BP releases a report on energy reports
Dec 18, 2008 Stars, Policy and Finance
We have hedge funds and then hedge funds that are funds of hedge funds i.e. they invest their money into multiple hedge funds. Similarly, now that energy and green issues are such a hot topic, we have had so many reports getting published all around, with claims and counterclaims. Sure enough, the time has come for a report of reports! Voila, here it is by BP! It is a collection of reports, all 360 pages of them. All the fact and figures to keep the environmental anoraks busy.
For example: New cars may get better fuel economy than old ones, but the old ones are still around. How long do they last, and how many miles does the average two-year-old car go a year, vs. the average 10-year-old car? Try the Transportation Energy Data Book, linked from the BP compilation.
BP cautions that it does not vouch for the data, and is simply providing a link to the most recent thinking in each area.
Tags: BP, Climate Change, Green Technology, reports
Algae Biofuels Challenge — the all new ABC
Oct 26, 2008 Green Technologies, Ratings and awards
Carbon Trust
The Carbon Trust, UK has announced a Algae Biofuels Challenge (ABC). It promises multi-million pound investment to support the development and commercialization of microalgae biofuel technologies that have the potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
The ABC is a two phase programme with the first phase addressing fundamental R&D challenges and the second phase moving to large scale production of algal oil. The total programme cost is expected to be in the region of £20m-30m, with up to £10m-16m of Carbon Trust funding. The call for proposals for Phase 1 of the ABC opened on the 23rd October 2008 and closes on 15th December 2008.
Tags: Algae, Green Technology, Microalgae, UK
Tesla gives a sneak preview of its 4 door model S
Oct 26, 2008 Auto Tech, Green Technologies
Sneak peek - Model S
With a turbulent fortnight behind them, Tesla decided to give a sneak peak of its Model S sedan, now planned to be available from 2011. Good way to keep the buzz going.
If your curiosity is piqued, here are more details(though a bit old): range of about 240 miles and 0-100 kmph dash in about 6 seconds witha price tag of $60000. Ogle at another snap after the read link. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: electric cars, Green Technology, Tesla
An electric bike — affordable yet drool cool!
Oct 24, 2008 Auto Tech, Green Technologies
Electric Bike - ubercool!
An Oakland (US) based company called Electric Motorsports has unveiled an electric bikes called GPR-S. Boasting a 60-70 mph (100-120 kmph)top speed and 35-60 mile (55-100 km) range at an affordable $8,000, it could just be the eco-bikers’ weapon of choice.
The bike can charge in about four hours, or 1.5 hours with an optional charger. Even better, the bike is modular in nature. In simpler words, a user could buy the bike with an efficient battery and engine build today, and when the next cycle of improved batteries is released, he’ll be able to swap in the new one without investing in a new one.
I can think of adding an faux-enginenote generator which can play the engine notes of a Harley or a Bullet or a Ducati Desmo, depending on your mood, as you bring out the riding gear, ready to literally electrify the streets! Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: electric bike, electric car, Green Cars, Green Technology
1000 hectare algae farm to be online in 2011
Oct 23, 2008 Green Technologies, Startups
Alage in tube
GreenFuel, a company founded by MIT graduates, announced a deal for the construction of a commercial scale 100 hectare algae farm to be fully operational in 2011. Spain’s Aurantia, a leading alternative energy investment firm, has agreed to pay GreenFuels $92M to build the farm that will produce 25,000 tons of biomass yearly.
GreenFuel, which recently celebrated its 7th anniversary and had tested with growing algae in tubes few years back, already has a 100 square-meter prototype greenhouse operating at the site in Spain. GreenFuel ditched the growing tubes, opting for a top-secret tubeless proprietary growing process, one which includes automated harvesting. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Algae, biofuel, Green Technology, GreenFuel
Freescale’s new chip claims 10 times perfomance improvement - to help make greener cars
Oct 21, 2008 Auto Tech, Green Technologies
Freescale
Freescale Semiconductors released its MPC5674F chip, that it claims to provide about 10 times today’s conventional engine controllers. The company hopes that this will allow tuning engines for improved fuel efficiency and cleaner emissions, without sacrificing performance.
The 264MHz chip will be suited for all green engine designs: common rail diesel injection systems, gasoline direct injection engines, homogenous charge compression ignition (HCCI) systems and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: cars, Green Cars, Green Technology, low emission
Dell Plant a Tree program meets disappointing response
Oct 20, 2008 Natural Resource Conservation, Social Initiatives
Dell Plant A Tree
According to the newspaper Guardian, Dell’s Plant A Tree For Me has met with a disappointing response.
The “Plant a Tree for Me” allows Dell customers to pay $ 2 extra for a laptop ($ 6 for a desktop PC) in order to offset their CO2 emissions by the machine’s electric consumption for 3 years. Dell has partnered for the operation with an NGO that runs a reforestation program.
Unfortunately, only 300,000 consumers have chosen this option, notes Tod Arbogast, head of Dell Sustainable Development division. This represents less than 1% of Dell customers in 2007.
Tags: Dell, Forest Conservation, Green Technology, Plant a Tree
BMW 7 series hybrid gets its batteries
Oct 15, 2008 Auto Tech, Green Technologies
BMW 7 series hybrid
BMW’s upcoming 7 Series ActiveHybrid (covered here) will use a 120 volt lithium ion battery pack that will be supplied by Johnson Controls-Saft. That battery will be assembled at the Johnson Controls-Saft production facility in Nersac, France.
BMW will place the lithium ion battery in the trunk, while a BMW standard-fare 12 volt Absorbent Glass Mat battery will reside under its hood. This is the same heavy duty battery already used in BMWs with brake energy regeneration. While BMW’s 7 Series shares hybrid technology with the new Mercedes-Benz S400 BlueHybrid, the Merc will use a 120 volt battery supplied by Continental that will be placed under the hood where the normal lead-acid battery would go. Mercedes has opted to use a single battery configuration with a step down to supply the usual 12V accessories.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: BMW, Green Auto, Green Cars, Green Technology, Hybrids
Citroen C-Cactus promises 100mpg
Oct 13, 2008 Auto Tech, Green Technologies
Citroen C-Cactus
French carmaker Citroen has announced the possibility of making a hybrid based on the C-Cactus concept car, that promises near 100mpg mileage. That is nearly 43kmpl! This it plans to achieve by coupling the frugality of a diesel engine to a electric motor. The C-Cactus also promises to use fewer parts than conventional cars to make it lighter and cheaper to build and recycled materials for environment friendliness.
Tags: automobiles, Citroen, fuel efficiency, Green Technology, Hybrid cars
Will CSR and Green Technologies stay relevant?
Oct 12, 2008 Social Initiatives
Stock Market Crash
This Friday, crude oil prices slipped below $80 per barrel. The bloodbath in the stock markets around the world has continued. In such an environment, many companies may question devoting resources towards social initiatives and environment friendly measures. With recession looming, how relevant are CSR initiatives and green technologies? Or will they become unintended victims of the global crisis?
Tags: CSR, Financial crisis, Green Technology, Oil Prices