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by Craig ShieldsPosted on Posted in Wind Energy

A near full-scale prototype of an airborne wind energy system that generates power from constant, high-speed, high-altitude winds will be tested in Piedmont, Italy, in the coming weeks.

When fully operational, KiteGen should be capable of generating 3MW of power. The KiteGen concept was recognized at the Copenhagen Climate summit as among the top 20 leading innovations.

The prototype 150m2 kite will be automatically operated from a revolving dome at ground level – similar to a ship’s gun turret – that contains the electronic control systems and the mechanism to feed the kite in and out. As the kite climbs its fast-turning cable spool generates electricity. When the kite reaches its maximum height, tension on one side is released and the kite begins to drop groundwards. The falling cable is rapidly rewound, needing only a fraction of the energy that was generated as the kite climbed. Once the kite reaches its minimum height, tension is restored to both sides of the kite and it starts to climb once more. When the system has been fully tested, it is intended to use a 500m2 kite. (more…)

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by Craig ShieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

I’ll be on the East Coast (heading north from Washington DC to Boston) for the week between Christmas and New Years.  If anyone wants to meet me to discuss a clean energy business idea over a cup of coffee (or a beer, depending on the time of day), please hit “Contact” and let me know.

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by Craig ShieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

Here’s a post I put up on Renewable Energy World that addresses the key issues associated with a responsible analysis of the costs associated with the migration to renewables.

It’s essentially a response to another author’s post which was, I thought, a good take on the current picture, but failed to take into account the projections that we can reasonably make about the not-too distant future. 

 

 

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by Craig ShieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

Neil Auerbach is Managing Partner of Hudson Clean Energy Partners, a group with over $1 billion under management. He made a number of points in his presentation at the American Council on Renewable Energy conference in Washington this afternoon that I found interesting.

He began by noting that “99.9% of people who have studied global warming believe in the overall theory. But this doesn’t take root in Washington. Why not? Because it implies sacrifice,” suggesting the obvious — that the concept of sacrifice has only negative value politically.

“But how about growth? How about profit?” he asked. Auerbach then went on to look at the trajectories for huge profit in low-carbon production energy, which is projected to grow to $2.2 trillion annually by 2020.

This will not happen primarily in nuclear or CCS (carbon capture and sequestration), but in renewables. Why? The answer is simple: cost. (more…)

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by Craig ShieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

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Here’s an excerpt from a keynote address, delivered by self-described “conservative Republican” US representative Bob Inglis from South Carolina:

The definition of “sustainability” is “profitability.”

He’s got a good point there; things don’t happen if they’re not profitable.

It would be great if we could achieve a level playing field. Even if we can’t force the oil and coal industries to pay the costs of cleaning up after themselves, we need to stop handing them subsidies that make it impossible for clean energy to compete against them.

Amen. You must have been reading my diatribes here at 2GreenEnergy. (more…)

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by Craig ShieldsPosted on Posted in Electric Vehicles

75% of the total fuel consumption on our roads comes from commercial vehicles, and therefore an increase of a few miles per gallon in large trucks has a massive effect on reducing the environmental impact of moving our stuff around.  This makes the hybridization or electrification of large trucks a high priority for those concerned about the eco-friendliness of our large-vehicle fleets.

I was interested to learn of the developments in trucking made by Eaton — most of which are fairly technical innovations in drive trains.  But they presented one thing at the French-American EV Technology Conference this morning that I had forgotten to consider: (more…)

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by Craig ShieldsPosted on Posted in Electric Vehicles

At the French-American EV Technology Conference in Long Beach, CA this morning, I had an opportunity to learn about many things that I really had no idea would be on the agenda.  One of the subjects was tires, as presented by Michelin. 

As it turns out, 20% of the energy that goes into moving your car is consumed in the rolling resistance generated by your four tires.  On EVs, that percentage is even higher — as much as 35% (since the efficiency of the motor is higher).  This, of course, is huge. 

The presenter took us through a great number of R&D issues that Michelin is tackling, including both minature tires and making tires taller and narrower (which has the side benefit of adding precious space between the wheels).     (more…)

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by Craig ShieldsPosted on Posted in Electric Vehicles

The French-American Electric Vehicle Technology Forum I attended this morning in Long Beach, CA was absolutely delightful. The event focused on bringing together EV business interests that might foster the development of electric transportation in France – but let me tell you: they have a ton going on there, whether we Americans are involved or not.

I was particularly taken by their four “clusters” – geographically defined, joint technology-based initiatives that attempt to extract synergies from companies, research organizations, and educational institutions. Each of these clusters (Loire Valley, Paris-Normandy, Alsace/Rhine, and Rhone/Alps) is developing different types of solutions in electric transportation, from cable cars to trams to urban package delivery vans to buses and large trucks. Enormous sums of money and huge numbers of people from both the public and private sectors are coming together to work on EVs from an amazing array of disciplines: sociology, public education in energy and transportation, breakthrough components and battery technologies, innovative charging solutions, and so forth.

I was also fascinated to learn the breakdown of the EU 4.5 billion that goes into auto R&D in France, ordered as follows: (more…)

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by Craig ShieldsPosted on Posted in Biomass
A trainload of biofuel in Sweden Source: Bjoertvedt, Creative Commons

A trainload of biofuel in Sweden Source: Bjoertvedt, Creative Commons

In the US, the biofuel industry is undergoing something of a revival. Mothballed plants are reopening. Across the globe biofuel industry leaders are extremely bullish about their ability to bring down operating costs, to generate fuels from sources that don’t compete with food crops, and to design fuels for special purposes such as aviation. Will the industry live up to its promises the second time round?

Click to read more on Biofuel Bounces Back

(more…)

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by Craig ShieldsPosted on Posted in Efficiency

Since the 1970s when environmental concerns first hit the political front, we have made great attempts to encourage sustainable development. These attempts include things such as recycling, carpooling, using energy efficient lights and purchasing products which do not emit harmful chemicals. What is still not being taken into account are things such as airlines who are not responsible for the carbon dioxide they emit into the atmosphere, or the price of food not reflecting how much it costs to clean waterways which were polluted by agrochemicals. Beef consumption is an example of an economically wasteful item, as well as tobacco consumption.

These examples demonstrate “external costs” which are not calculated into any Gross Domestic Product. Our technological innovations which sought to improve energy efficiency have not led to lower energy consumption nor reduced environmental impacts. Lower costs are associated with energy efficient products which lead people to using more energy. Because our society has reduced energy costs through our technological efficiency, consumers are prone to buying more products, buying more powerful products, or choosing larger products. Promoting energy efficient products leads to increased consumption and emissions. These rebound effects can be avoided through taxation and regulation on behalf of the government, service providers, as well as manufacturers. (more…)

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