is creating the future
of energy.
We look forward to your valued participation and
collaboration.
-- Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber CEO, Masdar, Abu Dhabi Future
Energy Company
EUROPE:
Hydrogen Hopes Europe has started to invest in
hydrogen,
potentially paving the way for a fertile jobs market Quirin Schiermeir
Nature (UK) September 5,
2007
Germany alone is set to invest more than 1 billion [euros] during the next
ten years in hydrogen and fuel-cell technologies. The federal ministry of
transport will provide some 500 million [euros] through a national
innovation programme for R&D, and industry is expected to contribute
roughly the same amount. The programme could create up to 1,000 jobs for
scientists, engineers and technicians, says Detlef Stolten, director of
the Jülich institute.
Hydrogen use will take off mainly in
densely populated centres and, during the transition phase, gradually
expand towards locations difficult to supply. Hydrogen supply
infrastructure build-up depends strongly on regional particularities such
as the available feedstock, population density and geographic factors.
Each delivery option is beneficial under certain conditions, with a trend
towards centralized production for areas with higher population density in
later phases.
"...Canada must be part of the
solution, not only part of the problem. And if we are part of the
solution, we’ll be rich because we will sell our solutions to the world."
INTERVIEW: Stéphane DionCBC News
What Dion can say with certainty is
that a Liberal government would not allow Canada's industrial base to keep
deteriorating. He rejects the view that a modern nation can sustain itself
by buying and selling services. "We need a balanced economy. We need to
build on what we've done well." As prime minister, he would encourage
Canada's manufacturers to change. The successful industries of the 21st
century won't be characterized by smokestacks, Dion says. They will use
clean technology. They will consume less energy, create less pollution and
free people from their dependence on fossil fuels. "We need to move there
right now." Canada is already well positioned, Dion says, to become the
first mass producer of hydrogen-powered cars. "We have the expertise.
Ballard (Power Systems of Vancouver which manufactures hydrogen fuel
cells) is one of the best in the world."
"The direction, the hope, is to see
us on the podium of the sustainable economy."
INTERVIEW: Stéphane DionCBC News
"It could well be that the first country
to seriously address the issues of creating a market for renewables
would become the central location for a major new international
business sector - with all the positive consequences that carries in
terms of economic activity and employment." Rodney Chase,
CEO of BP
WHY SUPPORT RENEWABLE
ENERGY, ANYWAY?
NATIONS TO BECOME FO$$IL ENERGY ROBBER BARONS!
Beware of Energy Nationalism, Warns Global Agency
A growing trend towards nationalism over
resources in Russia and even Britain could backfire by cutting expenditure on
oil and gas worldwide at a time when demand is likely to rise faster than
expected over the next five years, the International Energy Agency warned
yesterday. Guardian (UK)
July 27, 2007
UNITED KINGDOM:
Hydro-Genius Quentin Wilson
Sunday Mirror (UK)
June 10, 2007
I've seen the future and it's powered by
hydrogen. This week I was privileged to lead a convoy of the greenest vehicles
in the world from Brighton to London, driving both a hydrogen-powered Ford
Explorer and Focus. ...BMW fielded two hydrogen-powered 7-Series, Saab a 9-5
Biopower, Honda a Civic Hybrid and Vauxhall a hydrogen-powered Zafira, sponsored
by Ikea. ...So it's time to forget the urban myth that the car industry doesn't
want to change. It does and it's leading the charge. The public are far more
enthusiastic about owning green cars than we ever dared believe. The only
problem is the Government. They talk the talk, but are yet to walk the walk.
A SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT PLAN FOR THE
POWER SECTOR TO SAVE THE CLIMATE
European Renewable Energy Council
Greenpeace
July 2007
THIS REPORT SHOWS THAT
INVESTMENT IN RENEWABLES PAYS OFF QUITE QUICKLY DUE TO MASSIVE SAVINGS IN
FUEL COSTS. IN FACT, A ‘BUSINESS AS USUAL’ MIX IN THE WORLD GLOBAL POWER
GENERATION SECTOR WOULD RESULT IN 10 TIMES HIGHER FUEL COSTS, WHEN
COMPARED TO THE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT THE ENERGY
REVOLUTION PATHWAY.
Committing to Renewable Energy Will Pay Off Savings of US $180 billion per year predicted in first
global analysis of renewables versus fossil fuels, reports Greenpeace
and EREC. Renewable Energy Access July
13, 2007
Danish Prime Minister Embraces Hydrogen for Transport
FuelCellWorks
June 16, 2007
According to the Prime Minster, hydrogen
holds the same business potential as the successful Danish wind turbine
industry. The Prime minister therefore also promised that Denmark will aim for
hydrogen parallel to biofuels and wind turbines.
Hans-Gert Pöttering, President of the
European Parliament
HYDROGEN: EUROPE LEADS THE WAY
Hydrogen Economy Declaration Adopted by European Parliament European Parliament
May 21, 2007
At the start of this week's Strasbourg
plenary session, European Parliament President Hans-Gert Pöttering announced
that a written declaration on the hydrogen economy had been signed by the
requisite number of MEPs...
“Energy efficiency, the increasing
reduction of greenhouse emissions and a higher production of electricity from
renewable energy sources have been a shared priority of the European consumer
co-operatives for a long time and therefore, for us, this is a decision going in
the right direction.
...We also consider as being of the utmost interest the establishment of a
hydrogen fuel-cell technology to store renewable energies...” Euro Coop Policy Adviser Rosita
Zilli
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.
DENMARK'S FIRST HYDROGEN PLANT OPENS The Copenhagen Post (DK)
May
24, 2007
Backers are promoting the facility as a way to solve
the problems
with excess energy produced from windmills.
"The large investors in California
need locally based facilities where they can test new environmental
technologies at full scale, in order to see whether it is possible to
bring them the critical way from the desk to the market. Lolland has
arranged itself in a way which is perfect to become such a test area." Californian Assemblyman Fred Keeley
"The Americans are very interested
in how to integrate large amounts of renewable energy into the existing
net. Denmark has gained experience in this over many years, and Lolland is
now offering the opportunity to test it in practice." Peter Winarsky of Innovation Center Denmark,
Silicon Valley
California Shows Interest in Lolland Testing Facility for Renewables Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark
May 24, 2007
"Our goal is to use
fuel cells to produce heat and electricity right at people's homes," said
Nakskov's mayor, Flemming Bonne Hansen according to Borsen, adding that he
hoped the investment in the region by fuel cell developers would also
bring jobs to the local economy.
Lolland Community Testing Facilities Director Gunnhild Utkvitne, Baltic Sea Solutions
Project Director Leo Christensen, Municipality of Lolland, Denmark
February 1, 2007
MAPPING ANALYSIS OF
POTENTIAL HYDROGEN
COMMUNITIES IN EUROPE
Suzanne Shaw
Paola Mazzucchelli
Joint Research Center
Institute for Energy
January 2007
The European Community of Consumer
Co-operatives
Says the European Parliament Did the Right Thing on Hydrogen
New Europe
May 26, 2007
Euro Coop, the European Community of
Consumer Co-operatives, said it welcomed the adoption by the European Parliament
(EP) of a written declaration on establishing a green hydrogen economy and a
third industrial revolution in Europe through a partnership with committed
regions and cities, SMEs and civil society organisations.
DOES BIG OIL RUN CANADA
THE
SAME WAY IT RUNS THE U.S.?
CANADA SQUANDERS YEARS OF ADVANCEMENT
SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY FLEEING CANADA
CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT KILLING INDUSTRY "In my opinion,
[Canada's Climate Plan] is a complete and total fraud. It is
designed to mislead the Canadian people." Al Gore
Gore Calls Canada Climate Plan a 'Fraud' AP/My Way
April 29, 2007
"We are set to
develop hydrogen energy
on a world scale." Russian Billionaire Mikhail
Prokhorov
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 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.
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.
DOES BIG OIL RUN CANADA AS
WELL AS THE U.S.?
CANADA SQUANDERS YEARS OF ADVANCEMENT
SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY FLEES CANADA
CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT KILLING INDUSTRY
"In my opinion, [Canada's Climate Plan] is a complete and total fraud. It
is designed to mislead the Canadian people."
Gore Calls Canada Climate Plan a 'Fraud'
AP/My Way
April 29, 2007
Hydrogen Highway Fuelling New Hopes Wendy Stueck The Globe and Mail
April 30, 2007
"At present, Canadian technology is
being deployed largely outside Canada in bus demonstration projects funded by
competing governments," says a BC Transit study on fuel cell buses, citing
projects in Europe, Australia, the U.S., China and Brazil. Having led advances
in fuel-cell-bus technology, the report adds, Canada "now faces the prospect
of losing commercialization benefits to other jurisdictions."
The two leaders announced plans to build a series of futuristic hydrogen
fueling stations from San Diego to Whistler, B.C., to encourage the use of
hydrogen vehicles. Campbell said he hopes to bring all the coastal governors
to a global warming planning summit this spring.
EU Agrees on Carbon Dioxide Cuts
BBC
March 9, 2007
European Union leaders at a climate change summit
in Brussels have agreed to slash carbon dioxide emissions by 20% from 1990
levels by the year 2020.
BC Could Be Energy Self-Sufficient by 2025
RenewableEnergyAccess.com
February 28, 2007
The Endless Energy project has evaluated
the rising price of conventional energy, energy security concerns, the threat of
climate change and many other trends and combined them to show that moving from
40 percent renewable supply in year 2000 to 100 percent renewable supply in 2025
is not only possible, but entirely reasonable and desirable.
The hydrogen scenario is derived from the carbon
constraint case, but also assumes a series of technology breakthroughs
that significantly increase the cost-effectiveness of hydrogen
technologies, in particular in end-use. The assumptions made on progress
for the key hydrogen technologies are deliberately very optimistic.
Total energy demand
Although the total energy demand in 2050 is only 8%
less than in the Reference case, there are significant changes in the
fuel mix. The share of fossil fuels in 2050 is less than 60%; within
this share, the demand for coal drops by almost half compared to the
Reference case, and this despite the lower cost assumed for CO2 capture
and storage. The share of nuclear and renewable energy increases,
especially between 2030 and 2050; this behaviour is partly caused by the
high carbon values across the world and partly by the increased demand
for hydrogen.
Electricity production
The move to a hydrogen economy induces further changes
in the structure of generation and the share of nuclear reaches 38%.
Thermal electricity production continues to grow and
is associated with CO2 capture and storage systems; in 2050, 66% of
electricity generation from fossil fuels is in plants equipped with CCS
against 12% in the Reference case.
Hydrogen production and use
The use of hydrogen takes-off after 2030, driven by
substantial reductions in the cost of the technologies for producing
hydrogen and the demand-pull in the transport sector. From
2030 to 2050, production increases ten-fold to 1 Gtoe / year. By 2050,
hydrogen provides 13% of final energy consumption, compared to 2% in the
Reference case. The share of
renewable energy in hydrogen production is 50% and that of nuclear is
40%. Around 90% of hydrogen is used in transport. By 2050, the
consumption of hydrogen in transport is five times as high as in the
Reference case, with a share of 36% of the
consumption of the sector. Hydrogen is used in 30% of passenger cars and
about 80% of these are powered by fuel cells; 15% are hydrogen hybrid
vehicles and 5% are hydrogen
internal combustion engines.
Under the “business as usual”
version of the future represented in the Department of Energy’s
projections, we will import 26 percent moreoil in 2025 than we do today, and our imports of Middle East oil
will increase by 22 percent.
Ernst & Young Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Indices
2006 We are witnessing
unprecedented awareness and support for climate-friendly policies in the
USA, the most energy and emissions intensive region in the world, from
both politicians and the general public alike. Prominent films,
such as Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth”, are reinforced by political
support. In addition, the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI), formed in
August 2006, will bring together 24 of the largest cities in the world
to discuss sustainable
policy making. Similarly, Republican support is evident, with
challenging emissions targets set in California, and the Bush
Administration’s focus on diversifying fuel sources, which includes an
increase in the use of biofuels. Together,
these initiatives raise the
prospect of renewable energy joining the mainstream alongside
conventional power sources in the USA.
As a potential transportation fuel, hydrogen has
been loudly critiqued by some experts in the energy and environment
fields. Many of the criticisms have some validity in the near-term,
although we would suggest that
they largely ignore the overwhelming trends
in energy innovation and the promising “trajectory” that hydrogen
technologies have followed over the past 15 to 20 years. By most static
economic analyses, hydrogen has not reached economic competitiveness in
most applications.
However, looking forward several years or decades,
it is clear that hydrogen remains one of the few energy storage solutions
that can effectively reduce or even eliminate carbon from the energy
equation — if the source for hydrogen production is properly considered
and selected. ...Wind, photovoltaics and other projects that include
clean energy technologies should be promoted as the preferred source of
hydrogen production.
Towards a European roadmap
for the introduction of hydrogen
HyWays is an integrated project,
co-funded by research institutes, industry, national agencies and by the
European Commission (EC) under the 6th Framework Programme
CANADA'S HYDROGEN & FUEL CELL
INDUSTRY
Capabilities Guide 2006
Fuel Cells Canada
The hydrogen and fuel cell industry generates numerous
economic benefits for Canada. According to the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel
Cell Sector Profile 2005, the industry employed 2,056 people in 2004.
Private sector investment in innovation (over $100,000 per employee) is
extremely high, with $237 million CAD spent on research and development in
2004. Over the past five years, private sector research and development
expenditures total over $1 billion CAD.
These investments have resulted in
significant technological progress being made by Canadian companies –
progress that is in line with international targets for commercialization.
Hydrogen Association Holds First Ever Renewable Hydrogen Event NHA / Renewable Energy Access
October 20, 2006 According to Robert Shaw, President, Arete
Corporation, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimated that the
world will need about 17 TeraWatts (17,000,000,000,000 watts) of carbon- free
energy by 2050 to avoid exceeding the 550 parts per million level of carbon in
the atmosphere. A key link to reach that target Shaw says, is to use solar
energy to make hydrogen a substitute for oil and natural gas in power production
and transportation. If the installed cost of solar photovoltaics can be reduced
from $6-8/Watt to $1- 2/Watt, solar would become the most attractive option for
meeting our energy needs.
A
lawsuit has been filed and is seeking class action status against several
rulers of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for allegedly enslaving tens of
thousands of boys over the past three decades. The boys were allegedly
forced to work as jockeys in the popular sport of camel racing. The
lawsuit alleges Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, the crown prince of
Dubai, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum, the deputy ruler, were the
most active perpetrators. The lawsuit claimed the boys were taken largely
from Bangladesh and Pakistan, were held at desert camps in the UAE and
other Persian Gulf nations, and forced to work. It also claimed some boys
were sexually abused, given limited food and sleep and injected with
hormones to prevent their growth.
Are you sickened yet? It's time to change!
“Europe started with
energy projects; the coal and steel and Euratom agreements. Now we have to look
forward. Hydrogen is a key technology and it could become the project of the
future for the European Union.”
German Deputy Jo Leinen
Members of European Parliament Call for European Union Leadership on Hydrogen
Vision The Parliament.com - European Politics and
Policy October 4, 2006
Bush 'Prepares Emissions U-turn' Geoffrey Lean
The
Independent September
17, 2006
After years of trying to sabotage agreements to tackle climate change he is
drawing up plans to control emissions of carbon dioxide and rapidly boost the
use of renewable energy sources.
To our grandparents, who labored
and dreamed for us.
To grandchildren the world over,
for whom we labor and dream.
The challenge is immense, but so are the technological possibilities.
On the demand side of the energy equation, appliances, lighting, buildings
and vehicles can be made highly efficient. Combined heat and power systems
can capture energy that would otherwise be wasted. Compact settlements can
reduce travel and encourage energy-sparing modes of travel, such as mass
transport and cycling. The Internet has the potential to substitute
information for energy and materials through e-commerce.
On the supply side, solar energy can be captured in diverse
forms—directly by solar cells and heating systems, and indirectly through
wind, moving water and biomass. Solar energy can be used to generate
hydrogen, a clean liquid fuel that can substitute for petroleum in
vehicles.
“High gas prices and
looming home heating costs are hurting families and our state’s economy.
Massachusetts can be a leader in the clean solar, wind and hydrogen power
industries, but not if we continue the politics as usual policies of the
Kerry/Healey administration which has tried to block one of the biggest
renewable energy projects in the country.”
-- Deval Patrick
Patrick Says Healey is Blocking State's Renewable Energy Growth
Cape Cod Today
September 9, 2006
“Europe started with
energy projects; the coal and steel and Euratom agreements. Now we have to look
forward. Hydrogen is a key technology and it could become the project of the
future for the European Union.”
German Deputy Jo Leinen
Members of European Parliament Call
for European Union Leadership on Hydrogen
Vision The Parliament.com - European Politics and
Policy October 4, 2006
AUSTRALIAN MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT OUTRAGED AT FELLOW POLITICIANS'
REFUSAL TO CONSIDER HYDROGEN AS ALTERNATIVE TO OIL
"What enrages me is
that this Parliament ...is refusing to make the investment in a kit that
would transfer the ordinary car to a hydrogen car."
--
Wilson Tuckey, Australian MP
Hydrogen Could Cure Petrol Pain, Says MP
News Limited (AU)
August 7, 2006 The answer to high petrol prices is not
ethanol or cutting the petrol excise but a radical hydrogen-based
technology being trialed in Perth buses, a Liberal backbencher says.
Western Australian Liberal today said the hydrogen solution was the
way forward, as politicians debated the petrol price crisis.
"We are part of a growing group of
engineers and physicists who have begun developing designs for a new
energy delivery system we call the Continental SuperGrid. We envision the
SuperGrid evolving gradually alongside the current grid, strengthening its
capacity and reliability. Over the course of decades, the SuperGrid would
put in place the means to generate and deliver not only plentiful,
reliable, inexpensive and "clean" electricity but also hydrogen for energy
storage and personal transportation."
PAUL M. GRANT worked for IBM for 40 years, starting in 1953 at
age 17 as a pinsetter at the company bowling alley. After earning a Ph.D.
in physics at Harvard University, he joined the San Jose Research
Laboratory, where he participated in the discovery of high-temperature
superconductivity. From 1993 to 2004, Grant was a science fellow at the
Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), which was founded by CHAUNCEY
STARR in 1973. Starr, a 1990 recipient of the U.S. National Medal of
Technology, did early research on cryogenics, managed the atomic energy
division of Rockwell International, co-founded the American Nuclear
Society, and was president of EPRI for more than a decade. THOMAS J. OVERBYE, who holds the Fox Family Professorship in Electrical and Computer
Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, contributed
to the official investigation of the 2003 North American blackout.
G8 Leaders Address Global Energy Security
and Climate Change DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy July 19, 2006
For renewable energy, the G8 leaders reaffirmed
their commitment to implement measures set out in the Gleneagles Plan of Action
that the leaders established in 2005. The leaders also affirmed their support
for the transition to a hydrogen economy. Renewable energy and hydrogen are
parts of a G8 effort to diversify the world's energy mix, an effort that also
includes the development of zero-emission fossil fuel power plants, nuclear
energy, and other innovative energy technologies.
WHAT IF THEY HELD
AN OIL WAR AND NOBODY CAME? Our beautiful world is awash with clean energy
- more energy than
we could ever hope to use.
It is all around us. From our sun-drenched cities to the wind-swept plains
of Taos, all of us are blessed with inexhaustible, free power. We no
longer need oil or coal or uranium. The sun and the wind easily provide
more energy than we could ever need -- even with our luxurious lifestyles.
Renewable technology is quickly becoming so efficient that the old,
centralized ways of making power and fuel are doomed.
ANGEL'S NEST GOES COMMERCIAL WITH
WORLDSNEST ENERGY, WATER AND
HOUSING SOLUTIONS FOR THE 1ST AND 3RD WORLD
Angel's Nest cofounder Robert Plarr explains how the DC electrolyzer (left) can
create hydrogen from wind, solar
or from Hydrogen Labs' ethanol direct
current generator.
Robert describes the "Hydrogen Well", low pressure tanks
that hold enough hydrogen to power Angel's Nest. Excess hydrogen is
compressed and stored in the Hydrogen Fueler. The white tank holds water
to be split into hydrogen and oxygen.
WILL INSANE OIL WEALTH BRING THE WORLD
TO THE BRINK OF NUCLEAR WAR?
“All of these things were predictable. ...We’ve had a failure
in our nation’s energy policy." Dick Durban, US Senate Minority
Whip
Bodman:
Oil Companies "Have Lost Control" Alex Johnson MSNBC
April 30, 2006
"My attitude is that the oil
companies need to be mindful that the American people expect them to
reinvest their cash flows in such
a way that it enhances our energy security." US President George W. Bush
Energy Secretary: High Gas Prices Could Last 3 Years
CNN April 30, 2006
New rules, which come into force this year, have mandated higher ethanol
content in vehicle fuel; but since ethanol cannot be pumped through
pipelines, a shortage of infrastructure meant that in some states,
including Texas, fuel was not getting to the pumps.
H2PIA: Concept for the World's First Hydrogen City
A group of Danish companies and
institutions has just released a visionary concept called H2PIA for the
building of the world’s first hydrogen city ever, beginning year 2007
somewhere in Denmark. H2 Logic
"A new energy regime will
mean reglobalisation,
this time from the bottom up."
Jeremy Rifkin:
A Call to Change the World Global
Institute of Logistics
March 24, 2006
ANGEL'S NEST STEALS THE SHOW AT NM CONFERENCE
February 25, 2006
Angel's Nest, the
sustainable energy and architectural showcase in Taos, New Mexico, built
by Robert Plarr and Victoria Peters, incorporates wind and solar power, a
renewable hydrogen fueling station, and integrated greenhouses in a unique
closed loop, grid-independent energy and water replenishment cycle.
Angel's Nest cofounder actress Victoria Peters with
Governor Bill Richardson.
"To Protect and Serve the Environment" -
Larry and Brandon Parks of Hydrogen Labs present their Hydrogen ICE
Highway Patrol cruiser concept.
Angel's
Nest
Videos
Yakashima Island:
Driving the Car of the Future Jonathan Head BBC
(UK) February
22, 2006
...the local electricity company has built turbines
to harness the enormous hydro-electric potential on Yakushima - and it has done
that so successfully that it produces far more electricity than the island's
15,000 inhabitants can use. Hiroshi Ishii, the president of the electricity
company, has grander dreams, of an island entirely powered by renewable energy.
Surplus electricity cannot be stored, so the company has joined forces with
Kagoshima University and Honda, to make hydrogen for the fuel-cell FCX.
ON THE BEACH
RETURNS "HE WHO SOWS THE WIND WILL REAP THE WHIRLWIND."
AS U.S. ENERGY LOBBYIST
NIGHTMARE UNFOLDS, THE
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT IS BOUGHT BY NUKE INDUSTRY
NUCLEAR INDUSTRY EXPANSION INTO CHINA DEPENDS ON AUSTRALIAN URANIUM. LOBBYISTS
TEMPT AUSTRALIAN OFFICIALS TO PROVIDE A SOURCE
OF ENRICHED URANIUM TO H-BOMB-POOR RED CHINA AND EVEN TO RECONSIDER DOMESTIC
NUKE PLANTS. NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION IS DESCRIBED AS "GOOD WILL." LITTLE
OUTRAGE FROM SLEEPING CITIZENS WHO HAVE GIVEN UP THEIR OWN RIGHT TO BEAR
ARMS BUT DON'T SEEM TO MIND THEIR GOVERNMENT SELLING NUCLEAR WEAPONS
MATERIAL TO COMMUNISTS. WILL IRAN BE NEXT?
- RDM
China Uranium Deal Must Include Strong Safeguards The Age (AU) January
17, 2006
The
Federal Government is keen to open up Australia's uranium reserves to
supply China with as much as it needs. Not only is there serious money to
be made, especially if Australian companies control the reserves, but a
measure of goodwill would be created that could help in other areas of
Australia's relationship with an emerging superpower.
"The danger is that while we get
sucked into this debate, the rest of world is investing billions in the
renewable energy industry and Australia is getting left behind." Erwin Jackson,
Australian Conservation Foundation
Fission Expedition The Age (AU)
June 28, 2005
"For good reason, nuclear power
production is not only unpopular in Australia, it is also unlawful. Dr
Nelson's study is basically an attempt to sanitise uranium's well-founded
dirty image and to legitimise the government's push to expand uranium
mining." David Noonan,
Australian Conservation Foundation
Australian Government Takes Another Look at Nuclear Power
Australian Conservation Foundation
November 29, 2005
"The Australian policy vacuum is a
failure
of moral leadership..." Professor Ian Lowe
Emeritus Professor of Science, Technology and Society, Griffith University
AUSTRALIA FEARS OF BIOFUEL THREAT
TO FOOD SUPPLY
"Let's leave our land for growing food crops or growing crops that we need like
cotton or flax, those sorts of things for food and clothing. And let's look at
other things like hydrogen, which doesn't require us to clear vast amounts of
land or compete with land that should be used for food." Gerry Wood,
Independent Member for Nelson Australian Member of Parliament
Questions Biofuel's 'Green' Credentials ABC News (AU)
February 26, 2006
Secretary Bodman announced that the
Department of Energy will provide up to $100 million over four years for
research projects seeking to improve fuel cell membranes, water transport
within the stack, advanced cathode catalysts and supports, cell hardware,
innovative fuel cell concepts, and effects of impurities on fuel cell
performance and durability. Through this investment, DOE seeks to improve
performance and to lower cost of these technologies by 2010.
Roadmap on Manufacturing R&D
for the Hydrogen Economy
U.S Departmentt of Energy
Released in January 2006, the draft Roadmap is designed to
guide research and development in hydrogen manufacturing processes. It's
open for public comment for 45 days. Based on the results of the
Manufacturing R&D for the Hydrogen Economy Workshop in July 2005, the
80-page document consolidates recommendations from hydrogen power
experts in the Federal government, universities, national laboratories,
and industry. Led by DOE, the workshop was supported by the National
Institute of Standards and Technology and coordinated with the
Manufacturing R&D Interagency Working Group of the National Science and
Technology Council. The Roadmap identifies critical challenges facing the
manufacture of hydrogen systems today, with a focus on fuel cell,
production, delivery and storage technologies. New R&D will play a pivotal
role in developing the needed manufacturing processes and supplier chains
to move the nation towards a hydrogen energy economy. This inter-agency
effort supports the President's Hydrogen Fuel Initiative, which aims to
reverse America's growing dependence on imported oil by developing the
technology needed for commercially viable hydrogen-powered fuel cells.
Electricity generated from wind power currently represents only 0.5% of
global electricity production, and about a 7 billion (US) dollar annual
industry (IEA, 2004). The market is expected to double over the next four
years (BTM, 2005), and it is this perceived potential for future growth
and the rapid growth rates to date that are causing many governments to
look toward developing domestic wind technology manufacturing industries.
Countries and sub-national governments around the world – in both
developed and developing countries – are therefore establishing policies
to promote the construction of new wind power installations, and some have
developed targeted policies to specifically encourage local manufacturing
of large wind turbine technology.
New
York Governor Wants More Focus on Renewables Refocus
January 11, 2005 The governor of New York used his final ‘State of
the State’ address to promote the increased use of renewable energies. It
was the 12th message from George Pataki, who took office in 1995 and is
not seeking a fourth, four-year term this year. Media reports noted that
the republican is considering running for president in 2008.
New York State of the State
Governor George Pataki January 4, 2006 ...Every strategy begins with a specific goal --
every worthy pursuit is born of a dream.
The great American architect and native New Yorker Daniel H.
Burnham once said:
"Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir [people's]
blood and probably themselves will not be realized.
"Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that
a noble, logical diagram once recorded will never die, but long after we
are
gone will be a living thing, asserting itself with ever-growing
insistency.
"Remember that our [children] and [grandchildren] are going
to do things that would stagger us..."
Let's aim high. Let's have the courage and foresight to
envision the ideal that should shape our actions here in Albany.
...For more than a decade, we in New York have been
aggressively pursuing the solutions to one of our generation's greatest
challenges -- reducing our dependence on expensive, polluting, terror-
promoting foreign oil.
We don't have to look far for evidence that the time to
transition away from foreign oil is now - it is right there on the gas
pumps and in our home heating bills.
Not just here in New York, but across the nation, our
reliance on foreign oil is hampering the financial freedom of our working
families and their employers; it is hurting our economy, damaging our
environment and enriching regimes that support, harbor and encourage the
terrorists who threaten our national security.
...The entire world is now grappling with the question "where
will we get the energy to power the global economy of the 21st century
without causing irreparable damage to our natural environment?"
Let's make New York the place where that defining question is
answered.
Let's make New York the worldwide center for clean, renewable
energy research, product development and job creation.
Let's attract companies from around the world that are
developing the clean, renewable energy sources of the future - let's make
the entire state a tax free zone for this growing industry.
...The time to prepare for a future powered by clean energy
sources is now -- not just here in New York, but across our entire nation.
“All human beings are born free and
equal in dignity and rights.“ This first article of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights articulates a basic human commitment. Only by
respecting this commitment, a humane life in peace can be assured.
Energy is the fundamental
prerequisite of every life. The availability of energy is a fundamental
and indivisible human right.
It is an experience of the 20th
century that the established systems of energy supply, mainly based on
fossil and nuclear energy, are not in a position to provide this human
right to everybody. It is violated billionfold. Due to the near depletion
of conventional energy sources and their dramatic environmental and
climate damages, this right cannot be provided to an ever increasing
number of people. The human right for renewable energy can only be
accomplished by renewable energy.
There is no more time to waste for
the mobilisation of renewable energy. Until now, international efforts
clearly lag behind the necessity and the existing opportunities. The
numerous UN conferences promise more than they can deliver because they
are tied to consensual decision-making in every step. UN organisations and
multilateral development banks were either not willing or hindered to
shift their priorities towards renewable energy. The Kyoto Protocol falls
far short of its requirements. Its main problem lies in the focus on
emission rights and trading instead of reducing emissions by a change of a
paradigm shift towards renewables. The promotion of nuclear power is fixed
in international right, in contrary to renewable energy. The fossil and
nuclear energy system still receives around 500 billion US Dollar of
subsidies annually, about 50 times more than renewable energy.
International governmental
institutions reflect this discrimination of renewable energy. The
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) promotes the proliferation of
nuclear technology, the International Energy Agency (IEA) is operating as
a satellite of the fossil energy industry. Both are misleading governments
by playing down risks of nuclear and fossil energy and by negating the
potentials of renewable energy. Both agencies are leading their
governments to an energy policy ignorant of the future. This matter of
fact has to be recognised and the persons in charge have to be named. They
have to account not only for their actions, but also for their inaction.
Prices for conventional energies are
increasing in the course of their depletion and their disastrous damages.
Renewable energy is steadily getting cheaper due to its continual
improvement and economies of scale. Humanity now is at the crossroads.
Today and in the future, the costs of renewables enable a sustainable,
cheap and sufficient energy supply for everybody.
Any further postponing is
irresponsible. There are economic reasons, ecological reasons and the
question of peace that speak in favour of renewable energy. All together,
a basic ethic decision in favour of renewable energy is resulting from
these reasons.
The World Renewable Energy Assembly (WREA)
welcomes the official plan of the new German Federal Government to take
the initiative for the creation of an International Renewable Energy
Agency (IRENA). This initiative will be successful if its creation is not
depending on an overall consensus but implemented by a group of
like-minded governments in conjunction with an invitation to all
governments to join this agency.
It is most important to initiate a
strategy of phasing out fossil fuels by mobilising biofuels in order to
avoid the arising gap of oil and gas shortage and the increase in price.
Furthermore, it is necessary to organise a world trade regime which does
not oppose the development of domestic biofuel economies and an
agriculture related to it.
The World Renewable Energy Assembly (WREA)
highlights the proposals of the 2nd World Renewable Energy Forum 2004 and
its “World Renewable Energy Agenda”:
A Renewable Energy Proliferation
Protocol to be added to the Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty.
A renewable energy priority for
financing renewables in development aid and development banks, focussing
on micro-finance following the model of the Grameen Shakti Bank.
Global industrial norms and
standards for renewables.
An international university for
renewable energy under the auspices of UNESCO.
Click image to view the new Angel's Nest poster
Go to
Angel's Nest
Hydrogen Highway
City/ County Association of Governments of San Mateo County
presented to California Hydrogen Highway Network SB 76 Workshop
Cal EPA - Sacramento, California
October 28, 2005
IS THE WORLD BANK A CASH
COW FOR BIG OIL?
RELEASED
Power Failure
How the World Bank is Failing
to Adequately Finance
Renewable Energy for Development Friends of the EarthOctober 2005
Over the years, the Bank has used its low-interest
lending to pump massive amounts of money into oil, gas, and coal projects, which produce
greenhouse gases that lead to climate change. The Bank has not seriously considered
mitigation of climate change impacts of its projects in the past, and, in spite of
acknowledgements by world governments that climate change is a critical problem facing
developing countries, there have been relatively few subsidies for clean energy sources.
...A clean, renewable energy strategy avoids the need to absorb changes
in fuel prices, so renewable options can be more stable and sustainable in the long run
than conventional energy. Clean, renewable energy for grid-based electricity and for fuel
can benefit developing countries by contributing to energy security and reducing
dependence on fossil fuel imports.
...Wind power can be fed into electricity grids to provide clean,
renewable power that does not emit greenhouse gases and has minimal environmental impacts.
Measurements of wind speed around the world suggest that wind captured at specific
locations, even if partially harnessed, could generate more than enough power to satisfy
the world’s energy demands.20Wind potential in China is abundant, with approximately
250 gigawatts of exploitable wind resources at a height of 10 meters. According to the
United Nations Solar and Wind Energy Resource Assessment (SWERA), Sri Lanka has a land
wind power potential of about 26,000 megawatts – more than 10 times the
country’s current installed electrical capacity. Guatemala has estimated wind
resources at 7,000 megawatts. Ghana was found to have more than 2,000 megawatts of wind
energy potential – this alone represents over 5 percent of the 40,000 megawatts of
electricity estimated as necessary to power industrialization in all of Africa. In many
cases, wind power costs can be comparable to the costs of conventional energy – the
global average cost of wind power generation is anywhere between US$0.04 and US$0.08 per
kilowatt hour.
...The World Bank Group has long emphasized the export of oil and gas
to spur development. But it is questionable what development impacts these projects have
had, particularly considering the local social and environmental damage caused by these
projects. For example, the Extractive Industries Review (EIR), which was commissioned by
the World Bank Group itself, found that large energy infrastructure projects financed by
the Bank have caused substantial damage at local levels, including environmental
degradation, social disruption, and conflict. Other studies have found that countries with
economies dependent on fossil fuel production and exportation have been found to
experience increased rates of poverty, economic inequality, and corruption. The extraction
and production of conventional energy resources have also been found to frequently lead to
social conflict. Oil extraction sites are often guarded by large security details that
sometimes include military police, and protests by local citizens against the negative
impacts of oil on their communities can be met with repressive actions that lead to
violence and human rights violations. Oil production and export has also been found to
increase countries’ debt burdens, despite generating massive revenues for oil
companies. While the Bank has put some money into renewables over the years, the amounts
for those projects have been grossly overshadowed by the money poured into carbon emitting
fossil fuel projects – by a factor of fourteen to one according to some estimates.
In spite of commitments made in the past year with regards to renewable energy and
climate change, it is still unclear whether the Bank is ready to fully commit to a clean
energy path.
The government on Monday unveiled a roadmap to put one million
hydrogen-fuelled vehicles on the country's roads and generate 1,000MW from
hydrogen by 2020 through public-private initiatives. In a presentation to
Non-Conventional Energy Sources Minister Vilas Muttemwar, the Steering
Group on Hydrogen Energy chaired by
Ratan N. Tata projected an investment
of about Rs250 billion ($5.5 billion) over 15 years to achieve these
objectives. Of this, about Rs10 billion would be for research, development
and demonstration of technology and about Rs240 billion for creating
infrastructure for hydrogen production, storage, transportation and
distribution to meeting the need for hydrogen under transport and power
initiatives.
INDIA: Does Our Search Abroad for
Oil Make Sense? Farouk Irani The
Financial Express October
15, 2005
We have no choice, but to drastically reduce our dependence on oil
before it destroys us
Wind Guangdong
(October 2005) is a groundbreaking new report commissioned by Greenpeace
from respected international wind energy consultants Garrad Hassan. It bases its analysis
on a range of the best available wind resource data as well as worldwide knowledge of
relevant technologies, and concludes that the installed capacity of wind power in
Guangdong
could reach 20,000 MW by 2020. If achieved it is possible that this
could generate as much as 35,000 GWh of clean electricity.
MEPs have called for a fundamental shift from
fossil fuel dependency, at the launch of new manifesto on the benefits of an hydrogen
economy. The cross party group of MEPS said on Monday that they wanted to see the creation
of a fully integrated EU hydrogen economy, "in the shortest possible time."
According to the group, moving towards the use of hydrogen will
usher
in a ‘third industrial revolution’ as early as 2025.
...The MEPs said they are planning discussions on floating a European
wide hydrogen bond which could raise billions of euros for building a hydrogen economy
infrastructure. more
The danger is that Bush's response will be to become even more interventionist in those
countries which underpin the [oil] supply. More rationally, the opportunity should be
taken to launch a massive drive aimed at reducing oil consumption and bringing forward the
technologies on which the United States undoubtedly leads or certainly could lead the
world - fuel cells, hydrogen, clean coal, nuclear, biofuels, renewables.
Wind
Force 12
a Blueprint to Achieve 12% of the
World’s Electricity from Wind Power by 2020
European Wind Energy Association
Global Wind Energy Council
GreenPeace 2005
This report demonstrates that there are no
technical,
economic
or resource barriers to supplying 12% of the world's electricity needs with wind power
alone by 2020 - and this against the challenging backdrop of a projected two thirds
increase of electricity demand by that date. The report is a crucial tool in the race to
cut greenhouse gas emissions as 12% electricity from a total of 1,250 GW of wind power
installed by 2020 will save a cumulative 10,771 million tonnes of CO2.
The value of the global market for wind turbines is to move from the
current €8 billion to an €80 billion annual business by 2020, helping to satisfy
global energy demands and unlock a new era of economic growth, technological progress and
environmental protection. Wind power is one of the few energy supply technologies that is
ready for a broader roll out today; wind has the maturity, clout and global muscle to
deliver deep cuts in CO2, while providing a hedge against fluctuating fossil fuel prices
and reduce energy import dependence.
The 2005 report also highlights 13 key countries around the world that
can play a leadership role to help unlock the major market deployment envisaged in the
report. These markets are at an early but developing stage, and provide an insight into
where this blueprint may be realized. These countries are Australia, Brazil, Canada,
China, France, India, Italy, Japan, the Philippines, Poland, Turkey, the UK, and the USA.
The United States is at “a critical point” in the transition to renewable energy
sources, and further delay will leave the country “even further behind other nations
in the development of renewable energy, even more wedded to energy sources that are
unsustainable in the long run, and facing an even greater uphill battle in the effort to
control global warming emissions” says the National Association of State PIRGs in its
report, Achieving a New Energy Future: How States Can Lead America to a Clean,
Sustainable Economy
...“The current crisis in our energy system is
the result of decades of bad decisions,” it explains. “The decision to unleash
an unconstrained boom in natural gas-fired power plant construction during the 1990s that
has since contributed to price spikes throughout the economy; the decision to allow aging
coal-fired power plants to continue to operate under outdated emission standards; the
decision to subsidize fossil and nuclear fuels at the expense of renewable power and
energy efficiency.”
“The effects of these bad decisions are now apparent, with natural
gas prices doubling in recent years, and old coal-fired power plants continuing to pollute
and threaten public health. The nuclear reactors built in the 1960s and 1970s are coming
to the end of their original life spans, but many are receiving extensions from federal
officials, “presenting a continuing threat to public health and safety.”
“Environmentally, our bad energy decisions have made the U.S. the
world’s leading contributor to global warming, threatening the health and welfare of
future generations, the ecosystems on which life depends, and America’s standing in
the global community,” it adds. “Economically, our decisions have left the
United States - historically a world leader in technological innovation - well behind
Europe and Japan in the development and deployment of the energy technologies of the 21st
century and have tied our continued prosperity to fluctuations in fossil energy prices
over which we have little control.” -- ReFocus August
31, 2005
Jason Schenker, Energy Economist for Wachovia Bank,
speculated Tuesday that the possibility of future mergers between petroleum and coal
companies to produce hydrogen fuels make him "very bullish" on the future of
coal.
Pacific
Northwest Energy
Independent Communities
A 10-year Plan July
2005 Institute for Environmental Research and Education
We conclude that moving to energy independence is not only good for the environment and
the economy but (with the exception of transportation issues) is achievable and
economically attractive within 10 years.
We call on world
leaders, including those meeting at the Gleneagles G8 Summit in July 2005, to ...Show
leadership in developing and deploying clean energy technologies and approaches to energy
efficiency, and share this knowledge with all other nations. Joint
Science Academies’ Statement:
Global Response to Climate Change
National Academies June 7,
2005
U.K. Dept of Trade & Industry DTI Outlines £15m Hydrogen and Fuel
Cell Development Programme
Auto Industry June 14, 2005
The Hydrogen Strategy announced, worth a further £15 million, will
include demonstration programmes for hydrogen and fuel cells and the establishment of a
Hydrogen Coordination Unit, and represents a step change in the Government's commitment to
hydrogen energy. Previously disparate efforts on hydrogen and fuel cells R&D will be
brought together for the first time within an overall strategy. It will help to ensure
that the UK participates effectively in international initiatives such as the
International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy.
Hydrogen Energy Strategic
Framework for the UK and the Government’s Response
U.K. Department of Trade & Industry
The Government accepts the recommendation for the establishment
of a Hydrogen Coordination Unit (HCU) to enable the development and deployment of low
carbon, low cost and secure hydrogen energy chains for transport in line with national
policy objectives.
65 percent
of Americans believe that the U.S. government should make a major funding commitment to
transform the auto industry from a gasoline-based system to a hydrogen-based system.
The town gets more than
half of its electricity from four windmills, two of which began operating three weeks ago.
Last month, a small village nearby was designated as one of five places in the world that
would be powered solely by alternative fuels as part of a U.N. pilot project. And in June,
Pico Truncado plans a grand opening for the first wind-powered hydrogen production plant
in Latin America.
Global Mayors
Pledge Support for Renewables
Refocus Weekly (UK) June
15, 2005 Politicians from 50 of the largest cities in the world have
signed a treaty to source 10% of their city’s peak electric load from renewable
energies.
"We're talking about changing the
whole
energy structure of the
United States."
George Sverdrup, Technology Manager
National Renewable Energy Laboratory States Get into the Driver's Seat
of Fuel-Cell Development Tom Kenworthy
USA Today April 14, 2004
"Often
we look back at previous civilisations and cannot understand why they failed to adapt in
ways that seem like common sense to us now. The original civilisations of South America
only used the wheel as a toy and not as tool. The generals of World War One stuck to
cavalry and ignored the tank. In failing to understand why they may not have accepted an
'obvious' change, we begin to consider ourselves superior and become blind to the very
similar institutional and political forces which bedevil our ability to change today. In
ignoring the shift to renewable energy for transport we would be making a similar error,
and will face a similar judgement of history. We must not be prisoners of our own time.
Just as we moved from horse to canal to steam to petrol we now must move to renewables,
for our health, our environment and – yes – our security
too." Peter Hain
Foreign Minister of the United Kingdom Enhancing Energy
Security RUSI Energy Security
Symposium October 17, 2002
"The Outer Hebrides has some
of the highest fuel costs in the UK and the highest prevalence of fuel poverty in the UK.
...Conversely, the Outer Hebrides has one of the richest renewable resources in the world
which, if harnessed to produce hydrogen, offers a commercially viable alternative to
traditional fuel supply. The economics of fuel supply in the Outer Hebrides creates a
unique opportunity for the early deployment of hydrogen infrastructure for demonstrating
the hydrogen economy on a more commercial basis." Iain Mackinnon Director of Technical Services, Western Isles Council Hebrides Could Pioneer Energy
Research John Ross The Scotsman (UK)
June 16, 2005
GERMANY
DENA
GERMANY TO PHASE OUT NUCLEAR AND FOSSIL ENERGY
(AS GERMAN FIRMS EYE RENEWABLE HYDROGEN FUEL)
At present, nuclear and fossil energy sources dominate the
electric-power generation mix in Germany. In order to reduce global environmental
problems and risks connected with power generation from natural gas, coal, oil and nuclear
fuels – such as the greenhouse effect, the consumption of finite resources, air
pollution, nuclear radiation and final storage of nuclear waste– the energy supply
system will have to make fundamental changes. The German Federal Government has
set a target for reduction of CO2 emissions from the current 859 million tons per year to
846 million tons by the year 2008/2012. In energy-generation and industry, CO2 emissions
will have to drop from the current 503 million tons per year to 495 million tons by the
year 2008/2012. One important way to accomplish these CO2 reduction goals is an increased
use of renewable energy sources. In Germany, the share in electric power generation from
renewable energy sources reached 10% in 2004 and is further increasing. Wind power has
attained industrial policy significance due to its enormous growth rates and its
prospective further development, onshore and offshore, as well as due to its export
potential.
The Federal Government is substantially supporting this development,
and aims for the further extension of renewable energies. Till 2010, the share in
electric-power generation from renewable energy sources shall rise to at least 12.5%, and
by 2020, to at least 20%. Additional major increase of capacity can be achieved by 2050.
Wind power will contribute substantially to accomplishing these goals. In accordance with
the strategy of the Federal Government for the development of offshore wind power
generation in the North and Baltic Seas, an installed wind power capacity of 2 to 3 GW can
be expected by 2010, and 20 to 25 GW by 2025/2030. Planning of the Grid Integration of Wind Energy in Germany Onshore
and Offshore up to the Year 2020
Project Steering Group OF Deutsche Energie-Agentur GmbH (Berlin)
North Dakota
Prepares
to Become the Saudi Arabia of Wind Power Richard D. Masters ICHBC April
27, 2005
Governor John Hoeven
While the Bush Administration
now chooses to lessen American dependence on foreign oil by building new oil
refineries on closed military bases (?) and proposing thousands of new nuclear and
coal plants for a 2015-25 time frame, the legislature of North Dakota has passed
legislation to spur the development and immediate construction of wind farms across North
Dakota. A sizeable wind farm can be completed within 12 months and every megawatt supplied
to the grid displaces a much more expensive megawatt from oil, natural gas, coal or
nuclear power. This fact has made
wind power the whipping boy of worried fossil fuel and nuclear energy lobbyists in
Washington and is reflected by the Bush Administration's low level of
support for renewable energy and the inexcusable failure of congress to enact a
Production Tax Credit (PTC) for wind that would be long-lasting enough to
attract financing for wind expansion.
"With the current fuel prices, wind is the most
cost-effective energy source out there, and it's a clean, domestic, renewable resource
that can wean the United States from its dependence on foreign fuel sources," says
Bob Thresher, the Director of the National Wind Technology Center
at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. "There's enough wind energy resources
on- and offshore to more than meet the electrical energy needs of the country."
The entire state of North Dakota is rated Class 4 and 5 Map:
Wind Interests of ND
North Dakota has the highest average wind of all the states, and it is
remarkably consistent. But only 43 megawatt-scale wind turbines have been installed so far
- most by FPL. The North Dakota legislature is now encouraging expansion by creating
A North Dakota Transmission Authority, which will
promote new - and substantial - investment in transmission lines in North Dakota. (HB1169)
A provision to allow the trading of premium renewable
energy credits to plants in other states, which promotes the development of wind energy in
North Dakota. (HB 1314)
A provision to raise the jurisdictional threshold for
siting electrical power generation facilities from 50 to 100 thousand kilowatts, reducing
the regulatory burden for wind energy companies to site plants in North Dakota. Below the
threshold, the company doesn't require siting approval from the PSC. (HB1283)
A provision to reduce the maximum siting application
fee for a power conversion facility or a transmission corridor from $150,000 to $100,000,
and to return to the applicant any portion of the fee unspent by the state in the siting
process. (SB2133)
A reduction in the assessed value of a wind turbine
electric generation unit from 3 percent to 1.5 percent to promote the commencement of
construction on wind facilities prior to July 1, 2006. (SB2018) (PENDING)
Even with these incentives,
North Dakota faces a daunting problem: delivering the electricity to distant metropolitan
areas. One spectacular
solution is offered by Chauncey Starr, founder of the Electric Power Research
Institute. In 2002, he proposed a superconducting cable combined with a cryogenic pipeline
delivering nuclear-produced liquid hydrogen across the continent. But the same concept
could also supply hydrogen and electricity from North Dakota to a city like Chicago. The
hydrogen, produced by electrolysis near the wind farms, would be liquefied and pumped
through the pipeline, serving as a coolant for the superconducting cable. Once at the
delivery point, the hydrogen would provide transportation fuel for the entire city.
Such an undertaking is clearly beyond North Dakota's financial
resources. But they have taken a small yet visionary step in that direction with this
legislation by creating "a sales tax exemption on hydrogen to power an internal
combustion engine or fuel cell." North Dakota now becomes a venue for early
commercialization of wind electrolysis. Will other wind-rich states remain far behind?
"It could well be that the first country to
seriously address the issues of creating a market for renewables would
become the central location for a major new international business
sector - with all the positive consequences that carries in terms of
economic activity and employment." ------------- Rodney Chase
CEO BP
--------------
"We all share the responsibility for carrying out this project, for the
assumption of responsibility is part of the dignity of human beings."
------------
Juergen Shrempp
Chairman
DaimlerChrysler
-----------
"Energy sources like coal and oil once overcame an economy based on
horsepower. So, I suspect, our carbon-based economy may itself pass from
the scene to be replaced, perhaps, by hydrogen."
-------------
Spencer Abraham
Secretary,
US Dept of Energy
-------------
"General Motors absolutely sees the long-term future of the world being
based on a hydrogen economy.” ------------
Larry Burns
Director of R&D
General Motors
-------------
‘‘The
overall message is fairly grim unless we do something radical. We need
fewer, shorter reports and more action from the Government.’’
