Insight and inspiration in turbulent times.
Startling press release regarding a recently completed study of oil peak responses. Full report not yet received, but apparently claims all alternatives are incapable of meeting demand in the short term and argues that efficiency measures and drastic scaling up of production of substitute fuels is required.
Methane generated by rotting rubbish in landfill dumps could make a far greater contribution to the world’s energy supply. A new way of harvesting the gas should mean that many landfill dumps that till now were thought to be too small to produce usable amounts of the gas will be able to provide a viable supply.
Any currency that can maintain its value among its users can function. Historically, many alternative, or local, currencies have worked and many still do.
Every day natural gas flares around the world burn off 10 billion cubic feet of energy–the equivalent of 1.7 million barrels of oil. A tiny R&D company in Tulsa, Oklahoma called Syntroleum Corp. claims it has refined a gas-to-liquids process to the point that it’s now cheap and safe, and can be used in the field to produce more easily transported fuels.
The World Food Program has commissioned Aprovecho to build fuel-efficient, low-polluting cooking stoves fashioned from the very tin cans in which food aid is delivered.
An increase of investment capital is boosting scientific research into alternative energy technologies in Silicon Valley.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have invented an infrared-sensitive material that’s five times more efficient at turning the sun’s power into electrical energy than current methods.
The tsunami may have been an act of nature, but further environmental catastrophes caused by humans will be much worse.
By reducing greenhouse emissions and ratcheting up new climate-friendly technologies, US companies can create jobs and launch an era of economic growth akin to the start-up phase of the Internet.
The fleet of hybrid buses that General Motors
promised would save Seattle more than 750,000 gallons of fuel a year
will actually save less than half that amount, according to the
fleet operator, and although G.M. said the hybrid buses would show a
fuel economy improvement of up to 60 percent, the savings around the
country appear to be in the range of 10 percent to 20 percent,
transit managers say.
As the energy crisis intensifies, a myriad of technical solutions are being proposed. Governments, corporations and scientists are not offering new creative solutions, not because they are failing to make strong efforts, but because energy itself is a very mature industry.
The grid and the problems it faces. “If the electric power grid is to meet 21st−century demands, society will need to invest in extensive modernization,” say the authors.
