Jay Leno’s frictionless MagLev Wind Turbine
by Douglas Tapia
Doug Tapia posted this in January. It was exciting enough, I thought it worth posting one more time. GRM Read more of this >>
Algae Per-Acre Production Gives High Energy Yield
by grmeyers
Oil Yield
* Cultivating Algae for Liquid Fuel Production
Gallons of Oil per Acre per Year
Corn . . . . . . . ….15
Soybeans . . . …..48
Safflower. . . . . ..83
Sunflower . . . ..102
Rapeseed. . . …127
Oil Palm . . . . ..635
Micro Algae . .1850 [based on actual biomass yields]
Micro Algae . .5000-15000 [theoretical laboratory yield]
The Algae Energy Alternative
by grmeyers
Slimy algae has great potential - stock photo
According to the The Washington Post, algae has great promise as an energy alternative.
“Algae, like corn, soybeans, sugar cane and other crops, grows via photosynthesis (meaning it absorbs carbon dioxide) and can be processed into fuel oil. However, the slimy aquatic organisms yield 30 times more energy per acre than land crops such as soybeans, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Read more of this >>
Aguçadoura in Portugal running on “wave power”
by admin
Off the coast of Portugal something remarkable has been happening for the last few months. Electricity is being generated by the movement of the ocean. Currently, the Aguçadoura wave farm consists of three P1-A Pelamis machines which generate 2.25MW of electricity, enough to supply 1,500 homes with clean, renewable power.
According to alternative-energy-news.info, Read more of this >>
Author’s vision for “Ecotopia” as timely as ever
by Douglas Tapia
Imagine, a world where recycling is required, food wastes are turned into organic fertilizer, and most energy comes from solar, sea, wind, and geothermal power. This green utopia was envisioned by Ernest Callenbach in his 1975 novel “Ecotopia.”
Even in the 1970s, Callenbach’s vision was firmly grounded in sound science. Says Callenbach in a recent piece in The Capital Times (Madison, WI), ”I was trying to raise the question that we could be doing all this stuff in 1975 and why aren’t we? Our goose will be cooked if we don’t do it now.”
Read more of this >>
Biodiesel Home Brewing
by Douglas Tapia
Graham Laming’s design for a “waterless-washing” biodiesel processor which recaptures a large amount of methanol, saving money and the environment
Since my last post on the merits of biodiesel, I’ve been able to gather more information and I wanted to pass it on to you. What continues to intrigue me about home brewing biodiesel is that it is emblematic of the type of lifestyle changes we all need to take on in the 21st century. Taking waste frier oil and converting it, at home into a cleaner burning, less toxic and more biodegradable fuel is something akin to modern day alchemy.
Our Energy Emporium, Circa 2009
by grmeyers
Rethinking our love affair with gas-guzzlers
It is high time we consider more seriously what needs to be done with at least a few of our addictions to fossil fuels, says documentry producer, Josh Tickell, the creator of “Fuel.”
Quotable:
“What we cannot forget about HUMMER is that it is a great brand…it’s a global brand, it’s iconic.”– Rick Wagoner, CEO, General Motors
“The world is addicted to oil, it’s time for an intervention.” Fuel Film Website
On his website, Josh Tickell provides a list of ten things all residents on this planet should all be doing to be more proactive about our fuel gluttony:
