Category: Renewables – Science
Renewable Energy Frauds Abound
| May 6, 2012 | Posted by Craig Shields under Renewables - Science |
A friend asked me to evaluate the technology represented here. “Is there something here?” she inquired?
“I wish there were. But alas, it’s a fraud,” I responded.
“You are soooo in the know!” she gushed.
“Ha! You’re too kind. Btw, I like to keep an open mind about this stuff; not all weird ideas are fraudulent. In fact, ALL great ideas were consider weird — at best — when they were introduced.
“But certain things are non-starters from the point of view of science principles that are extremely well established, like the laws of thermodynamics. The idea of running a car on water, for example, is the same as fueling a fire with ashes. Ashes are the low-energy product of a fire that’s already happened, i.e., an event in which the chemical energy of the fuel was turned into heat energy. Similarly, water is the lower energy result of the oxidation of hydrogen; it’s what’s left after the energy of the fuel has been removed.
“Btw, if you want to see an even more obvious attempt at criminal fraud, it’s here. Why this guy isn’t making license plates, I cannot tell you.
“Please feel free to send me other stuff as well; I’m always looking for winners, while being amused at people’s attempts to pawn off bad ideas.”
Today’s Earth Day Celebration: Fun Times But a Bit of Dubious Science
| April 22, 2012 | Posted by Craig Shields under Renewables - Science |
I just realized I was flimflammed at the Earth Day celebration in Santa Barbara from which my daughter Valerie and I just returned. Val has designs on a hot tub, and was drawn to a booth that offered a product that was there via its claim of super-efficiency.
“Normal tubs of this size will raise your electricity bill by $50 – $100 per month, but you can run this one for a fraction of that, say $10 – $15,” its representative said with a smile. Read More
Is “Business As Usual” with Respect to the Natural Environment an Acceptable Strategy?
| April 22, 2012 | Posted by Craig Shields under Renewables - Science |
I’m delighted to see real progress being made in the public discourse surrounding sustainability. While most people still have the idea that continuing with “business as usual” with respect to our environment is an acceptable strategy, more of us are questioning this concept with each passing month. Here’s an example: a PBS special called The Journey to Planet Earth, featuring one of my personal heroes, Lester R. Brown, environmental visionary and author of “Plan B.”
It also features Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman (oops – Mom’s not going to like this one), Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, and former Governor and Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt.
I caught the first part of this incredible series last night; it’s beautifully done.
Basics of Renewable Energy
| April 20, 2012 | Posted by Craig Shields under Renewables - Science |
Just a quick note to let you know that our project to assemble audio/visual learning aids aimed at renewable energy is complete (for now, at least), and ready for distribution to any young people or newcomers in the subject you feel may benefit. It’s a compilation of a few short videos, in which I lay out each of the five major “flavors” of clean energy (solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, and hydro), and briefly discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each. Also included are “infographics” that further explore these technologies and the issues that surround them.
My aim, of course, is to introduce this subject to as many people as possible, in the hopes that we can drive up the number of informed discussions, so necessary to the success of the democratic process.
Please feel free to send this link to anyone in your life who you feel may benefit. Thanks.
Here’s the link: http://2greenenergy.com/renewable-energy-basic-concepts/
Basics of Renewable Energy
| April 12, 2012 | Posted by Craig Shields under Renewables - Science |
Ross Guthrie, one of 2GreenEnergy’s web-programming superstars, has just completed this page that offers a compilation of the Basics of Renewable Energy, the videos and infographics that my team and I have been putting together over the past few months. It looks sharp to me, but I’d be interested in your opinion.
I encourage you to send this to young people or newcomers to the subject who may be looking for an accessible starting point.
Computer Models Predict the Effects of Greenhouse Gasses, But To What End?
| April 11, 2012 | Posted by Craig Shields under Renewables - Science |
I’m reading Beyond the Limits by Donella Meadows et. al. and learning all about the computer models these folks have used to predict the consequences of things like exponential population growth on a planet with finite resources. This is brilliant work, and wonderfully thought provoking, but I wonder about its practical application. After all, the world doesn’t have a governing body that will take a certain set of actions according to the output of the model.
Our scientists tell us in no uncertain terms the consequences of what we’re doing with greenhouse gasses, but we come home from our climate change meetings with no agreements to lift a finger to do anything about this. China is building a new coal-fired power plant at the rate of one a week. The best computer model in the world is no match for a large powerful government with an army of 200 million soldiers that is determined to build 50 new electrical plants next year.
Historic Changes in Earth’s Sea Level
| April 1, 2012 | Posted by Craig Shields under Renewables - Science |
I’m in the process of preparing my report on the latest 2GreenEnergy survey, in which participants were asked to provide their viewpoints on sustainability, and predict the future concerning the most probable scenario facing mankind. In the process, I noted that Clifford Goudey provided this wonderful website on the changes in Earth’s sea levels through history. Thanks, Clifford.
The Enemy of Reasonably Priced Clean Energy: Bad Ideas
| March 27, 2012 | Posted by Craig Shields under Renewables - Science |
Here’s something I noticed from the process of participating in a large number of energy-related conversations at the American Chemical Society Conference last week: some of these subjects–even those receiving funding–have virtually no chance of practical application. And, while I don’t have a problem with academicians doing experiments from which we can all learn valuable things, I have a big problem with putting false hope for our energy future in ideas that lack true merit.
Here’s a great example: I ran into a guy who mentors graduate students in microbial fuel cells. In brief, part of a microbe’s metabolic process includes emitting an electron that can be funneled through a circuit, just like the more familiar hydrogen fuel cell. But, where a hydrogen fuel cell can be 40%+ efficient, and thus enjoy some reasonable power density, the feeble rate at which electrons are emitted from whole organisms results in power densities that are ridiculously small. Can they be improved with more work and funding? Sure, but it’s tough. There are obvious limits to which we can increase the temperature (something we would do with inorganic fuel cells), as doing so would harm the organisms. Read More
Discussing the EPA at the American Chemical Society Conference
| March 27, 2012 | Posted by Craig Shields under Renewables - Science |
As one would expect, the banter here at the American Chemical Society conference is largely academic; in the convention center from which I’m writing this post there are more super-smart and extremely specialized people per square foot than I’ve encountered in a long while. But occasionally, I’ll have a conversation with someone that leads in a more humanistic, more philosophic direction.
A 3o-ish gentleman from the EPA just came by the booth, offering us at Doty Windfuels an application for a “Green Chemistry” award. “This concept (using off-peak renewable energy to synthesize carbon-neutral liquid fuels) sounds like a really strong concept; I strongly suggest you apply,” he said. We talked about the overall technological and economic issues at play in synthetic fuels for a few minutes, but I wanted to get his take on something before I let him go. “You must be thrilled with some of the rhetoric coming out of the presidential candidates vis-a-vis the EPA,” I smiled.
“It’s disappointing. We have leaders encouraging voters to abandon science and all the empirical evidence of the environmental dangers that face us. I have a 3-year-old son, and I’m frustrated that we’re irreparably damaging the world in which he’ll grow up, and that we could have a president that would be actively leading the charge.”
“Mine are 16 and 18,” I responded,” and I totally share your feelings. Recently, I began a conversation with a simple apology. I’m trying as hard as the next guy, but I’m sorry that I didn’t get on board sooner, and that I couldn’t do more to turn this around.”
Having said all this, the game’s not over. “It’s half-time for America,” to quote Chrysler’s famous Superbowl ad. As upsetting as all this is, I try to keep in mind that this is a marathon, and that such races require stamina.
Video: Renewable Energy’s Strengths and Weaknesses
| March 22, 2012 | Posted by Craig Shields under Renewables - Science |
Here’s another in our series of short introductory videos, in which I discuss renewable energy generally, including its strengths and weaknesses. We ALL want clean, abundant, inexpensive energy — and renewables hold the potential to take us there. But as much as we like this concept generally, there are issues; there are costs that need to be understood. It’s fine to be an advocate, but it’s even better to wrap your wits around as many of the issues as possible: technological, economical, and political.
