Archive for July, 2008
US Passes Germany in Overall Wind Energy MW Production
July 29th, 2008 | 
Author: The US and Germany are in a new, silent arms race that will actually benefit society this time around. The Daily Times reported the very closely watched statistics of 2008 world wind energy generation. For the first time ever, the US has finally surpassed Germany in terms of megawatts of wind energy produced because of the faster US wind speeds, even though Germany has more capacity and turbines. This feat wasn’t expected to have occurred yet, so the American wind association is pretty pleased.
While this is a small battle one, it should be expected considering the US’s much larger size, population, wind speeds, and need for alternative renewable energy sources. Here’s a simple comparison between the two countries.
| Germany | US | |
| Population | 80 million | 300 million |
| Carbon Emissions | 800,000 thousand metric tons | 6,000,000 thousand metric tons |
| Electricity Consumed | 546 million megawatts | 3.8 billion megawatts |
| Wind energy capacity | 23,000 MW | 18,000 MW |
| Percentage of energy from wind | 7% | 1.2% |
As the numbers show, the US’s gains really aren’t too special considering the per capita use of wind electricity versus normal electricity consumption. The US does have some plans in place to raise that meager 1.2% wind energy to 20% though. The Department of Energy has a program 20% wind by 2030 which, as its titles suggests, is a PR push towards making wind energy a very much more serious contributor to US energy consumption.
So, if we’re lucky, public policy will be put in place to let us reach Denmark’s current 20% wind energy by the year 2030.
Posted in 
Geos, a Sustainable GeoSolar Community
Geos is a community located in Arvada, Colorado. With homes starting in the low $200,000, it is an affordable green community seeking status as the first fossil fuel free community in the United States. The homes combine the benefits of both geothermal and solar energy. Homes range from 850 to 3500+ square feet and include a variety of living options from live/work townhomes to single level flats.
Geos will be comprised of a network of plazas, parks, and trails
encouraging a pedestrian, social community. It’s unique as a community that
eliminates the need for fossil fuels is. Some other "green" communities may not even include geothermal or solar.
The home
prices are also an important part of this community. The planners
wanted to make a green community that was accessible for the average
person, not just the elite. Geos is still in the early stages, but it
promises to be a revolutionary and inspirational community. To learn
more, visit their website.
Renderings via Geos.
Hydrogen now viable? low voltage production drops costs 30% to $2.47 a gallon
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles have been the pipe dream of automakers for years now because of their potential for super low emissions and that big renewable factor. But while hydrogen fuel cell vehicles were touted as the next big thing for years, and were even embraced as the future savior of General Motors by 2011, people failed to remember that it’s still completely inefficient to actually make the hydrogen in the first place.
Well, a new company/inventor Global Hydrogen is now claiming that they can produce hydrogen at $2.47 a kg, which is equivalent to one gallon of fuel. This $2.47 figure is pretty impressive, considering it is 30% lower than the previous figure of $3.57 a kg of hydrogen, which is produced by natural gas steaming.
This much cheaper method of hydrogen creation comes from the low voltage technique that Global Hydrogen has patented. Theoretically, this method of production was thought to be impossible before today, but now they claim that it’s very much possible and preferable. The method produces hydrogen at a voltage as low as 1.2, and this results in an efficiency over 90%, which is presumably the key to the very low price claimed by Global Hydrogen.
While these numbers at face value are very impressive, whether it’s legit or not is up in the air considering the shabbiness of the company’s web site and released youtube video on low voltage hydrogen production, which tends to remind me of my high school chemistry lab.
But, I’ll take their claim [with a grain of salt] because I am a wishful thinker, and this type of development could mean wonders for the future of hydrogen fuel cells worldwide. So maybe hydrogen fuel celled cars will make automakers such as GM “what they were in the ’50s”
Rise of First Solar continues: New Nevada film solar plant for Sempora
Soaring solar company First Solar just announced plans to build a new thin film solar plant near Boulder City, Nevada (Las Vegas neighborhood) for Sempra Energy. The turnkey plant will produce 10 MW of electricity and will be owned and operated by Sempra after it’s development by First Solar, and the plant will be placed right next to an existing natural gas plant to utilize existing infrastructure. The plant will use the First Solar’s usual cadmium telluride for the film, not the silicone that is typically used in such solar panels.
First Solar has been on fire the past year or so earning the nickname the Google of solar, with its stock price up 146% the past year bringing it to $246. The company expects sales equal $1 billion this year by shipping equipment capable 460 MW of eco friendly solar electricity.
But like Google’s motto “don’t be evil” First Solar claims to be the most environmentally friendly thin film solar company since their plants supposedly create zero emissions, and in their manufacturing processes they fully recycle the materials being used.
With high energy prices, a possible liberal administration, growing US environmental concern, and possibly twice as efficient MIT solar panel technology, First Solar is well positioned to be the Google of the solar industry