www.smh.com.au
28 Mar 2012
Coal seam gas, widely touted as a greener fuel than coal, could have just as deep a carbon footprint unless world-class standards are used when extracting the gas from the ground, an expert report has found.
A study into the life-cycle greenhouse emissions of Australia's energy sources by consultancy WorleyParsons found conventional gas from large offshore wells typically produced 38% less greenhouse emissions than black coal, largely because it burnt more cleanly.
But the equation could shift dramatically for the fledgling coal seam gas industry-the subject of a fierce political battle in NSW and Queensland-if meticulous standards were not followed when the gas was extracted from the ground.
So-called ''fugitive emissions'', particularly of methane, which is a much more powerful greenhouse gas than CO₂, can tip the balance and make coal seam gas as dirty a fuel source as black coal burnt in ageing power plants, the report says.
''If methane leakage approaches the elevated levels recently reported in some US gas fields,.. the [greenhouse gas] intensity of CSG,.. generation is on a par with sub-critical coal-fired generation,'' the report states.
The lead author, Paul Hardisty, said in a statement: ''The implications for regulators and the emerging Australian CSG industry are that best practice applied to design, construction and operation of projects can significantly reduce emissions, lower financial liabilities under the carbon tax, and help make CSG a less GHG-intensive fuel option.''
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Showing posts with label Methane. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Methane. Show all posts
Wednesday, 4 April 2012
Thursday, 29 September 2011
Switching to gas may accelerate warming
Canberra Times
24 Sep 2011, Page: 10
Switching from coal-fired power stations to gas could actually speed up climate change over the next few decades, according to new research challenging accepted wisdom about low-emissions fuel. Although burning natural gas generally releases fewer greenhouse emissions than coal, the latter releases sulfates and other particles that cool the Earth by blocking some of the sun's light. The study, published in the peer reviewed journal Climatic Change Letters, measured the relative impact of the two fuels and found using more gas would "slightly accelerate" the rate of global warming until at least 2050.
Study author Tom Wigley, a co-director of the US National Centre for Atmospheric Research and an adjunct professor at the University of Adelaide, said, "In principle, gas-fired power is more efficient but when you consider the full range of effects of burning coal, there are other problems that it creates. "Using more gas would reduce CO₂ emissions but it would also lead to more methane being released, and that has a much higher global warming potential", he said.
The climate model used in the study is calibrated to models used by the CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology. The study has implications for Australia because the Federal Government's carbon tax is aimed in part at replacing the nation's coal-fired plants with gas, as well as making renewable energy cheaper compared to fossil fuels. Whether the research is taken into account would depend on whether it is accepted as part of the next assessment produced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2014.
Methane is 20 to 30 times as potent a greenhouse gas as CO₂. Professor Wigley's paper, Coal to Gas: The Influence of Methane Leakage, found that if the amount of methane leaking from gas wells and pipelines around the world could be held below 2.5% of the total amount of methane used, the world's temperature would still rise, but increase about a 10th of a degree more slowly by the year 2100. If the leakage rate was higher, it would take even longer to start slowing temperature increases.
If the amount of methane that leaked was reduced to zero, the rate at which the world was warming up would slow slightly from about 2050. The Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association says the rate of leaks from coal seam gas wells in Australia is negligible, and all "fugitive" emissions are accounted for when gas companies report their emissions to the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. Power stations in Queensland that run solely on coal seam gas produce greenhouse emissions that are up to 73% less per MW of electricity than Hazelwood power station in Victoria, which burns brown coal, the association said.
24 Sep 2011, Page: 10
Switching from coal-fired power stations to gas could actually speed up climate change over the next few decades, according to new research challenging accepted wisdom about low-emissions fuel. Although burning natural gas generally releases fewer greenhouse emissions than coal, the latter releases sulfates and other particles that cool the Earth by blocking some of the sun's light. The study, published in the peer reviewed journal Climatic Change Letters, measured the relative impact of the two fuels and found using more gas would "slightly accelerate" the rate of global warming until at least 2050.
Study author Tom Wigley, a co-director of the US National Centre for Atmospheric Research and an adjunct professor at the University of Adelaide, said, "In principle, gas-fired power is more efficient but when you consider the full range of effects of burning coal, there are other problems that it creates. "Using more gas would reduce CO₂ emissions but it would also lead to more methane being released, and that has a much higher global warming potential", he said.
The climate model used in the study is calibrated to models used by the CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology. The study has implications for Australia because the Federal Government's carbon tax is aimed in part at replacing the nation's coal-fired plants with gas, as well as making renewable energy cheaper compared to fossil fuels. Whether the research is taken into account would depend on whether it is accepted as part of the next assessment produced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2014.
Methane is 20 to 30 times as potent a greenhouse gas as CO₂. Professor Wigley's paper, Coal to Gas: The Influence of Methane Leakage, found that if the amount of methane leaking from gas wells and pipelines around the world could be held below 2.5% of the total amount of methane used, the world's temperature would still rise, but increase about a 10th of a degree more slowly by the year 2100. If the leakage rate was higher, it would take even longer to start slowing temperature increases.
If the amount of methane that leaked was reduced to zero, the rate at which the world was warming up would slow slightly from about 2050. The Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association says the rate of leaks from coal seam gas wells in Australia is negligible, and all "fugitive" emissions are accounted for when gas companies report their emissions to the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. Power stations in Queensland that run solely on coal seam gas produce greenhouse emissions that are up to 73% less per MW of electricity than Hazelwood power station in Victoria, which burns brown coal, the association said.
Wednesday, 28 September 2011
Mill waste to go to landfill
Australian
26 Sep 2011, Page: 4
CHANGES to renewable energy rules that ban native timber from attracting credits under the carbon tax regime will result in waste from a central NSW sawmill being dumped at a tip instead of burned for renewable electricity generation. Boral Timber said the changes to the treatment of mill wood waste from native forest sawlogs "results in very poor environmental outcomes for our business".
In a letter to federal Liberal member for Wannon, Dan Tehan, executive general manager Bryan Tisher says the proposed changes in the Renewable Energy Certificate scheme as part of the carbon package will result in the waste being sent to landfills, where it will produce methane emissions. Methane emissions are considered more dangerous than CO₂ emissions. He said the waste had been sent to a cogeneration facility at Condong, NSW, but the withdrawal of native sawlogs from the program would make that unviable. "We will no longer be able to send our fibre to cogeneration facilities" as these facilities required RECs. "This legislative change inhibit important bioenergy investments that Boral Timber was investigating at its Herons Creek timber mill, near Port Macquarie", he said.
Opposition climate action spokesman Greg Hunt said the issue was a classic example of confusion resulting from the carbon tax. "Emissions will go up rather than down. Material that would have been used will now be wasted", he said. "Even Sir Humphrey would be proud". A spokesman for Climate Change Minister Greg Combet said the RET regulations would be amended so that wood waste from native forest would no longer be eligible to create Renewable Energy Certificates. However, all biomass combustion had been excluded from the carbon price in section 30 of the Clean Energy Bill and there would be transitional arrangements for existing accredited power stations.
26 Sep 2011, Page: 4
CHANGES to renewable energy rules that ban native timber from attracting credits under the carbon tax regime will result in waste from a central NSW sawmill being dumped at a tip instead of burned for renewable electricity generation. Boral Timber said the changes to the treatment of mill wood waste from native forest sawlogs "results in very poor environmental outcomes for our business".In a letter to federal Liberal member for Wannon, Dan Tehan, executive general manager Bryan Tisher says the proposed changes in the Renewable Energy Certificate scheme as part of the carbon package will result in the waste being sent to landfills, where it will produce methane emissions. Methane emissions are considered more dangerous than CO₂ emissions. He said the waste had been sent to a cogeneration facility at Condong, NSW, but the withdrawal of native sawlogs from the program would make that unviable. "We will no longer be able to send our fibre to cogeneration facilities" as these facilities required RECs. "This legislative change inhibit important bioenergy investments that Boral Timber was investigating at its Herons Creek timber mill, near Port Macquarie", he said.
Opposition climate action spokesman Greg Hunt said the issue was a classic example of confusion resulting from the carbon tax. "Emissions will go up rather than down. Material that would have been used will now be wasted", he said. "Even Sir Humphrey would be proud". A spokesman for Climate Change Minister Greg Combet said the RET regulations would be amended so that wood waste from native forest would no longer be eligible to create Renewable Energy Certificates. However, all biomass combustion had been excluded from the carbon price in section 30 of the Clean Energy Bill and there would be transitional arrangements for existing accredited power stations.
Thursday, 22 September 2011
Tassie may win via green Google
Australian
13 September 2011, Page: 32
Google will develop new data centres in locations with a high percentage of renewable energy use, which makes Tasmania the only viable option in Australia should that be the main criteria. The internet giant wants to hit a 100% renewable energy rate over time, an ambitious leap from the current 30%. It doesn't want to build data centres in areas that have a high reliance on traditional energy sources such as coal. Instead, renewable alternatives including wind, solar, hydropower and landfill methane would be welcomed.
"We definitely look for places that have the potential to provide us with a higher percentage of renewable energy.,, so over time almost certainly, as our business grows, well make more investments around the world, including Asia-Pacific", Google green energy "tsar" Bill Weihl said. "One of the important criteria is what's the mix of power that's available or that will be available in future".
Google was continuously evaluating the need to "build and own our own facilities". Google owns six data centres in the US, one in St Ghislain, Belgium, and a new site in Hamina, Finland, that uses sea water for cooling. It did not own any data centres in Asia-Pacific, but had lease arrangements, Mr Weihl said, declining to elaborate. Tasmania generates 86% of its energy from renewable sources, Queensland 8%, NSW 6%, Western Australia 5% and Victoria 3.9%. Overall, Australia generates about 5% of energy from renewable sources, with a 20% target by 2020. New Zealand stands at 74% and aims to hit 90% by 2025.
Asked if New Zealand was a viable location given its renewable energy rate, Mr Weihl said: "That's certainly a big plus and then we'd have to look at other factors". Consideration would be given to a range of costs including construction, power and labour, and proximity to large population centres, he said. "Basically, we want our data centres to be close to users, so the more users there are nearby the better", Mr Weihl said. He didn't rule out building a data centre in Australia to serve Asia-Pacific customers, but said it would depend on network connectivity performance.
"One of the issues going is that the network latency from Australia to Japan and other parts of Asia is relatively high,., we want to put our data centres relatively close to the users so we can provide users with very fast responses with our products", he said. About 85% of Google's carbon footprint comes from "purchased electricity" to power data centres and offices, equivalent to 1.23 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. In 2008, Google sent a team of data centre experts from the US to conduct a site feasibility study.
IDC Australia senior infrastructure analyst Trevor Clarke said he was surprised that data centre industry suppliers had yet to "really push" for renewable energy sources. "The ICT industry could start putting a lot more pressure on government and electricity providers on getting renewable energy into the mix to power ICT equipment and data centres", Mr Clarke said. He said the industry should request more renewables as part of its supply instead of relying on coal. But once the National Australian Built Environment rating System energy efficiency rating tool for data centres was developed later this year, things could change.
13 September 2011, Page: 32
Google will develop new data centres in locations with a high percentage of renewable energy use, which makes Tasmania the only viable option in Australia should that be the main criteria. The internet giant wants to hit a 100% renewable energy rate over time, an ambitious leap from the current 30%. It doesn't want to build data centres in areas that have a high reliance on traditional energy sources such as coal. Instead, renewable alternatives including wind, solar, hydropower and landfill methane would be welcomed.
"We definitely look for places that have the potential to provide us with a higher percentage of renewable energy.,, so over time almost certainly, as our business grows, well make more investments around the world, including Asia-Pacific", Google green energy "tsar" Bill Weihl said. "One of the important criteria is what's the mix of power that's available or that will be available in future".
Google was continuously evaluating the need to "build and own our own facilities". Google owns six data centres in the US, one in St Ghislain, Belgium, and a new site in Hamina, Finland, that uses sea water for cooling. It did not own any data centres in Asia-Pacific, but had lease arrangements, Mr Weihl said, declining to elaborate. Tasmania generates 86% of its energy from renewable sources, Queensland 8%, NSW 6%, Western Australia 5% and Victoria 3.9%. Overall, Australia generates about 5% of energy from renewable sources, with a 20% target by 2020. New Zealand stands at 74% and aims to hit 90% by 2025.
Asked if New Zealand was a viable location given its renewable energy rate, Mr Weihl said: "That's certainly a big plus and then we'd have to look at other factors". Consideration would be given to a range of costs including construction, power and labour, and proximity to large population centres, he said. "Basically, we want our data centres to be close to users, so the more users there are nearby the better", Mr Weihl said. He didn't rule out building a data centre in Australia to serve Asia-Pacific customers, but said it would depend on network connectivity performance.
"One of the issues going is that the network latency from Australia to Japan and other parts of Asia is relatively high,., we want to put our data centres relatively close to the users so we can provide users with very fast responses with our products", he said. About 85% of Google's carbon footprint comes from "purchased electricity" to power data centres and offices, equivalent to 1.23 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. In 2008, Google sent a team of data centre experts from the US to conduct a site feasibility study.
IDC Australia senior infrastructure analyst Trevor Clarke said he was surprised that data centre industry suppliers had yet to "really push" for renewable energy sources. "The ICT industry could start putting a lot more pressure on government and electricity providers on getting renewable energy into the mix to power ICT equipment and data centres", Mr Clarke said. He said the industry should request more renewables as part of its supply instead of relying on coal. But once the National Australian Built Environment rating System energy efficiency rating tool for data centres was developed later this year, things could change.
Thursday, 18 August 2011
Court invokes coals to Newcastle rule
Age
11 August 2011, Page: 5
A VISTA of gas rigs dotted along the coast from Sydney to Newcastle was never going to be a winner with New South Wales coastal councils. And in a rebuff to energy explorers keen to push new techniques and test mining legislation it has not been a winner with government. Federal Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson and his former Labor state counterpart, Steve Whan, have refused to grant offshore exploration licences to underground coal gasification proponent Energie Future.
The ministerial rejection came to light in documents before the Federal Court, where Energie Future is seeking judicial review of the decision by the ministers, who were acting as the joint authority under the Offshore Minerals Act. In 2008, Energie Future applied for four lease exploration areas, covering 6000 km². The boundary comes as close as five kilometres to the coast.
NSW refused the application last October and in November Mr Ferguson agreed. One of the grounds cited by the joint authority was concern about the effect on flora and fauna on the ocean floor and the "fragile beach environments". As recently as June, Gosford, Wyong, Lake Macquarie, Newcastle and Port Stephens councils wrote to the state government, opposing offshore mining in the permit area. They asked what contingency plans the companies had to deal with an oil spill or gas leak, and also queried the effect on the annual whale migrations.
Underground coal gasification (UCG) is a new technology in which coal is burnt and converted to a synthesised (or non-natural) gas underground. The method is used to access coal resources that are either uneconomic or inaccessible to work by conventional means. It is a different process to coal seam gas (CSG) extraction, which is experiencing strong community and some political opposition. It involves drawing water from the coal seam gass to release primarily naturally occurring methane gas.
The joint authority concluded: "The work program was inadequate, the application area is in conflict with [the existing] petroleum exploration permit 11, and the understanding that synthetic manufacture of syngas using underground coal gasification methods is not encompassed by the Offshore Minerals Act nor the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006".
Its key point of refusal was that the "in situ production of a synthetic gas was not classified as a naturally occurring substance", and the extraction method proposed was not covered under the legislation. "It would be irresponsible to grant an exploration licence that would be unable to proceed to a mining licence under the legislative framework", it said. Energie Future has argued the joint authority made an error in law, and also denied the company natural justice. It says it is not a precondition to the granting of a mining licence that the licence holder recover a "mineral". It also says the authority did not consider its proposed alternative method of mining coal through boreholes.
11 August 2011, Page: 5
A VISTA of gas rigs dotted along the coast from Sydney to Newcastle was never going to be a winner with New South Wales coastal councils. And in a rebuff to energy explorers keen to push new techniques and test mining legislation it has not been a winner with government. Federal Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson and his former Labor state counterpart, Steve Whan, have refused to grant offshore exploration licences to underground coal gasification proponent Energie Future.
The ministerial rejection came to light in documents before the Federal Court, where Energie Future is seeking judicial review of the decision by the ministers, who were acting as the joint authority under the Offshore Minerals Act. In 2008, Energie Future applied for four lease exploration areas, covering 6000 km². The boundary comes as close as five kilometres to the coast.
NSW refused the application last October and in November Mr Ferguson agreed. One of the grounds cited by the joint authority was concern about the effect on flora and fauna on the ocean floor and the "fragile beach environments". As recently as June, Gosford, Wyong, Lake Macquarie, Newcastle and Port Stephens councils wrote to the state government, opposing offshore mining in the permit area. They asked what contingency plans the companies had to deal with an oil spill or gas leak, and also queried the effect on the annual whale migrations.
Underground coal gasification (UCG) is a new technology in which coal is burnt and converted to a synthesised (or non-natural) gas underground. The method is used to access coal resources that are either uneconomic or inaccessible to work by conventional means. It is a different process to coal seam gas (CSG) extraction, which is experiencing strong community and some political opposition. It involves drawing water from the coal seam gass to release primarily naturally occurring methane gas.
The joint authority concluded: "The work program was inadequate, the application area is in conflict with [the existing] petroleum exploration permit 11, and the understanding that synthetic manufacture of syngas using underground coal gasification methods is not encompassed by the Offshore Minerals Act nor the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006".
Its key point of refusal was that the "in situ production of a synthetic gas was not classified as a naturally occurring substance", and the extraction method proposed was not covered under the legislation. "It would be irresponsible to grant an exploration licence that would be unable to proceed to a mining licence under the legislative framework", it said. Energie Future has argued the joint authority made an error in law, and also denied the company natural justice. It says it is not a precondition to the granting of a mining licence that the licence holder recover a "mineral". It also says the authority did not consider its proposed alternative method of mining coal through boreholes.
Thursday, 21 July 2011
The power plays of the future
The Saturday Age
16 July 2011, Page: 6
ASSUMING the government's climate legislation gets the parliamentary green light, it promises more than just forcing large industries to pay for their carbon dioxide emissions. The plan includes a Clean Energy Finance Corporation, with about $10 billion to spend over five years on seed loans, loan guarantees and equity funding for new technologies that may not otherwise get off the ground.
There will also be $1.7 billion in unspent grants handed over to a separate new body, the Australian Renewable EnergyAgency. And there will be money to improve energy efficiency, which some experts say can yield the biggest emissions cuts and financial savings in the early years. What might the energy supply of the future look like? The Saturday Age profiles six emerging technologies.
Biogas
Melbourne Water was thinking odour pollution, not climate change, when it began capturing the gas released from massive lagoons of sewage at its Western Treatment Plant. It was not until it gained a clearer picture of the amount of gas emitted from the Werribee plant mostly methane, a greenhouse gas 20 times more potent than CO₂ that it realised its broader potential.
Partnering with energy company AGL Energy, it built a biogas fired power plant on site. Methane is captured by air tight lagoon covers, funnelled in the bio gas plant and used to generate about 95% of the energy needed on site. "People would probably be surprised to know that sewage is effectively powering one of Australia's biggest sewage treatment facilities. It's the ultimate feedback loop", said Melbourne Water spokesman Paul Pretto.
While cutting odour has been the main driver, the organisation estimates the biogas program has cut the plant's emissions by 330,000 tonnes since 2005, and reduced its annual energy bill by about $3 million Another $2 million a year has been saved at its Eastern Treatment Plant at Bangholme.
Melbourne Water is one of about 500 companies facing the carbon price its two treatment plants emit about 180,000 tonnes a year, equating to a $4.1 million bill but it says its liability has already been dramatically reduced. It is still evaluating the impact of the carbon price, but expects investment in biogas to become more attractive. Technology for converting methane to biogas is also being explored by landfill sites and coalmines.
Large scale solar
Has a project had more false dawns in the public mind than the large scale solar power plant planned for north west Victoria? Promised in 2006 to employ world leading photovoltaic solar technology, the 154 MW proposal hit a roadblock in September 2009, when developer Solar Systems went into administration. The technology was eventually bought by Sydney based Silex Systems, Australia's only solar panel manufacturer.
Nearly 18 months on, work is about to start on a two MW demonstration plant near Mildura. Subject to the pilot's success, Silex Systems plans to start work on the full station at a reduced capacity of 100 MWs next year. Generation is expected to start in 2014. The company says the power generated through its unique technology, using giant parabolic mirrors to concentrate the sun's rays, will be enough to run 40,000 homes.
Despite its delays, the Silex Systems plan is ahead of the curve, and already has $125 million in government support. Two other plants using different technology one at Moree in outback NSW, the other at Chinchilla in Queensland last month won a combined $770 million from the now defunct solar flagships scheme. Silex Systems chief executive Michael Goldsworthy said the carbon price package should help other solar plants get developed. "It's the first step in closing the gap between renewables and coal fired power", he said. "But ultimately the costs are coming down anyway, and we expect solar to reach grid parity [in price] within five years".
Geothermal energy
Melbourne consultants Hot Dry Rocks built a business locating good geothermal energy sites places where the heat of the Earth could be tapped and used to, one day, power the grid. Usually, it helps others identify the best site for drilling and then moves on. It is now branching out, looking to generate a different type of energy in the coal rich Latrobe Valley. It plans geothermal on a small scale, starting with a 500 kW pilot plant that would draw enough heat from about 600 metres beneath the surface to power about 500 houses. If successful, the vision is of tiny geothermal plants dotted across the valley.
Hot Dry Rocks technical director Graeme Beardsmore said the company had $217,000 from the Victorian Department of Primary Industries and had applied for another $997,000. It would need another $3.5 million to start drilling. As with larger geothermal projects, the challenge in winning financial backing has been the lack of a precedent, and uncertainty over whether the technology can develop to compete with fossil fuels. "That's one of the big barriers we have found in getting investment for our clients. Investors say, 'Show us one working on scale,'" Dr Beardsmore said.
While the Clean Energy Finance Corporation would not offer immediate help for the Hot Dry Rocks pilot, he said it could prove vital to give the industry a kick start later in the decade. "I think this is what the geothermal industry has been waiting for from the federal government a bit of direction and a bit of steel in their spine".
Wave energy
For Carnegie Corporation Wave Energy, a big injection of cash into Australia's renewable s industry couldn't have come at a better time. In two years, the WA based company hopes to build a five MW power project in the waters near Garden Island, south of Perth, enough to power 3000 homes a year.
Carnegie Corporation managing director Michael Ottaviano said it would be the largest wave energy project in the world. Electricity would be generated through 20 or so pumps submerged 25 metres in the ocean, driven by the ocean's swell. They would send a stream of pressurised water to shore via a pipe, turning a standard hydropower electricity turbine.
"Effectively it is a hydroelectric project, but instead the pressure is not caused by a dam or mountain, it is created by a novel pumping technology", Dr Ottaviano said. Carnegie Corporation has just finished a trial using one pump with positive results. Dr Ottaviano said it had given the company confidence to push ahead with the full scale project.
The company is now seeking $50 million to bring the project to scale. It has attracted $12 5 million from the WA government and is looking to the Commonwealth for the rest. "What we've got is a project that is ready to go, and in fact is already underway, so the money can be put to use immediately" Dr Ottaviano said.
He said the new independent grants authority would be the first stop to fund the project. If successful in Perth, Carnegie Corporation could then look to the $10 billion clean energy Financing corporation or the private market to develop other projects around the country, including at three sites in Victoria: Portland, Warrnambool and Phillip Island.
Nano solar
It is technology that could revolutionise the solar industry and do away with bulky rooftop panels: tiny solar cells one millionth of a millimetre in diameter that can be printed on surfaces such as glass, steel and plastic and used for powering homes or as part of large scale stations.
The technology is being perfected by researchers at University of Melbourne, in partnership with CSIRO, who hope they can make it commercially available in five to 10 years. Before it can be be commercialised the efficiency of the new technology which currently generates just half the power of standard solar panel technology will need to be improved.
The researchers are seeking a corporate partner or venture capital, potentially through the new funding bodies, to help build more panels to refine the technology. The tiny panels are made from crystals called nanoparticles. Nano crystal panels are suspended in a liquid such as ink and then printed onto fiat surfaces. The ink dries and the panels are connected to the electricity grid.
"They could be used for either smaller scale uses like households generation, but also largescale power generation where you set up in a field, or somewhere in the desert, large arrays of these types of solar panels", said researcher Brandon Mac Donald.
Mr MacDonald envisages long strips of thin metal or plastic 75 centimetres wide and several kilometres long painted with the panels, rolled out over vast stretches of land and hooked up to the energy grid. For households, the panels could be painted onto windows and rooftops, removing the need to install chunky solar systems.
Trigeneration
About 70% of the electricity generated at the large, remote power plants in the Latrobe Valley does not reach the final destination. Most of the energy is lost into the atmosphere, either in the generation process or during transmission. To tackle this, City of Sydney is bringing its energy generation on site. Using a complex system of small generators and pipes, it plans to capture the energy lost during generation and use it to heat and cool major buildings in the city. The process is known as trigeneration.
While the Sydney project will be funded through partnerships with energy companies the first tenders are being worked through now some of the money from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation is expect to help finance other trigeneration schemes.
Leading the project for the Sydney Council is Allan Jones a UK born engineer, not the shock jock. He said the project would cut emissions from city buildings by 40 to 60% by 2030.A series of small, natural gas fuelled power generators, potentially generating 360 MWs, will be built around the city on and in council buildings.
The heat created by the generators that would otherwise be lost will be captured and put through a network of underground pipes to warm buildings and provide hot water. A thermal cooler will be used to chill the same water through the pipe network for refrigeration and air conditioning. Mr Jones said the project would both deliver emissions cuts and shield landlords from electricity price hikes due to a carbon price.
16 July 2011, Page: 6
ASSUMING the government's climate legislation gets the parliamentary green light, it promises more than just forcing large industries to pay for their carbon dioxide emissions. The plan includes a Clean Energy Finance Corporation, with about $10 billion to spend over five years on seed loans, loan guarantees and equity funding for new technologies that may not otherwise get off the ground.
There will also be $1.7 billion in unspent grants handed over to a separate new body, the Australian Renewable EnergyAgency. And there will be money to improve energy efficiency, which some experts say can yield the biggest emissions cuts and financial savings in the early years. What might the energy supply of the future look like? The Saturday Age profiles six emerging technologies.
Biogas
Melbourne Water was thinking odour pollution, not climate change, when it began capturing the gas released from massive lagoons of sewage at its Western Treatment Plant. It was not until it gained a clearer picture of the amount of gas emitted from the Werribee plant mostly methane, a greenhouse gas 20 times more potent than CO₂ that it realised its broader potential.
Partnering with energy company AGL Energy, it built a biogas fired power plant on site. Methane is captured by air tight lagoon covers, funnelled in the bio gas plant and used to generate about 95% of the energy needed on site. "People would probably be surprised to know that sewage is effectively powering one of Australia's biggest sewage treatment facilities. It's the ultimate feedback loop", said Melbourne Water spokesman Paul Pretto.
While cutting odour has been the main driver, the organisation estimates the biogas program has cut the plant's emissions by 330,000 tonnes since 2005, and reduced its annual energy bill by about $3 million Another $2 million a year has been saved at its Eastern Treatment Plant at Bangholme.
Melbourne Water is one of about 500 companies facing the carbon price its two treatment plants emit about 180,000 tonnes a year, equating to a $4.1 million bill but it says its liability has already been dramatically reduced. It is still evaluating the impact of the carbon price, but expects investment in biogas to become more attractive. Technology for converting methane to biogas is also being explored by landfill sites and coalmines.
Large scale solar
Has a project had more false dawns in the public mind than the large scale solar power plant planned for north west Victoria? Promised in 2006 to employ world leading photovoltaic solar technology, the 154 MW proposal hit a roadblock in September 2009, when developer Solar Systems went into administration. The technology was eventually bought by Sydney based Silex Systems, Australia's only solar panel manufacturer.
Nearly 18 months on, work is about to start on a two MW demonstration plant near Mildura. Subject to the pilot's success, Silex Systems plans to start work on the full station at a reduced capacity of 100 MWs next year. Generation is expected to start in 2014. The company says the power generated through its unique technology, using giant parabolic mirrors to concentrate the sun's rays, will be enough to run 40,000 homes.
Despite its delays, the Silex Systems plan is ahead of the curve, and already has $125 million in government support. Two other plants using different technology one at Moree in outback NSW, the other at Chinchilla in Queensland last month won a combined $770 million from the now defunct solar flagships scheme. Silex Systems chief executive Michael Goldsworthy said the carbon price package should help other solar plants get developed. "It's the first step in closing the gap between renewables and coal fired power", he said. "But ultimately the costs are coming down anyway, and we expect solar to reach grid parity [in price] within five years".
Geothermal energy
Melbourne consultants Hot Dry Rocks built a business locating good geothermal energy sites places where the heat of the Earth could be tapped and used to, one day, power the grid. Usually, it helps others identify the best site for drilling and then moves on. It is now branching out, looking to generate a different type of energy in the coal rich Latrobe Valley. It plans geothermal on a small scale, starting with a 500 kW pilot plant that would draw enough heat from about 600 metres beneath the surface to power about 500 houses. If successful, the vision is of tiny geothermal plants dotted across the valley.
Hot Dry Rocks technical director Graeme Beardsmore said the company had $217,000 from the Victorian Department of Primary Industries and had applied for another $997,000. It would need another $3.5 million to start drilling. As with larger geothermal projects, the challenge in winning financial backing has been the lack of a precedent, and uncertainty over whether the technology can develop to compete with fossil fuels. "That's one of the big barriers we have found in getting investment for our clients. Investors say, 'Show us one working on scale,'" Dr Beardsmore said.
While the Clean Energy Finance Corporation would not offer immediate help for the Hot Dry Rocks pilot, he said it could prove vital to give the industry a kick start later in the decade. "I think this is what the geothermal industry has been waiting for from the federal government a bit of direction and a bit of steel in their spine".
Wave energy
For Carnegie Corporation Wave Energy, a big injection of cash into Australia's renewable s industry couldn't have come at a better time. In two years, the WA based company hopes to build a five MW power project in the waters near Garden Island, south of Perth, enough to power 3000 homes a year.
Carnegie Corporation managing director Michael Ottaviano said it would be the largest wave energy project in the world. Electricity would be generated through 20 or so pumps submerged 25 metres in the ocean, driven by the ocean's swell. They would send a stream of pressurised water to shore via a pipe, turning a standard hydropower electricity turbine.
"Effectively it is a hydroelectric project, but instead the pressure is not caused by a dam or mountain, it is created by a novel pumping technology", Dr Ottaviano said. Carnegie Corporation has just finished a trial using one pump with positive results. Dr Ottaviano said it had given the company confidence to push ahead with the full scale project.
The company is now seeking $50 million to bring the project to scale. It has attracted $12 5 million from the WA government and is looking to the Commonwealth for the rest. "What we've got is a project that is ready to go, and in fact is already underway, so the money can be put to use immediately" Dr Ottaviano said.
He said the new independent grants authority would be the first stop to fund the project. If successful in Perth, Carnegie Corporation could then look to the $10 billion clean energy Financing corporation or the private market to develop other projects around the country, including at three sites in Victoria: Portland, Warrnambool and Phillip Island.
Nano solar
It is technology that could revolutionise the solar industry and do away with bulky rooftop panels: tiny solar cells one millionth of a millimetre in diameter that can be printed on surfaces such as glass, steel and plastic and used for powering homes or as part of large scale stations.
The technology is being perfected by researchers at University of Melbourne, in partnership with CSIRO, who hope they can make it commercially available in five to 10 years. Before it can be be commercialised the efficiency of the new technology which currently generates just half the power of standard solar panel technology will need to be improved.
The researchers are seeking a corporate partner or venture capital, potentially through the new funding bodies, to help build more panels to refine the technology. The tiny panels are made from crystals called nanoparticles. Nano crystal panels are suspended in a liquid such as ink and then printed onto fiat surfaces. The ink dries and the panels are connected to the electricity grid.
"They could be used for either smaller scale uses like households generation, but also largescale power generation where you set up in a field, or somewhere in the desert, large arrays of these types of solar panels", said researcher Brandon Mac Donald.
Mr MacDonald envisages long strips of thin metal or plastic 75 centimetres wide and several kilometres long painted with the panels, rolled out over vast stretches of land and hooked up to the energy grid. For households, the panels could be painted onto windows and rooftops, removing the need to install chunky solar systems.
Trigeneration
About 70% of the electricity generated at the large, remote power plants in the Latrobe Valley does not reach the final destination. Most of the energy is lost into the atmosphere, either in the generation process or during transmission. To tackle this, City of Sydney is bringing its energy generation on site. Using a complex system of small generators and pipes, it plans to capture the energy lost during generation and use it to heat and cool major buildings in the city. The process is known as trigeneration.
While the Sydney project will be funded through partnerships with energy companies the first tenders are being worked through now some of the money from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation is expect to help finance other trigeneration schemes.
Leading the project for the Sydney Council is Allan Jones a UK born engineer, not the shock jock. He said the project would cut emissions from city buildings by 40 to 60% by 2030.A series of small, natural gas fuelled power generators, potentially generating 360 MWs, will be built around the city on and in council buildings.
The heat created by the generators that would otherwise be lost will be captured and put through a network of underground pipes to warm buildings and provide hot water. A thermal cooler will be used to chill the same water through the pipe network for refrigeration and air conditioning. Mr Jones said the project would both deliver emissions cuts and shield landlords from electricity price hikes due to a carbon price.
Monday, 4 July 2011
Sensors to cut cost of checking carbon
Australian
Tuesday 28/6/2011 Page: 35
AUSTRALIAN scientists are spearheading the international development of technology to analyse greenhouse gases and climate change. The Greenhouse Gas Monitor joint research project was awarded $2.3 million last week by the Australian Space and Research Program. The project is designed to develop a mobile sensor unit to vastly boost the number of earthbound measurement stations globally that monitor CO₂. The project, which includes a team from the University of Wollongong's GeoQuest group, will use terrestrial and satellite technology to develop a data collection and feedback system.
By increasing the number of measuring sites, scientists could increase their data volume and the diversity of environmental source conditions, yielding more accurate information and improved weather and climate change forecasting. "So you would be able to prove your computer model and say more accurately where CO₂, is coming from or where it is going to, and that has big implications for things like emissions trading schemes", project researcher and Centre for Atmospheric Chemistry senior research fellow Nicholas Jones said.
The project will enhance international efforts by Japan and the US to launch satellites capable of precisely measuring atmospheric CO₂ and methane from space. To make the satellites useful, the data must be tied back to ground measurements. Current sensors capture CO₂ measurements from Total Column Carbon Observing Network stations, which cost about $1m each and weigh 600kg. The instrument follows the sun and allows scientists to measure CO₂, and methane between the ground and the top of the atmosphere.
Wollongong has one of three TCCON instruments in the southern hemisphere. The others are in Darwin and New Zealand. There are 15 worldwide. "The problem is that, to really make use of the satellite measurements, you want to calibrate them not just in 15 places, but several hundred, preferably 1000 or may be more", Dr Jones said. "What GGM is about is whether we can do the same kind of measurement from the ground but at a tenth of the cost".
He said the team had a candidate technology that could take measurements as accurately as the TCCON. The aim was to develop a mobile instrument for less than $100,000. "In the next 24 months, we are going to be looking at a couple of these technologies, developing them and comparing them with our TCCON data and if it works out we will then commercialise this instrument". The team's mobile prototype is a thumb sized crystal in a box inside a miniature heater.
Dr Jones said the mobile system would be autonomous and made up of a solar tracker to direct sunlight into the instrument, a spectrometer and computer control able to analyse data and send it back to a base station. "So there will be some kind of data archiving system, which then has to grab that data and send it off to the end user, such as the Bureau of Meteorology". The GGM partners also include University of Melbourne and Australian National University, the Bureau of Meteorology, Rosebank Engineering and Vipac Engineers and Scientists.
"We are probably one to two years ahead of the rest of the field, so we are hoping that we can get something to market before someone else does", Dr Jones said. He said the technology would also help in the scientific understanding of the carbon cycle and in climate modelling and the effects of El Nino and La Nina. "If we are able to predict those sorts of events more accurately, that has huge implications in terms of economic impact on the country", he said.
Tuesday 28/6/2011 Page: 35
AUSTRALIAN scientists are spearheading the international development of technology to analyse greenhouse gases and climate change. The Greenhouse Gas Monitor joint research project was awarded $2.3 million last week by the Australian Space and Research Program. The project is designed to develop a mobile sensor unit to vastly boost the number of earthbound measurement stations globally that monitor CO₂. The project, which includes a team from the University of Wollongong's GeoQuest group, will use terrestrial and satellite technology to develop a data collection and feedback system.By increasing the number of measuring sites, scientists could increase their data volume and the diversity of environmental source conditions, yielding more accurate information and improved weather and climate change forecasting. "So you would be able to prove your computer model and say more accurately where CO₂, is coming from or where it is going to, and that has big implications for things like emissions trading schemes", project researcher and Centre for Atmospheric Chemistry senior research fellow Nicholas Jones said.
The project will enhance international efforts by Japan and the US to launch satellites capable of precisely measuring atmospheric CO₂ and methane from space. To make the satellites useful, the data must be tied back to ground measurements. Current sensors capture CO₂ measurements from Total Column Carbon Observing Network stations, which cost about $1m each and weigh 600kg. The instrument follows the sun and allows scientists to measure CO₂, and methane between the ground and the top of the atmosphere.
Wollongong has one of three TCCON instruments in the southern hemisphere. The others are in Darwin and New Zealand. There are 15 worldwide. "The problem is that, to really make use of the satellite measurements, you want to calibrate them not just in 15 places, but several hundred, preferably 1000 or may be more", Dr Jones said. "What GGM is about is whether we can do the same kind of measurement from the ground but at a tenth of the cost".
He said the team had a candidate technology that could take measurements as accurately as the TCCON. The aim was to develop a mobile instrument for less than $100,000. "In the next 24 months, we are going to be looking at a couple of these technologies, developing them and comparing them with our TCCON data and if it works out we will then commercialise this instrument". The team's mobile prototype is a thumb sized crystal in a box inside a miniature heater.
Dr Jones said the mobile system would be autonomous and made up of a solar tracker to direct sunlight into the instrument, a spectrometer and computer control able to analyse data and send it back to a base station. "So there will be some kind of data archiving system, which then has to grab that data and send it off to the end user, such as the Bureau of Meteorology". The GGM partners also include University of Melbourne and Australian National University, the Bureau of Meteorology, Rosebank Engineering and Vipac Engineers and Scientists.
"We are probably one to two years ahead of the rest of the field, so we are hoping that we can get something to market before someone else does", Dr Jones said. He said the technology would also help in the scientific understanding of the carbon cycle and in climate modelling and the effects of El Nino and La Nina. "If we are able to predict those sorts of events more accurately, that has huge implications in terms of economic impact on the country", he said.
Wednesday, 29 June 2011
Fracking nightmare
Hobart Mercury
23 June 2011, Page: 20
I AM astonished that the Federal Government is classifying natural gas and "clean" coal as clean energy. That is absurd: both are carbon fuels that release CO₂ on burning. Further, clean coal has yet to be made and it uses a lot of energy in becoming so, if it ever does.
Gas opens up the nightmare of coal seam gas fracking fracturing a rock layer which destroys the water table and perfectly good farmland with it, not to mention methane release, which is worse for greenhouse than CO₂ and the health risks of the chemicals used in fracking.
The Government is heading down a nightmare scenario for all, except for the short term interests of mining companies. The Government is being disingenuous. Clean energy includes sources that leave no carbon footprint, like wind, tidal, solar and thermal. These are the way to go.
John Biggs, Sandy Bay
23 June 2011, Page: 20
I AM astonished that the Federal Government is classifying natural gas and "clean" coal as clean energy. That is absurd: both are carbon fuels that release CO₂ on burning. Further, clean coal has yet to be made and it uses a lot of energy in becoming so, if it ever does.
Gas opens up the nightmare of coal seam gas fracking fracturing a rock layer which destroys the water table and perfectly good farmland with it, not to mention methane release, which is worse for greenhouse than CO₂ and the health risks of the chemicals used in fracking.
The Government is heading down a nightmare scenario for all, except for the short term interests of mining companies. The Government is being disingenuous. Clean energy includes sources that leave no carbon footprint, like wind, tidal, solar and thermal. These are the way to go.
John Biggs, Sandy Bay
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
Energy options ignored
West Australian
27 May 2011 Page: 22
The directions paper released recently by the Department of Energy introduces itself as detailing a smarter energy future for West Australians. Lip service is made about cleaner energy, with use of renewable energy sources. However, renewable energy options are repeatedly dismissed with a bias to maintain the continued burning of fossil fuels.
There is also no mention of the looming onset of peak oil.Gas, which is presented as a major player, is also a significant greenhouse gas contributor and in the short term may be of value only if it gets rid of the polluting use of coal in power stations.
Even more alarming is the invitation of coal seam gas frackers to infiltrate WA as part of the plan. Dangers to our health and environment are becoming all apparent from this vile form of mining in other parts of the world and greenhouse pollution resulting is probably the same as with coal because of fugitive methane emissions. Finally, carbon capture and storage is included as a solution but this technology is unproved, costly and would divert resources from development of renewables.
The recommendation of this paper will lock WA into many more years of fossil fuel pollution. Instead, what is needed is a healthy, secure and sustainable energy future and significant reduction of this State's carbon emissions by 2030.
Greg Glazov, Gnangara.
27 May 2011 Page: 22
The directions paper released recently by the Department of Energy introduces itself as detailing a smarter energy future for West Australians. Lip service is made about cleaner energy, with use of renewable energy sources. However, renewable energy options are repeatedly dismissed with a bias to maintain the continued burning of fossil fuels.
There is also no mention of the looming onset of peak oil.Gas, which is presented as a major player, is also a significant greenhouse gas contributor and in the short term may be of value only if it gets rid of the polluting use of coal in power stations.
Even more alarming is the invitation of coal seam gas frackers to infiltrate WA as part of the plan. Dangers to our health and environment are becoming all apparent from this vile form of mining in other parts of the world and greenhouse pollution resulting is probably the same as with coal because of fugitive methane emissions. Finally, carbon capture and storage is included as a solution but this technology is unproved, costly and would divert resources from development of renewables.
The recommendation of this paper will lock WA into many more years of fossil fuel pollution. Instead, what is needed is a healthy, secure and sustainable energy future and significant reduction of this State's carbon emissions by 2030.
Greg Glazov, Gnangara.
Monday, 30 May 2011
Waste plant contract goes to Landfill Gas
Courier Mail
20 May 2011, Page: 94
Landfill Gas Industries has won the race to build Brisbane City Council's new waste-to-energy generation plant. The company has been given the go ahead to construct the facility at 369 Sherbrooke Rd, Willawong. The company will operate the plant with Diamond Energy for at least the next 10 years. Landfill Gas Industries beat AGL Energy Services , Landfill Gas and Power, LMS Generation and Integrated Waste Resources to win the tender, after the council called for expressions of interest in November last year.
The plant will be on a remediated landfill site that closed in the 1990s. The site has an underground well and piped gas harvesting systems already in place to release methane gas created by the landfill. It currently has a flare burning methane gas. The Landfill Gas development will be the second renewable energy facility for Brisbane, with the Rochedale landfill waste-to-energy facility generating power since 2004.
20 May 2011, Page: 94
Landfill Gas Industries has won the race to build Brisbane City Council's new waste-to-energy generation plant. The company has been given the go ahead to construct the facility at 369 Sherbrooke Rd, Willawong. The company will operate the plant with Diamond Energy for at least the next 10 years. Landfill Gas Industries beat AGL Energy Services , Landfill Gas and Power, LMS Generation and Integrated Waste Resources to win the tender, after the council called for expressions of interest in November last year.
The plant will be on a remediated landfill site that closed in the 1990s. The site has an underground well and piped gas harvesting systems already in place to release methane gas created by the landfill. It currently has a flare burning methane gas. The Landfill Gas development will be the second renewable energy facility for Brisbane, with the Rochedale landfill waste-to-energy facility generating power since 2004.
Tuesday, 1 February 2011
Gas plan may trip up on science
Courier Mail
27 January 2011, Page: 11
QUEENSLAND'S multibillion-dollar plunge into the gas industry could be based on a major flaw in the science, with doubts raised in the US this week over its greenhouse gas emissions. Reports from Cornell University and the US Government's Environmental Protection Agency said there had been a dramatic underestimation of emissions and gas could be similar to coal as a greenhouse polluter.
The apparent environmental benefits from gas have been a major selling point for the coal seam gas industry and the $30 billion it is ploughing into the state over the next four years to build export facilities in Gladstone. Gas has long been considered to have about half the greenhouse gas emissions of coal and for that reason it has been thought to be an ideal stop-gap as the world attempts to make renewable energy, such as solar and wind, more viable.
But the EPA said previous estimates of gas emissions had not included a significant number of issues, had left out the effect of methane and that emissions were about double what they were considered in 2006. The Australian gas industry said it stood by a number of reports, including those by the CSIRO and Worley, which backed gas as a low-polluting alternative and said the US EPA report did not relate to the local industry.
In a second report, a professor of ecology and environmental biology at America's Cornell University, David Aktinson, said the combustion emissions were only part of the story and the favourable comparison to coal was "quite misleading".
27 January 2011, Page: 11
QUEENSLAND'S multibillion-dollar plunge into the gas industry could be based on a major flaw in the science, with doubts raised in the US this week over its greenhouse gas emissions. Reports from Cornell University and the US Government's Environmental Protection Agency said there had been a dramatic underestimation of emissions and gas could be similar to coal as a greenhouse polluter.
The apparent environmental benefits from gas have been a major selling point for the coal seam gas industry and the $30 billion it is ploughing into the state over the next four years to build export facilities in Gladstone. Gas has long been considered to have about half the greenhouse gas emissions of coal and for that reason it has been thought to be an ideal stop-gap as the world attempts to make renewable energy, such as solar and wind, more viable.
But the EPA said previous estimates of gas emissions had not included a significant number of issues, had left out the effect of methane and that emissions were about double what they were considered in 2006. The Australian gas industry said it stood by a number of reports, including those by the CSIRO and Worley, which backed gas as a low-polluting alternative and said the US EPA report did not relate to the local industry.
In a second report, a professor of ecology and environmental biology at America's Cornell University, David Aktinson, said the combustion emissions were only part of the story and the favourable comparison to coal was "quite misleading".
Thursday, 4 November 2010
Power to the canny farmer
Hobart Mercury
Tuesday 26/10/2010 Page: 4
A TASMANIAN farmer aims to use fresh air and "fart gas" to combat skyrocketing electricity prices. A $28.000 Nuffield Scholarship will allow chicken and turkey farmer Rob Nichols to investigate the conversion of manure and chicken guts into gas. Mr Nichols also will investigate wind power. He has already installed a 30m-diameter, 225-kW wind turbine on his North-West farm and is passionate about alternative energy.
Mr Nichols said the turbine, which supplies about half the farm's electricity needs, acted as a security shield against rising electricity prices. He said he hoped the farm, which produces the famous Nichols free-range chickens, could further reduce its dependence on the power grid by producing biogas. The process involves throwing manure, chicken waste and green plant material into a digester, which acts like a giant cow's stomach. It gives off "fart gas", mostly methane, which can be burned to produce heat and electricity. The solid by-product is nutrient-rich, doesn't smell and can be used as fertiliser.
Mr Nichols said the scholarship would enable him to study the process in Germany, where entire farms have been dedicated to energy production, and Denmark, which pioneered wind and bioenergy decades ago. He said he was convinced that there were opportunities for energy production on Tasmanian farms, depending on how Federal Government incentives panned out Mr Nichols said he also saw potential for energy crops, such as grass to be grown for the digesters. "I see the home production of renewable energy as an industry that holds significant openings for the Australian farming industry", he said. The scholarship will allow Mr Nichols to study animal welfare advances on European poultry farms.
Tuesday 26/10/2010 Page: 4
A TASMANIAN farmer aims to use fresh air and "fart gas" to combat skyrocketing electricity prices. A $28.000 Nuffield Scholarship will allow chicken and turkey farmer Rob Nichols to investigate the conversion of manure and chicken guts into gas. Mr Nichols also will investigate wind power. He has already installed a 30m-diameter, 225-kW wind turbine on his North-West farm and is passionate about alternative energy.Mr Nichols said the turbine, which supplies about half the farm's electricity needs, acted as a security shield against rising electricity prices. He said he hoped the farm, which produces the famous Nichols free-range chickens, could further reduce its dependence on the power grid by producing biogas. The process involves throwing manure, chicken waste and green plant material into a digester, which acts like a giant cow's stomach. It gives off "fart gas", mostly methane, which can be burned to produce heat and electricity. The solid by-product is nutrient-rich, doesn't smell and can be used as fertiliser.
Mr Nichols said the scholarship would enable him to study the process in Germany, where entire farms have been dedicated to energy production, and Denmark, which pioneered wind and bioenergy decades ago. He said he was convinced that there were opportunities for energy production on Tasmanian farms, depending on how Federal Government incentives panned out Mr Nichols said he also saw potential for energy crops, such as grass to be grown for the digesters. "I see the home production of renewable energy as an industry that holds significant openings for the Australian farming industry", he said. The scholarship will allow Mr Nichols to study animal welfare advances on European poultry farms.
Tuesday, 24 August 2010
Biochar 'can cut' greenhouse gases
Canberra Times
Saturday 21/8/2010 Page: 12
Using biochar made from crop waste or chicken manure to improve farm soil health can cut the world's greenhouse emissions by 12%, or roughly 1.8 billion tonnes a year, a new study says. A research team led by United States energy department soil chemist Jim Amonette found the organic charcoal-like substance could play "a significant role" in tackling global warming while also boosting the world's food production.
The study, published online by science journal Nature Communications, calculated the carbon content of the world's crop wastes such as rice husks, peanut shells, corn leaves and stalks, as well as farm animal manure and urban green waste. It used computer modelling to estimate how much of this biomass, could be used to produce biochar.
It found using biomass to produce biochar was up to 80% more beneficial than burning organic waste to produce bioenergy or biofuels. But Dr Amonette warned ambitious projects were needed to reap the benefits of biochar, and using it to cut global emissions "will not be accomplished by half-hearted measures".
An Australian team member. University of New South Wales renewable energy engineer Professor Stephen Joseph, said the study showed biochar "can help tackle our climate concerns in a major and sustainable way". "The beauty of the technology is that it is a win-win solution: it can be used to produce energy but at the same time reduce CO2 emission in the atmosphere", Professor Joseph said. According to the study, biochar can improve soil health and fertility by increasing microbial activity, reduce soil acidity, reduce loss of nutrients and raise plant nutrient uptake by boosting water retention.
Biochar is a fine-grained, highly porous charcoal made by burning plants, wood and other organic materials at high temperatures of between 400-800° in a process called slow Pyrolysis. Former Australian of the Year, climate change campaigner Professor Tim Flannery has described biochar as potentially "the single most important initiative for humanity's environmental future".
Dr Amonette said the scientific community had been "split on biochar" because of fears it could lead to loss of habit and land for food production. The study warns land clearing to establish plantations would release carbon in soils and trees, "Leading to an unacceptably high carbon pay back times" before any cuts to carbon emissions were achieved. Converting grasslands to biomass carbon crops" would result in a carbon-payback time greater than 10 years, and clearing rainforest would result in a carbon debt "in excess of 50 years".
The study's estimates of avoided greenhouse emissions were based on assumptions no agricultural land or native forest would be converted to biomass crop production. Other sustainability criteria included leaving sufficient crop waste to prevent soil erosion, not using crop waste used for fodder, not adding biochar made from treated building materials to agricultural soils and using only modern Pyrolysis technologies be used. These technologies fully recover the energy released in the process, and eliminate soot, methane and nitrous oxide emissions.
Saturday 21/8/2010 Page: 12
Using biochar made from crop waste or chicken manure to improve farm soil health can cut the world's greenhouse emissions by 12%, or roughly 1.8 billion tonnes a year, a new study says. A research team led by United States energy department soil chemist Jim Amonette found the organic charcoal-like substance could play "a significant role" in tackling global warming while also boosting the world's food production.
The study, published online by science journal Nature Communications, calculated the carbon content of the world's crop wastes such as rice husks, peanut shells, corn leaves and stalks, as well as farm animal manure and urban green waste. It used computer modelling to estimate how much of this biomass, could be used to produce biochar.
It found using biomass to produce biochar was up to 80% more beneficial than burning organic waste to produce bioenergy or biofuels. But Dr Amonette warned ambitious projects were needed to reap the benefits of biochar, and using it to cut global emissions "will not be accomplished by half-hearted measures".
An Australian team member. University of New South Wales renewable energy engineer Professor Stephen Joseph, said the study showed biochar "can help tackle our climate concerns in a major and sustainable way". "The beauty of the technology is that it is a win-win solution: it can be used to produce energy but at the same time reduce CO2 emission in the atmosphere", Professor Joseph said. According to the study, biochar can improve soil health and fertility by increasing microbial activity, reduce soil acidity, reduce loss of nutrients and raise plant nutrient uptake by boosting water retention.
Biochar is a fine-grained, highly porous charcoal made by burning plants, wood and other organic materials at high temperatures of between 400-800° in a process called slow Pyrolysis. Former Australian of the Year, climate change campaigner Professor Tim Flannery has described biochar as potentially "the single most important initiative for humanity's environmental future".
Dr Amonette said the scientific community had been "split on biochar" because of fears it could lead to loss of habit and land for food production. The study warns land clearing to establish plantations would release carbon in soils and trees, "Leading to an unacceptably high carbon pay back times" before any cuts to carbon emissions were achieved. Converting grasslands to biomass carbon crops" would result in a carbon-payback time greater than 10 years, and clearing rainforest would result in a carbon debt "in excess of 50 years".
The study's estimates of avoided greenhouse emissions were based on assumptions no agricultural land or native forest would be converted to biomass crop production. Other sustainability criteria included leaving sufficient crop waste to prevent soil erosion, not using crop waste used for fodder, not adding biochar made from treated building materials to agricultural soils and using only modern Pyrolysis technologies be used. These technologies fully recover the energy released in the process, and eliminate soot, methane and nitrous oxide emissions.
Monday, 26 July 2010
Toxic test for farm land
Australian
Thursday 22/7/2010 Page: 4It
FARMERS' concerns about the growing coal seam gas industry on the fertile Darling Downs have pushed the Queensland government to appoint extra monitors to check mining activity. While the state government has approved two major coal seam gas projects on the Darling Downs, federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett last week delayed final federal approval for three months to seek further information from Santos and the British-based BG Group. Conservation groups and the National Party have been running a strong campaign against the industry, largely because they feel it has the potential to destroy valuable farming land.
The Bligh government has been a major supporter of the industry but the monitoring decision changed the tone. In a new announcement, it said: "This tougher stance... will significantly ramp up the monitoring, inspection and enforcement of the industry". Mines and Energy Minister Stephen Robertson said the new positions would "ensure that environmental obligations are strictly delivered on, and approved gas extraction processes are followed by the book". Acting Climate Change and Sustainability Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk said: "If the industry cannot operate within the limits and conditions of their government approvals, they have no place in Queensland".
In a related development, the state has put a temporary ban on the slaughter of cattle from near a pilot underground coal gasification plant near Kingaroy, after small quantities of the poisons benzene and toluene leaked last week. While gasification is a different means of extracting power from coal from that used in the coal seam gas industry, the government faces the same political problem, with farmers concerned about the integrity of their land. The government's Biosecurity Division aims to be able to tell cattle farmers today whether they can continue normal operations. In the meantime, it has advised them not to let animals drink bore water.
Thursday 22/7/2010 Page: 4It
FARMERS' concerns about the growing coal seam gas industry on the fertile Darling Downs have pushed the Queensland government to appoint extra monitors to check mining activity. While the state government has approved two major coal seam gas projects on the Darling Downs, federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett last week delayed final federal approval for three months to seek further information from Santos and the British-based BG Group. Conservation groups and the National Party have been running a strong campaign against the industry, largely because they feel it has the potential to destroy valuable farming land.
The Bligh government has been a major supporter of the industry but the monitoring decision changed the tone. In a new announcement, it said: "This tougher stance... will significantly ramp up the monitoring, inspection and enforcement of the industry". Mines and Energy Minister Stephen Robertson said the new positions would "ensure that environmental obligations are strictly delivered on, and approved gas extraction processes are followed by the book". Acting Climate Change and Sustainability Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk said: "If the industry cannot operate within the limits and conditions of their government approvals, they have no place in Queensland".
In a related development, the state has put a temporary ban on the slaughter of cattle from near a pilot underground coal gasification plant near Kingaroy, after small quantities of the poisons benzene and toluene leaked last week. While gasification is a different means of extracting power from coal from that used in the coal seam gas industry, the government faces the same political problem, with farmers concerned about the integrity of their land. The government's Biosecurity Division aims to be able to tell cattle farmers today whether they can continue normal operations. In the meantime, it has advised them not to let animals drink bore water.
Tuesday, 13 July 2010
Generators flick the switch to on
Weekend Australian
Saturday 1 July, 2010 Page: 3
Australia's electricity industry has unveiled a huge program for power generation development over the next decade and beyond, offering opportunities for thousands of engineering, construction and services jobs as well as long-term employment in plant operation. Confronted with the need to meet a more than 21% increase in power demand by 2019 on industry estimates and a more than 60% increase by 2030 on federal government projections generators are working on 217 development proposals across Australia,
The projects include wind farms, renewable generation based on biomass and solar power, a massive amount of gas-fired production and a few coal burning plants. The 2010 Energy Supply Association of Australia yearbook reports that the plans add up to 45,190MW in generation capacity compared with 50,814MW of current grid connected plant plus 5167MW of non-grid plant. The association says that this is in addition to 2000MW of capacity commissioned during 2008-09, the year under review, and includes 3134MW of plant being constructed at present and 3444MW of generation under advanced planning.
Now that the amended renewable energy target has been approved by federal parliament, being passed on the last day of sitting in June, the industry expects a burst of wind farm development. The Clean Energy Council says the RET approval will lead to $20 billion in investment and create thousands of new jobs, many in regional Australia. In a report prepared for the CEC, Roam Consulting estimates that the legislation will see 8200MW of renewable energy capacity installed: 7000MW of wind turbines, 700MW of biomass and 500MW of geothermal power.
The Clean Energy Council claims the RET-driven developments will reduce Australia's greenhouse gas emissions by 380 million tonnes by the end of the decade, "the most significant climate change initiative in Australia's history." The state with the leading interest in wind is Victoria, where investors have 46 projects (4400MW capacity) lined up, followed by NSW with 21 projects (3780MW, including one of the world's biggest proposed developments, involving 1000MW, planned for Silverton, near Broken Hill, by German company Epuron and Macquarie Capital Group).
In third place is South Australia, whose Premier, Mike Rann, has voiced ambitions to make the state the eastern seaboard hub for wind power, with more than 5000MW in capacity. At present there are 21 projects, totalling 1900MW, under consideration for SA. In addition, wind farm investors have seven projects planned for Queensland (922MW), eight in Western Australia (647MW) and three in Tasmania (678MW).
The Energy Supply Association of Australia yearbook reports a large interest in investment in gas generation. It says there are 57 generation projects using natural gas or coal-seam methane being considered across Australia. This includes 3000MW of gas-fuelled generation being built or considered for western Victoria by three companies, AGL Energy, Origin Energy and Santos, and almost 6000MW of gas-fired plant in Queensland proposed by ERM Power, Origin Energy and Transfield Services. As well, a possible 2400MW of gas generation or 2000MW of coal-fired plant is proposed for development in NSW. The next steps for the state hang on resolution of the Keneally government's privatisation plans, reviews by the environmental regulator of proposals and the election in March 2011.
Saturday 1 July, 2010 Page: 3
Australia's electricity industry has unveiled a huge program for power generation development over the next decade and beyond, offering opportunities for thousands of engineering, construction and services jobs as well as long-term employment in plant operation. Confronted with the need to meet a more than 21% increase in power demand by 2019 on industry estimates and a more than 60% increase by 2030 on federal government projections generators are working on 217 development proposals across Australia,
The projects include wind farms, renewable generation based on biomass and solar power, a massive amount of gas-fired production and a few coal burning plants. The 2010 Energy Supply Association of Australia yearbook reports that the plans add up to 45,190MW in generation capacity compared with 50,814MW of current grid connected plant plus 5167MW of non-grid plant. The association says that this is in addition to 2000MW of capacity commissioned during 2008-09, the year under review, and includes 3134MW of plant being constructed at present and 3444MW of generation under advanced planning.
Now that the amended renewable energy target has been approved by federal parliament, being passed on the last day of sitting in June, the industry expects a burst of wind farm development. The Clean Energy Council says the RET approval will lead to $20 billion in investment and create thousands of new jobs, many in regional Australia. In a report prepared for the CEC, Roam Consulting estimates that the legislation will see 8200MW of renewable energy capacity installed: 7000MW of wind turbines, 700MW of biomass and 500MW of geothermal power.
The Clean Energy Council claims the RET-driven developments will reduce Australia's greenhouse gas emissions by 380 million tonnes by the end of the decade, "the most significant climate change initiative in Australia's history." The state with the leading interest in wind is Victoria, where investors have 46 projects (4400MW capacity) lined up, followed by NSW with 21 projects (3780MW, including one of the world's biggest proposed developments, involving 1000MW, planned for Silverton, near Broken Hill, by German company Epuron and Macquarie Capital Group).
In third place is South Australia, whose Premier, Mike Rann, has voiced ambitions to make the state the eastern seaboard hub for wind power, with more than 5000MW in capacity. At present there are 21 projects, totalling 1900MW, under consideration for SA. In addition, wind farm investors have seven projects planned for Queensland (922MW), eight in Western Australia (647MW) and three in Tasmania (678MW).
The Energy Supply Association of Australia yearbook reports a large interest in investment in gas generation. It says there are 57 generation projects using natural gas or coal-seam methane being considered across Australia. This includes 3000MW of gas-fuelled generation being built or considered for western Victoria by three companies, AGL Energy, Origin Energy and Santos, and almost 6000MW of gas-fired plant in Queensland proposed by ERM Power, Origin Energy and Transfield Services. As well, a possible 2400MW of gas generation or 2000MW of coal-fired plant is proposed for development in NSW. The next steps for the state hang on resolution of the Keneally government's privatisation plans, reviews by the environmental regulator of proposals and the election in March 2011.
Tuesday, 6 July 2010
NZ's emissions scheme angers greens, business
Canberra Times
Friday 2/7/2010 Page: 11
New Zealand launched an emissions trading scheme yesterday in a bid to curb the greenhouse gases responsible for climate change but the scheme has angered both businesses and environmentalists. Energy, transport and manufacturing industries will have to start paying for their emissions of gases such as CO2 and methane, which have risen 23% in New Zealand since 1990. Prices for fuel and electricity will rise, with the Government estimating households will pay an extra $NZ5 ($A4.15) a week, although some critics say this estimate is far too low.
Businesses say the extra costs of the scheme will hurt them, while environmentalists say those costs are too low to encourage emission cuts. But Climate Change Minister Nick Smith said the emissions trading scheme balanced the need to cut emissions without damaging the economy. "New Zealand's emissions per person are among the highest in the world and are growing at one of the fastest rates among developed countries," Dr Smith said. "The ETS is the most efficient and most cost-effective way to bring emissions under control, meet our international obligations and protect New Zealand's clean, green brand."
The scheme would drive investment in renewable energy, forestry and energy efficiency and reduce emissions, he said. Under the scheme, polluting industries will have to buy credits for their emissions of CO2 or other greenhouse gases, while businesses that reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere - mainly forest owners - will earn credits that can be sold to polluters. The scheme offers a transition period for polluting industries, with the Government offering subsidies for several years, and agriculture - responsible for nearly half of emissions - to come under the ETS in 2015.
Opposition leader Phil Goff and environmental groups including Greenpeace said the low costs to industries meant there were minimal incentives for industries to cut emissions. But exporters, represented by the Greenhouse Policy Coalition, said they would be at a disadvantage because of the ETS. Executive director David Venables said, "From today, New Zealand companies competing in overseas markets where there is no price on carbon... will be at a clear disadvantage." New Zealand is one of 29 countries - Ettropean Union nations snaking tip most of the rest - with emissions trading schemes.
Friday 2/7/2010 Page: 11
New Zealand launched an emissions trading scheme yesterday in a bid to curb the greenhouse gases responsible for climate change but the scheme has angered both businesses and environmentalists. Energy, transport and manufacturing industries will have to start paying for their emissions of gases such as CO2 and methane, which have risen 23% in New Zealand since 1990. Prices for fuel and electricity will rise, with the Government estimating households will pay an extra $NZ5 ($A4.15) a week, although some critics say this estimate is far too low.
Businesses say the extra costs of the scheme will hurt them, while environmentalists say those costs are too low to encourage emission cuts. But Climate Change Minister Nick Smith said the emissions trading scheme balanced the need to cut emissions without damaging the economy. "New Zealand's emissions per person are among the highest in the world and are growing at one of the fastest rates among developed countries," Dr Smith said. "The ETS is the most efficient and most cost-effective way to bring emissions under control, meet our international obligations and protect New Zealand's clean, green brand."
The scheme would drive investment in renewable energy, forestry and energy efficiency and reduce emissions, he said. Under the scheme, polluting industries will have to buy credits for their emissions of CO2 or other greenhouse gases, while businesses that reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere - mainly forest owners - will earn credits that can be sold to polluters. The scheme offers a transition period for polluting industries, with the Government offering subsidies for several years, and agriculture - responsible for nearly half of emissions - to come under the ETS in 2015.
Opposition leader Phil Goff and environmental groups including Greenpeace said the low costs to industries meant there were minimal incentives for industries to cut emissions. But exporters, represented by the Greenhouse Policy Coalition, said they would be at a disadvantage because of the ETS. Executive director David Venables said, "From today, New Zealand companies competing in overseas markets where there is no price on carbon... will be at a clear disadvantage." New Zealand is one of 29 countries - Ettropean Union nations snaking tip most of the rest - with emissions trading schemes.
Monday, 14 June 2010
The Danish Island that went Carbon Negative
www.newwest.net
Fri, 11 Jun 2010
Denmark is primarily a nation of 444 Islands, 76 of them inhabited. The capital Copenhagen is located on the largest island Zealand, and the second largest island Funen is the home of Hans Christian Andersen. These days the Danish Island most in the news is Samsoe, situated between Jutland and Zealand. Twice the size of Manhattan, the island used to be known mainly for its delicious strawberries and potatoes. Today the Samsingers, as the 4,200 people on Samsoe call themselves, are the first in the industrialised world to reach a carbon negative state. They used to be totally dependent on petroleum imports and electricity from coal-fired plants on the mainland. Before 1998 each Samsinger was responsible for 11 metric tons of CO2 released into the atmosphere. Annually each American puts 19 metric tons into the air.
By installing wind turbines, solar panels, and burning biomass in "closed" furnaces, the Samsingers have now reduced their CO2 emissions by 140%. By 2005 they had reached 100% and had attained carbon neutrality. The additional 40% reduction means that they are now carbon negative: they are exporting more energy than they consume. In 1997 the Samsingers thought they had a good chance to win a national competition for "Renewable Energy Island." An engineer came over from the mainland and did some wind and sunshine studies, and together they sent their proposal off to Copenhagen.
They won the competition and the prize was $90 million in grants from the Danish government over ten years. The government gave the Samsingers full reign in deciding how to increase their energy efficiency. Raising 80% of their own capital, the residents installed 11 1 MW wind turbines and set up many smaller household turbines. Most of the turbines are cooperatively owned and those shareholders include 1,100 of the 50,000 tourists who visit the island during the summers. Each year the island uses 26 million kW hours, but there is 80 million kW hours left over that is sold to the national grid for $8 million a year.
To off-set the 690,000 gallons of gas and diesel still used in their cars, tractors, and ferries, the Samsingers invested in 10 sea-based 2.3MW wind turbines, which greet visitors as they arrive at the ferry terminal. The Samsingers are expanding their biogas production to include methane from pig waste, and they are also experimenting with the production of hydrogen, which can be used to run fuel-cells. A century ago Danish scientist Paul La Cour used wind mills to produce hydrogen for the lights at Askov Folk High School. Under his leadership wind power produced 3% of Denmark's electricity by 1918. Cheap oil then put an end to this early green development.
Danish scientists, working at a research center once devoted to nuclear energy, are again on the cutting edge of hydrogen production. On the Danish island of Lolland wind mills are producing 50% more power than the people consume, so the Lollanders are electrolyzing water to produce hydrogen and oxygen, which is used to speed up the treatment of the island's sewage.
Along with Israel, Denmark is starting to build charging stations for electric vehicles, so these cars will soon be on Danish highways in greater numbers than elsewhere. The Danish government is waiving the 200% excise tax on conventional vehicles to encourage Danes to switch to electric transportation. Teaming up with the American company Better Place, Danish utility DONG Energy is laying out $103 million for 500,000 charging stations and 150 battery swap depots strategically located for longer trips. One might ask why Better Place is not doing business with U.S, utilities, and the answer is that, except for negotiations with Hawaii and San Francisco, there is neither the political will nor the government support to make innovation such as this happen.
On the Danish island of Bornholm an experiment with "vehicle-to-grid" power storage is now in place for the 40,000 inhabitants. Parked vehicles will serve as storage for the excess wind power produced on the island. When the weather is calm, electricity flows back into the grid making unnecessary the reliance on coal-fired plants. Only 400,000 electric cars used in this manner would be needed to take up the slack when Denmark's 5,200 turbine rotors are not turning.
The Samsingers, the Lollanders, and Bornholmers, mostly conservative farmers, say that they are just ordinary people. Their challenge is that if they can become carbon neutral, then anyone on earth can follow their lead. With sufficient political will and cooperative effort every nation could kick its petroleum habit and planet earth could be saved from ecological disaster.
Fri, 11 Jun 2010
Denmark is primarily a nation of 444 Islands, 76 of them inhabited. The capital Copenhagen is located on the largest island Zealand, and the second largest island Funen is the home of Hans Christian Andersen. These days the Danish Island most in the news is Samsoe, situated between Jutland and Zealand. Twice the size of Manhattan, the island used to be known mainly for its delicious strawberries and potatoes. Today the Samsingers, as the 4,200 people on Samsoe call themselves, are the first in the industrialised world to reach a carbon negative state. They used to be totally dependent on petroleum imports and electricity from coal-fired plants on the mainland. Before 1998 each Samsinger was responsible for 11 metric tons of CO2 released into the atmosphere. Annually each American puts 19 metric tons into the air.
By installing wind turbines, solar panels, and burning biomass in "closed" furnaces, the Samsingers have now reduced their CO2 emissions by 140%. By 2005 they had reached 100% and had attained carbon neutrality. The additional 40% reduction means that they are now carbon negative: they are exporting more energy than they consume. In 1997 the Samsingers thought they had a good chance to win a national competition for "Renewable Energy Island." An engineer came over from the mainland and did some wind and sunshine studies, and together they sent their proposal off to Copenhagen.
They won the competition and the prize was $90 million in grants from the Danish government over ten years. The government gave the Samsingers full reign in deciding how to increase their energy efficiency. Raising 80% of their own capital, the residents installed 11 1 MW wind turbines and set up many smaller household turbines. Most of the turbines are cooperatively owned and those shareholders include 1,100 of the 50,000 tourists who visit the island during the summers. Each year the island uses 26 million kW hours, but there is 80 million kW hours left over that is sold to the national grid for $8 million a year.
To off-set the 690,000 gallons of gas and diesel still used in their cars, tractors, and ferries, the Samsingers invested in 10 sea-based 2.3MW wind turbines, which greet visitors as they arrive at the ferry terminal. The Samsingers are expanding their biogas production to include methane from pig waste, and they are also experimenting with the production of hydrogen, which can be used to run fuel-cells. A century ago Danish scientist Paul La Cour used wind mills to produce hydrogen for the lights at Askov Folk High School. Under his leadership wind power produced 3% of Denmark's electricity by 1918. Cheap oil then put an end to this early green development.
Danish scientists, working at a research center once devoted to nuclear energy, are again on the cutting edge of hydrogen production. On the Danish island of Lolland wind mills are producing 50% more power than the people consume, so the Lollanders are electrolyzing water to produce hydrogen and oxygen, which is used to speed up the treatment of the island's sewage.
Along with Israel, Denmark is starting to build charging stations for electric vehicles, so these cars will soon be on Danish highways in greater numbers than elsewhere. The Danish government is waiving the 200% excise tax on conventional vehicles to encourage Danes to switch to electric transportation. Teaming up with the American company Better Place, Danish utility DONG Energy is laying out $103 million for 500,000 charging stations and 150 battery swap depots strategically located for longer trips. One might ask why Better Place is not doing business with U.S, utilities, and the answer is that, except for negotiations with Hawaii and San Francisco, there is neither the political will nor the government support to make innovation such as this happen.
On the Danish island of Bornholm an experiment with "vehicle-to-grid" power storage is now in place for the 40,000 inhabitants. Parked vehicles will serve as storage for the excess wind power produced on the island. When the weather is calm, electricity flows back into the grid making unnecessary the reliance on coal-fired plants. Only 400,000 electric cars used in this manner would be needed to take up the slack when Denmark's 5,200 turbine rotors are not turning.
The Samsingers, the Lollanders, and Bornholmers, mostly conservative farmers, say that they are just ordinary people. Their challenge is that if they can become carbon neutral, then anyone on earth can follow their lead. With sufficient political will and cooperative effort every nation could kick its petroleum habit and planet earth could be saved from ecological disaster.
Sunday, 6 June 2010
Microbe Power: A green means to hydrogen fuel production
beforeitsnews.com
Wed, 2 Jun 2010
Scientists have been hard at work harnessing the power of microbes as an attractive source of clean energy. Now, Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University researcher Dr. Prathap Parameswaran and his colleagues have investigated a means for enhancing the efficiency of clean energy production by using specialized bacteria.
Microbial electrochemical cells or MXCs are able to use bacterial respiration as a means of liberating electrons, which can be used to generate current and make clean electricity. With minor reconfiguring such devices can also carry out electrolysis, providing a green path to hydrogen production, reducing reliance on natural gas and other fossil fuels, now used for most hydrogen manufacture.
Dr. Prathap Parameswaran showing the electrode used in the microbial electrochemical cell (MEC).
MXCs resemble a battery, with a Mason jar-sized chamber setup for each terminal. The bacteria are grown in the "positive" chamber (called the anode). The research team, led by Bruce Rittmann, director of Biodesign's Center for Environmental Biotechnology, had previously shown that the bacteria are able to live and thrive on the anode electrode, and can use waste materials as food, (the bacteria's dietary staples include pig manure or other farm waste) to grow while transferring electrons onto the electrode to make electricity.
In a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC), like that used in the current study, the electrons produced at the anode join positively charged protons in the negative (cathode) chamber to form hydrogen gas. "The reactions that happen at the MEC anode are the same as for a microbial fuel-cell which is used to generate electricity, " Parameswaran says. "The final output is different depending on how we operate it."
When the bacteria are grown in an oxygen-free, or anaerobic environment, they attach to the MXC's anode, forming a sticky matrix of sugar and protein. In such environments, when fed with organic compounds, an efficient partnership of bacteria gets established in the biofilm anode, consisting of fermenters, hydrogen scavengers, and anode respiring bacteria (ARB). This living matrix, known as the biofilm anode, is a strong conductor, able to efficiently transfer electrons to the anode where they follow a current gradient across to the cathode side.
The present study demonstrates that the level of electron flow from the anode to the cathode can be improved by selecting for additional bacteria known as homo-acetogens, in the anode chamber. Homo-acetogens capture the electrons from hydrogen in waste material, producing acetate, which is a very favourable electron donor for the anode bacteria.
The study shows that under favourable conditions, the anode bacteria could convert hydrogen to current more efficiently after forming a mutual relationship or syntrophy with homo-acetogens. The team was also able to reduce the negative impact of other hydrogen consuming microbes, such as methane-producing methanogens, which otherwise steal some of the available electrons in the system, thereby reducing current. The selective inhibition of methanogens was accomplished by the adding a chemical called 2-bromoethane sulfonic acid to the adode's microbial stew.
The group used both chemical and genomic methods to confirm the identify of homo-acetogens. In addition to detection of acetate, formate, an intermediary product, was also discovered. With the aid of quantitative PCR analysis, the team was also able to pick up the genomic signature of acetogens in the form of FTHFS, a gene specifically associated with acetogenesis. "We were able to establish that these homo-acetogens can prevail and form relationships," Parameswaran says. Future research will explore ways to sustain syntrophic relations between homo-acetogens and anode bacteria, in the absence of the chemical inhibitors.
Further progress could pave the way for eventual large-scale commercialisation of systems to simultaneously treat wastewater and generate clean energy. "One of the biggest limitations right now is our lack of knowledge," says Cesar Torres, one of the current study's co-authors, who stresses that there remains much to understand about the interactions of bacterial communities within MXCs.
The field is still very young, Torres points out, noting that work on MXCs only began about 8 years ago. "I think over the next 5-10 years the community will bring a lot of information that will be really helpful and that will lead us to good applications." The team's results appear in the advanced online issue of the journal Bioresource Technology.
Wed, 2 Jun 2010
Scientists have been hard at work harnessing the power of microbes as an attractive source of clean energy. Now, Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University researcher Dr. Prathap Parameswaran and his colleagues have investigated a means for enhancing the efficiency of clean energy production by using specialized bacteria.Microbial electrochemical cells or MXCs are able to use bacterial respiration as a means of liberating electrons, which can be used to generate current and make clean electricity. With minor reconfiguring such devices can also carry out electrolysis, providing a green path to hydrogen production, reducing reliance on natural gas and other fossil fuels, now used for most hydrogen manufacture.
Dr. Prathap Parameswaran showing the electrode used in the microbial electrochemical cell (MEC).
MXCs resemble a battery, with a Mason jar-sized chamber setup for each terminal. The bacteria are grown in the "positive" chamber (called the anode). The research team, led by Bruce Rittmann, director of Biodesign's Center for Environmental Biotechnology, had previously shown that the bacteria are able to live and thrive on the anode electrode, and can use waste materials as food, (the bacteria's dietary staples include pig manure or other farm waste) to grow while transferring electrons onto the electrode to make electricity.
In a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC), like that used in the current study, the electrons produced at the anode join positively charged protons in the negative (cathode) chamber to form hydrogen gas. "The reactions that happen at the MEC anode are the same as for a microbial fuel-cell which is used to generate electricity, " Parameswaran says. "The final output is different depending on how we operate it."
When the bacteria are grown in an oxygen-free, or anaerobic environment, they attach to the MXC's anode, forming a sticky matrix of sugar and protein. In such environments, when fed with organic compounds, an efficient partnership of bacteria gets established in the biofilm anode, consisting of fermenters, hydrogen scavengers, and anode respiring bacteria (ARB). This living matrix, known as the biofilm anode, is a strong conductor, able to efficiently transfer electrons to the anode where they follow a current gradient across to the cathode side.
The present study demonstrates that the level of electron flow from the anode to the cathode can be improved by selecting for additional bacteria known as homo-acetogens, in the anode chamber. Homo-acetogens capture the electrons from hydrogen in waste material, producing acetate, which is a very favourable electron donor for the anode bacteria.
The study shows that under favourable conditions, the anode bacteria could convert hydrogen to current more efficiently after forming a mutual relationship or syntrophy with homo-acetogens. The team was also able to reduce the negative impact of other hydrogen consuming microbes, such as methane-producing methanogens, which otherwise steal some of the available electrons in the system, thereby reducing current. The selective inhibition of methanogens was accomplished by the adding a chemical called 2-bromoethane sulfonic acid to the adode's microbial stew.
The group used both chemical and genomic methods to confirm the identify of homo-acetogens. In addition to detection of acetate, formate, an intermediary product, was also discovered. With the aid of quantitative PCR analysis, the team was also able to pick up the genomic signature of acetogens in the form of FTHFS, a gene specifically associated with acetogenesis. "We were able to establish that these homo-acetogens can prevail and form relationships," Parameswaran says. Future research will explore ways to sustain syntrophic relations between homo-acetogens and anode bacteria, in the absence of the chemical inhibitors.
Further progress could pave the way for eventual large-scale commercialisation of systems to simultaneously treat wastewater and generate clean energy. "One of the biggest limitations right now is our lack of knowledge," says Cesar Torres, one of the current study's co-authors, who stresses that there remains much to understand about the interactions of bacterial communities within MXCs.
The field is still very young, Torres points out, noting that work on MXCs only began about 8 years ago. "I think over the next 5-10 years the community will bring a lot of information that will be really helpful and that will lead us to good applications." The team's results appear in the advanced online issue of the journal Bioresource Technology.
Saturday, 8 May 2010
On an e-mission with gas trucks
Daily Telegraph
Saturday 1/5/2010 Page: 38
IT COULD be a case of second time lucky for Isuzu Australia and compressed natural gas technology. The Japanese importer jumped the gun when it introduced trucks running CNG to Australia in 2004. It sold 16 before putting the pin, but Australia's best-selling truck brand is introducing four CNG trucks using multi-point injection technology. There are four CNG trucks including two N-Series models and two F-Series models that promise similar performance to diesel, dramatically reduced emissions as well as significantly reduced running costs.
The initial purchase prices of the four models will rise with a premium of around 20%. Isuzu is not yet ready to say how long it would take customers to cover the premium but said the fuel savings would be significant and would increase if the price of diesel soars. "There is a price premium associated with the purchase of the vehicle, however, the payback from reduced running costs equates to a favourable return on investment," says Isuzu Trucks Australia director, Phil Taylor.
The price of CNG varies and is often bought in bulk using yearly contracts. Some companies receive CNG for around 40-50c a cubic metre, which can be equated to a litre of diesel. Another advantage is the stability of the price, as CNG is not linked to the price of fossil fuel. There are seven public CNG vehicle refuelling outlets here and Isuzu is realistic that the widespread take up of CNG trucks is a long way away.
It is confident vehicle fleets that have a CNG filling station on site, or are prepared to install one, will be interested in its offerings. Given the limited CNG network, the trucks would be used for city and suburban transport. "Given the refuelling practicalities of CNG trucks, practicality dictates that fleets with back to base operations will be our main target," Taylor says. Some fleets have a CNG filling station on site for forklifts and the setup costs are minimal given that CNG is piped to most locations already.
The CNG models come in under the Euro 5 emission standard to be introduced next year and meet many of the ratings required for the Euro 6 standard, which doesn't have an introduction date in Australia. The CNG engines emit a fraction of the particulate matter compared to diesel as well as less NOx. ''These CNG engines provide greenhouse gas reductions in the order of 15 to 30%, and these are conservative figures," says Isuzu Australia product planning manager, Colin White.
The most prominent parts of CNG are methane (90% ) and ethane (6% ). The Isuzu engines have complex sensors that enable to air/gas mix to be varied to make up for the different blends of CNG. Two different engines are used for the four new Isuzu CNG trucks. The light duty N-Series trucks run a 4.6-litre, naturally aspirated four cylinder, while the medium duty F-Series trucks use a 7.8-litre turbo six. Both are based on diesel power plants that have been developed to run on gas. They are single fuel, not requiring any diesel to start or run, and are one generation ahead of the single mixer CNG system used on the last CNG trucks Isuzu brought here.
The 4.6-litre unit in the NLR 200 and NPR 300 produces 96kW (hp) and 353Nm available at 1400rpm. The NLR 200 is fitted with a five speed automated manual transmission, white the NPR 300 has a six-speed AMT. Both have an idle stop feature, which shuts off the engine once the gear selector is put into neutral and the park brake engaged. It fires up when drive is selected. The CNG is held in two 150 litre tanks that sit behind the front wheels at a pressure of 200 bar and allows for a range of around 300km.
The NLR 200 is rated for a 4.5 tonne gross vehicle mass (GVM) and the NPR 300 for a 7 tonne GVM. The turbocharged, intercooled 7.8 litre unit in the FSR 700 and FSR 850 generates 162kW and 735Nm at 1400rpm. The trucks use the six-speed manual with synchromesh for gears two through to six. They have a total of four tanks, three steel tanks and one carbon fibre wrapped tank, which holds 440 litres and allow for a range of around 400km.
As long as you have a supply of CNG, these Isuzu trucks are convincing. Drivers working on runs that return to base would be happy when the boss hands over the keys to one of these. There is a reduction in capacity due to the extra weight of the CNG system yet they are handy and drive well. Big Wheels drove the two light duty N-Series trucks and tagged along in the medium duty FSR 850. The performance of all three trucks is adequate and the low-down torque of the FSR made evident on a run through a hilly area was impressive. That said the trucks were hauling 780kg to 10,300kg of concrete ballast, down on the maximum loading.
The small NLR 200 is easy to drive, the most car-like in the range, and the large engine pushes it along with little fuss. Its gear-changes are not the fastest and the throttle blips on the upshifts can take a while to get used to. Its bigger brother, the NPR 300 moves along well enough. The steering is not as good, it feels light on centre, with heavy resistance when you turn the steering wheel. It requires constant input and correction.
Isuzu Australia is aware of the issue and is looking to its parent company for a fix. This was not an issue in the larger FSR, which rode particularly well and had excellent engine performance. There is no doubt the CNG Isuzu trucks are good to drive. It is the availability of CNG that will determine whether it remains a niche green solution or a mainstream one.
Saturday 1/5/2010 Page: 38
IT COULD be a case of second time lucky for Isuzu Australia and compressed natural gas technology. The Japanese importer jumped the gun when it introduced trucks running CNG to Australia in 2004. It sold 16 before putting the pin, but Australia's best-selling truck brand is introducing four CNG trucks using multi-point injection technology. There are four CNG trucks including two N-Series models and two F-Series models that promise similar performance to diesel, dramatically reduced emissions as well as significantly reduced running costs.The initial purchase prices of the four models will rise with a premium of around 20%. Isuzu is not yet ready to say how long it would take customers to cover the premium but said the fuel savings would be significant and would increase if the price of diesel soars. "There is a price premium associated with the purchase of the vehicle, however, the payback from reduced running costs equates to a favourable return on investment," says Isuzu Trucks Australia director, Phil Taylor.
The price of CNG varies and is often bought in bulk using yearly contracts. Some companies receive CNG for around 40-50c a cubic metre, which can be equated to a litre of diesel. Another advantage is the stability of the price, as CNG is not linked to the price of fossil fuel. There are seven public CNG vehicle refuelling outlets here and Isuzu is realistic that the widespread take up of CNG trucks is a long way away.
It is confident vehicle fleets that have a CNG filling station on site, or are prepared to install one, will be interested in its offerings. Given the limited CNG network, the trucks would be used for city and suburban transport. "Given the refuelling practicalities of CNG trucks, practicality dictates that fleets with back to base operations will be our main target," Taylor says. Some fleets have a CNG filling station on site for forklifts and the setup costs are minimal given that CNG is piped to most locations already.
The CNG models come in under the Euro 5 emission standard to be introduced next year and meet many of the ratings required for the Euro 6 standard, which doesn't have an introduction date in Australia. The CNG engines emit a fraction of the particulate matter compared to diesel as well as less NOx. ''These CNG engines provide greenhouse gas reductions in the order of 15 to 30%, and these are conservative figures," says Isuzu Australia product planning manager, Colin White.
The most prominent parts of CNG are methane (90% ) and ethane (6% ). The Isuzu engines have complex sensors that enable to air/gas mix to be varied to make up for the different blends of CNG. Two different engines are used for the four new Isuzu CNG trucks. The light duty N-Series trucks run a 4.6-litre, naturally aspirated four cylinder, while the medium duty F-Series trucks use a 7.8-litre turbo six. Both are based on diesel power plants that have been developed to run on gas. They are single fuel, not requiring any diesel to start or run, and are one generation ahead of the single mixer CNG system used on the last CNG trucks Isuzu brought here.
The 4.6-litre unit in the NLR 200 and NPR 300 produces 96kW (hp) and 353Nm available at 1400rpm. The NLR 200 is fitted with a five speed automated manual transmission, white the NPR 300 has a six-speed AMT. Both have an idle stop feature, which shuts off the engine once the gear selector is put into neutral and the park brake engaged. It fires up when drive is selected. The CNG is held in two 150 litre tanks that sit behind the front wheels at a pressure of 200 bar and allows for a range of around 300km.
The NLR 200 is rated for a 4.5 tonne gross vehicle mass (GVM) and the NPR 300 for a 7 tonne GVM. The turbocharged, intercooled 7.8 litre unit in the FSR 700 and FSR 850 generates 162kW and 735Nm at 1400rpm. The trucks use the six-speed manual with synchromesh for gears two through to six. They have a total of four tanks, three steel tanks and one carbon fibre wrapped tank, which holds 440 litres and allow for a range of around 400km.
As long as you have a supply of CNG, these Isuzu trucks are convincing. Drivers working on runs that return to base would be happy when the boss hands over the keys to one of these. There is a reduction in capacity due to the extra weight of the CNG system yet they are handy and drive well. Big Wheels drove the two light duty N-Series trucks and tagged along in the medium duty FSR 850. The performance of all three trucks is adequate and the low-down torque of the FSR made evident on a run through a hilly area was impressive. That said the trucks were hauling 780kg to 10,300kg of concrete ballast, down on the maximum loading.
The small NLR 200 is easy to drive, the most car-like in the range, and the large engine pushes it along with little fuss. Its gear-changes are not the fastest and the throttle blips on the upshifts can take a while to get used to. Its bigger brother, the NPR 300 moves along well enough. The steering is not as good, it feels light on centre, with heavy resistance when you turn the steering wheel. It requires constant input and correction.
Isuzu Australia is aware of the issue and is looking to its parent company for a fix. This was not an issue in the larger FSR, which rode particularly well and had excellent engine performance. There is no doubt the CNG Isuzu trucks are good to drive. It is the availability of CNG that will determine whether it remains a niche green solution or a mainstream one.
Thursday, 18 March 2010
Agencies unite on climate change
Canberra Times
Monday 15/3/2010 Page: 1
Australia's top science agencies warn the country is already gripped by climate change, with hotter spring temperatures, declining rainfall and sea level rises more than three times the global average in some areas. A six-page national climate snapshot published today by the CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology suggests Australia could warm by up to 5 degrees - well above the 2 degree danger threshold determined by the United Nations - if current global green emission levels continue unchecked.
CSIRO chief executive Megan Clark said climate records showed Australia had become hotter and drier over the past 50 years. Warming had occurred in all seasons, with the strongest warming occurring in spring (0.9 degrees) and the weakest in summer (0.4 degrees). "Climate change is real. Our records show there is no disputing that, and the next step is to meet this challenge through mitigation and adaptation," Dr Clark said.
Bureau of Meteorology director Greg Ayres said the reality of climate change was clearly evident in Australia's climate records. "Australia holds one of the best national climate records in the world. The bureau's been responsible for keeping that record for more than 100 years and it's there for anyone and everyone to see, use and analyse," Dr Ayres said.
The climate snapshot, jointly launched by the chiefs of both science agencies, comes just days after the CSIRO Staff Association accused the Federal Opposition of waging a political war against CSIRO climate scientists. It also follows Opposition attacks on Dr Clark and CSIRO during a recent Senate estimates hearing.
Liberal senator Julian McGauran described CSIRO's climate research as "utterly trivial", claiming the organisation's reputation and scientific credibility were " compromised" by its stance in supporting climate change. Dr Clark dismissed suggestions the snapshot was published to refute these recent attacks. "Our experience is that there's a hunger and a thirst for good quality climate science. People want a clearer picture of what's happening, and that's what we've produced," she said.
The snapshot combines more than 100 years of data on Australia's weather, tracking changes in temperature, rainfall, sea level, ocean acidification and atmospheric levels of CO2 and methane. It shows Australia's average temperature has increased by 0.7 degrees over the past 50 years, with inland and northern regions already experiencing warming trends of 1.5 to 2 degrees. Rainfall patterns have become highly variable since the 1960s, with substantial increases across the Top End and central Australia, and substantial decreases across the south-east of the continent.
The snapshot shows sea levels have risen by between 7mm and 10mm a year across Australia's northern coastline, well above the global average of between 1.5 to 3mm a year. Australia's sea surface temperatures have increased by about 0.4 degrees in the past 50 years, showing ocean acidification levels are increasing in the Southern Ocean. Atmospheric CO2 levels measured at CSIRO's air pollution station at Cape Grim in north-west Tasmania have risen from 330 parts per million to 380ppm over the past 35 years.
The report warns that Australia will be hotter in coming decades, but temperatures could rise by 2.2 to 5 degrees under higher emissions scenarios outlined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The report said it was "extremely unlikely" warming was due to natural causes alone. It was "very likely" human activities were responsible with evidence of human influences detected in ocean warming, sea level rise, temperature extremes and wind patterns. "Our observation clearly demonstrate that climate change is real," the report said.
Monday 15/3/2010 Page: 1
Australia's top science agencies warn the country is already gripped by climate change, with hotter spring temperatures, declining rainfall and sea level rises more than three times the global average in some areas. A six-page national climate snapshot published today by the CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology suggests Australia could warm by up to 5 degrees - well above the 2 degree danger threshold determined by the United Nations - if current global green emission levels continue unchecked.
CSIRO chief executive Megan Clark said climate records showed Australia had become hotter and drier over the past 50 years. Warming had occurred in all seasons, with the strongest warming occurring in spring (0.9 degrees) and the weakest in summer (0.4 degrees). "Climate change is real. Our records show there is no disputing that, and the next step is to meet this challenge through mitigation and adaptation," Dr Clark said.
Bureau of Meteorology director Greg Ayres said the reality of climate change was clearly evident in Australia's climate records. "Australia holds one of the best national climate records in the world. The bureau's been responsible for keeping that record for more than 100 years and it's there for anyone and everyone to see, use and analyse," Dr Ayres said.
The climate snapshot, jointly launched by the chiefs of both science agencies, comes just days after the CSIRO Staff Association accused the Federal Opposition of waging a political war against CSIRO climate scientists. It also follows Opposition attacks on Dr Clark and CSIRO during a recent Senate estimates hearing.
Liberal senator Julian McGauran described CSIRO's climate research as "utterly trivial", claiming the organisation's reputation and scientific credibility were " compromised" by its stance in supporting climate change. Dr Clark dismissed suggestions the snapshot was published to refute these recent attacks. "Our experience is that there's a hunger and a thirst for good quality climate science. People want a clearer picture of what's happening, and that's what we've produced," she said.
The snapshot combines more than 100 years of data on Australia's weather, tracking changes in temperature, rainfall, sea level, ocean acidification and atmospheric levels of CO2 and methane. It shows Australia's average temperature has increased by 0.7 degrees over the past 50 years, with inland and northern regions already experiencing warming trends of 1.5 to 2 degrees. Rainfall patterns have become highly variable since the 1960s, with substantial increases across the Top End and central Australia, and substantial decreases across the south-east of the continent.
The snapshot shows sea levels have risen by between 7mm and 10mm a year across Australia's northern coastline, well above the global average of between 1.5 to 3mm a year. Australia's sea surface temperatures have increased by about 0.4 degrees in the past 50 years, showing ocean acidification levels are increasing in the Southern Ocean. Atmospheric CO2 levels measured at CSIRO's air pollution station at Cape Grim in north-west Tasmania have risen from 330 parts per million to 380ppm over the past 35 years.
The report warns that Australia will be hotter in coming decades, but temperatures could rise by 2.2 to 5 degrees under higher emissions scenarios outlined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The report said it was "extremely unlikely" warming was due to natural causes alone. It was "very likely" human activities were responsible with evidence of human influences detected in ocean warming, sea level rise, temperature extremes and wind patterns. "Our observation clearly demonstrate that climate change is real," the report said.
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