Bill: Alternative Energies

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:41:02 GMT

1 Million Wind Power Jobs. In these somewhat gloomy economic times, the renewable energy sector continues to be a hotbed of activity and offers the promise of playing an integral part of stimulating economies. By Energy Matters . [Renewable Energy]

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 21:23:18 GMT

Mitsubishi unveils first mass-market electric car from a major car maker.

Mitsubishi has unveiled the first mass-market electric car from a mainstream car maker.

Slightly bigger than the Smart ForTwo but with a similar design, the i-MiEV âo[per thou] which goes on sale in the UK later this year âo[per thou] is based on the i, Mitsubishi's existing city car. With room for four adults, it has a top speed of 87mph and produces the equivalent of 57 horsepower. Its lithium-ion battery has a range of 100 miles and can be charged from flat to 80% in 20 minutes using Mitsubishi's bespoke high-powered charger; otherwise, a normal mains electricity socket will charge the battery from flat to full in six hours. Mitsubishi estimates that the car can travel 10,000 miles on Â£45 of electricity at current UK domestic prices.

Jim Tyrrell, managing director of Mitsubishi, said: "The i-MiEV is a great example of Mitsubishi's ability to innovate and bring the latest technology to market. We have a city car to suit real-world users with its ease of use, great environmental credentials and very low running costs."

Around 200 cars will be available in the UK at first, with final costs yet to be determined. A Mitsubishi spokesperson the cars might not be sold outright, but be leased at a cost of around Â£750 a month.

Kieren Puffett, editor of car website Parkers.co.uk who took the i-MiEV for a test drive today, said the car was ideal for urban areas. "Through the town, the car is particularly torquey, it can get away from traffic lights and across roundabouts really quite quickly. That's quite a nice benefit for town driving."

He added: "Because it's based on an existing city car, the characteristics are fairly familiar. If someone got in, I don't think they'd notice anything massively adrift."

Puffett had some reservations, however, about Mitsubishi's claims on the car's range. "I deliberately drove the car with headlights, heater and the radio on. I did about 50 minutes of driving and covered about 22 miles âo[per thou] and I discharged the battery to half way from full."

Robert Evans, chief executive of Cenex, a government-backed agency that is leading the introduction of low-carbon road transport to the UK, welcomed the i-MiEV. He said that momentum towards the increased electrification of transport had been building in the UK ever since the publication of a report by Julia King, vice chancellor of Aston University and a former director of advanced engineering at Rolls-Royce. Working with economist Nicholas Stern, King reviewed the vehicle and fuel technologies which could help to decarbonise road transport in the next 25 years. They identified electric cars as a major feature of the future of personal transport.

"If progress is to be maintained, the public needs to be convinced that electric vehicles are a practical proposition that are capable of fulfilling their transport needs," said Evans. "The UK launch of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV âo[per thou] capable of carrying four passengers and with a range of 100 miles âo[per thou] marks an important step in this process.''

Mitsubishi has been developing its electric vehicle technology since 1995, most notably producing in-wheel electric motors that were showcased in an all-electric Lancer Evolution rally car in 2005 though Tyrrell said that specific technology was some way from market yet. This allows each wheel to be driven independently by its own motor. "In-wheel technology lends itself very well to 4-wheel drive performance but is not cost-effective when considering mass-market applications."

Lance Bradley, sales director at Mitsubishi, said: "The i-MiEV is just one of Mitsubishi's environmental initiatives to be unveiled this year. In February, we will launch the Colt ClearTec which uses stop-start technology to radically reduce CO2 emissions. ClearTec technology will be rolled out across most vehicles in the Mitsubishi range within the next three years."

Tyrrell said that as car makers bring out their electric cars he and others were now waiting for a "clear strategic direction and financial support from central government" on ways to make electric cars more attractive to consumers. This could perhaps include giving local authorities clearer direction to start initiatives such as free parking or exemption from certain taxes for electric cars.

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[Latest news, sport, business, comment and reviews from the Guardian | guardian.co.uk]

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 01:33:01 GMT

First flight of algae-fuelled jet. Continental Airlines is the latest to test fly a jet biofuel, this time with a product derived partially from algae. [BBC News | Science & Environment | World Edition]

Australia Renewable Energy Target Draft Includes Solar Credits

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:36:12 GMT

Australia's plan to produce 20 percent of energy from renewable sources by 2020 includes incentives for solar panels, Climate Change Minister Penny Wong. Wong, releasing draft laws for the target today in Brisbane, said it would include so-called Solar Credits for people who use energy from the sun. The laws also expand the target of electricity from renewable sources to 45,000 gigawatt-hours in 2020 from the existing 9,500 GWh in 2010.

"We are building the low pollution economy of the future by putting a cost on carbon pollution and driving investment in renewable technologies like wind, solar and geothermal energy," Wong said in an e-mailed statement.

Australia's renewable energy target is part of the government's aim to reduce greenhouse gases 60 percent by 2050 to address climate change. Wong this week said the government would use emissions trading to cut pollution 5-15 percent by 2020. The plan will allow consumers to earn five credits, or Renewable Energy Certificates, for each mega-watt hour of solar energy produced by their panels. These RECs will act as an up- front capital cost worth A$7,500 ($5,194) for purchasers of household photovoltaic systems, Wong said.

"These Solar Credits will help households, small businesses and community groups get assistance with the up-front cost of new solar systems," Environment Minister Peter Garrett said in the statement. "This will provide the industry with a firm footing for the future"

Solar thermal plants might provide half of the renewable target, WorleyParsons Ltd., Australia's biggest engineering company, said in August. Australian investment in solar power systems may reach as much as A$17.9 billion over the next 20 years with the introduction of a feed-in tariff, the Clean Energy Council, an industry lobby group, said in November. The council said today the expanded renewable energy target for electricity will trigger more than A$20 billion of new investment and drive immediate cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. To contact the reporter on this story: Gemma Daley in Canberra at gdaley@bloomberg.net

Food or Fuel for thought?

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 05:25:02 GMT

The CSIRO, Australia's leading scientific and industrial reasearch organisation has published its "Fuel for Thought" paper which was a direct result of the November 2007 'Future Fuels Forum". The forum's purpose and the focus of the organisations and governments present, was to .. "to explore sceanrios, conduct quantitative modelling and share ideas as a group so as to inform policy and investment decision making within their own organisations and within the broader Australian Community".

The report:

The future of transport fuels: challenges and opportunities was compiled by the Future Fuels Forum, an initiative led by the CSIRO Energy Transformed Flagship.
The Forum brought together 18 leading representatives from Australia’s community, industry and government to share ideas.

Let's play "spot the trend".......

Hmmm... Getting warmer?

The report is the result of a year’s deliberations by the Future Fuels Forum (FFF) which was convened by CSIRO to engage leading community, industry and government bodies in discussions about a range of plausible scenarios for establishing a secure and sustainable transport fuel mix to 2050.

I know I sound like a broken record but:

John Hofmeister, President of Shell Oil, USA, speaks about Shell's position on energy conservation and Global Warming.

The speech was made at the Washington University, St. Louis, USA in September 2006.

MP3 version here.

Fri, 30 May 2008 03:01:37 GMT

Making Renewable, Carbon-Neutral Gasoline ... From Algae. A San Diego start-up says it's using algae to create "green crude" that is chemically identical to petroleum and can be refined into renewable, carbon-neutral gasoline. Energy experts say it might be on to something big.

[Wired Top Stories]

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 06:06:01 GMT

Scientists Unveil High-Res Map of the U.S. Carbon Footprint. Purdue scientists have unveiled the most high-resolution map of Americans' carbon dioxide emissions yet, including video of hourly changes to the nation's greenhouse gas profile.

[Wired Top Stories]

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 23:51:31 GMT

Prince sees climate fight as war. Prince Charles tells Euro MPs the biggest ever public-private partnership is needed to tackle climate change. [BBC News | Science/Nature | World Edition]

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 06:30:14 GMT

Data Driven Driving Decisions.

When my beloved Honda Accord with about 170,000 miles on it finally started breaking down from far too frequent trips to the airport, Wendy and I decided it was time walk the talk and replace it with a hybrid. We did some family research on the matter, talked a lot about why we were making this decision, and narrowed our choices (as if there were a slew) to a Civic Hybrid or a Prius. After a few weeks of scanning the inventories of Cars.com and Vehix, we finally found an appealing, little-used Prius about 30 miles away that we picked up just in time for our Thanksgiving drive to see family in Connecticut.

Almost immediately we were addicted to watching the usage display that relays to the second information about gas consumption and average miles per gallon. On our 150 or so mile jaunt up here, we averaged just over 48 miles per gallon, and I found myself thinking hard about what I could do to increase it. The most obvious was to slow the heck down. When we got stuck in traffic for a few miles, our average started moving north. (I’m not sure if I’ll ever get close to the mid-fifties that are advertised.) Over the next couple of days in around town driving, I’ve been learning a great deal from this constant data feed, and I can already feel my driving habits shifting. (I’ll be leaving earlier for the airport today.) Dare I say it, it’s almost like a video game, trying to nudge the numbers higher as we go.

I keep wondering what an effect just a display like that in every car, one much more simple than the Prius has, perhaps just a LCD readout of mpg at any given moment would have on gas consumption from driving. Probably not as much as $4 or $5 for a gallon of gas, I’m sure, which sounds like where we’re headed. But still, I think it would probably have a pretty big impact.

But despite the fact that we can now fill up our car for less than $30 even on an empty tank, the best part is being able to add this to the lengthening list of choices we’ve made to try to lessen our footprint on the Earth, to the pellet stoves and compost bins and low flush toilets and consignment shop clothes and just reduced consumption in general and more. While I’m not convinced that the personal actions of individuals are enough to overcome the general environmental pillage of big companies and big countries (my visit to Shanghai really shook my faith), and while we are in no way close to perfect in these matters, if nothing else I hope it models for my own kids that everything we buy, everything we do at any given moment is a choice that has an effect on things larger than ourselves.

(Photo by BeigeAlert)

Technorati Tags: hybrid, environment, prius, driving

Listen to this podcast [Weblogg-ed]

Tue, 01 May 2007 09:54:39 GMT

Electric cars 'won't kill off oil industry'. The head of an Australian petroleum company says most people will drive electric cars within 30 or 40 years. [ABC News: Business Stories]

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 05:21:39 GMT

Scientist questions nuclear future. Uranium has been a hot topic of late, but one environmental engineer believes nuclear energy does not have a justifiable place in Australia's future. [ABC News: Business Stories]

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 09:36:28 GMT

China sees climate impacts ahead. Climate change brings threats to several regions of China, according to an assessment by the government. [BBC News | Science/Nature | World Edition]

What now?

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 10:14:51 GMT

Howard signals end of Murray-Darling irrigation. Prime Minister John Howard says irrigation water for farmers in the the Murray-Darling Basin will be cut off if there is no significant rain in the next six to eight weeks. [ABC News: Breaking Stories] [Central Ranges LLEN CEO Library]

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 12:17:59 GMT

Garrett, Rudd still at odds over uranium. Labor's environment spokesman Peter Garrett says he is not changing his position on extending uranium mining in Australia. [ABC News: Breaking Stories]

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 10:15:34 GMT

The Future of Hydrogen Cars. The pros and cons of alternative-fuel vehicles. [Pogue's Posts]

Tue, 27 Mar 2007 04:39:35 GMT

US ethanol decision to impact on Aust car exporters. Australian car manufacturers say an American decision to have their new vehicles able to run on biofuels will push up costs for Australian car exporters. [ABC News: Business Stories]

Tue, 27 Mar 2007 04:21:32 GMT

Nuclear power will be a tough sell, says Switkowski. The man charged by the Prime Minister with selling the idea of nuclear power to Australians admits it will be tough convincing people to embrace the concept. [ABC News: Business Stories]

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 09:27:56 GMT

Latrobe power station funding a waste, Greens say. Greens leader, Bob Brown, says technology behind a new 'clean coal' power station in Victoria's Latrobe Valley will not reduce greenhouse emissions as much as renewable energy sources would. [ABC News: Business Stories]

Sun, 11 Mar 2007 02:07:49 GMT

EU leaders agree to cut greenhouse gases (AP).

AP - European Union leaders reached a broad agreement on an ambitious plan to cut greenhouse gases and switch to renewable energy sources as part of the fight against global warming.

[Yahoo! News: Top Stories]

Sun, 11 Mar 2007 01:59:11 GMT

Biofuels Boom, Tough Questions. America is drunk on ethanol -- Midwestern corn farmers, Detroit automakers, politicians approving subsidies and Bush shaking hands in Brazil, but ethanol isn't ready for primetime. By the Associated Press. [Wired News: Top Stories]

Thu, 08 Mar 2007 05:36:11 GMT

GM's Electric Car Gets a Date. The Chevy Volt will hit the streets in 2010, General Motors claims. Plus: Hyundai's good-karma composite SUV. In Autopia. [Wired News: Top Stories]

Thu, 08 Mar 2007 05:17:37 GMT

BP to invest in biofuel research. A major oil company plans to invest millions of dollars researching biofuel. [ABC News: Business Stories]

Wed, 07 Mar 2007 05:45:04 GMT

Wind turbines save '£10 a year'. Many homes would save just £10 a year on their electricity bill by installing a wind turbine, according to a leading turbine firm. [BBC News | Science/Nature | World Edition]

Sat, 03 Mar 2007 09:02:04 GMT

Gore accused of energy hypocrisy. The former US vice-president is accused of hypocrisy for apparently guzzling energy while lecturing on climate change. [BBC News | Science/Nature | World Edition]

Sun, 25 Feb 2007 03:59:50 GMT

Rudd announces $1.5b clean coal policy. The Federal Opposition has announced a $1.5 billion clean coal initiative to encourage the use of the technology in Australia's electricity supply. [ABC News: Breaking Stories]