September 2003
Blackout
The great blackout of August 14, 2003, the largest ever on this continent, was a perfect illustration of why we should be working on decentralizing our energy infrastructure. 50 million people in Canada and the United States were affected. Government offices in Ontario were shut down for 4 business days.
The reaction of the Bush administration is to develop a proposal to renovate the U.S. grid, which according to US Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham will cost a minimum of $50 billion, and require construction of 30,000 miles of new high voltage transmission lines.
A huge interconnected system like ours is very susceptible to the old “weakest link” principle. In any infrastructure there are always going to be weak links, but with a massive grid, there are more weak links, any one of which has potential for creating massive failures. Indeed, such susceptibility should be considered a threat to our national security.
Now would be a really good time to tell your congress people if you’d rather see some of those tax dollars invested in promoting decentralized solutions to our electrical power problems, like small scale power generation and serious energy conservation education and incentives.
Oil spill of the month
On July 27th, the oil tanker Tasman Spirit, carrying 67,000 tons of crude oil from Iran, ran aground just off the port of Karachi, Pakistan. Monsoon swells hampered efforts to off-load the oil, and the vessel began breaking up on August 13. As of September 4, it continues to leak into Karachi’s harbor. Residents of homes near the shore were evacuated due to nausea and headaches caused by the fumes from the oil on the beach and in the harbor, and many other residents of the city of Karachi are experiencing similar symptoms.
About 37,000 tons has been safely off-loaded, and more than 25,000 tons spilled so far. In comparison, the 1989 the Exxon Valdez spilled 38,800 tons on the Alaska coast - but the Tasman Spirit spill is having a much more immediate and direct impact on humans, taking place as it did in an urban harbor. Funny, there wasn't much mention of this incident by US news media...
The freeway alphabet
So, you’re tired of getting stuck in the slow lane in California when you drive alone in your SUV... You’d like to get an FCV with a PFA - a true ZEV the CARB would permit in the HOV lane along with ULEVs and SULEVs even when you’re driving alone. Unfortunately you can’t buy that FCV yet, but if you wait until next year, you could buy a Honda NGV and your very own VRA...
FCV - fuel cell vehicle
PFA - personal fueling appliance
also VFA or VRA - vehicle fueling/refueling appliance
or HRA - home refueling appliance
ULEV - ultra-low emmissions vehicle
SULEV - super-ultra-low emmissions vehicle
ZEV - zero emmissions vehicle
CARB - California Air Resources Board
NGV - natural gas vehicle
HOV - high occupancy vehicle (carpool)
Automakers drop CARB lawsuit
Speaking of CARB, in June the “Big 3” automakers (GM, Daimler-Chrysler and Ford) finally dropped their California emmission regulations lawsuit. The original CARB mandate in dispute had specified quotas for “electric” vehicles; however, now the development of the technology is focussed on hybrids and FCVs. The “Big 3” negotiated with CARB to substitute FCVs and hybrids for electric vehicles, and it seems that everybody’s satisfied.
August 2003
Laptop fuel cells
The race is on to power up laptops, notebooks, and cell phones with direct methanol fuel cells. Some of the contenders are NEC, Hitachi, Toshiba, Poly Fuel, and Smart Fuel Cells, with offerings to consumers expected within the next year or two. One issue that has come up is whether airlines will allow the methanol fuel cartridges that power these laptops on board aircraft, as some are concerned that they may be a fire danger. However, supporters of the concept claim that they are no more dangerous than a bottle of perfume or the alcohol that passengers drink. Hmm... I think it might be much safer to light a match with a cannister of methanol in your lap than to light a match next to some passengers I have encountered... Presumably these objections will be resolved with ongoing dialogue between the airlines and fuel cell makers. Read more about laptop hydrogen
Fuel cell installation requirements
For those of you who have a burning desire to know appropriate fuel cell installation, beginning with the National Electrical Code Book 2002 edition, article 692 covers installation requirements for fuel cell systems. We don’t know if there is going to be a big run on this - but, you never know when this info can come in handy - like lulls at parties etc. I like to pull this one out when the conversation starts to sag - however I'm not sure that it has had a positive effect on my social life. Read more
...and hydrogen safety standards
Hydrogen Safety, LLC, has a web based, interactive SAFEH2 distance learning curriculum for $1000.00. You can register online, you don’t have to travel for the instruction, and you have the benefit of the industry’s best practices reviewed for your edification. The disadvantage is that $1000.00 is $1000.00. Read more
Howard Dean on energy
Speaking in San Francisco recently, presidential hopeful Howard Dean called for an energy policy which will include a goal of 20% of power generated in the U.S. to be supplied by solar and wind renewable resources by 2020. Dean also vowed to get rid of the SUV exemption in the federal fuel efficiency standards. Way to go! Read more
The Hydrogen World View
Roger Billings has reconstituted the Billings Energy Corporation. Billings is truly one of the pioneers of hydrogen technology - way ahead of his time. If you want to know more about this fascinating scientist and details of his projects, (such as his hydrogen homestead, begun in 1975; or his work with metal hydride storage or fuel cells) visit his website.
Cheaper fuel cell membranes
Researchers at the Nagoya Institute of Technology in Japan have come up with a glass based electrolyte membrane for fuel cells. It is made with water and a special grade of glass with a platinum catalyst applied to the surface. The researchers claim that they can be made considerably cheaper than present membranes (which are made from flurosis resin) and could dramatically reduce the cost of fuel cells. If it proves viable, it may remove one of the cost barriers that have impeded the commercial development of fuel cell powered devices.
You can run but you can't hide
So you think you can simplify your life, find a quiet place and escape the insanity of our oil based economy? Here's the tragic story of Manfred Gnadinger.
July 2003
U.S. Senate over the top
Yup, the U.S. Senate has approved billions of dollars to construct 6 new generation nuclear fission reactors. Bush has been pushing for this and it looks like he’ll get it - but that’s just the problem - he doesn’t “get it,” and neither does the Senate!
Now remember folks, those billions of dollars are your dollars that they are spending. Both the Prez and the Senate need one of those “Power in the 21st Century For Dummies” books.
The most humorous part of all this (if you like dark humor) is that one of the provisions is to spend 1.1 billion dollars to construct a nuclear power plant in Idaho to produce hydrogen. Duh! All I can say to this nonsense is no no no no no no no and no. If you have the stomach for it, you can read more here.
It was beautiful!
Designed to test the feasibility of atmospheric satellites, it had a 247 foot wingspan and was the first high altitude solar powered fuel cell aircraft - and it just crashed into the Pacific ocean. This joint project of NASA and Aero Vironment cost about fifteen million. Yikes!! That’s bad news. Read more
Hydrogen and the ozone layer scare
Several researchers at the California Institute of Technology have stated that it’s possible that water vapor would increase in the upper atmosphere if hydrogen is used in large quantities on this planet. They think that it might make the hole in the ozone layer bigger and cool temperatures a bit. Oh well, so much for the hydrogen economy ! Might as well stick with fossil fuels, right? Read more
Say cheese!!
Who says your environment doesn’t affect what you do? Researchers from the University of Wisconsin, one of the biggest cheese producing states in the union, have discovered a new catalyst that makes hydrogen from cheese waste. Read more
UPS torture test
Detroit, Michigan will host the debut of a small fleet of new UPS vehicles. The power plant for these vehicles will be run by fuel cells. Word has it that the EPA is going to build a "sort of" hydrogen gas station in Ann Arbor to fuel the vehicles. It will be interesting to see how these power systems perform in the tough Detroit environment with tough UPS usage. It gets a bit cool up there in the winter and fuel cells can be finnicky about weather changes. This will definitely be one of those "where the rubber meets the road" tests. Read more
Whose freedom fuel?
President Bush's Freedom Fuel Initiative sounds good, doesn't it? That State Of The Union Address took everyone by surprise- less dependence on oil from other countries, hydrogen cars in the near future... Hmmmm... What does this have to do with Big Oil interests, and who is who in the National Hydrogen Association? I don't know the answers to these questions but you may find this enlightening reading.
Fill 'er up
OK, so you're a sucker for the green scene and you just bought a fuel cell powered vehicle and forgot to ask where you can fill it up. Not to worry! Shell has just opened up a hydrogen filling station in Reykjavik Iceland! Read more
..but don't forget your panda
All right, you say, but after a few days of tooling around Reykjavik you want to expand your horizons and hit the road. No problem. Get a panda. Not only do they make great traveling companions but, according to Fumiaki Taguchi, a professor at Kitsato University in Tokyo, they will provide the fuel. Yup, about one kilogram of panda poo, according to Taguchi, can provide 100 litres of hydrogen. Read more
A note about an article about a...
I was just reading an article about a report on a study commissioned by the Department of Energy. The study was to develop a report on "Energy Technologies for 2050". It cost $200,000 to do the report about the study. I wonder where they get their money. By the way, has anyone seen my wallet?
Read more
Dow and GM
It looks like Dow Chemical and General Motors are going to converge in Texas to produce power with fuel cells. Dow is providing the hydrogen byproduct from one of its plants and GM will be providing the fuel cell stacks. The facility could possibly produce up to 35 megawatts of power. Read more
Women and Fuel Cells
Interested? Read more
One for the road
Although you might agree that alcohol and driving don't mix, it is a fact that hydrogen can be produced from alcohol, and alchohol is a serious contender for automotive fuel cell applications. Vodka works for me. Read more
The thread?
If you have a pet spider you may have a thread to future income opportunities. It appears that spiders' silk is as strong as carbon fiber and Kevlar, and is an environmentally friendly candidate material for high pressure hydrogen storage tanks. Read more
More durable fuel cell MEAs
W. L. Gore and Associates has come out with a new MEA (membrane electrode assembly) which is touted to outlast other MEAs by four times longer in an automotive environment.
Read more
Did your state make the grade?
If you are interested in what your state is doing to develop and support renewable energy, check the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy.
The Union Of Concerned Scientists has given the State of Vermont a C to C+ grade on their commitment to support renewable energy sources. Compared to many other states this is good, but just like in school, this means that they have just barely made it. Hopefully Vermont will want to take some leadership initiative with their renewable energy commitment and bring their grades up. At present Vermont has net metering, a sales tax exemption on renewable products, and a very limited local option for property tax exemption. Want to know how the Union Of Concerned Scientists has rated your state?
OOPS!
Toyota has had to recall the six FCV (Fuel Cell Vehicles) it has on the road. Apparently a fuel tank was found to be leaking on one of the test vehicles. Honda has stated that it has not yet had any problems with its FCVs. Read more
FC aircraft to take off in December 2003
Boeing is planning to launch the first crew-of-1 fuel-cell-powered aircraft in December of 2003. It will be a glider-type of plane with an onboard 25 kilowatt fuel cell system. Talk about a quiet ride! Read more
Big solar cells
Astropower has developed a great eight inch solar cell (the biggest of its kind in the industry) which is manufactured by using a continuous sheet process. You could certainly make some Texas size panels with these cells!! Read more
On the other hand, if you don't care to buy big PV cells, but you do like to drink berry juices, brush your teeth with a titanium dioxide whitener toothpaste, and are interested in photovoltaics, you might want to make your own solar cells with this formula.
Proton buys Northern Power
Northern Power Systems of Waitsfield Vermont has combined forces with Proton Energy Systems of Wallingford CT to further enhance their positions in the distributed power market. Northern is known for its application of renewable energy sources for power systems, and Proton for its proton exchange membrane electrolyzers and regenerative fuel cell systems. This should be an exciting and practical partnership with many benefits to the end users of their products and services. Read more
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