Category Archives: Economics

Carbon Capture & Nuclear

Broken in the USA, Economics, Education, Government Issues

One interesting development is the ability to capture and remove CO2 from the atmosphere as described in the following links:

World’s Largest Carbon Capture Plant To Remove Five Million Tons Of CO2 Annually https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/worlds-largest-plant-capturing-carbon-air-starts-iceland-2021-09-08/H

Hemp can be crucial to climate change https://www.reddit.com/r/environment/comments/z6qttd/hemp_can_be_crucial_to_control_climate_change_and/

The US wants to slash carbon emissions from power plants.

https://www.npr.org/2022/12/05/1139401121/the-u-s-wants-to-slash-carbon-emissions-from-power-plants-natural-gas-is-in-the-

Nuclear

Nuclear has received a lot of negative press that it does not deserve. Over the years it has proven to be a safe, environmentally friendly, renewable source of economical energy. A a country France leads the way and we should be investing in more this source. The following links lead to recent developments.

Engineers created a safe micro-nuclear reactor that fits in the back of a truck https://headtopics.com/us/engineers-created-a-safe-micro-nuclear-reactor-that-fits-in-the-back-of-a-truck-30488779

Nuclear fusion: Why Silicon Valley is betting on man-made star power https://www.google.com/search?q=Nuclear+fusion%3A+Why+Silicon+Valley+is+betting+on+man-made+star+power&rlz=1C1AWFC_enUS1021US1025&oq=Nuclear+fusion%3A+Why+Silicon+Valley+is+betting+on+man-made+star+power&aqs=chrome.0.69i59j69i60.4784j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Fusion power is ‘approaching’ reality thanks to a magnetic field breakthrough

https://www.engadget.com/fusion-power-magnetic-field-ignition-study-195200137.html?guce_referrer=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5zbWFydG5ld3MuY29tLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAEcUhE85DUTZS9J8PGvOdntMi6RPsl50IjU45MKoDJpKSCLCEM-XdccVtjfNAVtK-M__Ntgq7rblJv6a8FvP4PxreB4BqHESW0aoSedzBhFCHyL3J2kSCPzjymvbbUdUur41DdlfSKrnAwFoME_OgPL6jOMcPDp45z0WLpD8nzda

Nuclear fusion primed for breakthrough as limitless energy technology now ‘viable reality’ https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1706375/nuclear-fusion-breakthrough-limitless-energy-technology-viable-reality

 

Fuel cells

Economics, Government Issues

Fuel cells

Hydrogen production uses electricity. Currently, the vast majority of hydrogen production still uses natural gases. However, the government is investing heavily in greener alternatives like CO2 capture technology. Electrolysis, the process of splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen, is an eco-friendlier option when using renewable electricity. The International Energy Agency estimates the cost of green hydrogen production to range from $3 to $7 per kilo. The cost of green hydrogen production is largely due to the use of renewable electricity, which is the main component. The cost of green hydrogen production will continue to drop as countries ramp up their renewable energy ambitions.  From as near to empty as we dare to go, which is about 270 miles after a fill-up, the Mirai takes around 4.7kg of compressed hydrogen. It’s easy to calculate from that data that the car does 57 miles per kilo of hydrogen.  I wonder how far along we would be today if we had taken fuel cell research seriously a few decades ago?

Battery-electric cars are the future? Not so fast. Hydrogen-powered cars will give them a run for their money.  https://www.marketwatch.com/story/battery-electric-cars-are-the-future-not-so-fast-hydrogen-powered-cars-will-give-them-a-run-for-their-money-11664907608

Loop Energy says new hydrogen fuel cell more efficient than diesel engine Loop Energy says new hydrogen fuel cell more efficient than diesel engine – CNA (channelnewsasia.com)

At a fork in the road: Do hydrogen cars offer a better future than electric? https://biz.crast.net/at-the-fork-in-the-road-do-hydrogen-cars-offer-a-better-future-than-electric/

Cars may switch to hydrogen fuel cells amid lithium shortage concerns for electric cars https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/993194/switch-cars-to-hydrogen-fuel-cells-to-avoid-predicted-lithium-deficit-993194.html

Here’s How Hydrogen-Power Could Pose A Threat To Electric Vehicles (msn.com)

Hydrogen-Powered Cars Are Poised To Replace Electric Vehicles. Maybe? https://www.greenbiz.com/article/battle-over-electric-vehicles-could-hydrogen-win

Clean hydrogen fuel is easier to produce from seawater with stable hierarchical electrocatalysts https://phys.org/news/2022-11-hydrogen-fuel-easier-seawater-stable.html

German Researchers Find Solution To Hydrogen Storage Problem https://mitechnews.com/update/german-researchers-find-solution-to-hydrogen-storage-problem/

Ingenious one-step method turns sewer gas into clean hydrogen fuel https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2022/11/ingenious-one-step-method-turns-sewer-gas-into-clean-hydrogen-fuel/

Green Hydrogen Fuel Microgrid — Could it Replace Diesel? Yes! https://flipboard.com/article/green-hydrogen-fuel-microgrid-could-it-replace-diesel-yes/a-Q-mdSMlwR4uRX4Xbb43Utg%3Aa%3A3660038-e92750b0a2%2Fcleantechnica.com

.Renewable hydrogen is Europe’s best bet for emissions-free mobility https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article/renewable-hydrogen-europe-best-bet-emissions-free-mobility

First aircraft powered by Hydrogen https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/worlds-first-aircraft-powered-by-hydrogen-fuel-cells-1234600400/

WHY HYDROGEN FUEL CELLS MIGHT BE BETTER THAN BATTERY EVS  https://www.inverse.com/gear/honda-hyrdogen-cars-vs-battery-ev

Awesome new SUV cleverly sidesteps Hydrogen’s biggest problem

https://newatlas.com/automotive/namx-pininfarina-hydrogen-suv/

More hydrogen fuel cell EVS are coming, ready or not https://cleantechnica.com/2022/12/05/more-hydrogen-fuel-cell-evs-are-coming-ready-or-not/

BP doubles down on Hydrogen Fuel Cell Future.

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/bp-doubles-down-hydrogen-fuel-future-2022-12-05/

Toyota’s New Hydrogen-Powered Pickup Is a Testbed for Sustainable Future Trucks

https://www.thedrive.com/news/toyotas-new-hydrogen-powered-pickup-is-a-testbed-for-sustainable-future-trucks

 

Toyota And BMW Are Banking That Electrification Is Not The Only Path Forward https://www.topspeed.com/toyota-and-bmw-are-banking-that-electrification-is-not-the-only-path-forward/

Renewable Energy- Hydro Electric & Others

Economics, Environment, Government Issues

Renewable Energy- Hydro Electric & Others

Hydroelectric via dams has been a source of reliable, affordable, and relatively clean energy for almost 90 years. There are still environmental concerns and only a very limited number of future locations. Two-thirds of the Earth is covered by oceans and tidal flow seems to be a logical source of renewable energy. There are hurdles that must be overcome, but big advantages

 Advantages of building tidal power stations

Against the background of catastrophes and accidents that occur at nuclear power plants rarely, but leave a memory of themselves for a long time, alternative energy sources look like a safe alternative. And although there are enough difficulties in the construction of tidal power plants, there are also a lot of advantages:

  1. Environmental friendliness. In the case of TEC, the probability of a technogenic catastrophe followed by contamination of large areas is reduced to almost zero. There are no harmful emissions into the atmosphere from fuel combustion.
  2. Reliability. Tidal power plants operate steadily both in standard mode and at peak loads.
  3. Low energy cost. Compared with other types of power plants, PES is characterized by low energy cost, which was confirmed by real operating results.
  4. High efficiency. The efficiency of conversion of natural energy into usable reaches 80%, while wind power plants give up to 30% efficiency, and solar energy – on average 5-15%, but in some cases, it was possible to fix 35% efficiency.

There are also other prospects for capturing energy from the ocean.

Blowhole wave energy could soon be the world’s cheapest clean power https://newatlas.com/energy/blowhole-wave-energy-lcoe/#:~:text=In%20the%20CSIRO’s%20%22achievable%22%20scenario,competitive%20with%20the%20cheapest%20renewables.

What is ‘tidal energy?’ Here’s why the government is spending millions on energy from the oceans https://www.thecooldown.com/green-tech/tidal-energy-how-works-advantages/

Also, I thought the info at the following link was interesting:

Cosworth’s ‘Cat Gen’ Gas Turbine Jet Engine For Cars: What Is It? https://www.motorbiscuit.com/cosworths-cat-gen-gas-turbine-jet-engine-for-cars/