ecoGizmo
NASA data shows rapid and dramatic changes in Arctic Sea ice
September 18, 2006 If there’s any good news from the NASA release earlier this week detailing the rapid and dramatic melting of the artic icecap, it’s well disguised – perhaps that the property you bought with ocean views might soon become beachfront is all we can think of to reflect the upside. Okay, that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but the news is very concerning nonetheless. Data from NASA's QuikScat satellite shows that Arctic perennial sea ice, which normally survives the summer melt season and remains year-round, shrunk abruptly by 14 percent between 2004 and 2005. According to researchers, the loss of perennial ice in the East Arctic Ocean neared 50 percent during that time as some of the ice moved from the East Arctic to the West. The overall decrease in winter Arctic perennial sea ice totals 280,000 square miles - an area the size of Texas. "Recent changes in Arctic sea ice are rapid and dramatic," said Son Nghiem of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. "If the seasonal ice in the East Arctic Ocean were to be removed by summer melt, a vast ice-free area would open up. Such an ice-free area would have profound impacts on the environment, as well as on marine transportation and commerce." (read more...)
Environmentally responsible disposable dinnerware and packaging
September 11, 2006 This is clean and simple – with the emphasis on clean. Food packaging and disposable dinnerware has traditionally been constructed of styrofoam, plastic or bleached paper, all of which are quickly becoming politically incorrect due to their environmental profile. With more cities banning styrofoam and plastics, as just one element of the Green movement sweeping the world, the availability of EarthShell is a timely as it offers a genuinely green alternative. EarthShell foodservice disposable packaging, plates and bowls are made primarily from natural limestone and starch from potatoes, wheat or corn. The new packaging poses substantially fewer risks to wildlife than polystyrene foam packaging because it biodegrades when exposed to moisture in nature, physically disintegrates in water when crushed or broken, and can be composted in a commercial facility, where available, or in your backyard. EarthShell is seeking to license its technology globally. (read more...)
Reducing the cost per Watt for solar power
September 6, 2006 As worldwide energy demand continues to rise, the overall solar equipment market is expected to grow from approximately US$1 billion in 2006 to more than US$3 billion in 2010. Applied Materials is best known for providing equipment and services for manufacturing semiconductors and flat panel displays, but yesterday announced it is poised to enter the rapidly growing solar photovoltaic (PV) equipment market. The idea is to use bring technology and process innovations from the flat panel and semiconductor industries plus a combination of manufacturing tools, to enable customers to increase conversion efficiency and yields, helping to lower the overall cost per watt for solar electricity users. This week, Applied is exhibiting at the world's largest solar show, the European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference in Dresden, Germany, showcasing several PVD and PECVD products as well as processes, material-handling technologies and services to support solar cell production for both crystalline-silicon and thin-film solar applications. (read more...)
New toilet cuts water consumption by 84 percent
August 16, 2006 Here’s a brilliant idea that we think needs recognition, particularly given that water restrictions are starting to become commonplace in western countries. The Propelair WC uses just 1.5 litres per flush compared with the 9 litres used by an average UK toilet– in one household alone, this can save 5 tonnes of water per month. The Propelair system looks like a conventional toilet and is used in the same way. It has a sealable lid that allows air to force waste and a small amount of water from the bowl, giving improved flushing and drainage performance. The system generates its own air, requires no ancillary equipment and connects to existing plumbing, but can also connect via flexible waste-pipes for awkward installations … and uses one sixth of the water used by a conventional toilet system. The inventors is seeking sanitary ware manufacturers and investors with a view to putting the Propelair system onto the market. It is also seeking a partner for a large-scale UK-based trial of Propelair in a commercial or public building. (read more...)
EarthFirst – promising new tire recycling technology
August 11, 2006 There are currently more than 1.3 billion tires sold each year, in a global market worth US$100 billion a year. With 75% of this total being for the replacement of worn out tyres, there are roughly one billion tyres each year being discarded. The sheer mass of discarded tires is a massive problem before the wasted resource is considered. When tires are recycled, they are either shredded for highway construction or playground use, burned in kilns, or destroyed through pyrolysis (burned in the absence of oxygen) at a high temperature (around 2,200 degrees) and high pressure. This typically destroys or degrades many of the valuable components that make up a tire. A new proprietary tire processing system holds the promise of effectively recycling this vast resource, producing usable energy and a broad range of valuable products, including steel, carbon, oil and a high energy gas. EarthFirst burns tires in a vacuum at a third of the typical pyrolysis temperature, preserving tire components and satisfying even the strictest emissions regulations. Remarkably, the process can recover the following from each one typical 20-pound passenger tyre: eight pounds of carbon, one gallon of oil, two pounds of steel and 30 cubic feet of combustible gas. (read more...)
New Wind Generator offers viable energy source for the home
July 5, 2006 The Skystream 3.7 wind generator is a significant product, being the very first fully integrated wind generator designed specifically for the grid-connected residential market. Put simply, the Skystream produces electricity for a fraction of the cost of current technologies and is directly connected to the home energy supply, supplementing power from the electric utility company and enabling electricity to be produced for sale to the utility or used at a later date. With a typical cost of US$8,000 to US$10,000 to purchase and install, the Skystream 3.7 can pay for itself in 5 to 12 years. This payback period will vary and can be much quicker in locations with investment rebates. It’s anticipated that Skystream 3.7 will save the average homeowner US$500 to US$800 per year, based on 4,800 to 6,600 kWh produced per year and a US$0.12/kWh cost of electricity. This output would provide 40 to 90 percent of an average home’s energy needs. In states like Hawaii, where the cost of energy and wind speeds are both high, Skystream 3.7 can pay for itself in less than 4 years. (read more...)
Volvo Multi-Fuel high performance prototype that runs on five different fuels
June 15, 2006 The Michelin Challenge Binendum finished in Paris on the weekend, completing yet another showcase of the world’s most interesting clean technologies and energies for motorized vehicles. Each Bibendum sees a who’s who of the world’s automotive manufacturers put their latest concept vehicles on the park and this year some concept vehicles were actually rolled out for the event. One that really caught our attention was the Volvo Multi-Fuel prototype, which is optimised for running on five different fuel types; hythane (10% hydrogen and 90% methane), biomethane, natural gas, bioethanol E85 and petrol. The idea, according to Volvo, is to make use of the fuels that are produced locally. This means that less fuel needs to be transported between continents, and you can fill up the car on the fuel that is available wherever you are. (read more...)
Scuderi Group Air-Hybrid Engine claimed to double fuel efficiency
May 3, 2006 On March 7, we wrote of the coming of Scuderi Group's Air-Hybrid engine which claims the title of the world's most fuel efficient internal combustion engine. The Scuderi engine makes its European debut May 9 - 11 at the Engine Expo 2006 in Stuttgart, Germany on a bit of a roll. With three additional worldwide patents recently filed, the air-hybrid system potentially doubles the fuel efficiency of today's gasoline and diesel vehicles and reduces toxic emissions by up to 80 percent. The design is ingenious, has been verified by a world renowned independent laboratory, just landed a US$1.2 million DoD grant to develop the technology further, and it was clearly the talk of the Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress in Detroit where it was officially declared the most visited stand. The technology can be adapted for either diesel or gasoline engines of any size and is claimed to halve fuel consumption compared to today’s internal combustion engines. Autoblog has a succinct well-crafted peice and this animation will help you conceptualise this clever twist on the Otto cycle. There's also the official how it works and theory of operation. (read more...)
Three-Wheel All AC Powered N-Generation Forklift
May 3, 2006 It seems there’s a strong move towards electrical power in forklift trucks and Mitsubishi gave this further momentum yesterday when it announced the introduction of its FB16NT-FB20NT series of 100 percent (AC) powered, three-wheel electric forklift trucks. The "all" AC powered N-Generation forklifts feature increased range of maneuverability an advanced Integrated Presence System and extended service intervals. Offering three models with capacities ranging from 3,000 to 4,500 lbs, the N-Generation offers a control system with modifiable performance settings controlling top travel speed, lifting speed, regenerative braking and auto regenerative braking. Torque and speed are controlled separately, allowing for optimum driving performance. The three-wheel design and hydrostatic steering provides increased maneuverability allowing operators to navigate areas with tight aisle spacing. In addition, the innovative AC drive system implements the latest in heat dissipation technology, assuring maximum performance while reducing battery consumption. (read more...)
Preparing the World’s largest wave energy power plant
April 26, 2006 Wave Dragon is an offshore wave energy converter of the overtopping type. In 2003 Wave Dragon was the first wave energy developer to connect a prototype device to the public grid. Operating automatically this device has been online in the U.K. for 15,600 hours. Now, in a Joint Venture with UK renewable energy project developer, KP Renewables, Wave Dragon is to construct and deploy the world’s largest wave energy converter off the Pembrokeshire Coast in Wales, UK. After the initial test period, the test unit will joint 10 new units as a 77 MW power plant around 10 miles south west of initial site. (read more...)
New high performance, zero emission commercial vehicle
April 24, 2006 The soon-to-debut UK-built Modec van is the first zero emission van that is comparable in economy and performance to diesel equivalents, making it a real and viable urban delivery vehicle. Emmission-free, it covers up to 120 miles on a single charge and reaches a top speed of 50 mph carrying a load of up to two tonnes. And with only three moving parts in the electric motor instead of more than 300 in a typical diesel van engine, there’s less to go wrong. The battery can be recharged overnight at the fleet depot, allowing efficient and effective city delivery without the noise, smell or pollution traditionally associated with transit vans. The Modec van has been designed with large fleets in mind. (read more...)
Earth Day is today
April 22, 2006 Today is Earth Day, when millions of people worldwide will participate in events to show their concern for the planet's environment and natural resources. The official web site lists an array of ways in which you can meaningfully involve yourself and your family and Yahoo! has also assembled a comprehensive microsite that helps people take simple steps to slow climate change. Environmental experts warn that greenhouse gas emissions will lead to disastrous consequences unless the earth's inhabitants make lifestyle changes. (read more...)
Microreactor for biodiesel production
April 21, 2006 Another wonderous enabling technology has been announced - a microreactor, about half the size of a credit card that produces biodiesel by combining alcohol and vegetable oil directly, greatly speeding and simplifying production compared to traditional methods. By stacking many of these microreactors in parallel, a device the size of a small suitcase could produce hundreds of thousands of gallons per year of biodiesel – enough to power several farms. The device could significantly reduce farmer dependence on mass-produced petroleum. "This is all about producing energy in such a way that it liberates people," said inventor and OSU Professor Goran Jovanovic. "Most people think large-scale, central production of energy is cheaper, because we've been raised with that paradigm. But distributed energy production means you can use local resources - farmers can produce all the energy they need from what they grow on their own farms." Jovanovic is seeking to partner in order to commercialize the technology. (read more...)
Vanadium Redox Energy Storage System
April 20, 2006 In a significant development, Magnetek and VRB have announced a significant new multi-purpose 5kW energy storage as an alternative to traditional lead-acid battery backup systems. Housed in a ZONE-4 certified NEMA 3R type enclosure, Magnetek's 5kW Vanadium Redox Battery Energy Storage System (VRB-ESS) backup power system is comprised of a storage tank containing a vanadium-based electrolyte, flow-cell stacks, and pump system and provides cost effective, reliable and environmentally friendly backup power. Virtually maintenance-free, it affords substantially lower cost of ownership than lead-acid battery-based systems and provides unprecedented security-of-supply to meet the energy needs of a variety of applications. (read more...)
Car Makers and fuel suppliers unite to promote synthetic fuels in Europe
March 8, 2006 The Alliance for Synthetic Fuels in Europe (ASFE) was launched yesterday. At a conference held in Brussels and attended by European Commissioners Gunter Verheugen and Andris Piebalgs and Austrian Minister for Environment Josef Proll, leading automotive manufacturers and fuel supply companies layed out their common vision of sustainable mobility in Europe. Founding members of the Alliance of Synthetic Fuels in Europe (ASFE) - DaimlerChrysler, Renault, Royal Dutch Shell, Sasol Chevron and the Volkswagen group – addressed the strategic role of synthetic fuels in tackling today’s energy and environmental challenges and reducing the environmental impact of road transport through improved energy efficiency and the use of cleaner fuels. (read more...)
Air-water technology goes mobile
February 21, 2006 With around 20% of the world’s population struggling to get adequate supplies of safe drinking water, the rapid evolution of air-water technology (which extracts water from the air) could well become one of the most significant enabling technologies in the history of mankind. We’ve already awarded the invention of the century, but we believe air-water technology is close to being equally as significant as it will enable man to begin to reconsider the cultivation of vast tracts of previously inhospitable land. Believe it or not, there are approximately 4000 cubic miles of water in the earth’s atmosphere, which accounts for why it rains, why air conditioning units extract water from the air, and how Atmospheric Water Technologies’ machinery manages to extract thousands of litres of drinkable water per day from thin air. We wrote up the technology in detail 18 months ago, but things have changed a lot in the short time since that first article. Now the company produces an AW100i model which combines water extraction from the atmosphere with a built-in icemaker to make a unit that can be powered from a generator and produce 50 litre of ice and 50 litres of drinkable water per day. More significantly, the company has now developed a mobile version of its air-to-water machine known as the aw1000m (caution: large WMV video file). The tandem-wheeled trailer-mounted US$48,000 aw1000m will produce over 1,000 liters of purified and filtered water daily, store it in on-board water tanks, and dispense it for drinking, washing or via two built-in shower units as part of the total water producing system/concept. The machine was developed as an all-in-one solution for the needs of the Indian army in the field and is suitable for transportation over rugged terrain and powered by a diesel generator. The machine can be fitted with an automatic plastic pouch filling machine which produces 25 plastic pouches of purified drinking water per minute for US$0.01 per 800cc pack. (read more...)
New Impetus For Tidal Energy initiative in Wales
February 18, 2006 The potential for using the power of the tides to generate electricity for homes and businesses in Wales is being taken a step further. With funding from the Welsh Assembly Government, tidal energy firm Marine Current Turbines will examine and identify locations around the Welsh coastline where its tidal stream technology could be suitable. The project is supported by the Welsh Development Agency’s Energy Office, which has worked closely with Marine Current Turbines to facilitate the development of this project in Wales. (read more...)
MIT develops new fast-charging battery technology ideal for automobiles
February 18, 2006 With the world going mobile and billions of new devices requiring electrical storage, battery technology is almost certainly due for a renaissance in the near future and recent developments suggest MIT will play a role in the next significant battery technology. Less than a week ago, we reported on work being done by MIT's Laboratory for Electromagnetic and Electronic Systems (LEES) that could become the first technologically significant and economically viable alternative to conventional batteries in 200 years. Now a second new and highly promising battery technology is emerging from MIT - a new type of lithium battery that could become a cheaper alternative to the batteries that now power hybrid electric cars. (read more...)
Nanotech promises the first viable alternative to batteries in 200 years
February 14, 2006 Almost everything we use requires electrical storage via a battery - computers, cell phones, cars, personal entertainment devices and much more – and as compelling functionality has increased in the digital age, so too has our reliance on the traditional battery which has changed little since it was developed by Alessandro Volta in 1800. Now, work at MIT's Laboratory for Electromagnetic and Electronic Systems (LEES) holds the promise of the first technologically significant and economically viable alternative to conventional batteries in more than 200 years. Using nanotube structures, the LEES invention promises a significant increase on the storage capacity of existing commercial ultracapacitors by storing electrical fields at an atomic level. The new LEES ultracapacitors could replace the conventional battery in everything from the smallest MP3 players through to electric automobiles and beyond, yielding batteries with a lifetime equivalent to the product they power and recharging times inside a minute. Most significantly, they promise a much smaller and lighter “battery”, and will be an enabling technology for many new concepts such as electric bicycles with the “burst” peak power of a motorcycle, or electrical trams with the capacity of a train but without the infrastructure. In automotive terms, they raise the possibility of an integrated starter/generator and the capability of ultra-efficient regenerative braking systems. The work was presented at the recent 15th International Seminar on Double Layer Capacitors and Hybrid Energy Storage Devices and the LEES “batteries” could reach market within five years. A potentially disruptive technology! (read more...)
Flying Electric Generator (FEG) technology
February 1, 2006 We all know that burning fossil fuel for the world’s energy needs has a number of significant drawbacks, most notably the resultant emissions doing irreparable damage to the earth’s ecology, and the inevitable rise in prices due to the laws of supply and demand and dwindling capacity. Accordingly, the web site of the Sky WindPower company offers some compelling calculations which show that there is waaay more than enough energy in high altitude winds, miles above the earth's surface, to supply all the world's power needs and that this energy can be economically captured using Flying Electric Generator (FEG) technology. In mass use, their calculations show that FEGs could produce electricity at a life cycle cost of less than two cents per kilowatt hour using tether materials now available. And new tether materials with even stronger strength to weight ratios are being developed. (read more...)
New tech tools can help you become your own home energy auditor
February 1, 2006 So you called your local energy service company, scheduled a free home energy audit, and came away with some useful information on drafts to plug, light bulbs to use, and which areas of your home could be better insulated. Don't forget the programmable thermostats. All that is great, and hey, it didn't cost you a thing. But most of what the auditor told you, well, you already knew. As with health, love and war, there’s a plethora of complexity that needs addressing as there is no simple, magic answer. But if you’d like to comprehensively crunch your next energy bill and take greater control of your kilowatt destiny, there’s a way of building a detailed, visual profile of your household (or business) energy use on your home. With new computerized energy-tracking devices, getting a comprehensive snapshot of your building’s energy consumption is just a few mouse clicks away. Data loggers are simple battery-powered black boxes capable of recording temperature levels in various rooms in your house, light usage, and appliance cycling on a 24/7 basis. (read more...)
500kW Photovoltaic (PV) Inverter now available
January 21, 2006 SatCon has announced that the launch its 500kW PowerGate inverter, the largest commercial Photovoltaic inverter available in North America. As the inverter iqualifies for California’s Self Generation Incentive Program, it attracts a rebate of US$2.80/watt. The inverter is a commercial-grade product available in 208, 240, and 480 volt models for grid-connected operation in low and medium voltage applications as single unit and parallel multi-megawatt systems. The PowerGate is a completely integrated package with all electrical and control system components pre-assembled and tested in a common enclosure. (read more...)
PSA Peugeot Citroen and French Atomic Energy Commission show fuel cell stack
January 10, 2006 PSA Peugeot Citroen and the CEA (Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique, the French Atomic Energy Commission) unveiled the GENEPAC fuel cell stack yesterday. Developed jointly by PSA Peugeot Citroen and the CEA, the new stack delivers world-class performance and power density. The partners' goal was to design and build a compact, modular, efficient fuel cell stack with a rating of up to 80 kW (107 bhp) and compatible with the technical automotive requirements. Both Peugeot and Citroen have been developing concept cars using fuel cell technology for almost a decade, and the development of the GENEPAC brings several of these fantastic vehicles (most notably the Peugeot Quark which is one of our most popular stories) closer to realization. (read more...)
New Pedestrian Mobility System Makes Downtown Satellite Parking Feasible
November 22, 2005 Architect, urban planner and inventor John Alt today challenged the parking industry to license and implement new mobility technology that will increase pedestrian access throughout central business districts and make downtown "satellite" parking facilities feasible for the first time. The new technology, called SMRrTRAM ("smart tram"), is a bus-like vehicle that operates at street level and provides continuous, high capacity, two-way transport along a single, dedicated guide lane. Two trams always arrive together at each stop, from opposite directions, and the next pair is never more than two-and-a-half minutes away. (read more...)
Dutch Nuon Team takes Solar Challenge for third time
October 3, 2005 As expected, the Dutch Nuon Solar Team has smashed its own world record for driving a solar car from Darwin to Adelaide in this year’s Panasonic World Solar Challenge. Nuon’s car, Nuna 3, reached the finish line at Angle Vale, north of Adelaide after a 3021 kilometre journey with a winning time of 29 hours 11 minutes and an average speed of 102.75 km/h. This stripped almost two hours from its previous 2003 world mark of 30 hours 54 minutes and broke the 100 km/h average speed barrier for the first time. It is the third consecutive time the Dutch team from the University of Delft has been first to Adelaide in world record time. Australian car Aurora was second, beating its 2003 challenge time by four minutes, and finishing with an average speed of 92.03 km/h. The third-placed University of Michigan’s Momentum finished with an official time of 33 hours 18 minutes (90.03 km/h) with Japan’s Sky Ace Tiga close behind at 33 hours 45 minutes (88.84 km/h). Formosun from Taiwan University finished fifth with 36 hrs 01min (83.2 km/h). (read more...)
