A new analysis by Cambridge Energy Research Associates estimates that $7 trillion in new investment is expected to flow into the alternative energy industry before 2030. That’s TRILLION with a T. According to the report, “increasing public concerns about climate change — and its potential economic and political security consequences — are driving public policy and private investment to bring …
NASA-Funded Research to Study Biofuels Crops Impact
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is funding a $738,000 three-year study by South Dakota State University looking at possible environmental changes that could accompany a shift toward new biofuel crops such as perennial grasses. The three-year study will focus on land use in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, western Minnesota and northern Iowa. “If you look at one …
ND Biomass Research Work
North Dakota State University and USDA’s Agricultural Research Service are working on ways to convert cropland to biomass production for energy use. According to a university news release, the research is working to determine what crops would maximize biofuels production and to develop economically feasible management systems for transitioning in and out of bioenergy crop production. “This project will strengthen …
U of Akron Tackles Fuel Cell Technology
FirstEnergy has awarded the University of Akron in Nothern Ohio $2 million for an advanced energy research center. The center will focus on researching carbon capturing and fuel cell technologies. The fund will be used to create the FirstEnergy Advanced Energy Research Center at the University and support development of carbon capture and coal-based fuel cells. FirstEnergy also has secured …
Melon Fuel Still in Development
The National Watermelon Association is still working on making fuel from melons. Executive Director Bob Morrissey says they still believe there is a future in the idea, which we first reported on here in September 2006. “We still have to do some homework on the logistics portion and the economics portion,” he said. “Our initial idea is to get a …
DOE to Capture CO2 from Coal Power Plants
Powerspan Corp has unleashed new technology to capture carbon dioxide from coal-fueled power plants. Powerspan, a clean energy technology company, owns the exclusive rights to this breakthrough in coal-based energy production. Powerspan Corp. has exclusively licensed a patent to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from conventional coal-fueled electric power plants. Patented by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology …
Toyota Says Fuel-Cell Hybrid a Success
The trek from Fairbanks to Vancouver along the Alaska Highway is more than 2,300 miles long. Toyota says its Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle not only logged all those miles in seven days, but it averaged well-above 300 miles per tank. Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A, Inc., revealed a significant achievement in its ongoing hydrogen-hybrid fuel cell development program at the 2007 …
Allegro Gets on Board with Biomass
Investments in bioenergy are smart investments for Allegro Biodiesel. Allegro is moving to diversify the bio-energy sector and acquire a biomass energy company in Colorado. Allegro Biodiesel Corporation has announced that it has extended a $500,000 bridge loan to Littleton, Colorado-based Community Power Corporation as a first step in potentially acquiring the company. Established in 1995, privately-held CPC is a …
Sweet Potato Fuel
Researchers at North Carolina State University are re-engineering the traditional sweet potato to make it better suited for producing ethanol. According to a NCSU release, this industrial sweet potato doesn’t look, or taste, much like the Southern classic, but can produce twice the starch content of corn – the leading source of ethanol. More starch means more sugars that can …
Renewable Fuels Now Fights for Alternative Energies
The first “official” action of the Renewable Fuels Now coalition was to determine where Americans stand on developing and using alternative energies. The coalition is a new umbrella organization of different associations that are working to provide accurate information about renewable fuels. Greg Krissek with ICM says opponents of alternative energies have swamped the public with misinformation about renewable fuels, …