Home › Blog › Page 1259

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

When I write my column for the Hedge Connection’s blog which I call “The Cleantech Deal of the Month,” I try to do so with the sensibilities of the reader in mind. Suppose you’re an “allocator” (neologism for “skilled and trusted investor of significant amounts of other people’s money”).  You’re obviously looking for some sort of alternative investment, or you wouldn’t be on the site in the first place.  You also have a limited amount of time and patience for reading material that doesn’t really make a point. (more…)

Tagged with: , , , , , , ,

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

Thomas Hobbes, Political Philosophy, and the Role of Government in Our LivesIt’s the 527th birthday of Thomas Hobbes, an Englishman widely considered the father of modern political philosophy.

Hobbes certainly was no idealist; in fact, he’s best known for his belief that the core of human life is so centered around greed, selfishness, and the passion to acquire wealth, through violence if need be, that we need to sacrifice a significant amount of our liberty and hand it over to a strong government, which we ask to protect us from one another. (more…)

Tagged with: , , , , ,

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Climate Change

California Drought - Adapt or Die?(I hope readers will enjoy this very thoughtful article on the drought we’re experiencing here California; it was written by my friend and colleague Gary Tulie, of Buckinghamshire England. – ed)

 

How serious is the California drought? That is the multi-billion dollar question.

Already, the governor of California has brought in the state’s first mandatory water restrictions, requiring a 25% reduction in water consumption by residents. Farmers who are not directly covered by the restrictions are required to develop drought management plans including measures for cutting back. (more…)

Tagged with: , , , , , , ,

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Electric Vehicles

Charging Electric VehiclesThe reader who sent me this piece in Eestor notes: Thanks for your insight Craig. With the claim of a millisecond to recharge is a game changer plus almost unlimited recharges. All we can do is hope it is real. 

I respond:

Keep in mind that the time required to recharge is a function of the power applied.  (more…)

Tagged with: , , , , , ,

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Electric Vehicles

Eestor, Supercapacitors, and Electric Transportation

A reader notes:

Craig, you might want to look at Zenn Motors (majority owner of Eestor supercapacitors) again. Their annual meeting March 31 was interesting. Eestor has two outside testings and verification of their game changing technology. One of the top experts in the world has written a substantial report on the findings for the capacitor market. They are lining up partners as we speak. I know you like to be on top of things in the electrical market.

I respond: (more…)

Tagged with: , , ,

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Uncategorized
Climate Change and the People Who Want To Minimize Further Damage: An Extremely Simple Situation

courtesy: Blendspace.com

A long-time skeptic of the whole climate change / renewable energy enterprise writes:  The actual science behind “climate change” has become lost in a cacophony of self-interest and distortion. A vast industry has emerged, mostly funded by taxpayers, to create a new social movement, with semi-religious overtones. Rationality, has largely disappeared, replaced by a cornucopia of public finding for a new environmental industry based on an illusion.

I respond:

I believe you’re over-analyzing the situation here. (more…)

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

Even Republicans Resent Being Bullied by Koch IndustriesWhat a topsy-turvy world.  Here we have a Republican senator bawling out Koch Industries front-group “Americans for Prosperity.”  Nancy Detert (R-FL) voiced her displeasure with the AFP for aggressively targeting her for replacement because she isn’t far enough to the right: (more…)

Tagged with: , ,

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Wind Energy

Compressed Air Energy Storage

Given that the two least expensive forms of renewable energy (solar PV and wind) are variable in nature, common sense tells us that large-scale storage of energy will be required if we are to have large rates of integration of these resources into the grid mix. (For what it’s worth, not everyone agrees with this, as I noted here.) But in any case, the world is working hard to bring along a number of modes in which large amounts of energy can be stored during periods of reduced load, and then brought on the grid to address peak conditions. (more…)

Tagged with: , , , , , ,

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Hydrokinetics

photo 320px-Ky_river_dam_zpswlbxlfbl.jpgWhen I pointed out the drawbacks to the nonsensical business plan described here, the woman who sent it to me immediately followed with another, accompanied by this hopeful note: “How about this one?”

I wrote: (more…)

Tagged with: , ,

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainable Building

How Staying Green Doesn't Have To Revolve Around Huge (And Pricey) New BoilersThe authorities have rightfully been pushing for us to turn green over the years. While they have their eyes firmly set on the environment, the carrot dangling (pictured) in front of homeowners is that they can shed their energy bills in the process.

However, a lot of the time the suggestions which are put out there revolve around mammoth home improvement projects. New boilers are probably the preferred choice for most authorities, simply because the newer models can reduce carbon emissions by such huge amounts compared to some which are a decade or so old. (more…)

Tagged with: , ,