Sometimes the most simple things can be the key to the most amazing of revelations and can go a long way in energy conservation, ultimately benefiting the planet. A group of researchers from Ricardo-an automotive engineering firm in West Sussex, UK-believe that we are driving our hybrid cars like regular gas-guzzlers.

The main culprit is our air conditioner which stops whenever our car stops in the economy-mode. To get that AC back running, the drivers normally turn off the economy mode thereby switching to the petrol mode which means that the fuel-efficiency factor gets totally ignored.

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With the alternative fuels hype going on, the debate for a better choice between hydrogen and methanol is on and whoever would be the winner, it would benefit the mankind either ways. The ecologists have re-instated their faith in methanol based on the fact that making hydrogen commonly available as a fuel is a tough deal.

Do you methanol?

The Syngas (steamed reformed methane) that gets converted into liquid hydrocarbons is the potential substitute provided fossil fuels are not brought into use in the formation.

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A team of scientists led by Dr. Bruce Logan of Penn State University are seriously engaged in using a microbe that could provide a solution for most of our environmental woes. A single arrow that shoots down two major eco-problems, this new species of bacteria known as Methanobacterium palustre apparently has the potential to turn CO2 into CH4. That means that you could soon store the carbon emissions of the world in a giant container and transform them into Methane— which is then used to generate energy.

Demonstration of a Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC)

As incredulous as it sounds, the new process is based on the already known (and used) technique of water electrolysis, which converts water into hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2). In a similar fashion, the new method dubbed electromethanogensis will create methane out of carbon dioxide by using microbes.

While the process is still getting shape, many believe that bio-energy of this kind is just not economically and practically feasible. but we think that the magic of genetic engineering, biotechnology and nanotechnology could combine to change the perception for the next half of the century.

What will a large scale MFC system of the future look like?

For now, microbe-powered CO2 fuel cell canisters are still some way away. [Green Car Congress via Ecogeek]

In what is being hailed as a major step towards going green in the developing world, Bharat Renewable Energy, a joint venture between Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Nandan Biomatrix, announced they will build 10 new biodiesel refineries in India.

Jatropha Field in Uttar Pradesh

Considering that green initiatives are few and far in-between in this part of the world, the announcement has already assumed great significance. The $428 million project will initially be concentrated around the Kanpur, Jhansi, Laltpur, Chitrakoot, and Sultanpur districts of Uttar Pradesh.

According to the sources in the country, the nation wants biofuel to account for 20% of its total gasoline fuel production. While that is still a long way to go, the company will use jatropha as the main source of raw material and promises that the newly added plants will contribute 270 million gallons of biofuel by 2015. And what’s even better, the production will not affect the food crops, as the plant is a common weed easily found in the region.

We can only hope that nations like India and China are really taking steps in the green direction, as both nations contribute plenty in terms of global carbon emissions each year.

[via TreeHugger]

Biofuels are in the news in Japan.

A Japanese research group is claiming a first – a cleaner/greener production of biodiesel fuel – the “non-catalytic superheated methanol method.”

“At a pilot plant the group was able to continuously produce 400L of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME), a biodiesel fuel, out of 500L of raw material oil every day.” They also succeeded in producing FAME from vegetable oil (new oil) and waste edible oil in their tests.

The current method – the methyl esterification:

1. used a complicated refining process which was required to remove side products
2. required repeated cleaning resulting in multiple processes and a large amount of waste water
3. required repeated cleaning to improve the purity of the product also wasting water

However, the new method :

1. does not require a catalyst
2. creates virtually no waste water or liquid.

Image courtesy of griffs0000

Meanwhile, JAL (Japan Airlines) will test biofuels in one of its airliners; 50% biofuel and 50% traditional Jet-A jet (kerosene). It’s “a mixture of three second-generation biofuel feedstocks: camelina (84%), jatropha (under 16%), and algae (under 1%).” The test flight will have JAL staff only, no passengers.

Please be seated while we drink our fuel and fly it, too.

The “Energy (R)evolution: A Sustainable World Energy Outlook” says that two-thirds of Asia’s electricity needs can be met by renewable energy sources by 2050. If so, the aggressive investment could create an annual $360 billion industry worldwide and save $18 trillion in future fuel costs.

I wonder if the men and women punched their calculators to determine how many people depending on the fossil fuel industry will LOSE their jobs.

“With renewable energy growing four-fold not only in the electricity sector, but also in the heating and transport sectors, we can still cut the average carbon emissions per person from today’s four tons to around one ton by 2050,” said Philippines Campaign Manager for Greenpeace Southeast Asia.

“The global market for renewable energy can grow at double digit rates until 2050, and overtake the size of today’s fossil fuel industry. Currently, the renewable energy market is worth 70 billion dollars and doubling in size every three years,” said the Policy Director of the European Renewable Energy Council.

Well, for all I know, if Greenpeace said it, there’s got to be something wrong with the figuring. Still, we can dream, can’t we?

Source: Xinhuanet Image: myuiibe

Honda knows that fuel-saving cars and low inventory are the keys to staying competitive.

The company also knows that saving fuel is saving our environment and producing cars on demand doesn’t tax other global resources as well.

Honda’s President was interviewed – excerpts:

“Compact cars like the Jazz (known as the Fit in Japan) remain stable in the region, but we are having a hard time selling larger vehicles.” Duh?!

“…the rise in crude oil prices will have long-term implications for us. Accordingly, what we should do now is develop more inexpensive, fuel-efficient vehicles.” Why wait till the economy is a mess?

“It is equally important to improve the lineup of energy-saving vehicles. We will go into an offensive mode highlighting hybrid vehicles.”

Honda knows that making cars friendlier to our environment and less taxing on our resources is a long term solution. America’s Big Three! Are you reading?

Image courtesy of Clint M Chilcott

Carbon Sciences has recently declared that it has made an important breakthrough that can convert CO2 emissions into fuels. This would cut down on the 62 billion metric tones of CO2 – root cause of global warming, which is let out into the atmosphere every year.

The technology will use these harmful emissions and convert them into useful sources of energy.

As CO2 requires a lot of energy to break them into hydrocarbons that is used for fuel, Carbon Sciences is working on a technology, with the help of chemical and bioengineering principles that would hasten up this process. Since this process is highly energy efficient, they’ll set up a CO2 transformation plant that would use the CO2 released by a larger producer such as a power plant, and transform it into useable fuels.

This breakthrough technology promises that it can successfully give the world a cleaner atmosphere by closing the loop on carbon releases. – via Inhabitat

Japan is testing a generator for the home that runs on fuel cells. It started in 2005 at the Prime Minister’s residence but now has grown to some 3,000 households.

Japan, being the energy-poor nation that it is, is desperate to find energy elsewhere and fuel cells can run on hydrogen extracted from hydrocarbons, natural gas, bio mass, water, even rubbish to create methane. No CO2 is emitted, a side benefit is a steady supply of hot water and the machine is silent.

Japan has almost no natural energy of its own and must rely on imported crude oil and the country’s ability to produce energy efficient appliances.

Energy giants, Nippon Oil, Tokyo Gas, Sanyo Electric, Toshiba, Matsushita Electric Industrial, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and even Toyota Motors is behind the push to make the fuel cell system more affordable. The current cost – Y2 million ($19Kish). The goal is to have the price quartered by 2015, and I really think they can do it.