Monthly Archives: November 2008
A British engineer, Alvin Smith, has developed a simple system, called Searaser, which uses ocean wave energy to produce electricity on demand – including so-called baseload power – even at times when the sea is calm. The system is based on a two-part pump. The bottom part of the pump is anchored to the ocean floor. The top part moves up and down with the motion of the waves and drives a piston within a cylinder in the bottom section. This action is used to pump water to a reservoir on a coastal cliff or hilltop. Water from the reservoir … Continue Reading
Chrysler has demonstrated prototypes of "range exended" electric vehicles for each of its brands – Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep. The first production vehicles will be available in North America from 2010 and later in Europe. Chrysler uses the term "range extended" for plug-in series hybid vehicles in which an electric motor is used until the batteries run out and then an internal combustion engine takes over.
It has been estimated that their is sufficient energy in the world’s ocean currents to meet 3,000 times the current power needs of the the entire world’s population. The difficulty is in harnessing that energy. Turbines and watermills need water flowing at 5 to 6 knots to operate effectively. But most of the ocean currents flow at less than 3 knots. Michael Bernitsas, a professor in the University of Michigan, has now developed a device that works in water flowing at just 2 knots. The machine, called a VIVACE, relies on "vortex induced vibrations". These are undulations that a rounded … Continue Reading
According to an analysis done by energy experts at Google, the United States could wean itself from coal and oil for electricity generation and nearly halve its petrol consumption by 2030. The analysis was first published in October but has since been revised in the light of comments and changes such as the decrease in the price of oil. The new analysis is at http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/clean-energy-2030.html. Overall, the analysis found that by 2030, the United States could reduce fossil fuel-based electricity generation by 88%, reduce vehicle petroleum consumption by 44% and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 49% at a total cost … Continue Reading
Scientists from Montana State University have discovered that a fungus found in a Patagonian rainforest could provide an alternative source of biofuel. The fungus, Gliocladium roseum, grows in the ulmo tree (Eucryphia cordifolia), a species native to the Patagonia region of Argentina and Chile. The researchers have found that it possesses the metabolic machinery to produce a wide variety of hydrocarbons virtually identical to the compounds in diesel obtained from crude oil. According to the lead researcher, Professor Gary Strobel, "Many fungi make ethanol, but none to date produce this kind of mixture of diesel hydrocarbons." The fungus produces the … Continue Reading
The Australian electricity grid includes three major sections which are not connected: the so-called National Electricity Maket, linking all of the east coast and South Australia the Western Australian grid in the south west of Western Australia, centered on Perth and the Pilbara local grid serving the mining area in the north west. Associate Professor Neil Howes has suggested linking these three grids in order to make better use of Australia’s rich renewable energy porential. In particular, a 1500 kilometre high voltage DC connection between Norseman in Western Aystralia and Port Augusta in South Australia would link the solar potential … Continue Reading
Korean researchers have found a way to make lithium-ion batteries, which are commonly used in notebook computers, mobile phones and the latest hybrid vehicles, hold eight times more charge than they do now. Lithium-ion batteries are currently the most energy-efficient storage devices for their size. Electricity flows through the batteries as positive lithium ions move toward a negative electrode, while negative electrical particles move to positive zones. But graphite, which is used in the negative electrode, can store only a limited amount of lithium ion – giving a usage time of around 2 hours. A group led by Professor Cho … Continue Reading
Swedish firm Vattenfall, which already operates the 90 megawatt Kentish Flats offshore wind farm, has announced that it has paid £35 million ($au 80 million) for the rights to develop the Thanet Offshore Wind Project, off Margate, Kent. Total costs for the project, which is expected to be completed in 2010, will be about £780 million ($au 1.8 billion). The announcement follows last months agreement by Abu Dhabi’s Masdar investment fund to buy a 20% stake in the £1.5 billion ($au 3.5 billion) London Array. The London Array remains on track to come online in 2012 or 2013. When completed … Continue Reading
Italian manufacturer Piaggio (the maker of Vespa motor scooters) has unveiled a plug-in hybrid three-wheeler scooter that it says will be on the road next year. Ppiaggio’s MP3 Hybrid combines a 125-cc petrol engine with an electric motor in an easy-to-ride three-wheeler that reportedly can do zero to 100 kilometres per hour in around 5 seconds. The scooter can run in a fully electric mode or in one of three hybrid modes designed to maximize performance, maximize fuel economy or recharge the batteries quickly. The MP3 Hybrid will charge in as little as three hours when plugged into a standard … Continue Reading
At the São Paulo Auto Show, Fiat has unveiled a new electric, off-road concept car deigned to "make saving the world outrageous fun". In what may a bad omen for the car’s future, Fiat’s corporate masters have changed the car’s original fun name, "Bugster", to the distinctly boring "FCC 11". The FCC 11 has a purpose-built electric engine and rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. The two-seater car has a range of about 100 kilometres on its fully charged batteries. The concept car’s bodywork was produced with natural fibers from renewable sources worked by nanotechnology. Thirty percent of the seat foam is made … Continue Reading
Videos
Renewables News- Vic Council Approves Wind Farm with Community SharesBuloke Shire has approved a planning permit for a five-turbine wind farm spanning 5.t hectares at Coonooer Bridge, west of Bendigo..It is the first wind farm planning permit approved since 2011 when the Victorian Government introduced tough planning laws that … Continue Reading → […]
- NZ Electricity Co Offers Solar PV with BatteryVector Limited, the largest electricity and gas distribution company in New Zealand, is offerring a "home solar power solution", incorporating intelligent battery storage into a traditional solar PV system. In the introductory phase of the programme, a limited number of … Continue Reading → […]
- Sydney City Revises Trigen Power PlanThe City of Sydney has decided not to pursue its plan for a trigeneation power precinct at Green Square at this time but has re-affirmed its commitment to cutting carbon emissions using trigeneration, among other technologies, The decision to halt … Continue Reading → […]
- Vic Council Approves Wind Farm with Community Shares
