No, Electric Vehicles Won't Bring Down the U.S. Power Grid

This is good news - plugin electric vehicles won't cause a tremendous drain on the U.S. power grid. A study (by two groups with differing viewpoints towards energy) was completed and they determined that one electric vehicle is the equivalent of four plasma televisions sets. Our lust for plasma flat screen televisions hasn't brought down the electric utility grid yet. Now that this is settled, we just need to figure out how to charge these cars (and run our plasma tv's) with more renewable energy!

Scientists Develop Highly Recyclable Plastic

Since I'm on a technology kick, here's an article from the NY Times blog that speaks to researchers at Stanford and IBM developing a plastic that can be "continuously recycled". I don't know about you but I was unaware that plastic couldn't be recycled indefinitely and typically is recycled once then ends up in a landfill. Reason being is that there is a metal oxide in the polymers used to form the plastic that continues to breakdown each time it is recycled. This "breakdown" ultimately makes the plastic weaker and unusable. The researchers at IBM and Stanford have substituted an organic catalyst for the metal oxide, which according to them, "makes certain types of new polymers that have other properties plastics don't have." This will allow the plastic to be recycled numerous times. IBM and Stanford, Mother Earth thanks you!

Ultra-Efficient Gas Engine Passes Test: 64 to 98 MPG!

From Technology Review we have an interesting bit of tech that increases the efficiency of the internal combustion engine. Transonic Combustion claims that their fuel-injection system will improve the engine gas efficiency by 50%. Their process is to essentially heat and pressurize the gasoline before it goes into the fuel-injection chamber. They claim that this allows for "fast and clean combustion." Pretty cool huh? The company claims that the technology can get 64 miles per gallon and that at a steady speed of 50 miles per hour they can get 98 mpg! Even if the technology isn't scalable for mass production, it never ceases to amaze me that there are brilliant minds working right now on the next technological breakthrough.

Energy Efficient Building Design at NREL

It never ceases to amaze me that right here in our own backyard, nestled up against the Rocky Mountain foothills are modest men and women of science working together to make our energy future renewable, sustainable, and efficient. The National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) is putting their money (and brains) where their mouth is. Set to open this summer, NREL has been developing the de facto standard for energy efficient commercial office buildings. From a building that tells you when to open the windows because it's too hot inside to windows that tint (electrochromic) when direct sun hits them, the folks at NREL know how to analyze every aspect of a structure to ensure efficient energy use. Hopefully they'll have tours of this building after it opens!

Could the Bloom Box Fuel Cell Revolutionize the Power Industry?

The Bloom Box fuel cell was featured last night on 60 minutes and "the tubes" are abuzz with speculation. It seems like an attractive technology. Fuel (natural gas, biofuels, etc.) goes into one side of the fuel cell, oxygen goes in the other, and the catalyst creates electricity. The beauty of the fuel cell, unlike let's say the internal combustion engine, is that there are no carbon emissions. I have my doubts, but I must admit I am intrigued at the possibility that most homes, who already have natural gas pumped in to heat their water or power their furnace, could use natural gas to power the Bloom Box and generate clean electricity in the home.

Whatever the outcome, I can't wait until Thursday when the Bloom Box is officially revealed to the public.

NREL Study: Tall Wind Turbines Could Make More Power

According to this NREL study, if Colorado builds their wind turbines on the plains to at least 262 feet they can produce three times as much energy than earlier estimates released in this Colorado Governor's Energy Office report in 2007 (PDF). The older estimates were based on turbines that were about 162 feet high. So for another 100 feet of material on a turbine one could generate three times as much energy. Hopefully wind farm investors will begin to see the greater ROI and will reverse this disturbing trend: "Vestas Cuts Forecasts as Financing Dearth Slows Turbine Growth". Nice work NREL. Another example of how science and research can pay off.

Self-Destructing Bacteria Could Be the Key to Better Biofuels

Cool. Scientists have created bacteria that can dissolve itself from the inside out. Which makes it easier to access the "high-energy fats" and "biofuel byproducts within." Easier access to the fuel parts of the organic matter will eventually make the production of biofuels cheaper. I'm so glad that we have labs around the country devoted to discovering renewable fuels. Kudos to Arizona State University for discovering this technique.

Clean Energy: U.S. Lags in Research and Development

I'd have to agree that the U.S. is behind on the renewable energy front. We have numerous excuses NOT to invest in renewable energy (costs to much, we can drill our way out of our problems, the RE output of solar and wind is lower than fossil fuels such as coal and oil, CO2 emissions aren't that bad, blah, blah, blah). The excuses not to invest in RE are based on fear or excessive hand-wringing or outright ignorance. But when we compare the Apollo missions to this potential race to be the global authority with respect to RE, we can begin to see the bigger picture.

In the short term the Apollo missions were expensive ($125 billion in today's dollars) and there were probably naysayers who said that we should take care of this planet rather than reach for the stars, or that launching a manned rocket ship to the moon is not only impractical but insane. But in the long-term those naysayers were proved wrong. By putting all of America's good qualities together - ingenuity, will power, and hard work, we beat the Russians to the punch, instilled a gigantic national pride, and were seen as innovators of great proportions over the next several decades. Not to mention all of the new inventions, entire industries that were spawned and jobs created from this one $125 billion project.

So we are behind with respect to renewable energy R&D but it's because we are listening to the blowhards that continue to demean everything that is American.

There Is No Such Thing as Clean Coal

I saw an ad on the television the other day, using a clip of President Barack Obama (presidential candidate at the time) on the campaign trail saying to the crowd that clean coal (scrubbing sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and other particulate emissions from the coal-burning process) could be a reality some day soon. I've also seen and heard Barry Schweitzer, governor of Montana, speak to the benefits of carbon sequestration (burying carbon dioxide underground) from coal-fired power plants. The latter is unproven on a large-sale and is cost prohibitive. The former is to me an oxymoron. Even if you capture all of the particulate matter and toxic chemicals from the coal-burning process where do you put it? We've seen what happened in Tennessee when we put another by-product of the coal burning process, fly-ash (aka "slurry"), into large storage ponds or landfills. There's a chance that it will spill, flood, or completely leach into the water supply as we saw in Tennessee in December 2008.

If you hadn't already noticed from the masthead above, I am a proponent of renewable energy. The reasons are simple. For one, the current rate at which the U.S. and other emerging economies (China and India) burn coal for their electricity and/or use oil in the combustion engine is unsustainable. These fossil fuels are both finite and hazardous to humans, animals and the planet itself. Second, I am a much happier person (and I think it's safe to say for all Earthly people) with clean air, water, and land. Burning coal or oil doesn't contribute to clean air, water, or land. Using renewable energy sources does. Third, finding renewable resources to assist with our energy needs is the right thing to do for the living and future generations.

I am not an environmentalist or a moral crusader. I am realist. That having been said, I am going to go out on a limb here and say that there is no such thing as clean coal and burying carbon dioxide underground is a fool's errand. Utilizing renewable, clean energy technologies to offset some of our coal-burning is a step in the right direction. And let it be known that I completely understand that the road ahead involves a partnership with coal, because the base electricity load cannot be supported by solar or wind technologies alone. Coal still needs to be used for the foreseeable future. But we can't continue to use coal as our primary means to electricity because it is the cheapest source out there. When our skies are polluted and our coastal cities are flooded and our droughts get worse, and the forest fires become more intense and prevalent, and the food supply dwindles, and people begin to starve, I dare say that we aren't going to care whether things are "cheaper."

So let's lose the myopia, and the feeble attempts at placating the coal and oil lobbies who scream that the sky will fall and jobs will be lost if we take away the lush subsidies that they receive today. We need to roll up our sleeves and figure out a way to transfer most of our energy production to renewable sources as soon as possible. This isn't a time for politics as usual or business as usual. This isn't time for outta sight outta mind and back to our SUVs and driving 10 miles to the grocery store just because gas prices are low. This is time to plan for the future with innovation and research and investment into renewable energy, alternative public transportation sources, localization (food, energy, and commerce), smart grids, and urban renewal. What do you think?

Colorado Shares Wind-power Info with Honduras

The folks at NREL hosted Honduras President Manuel Zelaya and shared information on renewable energy. Looks like they went to the National Wind Testing Center and talked about good locations for wind farms in Honduras. Hosting international delegations is a positive thing for Colorado and helps solidify our reputation as a renewable energy thought-leader. More of these please!

Colorado Lab, Battelle Research Green Energy

Great article on all of the research labs around the country working to place us on a solid renewable footing. Whether it be solar, wind, biofuels, or energy efficiency there are great minds working as we speak to beat back the fossil fuel monster that has a firm grip on our throats. Rock and roll.

Reinventing the Wheels

I stumbled upon this Atlantic article from January 1995 on reinventing the automobile. It seems appropriate to read this article in 2009 (a full 14 years later) now that the American auto industry is on the brink of complete and utter collapse. Be careful when you read this though, because it might make you sick yo your stomach or blind with anger. The technology to make cars energy efficient and have lower emissions was there in 1995 and before. The automotive companies simply chose not to make them and instead relied upon status quo and cheap gasoline. I'm convinced of this.

One of the concepts in the article that intrigued me was making the undercarriage of an automobile smooth, thereby making it more aerodynamic. Something so simple smoothing out the undercarriage would grant us a few more miles per gallon. Is this concept on any of our cars or trucks today? Nope. Nada. Zilch.

So read the article (it's by Amory Lovins the genius that founded the Rocky Mountain Institute) and let me know what you think.

Coffee Grounds as Biodiesel?

Seriously this is great. Speaking for myself, I have a pot of coffee 6-7 days a week. Most of the grounds go into the trash. It would be nice if we could figure out a way to save those used grounds for a biofuel producer. What other waste products can be converted to biofuel?

Midwest Research Institute Will Develop Solar Test Facility

Excellent. Midwest Research Institute (MRI) is going to build a solar test and evaluation facility in Aurora, Colorado. This will help universities and solar businesses bring their solar technologies to the market faster. This is good news for the RE industry and for Colorado.

Wind Turbines across Oregon Stir up Health Scare

I have some reservations about this article, but I will let it ride to see what you think. Apparently the doctor in this article has done some scientific studies that demonstrate/show/prove (?) health problems when living near wind turbines. Much ado about nothing? Or valid concern? I'll keep an eye on this one to see if the health concerns pan out.

NREL Solar Research Gains Two R&D 100 Awards

Congrats to NREL for getting two awards this year. And check out what they got them for:

"An ultra-light, highly efficient solar cell and use of ink-jet printing to manufacture thin-film photovoltaics—both developed at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory—have been named among this year’s most significant innovations by Research & Development (R&D) Magazine."

You mean I could someday print my own solar panels! I am giddy with anticipation.

MIT Increases Efficiency of Solar Panels

Phenomenal news. MIT has figured out a way to increase solar panel efficiency by, "making more efficient use of the full spectrum of sunlight." This will reduce the expense of the panel in a big way by allowing more bang for the buck and generating a quicker ROI. Go MIT.

Australian, Chinese Researchers Make Breakthrough in Renewable Energy Materials

If true this would be great for the PV industry. Not only that but this as well:

"Titania nano-crystals are promising materials for cost-effective solar cells, hydrogen production from splitting water, and solar decontamination of pollutants."

Cool eh? Still 5-10 years off, but that's really just a blink of an eye.

Big Oil Now Seeing Green

Interesting article from the Denver Post that speaks to what the oil companies are doing to further renewable energy research. I wonder if these companies are truly interested in finding alternative methods of energy. We'll see.

The Gift of Solar

Well written article on where solar needs to go in the next decade if it is to be a viable option to compete with/replace coal and natural gas in the marketplace. Solar technology is here and improving everyday. Now we need to figure out how make it more efficient and figure out how to store it better and for longer periods of time. With bright folks (see MIT) working on these issues I have reason to believe that we can solve these problems within the next decade. Exciting isn't it?