June 2008
Monthly Archive
GreenHunter Energy to be included in the Russell 3000
Posted by admin on 30 Jun 2008 | Tagged as: Finance and Investing
Renewable Energy Company GreenHunter Energy will be included in the Russell 3000 Index, a measuring tool for investment strategies.
The investment community is taking note of the fact that GreenHunter Energy is the only publicly traded portfolio company of renewable power and fuels assets in the United States,” said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Gary C. Evans. “GreenHunter Energy’s management team has begun successfully executing on an aggressive business plan with the top priority being to maximize the returns on our capital employed.”
Canadian community shares solar power
Posted by admin on 30 Jun 2008 | Tagged as: Solar
The Drake Landing Solar Community in Alberta, Canada, is a neighborhood of 52 homes equipped with solar panels on the roofs of the houses and garages. The solar panels provide 90% of the heating and hot water required, even in Alberta’s very cold winters.
Combined together, the 52 home community is able to collect and store enough energy from the sun during the summer that the ground storage temperatures reach 80 degrees C (176 F). This heat is sufficiently insulated beneath the ground that it can be drawn from throughout the winter to provide heat and hot water
Solar panels could produce 10% of the world’s energy by 2035
Posted by admin on 30 Jun 2008 | Tagged as: Solar
A new study suggests that solar photovoltaic energy could produce one-tenth of the world’s energy needs by 2035.
According to RNCOS, the main reason for the solar PV growth is the expected drop in technology prices. Of course installed capacity will grow even further once grid parity (which means that solar power is competitive with fossil fuels in terms of cost) is achieved. This will basically mean that solar power users will save money by having their own solar facility on the roof, compared to the price paid for electricity from utilities from the grid.
Wisconsin business to make ethanol from cheese byproducts
Posted by admin on 29 Jun 2008 | Tagged as: Biofuel, Ethanol
Dubay Ingredients and Green Meadow Energy of Stratford, Wisconsin announced that a plant to make fuel out of waste from local dairies will soon be in operation.
VanGroll said he and Boeger have developed a secret recipe using waste that already has the protein removed.
The remaining permeate has water and some lactose. The lactose is used to make ethanol and the water becomes purified drinking water, VanGroll said.
“We’re using waste to make ethanol and there is no waste when we make it. All of the byproducts can be used,” Boeger said.
Earthrace beats world record
Posted by admin on 29 Jun 2008 | Tagged as: Biofuel
Biodiesel-powered powerboat Earthrace beat the circumnavigation record by 14 days.
The sleek tri-hull Earthrace eco-boat, has beaten the world speed record for a powerboat to circumnavigate the globe. The biodiesel powered craft traveled 24,000 nautical miles in 60 days, 23 hours and 49 minutes, finishing its journey by crossing the finish line in Sagunto, Spain.
French company licenses Virginia Tech biofuel and biomass processes
Posted by admin on 29 Jun 2008 | Tagged as: Biofuel, Biomass
French biotech company Bioemethodes has signed an agreement with Virginia Tech to license new technologies developed by Percival Zhang.
The processes were invented by Percival Zhang, assistant professor of biological systems engineering in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech. An integrated biorefinery pilot plant in Virginia is envisioned to advance the process for the conversion of biomass into ethanol and valuable co-products, focusing especially on biomass pretreatment. The process for transformation of biomass into hydrogen will be developed in France and will be validated through a biohydrogen fuel cell prototype and small-scale model car.
Solar facility to be built at Kennedy Space Center
Posted by admin on 28 Jun 2008 | Tagged as: Solar
NASA and Florida Power and Light have reached an agreement to build a solar photovoltaic power generation system on Kennedy Space Center land.
The agreement will permit FPL to lease 60 acres of NASA Kennedy Space Center’s approximately 140,000 acres for a solar photovoltaic power generation system. The facility will produce an estimated 10 megawatts of electrical power, which is enough energy to serve roughly 3,000 homes. The solar power facility will be built and maintained by FPL.
From shrimp waste to biofuel
Posted by admin on 28 Jun 2008 | Tagged as: Biofuel
Researchers at Mississippi State University are working on a way to turn shrimp processing waste into biofuel.
Scientists already know that seafood waste contains the materials necessary to produce oil, French said. The main ingredient is chitin (a carbohydrate found in shrimp, crab and lobster shells). Researchers will take the seafood processing waste, pre-treat it with an acid and add it to vats of bacteria, yeast and fungi – a mixture French refers to as “our bugs.” The microorganisms eat the chitin, convert it into fat and store it. The fat can be harvested in the form of an oil.
Britain to expand wind power capacity
Posted by admin on 28 Jun 2008 | Tagged as: Wind
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown plans a large increase in wind power to meet the country’s goal of obtaining 15% of its energy from renewables by 2020.
The UK has the best wind resources in Europe and although only 2.4GW of power comes from wind farms at the moment, another 19GW is in development.
The British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) estimates that within five years the UK will be able to obtain as much power from wind as it does from nuclear plants.
Mississippi to turn sludge into biofuel
Posted by admin on 27 Jun 2008 | Tagged as: Biofuel
Mississippi State University received a grant to conduct research on how to turn sludge from water treatment plants into biofuel.
The research team, led by Dr. Rafael Hernandez and Dr. Todd French, will conduct research into microorganisms to extract lipids, which are the fatty substances, from the sludge. The research will also look into cutting transportation costs for biodiesel feedstocks by locating production facilities near larger population centres.
