Genetically modified bacteria converts seaweed into biofuel
By MB-BigB | January 22, 2012
Researchers at Bio Architecture Lab, Inc. and the University of Washington in Seattle have built a microbe that’s capable of digesting seaweed and converting it into ethanol or other fuels or chemicals. Many scientists think that seaweed is a perfect plant to turn into biofuel – it doesn’t require any land that normally would be used for food crops, it doesn’t need any special irrigation or fertilizers. In addition, seaweed doesn’t contain any lignin, which is the compound of complex sugars that stiffens the stalks of land based plants and makes them so difficult to break down into biofuel.
The genetically designed microbe is based on Escherichia coli, better known as E. coli. The research team took the E. coli and added genes from other microbes that can break down alginate, which is the main sugar molecule in the seaweed. Tests have shown that the bacteria operates best at relatively low temperatures of 25 – 30 degrees Celsius, which means that the bacteria can turn seaweed into fuel without adding any additional energy. The E. coli also doesn’t like the ocean environment, so there’s no chance of the microbes escaping into the ocean.
Synthetic biologist Yasuo Yoshikuni, a co-founder of Bio-Architecture Lab, says that they believe that seaweed can be used for make other chemicals such as isobutanol or even compounds that could be turned into plastics. “Consider the microbe as the chassis with engineered functional modules. If we integrate other pathways instead of the ethanol pathway, this microbe can be a platform for converting sugar into a variety of molecules.”
via: Scientific American
Topics: biofuel | No Comments »
Update on Concentrating Photovoltaic Solar (CPV)
By MB-BigB | January 18, 2012
From Reuters comes an update of the latest in concentrating photovoltaic solar (CPV), which is a relatively new technology that focuses the sun’s rays to deliver additional power. It’s backers claim that CPV can be competitive without the need for government subsidies. Recently, a few new companies have invested a substantial amount of money in CPV, with SunPower Corp. and Swiss engineering company ABB group leading the pack.
As of now, there’s not many CPV systems in use or in development – current CPV projects total only 689 megawatts, a small fraction of the 33,000 megawatts of installed non-concentrating photovoltaic systems in place worldwide. Since CPV works best in very sunny, desert like locations, that limits the amount of installations possible. But it’s backers are claiming that CPV can deliver power for 20% less than traditional silicon based solar panels, and that those savings take into account the huge price drops that traditional panels have enjoyed this year.
CPV covers a wide range of technologies with products like those from SunPower and Skyline Solar concentrate the sun’s rays only a few times before it hits traditional solar cells, while other companies like Soitec, Amonix, SolFocus, and GreenVolts focus the sunlight hundreds of times onto the types of solar cells that are used to power satellites. At higher concentrations of sunlight, the less semiconductor material and acreage of land is needed.
via: Reuters
Topics: Solar Power | No Comments »
Ford updates its Fusion Hybrid for 2013 and adds a plug-in verstion
By MB-BigB | January 15, 2012
While official EPA mileage numbers haven’t been released yet, Ford is saying that their updated hybrid will get 47 mpg city and 44 mpg highway, which is a nice jump over the older hybrid’s 41 city, 36 highway mpg EPA rating. Ford’s getting this mileage boost by mating a 2.0 liter Atkinson-cycle gas engine with their third generation hybrid electric drive which contains new software and hardware improvements over the older models. Ford is also claiming an improved regenerative braking system that captures up to 95% of the kinetic energy created when you brake. The energy captured is used to recharge the lithium-ion battery system.
As far as the new PHEV Fusion Energi goes, Ford hasn’t released too many details, but they are saying that the Energi should achieve up to 100 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent (MPGe).
via: Gas2.0
Topics: hybrid and electric cars | No Comments »
Volkswagen announced Jetta Hybrid and shows off new electric Beetle concept – the E-Bugster
By MB-BigB | January 8, 2012
The new Jetta Hybrid will get about 45 mpg (combined city and highway) and meshes a 1.4-liter gas engine rated at 150 horsepower with a 27 kW electric motor capable of cranking out an additional 36 horses. Some other details include a 7-speed DSG transmission which can decouple from the gasoline engine to let the Jetta run solely from the electric motor.
The current version of the Volkswagen E-Bugster concept car features a 114 hp electric motor powered from a lithium-ion battery. Reports are that the E-Bugster is a much cooler looking version of the VW Blue-e-motion electric drive unit being built for an electric version of the Volkwagen Golf. Driving range is about 100 miles, but the battery can be recharged to 80 percent capacity in about 30 minutes from either a 120 volt or 240 volt socket.
via: World Car Fans.com
Topics: hybrid and electric cars | No Comments »
U.S. Army developing new fuel efficient Humvees
By MB-BigB | December 31, 2011
The Army is currently working on two new prototype Humvees, with the goal of dramatically reducing the amount of fuel they use while still providing the same protection that the current fleet of up-armored Humvees have. (The technically correct name of a Humvee is actually HMMWV, or High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle).
The first new model, dubbed the FED Alpha (Fuel Efficient Ground Vehicle Demonstrator), is not really a hybrid, but has a solar panel on the rear hatch to recharge its electrical systems, in addition to lots of other improvements to reduce the amount of fuel used compared to the current version of the Humvee that’s actually in use today. It’s built around an aluminum frame (except for the armored cab and the v-shaped blast shield covering the bottom of the vehicle. It uses a much more up to date Cummins turbo-charged 200 horsepower 4 cylinder diesel engine with a 6 speed automatic transmission (compared to a 3 speed on the current version of the Humvee), coupled with low rolling resistance tires. The tires themselves decrease fuel consumption by 7 percent. The FED Alpha also uses a custom differential with non-geared hubs in order to reduce friction.
The other new version is being called the FED Bravo, but details surrounding the FED Bravo are currently classified, so not much is known. What is known is that it will be a plug-in hybrid similar to the Chevy Volt. They’re calling it a “road coupled parallel hybrid” – the front axle runs off of electrical motors, while the rear axle is powered by both the diesel engine and the hybrid system. The Army is hoping that the Bravo model will be 70 percent more efficient than their current Humvees.
via: Corp!
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Researchers create working solar cell that harvests additional electrons
By MB-BigB | December 17, 2011
But up until now, while labs were able to generate these additional electrons using lead sulfide quantum dots on top of another semiconductor, nobody could figure out how to collect them to make a workable solar cell. This week, however, a team led by Arthur Nozik at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), reported that they’ve created the first working MEG solar cell. The team figured out how to make clusters of lead and selenium about 5 nanometers in diameter separated by short-chain organic molecules that let the electrons flow easily to a nearby electrode. Their multi-layered working solar cell consisted of a layer of antireflection glass with a thin layer of a transparent conductor, a nanostructured layer of zinc oxide, the quantum dot layer of lead selenide, and a thin layer of gold making up the top electrode. While the overall efficiency of the cell is still pretty low (about 5%), the cells are collecting about 30% more electrical charges than the number of photons that hit the cell – demonstrating success as the first true MEG solar cells.
Analysis of the cells shows that the extra electrons are being generated when the energy in the sunlight is 2.5 to 3 times that amount that’s normally needed to generate electrons in non-MEG cells. The team is working on getting this level down to about 2 times the normal energy level. If Nozik and his team can do that, it should dramatically increase the efficiency of their solar cells. The team also feels that this type of solar cell could be made using an inexpensive roll-to-roll manufacturing process.
via: Science
Topics: Solar Power | No Comments »
U.S. has great year for new solar projects, but next year may be weaker
By MB-BigB | December 14, 2011
So what’s driving the increase? A number of factors such as “utility-scale project completions, a strong residential market, effective policies and the plummeting price of solar panels.” But next year isn’t looking as rosy. The report is cautioning 2012 will bring ” substantial market uncertainty with financing and political risks, including the looming expiration of Section 1603 Treasury Program.” The Treasury’s 1603 program provides tax grants for solar projects, and it is currently due to expire on Dec 31st of this year, unless Congress extends it. Without an extension, the report warns that, “there will be a tax equity bottleneck for projects in 2012, leading to a possible slowdown in installations in late 2012 and into 2013.” Some of the growth in installations expected in the fourth quarter of this year (2011) will be due to developers rushing to complete projects in the fourth quarter in order to qualify for the 1603 grant. So even if the program does get extended, there could be a temporary slowdown in new installations in early 2012 due to the current uncertainty.
Topics: Solar Power | No Comments »
