The long, long (long) road for algae fuel
Earlier this week algae fuel startup Sapphire Energy announced that it’s in the process of raising a whopping $144 million from private investors, which will be used to build out its first commercial demonstration algae farm in New Mexico. That farm could be able to produce 1.5 million gallons of Sapphire’s green crude per year by 2014, says Sapphire’s VP of Corporate Affairs, Tim Zenk.
That might sound impressive, but it’s a far cry from the company’s previous projections. Back in 2009, Sapphire was hoping its algae farm would be able to produce 1 million gallons of green crude per year by 2011, followed by 100 million gallons per year by 2018, and 1 billion gallons per year by 2025. When Sapphire made those projections, the sheer volume was so much more than any of their competitors were putting out there, that I asked if Sapphire was going to be “the gorilla of algae fuel?“
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RENEWABLE ENERGY EXPERIENCES EXPLOSIVE GROWTH DURING FIRST THREE YEARS OF OBAMA ADMINISTRATION
According to the most recent issue of the "Monthly Energy Review" by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), with data through December 31, 2011, renewable energy sources expanded rapidly during the first three years of the Obama Administration while substantially outpacing the growth rates of fossil fuels and nuclear power.
Between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2011, renewable energy sources (i.e., biofuels, biomass, geothermal, solar, water, wind) grew by 27.12%. By comparison, during the same three-year period, total domestic energy production increased by just 6.72% with natural gas and crude oil production growing by 13.66% and 14.27% respectively. Moreover, during the same period, nuclear power declined by 1.99% and coal dropped by 7.16%.
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Floating Windmills in Japan Help Wind Down Nuclear Power: Energy
Japan is preparing to bolt turbines onto barges and build the world’s largest commercial power plant using floating windmills, tackling the engineering challenges of an unproven technology to cut its reliance on atomic energy.
Marubeni Corp. (8002), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (7011) and Nippon Steel Corp. (5401) are among developers erecting a 16-megawatt pilot plant off the coast of Fukushima, site of the nuclear accident that pushed the government to pursue cleaner energy. The project may be expanded to 1,000 megawatts, the trade ministry said, bigger than any wind farm fixed to the seabed or on land.
“Japan is surrounded by deep oceans, and this poses challenges to offshore wind turbines that are attached to the bottom of the sea,” Senior Vice Environment Minister Katsuhiko Yokomitsu said at a meeting in Tokyo this month. “We are eager for floating offshore wind to become a viable technology.”
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Green Innovation - Fukuoka Hydrogen Town
So far, the Hy-life project has been very successful and innovative - it aims to bring a change to Japan and eventually to the world. It seems slightly long-term because of its unprecedented trial in the world, but they are trying to implement the plan through sustainable procedures.
Smart Grids - Big Ideas & Big Business
The tremendous benefit of Smart Grid technologies is encouraging action at EU and Member State level, such as with standardisation and implementation of funding schemes and other regulatory incentives for development projects.
Smart Grid Communications
Ultimately, a wireless communication system that lowers cost, speeds up deployment, and accelerates global energy efficiency and usage, can enable companies to design state-of-the-art Smart Grid solutions, water & gas distribution systems, condition & risk monitoring and energy-optimizing infrastructure systems.
Intelligent Energy Storage Systems
Intelligent energy storage allows customers to optimize usage of their energy storage unit(s). Greensmith is tapping into modern computing and communications to collect, analyze, and utilize data to maximize the value of their asset.
Distributed Energy Systems are the Future and the KEY is Storage
The world is moving toward a distributed energy future. For that future to be realized solar power must be available when the sun is not shining. The missing piece of this puzzle is energy storage.
FAQ on Army's $7 Billion Draft RFP for Renewable Energy
On February 24, 2012, the U.S. Army Engineering & Support Center issued a draft request for proposals for renewable and alternative energy (the "Draft RFP"). Since posting our initial blog and Energy Law Alert, we have received a number of inquiries about the details of the solicitation. Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.
Lithium Ion Battery Technology
The rapidly growing demand for alternative energy production and energy storage systems has created an important need for high-performance lithium-ion batteries.
Separation of electrolytes from non-electrolytes by pseudo-charge mosaic membranes
The piling of anion and cation ion exchange membranes can provide a kind of pseudo-charge mosaic membranes and that can be practically used in various industrial applications, and is worth of further detailed studies.
Flexible Solar Modules
Flexible solar panels allow for the generation of solar power where traditional, glass panels can't be used. For example, large commercial rooftops may not be able to support the load of a large, glass array.
SOLAR ENERGY APPLICATIONS IN INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL SECTORS IN PAKISTAN AND BARRRIERS IN ITS GROW
By enhancing the use of solar technology in industrial and commercial sectors, we can overcome energy crisis in Pakistan in a very short time as compared to other power generation options.
Two Case Studies - Cedar Point and Crossroads
The Cedar Point Wind Energy Project provides approximately 875,000 MWh which corresponds to the annual consumption of about 80,000 Colorado homes. The Crossroads Energy Project provides approximately 924,307 MWh which corresponds to the annual consumption of about 70,000 homes.
GREEN PLUG: THE LITTLE COMPANY THAT DID
Sometimes, the Path to Success is a Straight Line; Other Times, Circumstances Demand a Less Direct Route.
Here's How One Start-Up Avoided Getting Sidetracked.
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