Thursday, January 22, 2009

More Biomass Could Mean More Fuel

ScienceDaily (Jan. 22, 2009) — Microbes may well be the answer to our global energy crisis. By fermenting biomass to produce biofuels, they offer a possible climate-friendly solution to the anticipated shortfall in fossil fuel supply. A review by Professor Arnold Demain from Drew University in New Jersey, USA, on how microbes could be used to salvage the energy crisis has just been published online Springer’s Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology.

According to Professor Demain, the petroleum-based economy in the US is getting close to the end of its lifecycle. Global oil reserves and new petroleum discoveries will not be enough to meet the annual demand worldwide. It is therefore essential to anticipate and avoid any shortfall in future supply and to provide access to new bioenergy alternatives for the marketplace.
In the context of a strong global political and economical debate on the gradual substitution of petroleum by renewable alternatives such as biofuels, Demain reviews how microbes can help solve the energy problem, and focuses on the organisms that ferment lignocellulosic biomass to produce bioethanol, biobutanol, biodiesel and biohydrocarbons in particular. His review also highlights how the use of these biofuels would help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The plants that produce the biomass remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as part of their growth and normal metabolism.


Demain also highlights a number of important commercial developments, including the establishment of biotechnology companies in the biofuel sector since 2006, either alone or with companies of the petroleum and chemical industries. In addition, there have been a number of U.S. Government initiatives pushing for and backing the development of biofuels.
Demain concludes that:



“What remains is a major effort and challenge to biochemical engineering at the many new plants being built for biofuel production. The new processes have to be scaled up and carried out in a cost-effective way. The future of biofuels looks very bright…the best is yet to come.”

Reducing Carbon Emission To Reduce Costs

ScienceDaily (Jan. 21, 2009) — The least cost way to reduce power related carbon emissions in Europe would be to supplement the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) with the introduction of Emissions Performance Standards for energy, according to a new study.

Such a system, successfully used in some US States where it has helped put renewable energy on a more equal footing with traditional energy sources, could cut the EU power sector’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 by more than two-thirds – more than 800 million tonnes per year.
'Scenarios on the Introduction of CO2 Emission Performance Standards for the EU Power Sector', carried out by the consultancy Ecofys for environmental groups WWF, Bellona Europa, ClientEarth, E3G and Green Alliance, says such an outcome could be achieved if binding emissions limits are introduced for all large power stations in the EU on a staged basis between 2010 to 2020.

The study also shows that an early phase-in of Emissions Performance Standards (EPS) would be more cost-effective and have greater impacts than a delayed introduction. It would overcome some weaknesses of the ETS, which has been criticised for providing some of Europe’s heaviest polluters with windfall profits as a result of governments giving away rather than auctioning carbon emission permits.

“The current EU Emissions Trading Scheme unfortunately does not prevent high polluting coal-fired power stations from being built,” said Stephan Singer, Director of WWF’s Global Energy Programme.

“We need new emissions limits to ensure Europe invests only in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and CO2 capture and storage facilities for coal-fired power stations. Otherwise, Europe will fail to deliver its contribution to keeping global warming below 2 degrees Celsius.”
A CO2 Emissions Performance Standard is a limit on emissions per unit of energy output. EPS in the power sector has been in place in California, US since 2007 and has subsequently been introduced by Oregon, Washington State and Montana.

All of these states are part of the Western Climate Initiative, formed with the aim of cooperating on the introduction and operation of cap and trade-systems, and the report stated there was a clear indication that the fruitful co-existence of EPS and ETS (Emissions Trading System) schemes was considered feasible.

In general it was found that EPS schemes were implemented successfully, especially if the right framework conditions were created, by helping operators to bear the costs of EPS compliance through incentivizing legislation (taxation related). In the EU this could also be supported by a more stringent EU-ETS with higher certificate prices.

With such a limit, new power plants that cannot meet the standard would not be built and existing power plants that do not plan to upgrade pollution controls or implement equivalent measures would close down.

Utilities will have clear incentives to invest in energy efficiency measures, equip their new plants or retrofit the existing ones with CO2 capture and storage, or switch to renewable sources of energy.

The study clearly shows that an Emission Performance Standard needs to be phased in through stages for both new and existing plants. Imposing a very demanding limit of 150g CO2 / kWh just on new plants from 2010 would deliver reductions of 10 per cent of power sector greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, while a staged introduction of a less stringent 350g standard for new plants from 2010, extended to existing plants by 2015, could save up to 46 per cent of power sector emissions by 2020.

In contrast to continuing to allow construction of new conventional fossil fuel power stations under the guise of 'capture readiness', an Emissions Performance Standard is an effective means of providing the real regulatory certainty needed to shift investment decisions in the power sector, and avoid dangerous lock-in to high carbon power infrastructure.

It will also be key to move Europe’s commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from 20 per cent to 30 per cent as soon as a new international agreement is in place

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Are Solar Cells Becoming More Simplified?

ScienceDaily (Dec. 1, 2008) — Currently, solar cells are difficult to handle, expensive to purchase and complicated to install. The hope is that consumers will one day be able to buy solar cells from their local hardware store and simply hang them like posters on a wall.

A new study by researchers at the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science has shown that the dream is one step closer to reality. Reporting in the Nov. 26 edition of the Journal of the American Chemical Society, Yang Yang, a professor of materials science and engineering, and colleagues describe the design and synthesis of a new polymer, or plastic, for use in solar cells that has significantly greater sunlight absorption and conversion capabilities than previous polymers.

The research team found that substituting a silicon atom for carbon atom in the backbone of the polymer markedly improved the material's photovoltaic properties. This silole-containing polymer can also be crystalline, giving it great potential as an ingredient for high-efficiency solar cells.

"With the reality of today's energy crisis, a new-game changing technology is required to make solar cells more popular," Yang said. "We hope that our newly synthesized polymer can eventually be used on solar cells far beyond their current rooftop applications. Imagine a house or car covered and powered by flexible solar films. Our dream is to see solar cells used everywhere."

Polymers are lightweight, low-cost plastics used in packaging materials and inexpensive products like insulators, pipes, household products and toys. Polymer solar cells utilize organic compounds to produce electricity from sunlight. They are much cheaper to produce than traditional silicon-based solar cells and are also environmentally friendly.

But while polymer solar cells have been around for several years, their efficiency has, until recently, been low. The new polymer created by Yang's team reached 5.1 percent efficiency in the published study but has in a few months improved to 5.6 percent in the lab. Yang and his team have proven that the photovoltaic material they use on their solar cells is one of the most efficient based on a single-layer, low-band-gap polymer.

At a lower band gap, the polymer solar cell can better utilize the solar spectrum, thereby absorbing more sunlight. At a higher band gap, light is not easily absorbed and can be wasted.

"Previously, the synthesizing process for the polymer was very complicated. We've been able to simplify the process and make it much easier to mass produce," said Jianhui Hou, UCLA postdoctoral researcher and co-author of the study. "Though this is a milestone achievement, we will continue to work on improving the materials. Ideally we'd like to push the performance of the solar cell to higher than 10 percent efficiency. We know the potential is there."

"We hope that solar cells will one day be as thin as paper and can be attached to the surface of your choice," added co-author Hsiang-Yu Chen, a UCLA graduate student in engineering. "We'll also be able to create different colors to match different applications."

The study was funded by Solarmer Energy Inc. and a UC Discovery Grant. Solarmer Energy Inc. has recently licensed the technology from UCLA for commercialization.

Friday, January 9, 2009

Nuclear Energy On The Rise In The Phillipines?

MANILA: The Philippine government has officially restarted its nuclear energy development program after it entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Korean government for a feasibility study on the possible revival of the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).

In a statement, the National Power Corp. said it had signed the MOU with Korea Electric and Power Co (KEPCO) last November 25 in Cebu City.
KEPCO, according to Napocor, is the best partner for this undertaking, as it is well known for its nuclear projects.

The state-run power generation firm added that the nuclear reactor in the BNPP has a “twin sister” in South Korea, the 650-MW Kori 2, commissioned in 1983 and which has been operating since then.

“It is also expressly understood that the signing of the MOU does not give KEPCO any preferential right to future projects or plans that Napocor may undertake on the BNPP. It is clearly understood between Napocor and KEPCO that nothing in the MOU shall be construed as a commitment by the National Power to KEPCO to rehabilitate the BNPP, and that the MOU is non-exclusive,” it said.

Napocor president Froilan Tampinco and KEPCO Philippines president Kang Won Lee signed the MOU, which will be valid for three years.

The agreement will “promote bilateral cooperation in the fields of nuclear power plant operation, maintenance and rehabilitation through the exchange of data and experience, visits and joint work.”

Both parties expect to benefit from “sharing invaluable experience and knowledge to be gained from such cooperation.”

The MOU also covers the exchange of data; activities related to determine the feasibility of the rehabilitation of BNPP; exchange of visits by experts, engineers and technicians in nuclear power generation; and cooperation in nuclear power plant rehabilitation, operation and maintenance and other related business fields.

Based on the agreement, Napocor and KEPCO will conduct various studies, such as those for preparation, planning and implementation of the cooperation project; site survey for the project, subject to the safety and security regulations of Napocor; nuclear legislation, regulation and administration; studies on environmental impact of the project; human resources development related to the project.

Full Story

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Farm Show Hopes to Shed Light On Cleaner Fuels

HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of Environmental Protection will energize the 2009 Pennsylvania Farm Show with a display that teaches visitors to make the connections between climate change, energy conservation and renewable energy.

"Pennsylvania has made tremendous progress in the past year to increase the production of clean energy, to make it easier for consumers to use energy more wisely, and to find ways to reduce greenhouse gas emission," said acting Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger. "This engaging Farm Show display highlights how Pennsylvania's progressive energy and climate policies will protect the environment and lead to greater energy independence."

The 400,000 visitors expected to visit the Pennsylvania Farm Show will be invited to "Feel the Power of Energy Conservation" at DEP's display in the Main Hall. Guests can climb aboard a bicycle-powered electric generator to see how much easier it is to power energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs than traditional incandescent lights.

A second human-powered generator in the display will give guests the ability to demonstrate that there are many energy alternatives to fossil fuels.

The DEP display also features an encore appearance of the comically drawn farm animals from last year's "What's Your Carbon Footprint?" display. Pigs, chickens, horses and goats are depicted in everyday human situations that highlight steps people can take to reduce their impact on the environment, especially by reducing energy consumption.

Pennsylvania is now working to draft a climate change mitigation plan that will provide a roadmap for economically reducing the state's greenhouse gas emissions. The effort is the result of Governor Edward G. Rendell signing the Pennsylvania Climate Change Act into law in 2008.

Last year, Governor Rendell also signed into law measures that embody the goals of his Energy Independence Strategy, including a $650 million Alternative Energy Investment Fund to spur the development of alternative and renewable energy sources and help families and small business conserve energy and use it more efficiently; as well as new biofuels mandates and incentives that will add nearly 1 billion gallons of home grown fuel alternatives to in-state supplies and spur additional economic growth.

The Governor also signed legislation putting in place one of the most aggressive electricity conservation programs in the nation that will save power consumers $500 million over the next five years and up to $800 million annually by 2013. The law, Act 129, requires utilities to implement energy conservation plans that will reduce total consumption by 3 percent and peak demand by 4.5 percent during the 100 most expensive hours of the year.

"The cleanest and cheapest unit of energy is the one never used," said Hanger. "Energy efficiency and advanced conservation technologies, coupled with creating an increasing share of electricity from clean sources such as wind and solar power, will help us reduce the potentially devastating effects of climate change and to leave a better, cleaner world to future generations."

Together, Pennsylvania's clean energy and energy conservation programs will spur as much as $3.5 billion in new, private economic development projects from alternative energy companies and will create at least 10,000 good-paying jobs in a rapidly growing industry.

The Pennsylvania Farm Show runs Jan. 10-17 at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg. For more information about the Farm Show, visit http://www.farmshow.state.pa.us/.

2009 Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard

Boston, United States [RenewableEnergyWorld.com]

The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) has released regulations expanding support for renewable energy and alternative energy technologies mandated by the Green Communities Act, the energy reform legislation that the state enacted last year.

The Green Communities Act called for changes in the state’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS) that would double the rate of increase in the use of new renewable energy, create a new Class II RPS to support the continued operation of older (pre-1998) renewable energy generating facilities. Principal provisions of the regulations include creating two different classes of renewable technologies under the RPS.

RPS Class I Renewables
Geothermal, hydroelectric, and marine and hydro-kinetic (including wave and tidal) energy are now eligible technologies under RPS Class I (in addition to solar and wind technologies), as is algae, as an eligible biomass fuel. In addition, liquid biofuels eligible for RPS Class I are required to meet lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions and other standards set by the Clean Energy Biofuels Act of 2008.Compliance by utilities and other electric suppliers with the RPS requirement will be by purchase of the renewable attributes of electricity generated by eligible renewable energy facilities in the form of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) or by making an Alternative Compliance Payment (ACP). The ACP rate began at US $50 per megawatt-hour of RPS obligation in 2003 and is currently US $58.58, changing each year with the Consumer Price Index.

RPS Class II Renewables


This new class of RPS, is limited to generation that went online on or before December 31, 1997. Utilities and other electricity suppliers are required to purchase RECs from Class II facilities equal to at least 3.6 percent of sales, or to make ACPs per megawatt-hour to meet the Class II RPS obligation. The initial ACP rate is US $25 per megawatt-hour in 2009, and will be adjusted each year with the Consumer Price Index.
“By increasing our commitment to renewables, ensuring strict carbon emission standards are met before receiving state support, and creating new incentives for efficient power generation such as Combined Heat and Power, the state is taking several important steps down the clean energy highway,” said Sam Krasnow, policy advocate at Environment Northeast.
The new RPS and APS emergency regulations can be found downloaded from the state, which will be holding public hearning on the topic in the coming weeks.