Alternative Energy Blog

Archived Blog Entries: November 16-30

Monday, November 29, 2004

The Yemen Times has an article today about the future of oil and it isn't bright. The gist of the article is that the world is running out of oil and that we must begin moving to other sources of energy immediately.

The Monterey Herald discusses the pros and cons of biodiesel this morning. Essentially, although biodiesel is much cleaner than petroleum diesel, it still produces higher nitrogen oxide emissions which lead to smog.

The Toronto Star reports on a Canadian company that is building flexible solar panels that can be used in home building materials and even on car roofs.

Wednesday, November 24, 2004

Electrical Engineers are looking at how an engine invented in 1816 might be the answer to efficient, cost effective solar energy. Meanwhile, British researchers are devising methods to make photovoltaic solar systems at half the current cost.

Monday, November 22, 2004

Michael Gardner takes a look at the Hydrogen economy this morning and wonders whether hydrogen is really the answer. IMHO, I believe it is not. President Bush's call for a hydrogen economy gives him a good excuse not to raise fuel efficiency standards and pursue alternative fuels. I believe we could be free of foreign oil by 2010. How? Hybrid cars running on either ethanol or biodiesel. Better yet, invest those billions of dollars into developing better and cheaper batteries so we can all drive electric vehicles. It can be done if we have the will to do it.

Activist Amory Lovins has a plan for reducing our dependence on foreign oil: slap a tax on gas guzzling vehicles and offer rebates for fuel efficient ones. He believes we can be oil free by 2050.

Friday, November 19, 2004

A Biodiesel workshop will be held next Sunday, November 28th, at 10am, at the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in Falls Village, CT. At the workshop, they will demonstrate how to build a biodiesel processor.

SunPower Corp has developed solar panels that are 30% more efficient and actually look attractive. They've been used in an office building in Germany.

Thursday, November 18, 2004

A new more efficient wind turbine has been developed by Berkeley researchers working with Russian engineers.

An energy fair taking place at N.C. State demonstrates the use of alternative fuels.

Daimler-Chrysler is coming out with a diesel version of the Jeep Liberty, which can run on biodiesel.

Wednesday, November 17, 2004

Researchers in Colorado have discovered a microbe that can convert hydrocarbon deposits (i.e. coal or oil) into methane. The US has huge deposits of coal, but coal is also one of the most polluting fuels. Methane (or Natural Gas) is one of the cleanest.

Honda has developed a Home Energy Station (HES II) that can convert natural gas into hydrogen for refueling its Fuel Cell Vehicles. Speaking of Honda, they've just leased two FCVs to New York State. This is significant, because it demonstrates that these vehicles can operate in the sub-zero temperatures not uncommon to the Northeast.