For something that could revolutionize the world, it’s coming along very slowly. The fuel cell was invented in 1839, but there was little development until the 1950s when NASA started to use them in space where they’re still used today. Now after years of continuous development, things are speeding up.
At its core, the fuel cell is very simple. It uses hydrogen, the most abundant element in the universe, as fuel. One type of fuel cell uses a membrane and it looks something like plastic wrap. It allows the hydrogen’s proton to pass through while the electron is forced to take a different course. This produces electricity. The fuel cell runs as long as it’s fed hydrogen.
The cleanest and most readily available source of hydrogen is very easy to find. It’s water. Of course it couldn’t be this simple. Somehow, the hydrogen in the water molecule must be stripped and stored, and that takes power. In 1990, Peter Layman of Humboldt State University in Northern California decided to build a renewable hydrogen fuel cell system for a research aquarium.
“I think the legacy of the 20th century is that we were very good at burning things. Fuel cells offer a clean and efficient way to generate electricity. They are totally pollution-free and they are significantly more efficient than traditional ways of generating electricity.” says Peter Layman.
He bought solar panels to provide power to remove the hydrogen from water and tanks to store the hydrogen fuel. The problem was the fuel cell. No one produced one that would’ve worked the aquarium. So Peter went ahead and built it.
Peter’s system has been running the aquarium 24 hours a day for a decade. During the day it uses power from the solar panels, but only part of that power; the rest is turned into hydrogen for use later by the fuel cell. That creates a completely renewable full-time system. The goal of fuel cell makers is to offer totally reliable independent systems. But the competition is tough.
To thrive in a market place, fuel cell makers must compete against that cheap and reliable power provided by fossil fuels. Peter’s reliable fuel cell system has already satisfied customers who are off the power grid. Now he’s ready to convince the rest of us.
The worlds first commercial flight partly powered with biofuel landed already in February 2008. The goal of the Virgin Atlantic test flight from London to the Netherlands was to show that biofuels can produce less carbon dioxide than normal jet fuels.
Despite the fanfare many have dismissed the Boeing 747 test flight as a media stunt while others noted that scientists are questioning the environmental benefits of biofuels.
The world is currently rushing to develop biofuels, especially ethanol from corn, as a substitute for gasoline. But recent studies have found that almost all biofuels actually cause more greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fuels if the full emissions caused to producing this alternative fuels are considered.
Still Virgin Atlantic is not the only airline conducting or planning test flights with non traditional fuels. Air New Zealand also plans to conduct test flights running partly on biofuel.
An Australian company has invented devices that harness the power of the largest perpetual motion machine on earth, the ocean. Small scale models of the designs are now being tested in Tasmania.
The devices have been designed to move in a similar way to ocean fish and plants while getting power from waves and tidal streams. They will be secured to the ocean floor and will reach more than 65 feet high. Small scale models are being put through final testing in a tank which simulates currents and waves at the Australian Maritime College.
Generating power from the ocean isn’t new and this designs aim to have a low impact on the environment.
Two full scaled prototypes are scheduled to be installed in Tasmanian waters in 2009.
Solar power is old news but what if you could generate power on rainy days too?
Thanks to some scientists in France that possibility may soon become a reality. Researchers at the Grenoble (France) based Atomic Energy Commission are hoping to harness energy released from a variety of clean sources. They’ve simulated raindrops falling in order to collect the electric energy produced by the drops. The materials used materials with built in sensors that can convert mechanical energy into an electrical charge. The scientists say that despite harnessing only a very small amount of electricity it’s a step in the right direction. This energy will be used to feed some sensors which measure for instance temperature, the level of the water and then transmit this information to a remote control panel where it can be used.
The aim of the researchers is to help in reducing dependence on conventional batteries which need recharging or changing and create toxic waste. The idea is to recuperate energy to feed low consumption communicating devices.
Another example developed by the team is a thermometer which feeds on the energy generated by the touch of a button.
Elsewhere in the laboratory scientists are looking at how power generated through heat can operate everyday lightning appliances. By simply placing your thumb on a sensor you can harness enough heat to switch on a small desk lamp. Despite not feeding the lamp itself it’s enough to activate the switch which then remotely turns on the light.
Those involved in the project hope that one day their work will help to power a cleaner and greener society.
Green is going mainstream. A shift in public opinion has made climate change a political issue. Maybe even more important, business see that going green means money.
July 31st 2006 – Los Angeles. Climate change jumps to the front page as California and the United Kingdom sign an agreement committing both to dramatic cuts in carbon dioxide emissions. The agreement is a bold challenge to official U.S. policy and reflects changing public opinion. Multi national polls reveal that an amazing 70 percent of people rate climate change as a key issue.
At the same time as the Los Angeles agreement is announced 25 of the worlds biggest cities including Delhi, Cairo, London and Mexico City also agree to cut carbon emissions. Together, this cities generate approximately 15% of the worlds carbon dioxide. Another push in that direction came with the remarkable growth in demand for low carbon alternative fuels.
October 18th 2006 Quan Chi Chuan – China. Builders brake ground on one of the largest ethanol plants in the world. This gigantic operation will generate over 400,000 gallons of low carbon biofuel per day. This is part of a global trend in producing ethanol and biodiesel. Right now there are over one hundred ethanol plants in the U.S. and others are under construction. The growth is a boom to farmers because all of this biofuels are made from crops like corn, sugar cane, or palm trees. It’s a net benefit in the fight agains global warning too. Compared to regular gasoline, ethanol cuts climate changing gases by almost half. But, in terms of their popularity, biofuels have a long way to go. At the moment, they make up only a little bit over 1% of the total transport fuel consumed worldwide.
Salvation and going green seem to get on the same track. Regardless of what prompted the shift, people voted with their wallets. Consumers demand for solar energy jumped by 30% and wind generated electricity grew even faster. As people become more green shoppers they’re demanding not only more green products but more green companies too.
Many firms, including the worlds largest, concluded by building new stores with renewable resources, including wind generators and solar panels that can not only do good, they can do well.
For experts, tracking the health of the planet this are signs of hope. Some are concerned that we’ve already passed the tipping point. If all the extra green house gases humans have pumped into the atmosphere were removed would the sea ice come back? Would the deserts retreat?
Everyone of us needs ten trees to take care of our own carbon dioxide. Let’s plant our own trees, don’t use the trees of others