Posted by on January 28th, 2008
In Canada’s electioneering, there’s a bit of ‘anything you can do, I can do better’, especially when it comes to flashing the cash for green grants.A matter of mere days ago, Greenbang told you all about a plan by Liberal leader had pledged $1 billion for green tech.Now the premier of British Columbia has had exactly the same idea, albeit on a micro scale: a $90 million institute for green tech, says The Province.
The Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions, which will be funded by a provincial endowment, will bring together top scientists and researchers to develop innovative climate change adaptation and mitigation solutions, advise government and educate the public.”British Columbia universities have some of the top climate scientists and researchers in the world,”Campbell said. “This institute will bring together those academics, along with others from around the world, with business and the private sector to develop new policy alternatives, to find ways to educate and encourage greener lifestyles, and to develop new, green technologies into products that can be used by consumers around the globe.”
All very laudable, but is there any need for the word Solutions in there?
Posted by Greenbang on January 28th, 2008
Posted by on January 25th, 2008
Extra-governmental bodies complaining about the environmental impact of biofuels are like buses aren’t they?
After the EC got a bit shirty about biofuel, now the United Nations wants in on the act, says Associated Press.
The world’s rush to embrace biofuels is causing a spike in the price of corn and other crops and could worsen water shortages and force poor communities off their land, a U.N. official said Wednesday.
Speaking at a regional forum on bioenergy, Regan Suzuki of the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization acknowledged that biofuels are better for the environment than fossil fuels and boost energy security for many countries.
However, she said those benefits must be weighed against the pitfalls — many of which are just now emerging as countries convert millions of acres to palm oil, sugar cane and other crops used to make biofuels.
Posted by on January 25th, 2008
Eating bread and dripping really has gone out of fashion of late. It’s a fact that brings a nostalgic tear to the eye of Greenbang Senior and probably generates a bit of high fiving over at Diversified Energy.
For Diversified Energy have been showing off some new biofuel-making tech this month, using a process called Centia. With Centia, you can take some oils derived from agriculture crops, algae, animal fats, waste greases - dripping, if you like - and whip up a batch of delicious “bio-gasoline fuel very similar to traditional unleaded gasoline”.
Mmmm. Here’s some more details:
Fuels produced from Centia could be operated in engines, stored, and distributed in an identical manner to fossil fuels today. The process was developed in 2006 by North Carolina State University (NCSU) and has been licensed exclusively by Diversified Energy.
The tests were conducted at NCSU using demonstration reactors, operated under temperature and pressure with a proprietary catalyst developed specifically for the Centia bio-gasoline process. Starting with an input mimicking what would have originated as soybean oil, the process generated a fuel closely resembling the carbon number profile and molecular composition of unleaded gasoline. A mass conversion efficiency in excess of 90% was achieved.
Further development, optimization, and testing activities are being planned, including an end-to-end Centia system demonstration to make bio-gasoline, Jet A-1/JP-8 (jet fuel), and renewable diesel.
Dr. Henry Lamb, NCSU Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and lead investigator on the bio-gasoline work, remarked, “The team is extremely encouraged with the bio-gasoline results generated to date. With over 243 million vehicles on U.S. roads (with a majority using gasoline), finding an affordable renewable drop-in replacement would be a major achievement. While additional development work is still required, these results emphasize the potential of Centia to produce a variety of 2nd-generation biofuels.”
Posted by on January 25th, 2008
Algae and beer might be more similar than you thought (although Greenbang would warrant only one of them tastes good with a packet of dry roasted and the cup final).
Biofuel company Solazyme sees the link. When it makes fuel out of algae, it uses a process similar to industrial brewing.
Algae-brewing aside, it’s been a bit of news-week for Solazyme. On Tuesday, it announced what it claimed was the “first ever algae-derived biodiesel fuel to have undergone road testing by successfully powering a factory-standard automobile for long distances under typical driving conditions” which will debut at the Sundance Film Festival.
It also threw in a biodiesel feedstock development and testing agreement with Chevron Technology Ventures for good measure. It all went a little like this:
The algal biodiesel fueling the car is made through Solazyme’s proprietary process for manufacturing high-value, functionally-tailored oils from algae. This process, which uses standard industrial fermentation equipment, yields a biofuel that significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions and is biodegradable, nontoxic and safe. Solazyme is currently producing thousands of gallons of algal oil and recently signed a biodiesel feedstock development and testing agreement with Chevron Technology Ventures, a division of Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
“Biodiesel from algae changes the landscape of renewable fuels,” said Jonathan Wolfson, chief executive officer of Solazyme. “The concept of algal biofuel has been discussed for decades, and Solazyme’s technology finally provides a scalable solution based on proven industrial processes. This fuel is just the first example of how algal oil will help the environment through new products that offer attractive economics and performance, as well as environmental benefits.”
Soladiesel exceeds both the requirements of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) biodiesel standard D6751 and EN 14214, the European standard, which ensures that biodiesel can safely run any existing diesel engine. The car demonstrating Solazyme’s biofuel at Sundance is running on its original, factory-standard diesel engine with no modifications, and is powered by the highest blend of biodiesel that engine manufacturers currently certify. By operating in the typical sub-freezing temperatures for the area in January, it also illustrates how Soladiesel provides better temperature properties than any traditional biodiesel.
Posted by on January 25th, 2008
Finavera has been a bit of a poster boy - or should that be poster buoy? - for wave power lately, after signing a deal with utility firm Pacific Gas and Electric last year.
Now Finavera’s CEO is giving you - yes, you, you lucky devil - a bit of an insight into what’s going on in his mind. And it’s not the usual ‘did I leave the washing out?’ type fripperies that haunt the rest of us?
Here’s a little bit on the company’s proprietary wave tech from the man himself, Jason Bak:
Significant progress was also made in the Company’s ocean energy division. The AquaBuOY 2.0 prototype wave energy device was deployed for two months off the coast of Oregon in its first scaled ocean trial. Critical data was gathered during the deployment that will form the basis for the ongoing development of the technology helping to transition it to a commercial and operational phase. Based on this result, the deployment of the prototype was a success having verified mathematical modeling thereby paving the way for the next generation of the technology.[....]
Development continues on AquaBuOY 3.0. This design phase will build on the information gathered from the deployment of the AquaBuOY 2.0 technology off the coast of Oregon in 2007. The mathematical and power output modeling was verified during the test phase, giving the Company confidence that the development process is on track. Ongoing work in the year ahead will optimize design and put the AquaBuOY on track to meet its technology and project milestones. The exact timing of future deployments and specific development plans will be released as research and development objectives are met.
Posted by on January 25th, 2008
The Trident machine sounds like it possibly destroy entire civilisations in the single press of deranged dictator’s finger upon a big, red button.Sounds like that but thankfully isn’t. It is a bit of wave tech kit to be tested by Trident Energy on the Suffolk coast. Trident has put its hands up for permission to test its prototype machinery just off Southwold.The Lowestoft Journal has the skinny:
The trial equipment, being built at a Lowestoft boatyard, consists of a small platform, measuring about 15 metres square, supported by submerged pontoons anchored to the sea bed. The platform uses an entirely novel and British-invented noiseless technology to convert the massive potential energy of sea waves to electricity.
Aside from its stealthy silence, the tech is also worth a mention for being able to work in weak waves. Perfect for the South coast, then.
Posted by on January 24th, 2008
Thin film maker Qiangsheng Photovoltaic Technology Co Ltd is eyeing the market as hungrily as drunk man eyes a kebab. Even more hungrily considering that kebab is worth $250 million. For Qiangsheng is going public, planning an IPO it hopes will net a quarter of a million. Once its on the receiving end of all that lovely capital, Quiangsheng will be aiming to ramp up production to 500 megawatts.As Reuters puts it:
“A listing is the only way to fulfil our expansion ambition,” Chairman Sha Xiaolin said. “We hope to list by the end of this year, or the first quarter of 2009 at the latest.”Qiangsheng expects to chalk up $10 million in 2008 net profit, rising to $50 million in 2009, he said.”There’s much more room to make profits for thin-film cell makers, than silicon-based ones,” he said.
This category is brought to you in association with Tandberg
Posted by on January 24th, 2008
And award for the best company name goes to (envelope rustles, a silence descends)…. Fat Spaniel!
Of course, Greenbang’s plaudits probably pales in comparison to the $18 million VCs have flung the way of the renewable energy monitoring and reporting systems company.
Here’s a few more details to keep you going til lunchtime.
The investment round was led by Ignition Partners, with follow-on investment from Element Partners and Chrysalix Energy. Pacific Corporate Group and Applied Ventures, the venture capital arm of Applied Materials, Inc., also participated in the round. [...]
With more than 1,000 installations already deployed in 12 countries worldwide, Fat Spaniel will use this round of funding to expand sales and marketing efforts to European and other international markets. The company will also continue to broaden its product offering to support customer and partner needs across the full spectrum of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.
Posted by on January 24th, 2008
The Israeli government has announced a deal to encourage its citizens to buy electric cars. Does this mean grants for Scalectrix purchases? Alas not, it’s given its official thumbs up to a plan by Renault-Nissan and Project Better Place to get a hybrid network going.
Like a great big hybrid picnic, the Israeli government will bring tax incentives to buyers, Renault will come up with the electric vehicles, and Project Better Place will build and operate an Electric Recharge Grid across the entire country. It’s all expected to kick off from 2011.
Here’s some snippets from the players about what’s going on:
100% electric vehicles: Renault’s vehicles will run on pure electricity for all functions. The objective of zero emissions will be achieved, while at the same time offering driving performances similar to a 1.6 liter gasoline engine. Renault’s electric vehicles will be equipped with lithium-ion batteries, ensuring greater driving range and longevity.
Innovative business model: For the first time in the electric vehicle business, ownership of the car is separated from the requirement to own a battery. Consumers will buy and own their car and subscribe to energy, including the use of the battery, on a basis of kilometers driven. This model is similar to the way mobile phones are sold, with an initial purchase and a monthly subscription for the mobility service.
Competitive cost of ownership: The Israeli government recently extended a tax incentive on the purchase of any zero-emissions vehicle until 2019, making them more affordable. Combined with the lower cost of electricity as opposed to fuel-based energy, and the vehicle’s lifetime guarantee, the total cost of ownership for the customer will be significantly lower than that of a fuel-based car over the life cycle of the vehicle.
