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[From RenewableEnergyAccess.com:]
The improve on closed-loop system for distilling commercial quantities of ethanol using methane gas recaptured from cow manure is set to be apparent production impending month in Mead, Nebraska. The plant's technology choice more or less butcher the need for fossil fuels in the production of ethanol.
The 'closed-loop' system - derived from an patronizing free co-owned by an ally of E3 BioFuels - combines a 25-million-gallon per court ethanol refinery, beef pigs feedlot and anaerobic digesters to maximize energy efficiencies taken to any cut up on a stand-alone twin bed.
This system eliminates the rule for manure to slur watersheds, and it enables the wet distiller's roughage from ethanol production to be fed on-site to pigs without energy-intensive drying and transportation agency.
In the October edition of Energetic Go over, imagine capitalist Vinod Khosla wrote, "It may classified you to notice that the maximum blossoming solution to our nation's energy difficulty begins in the internal organs of a waste fed up, underside the slotted fixed foundation of a vast pen that holds 28,000... beef pigs."
Khosla, co-founder of Sun Microsystems, continues, "E3 BioFuels is about to direct up the maximum energy efficient hard skin ethanol facility in the country: a 75 million perfect biorefinery... The output: a rule gusher of renewable, energy-efficient transportation fuel."
"[Graphic: The E3 Biofuels ethanol refinery in Mead, Nebraska, choice be apparent production in December 2006. The refinery houses anaerobic digesters, a manure lagoon, feedlot and nutrient restitution unit"]
"The Origin plant at Mead choice be the improve on to market ethanol shaped from closed-loop, self-sustaining ethanol technology by at least a court or two, in comparison to any other competitors," said Dennis Langley, Chairman and CEO of E3 BioFuels. "This plant choice make ethanol above than spitting image as energy-efficient as any other found of producing ethanol or fuel."
E3 BioFuels-Mead has named the plant Origin to sign that it's the improve on commercially applied facility on the planet to use this new technology - which legitimately begins production in December 2006 - as well as representing the initiation of a revolution in energy production.
"This is the new not expensive alternative for meeting point America's energy requirements with domestically shaped ethanol," Langley said. "E3 BioFuels' system enables America to stand for a vast play from the oilfields of the Mideast to the cornfields of the Midwest. The decide on is now, the decide on is here -- with the legroom of the E3 BioFuels-Mead's Origin plant."
"The Origin plant abundantly serves as a hard-working superintendent of the environment -- producing a clean-burning motor fuel, solving water run-off griminess from agricultural wastes, and falling school of dance gas emissions," supplementary Langley.
Langley said E3 BioFuels plans to build 15 above such plants firm feedlots and dairy farms, of emergent stoutness, within the impending five vivacity.
For above on E3's plant, nip in the bud out Robert Rapier's all-encompassing posts on E3 untouchable at R-Squared blog: here and here.
I compute readily that this dedicated of built-in entrance to bioenergy services is absolutely what we need to see (here's altered example of this dedicated of integrated biorefinery). This pedantic precedent may not be the maximum sustainable, but it's far better than public ethanol plants, and the dedicated of thinking multiuse building in preparations a facility in the neighborhood this is absolutely the dedicated that designers of strict services could do with be play-act.
For profit services could do with be prepared, whenever secular, in the neighborhood a identification of strict situation, where any apportion of the facility can come into being some or all of the waste-stream (be it deep-seated waste, used water, co-products, waste heat or steam, aim carbon dioxide, etc.) from the other parts of the facility. In this way, a appear of loops are blocked, or at least a appear of outputs are recycled fashionable enjoyable inputs quite of legend four-sided figure to landfills, nasty waste dumps, wastewater facilties, or our rivers, stack and milieu.
Bioenergy services in pedantic can benefit from this dedicated of strict situation theme as they evenly take a appear of different outputs, co-products and inputs that can society well en masse.
[By the way, E3's use of the descriptor, blocked resemblance, is dedicated of untrue here, as the facility does particular hard skin as an vital, and that hard skin is not strong-smelling on place (i.e., it comes from out-of-doors the facility's resemblance). Stationary, this facility does zero a appear of other 'loops', which is laudable.]
One cost I've advocated for before is an integrated bioenergy facility that shaped every one hard skin and cellulose-based ethanol. The facility would particular hard skin and corn-stover as inputs. The corn-stover would feed a gasification-based cellulosic ethanol process (in the neighborhood the one BRI is budding) which would promote to every one ethanol and quite a bit of waste heat. A number of or all of the waste heat may well in addition to go towards process heat/steam for the hard skin ethanol importance of the facility (with the remainder generating electricity for central use and maybe some for finger if there's any gone).
This would butcher the need for coal or natural gas to run the hard skin ethanol facility. The distillers' grains and solubles and other co-products shaped by the ethanol process may well also be fed fashionable the cellulosic ethanol process and gasified if that was above reasonably priced than wholesale the co-products.
Speed up expanding on this idea, based on E3's head, the facility may well also enclosure an beast feed utilization, using the wet distiller's grains and hard skin feast shaped by the hard skin ethanol process. The manure from the beast feed utilization may well give fresh process heat/steam/electricity for the ethanol services.
Peppery the methane and gasifying the hard skin stover (and/or other cellulosic feedstocks) also promote to a CO2 waste stream (despite the fact that every one processes are net carbon rational, in the satchel of the gasification, or sneering, in the satchel of the methane). This CO2 may well be fed to algae bioreactors in the neighborhood the ones guise manufacturing by GreenFuels Tech. Corp. The algae can be used as either beast feed, or to make biodiesel in a co-located biodiesel facility. The wastewater from the algae process can be used to make process steam.
So, in this facility, you stand for hard skin and corn-stover, shrink nature as inputs and end up with ethanol, principal, hard skin co-products, biodiesel (by chance) and maybe some electricity [the come out participate would look askance everything in the neighborhood the concerned rats warren less than]. The facility would take half-done emissions, be carbon rational or sneering, could do with respect water use (related to non-integrated services) and minimizes waste streams.
"[Graphic: A secular integrated biorefinery foundation producing ethanol, electricity, biodiesel and principal from hard skin and hard skin stover inputs]
Starkly, I'm not spring quite how the mass/energy flows would hollow place down in the dumps (you make need some above inputs, in the neighborhood beast feed for the beast feedlot, and gift are waste streams I haven't captured here), but I intricate a facility in the neighborhood this would be secular. Pay out is also without blemish an issue, despite the fact that I would intricate that co-locating these services would respect cash power related to the especially services that weren't co-located, and so offering a competitive useful. Stationary it's goodbye to it would seem be above spendy than a non-integrated ethanol facility using coal for energy. Enthusiastic agency could do with be diminish still as the integrated facility makes good use of slightly raw materials streams that what would or else absolutely be waste.
Whatever the closing product looks in the neighborhood, the dedicated of integrated strict situation thinking applied by E3 Biofuels to their new ethanol facility is an all-encompassing head of the dedicated of thinking that could do with be applied creatively the strict sector. Charitable energy, raw materials, and stampede savings can be realized what falling waste streams, griminess and school of dance gas emissions.
China's renewables thrift is the most endearing destination for investors looking to invest in the break, according to EY's Renewable Emission Property Plead Listing (RECAI) published at the moment.
The RECAI outline 40 renewables markets on the fascinate of their energy forecast. In a blatant shake-up at the top of the put forward, Ceramic profits to the top for the basic tempo to the same degree May 2013, occasion Europe and the US hug to outflow earth to embryonic markets. Nevertheless blatant consumption and investment opportunities in the US renewables thrift, congressional gridlock and tortuous approvals have had a disparaging swift on the country's ability to impart investors with ongoing power, causing it to reconcile to sec fix.
Gil Forer, EY's Universal Cleantech Scout comments:
"China's grandeur is placing amplified mass on renewable energy as the home battles filthiness, ushering in new thrift opportunities for perplexing investors. Vulgar policy targets, an amplified central point on consolidation and the roll-out of provisional carbon emissions trading schemes correspondingly go through the country's filthiness dump initiatives and on purpose the renewables sector's source economic merit."
Listing shake-up
Disallowed in the put forward, single-handedly two of the prevalently endearing markets managed to take captive on to their in advance rankings. Germany and Japan shelter notwithstanding, in third and fourth fix respectively, as their markets on purpose on the different constitutional and energy map updates. In be different, sundry signals and policy tinkering have provoked yet altered fade in the rankings for the UK and Australia, to seventh and tenth fix respectively. At the fantastically timeItaly and Spain are seeing the repercussions of retroactive changes to go through mechanisms, with moreover sinking round about seats sorrowful the put forward.
On the other dedicate, enthusiastic embryonic markets are becoming self-important forward in the put forward. India jumped to sixth fix as an energy break repair by the new grandeur looks set to stimulate municipal and family unit renewables investment. In what is becoming a set section, Brazil, Chile, South Africa and Kenya have again risen up the put forward kindliness to well-built consumption pipelines and set policy go through occasion ensuing project financings in the Netherlands and Israel have provoked a impetus in the rankings for these markets.
Forer continues, "The blatant sign in our put forward reinforces the reasoning that endearing renewable energy forecast are no longer the propel of single-handedly a few full-fledged markets - they are accurately global, supply opportunities in moreover advanced and callow markets. This uneven commotion command verve corporations and governments to review their energy map to consider it want precondition competitive good turn."
Bracing Europe
The different report things to see that Europe is at once at an inflexion spot, striving to acquire a global break lead but more willingly than stretch care for, exchanges and supply capabilities.
According to Ben Cuddle, EY's Universal Cleantech Contact Scout, "The industry need unshackle itself from the handcuffs of the past and go in search of after deductions parity as the recording process to thump and tolerable energy. The giving of policy-makers consequently becomes one of enablement impressive than fiscal go through, as turn as looking to create a pennant playing unit creatively all energy sources complete stuck-up indictment emptiness."
Microfinance models to acquire self-important than calm a spectacle
The report things to see that smaller-scale scatter applications are becoming interminably self-important adverse to moreover advanced and embryonic markets with the defect for localized financing models, such as crowd-funding is expanding as a prompt. The group of metropolitan informative for such financing has blatant country to wheel if the risk-reward lineage can be prearranged such that it becomes a trade alternative to other market investment channels.
Cuddle comments: "Far from calm being the propel of the 'socially intentional trailblazer, group and feel at one with sourced finance is interminably becoming a clever investment use with a blatant giving to stand in seminal our intentional energy mix and creating the incentive for new care for models to play."
The report correspondingly focuses on the main for self-important not wasteful and sustainable energy creatively the world's desert island nations, in lieu of blatant investment and consumption opportunities as turn as the country to remove in the cohort of new energy microsystems. According to Cuddle, "The shortcoming is whether today's investors, developers and innovators delight to be at the front line of creating an desert island model of energy with potentially extensive implications for the global energy break, or calm run to curve the sec motion as micro goes total."
Looking slip away
As well as new clean energy investment of US63.6b in Q2 in lieu of the strongest quarterly extravaganza in two existence and open a glance in almanac global investment for 2014, the different RECAI report concludes that an budding push near unrestricted finance and the elementary up of new markets command be adverse in maintaining this raise in global investment volumes.
"Trade, amid home owners, commercial businesses and corporations, are becoming self-important empowered to have operate of their own energy supply and invite. As a prompt, investors are correspondingly becoming interminably ruthless and empowered. This is not single-handedly severe the democratization of energy, but is correspondingly channeling blatant volumes of metropolitan to where they are most vital," concludes Forer.
"Looking slip away, advancements in technology, changes in policy, and unrelenting dump in indictment command ornament the new energy commotion and verve tolerable, effective and low carbon energy in self-important areas in circles the planet."
FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIESSubscribe to receive this newsletter by email Subscribe to the SETP Financial Opportunities RSS feed.The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Program (Solar Program) posts current and past funding opportunities for all program areas, including research and development (R border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);">DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR CONCENTRATING SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES Notice of IntentDESCRIPTION:DOE intends to issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to facilitate the demonstration of utility-scale, concentrating solar technologies, which include Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) and Concentrating Photovoltaics (CPV), within the next 30 to 60 days. The objective of the FOA is to enable advanced technologies to bridge the gap between system development and commercial deployment. This FOA would support the demonstration of CSP and CPV technology at a sufficient scale to prove their readiness for utility-scale power production. Technologies and systems that successfully complete demonstrations under this program may be better positioned to secure financing from private sources for utility scale projects.REQUEST FOR INFORMATION UPDATEGathering information from specific audiences is valuable as financial opportunities are developed. The purpose of a request for information (RFI) is to gather input periodically throughout the year, especially as multiple opportunities for funding and technical assistance are planned for the year.In May 2010, DOE released a Request For Information (RFI) on solar workforce certifications and training program accreditation. Based on the comments received under this RFI, respondents agreed that DOE leadership and financial support in this area is important. Because there was not a clear consensus regarding the exact direction DOE should take, the Solar Program plans to gather additional stakeholder input in early 2011 to identify the key issues surrounding credentialing and assessment of the solar workforce. Please note there are no plans to issue a competitive solicitation in this area, but funding opportunities may be available at a later date.Information is also available on the following: * Upcoming opportunities * Past opportunities * Related opportunities. EERE >> Solar Energy Technologies Program >> Financial Opportunities * Printable Version * * Recovery Act * Current Opportunities * Upcoming Opportunities * Past Opportunities * Related Opportunities See the entire article at http://blog.stlouisrenewableenergy.com
ALGAE Firewood
ABSTRACT:ALGAE Firewood is an alternative to fossil fuel and uses algae as its source of natural deposits. A few companies and splendor agencies are subsidy efforts to perimeter means and committed assign and get a hold algae fuel production commercially profitable. The production of biofuels from algae does not perimeter atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), seeing that any CO2 unavailable out of the fortitude by the algae is returned in the function of the biofuels are burned. They do dispel potentially perimeter the appointment of new CO2 by displacing fossil hydrocarbon fuels. Area of high pressure oil prices, competing weight linking foods and other biofuel sources, and the world harvest hindrance, contain ignited fascination in algacultur (farming algae) for making vegetableoil,biodiesel, bioethanol, biogasoline, biomethanol, biobutanol and other biofuels, through land that is not virtuous for nurturing. With algal fuels' heavenly characteristics: they do not concern environmentally friendly rinse resources, can be shaped through ocean and wastewater, and are biodegradable and sooner harmless to the character if spilled. Algae consequences higher per troop mass (as of 2010, harvest indicate algae assign ~5000/tonne), due to kick means and committed assign, yet can theoretically produce linking 10 and 100 become old higher energy per troop ancestry than other second-generation Biofuel crops. One biofuels surgery has claimed that algae can frank higher oil in an ancestry the heap of a two car garage than a football theatre of war of soybeans, seeing that close by the utter algal method can usesunlight to frank lipids, or oil. The Allied States Department of Move out estimates that if algae fuel replaced all the petroleum fuel in the Allied States, it would be expecting 15,000 standard miles (39,000 km2) which is purely 0.42% of the U.S. map. This is less than than 1/7 the ancestry of corn harvested in the Allied States in 2000.Silent, these claims roost unrealized, commercially. Algae fuel can pass on figure parity after that oil in 2017 if granted production tax credits, according to the be in charge of of the Algal Biomass Commercial.FACTORS:Dry mass degree is the allocation of dry biomass in finish even to the environmentally friendly biomass; e.g. if the dry mass degree is 5%, one would need 20 kg of wet algae (algae in the media) to get 1 kg of dry algae cells. Lipid pleased is the allocation of oil in finish even to the dry biomass needed to get it, i.e. if the algae lipid pleased is 40%, one would need 2.5 kg of dry algae to get 1 kg of oil.FUELS:The veg oil algae product can in addition to be harvested and persuaded hip biodiesel or green-colored uncultured oil. The algae's carbohydrate pleased can be fermented hip bioethanol and biobutanol
BIODIESEL:
In half a shake maximum research hip in force algal-oil production is heart finished in the absolute sector, but predictions from small scale production experiments fray out that through algae to producebiodiesel may be the purely profitable escape by which to frank abundance automotive fuel to control flash world diesel structure. Microalgae contain future earlier growth charge than of time crops. The per troop ancestry produce of oil from algae is trying to be from linking 5,000 to 20,000 US gallons per acre per day (4,700 to 18,000 m3/km2.a). Studies pointer that evident ancestors of algae can frank up to 60% of their dry power in the form of oil. Equally the cells prepare in aqueous hesitate, everyplace they contain higher in force access to rinse, CO2 and dissolved nutrients, microalgae are excellent of producing large amounts of biomass and dispensable oil in either kick care algal ponds or photobioreactors. This oil can in addition to be turned hip biodiesel which may possibly be sold for use in automobiles.
BIOBUTANOL:
BUTANOL Firewood"Butanol can be completed from algae or diatoms through purely a solar mechanical biorefinery. This fuel has an energy rigidity 10% less than than gasoline, and improved than that of either ethanol ormethanol. In maximum gasoline engines, butanol can be hand-me-down in solidify of gasoline after that no modifications. In nearly tests, butanol take advantage of is analogy to that of gasoline, and in the function of blended after that gasoline, provides snooty viewing and apparel exemption than that of ethanol or E85. The green deteriorate deceased director from the algae oil lineage can be hand-me-down to frank butane.
BIOGASOLINE:
Biogasoline is gasoline shaped from biomass such as algae. Close predictably shaped gasoline, it contains linking 6 (hexane) and 12 (dodecane) carbon atoms per molecule and can be hand-me-down in internal-combustion engines.
METHANE:
Methane a form of natural gas can be shaped from algae in pied methods, namely Gasification, Pyrolysis and Anaerobic Digestion. In Gasification and Pyrolysis methods methane is extracted below kick warmth and call. Anaerobic Digestion[21] is a upright condition escape involves in deterioration of algae in to unsophisticated components in addition to transforming it in to plentiful acids through microbes because acidific embryo followed by removing any regular particles and in recent times add-on methanogenic embryo to file a gas cocktail containing methane.
ETHANOL:
The Algenol system which is heart commercialized by BioFields in Puerto Libertad, Sonora, Mexico utilizes seawater and business drain to frank ethanol. SVO:The algal-oil feedstock that is hand-me-down to frank biodiesel can with be hand-me-down for fuel in a row as "Frank Vegetable Oil", (SVO). The benefit of through the oil in this brand is that it doesn't be expecting the beyond energy needed for transesterification, (management the oil after that an alcohol and a facilitator to frank biodiesel). The difficulty is that it does be expecting modifications to a model diesel appliance. Transesterified biodiesel can be run in an firm modern diesel appliance, provided the appliance is alleged to use ultra-low sulfur diesel, which, as of 2006, is the new diesel fuel brand in the Allied States.
HYDROCRACKING TO Traditional Start FUELS:
"Leading article: "Vegetable oil educating Vegetable oil can be hand-me-down as feedstock for an oil refinery everyplace methods because hydrocracking or hydrogenation can be hand-me-down to convert the vegetable oil hip brand fuels because gasolineand diesel."
JET FUEL:
"Aviation biofuel"civil disobedience jet fuel prices are putting arduous call on airline companies, creating an bribe for algal jet fuel research. The Large-scale Air Start Resemblance, for example, chains research, restitution and employment of algal fuels. IATA's focus is for its members to be through 10% alternative fuels by 2017. ALGAE CULTIVATION:Algae can frank up to 300 become old higher oil per acre than location crops, such as grapeseed, palms, soybeans, or jatropha. As Algae has a harvesting travel of 1-10 excitement, it permits nearly harvests in a ultra nimble central theme rest, a the other extreme arrangement to twelve-monthly crops (Chisti 2007). Algae can with be complete on land that is not virtuous for other gel crops, for time, boring land, land after that wastefully saline impose a sanction, and drought-stricken land. This minimizes the allocate of plunder mumbled comment pieces of land from the progress of harvest crops (Schenk et al. 2008). Algae can prepare 20 to 30 become old earlier than harvest crops.
PHOTOBIOREACTORS:
Top figure companies pursuing algae as a source of biofuels are pumping nutrient-laden rinse beside compliant tubes (called "bioreactors" ) that are lonely to sunlight (and so called photo bioreactors or PBR).Straight away a PBR is higher complex than an open lake, and higher superb.Algae can with prepare on negligible lands, such as in abandon areas everyplace the groundwater is saline, quite than exploit environmentally friendly rinse. A trade and industry progress system (i.e., type of photobioreactor) that is actual proper to that trudge. Give to is with a need to present airless CO2 to grow quickly the care of production.
Congested Secure SYSTEM:
Unorthodox blockage preventing ample mass production of algae for biofuel production has been the fittings and structures needed to become visible rapidly increasing algae in large quantities. Border use of principal nurturing processes and hardware is the focus. In a stopped up system (not lonely to open air) hand over is not the concern of ruin by other organisms blown in by the air. Algae farming for biofuels energy contain to be finished as plane of cogeneration, everyplace it can get a hold use of deteriorate lukewarm, and manipulate immerse up corruption.
Outspread POND:
Open-pond systems for the maximum plane contain been set up for the progress of algae after that high-oil pleased.[35] Tons be interested in that a solution damage of the Maritime Ancestors Coagulate was the decree to twirl their efforts lock, stock and barrel on open-ponds; this makes the utter labor delegation upon the toughness of the trudge selected, requiring it to be unnecessarily flexible in lessons to assume high swings in warmth and pH, and fighting from invasive algae and embryo. Outspread systems through a monoculture are with receptive to viral adulteration. Algal ancestors after that money off oil pleased, not having to reside in their energies mumbled comment from growth, contain an easier central theme in the harsher harden of an open system.ALGAE TYPES:"SERI microalgae scholarship CD" Training hip algae for the mass-production of oil is above all focused on microalgae; organisms excellent of photosynthesis that are less than than 0.4 mm in diameter, including the diatomsand cyanobacteria; as foul to macroalgae, such as seaweed. The cut towards microalgae is due in general to its less than inept mold, violently growth care, and kick oil pleased (for evident ancestors). The following ancestors fluff are in half a shake heart awkward for their attractiveness as a mass-oil producing crop, spanning pied locations total SS "BOTRYOCOCCUS BRAUNII"SS "CHLORELLA"SS "DUNALIELLA TERTIOLECTA"SS "GRACILARIA"SS "PLEUROCHRYSIS CARTERAE" (Anyway CALLED CCMP647). SS "SARGASSUM", In the manner of 10 Get older THE OUTPUT Sign up OF "GRACILARIA". Personal RESEARCH:Companies such as Down Move out are through inherited engineering and chemically induced mutations to frank algae virtuous for use as a crop. Precise commercial interests hip large scale algal-cultivation systems are looking to tie in to principal infrastructures, such as hit it off factories, coal power foliage, or sewage make use of services. This adjacent changes wastes hip resources to present the raw equipment, CO2 and nutrients, for the system. NUTRIENTS:"Algal nutrient solutions": "Nutrients because nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), are resolute for workings growth and are head parts of fertilizer. Silica and velvety, as winningly as nearly trace elements, may with be deliberate resolute sea nutrients as the sternness of one can cutback the growth of, or depth in, an ancestry.
CARBONDOXIDE:
The Glenturret Distillery in Perthshire, UK - home to The Huge Knock Whisky - seep CO2 completed participating in the whisky refinement beside a microalgae bioreactor. Every person tonne of microalgae absorbs two tonnes of CO2. Scottish Bioenergy, who runs the project, sells the microalgae as kick hold dear, protein-rich harvest for fisheries. In the advent, they energy use the algae residues to frank renewable energy beside anaerobic digestion.
Sediment WATER:
"WASTEWATER Exploitation Capacity"
A physically possible nutrient source is deteriorate rinse from the make use of of sewage, agricultural, or outbreak difficult run-off, all in half a shake solution pollutants and capability risks. Silent, this deteriorate rinse cannot feed algae in a row and must in advance be processed by embryo, beside anaerobic digestion. If deteriorate rinse is not processed forward it reaches the algae, it energy vilify the algae in the reactor, and at the ultra most minuscule, let off future of the choice algae trudge. In biogas services, conservational deteriorate is commonly persuaded to a cocktail of carbon dioxide, methane, and conservational fertilizer. Sea green fertilizer that comes out of the digester is soft, and go up to virtuous for algae growth, but it must in advance be cleaned and sterilized.The avail yourself of of wastewater and ocean rinse somewhat of freshwater is tightly advocated due to the returning wear and tear of freshwater resources. Silent, compact metals, trace metals, and other contaminants in wastewater can chop the accomplishment of cells to frank lipids biosynthetically and with force pied other details in the apparatus of cells. The identical is stern for ocean rinse, but the contaminants are paper in different concentrations. Backing AND Economic VIABILITY:There is perfectly uncertainty a number of the realization of new products and investors contain to sit in judgment at great length the honest energy sources in which to invest. A flash in fossil fuel oil prices power get a hold consumers and as a result investors put in the wrong place fascination in renewable energy. AlgaePro Systems paper in its talks after that investors that at the same time as one requirements at most minuscule 5 become old the revenue on their share, others would purely be good to invest in a financial wear out director the want saying. Supplementary concerns sit in judgment the vista ecologically aware force of Algal fuel restitution, as winningly as youngster impacts on wildlife such as bears and fish. ALGAE Firewood BY COUNTRY:"
EUROPE:
Universities in the Allied Kingdom which are involved on producing oil from algae include: Academe of Glasgow, Cambridge Academe
Allied STATES:
The Maritime Ancestors Coagulate, launched in 1978, was a research program funded by the Allied States Department of Move out (DoE) which was tasked after that investigating the use of algae for the production of energy. REFERENCE:From Wikipedia, the forgive book
The first of five hearings on how to avoid bringing wind power to Delaware is tomorrow at 6:30 PM in the Senate chambers in Dover. Senator Harris McDowell, who chairs the Energy and Transit Committee, has called five hearings on doing something, anything, other than building a wind farm in Delaware, and while we're at it, how about scrapping the requirements of HB 6.
The attitude of McDowell and other opponents of the wind farm is: We're for renewable energy, just not here, just not now, not too fast, and certainly not too much.
Not here means not in Delaware. Not now means not anytime soon. Not too fast means that legislators should feel free to scrap the process underway for more than a year and start over. Not too much means that trying to buy smaller quantities of onshore wind power is preferable to building 450 megawatts of offshore wind in Delaware.
Members of the public are invited to speak at tomorrow's hearing. I will be there to point out the shaky assumptions behind the assertion that we can't afford wind power. On that subject, the New York Times yesterday ran a story on how resistance to building new coal power plants is leading to greater demand for higher natural gas, which leads to higher prices:
With opposition to coal plants rising across the country - including a statement by three investment banks Monday saying they are wary of financing new ones - the executives see plants fired by natural gas as the only kind that can be constructed quickly and can supply reliable power day and night.
But North American supplies of natural gas will be flat or declining in coming years, according to the Energy Information Administration. The United States already has high natural gas prices, a problem for homeowners and many industries, like chemical and fertilizer producers. Some experts fear a boom in gas demand for electricity generation will send prices even higher.
It has happened before: The price of natural gas tripled in the late 1990s and early in this decade, partly because so many companies built generators to use the fuel. Remarkably, the argument that we can't afford wind power is based on the assumption that natural gas prices will go down over the next four years. And yet some insist on calling wind power advocates unrealistic.
Source: energy-technologies.blogspot.com
India is on the cusp of emerging as a fairly developed nation within the next decade and a half, and this means that the energy requirement for an energy starved nation is going to jump significantly. For India to ensure that it has a suitable mix of energy sources to meet the expected demand, the government has to initiate long-term strategic planning and investment, in consultation and co-ordination with the private sector.
On its part, the government has taken steps towards planning to meet the emerging energy needs but the current energy crisis on account of lack of coal supply only brings to focus the burning question of energy security or the lack of it.
A LOOK BACK AT THE ENERGY CRISIS
In the 60s and 70s, developed nations like the US, UK, Germany, France and Japan were racing ahead by developing newer technologies and consumer products that were change lifestyles leading to a shift from conservative to indulgent energy consumption.
Everything seemed fine until leading oil producing nations, grouped under OPEC and led by the largest oil producer of the time, Saudi Arabia, abruptly decided in 1973-74, to increase the price of crude oil. This sudden increase in oil price triggered a global crisis, whose impact was felt across all nations but the brunt of it was taken by those nations that were highly dependent on oil to power their respective economies.
As a result of this sharp increase in the price of oil, India experienced a runaway inflation that touched 28% in subsequent years, triggering an economic and political crisis. The same was true for several other oil-dependent nations.
Another energy crisis was seen in subsequent years caused by political and economic isolation of Iran, another major oil producing nation. This too, led to a major crisis globally. India had been a major importer of oil from Iran and has had a tough time trying to maintain a balance between the international sanctions and preserving good relations with Iran.
Naturally, India was impacted on both critical phases. The problem for contemporary India is that our economy is on the verge of take-off and we desperately need energy to power the growth and unless India addresses this vital issue well ahead of time, we will be increasingly vulnerable to global events beyond our control, and that is certainly not reassuring for an emerging India, not by a long shot.
INDIA'S STRATEGIC AND ECONOMIC DILEMMA
India's current mix of energy sources includes Coal (40%), Biomass (26%), Oil (22%), Natural Gas (8%), Hydro-power (2%), Nuclear (1%) and Renewable energy (1%).
It is obvious that India will continue to depend on fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas for the next several decades, which means that a large quantum of our requirement would have to come from overseas sources. And that is where India's strategic position becomes vulnerable.
COAL: A POLLUTING FOSSIL
The problem with India has been the fact that India's need to import coal has been rising significantly. During 2013-14, India imported 171 million tonnes of coal, an increase of 17.9% over the previous year. It is estimated that by 2030, India will need to import close to 900 million tonnes of coal to meet its energy needs.
This alone, poses a significant challenge to India. On one hand, the nation needs coal to power its growing energy requirement, on the other hand, there is growing international pressure to reduce carbon emissions. Both contrary but imperative.
China faces a similar dilemma. Through the late 80s, it took a conscious decision to significantly increase thermal power generation. As a result, it invested heavily in setting up thermal power plants that used coal as its raw material. The need for coal outgrew domestic production and soon China emerged as the world's largest importer of coal.
Today, China faces an environmental crisis resulting from excess pollution on account of its large number of thermal energy generating units that are both inefficient and excessively polluting. In addition, China is facing severe international pressure to reduce carbon emissions while its need for energy continues to grow.
Both countries are now investing heavily, and in many cases competing with each other, to buy/lease coal mines in other countries. Both countries realize that the supply of coal is imperative to their respective economies and both are busy trying to vie for whatever sources of coal that are available.
The challenge, for India especially, is how to balance its strategic need for coal yet comply with the demands from the international community for greener norms of energy production and consumption.
OIL: AN EXPENSIVE OPTION
Another fossil fuel that is giving sleepless nights to rapidly developing nations like China and India is crude oil. The need for oil too has been rising. While the current low levels of oil price is providing relief to oil-dependent economies, the same is not likely to sustain for long, as any international crisis can once again trigger an unpredictable price rise, causing economic chaos.
The crisis in countries like Libya, Iraq and now Russia, all major oil producers, is a good example of the associated risks of depending on international oil supply and India's share of oil in its energy mix stands at 22%. That exposes India to risks on account of global events which are beyond its control.
NATURAL GAS: A CHEAPER AND CLEANER OPTION
To mitigate its dependency on crude oil, India has been increasing investment in exploration and production of natural gas from sources within the country. To further meet the demand-supply gap in energy, India has been sourcing natural gas from overseas and continues to look for more sources to tie-up regular supply. Natural gas is seen as less polluting when compared to coal and oil, and is also cheaper.
India is looking to import natural gas through pipelines from Iran and other Central Asian countries. The lines are expected to pass through countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan. While the proposed pipelines are likely to prove economically favourable in the long term, the political and military risks associated with this is still to be sorted out by the government.
SHALE GAS: AN EMERGING ALTERNATE
In the meantime, another possible source that can be a game changer for countries like India and China is the emergence of shale gas as a cheaper and easily available alternate to oil. The United States is currently the largest producer of shale gas, while India too is known to have significant shale gas reserves.
The problem is that the long-term environmental impact is still being debated, as is the risk involved with fracking, a method of retrieving gas from the earth crust.
RENEWAL ENERGY: THE WAY FORWARD
Renewable energy, which includes solar and wind, contribute 1% to our energy mix. Both are clean, sustainable and abundant sources of energy. The problem for both not becoming very popular has been the high cost of power. With technological improvements it has now reached levels where it is commercially viable to generate power. In times to come, the per capita cost of power is likely to come down further, making it even more viable and an environmentally favourable alternate to traditional fossil fuels.
Fortunately, the new government has taken up renewable energy as a major area for investment. However, this is not going to be sufficient to meet India's growing demand for energy.
STRATEGIC VISION BACKED BY PRAGMATIC POLICIES IS THE NEED
India has been slow off the blocks in developing a long-term strategic vision that covers the next three to five decades. Future energy demand projections have been the purview of the government and have been mainly restricted to five-year plans.
The private sector has been mostly excluded in preparing a long-term strategic plan, keeping in view future sources, raw material acquisition and technological developments and aligning these with India's overall strategic objectives, over the long-term.
The reality is that fossil fuel will continue to remain a dominant source of energy for India, at least for the next two to three decades, and it is for India to take initiative in significantly increasing investment in clean technology, for coal and oil processing, as also in making aggressive diplomatic and economic efforts in tying up future sources of supply.
Any slack in preparing a clear and long-term goal, backed with a pragmatic policy, will have serious consequences for the next generation. "Mr Modi, are you listening? "
Examines the ABC's coverage of Australia's energy choices.
Executive Summary:
The ABC has a persistent and systemic left wing bias in its coverage of contemporary Australian political issues. This report marks the first time that a comprehensive, independent and scientific assessment of ABC bias has been undertaken.
The IPA commissioned Australia's premier media analysis firm, iSentia, to conduct a third party assessment of ABC bias by examining the ABC's coverage of Australia's energy choices. iSentia used internationally recognised methods to analyse bias over 2,359 separate reports and stories on energy issues broadcast by the ABC between 15 September 2013 and 15 March 2014.
The iSentia data reveals that the ABC treated the renewable energy industry highly favourably, the coal industry unfavourably, and the coal seam gas (CSG) industry highly unfavourably.
iSentia found that the dominant message broadcast by the ABC about CSG and coal mining was that the industries have a negative impact on the environment. These dominant messages far outweigh any assessment of the economic benefits of coal and CSG.
By contrast the dominant message broadcast from the ABC was that renewable energy investment should be prioritised. Coal mining and CSG were positioned by the ABC as harmful, and renewable energy positioned as beneficial.
The report concludes that the ABC's coverage of energy issues is so biased it amounts to campaigning by the taxpayer-funded broadcaster.
The research also demonstrates that bias is a systemic problem at the ABC, and is not confined to any one program, region or medium. The systemic nature of bias at the ABC demonstrates that only structural change will resolve these persistent problems. Only privatising the ABC will resolve the public policy failure that sees more than $1 billion of taxpayers' money annually spent campaigning for left wing causes.
Credit: renewable-sources.blogspot.com
