Sub's Alternative Energy Thread

[SubGod22]

Climate Models Need an Upgrade: Plants Absorb 31% More Carbon Than Previously Thought

Plants around the world absorb 37 billion more metric tons of carbon than was previously thought, a new study has demonstrated.

It means every tree planted to try and prevexnt the worst of climate change goes 31% farther than earlier models on Earth carbon systems have calucated, and it’s believed the research will help contribute to more accurate predictions in the future as the climate changes.

The Earth has several major carbon systems that are well understood. There is a carbon system between the atmophsere and the oceans, and another between the atmosphere and the vegebiome. This is designated Terrestrial Gross Primary Production, or GPP.

GPP is typically measured by petatons per year. One petaton is 1 billion metric tons, and since the 1980s it’s been believed that GPP is around 120 per year.

A team of researchers Cornell University, with support from the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, altered two key approaches to estimate GPP, which provided them with the updated figure.

The first is high-resolution data from environmental monitoring towers instead of satellite observations which can be interefered with by cloud cover, especially in the humid and rainy tropics. The second was measuring photosynthesis in plants by tracing the path of the molecule carbonyl sulfide, or OCS.

OCS, like carbon dioxide, enters the leaf tissue and is moved into chloroplasts, the engines where photosynthesis occurs. However, unlike CO2, OCS is easier to track and measure.

The team used plant data from a variety of sources to get a picture of how effeciently different genera of plants conduct photosynthesis while tracking OCS. One of the sources was the LeafWeb database at Oak Ridge Labs. The database contains photosynthesis observations from scientists all around the world.

“Figuring out how much CO2 plants fix each year is a conundrum that scientists have been working on for a while,” said Lianhong Gu, co-author and staff scientist in ORNL’s Environmental Sciences Division.

That's a pretty significant amount and should (but won't) ease the alarmists attitude towards things.

[WuDrWu]

Not a fan of lithium. I hope this has legs.

[SubGod22]

Moving away from lithium

Silicate battery magic could make energy storage cheaper, safer and efficient

Researchers at the Worcester Polytechnique Institute (WPI) in Massachusetts, US, have turned to silicates to boost the performance of iron batteries, a cheaper and safer alternative to lithium-ion batteries that are extensively used in the market today. This could unlock an inexpensive and sustainable way to power the grid with renewable energy instead of relying on lithium-ion batteries.

With countries aiming to reduce their carbon emissions to net zero by 2050 and some even earlier, there has been a surge in renewable energy installations, particularly wind and solar energy projects. Both these forms of energy are intermittent—unavailable at certain times of the day.

Projects rely on large energy storage solutions to meet energy demands when renewable energy solutions do not produce electricity. Most of these use lithium-ion batteries since they are the most energy-dense solution humanity has built so far. The problem is that lithium-based batteries also require elements like nickel and cobalt, which have limited availability.

Scaling up these energy storage technologies will require extensive mining of these resources, including lithium, which is expensive and unsustainable.

[SubGod22]

More improvement to the potential of hydrogen.

New electrochemical water splitting method offers fast, sustainable method for hydrogen production

Under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Francesco Ciucci from the University of Bayreuth, a German–Chinese research team has developed a new method for the electrochemical splitting of water. This not only accelerates the production of hydrogen for technology and industry but also makes it more sustainable. The researchers published their findings in Nature Nanotechnology.

Hydrogen is of crucial importance to technology and industry due to its unique properties: It is the lightest chemical element, has an extremely high energy density, and is an emission-free fuel, as water is the only byproduct of its combustion. This makes hydrogen a highly attractive clean energy source. However, its production is still extremely energy intensive.

Hydrogen can be produced via electrochemical water splitting, where electrodes in water are subjected to an electric current. Energy-efficient and sustainable hydrogen production through electrochemical water splitting with renewable electricity could significantly improve the sustainability of this energy source.

One of the biggest challenges in electrochemical water splitting is the so-called oxygen evolution reaction (OER), a sluggish reaction in which water molecules are broken down into their individual components—oxygen and hydrogen. The OER can be accelerated by using noble metal catalysts; however, these metals are expensive and scarce, and speeding up the reaction requires additional energy (known as overpotential).

[SubGod22]

Next-gen generator unveiled, converts air, waves, tides into low-cost electricity

In a bid to revolutionize the power sector, Edinburgh engineers have developed a new type of generator that could reduce the cost of electricity produced by offshore renewable technologies.

The lightweight, stackable generator system – which converts mechanical energy produced by offshore wind, wave, and tidal technologies into electricity – could also help extend the lifespan of renewable energy installations.

The new spinout company CGEN Engineering developed the modular system, which can be easily transported to renewable energy installations and assembled into a complete power system.

Unlike conventional systems, the new generator allows each module to be added, replaced, or moved individually, meaning energy companies can keep operations running without long downtimes.

The new technology also enables companies to upgrade their systems over time without major overhauls.

The technology was invented by Professor Markus Mueller of the University’s School of Engineering.

It was developed further with Dr Joseph Burchell, a Research Fellow at the School of Engineering and CGEN’s managing director, and mechanical and manufacturing engineer Mike Galbraith.

The team has tested the technology at scales up to one megawatt, which is enough electricity to supply hundreds of homes.

[SubGod22]

I've often supported using solar on rooftops of buildings/warehouses/storage units as a way to get some solar benefit without taking up new space that could be used for other things. Here's a new development that may allow for similar usages under our feet.

Company develops walkable solar technology that could revolutionize energy: 'Opens up a whole new realm of possibilities'

Turkish solar energy innovators are turning panel tech on its head by putting it under our feet.

In a unique twist on standard design, Ankara Solar's team has developed sun-catching cells that can be incorporated into outdoor (or even indoor) floors and walkways. It's a different take on panels that are typically deployed off the ground and on rooftops.

"The concept of walkable solar panels is fascinating and opens up a whole new realm of possibilities for integrating renewable energy into everyday spaces," a commenter posted on an article about the invention by CleanTechnica.

The black tiles are built to be durable enough to withstand substantial foot traffic, utilizing highly efficient solar cells to convert sunlight into electricity. They are made to be aesthetically pleasing while maximizing the use of space, according to Ankara's website. The company lists shopping centers, homes, and parks as some possible locations for the tech.

Importantly, the floors can integrate with smart technology to provide up-to-date analytics on performance so the power can be monitored.

The Ankara offering is part of innovations being announced around the world in the solar sector. San Jose-based GAF Energy has developed solar shingles that can astoundingly be nailed to rooftops. In South Korea, flexible and rubber-like cells are being researched as other unique possibilities.

I know I've seen talks in the past about trying to incorporate energy production in sidewalks and even roadways, but this seems to be the first one that is on the verge of potential production.

[SubGod22]

Toyota to introduce a battery with a 700+ mile range in their EVs by the end of the decade

What The 745-Mile Solid-State Battery Means For Toyotas Future

Toyotais one of the most noteworthy brands, sitting at the forefront of solid-state battery technology, with plans to release a revolutionary option with 745 miles of rangeby the end of the decade. This will be one of the most significant introductions to the EV industry and will change the way consumers see EV products. The premise of solid state battery technology aims to provide longer ranges and faster charging times, resulting in improving the overall longevity and convenience. Brands like Samsung are also currently in the race to introduce a solid-state battery option to the market, but it looks like Toyota may be aiming for the most impressive road-legal solid-state battery.

Many experts punt solid-state batteries to be the next major step in making EVs a more viable mainstream option. This is thanks to the substantial benefits that they offer over lithium-ion batteries, which are today's standardized option. As is the case with anything, this technology also has its fair share of cons, such as high development costs and a complicated manufacturing procedure. For this reason, it's going to take much longer than a decade until we start seeing this chemistry introduced to mainstream cars at an affordable rate. This is how the current development timeline affects Toyota and how that will impact its long-term electrification strategy.

This would be a massive game changer in the potential of getting more people to consider EVs.

[SubGod22]

Massive potential improvement in solar

Powerful solar cell with 60% energy conversion potential created in a world-first

The SQ limit of a solar cell is subject to the material used to make it. For silicon, the bandgap is 1.3eV, and the SQ limit is 33.7 percent. This effectively means that under the best-case scenario, even the highest-quality solar cell ever produced will still not be able to harness 77.3 percent of the sunlight incident on it.

To meet our increasing energy demands, we would need to build more solar panels and cover more areas of the planet with them. However, a solar cell made with a different material could have a higher SQ limit, making electricity generation more efficient.

Javier Olea Ariza and his team of researchers at Universidad Complutense de Madrid have been working for over 15 years with gallium phosphide (Gap) and titanium (Ti) in an attempt to make a more efficient solar cell.

Since the SQ limit is dependent on the bandgap of the semiconductor material, Ariza and his team chose Gap, which has a bandgap of 2.26 eV. The team built a one cm2-sized solar cell with a Gap: Ti absorber no thicker than 50 nm and metal contacts using gold and germanium.

Through a series of experiments in transmittance and reflectance measurements, the team found that the solar cell had a broad band due to enhanced light absorption at wavelength above 550 nm. This is likely due to the use of Ti in the setup. The theoretical potential of the structure is around 60 percent.

About twice the efficiency of the best solar has to offer right now.

[SubGod22]

Geothermal is a good option in a lot of places. Good to see the US opening up to more of it.

U.S. approves mega geothermal energy project in Utah

The Biden administration just approved a massive geothermal energy project in Utah, marking a significant advance for a climate-friendly technology that is gaining momentum in the United States, the White House confirmed to The Washington Post on Thursday.

The Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management gave final approval to Fervo Energy’s Cape Geothermal Power Project in Beaver County, Utah, the White House said. Once fully operational, the project could generate up to 2 gigawatts of electricity — enough to power more than 2 million homes.

In addition, the BLM proposed Thursday to speed up the permitting process for geothermal projects on public lands across the country. Earlier this month, the agency also hosted the biggest lease sale for geothermal developers in more than 15 years.

While not as widely understood as wind turbines or solar panels, geothermal energy can play a crucial role in meeting the nation’s climate goals, experts say. Geothermal plants work by harnessing the heat trapped deep beneath the Earth’s surface to generate electricity. In the process, they produce far fewer planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions than coal or natural gas plants.

A new generation of the technology, known as enhanced geothermal, traces its origins to the fossil fuel industry it hopes to eventually replace. Enhanced geothermal plants rely on a technique pioneered in the shale fields: hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. But they drill deep underground to release heat, rather than oil and gas.

[SubGod22]

Less waste is always a good thing.

This Robot Expertly Takes Apart E-Waste So Their Components Can Be Reused

A former tech hardware entrepreneur has refocused his talents on tackling the problem of electronic device waste.

His startup manufactures and programs precision robots to delicately take apart products and separate still-useable components for reuse, not recycling.

Rob Lawson-Shanks is his name, and having just been bankrolled by some of the biggest names in stakeholder venture capitalism, he’s not only helping recycling facilities disassemble electronics that would previously be scrapped, but also working with companies like Dell to design new devices that are easier for his robots to unmake.

“I started to realize I was contributing to this massive, 60-million-ton problem of e-waste because of how we were designing, manufacturing, and ultimately not recovering,” he told Fast Company’s Adele Peters.

His company Molg makes and programs robots that use multiple arms and cameras with extraordinary delicacy to remove panels, unscrew fasteners, and extract chips all on their own.

“We use really high-precision, non-destructive [equipment], and really care about what we’re touching and then moving so that we can retest, re-qualify, and redeploy,” Lawson-Shanks says. “Ultimately, it’s to try and keep things at the highest value possible.”

The small systems—10 feet by 3 feet by 10 feet tall—are designed to fit inside existing e-waste processing facilities. They can take apart some devices in as fast as five minutes. At the moment, the machines are excellent at taking apart old servers to recover components to make new units for data centers.

He believes a lot of materials could be reused as many as five times before needing to be recycled.

[WstateU]

Hydrogen-Powered Car Fueled by Sewage Attempting to Break Land Speed Records



Just thought this is fun and it's cool that they're doing as much as possible to keep it as green as possible. Who knows what kind of things this could lead to down the road.

Didn't Doc Brown use garbage to fuel the Delorean?

[SubGod22]

Glad to see nuclear getting a chance. There's absolutely no reason the US should have ever shifted away from nuclear and it's about time we get back to implementing it. It leads to cleaner, cheaper energy that is insanely safe.

US opens applications for $900 million for small nuclear reactors (msn.com)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. on Wednesday opened applications for up to $900 million in funding to support the initial domestic deployment of small modular reactor nuclear technology.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

President Joe Biden's administration believes nuclear power is critical in the fight against climate change because it generates electricity virtually free from emissions, and that U.S. nuclear power capacity must triple to meet emissions goals.

Small modular reactors (SMRs) differ from traditional larger nuclear plants in that they have simpler designs and can be scaled to demand. Backers say they are inherently safer and will be less costly because they can be built in factories rather than at site. SMRs could be used to generate heat or power and for desalination.

But no U.S. commercial SMR has been built yet. Critics say they will be more expensive to run than larger reactors because they will struggle to achieve economies of scale. Like the large reactors, they will also produce long-lasting radioactive waste for which there is no final depository in the U.S.

These can be built quicker and cheaper than the large plants, not that there isn't a place for the larger facilities. Those concerned with waste haven't been paying attention to all of the work that's been done to reuse and cleanup such things virtually eliminating the need for massive storage facilities for it.

If you believe in man caused global warming, you should absolutely support nuclear as you eliminate the massive amounts of CO2 released through traditional power generation. It also has a much smaller physical footprint than wind and solar farms and will produce more, consistent energy than those.

If you simply want to see a move towards a cleaner environment (water and air) than this is a no brainer as well.

If you want cheaper, reliable energy, nuclear is the answer as well.

[SubGod22]

Hydrogen-Powered Car Fueled by Sewage Attempting to Break Land Speed Records

A hydrogen-powered car fueled by sewage and manufactured with various recycled materials may soon attempt to break several land speed records.

The car was built by students at Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) at the University of Warwick and will run off a byproduct of wastewater from the utilities company Severn Trent Water.

The Waste2Race Le Mans Prototype race car (LMP3) has been built from a selection of spare and unused parts to further its sustainable street cred in a world little-regarded for its sustainability—motorsport.

The car itself will be used to try to break one of several land speed records depending on how it performs, including the fastest standing and flying starts for both a mile and a kilometer. Its creators hope to have the car fully up and running in the next 6 to 12 months.

The parts themselves come from Ginetta, a British specialist builder of racing and sports cars based in Leeds. Among its green bits and bobs are materials made from recycled carbon fiber and a wing mirror made from beetroot waste.

The steering wheel is also 100% natural, while the firm ENRG Motorsport contributed a battery recovered from a crashed road car.

“These sorts of collaborations are a great example of how businesses, universities, and the endless curiosity of our students can break barriers and push the boundaries of what’s possible,” said Head of the Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing Research Group at WMG, Professor Kerry Kirwan.

“We’re incredibly proud of the ingenuity of our students and wish them all the best of luck in their land speed record attempt.”

Just thought this is fun and it's cool that they're doing as much as possible to keep it as green as possible. Who knows what kind of things this could lead to down the road.

Didn't Doc Brown use garbage to fuel the Delorean?

[JVShocker]

So, since I'm like, old, I look at what were referred to (in another thread) as affordable rental apartments in Wichita between $700-1000. And I'm like, that's 3 or 4x what we pay on the house now. Thank Heaven for 7-11 and the refinance option on a home mortgage. Best decision we ever made.

[JVShocker]

I guess I'm just the opposite. The AC is on the first time it's above 65. Haven't even considered the heat yet. It needs to be low 60s inside during the day to consider for me. And at night? The colder, the better. Open the windows and get under the covers.

I'm, like, old, okay. Gimme a break.

Gimme a break.

Break me off a piece of that fancy feast! Nailed it!