What next? Golf cart fuelled by Cow Dung!
Japan's Yamaha Motor Co. has developed a golf cart that runs on methane made from cow dung. Japan for Sustainability reports that in preparation for commercial production, in late 2008, the company began testing the cart on a golf course in Katori, Chiba Prefecture. Osaka Gas Co. provided the methane at a low cost for the vehicle tests, as part of its efforts to promote the use of cow-dung biomass as a low-cost fuel.
To read the full article go to: http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/028888.html. This information was sourced via the Resource Recovery Forum: www.resourcesnotwaste.org
Underground Coal-to-liquids demonstration plant opens in Australia
Linc Energy officially opened its Chinchilla Demonstration Facility, reportedly the world's first coal-to-liquids demonstration plant to use Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) technology. The plant is producing clean synthetic diesel and jet fuel from gas sourced from deep underground coal reserves.
With first production achieved recently, Federal Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson said. “This technology unlocks energy from Australia's significant stranded and uneconomic coal reserves and has the potential to dramatically reduce Australia's dependence upon imported oil and refined products,” Ferguson said. “Australia has enormous potential as a coal-to-liquids producer and an economically viable and environmentally sustainable coal-to-liquids industry would not only increase Australia's energy security, but also provide jobs, exports, revenue and economic growth, particularly in regional communities. Similarly, gas-to-liquids could open up new opportunities for development of Australia’s vast northwest gas resources and east coast coal seam methane resources, complementing the potential of Australia’s well-established LNG industry.”
Story sourced from www.EnvironmentalManagementNews.net
Algae to capture CO2 for more fuel from energy plant?
In an integrated innovation a European company is proposing to use waste to produce energy and collect CO2 from the plant to produce more fuel from algae.
The company hoping to build a £250 million energy-from-waste plant in Peterborough is in the running for European funding to develop technology to capture the plant's carbon emissions. New Energy Focus reported that Peterborough Renewable Energy Ltd believes it can use algae to tap up carbon dioxide from flue gases to produce a biomass fuel suitable for combustion.
New Energy Focus reported that Peterborough Renewable Energy Ltd believes it can use algae to tap up carbon dioxide from flue gases to produce a biomass fuel suitable for combustion. For more:
http://newenergyfocus.com
This information was sourced via the Resource Recovery Forum: www.resourcesnotwaste.org
Cheap waste heat to power using Refrigerant
Honeywell said a green refrigerant it has developed is being used to convert waste heat to power at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. The organic rankine cycle Green Machine, using the refrigerant Genetron R-245fa, can produce 1kWh of power for less than one US cent after the initial two-year payback period.
The energy-efficient, non-flammable, low-toxicity refrigerant is used as the heat-transfer fluid in the ElectraTherm Green Machine. The organic rankine cycle (ORC) uses waste heat as low as 93 degrees Celcius to boil the R-245fa. The resulting vapour is used to drive a patented “Twin Screw Expander” that generates usable electricity.
The machine can generate more than 50kWh of electricity at less than US$0.01 ($0.013), which compares favourably with US Energy Department figures that say the average costs of commercial electricity is more than $0.10 per kWh in 2008.
Honeywell said its R-245fa is ideal for use in the machine because of the refrigerant’s heat transfer properties, including a low boiling point.
“This allows the ORC to take even low-temperature waste heat sources and convert them to grid-friendly electricity that can be used to offset the power needs of the source company,” it said in a statement. “The waste heat can come from a variety of sources, including common boilers and chillers in office buildings.”
For more on this story go to: http://www.environmentalmanagementnews.net/StoryView.asp?StoryID=1002838
Free Event: When the Going gets Tough, Smart Businesses get Going
Eric Tjoeng of CAD Partners shows how to survive and profit in this challenging economic environment. This is a critical time to fine-tune the business model and focus on important business drivers such as revenue, price, cost of goods/services, margin, operating expenses, receivables, payables, and inventory/work in progress.
Hosted By: NSW Department of State and Regional Development on 26 May 2009 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM at Level 2, 470 Church Street (cnr Harold Street), North Parramatta, 2151. For more details click on: http://events.smallbiz.nsw.gov.au/Events.aspx?eventid=131
For other NSW Department of Regional Development business events across NSW go to: http://events.smallbiz.nsw.gov.au/
Previously advertised Events:
A Savvy Business Persons’ Guide to Tough Economic Times 06 May 2009, 8.30am – 10.30am: organised by NSW Department of State and Regional Development at North Parramatta.
Viktoria Darabi of Savvy and Successful lists strategies to make sure a business is in the best shape to manage customers and markets in these uncertain times. This seminar is suitable for businesses whose traditional markets are eroding or have disappeared completely. For more details and to register: http://events.smallbiz.nsw.gov.au/Events.aspx?eventid=130
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