February 2009
Monthly Archive
Xylose converted to ethanol
Posted by admin on 28 Feb 2009 | Tagged as: Ethanol
Professor Eckhard Boles, a German scientist at Goethe University, announced that he has found a new process that can convert xylose, an unused waste sugar formed during the cellulosic ethanol process, into ethanol.
Boles and his team discovered a new enzyme that, in contrast to current cellulosic ethanol technologies, can convert xylose in a single step and isn’t inhibited by other chemical compounds normally present within the yeast cells. The researchers have filed a patent application for their process.
Volkswagen to use B5 biodiesel in race cars
Posted by admin on 27 Feb 2009 | Tagged as: Biofuel
Volkswagen announced that it will use B5 biodiesel in its race cars, transport vehicles, and generators for the 2009 Jetta TDI racing season.
Performance testing has proven that diesel powered vehicles offer more low-end torque than traditional gasoline engines, providing quicker off-the-line acceleration that’s well suited for the race track. In addition, the Jetta TDI engine’s use of a “common rail” direct injection system improves fuel economy over gasoline engines and reduces sooty emissions by 95 percent, even under demanding race conditions. During the 2009 season, the Jetta TDI Cup cars will consume approximately two tanks of B5 biodiesel during race conditions and overall carbon emissions produced by the series will be reduced by 2,583 pounds as a result of the new fuel. These environmentally-friendly characteristics classify all Volkswagen TDI models as Advanced Lean Technology Vehicles, qualifying consumers for a $1,300 Federal Income Tax Credit.
East River turbines may produce 10 megawatts of green energy
Posted by admin on 26 Feb 2009 | Tagged as: Ocean Energy
Verdant Power is planning to install thirty tidal turbines in the East Channel of New York’s East River. The company is also proposing to install an additional 100 turbines in the West Channel.
Verdant’s draft license application filed this fall with the Federal Energy Resource Commission, the agency charged with hydropower oversight, proposes installing an additional 100 units in the West Channel’s UN security zone that is closed off to boat traffic. This latter installation will require a separate license. A full expansion of the project, which would entail installing nearly 300 turbines, has the potential to generate 10 megawatts of average annual power.
Michigan’s interest in rooftop wind grows
Posted by admin on 25 Feb 2009 | Tagged as: Wind
Small-scale wind turbines are gaining popularity in Michigan.
With good wind a turbine can generate up to 2,000 kWh of electricity — about 20 percent of an average house’s annual usage – using wind speeds between 8 and 40 m.p.h. This could translate into a savings of $200 a year, according to a company spokesman.
Australian town to go solar 24 hours a day
Posted by admin on 24 Feb 2009 | Tagged as: Solar
The northwestern Australian outback town of Cloncurry, population 4000, will produce enough solar thermal power to supply all its electrical needs.
The technology used will ensure the 10 megawatt Cloncurry solar thermal power station will continue to generate electricity when the sun is not shining and will deliver about 30 million kilowatt hours of electricity a year. Up to 8000 mirrors will reflect sunlight onto graphite blocks through which water will be pumped to generate steam that will operate a conventional steam turbine electricity generator. Because heat stays in the graphite, the system will work through the night and on overcast days.
Water wheel ready for a comeback
Posted by admin on 23 Feb 2009 | Tagged as: Hydro
The water wheel, when combined with new technology, can produce electricity that can power small towns.
This wheel now supplies 25 houses and families with electricity, which is being used to power everything from sewing machines to refrigerators and it even supports a village hairdresser who has set up shop next door. A total of six wheels have since been constructed and installed in the country providing over one thousand people with 25kW of electricity in more than 200 homes.
Cost of installing solar decreases over a decade
Posted by admin on 22 Feb 2009 | Tagged as: Solar
A study conducted by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that the average price of solar installations fell 27.6% from 1998 to 2007.
Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory examined the costs of 37,000 photovoltaic systems across the country and found the average price fell from $10.50 per watt in 1998 to $7.60 per watt in 2007. Those averages include residential systems as well as larger arrays installed on businesses and do not take into account financial incentives from the federal or state governments.
BP and Verenium to form ethanol joint venture
Posted by admin on 21 Feb 2009 | Tagged as: Ethanol
BP and Verenium, Corp. are a step closer to forming a joint venture to produce cellulosic ethanol in Florida.
The collaboration will be focused on the development of a commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol facility in Highlands County, Florida and expects to break ground on that site in 2010. The estimated construction cost for this 36 million gallon-per-year facility is between $250 and $300 million. Production from this plant is expected to begin in 2012. With plans to add additional capacity, the joint venture company also intends to develop a second site in the Gulf Coast region.
Off-grid cell towers to be powered by solar, wind
Posted by admin on 20 Feb 2009 | Tagged as: Solar, Wind
Vanuatu and Sri Lanka are replacing their diesel-powered generators that power off-grid cell towers with solar and wind-powered versions.
It’s all part of a push launched by GSMA in September to power more than 100,000 mobile base stations in developing countries with renewable energy by 2012. That could save 2.5 billion liters (660 million gallons) of diesel fuel each year, the association said.
China to dramatically increase wind power capacity
Posted by admin on 19 Feb 2009 | Tagged as: Wind
China has started to build 10 gigawatt-level wind power bases in six locations around the country.
Shi forecasted that China’s installed wind power capacity would see an increase of 80 GWs from 2011 to 2020.
China has more than 70 complete appliance manufacturers in wind power sector with about 30 ones having products installed at wind power plants
