Blog – Page 1310 – 2GreenEnergy.com

Off-topic? Yes. Interesting? That’s Your Call.

craigshieldsPosted on October 12, 2014 Posted in Sustainability

When I was a young lad, barely out of my parents’ gentle and loving reach, I took a course in ethics. The range of topics we discussed that semester was immense, but I’ll never forget the conversation around Princeton University moral philosopher and animal rights champion Peter Singer, whose reasoning challenged every thought I’d ever had on the subject.

40 years later, Singer’s work, that he had begun as a young man in the 1970s, has moved forward into the demand for legal protection of many animals, and it’s expanded in ways that I’m sure he himself never could have imagined. Here’s an article on the new-found rights of chimpanzees, elephants, dolphins, orcas, and other non-human primates, based on the laws surrounding unlawful imprisonment.

Tagged with: ethics, moral philosophy, Peter Singer, Princeton University

Nuclear, Solar, and Wind—We’re Not Enemies

craigshieldsPosted on October 12, 2014 Posted in Nuclear

A colleague whose expertise lies in advanced nuclear sent me this earlier today—a comment a reader had written on his blog:

“How sad is it that we continue to debate renewables vs. dated nuclear technology, when we should be leading the world in developing all promising technologies. (more…)

Tagged with: cost-effective types of clean energy, Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactor, Nuclear Solar Wind, nuclear technology

Maybe It Is Time to Stop Building Things with Tailpipes and Smokestacks

craigshieldsPosted on October 12, 2014 Posted in Climate Change

I sure like the way Dr. Ken Caldeira thinks. Those of you familiar with the Myers-Briggs personality test will recognize the man as an “N,” meaning “intuitive”; he forms abstractions that are useful for creating a high level of understanding. Check this out:

Dr. Ken Caldeira has argued for a policy goal of zero carbon dioxide emissions. (more…)

Tagged with: Building Things with Tailpipes and Smokestacks, carbon dioxide emissions, Dr. Ken Caldeira, policy goal of zero carbon dioxide emissions, The Darkening Sea

Lego Prefers Not To Be Associated with Destroying the Arctic–Toy Icon Won’t Renew Its Co-Marketing Arrangement with Shell Oil

craigshieldsPosted on October 12, 2014 Posted in Fossil Fuels

It’s hard to understand public apathy on important issues, when we’re constantly bombarded with proof that our voices actually matter.

Over the last 50 years, Lego, one of the most revered brands on the planet, has been ensconced in a co-marketing deal with Shell Oil. Not no more. (more…)

Tagged with: Co-Marketing Arrangement with Shell Oil, Destroying the Arctic, Lego, oil giant’s plans to drill in the Arctic

From 2GreenEnergy Intern Louis de Saint Phalle: The State of U.S. Solar in 2014 According to SEIA

craigshieldsPosted on October 12, 2014 Posted in Photovoltaics

We at 2GreenEnergy are lucky enough to have super-intern Louis de Saint Phalle working for us, vigorously researching and writing on important matters in the renewable energy arena. I was delighted that Louis actually moved out to Santa Barbara (from Paris) for several months, to facilitate interaction with me; we enjoyed many interesting conversations, and he even came up for dinner with my wife and some other friends. Best of all, he’s the “gift that keeps on giving,” in that he continues to produce excellent reports, like this one. -ed.

About a month ago, the Solar Energy Industries Association released its report for the second quarter of 2014, in collaboration with Green Tech Media Research. Although the full report comes at a price not affordable by many (probably best not to know how much exactly), the publicly available executive summary provides really interesting numbers that give an idea of where solar is at right now. Here are some main points if you haven’t checked it out. (more…)

Tagged with: Green Tech Media Research, SEIA, solar energy, Solar Energy Industries Association, solar power

Tactical Solutions Needed to Deal with Climate Disruption

craigshieldsPosted on October 11, 2014 Posted in Renewables - Politics

Apparently, United States Secretary of State John Kerry said recently that the U.S. is considering making a major contribution to a fund that would help developing countries deal with both the causes and the effects of climate disruption. Money would go to developing methods of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving methods of handling droughts and floods. (more…)

Tagged with: climate disruption, feedstock for waste-to-energy systems, microgrids based on distributed generation and storage, solar PV and batteries, third world, toxic fumes from the burning of kerosene lamps

Fraudulent Concepts in Renewable Energy

craigshieldsPosted on October 11, 2014 Posted in Renewables - Science

Here’s a conversation I have about once a month, this one with a fellow in Bulgaria, who writes:

We are a Bulgarian company, working on R&D projects for OxyHydrogen-based Power Plants.

Our plants use only Distilled Water as a “fuel” and produce low cost power and heat and also cheap Gases – Oxygen, Hydrogen, and OxyHydrogen mixture. The Energy produced is 100% carbon-free, clean and renewable. No sun, no wind needed – just water…….

We are looking for investors to help us develop this project in the range of USD 300,000 – 500,000.

I respond: Sorry. You need to pitch this to people who dropped out of school before they got to 7th or 8th grade science. Btw, I don’t know anything about the securities/fraud laws in Bulgaria, but if you come to the U.S. to raise money for this, there’s a very good chance you’ll wind up on the wrong side of the barbed wire shown above.

Tagged with: Bulgaria, Distilled Water as a "fuel"

Methane (Potent Greenhouse Gas) Levels Rising

craigshieldsPosted on October 10, 2014 Posted in Climate Change

Here’s an article that reports a startling rise in the concentration of methane in the atmosphere, due largely to the farming of cows and pigs.

My colleague Dr. Alex Cannara writes:

“Our penchant for raising animals to eat is our major U.S. source of CH4……The lack of a comprehensive energy/emissions plan will be this administration’s legacy – ‘all of the above’ meaning ‘we’re too lazy to figure out what to do.’ Not a proud legacy.”

Tagged with: all of the above, concentration of methane in the atmosphere, lack of a comprehensive energy/emissions plan, Methane Levels Rising, Potent Greenhouse Gas, raising animals to eat

Solar PV and Batteries Integrated into One Device

craigshieldsPosted on October 10, 2014 Posted in Energy Storage

Here’s an article describing an invention at the Ohio State University, which OSU professor Yiying Wu says will reduce the costs of renewable energy. “The state of the art is to use a solar panel to capture the light, and then use a cheap battery to store the energy,” Wu said. “We’ve integrated both functions into one device. Any time you can do that, you reduce cost.”

I’m excited by the concept, but unconvinced that this will truly make solar energy less expensive. In particular, Dr. Wu is incorrect that hybridizing functions necessarily brings down costs. I could build a hair drier that also makes toast, but I doubt I could reduce the cost of providing both those activities.

Tagged with: Ohio State University, reduce the costs of renewable energy, Solar PV and Batteries Integrated

Climate Disruption and Sea Level Rise

craigshieldsPosted on October 10, 2014 Posted in Climate Change

Those interested in global warming and the consequent rising of sea levels will want to check out this video on the calving of glaciers in Greenland. The footage is unique; it’s by far the largest such event ever recorded.

Tagged with: calving of glaciers in Greenland, Climate Disruption and Sea Level Rise, global warming