Guiding American Energy markets and producers since 2006.

Saturday, August 26, 2006

Windmills

I would like to see these windmills made of the cheapest stuff you can find that won't break, and to run best on low winds, but remain undamaged by high winds. they might even add a rainwater collection and turbine system to increase power and efficiency.

For example, these turbines cost perhaps $10,000. This is a large windmill and the price is dramatically large. I have seen small windmills in the genre of $500. I'd like to see them drop down to $200, be made of ultralightweight stiff plastics or perhaps a corn starch gel for light blades for ease of spin. I want rain catchers with optional basin. They will have a simple alternator generating AC or DC current, and that should either feed directly into the house line, because the house is usually using power of some sort and the dial is spinning. Otherwise it can go unused or charge up a smallish Liiion battery, which can also trickle into the house later.

The setup would be a $50-100 workman job taking under an hour with all components, and the machinery would cost ~$200 and the optional battery a similar price.

Also, I'd like to see in-home biofuelcells and water fracturing. See below for details.

Friday, August 11, 2006

MIT on Energy

"Solar cells made from spinach. Algae-based biofuel fattened on greenhouse gas. Plasma-powered turbo engines. These are just some of the technologies being developed by a Manhattan Project-style research effort for new energy technologies at MIT.

Scientists at MIT are undertaking a big, ambitious, university-wide program to develop innovative energy tech under the auspices of the school's Energy Research Council.

"The urgent challenge of our time (is) clean, affordable energy to power the world," said MIT President Susan Hockfield."

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I would also recommend that they examine the water splitting strategem.

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Energy Efficiency

Do examine Energy Efficiency Incorporated. Until we find a way to broadcast signal in the visual range, lightbulbs will have to do. 40% of American lighting is incandescent. This is inefficient and can be changed. Also, stoplight arrays can be made of LED's, using ~88% less energy and lastin ~10X longer. This will save money time and labor.

Verizon Fuel Cells

Verizon is building fuel cells. They are powering a call-center in NYC-metro with this one. I am pleased to see fuel cells coming into public circulation. Some fuel cells are 65% efficient. Biofuelcells can be even more efficient! Nuclear reactors are only 23% efficient.

What if we built a fuel cell on the same plot as a nuclear site and it's fuel waste for 20 years? How much power could that produce capacity? How much would it cost? I estimate at least 80% as much as a nuclear plant, and that it would cost about half as much, and have minimal upkeep costs. Over the 20 year comparison, the fuel cell plant would produce a far more substantial profit-return. That is good business.

Thursday, August 03, 2006

30% cheaper AC technique

This is excellent. An air conditioning unit that cools refrigerant using ice water built up during the night. These AC units can reduce peak draw during the hottest days by running at night. They also save energy by not having to work as hard to quickly pump out cold air when turned on. This measures two major advances. Lower wattage AC, and lower peak urban wattage during hot days in cities.

This will also slightly reduce and moderate urban temperatures by reducing the amount of heat exchanged into the city's out-of-doors during the daytime. I could expect overall urban temperature in a metro region to be reduced by an aggressively estimated 3*F from less AC use.

It is also basically less expensive to use energy generated at night, because there is significantly less demand for it. Some businesses charge up supercapacitors full of power at 3AM and sell it for a modest profit at 3PM when the prices are higher. You pay for this without realizing it or negotiating for it. Now you may pay less. Now everyone may pay less.