Cleantech Update

OREG The Ocean Renewable Energy Group (OREG) aligns industry, academia and government to ensure that Canada is a leader in providing ocean energy solutions to a world market. OREG is a national organization, with over 115 Canadian and international members. Ocean Energy Ocean Energy in Canada information pamphlet The term “ocean energy” is used to describe the harnessing of power found in ocean waves, tidal flows, and salinity and temperature gradients. Wave energy can be considered a concentrated form of solar energy. The sun's radiation heats the surface of the ocean creating wind, which in turn creates waves. Regions considered to have “good” wave energy resources are generally those found within 40 to 60 degrees of latitude, where the strongest winds are found. The largest waves are formed in regions where the wind blows over the water the furthest, the longest "fetch", often the west coasts of continents. Modern tidal technology developments are focusing on the har...

HyRadix , a Companiy in Iowa has recently been bought by Eden Energy in Australia . Hyradix has a preoprietary authothermal reforming techology. Advantages of autothermal reforming There are multiple benefits to HyRadix's® proprietary autothermal reforming technology compared to alternative on-site technologies. High EfficiencyHyRadix's proprietary autothermal reforming technology is significantly different from autothermal reforming as it has been practiced in the past. Historically, there have been two separate catalyst beds - one for the partial oxidation catalyst one for the steam reforming catalyst . The heat from the partial oxidation reactor had to be transferred to the steam reforming reactor at a high temperature, resulting in significantly lower process efficiencies and mechanical challenges. HyRadix's autothermal reforming technology is far more effective because the reaction heat is generated in-situ; therefore, there is no need for an external heat source to...

Australia-based Eden Energy has sold all the shares in its two US subsidiary companies including Eden Hydrogen, the parent company of HyRadix. Eden had acquired US-based HyRadix , a company specialising in on-site autothermal reforming systems for the production of hydrogen from methane or LPG, in 2007. The sale to an unnamed Australian company did not include any of the assets or liabilities of Hythane Company, which Eden set up in 2004. Hythane is a mix of hydrogen and natural gas. The sale also did not include Eden’s wholly owned Indian subsidiary, Eden Energy (India) Private Limited, which will continue to actively market the Hythane and dual fuel technology in India. The purchaser has agreed to supply to Eden and install in India, free of charge, the first HyRadix Aptus 100 hydrogen reformer which is currently being built in India and which is hoped to occur before the end of March 2009. This reformer is planned to be used by Hythane Company to supply hydrogen to the first Hytha...

EPA Local Clean Energy Webcast, February 5: Landfill Gas to Energy Filed under: Local Initiatives , Renewable Energy — Laura B. @ 2:13 pm EPA’s Clean Energy-Environment Municipal Network is kicking off the 2009 series of webcast trainings targeted to local governments with a webcast on how local governments can use landfill methane to generate energy. EPA and local government experts will provide an overview of the benefits of using landfill gas, tools and resources for local governments, financing information, and examples of local governments that have successfully implemented landfill gas to energy projects. The webcast will be held on February 5, 2009, from 2:00 – 3:30 PM (Eastern). To register for the webcast, send an e-mail with your name and affiliation to: CleanEnergyWebcast@icfi.com . You will receive a confirmation email with registration information within 24 hours. Registrants can access a draft section of EPA’s Clean Energy Strategies for Local Governments guide that disc...

From Canadian Company Enerkem Second-generation biofuels is the term used to refer to the next generation of fuels, which are not produced from plants that are part of the food chain. They are produced from a large base of biomass materials, including waste from urban, forestry, and agricultural sources as well as municipal solid waste. First-generation biofuels or agrofuels are produced from sugar-rich crops such as corn, sugar cane, and wheat . Second generation biofuels can be produced from: The non-sucrose and non-starch parts of plants, which are often left in the field after harvesting, crushing, or milling (e.g.: bagasse, corn stover, wheat straw, and rice hulls); Residual forest biomass (e.g.: thinnings, limbs, tops, needles, sawdust, and bark Cellulose is the most important component of these materials, hence the term "cellulosic fuels".Second-generation fuels can also be produced from other carbon-rich waste materials, such as municipal solid waste. In this case, o...

I'm not sure they see the joke yet, but the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act being proposed by the house aims at "unprecedented accountability, and will set up a board that will report on unintended use of funds, and protect fraud whistle blowers: ... no kidding, the summary proposes a RAAT Board. ...A Recovery Act Accountability and Transparency Board will be created to review management of recovery dollars and provide early warning of problems. The seven member board includes Inspectors General and Deputy Cabinet secretaries. • The Government Accountability Office and the Inspectors General are provided additional funding and access for special review of recovery funding. • State and local whistleblowers who report fraud and abuse are protected.

[Jan 15th] House Democrats revealed their proposed stimulus package totaling $825 billion. As hoped, money for renewable energy and efficiency make up 54 billion of those dollars.The biggest proportion, $11 billion, would go towards creating a smart grid, which is dramatically shy of the $400 billion Al Gore thinks should be set aside. Here's a list of some of the larger energy incentives. $11 billion for investment in smart-grid technologies $8 billion in loan guarantees for renewable energy and transmission $6.9 billion for energy efficiency help to state and local governments $6.7 billion for retrofits to federal buildings $6.2 billion for home weatherization, targeted at low-income families $2.4 billion for carbon sequestration $2 billion for loans guarantees and grants to automobile battery-makers Feed reported @ Ecogeek from Greeninc

About Protonex Technology Corporation Protonex Technology Corporation develops and manufactures compact, lightweight and high- performance fuel cell systems for portable power applications in the 100 to 1000-watt range. The Company’s fuel cell systems are designed to meet the needs of military, commercial, consumer and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) customers for off-grid applications underserved by existing technologies by providing customizable, stand-alone portable power solutions and systems that may be hybridized with existing power technologies. The Company is based in Southborough, Massachusetts.

Jan 16, 2009. Inhibition Theraputic Inc announced today that it is moving forward under its previously announced Agreement in Principle to acquire HPI Partners, LLC (“HPIP”) and its operating subsidiary AlumiFuel Power, Inc. (“APl”) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. HPIP, through API, is an alternative energy company that is working to commercialize a process for generating hydrogen gas and steam on-site and on-demand for multiple niche applications. The parties are targeting to complete the definitive agreement in late January. Terms of the Agreement call for the members of HPIP to receive up to $12 million of Inhibiton common stock in exchange for all of the outstanding membership interests in HPIP including ownership of API and its intellectual property and business operations. Completion of this transaction is subject to further due diligence, the negotiation and execution of a definitive acquisition agreement, any necessary board of director, stockholder or member approvals, and oth...

(from thier Br0uchure) Ohio is the top destination for the fuel cell industry. Ohio is internationally recognized as a global center for the fuel cell industry. Here, there is a unique combination of knowledge, resources and infrastructure to support the development of this clean and efficient energy technology. Ohio's advantages include a coordinated partnership of government, industry and universities (which creates efficiencies in bringing viable products to market) as well as an existing manufacturing/advanced materials network and exemplary government funding and legal/regulatory framework. The result is a hotbed of fuel cell business es that are making real products today. Fuel Cell Corridor web site

The enery-independance-and-security-act-of 2007 legislation bears further examination for those starting up or buy interests in Rewnewabel Energy Companies: -Editor SEC. 1205. ENERGY SAVING DEBENTURES. (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 303 of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. 683) is amended by adding at the end the following: ‘‘(k) ENERGY SAVING DEBENTURES.—In addition to any other authority under this Act, a small business investment company licensed in the first fiscal year after the date of enactment of this subsection or any fiscal year thereafter may issue Energy Saving debentures.’’. (b) DEFINITIONS.—Section 103 of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. 662) is amended— (1) in paragraph (16), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; (2) in paragraph (17), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (3) by adding at the end the following: ‘‘(18) the term ‘Energy Saving debenture’ means a deferred interest debenture that— (A) is issued at a disc...

An Act: To move the United States toward greater energy independence and security to increase the production of clean renewable fuels, to protect consumers, to increase the efficiency of products, buildings, and vehicles, to promote research on and deploy greenhouse gas capture and storage options, and to improve the energy performance of the Federal Government, and for other purposes. Index TITLE I—ENERGY SECURITY THROUGH IMPROVED VEHICLE FUEL ECONOMY Subtitle A—Increased Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards Sec. 101. Short title. Sec. 102. Average fuel economy standards for automobiles and certain other vehicles. Sec. 103. Definitions. Sec. 104. Credit trading program. Sec. 105. Consumer information. Sec. 106. Continued applicability of existing standards. Sec. 107. National Academy of Sciences studies. Sec. 108. National Academy of Sciences study of medium-duty and heavy-duty truck fuel economy. Sec. 109. Extension of flexible fuel vehicle credit program. Sec. 110. Periodic revi...

Agni Inc has acquired Connecticut based GenCell Corporation , a Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell (MCFC) developer and manufacturer, to complement AGNI’s Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC) and biomass / waste-to-energy technology , in its bid to expand into the North American market. GenCell’s high temperature molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) capabilities are well suited for integration in many AGNI renewable energy systems. AGNI’s technology converts a wide range of biomass, biogas, or fossil fuels to hydrogen, producing electricity through its PEMFC based Integrated Fuel Cell Engine power generation block. GenCell’s technology includes a cost-effective fuel cell design that will provide AGNI with more efficient, environmentally-friendly power generation. GenCell has a proprietary fuel cell stack architecture that is "designed for manufacture" to reduce fuel cell cost and improve reliability, which in turn helps make fuel cells more economical and environmentally att...

Reforming Methanol The molecular formula for methanol is CH3OH. The goal of the reformer is to remove as much of the hydrogen (H) as possible from this molecule, while minimizing the emission of pollutants such as carbon monoxide (CO). The process starts with the vaporization of liquid methanol and water Heat produced in the reforming process is used to accomplish this. This mixture of methanol and water vapor is passed through a heated chamber that contains a catalyst. As the methanol molecules hit the catalyst, they split into carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen gas (H2): CH3OH => CO + 2H2 The water vapor splits into hydrogen gas and oxygen; this oxygen combines with the CO to form CO2. In this way, very little CO is released, as most of it is converted to CO2. H2O + CO => CO2 + H2 Reforming Natural Gas Natural gas, which is composed mostly of methane (CH4), is processed using a similar reaction. The methane in the natural gas reacts with water vapor to form carbon monoxide and...

Green" billboard ready to light up Times Square Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:42am EST NEW YORK (Reuters) - The world's first billboard running solely on wind and solar power is ready to make its debut in the capital of all billboards -- New York's Times Square. Wind whistling between the neighborhood's skyscrapers should keep the giant billboard lit constantly, said the manufacturer, Japanese copy and photo giant Ricoh Company Ltd. The "Eco-Board" weighs 35,000 pounds (15,800 kg) and will be powered by 16 vertical wind turbines and 64 solar panels. "We wanted to make a statement that we can put up a advertisement and not impact the environment, so that began the journey to Times Square," Ricoh spokesman Ron Potesky said. A highly congested part of midtown Manhattan, Times Square is home to hundreds of huge, brightly lit billboards and video screens. Potesky said the power generated from the custom-built wind turbines will account for 95 percent of the energy...

December 21, 2008 If fuel cells are going to be the energy technology of the future, the state may have to jettison the regulatory mindset of the past. State energy regulators may stop the largest residential construction project in the state from using a Connecticut-made fuel cell to power the building. The project in question is 360 State St., a 32-story, 500-unit apartment building under construction across from the State Street train station in New Haven. The building will contain retail space, including a fitness center and a grocery, and enclosed parking for 500 cars. At nearly 700,000 square feet, it may be the largest single residential building ever built in the state. Developer Bruce Becker also planned to make it the greenest. Becker has included 20 energy-saving technologies — a green roof, double-glazed windows and other features — and hopes to power the building with a 400-kilowatt fuel cell made by UTC Power of South Windsor. He said if it all comes together, the skyscra...

FuelMaker manufactures, distributes, installs and services their Vehicle Refueling Appliances (VRA) and accessories for fueling vehicles powered by CNG. We have been providing refueling infrastructure solutions for over twelve years. With over 8,000 VRAs sold worldwide, FuelMaker is a leader in the alternative fuels industry. The FuelMaker System is established as the benchmark VRA with 94 international patents and a state-of-the-art patented natural gas compressor that can be installed almost anywhere. Our VRA is targeted at small to medium sized fleets of commercial vehicles , in-plant vehicles, such as forklifts and ice cleaners , other specialty vehicles and smaller vehicle populations. The FuelMaker System's design has the flexibility to fuel vehicles quickly ( Fast-Fill ) or over a period of time ( Time-Fill ), as required. The result is an efficient fueling system that meets the widespread customer demands of convenience, practicality and low cost. FuelMaker Corporation ...

Biomethane Technologies, LLC.The Leader in Anaerobic Digesters, Biogas Plants, and Biogas-to-Biomethane TechnologiesProviding Consulting, Engineering, Feasibility Studies & Turnkey Project Development Services Home Contact Us Links For more information: (832) 758 - 0027 info @ AnaerobicDigester.com

energy conversion is a direct conversion process from heat differentials to electricity via photons . A basic thermophotovoltaic system consists of a thermal emitter and a photovoltaic diode cell. The temperature of the thermal emitter varies between different systems from about 900 °C to about 1300 °C, although in principle TPV devices can extract energy from any emitter with temperature elevated above that of the photovoltaic device (forming an optical heat engine ). The emitter can be a piece of solid material or a specially engineered structure. A conventional solar cell is effectively a TPV device in which the Sun functions as the emitter. Thermal emission is the spontaneous emission of photons due to thermal motion of charges in the material. For normal TPV temperatures, this radiation is mostly at near infrared and infrared frequencies . The photovoltaic diodes can absorb some of these radiated photons and convert them into free charge carriers , that is electricity....

Unlike the traditional steam Rankine cycle , the organic Rankine cycle (ORC) uses a high molecular mass organic fluid. It allows heat recovery from low temperature sources such as industrial waste heat, geothermal heat, solar ponds, etc. The low temperature heat is converted into useful work, that can itself be converted into electricity. A prototype was first developed and exhibited in 1961 by Israeli solar engineers Harry Zvi Tabor and Lucien Bronicki . [1] [2] Working principle of the ORC T-s diagram for the ideal/real ORC The working principle of the organic Rankine cycle is the same as that of the Rankine cycle : the working fluid is pumped to a boiler where it is evaporated, passes through a turbine and is finally re-condensed. In the ideal cycle, the expansion is isentropic and the evaporation and condensation processes are isobaric . In the real cycle, the presence of irreversibilities lowers the cycle efficiency . Those irreversibilities mainly occur : During the expansio...

Green-tech venture capital funding soared last year, aided by megadeals in thin-film solar companies, according to preliminary figures released Tuesday by the Cleantech Group . During 2008, green-tech venture investments jumped to $8.4 billion, a 38 percent increase, according to the report. Solar investments helped drive the growth, capturing 40 percent of green-tech investments. Thin-film solar deals did particularly well, capturing the three largest investments in green technology last year. NanoSolar raised $300 million last year, followed by Solyndra with venture investments of $219 million and SoloPower with $200 million . Cleantech Group's senior research director, Brian Fan, said in a statement: 2008 saw solar take a 40 percent share of clean-technology venture investment dollars, led by mega investment rounds in thin-film solar, concentrated solar thermal, and solar-service provider companies. TRENDS Investors also continued to migrate from first-generation ethanol and ...

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