Tom Friedman Needs to Stop Making Sense

From the NY Times.

...The McCain-Clinton gas holiday proposal is a perfect example of what energy expert Peter Schwartz of Global Business Network describes as the true American energy policy today: “Maximize demand, minimize supply and buy the rest from the people who hate us the most.”

Good for Barack Obama for resisting this shameful pandering.

But here’s what’s scary: our problem is so much worse than you think. We have no energy strategy. If you are going to use tax policy to shape energy strategy then you want to raise taxes on the things you want to discourage — gasoline consumption and gas-guzzling cars — and you want to lower taxes on the things you want to encourage — new, renewable energy technologies. We are doing just the opposite.

Are you sitting down?

Few Americans know it, but for almost a year now, Congress has been bickering over whether and how to renew the investment tax credit to stimulate investment in solar energy and the production tax credit to encourage investment in wind energy. The bickering has been so poisonous that when Congress passed the 2007 energy bill last December, it failed to extend any stimulus for wind and solar energy production. Oil and gas kept all their credits, but those for wind and solar have been left to expire this December. I am not making this up. At a time when we should be throwing everything into clean power innovation, we are squabbling over pennies.

These credits are critical because they ensure that if oil prices slip back down again — which often happens — investments in wind and solar would still be profitable. That’s how you launch a new energy technology and help it achieve scale, so it can compete without subsidies.

The Democrats wanted the wind and solar credits to be paid for by taking away tax credits from the oil industry. President Bush said he would veto that. Neither side would back down, and Mr. Bush — showing not one iota of leadership — refused to get all the adults together in a room and work out a compromise. Stalemate. Meanwhile, Germany has a 20-year solar incentive program; Japan 12 years. Ours, at best, run two years.

“It’s a disaster,” says Michael Polsky, founder of Invenergy, one of the biggest wind-power developers in America. “Wind is a very capital-intensive industry, and financial institutions are not ready to take ‘Congressional risk.’ They say if you don’t get the [production tax credit] we will not lend you the money to buy more turbines and build projects.”

It is also alarming, says Rhone Resch, the president of the Solar Energy Industries Association, that the U.S. has reached a point “where the priorities of Congress could become so distorted by politics” that it would turn its back on the next great global industry — clean power — “but that’s exactly what is happening.” If the wind and solar credits expire, said Resch, the impact in just 2009 would be more than 100,000 jobs either lost or not created in these industries, and $20 billion worth of investments that won’t be made.

While all the presidential candidates were railing about lost manufacturing jobs in Ohio, no one noticed that America’s premier solar company, First Solar, from Toledo, Ohio, was opening its newest factory in the former East Germany — 540 high-paying engineering jobs — because Germany has created a booming solar market and America has not.

In 1997, said Resch, America was the leader in solar energy technology, with 40 percent of global solar production. “Last year, we were less than 8 percent, and even most of that was manufacturing for overseas markets.”

The McCain-Clinton proposal is a reminder to me that the biggest energy crisis we have in our country today is the energy to be serious — the energy to do big things in a sustained, focused and intelligent way. We are in the midst of a national political brownout.

novel approach to generating more energy

China is the Saudi Arabia of waste heat, according to Roger Ballentine, president of Green Strategies.

The country's power plants aren't very efficient and, unlike Denmark or Japan, China hasn't invested a lot in technologies that can capture the heat and harness it to produce electricity. That means there's a vast amount of potential energy being squandered--or waiting to be tapped by an entrepreneur or two.

China isn't alone. Over half of the electricity produced in the U.S., for instance, never actually gets used for a productive purpose. A lot of it gets converted into heat, and is then lost.

"There is a tremendous amount of low-hanging fruit," Ballentine said. "Power plants in the U.S. make more heat than Japan uses in a year."

As a result, expect to see a number of companies pursuing this opportunity. China Energy Recovery, for instance, announced this week that it has landed $8.5 million in financing to expand operations. (Ballentine consults for CER.).

In the U.S., meanwhile, keep an eye on Recycled Energy Development, founded by Tom Casten, one of the big names in the industry. He also founded Trigen Energy and Primary Energy.

And GMZ Energy, spun out of Boston College and MIT, says that it too has a more efficient way for converting heat to electricity.

Recycled Energy, like most companies in this business, doesn't sell equipment. Rather, the companies install it at a power plant, maintain it, and get paid according to the percentage of power the equipment saves. If power consumption, controlling for variables, drops by $1 million, a company might receive $500,000, for example.

The technology, Ballentine said, is fairly well-established. Mostly, getting energy out of waste heat revolves around getting companies to adopt it.

hydrogen cars might not be feasible but planes actually may be

US aircraft giant Boeing claimed Thursday a world first in putting into the air a plane powered by a hydrogen-cell battery, a breakthrough that could herald a greener future for the industry.

"For the first time in the history of aviation, Boeing has flown a manned airplane that was powered by a hydrogen battery," Boeing chief technology officer John Tracy said.

The development was "a historical technological success for Boeing (and) ... full of promises for a greener future," Tracy told a news conference at the firm's research centre in the central Spanish town of Ocana.

At the same time, the company said that although hydrogen fuel cells could be used to power small planes it did not believe they could become the primary power source for large passenger aircraft.

The test plane was a small, white prop-driven aircraft capable of carrying two people.

It flew at a speed of 100 kilometres (62 miles) an hour for about 20 minutes at an altitude of some 1,000 metres (3,300 feet) using only the hydrogen battery for power and with just the pilot on board.

It has a wing span of 16.3 metres (51 feet) and is 6.5 metres long, and weighs approximately 800 kilograms (1,760 pounds). The plane was flown over the airport at Ocana.

Hydrogen power uses "fuel cells" that tap the energy produced from the chemical transformation of hydrogen and oxygen into water.

It holds the promise of a cleaner and renewable energy resource as it produces only harmless water vapor as waste.

In the Boeing test plane, the battery was kept in the passenger seat while the pilot had an oxygen tank similar to the ones used by divers on his back. Boeing said the plane had a flying time of 45 minutes.

During takeoff, the airplane's batteries were used to provide an additional boost but while it was in the air, it relied only on the hydrogen cell.

The director of Boeing's research centre at Ocana, Francisco Escarti, said it "could be the main source of energy for a small plane" but would likely not become the "primary source of energy for big passenger planes.

"The company will continue to explore their potential as well as that of all durable sources of energy that boost environmental performance," he said, adding the test plane had the advantage of "not making any noise."

Engineer Nieves Lapena, who was responsible for the test flight, said the technology could be sued as a secundary source of energy for large planes but this would still take some time.

"In my opinion, we are talking about a delay of about twenty years," she said.

Demand for cleaner, safer and more fuel-efficient vehicles and airplanes is growing amid rising costs and concerns over pollution and climate change.

Several auto makers, including General Motors, Nissan and BMW, are working on the development of hydrogen-powered cars.

"Boeing recognizes that pollution represents a serious environmental challenge," Tracy said.

Boeing's first new model in over a decade, the Dreamliner, uses high-tech composites which reduce weight, allowing it to consume 20 percent less fuel then similar-sized planes already on the market.

The International Energy Agency has said that hydrogen and hydrogen fuel cells could play a key role in weaning energy users away from oil, gas and coal which have been blamed for climate change.

Convert CO2 in the air into fuel

Most of us are worried about increasing amounts of greenhouse gases in the air - and if you aren’t yet concerned about this, you should be. However, now there is a reason for hope: researchers from the Los Alamos National Laboratory have just announced a groundbreaking new project called Green Freedom, which will extract CO2 from the air and convert it into fuel to power cars and airplanes. Talk about killing two birds with one stone! Not only will this remove some of the greenhouse gas currently in our atmosphere, but it will prevent future CO2 from being added to our air, by providing a new renewable form of fuel to power our lives.

From Inhabitat

Green Freedom would provide a large-scale production method for carbon-neutral, sulfur-free fuels and organic chemicals from air and water. The technology essentially extracts carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and, using a form of electrochemical separation, turns it into fuel. Their goal is to create a fuel that will work with existing vehicle and aircraft infrastructure.

As for the catch, the program would rely on large cooling towers and nuclear power plants from which the CO2 would be gathered. Green Freedom would use existing plants with carbon-capture equipment, so instead of constructing new facilities, the primary environmental impact would be limited to the footprint of the plant alone.

Whether or not this concept is viable remains to be seen. Hopefully we will learn all the details of this technology soon. Even so, it is exciting to add another technology to the growing list of alternative energy sources.

Google looks to make green energy viable and cheap - dont bet against these guys

From Earth2tech:

When Google pledged to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on clean energy R&D and cleantech startups back in November, we all wondered how the search engine giant would spend those funds given its lack of experience in the energy industry. Down in Palm Springs, Calif. at the Clean Tech Investor Summit, Google.org’s Director of Climate and Energy Initiatives, Dan Reicher shed some light on their investing strategy, saying Google plans on funding “high risk” clean energy projects that have proved difficult to finance, while at the same time looking to invest in more cleantech startups in areas like solar thermal and plug-in vehicles.

Reicher said that there have been two large gaps in renewable energy funding, including a lack of investment in clean energy R&D, and a shortage of funding in high-risk innovative clean energy technologies and projects. Google has the capital that can take on those high risk projects, explained Reicher, who also asked the audience that was filled with entrepreneurs and investors, to “send us your business plans.”

What kind of startups and projects is Google looking for? Google has already invested $10 million in Bill Gross’ solar thermal company eSolar, along with an undisclosed investment in high-altitude wind company Makani. Reicher told the audience that Google is “looking at a number of other companies in the solar thermal area,” and over the next couple of months Google will also make a series of investments in plug-in electric vehicle related companies....

The Transition to Green Technology Will Rival, or Surpass, the Tech Boom

Why don't our better policitians (Obama) talk about how going green will be a net economical boost? As always, click the link above for the whole article.

SAN FRANCISCO — The sun is starting to grow jobs.

While interest in alternative energy is climbing across the United States, solar power especially is rising in California, the product of billions of dollars in investment and mountains of enthusiasm.

In recent months, the industry has added several thousand jobs in the production of solar energy cells and installation of solar panels on roofs. A spate of investment has also aimed at making solar power more efficient and less costly than natural gas and coal.

Very interesting, and the USA is the saudi arabia of Coal

Peabody Energy Acquires Equity Interest in GreatPoint Energy

ST. LOUIS, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Peabody Energy (NYSE: BTU) today announced that it has reached an agreement to become a minority investor in Cambridge-based GreatPoint Energy, Inc. GreatPoint Energy is commercializing its proprietary bluegas(TM) technology that converts coal, petroleum coke and biomass into ultra-clean pipeline quality natural gas while enabling carbon capture and storage. As part of the agreement, Peabody and GreatPoint Energy will evaluate the potential for development of joint coal gasification projects using Peabody reserves and land.

GreatPoint Energy uses a single-stage catalytic gasification process to create natural gas that is 99.5 percent pure methane and can be transported throughout North America utilizing the existing natural gas pipeline infrastructure. They are developing the technology for commercial-scale use for power generation, residential and commercial heating and production of chemicals. GreatPoint Energy has completed highly successful testing in a pilot facility in Des Plaines, Ill., and is commencing engineering for the first commercial project.

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Peabody Energy is expected to announce next week that it has chosen Western Kentucky as the site for a $3 billion plant that would convert coal to natural gas.

The St. Louis-based energy giant won preliminary approval yesterday for up to $250 million in tax incentives under an energy bill approved in August by a special session of the General Assembly.

The incentives were approved unanimously at a meeting of the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority.

Giving Credit Where it is Due

Can a leopard change its' spots?

Wal-Mart Chief Offers a Social Manifesto
By MICHAEL BARBARO
Published: January 24, 2008

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Wal-Mart pledged Wednesday to cut the energy used by many of its products 25 percent, to force the chain’s suppliers to meet stricter ethical standards and to apply its legendary cost-cutting skills to help other companies deliver health care for their employees.
In a lofty address that at times resembled a campaign speech, the chief executive of Wal-Mart Stores, H. Lee Scott Jr., said that “we live in a time when people are losing confidence in the ability of government to solve problems.” But Wal-Mart, he said, “does not wait for someone else to solve problems.”

He then laid out sweeping plans for the company on several health and environmental issues, and he hinted that even more ambitious goals might be on the horizon. Mr. Scott said, for instance, that Wal-Mart is talking to leaders of the automobile industry about selling electric or hybrid cars — and might even install windmills in its parking lots so customers could recharge their cars with renewable electricity.

With the new commitments, Wal-Mart is trying to cement its reputation as a leader in areas where it was once known as a laggard. The initiatives are the most visible sign to date that Wal-Mart, which spent much of the past decade defending itself against criticism of its business practices, has gone on the offensive.

Since 2005, it has committed itself to a dizzying number of reforms, and even some of the chain’s critics concede that it has begun to make good on the promises. For instance, Mr. Scott said Wednesday that Wal-Mart had sold 145 million compact fluorescent light bulbs, which he said had saved enough electricity to forestall the need for three coal-fired power plants in the United States.
Several experts applauded the new goals, saying they would have an impact beyond Wal-Mart, given the chain’s influence over companies that supply Wal-Mart and other retailers. “When Wal-Mart asks, suppliers jump,” said Noah Horowitz, a senior scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “There are positive ripple effects throughout the supply chain.”
...

Very Cool Technology!!!

Finding sustainable and affordable ways to power the world is clearly a substantial and increasingly urgent challenge. We covered consumer-generated power back in 2006, but Dutch startup Qurrent is taking the notion a step further with technology to enable neighbourhood-wide energy networks.

Because of fluctuating patterns of consumption, homes with wind and solar energy generators can find themselves with surplus energy at some times of the day but not enough at others. Surplus energy typically gets sold back to the main grid, but as much as 30 percent of it gets lost along the way, according to EcoGeek. When a group of homes work together to manage their collective energy generation and use, on the other hand, higher levels of demand in one home can be matched with surpluses in others, thus evening out the group's overall consumption and minimizing the amount that must be drawn from the main grid. Participating homes essentially form a "mini-grid" that shares energy internally before exchanging any with the main grid, thereby minimizing waste and maximizing efficiency.

To make it all happen, Qurrent provides a device for each participating house known as a Qbox. Each linked to a central Qserver, the Qboxes in the network monitor energy flows in each home and optimize them for maximum network-wide efficiency. They share capacities as needed among neighbours, and can also autonomously turn on devices such as washing machines and dryers so that they are run at the optimal time. A consumer could tell their Qbox that they want their laundry done by 6 p.m. and that it will take roughly 1.5 hours, for example. They can then go to work and the Qbox will decide when is the best time to run it, taking into account their production profiles and energy rates as well as those of their neighbours.

Qurrent won the 2007 Picnic Green Challenge for the best marketable green idea that could be developed and sold to consumers within two years. Along with the award came a EUR 500,000 prize, which reportedly will be used to pilot-test the concept in a Netherlands neighbourhood. One to get in on early?

Website: www.qurrent.com

The Big Business of Climate Change is Barely Begnining

A new type of super-efficient household light bulb is being developed which could spell the end of regular bulbs.

Experts have found a way to make Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) brighter and use less power than energy efficient light bulbs currently on the market.

The technology, used in gadgets such as mobile phones and computers, had previously not been powerful enough to be used for lighting.

But Glasgow University scientists said they had resolved the problem.

The project, being developed along with the Institute of Photonics at the University of Strathclyde, involves making microscopic holes in the surface of LEDs to increase the level of light they give off.

This is a process known as nano-imprint lithography.

Dr Faiz Rahman, who is leading the project, said: "As yet, LEDs have not been introduced as the standard lighting in homes because the process of making the holes is very time consuming and expensive.

"However, we believe we have found a way of imprinting the holes into billions of LEDs at a far greater speed, but at a much lower cost."

He added: "This means the days of the humble light-bulb could soon be over."

Moishe likes green

First Global Carbon Index Unveiled

By: ClimateBiz.com

LONDON, Dec. 10, 2007 -- Barclays Capital has launched the first index to track the performance of carbon credits issued though major greenhouse gas emissions trading schemes.

The Barclays Capital Global Carbon Index is meant to be a comprehensive benchmark for the carbon emissions market and is governed by the Barclays Capital Environmental Markets Index Committee.

Initially it will track carbon credits associated with the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU Allowances) and the Kyoto Clean Development Mechanism (Certified Emission Reductions), and add new schemes as they develop.

"The BGCI offers investors direct and transparent access to the global carbon arena, which has the potential to become one of the world's largest and most important commodities markets," said Harshika Patel, head of environmental markets product and business development for Barclays.

Barclays Capital is the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC.

This is pretty huge

Researchers create printed solar cells

We've seen a lot of attempts to cut the costs of solar cells, but a team in Japan has managed to create an inexpensive flexible cell that's as thin as a sheet of paper using what they describe as traditional printing techniques. The team, composed of researchers from Toin University in Yokohama and private firm Fujimori Kogyo, managed to eliminate the expensive silicon component of regular solar cells, reducing thickness to just .4mm (.015 inches), and allowing a factory to pump out reams of the material every month -- enough to generate 10 megawatts of juice. That's actually a fairly low estimate, as the cells are only at 6% efficiency right now, but we can imagine that number shooting upwards after they start shipping in February.