Evolution of Energy

Happy Birthday Kaira!!!!

algae — Tue, 15 May 2012 09:41:18 +0000

I hope you have the best day ever!

Great overview. Long, but GREAT.

algae — Thu, 05 May 2011 09:04:35 +0000

The Director of DOE’s National Renewable Energy Lab provides a great overview of renewables current state and the future of it, including technology, policy, and all else. This was a presentation he gave at Stanford. Go trees! Literally, we need more trees.

Do you have what it takes to become the “Next Top Energy Innovator”?!

algae — Thu, 05 May 2011 01:32:54 +0000

It may sound like a new reality show straight out of Los Angeles, but this comes from the Department of Energy. The DOE is cutting the paperwork and reducing the upfront fees to license their patents to help energy start-ups. If I had a $1000 I would go straight for the patent they have hidden that unlocks the power of cold fusion. I know they have it and are just hiding it. Read more here.

Like MacGyver, but without explosions.

algae — Thu, 05 May 2011 01:14:24 +0000

Need to sell your house? Don’t redo the kitchen, install PV!

algae — Thu, 05 May 2011 01:11:48 +0000

The housing market is down. Trying to sell your house involves possible remodeling, staging, and finding the right realtor. But maybe instead, you maybe instead of listening to HGTV you should listen to your local hippy. A study by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that homes with PV systems sell for a premium over those without them. Read more here.

Continental flight powered by algae oil based biofuel.

algae — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 01:18:15 +0000

Continental Airlines became the first U.S. commercial carrier to conduct a demonstration flight powered in part by alternative fuels. One engine was fueled by a mixture of half algae-based biofuel and traditional jet fuel, the other was fueled solely by jet fuel. The general manager of UOP, a biofuels producer, succinctly sums up the problem. “There isn’t enough sustainable feedstock at the right price point to able to be competitive with petroleum.” Read more here.

Microalgae is passe, let’s go smaller…

algae — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:31:37 +0000

Researchers at Austin Peay State University in Tennessee are developing bioreactors for bacteria growth for biofuel production. With higher growth rates than microlagae, bacteria could prove to be a more viable solution for the production of a lipid feestock. The prime challenge I envision is dewatering of the biomass, given that bacteria significantly smaller than microalage it may prove to be more costly. However, bacteria are used quite extensively for wastwater treatement so likely there will be existing dewatering solutions that can be leveraged. Read more here.

Valero invests in algae-based biofuels

algae — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 04:15:51 +0000

Valero has followed other oil companies in beginning to stake their claim in the nascent algae-based biofuels. Valero has invested an undisclosed amount in Colorado based Solix biofuels. Solix’s system is able to utilize CO2 emissions from power plants. Read more here. Solix Biofuels

30 day waiting period for a Prius

algae — Fri, 23 May 2008 19:52:33 +0000

Demand for Priuses and other hybrids is surging with the ever increasing price of gas. Demand is so high that for one Toyota dealership in California there is a 30 day waiting period for a Prius. As basic economics dictates with an increase in demand an increase in price has also resulted. Dealers are either selling above sticker price or mandating the purchase of dealer-installed options such as added security systems. IMHO: Something is wrong in California when there is only a 10 day waiting period to buy a hand gun, but a 30 day waiting period to buy a Prius. Read more here.

Tags: prius, hybrid, california

Google searching for alternative to coal

algae — Fri, 23 May 2008 19:33:17 +0000

Google, along with Chevron and Goldman Sachs have funded a 1,000 acre solar field in California’s Mojave Desert. Rather than photovoltaics, this solar field utilizes mirrors to direct the heat to create steam to run a turbine. The solar plant should generate enough power for 125,000 homes. A report commissioned by the DOE estimates it will cost 3.5 cents per kilowatt hour to generate power from solar thermal. Currently, costs for a pulverized coal power plant are 4.8 cents per kilwatt hour. Interesting stat: An analyst for Emerging Energy Research estimates investments in solar thermal will reach $85 billion come 2020. Read more .

Tags: solar+thermal, alternative+energy, renewable+energy