Solutions for Alternative Energy

Forty six students from across the country and the world, most of them graduate students or post-doctoral researchers, were filing in to hear Steven Fales, an Iowa State professor of agronomy, speak about "Next Generation Biofuels: What are the Challenges?"

The intensive program features talks, tours, demonstrations and tests that cover the opportunities and the challenges of developing a bioeconomy. The talks cover starch chemistry, plant biology, cell wall biochemistry, biofuels production, biofuels economics, next generation feedstocks and more. The tours include visits to Cargill headquarters in Minneapolis, Iowa State's BioCentury Research Farm, the Renewable Energy Group biodiesel plant in Ralston and the Lincolnway Energy ethanol plant near Nevada. And there are three exams to keep the students focused.

After several years of participating in a biorenewables program in Europe, "We thought this was our chance to bring students from around the world to the center of the real action in biorenewables," said Larry Johnson, the director of Iowa State's Center for Crop Utilization Research and the university's BioCentury Research Farm, a professor of food science and human nutrition and a program organizer.

Biofuels

Besides, "I feel we need to do a much better job of articulating the need and the opportunities and the state of the technology around biofuels," Johnson said. "Biofuels have taken such huge and terrible hits based on faulty information, we need to get the other side of the story out - one that is based on sound science."

The state of the science was front and center during Fales' talk. He walked the students through a paper he co-wrote that outlines five steps to build a biofuels industry based on cellulosic biomass rather than grain. He said researchers need to:

1. Gather and assess biomass yield data
2. Redesign crop systems to optimize biomass production without limiting yields of food, feed and fiber
3. Develop advanced energy crops ("This is as exciting to me as medical science," Fales told the students. "This is no longer about farming. This is about life sciences. There are now tremendous opportunities in the life sciences.")
4. Plan and build the technologies, logistics and infrastructure necessary to transport and store biomass
5. Spread the facts about the promise and challenges of a bioeconomy through education and extension programs.

Abigail Martin, a doctoral student in environmental policy at the University of California, Berkeley, said Fales and others at Iowa State's intensive program are providing her with a different perspective on energy and environmental issues.

In California, she said the discussion is about land-use policies and low-carbon fuel standards. In Iowa, she's hearing about new cropping systems and sustainable ag practices. She said the new perspectives can contribute to her research of biofuel policies and regulations.

Raj Raman - the associate director of educational programs for Iowa State's Bioeconomy Institute, an associate professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering and a program organizer - said one goal of the intensive program was to bring students from a variety of backgrounds together to share and debate their views.

Another goal was to share some of Iowa State's expertise in biorenewable research and technology. Iowa State's Bioeconomy Institute boasts more than 160 affiliated faculty members across the university and more than $51 million in cumulative sponsored research funding from industry and federal agencies since 2002. Its director, Robert C. Brown, has written one textbook on biorenewables and an upcoming book about biofuels.

"This is an important topic," Raman said, "and we have a unique ability and expertise to share it with the world."

A $600,000 gift from Cargill is supporting the Intensive Program in Biorenewables and other Iowa State education programs focused on the bioeconomy.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, if the North American grid were just 5% more efficient, the energy savings would equate to eliminating the fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from 53 million cars.

Support of the Smart Grid Maturity Model by DoE enables it to be accessible to all stakeholders of the electric power industry.

IBM and a group of leading utilities--the Global Intelligent Utility Network Coalition--have handed-over stewardship of their Smart Grid Maturity Model to the Carnegie Mellon® Software Engineering Institute (SEI). As progressive utilities around the globe modernize power grids with digital technology, executives want to know that making the grid smarter is the right thing to do and they want to know how to do it.

The electric grid is the largest and most complex machine in the world and in places it is now critically overburdened. Impacts of climate change, available technology, and the current economic crisis represent the final tipping point for a much needed overhaul.

The Smart Grid Maturity Model will serve as a strategic framework for utilities, vendors, regulators, and consumers that have a role in smart grid transformation--from technological to regulatory to organizational.

The Smart Grid Maturity Model

The Smart Grid Maturity Model provides utilities with a roadmap of activities, investments, and best practices for transformation to the smart grid and guidance in related technological, regulatory, and organizational issues.

The Software Engineering Institute at Carnegie Mellon (SEI) is now the steward of the Smart Grid Maturity Model. The model was developed by IBM, and its ownership has been transferred to the SEI for its ongoing development and dissemination.

In addition to the SEI activities, the World Energy Council (WEC) will be a channel for global dissemination, participation and adoption of the model using its worldwide network of member committees.

The Smart Grid

The smart grid is the use of digital technology to modernize the power grid. It employs innovative products and services combined with intelligent monitoring, control, communication, and self-healing technologies to do the following:

• Facilitate the connection and operation of generators of all sizes and technologies
• Allow consumers to play a part in optimizing the operation of the system
• Provide consumers with greater information and supply choices
• Significantly reduce the environmental impact of the electricity supply system
• Deliver enhanced levels of reliability and security of supply

More than meters and mobility, the smart grid represents a whole new framework for improved management of electric generation, transmission, and distribution.

During 2009, a specially assembled team of experts will be planning the best ways to maintain and improve the maturity model on behalf of its user community. 

To stimulate, guide, and support efforts and investments in smart grids, the SEI will assume primary responsibility for the ongoing governance, growth and evolution of the model. In order to support widespread adoption and use, the SEI will ensure availability of the model and supporting materials and services for the user community; maintain consistency of its application, validity, and results; and analyze and provide feedback on its use, value and impact for stakeholders.

Tom Standish, group president of Regulated Operations, CenterPoint Energy, encourages every utility to participate in the Smart Grid Maturity Model survey. "It provides insights into where you are on your smart grid journey and what milestone objectives to set to achieve the benefits of smart grid - for both customers and business," said Standish.

IBM initially led the development of the model in collaboration with the Global Intelligent Utility Network Coalition and with support from American Productivity & Quality Center (APQC). More than 40 utilities worldwide have participated in the model to date, representing 100 million customers of utilities across the globe. A key function of the Smart Grid Maturity Model tool is to gauge advancements made in Smart Grids and show returns on investments. This function allows it to be well positioned to have a role in procedures being implemented in support of the US efforts to modernize the power grid. The model offers observable indicators to measure progress, and helps facilitate the development and execution of smart grid programs.

A web page at SEI will be updated frequently to keep you up to date and let you know how you can participate. 

An online webinar is available about the Smart Grid:  http://www.sei.cmu.edu/collaborating/spins/033009webinar.html

Manual labor has had its era of scorn!  But now with the economy tanking and the simplicities of life taking on new meaning -- those basics of food, shelter and contentment -- well, the human factor is getting a new look.

Manual tools like can openers and a simple cutting board and skillet.  Manual tools like hammers and saws.  Manual tools like pen and paper or a phone.  Manual tools like a hug and a smile.

We overlook these simple sources of energy...and resulting benefits.

But human energy comes from intent combined with a goal and some elbow grease...and the results are of a more human scale than when strained through complex certification programs and packaging and airports. 

Life has a lot of minutia to it.  Breathing.  Three meals a day.  Sleep.  Smiles.  And relationships that are often messy.  But that's the stuff of life.  The energy of life.  And yes, human energy is even more precious than petroleum or solar cells or biogas or LEDs.

Human energy makes the adventure of playing with all those other forms of energy into the adventure that passes survival and brings us a life of style!  

California is a huge state and economy. When we sneeze, the country catches cold :-) and when our economy falters, it affects not only a lot of Californians, but a lot of Americans.

California's economy has been struggling for a number of years -- like the rest of the country is experiencing in 2009 -- and part of the reason is that we have been importing so much energy to support our car-culture and our businesses. When we look at the economics of sustainability, energy strategy ranks near the top of the list of effectiveness factors.

Energy affects jobs. Energy affects state taxes...and state budgets.

Energy affects livability and family budgets.

Global Warming and Jobs...NRDC's two page summary of the reason and way to bring our energy expenditures back home and reinvest in California's future.

Every year, Californians send about $30 billion out of the state to purchase fossil fuels, including oil, natural gas and coal, the primary sources of the state's global warming pollution. On average, that means that every California household sends $2,500 directly out of the state every year. Reducing global warming pollution with solutions such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, smart growth, and improved transit will bring that money back home to reinvest in our communities.

According to ENERGY STAR(R), if every American home exchanged the five most frequently used bulbs with ENERGY STAR qualified bulbs, one trillion pounds of greenhouse gases would be kept out of the air over the course of the bulbs' lives. That's equivalent to the annual emissions of 8 million cars, the annual output of more than 20 power plants, and $6 billion in energy savings.

Small, individual choices can make a big impact on energy conservation, especially when we do it together.

Energy Star is a conservation program conducted by the EPA to protect our environment by helping businesses and individuals through developing and using superior energy efficiency as well as water conservation.

The Energy Star symbol and program is applied to

• PRODUCTS such as appliances, lighting, heating and cooling equipment
• HOME IMPROVEMENTS to solve common problems such as energy costs, home sealing and air quality.
• NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION to make your home energy efficient using quality energy efficient materials and techniques
• BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT that reduces building and facility energy use

The Energy Star Web site includes many resources, including a database of Energy Star manufacturers, retailers, utility prgrams, home builders, lenders andproduct providers.

 Innovation isn't just about "products".  Industry makes more impact, and more money with merchandising and systems than with the product itself.  Build a better mousetrap just doesn't cut it in this age of hyper-competition, instant communications and volatile economies.

Solar is caught in this vortex.  The solution?  Continuous innovation not only of solar cells, but finance, training, grid infrastructure and adjusting the consumer's mindset that solar is expensive.  Redefining cost as not only personal cost...but all our shared taxes is essential to positioning renewable energies such as solar PV and solar thermal as affordable by small businesses, homeowners and public buildings.

Although solar power can provide a cost-effective alternative for off-grid applications, we believe the principal challenge to widespread adoption of solar power for on-grid applications is reducing manufacturing costs without impairing product reliability. We believe the following advancements in solar power technology are necessary to meet this challenge:

• Efficient material use. Reduce raw materials waste, particularly the waste associated with sawing silicon by conventional crystalline silicon technology. Efficient use of silicon is imperative for the growth of the industry due to the limited supply and increasing cost of silicon raw material expected for the near future.
• Simplified and continuous processing. Reduce reliance on expensive, multi-step manufacturing processes.
• Reduced manufacturing capital costs. Decrease the costs and risks associated with new plant investments as a result of lower capital costs per unit of production.
• Improved product design and performance. Increase product conversion efficiency, longevity and ease of use. Conversion efficiency refers to the fraction of the sun's energy converted to electricity.

Source:  Girasolar is a solar company innovating processes and products for the global market from their Netherlands operation including R&D, design, manufacture and distribution of components, complete solar energy systems and specialized equipment.

Air Resources Board adopted a regulation that will implement California Governor Schwarzenegger's Low Carbon Fuel Standard calling for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from California's transportation fuels by ten percent by 2020.

The new regulation is aimed at diversifying the variety of fuels used for transportation. It will boost the market for alternative-fuel vehicles and achieve 16 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emission reductions by 2020. ARB representatives describe the measure as the most important early-action called for under AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act (Nunez, 2006).

"The new standard means we can begin to break our century-old dependence on petroleum and provide California with greater energy security" said ARB Chairman Mary D. Nichols. "The drive to force the market toward greater use of alternative fuels will be a boon to the state's economy and public health - it reduces air pollution, creates new jobs and continues California's leadership in the fight against global warming."

According to ARB analyses, to produce the more than 1.5 billion gallons of biofuels needed, over 25 new biofuel facilities will have to be built and will create more than 3,000 new jobs, mostly in the state's rural areas.

Production of fuels within the state will also keep consumer dollars local by reducing the need to make fuel purchases from beyond its borders.

The regulation requires providers, refiners, importers and blenders to ensure that the fuels they provide for the California market meet an average declining standard of 'carbon intensity'. This is established by determining the sum of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production, transportation and consumption of a fuel, also referred to as the fuel pathway.

Economic mechanisms will allow the market to choose the most cost-effective clean fuels (those with the lowest carbon intensity) giving California consumers the widest variety of fuel options.

Seeking to enhance private sector and federal investment into alternative fuel production and distribution, California is also providing funding to assist in the early development and deployment of the most promising low-carbon fuels. The Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program, AB 118 (Nunez, 2007), managed by the California Energy Commission, will provide approximately $120 million dollars per year over seven years to deploy the cleanest fuels and vehicles.

Regulators expect the new generation of fuels to come from the development of technology that uses algae, wood, agricultural waste such as straw, common invasive weeds such as switchgrass, and even from municipal solid waste.

The standard is also expected to drive the availability of plug-in hybrid, battery electric and fuel-cell powered cars while promoting investment in electric charging stations and hydrogen fueling stations.

California's Governor issued the executive order requiring a low carbon fuel standard in early 2007. It directed the state to drive down greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector which accounts for 40% of the state's total greenhouse gas emissions.

The regulation is designed to increase the use of alternative fuels, replacing 20 percent of the fuel used by cars in California with clean alternative fuels by 2020, including electricity, biofuels, hydrogen and other options.

The Air Resources Board is a department of the California Environmental Protection Agency. ARB's mission is to promote and protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and considering effects on the economy. The ARB oversees all air pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain health based air quality standards.

Air Resources Board adopted a regulation that will implement California Governor Schwarzenegger's Low Carbon Fuel Standard calling for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from California's transportation fuels by ten percent by 2020.

The new regulation is aimed at diversifying the variety of fuels used for transportation. It will boost the market for alternative-fuel vehicles and achieve 16 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emission reductions by 2020. ARB representatives describe the measure as the most important early-action called for under AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act (Nunez, 2006).

"The new standard means we can begin to break our century-old dependence on petroleum and provide California with greater energy security" said ARB Chairman Mary D. Nichols. "The drive to force the market toward greater use of alternative fuels will be a boon to the state's economy and public health - it reduces air pollution, creates new jobs and continues California's leadership in the fight against global warming."

According to ARB analyses, to produce the more than 1.5 billion gallons of biofuels needed, over 25 new biofuel facilities will have to be built and will create more than 3,000 new jobs, mostly in the state's rural areas.

Production of fuels within the state will also keep consumer dollars local by reducing the need to make fuel purchases from beyond its borders.

The regulation requires providers, refiners, importers and blenders to ensure that the fuels they provide for the California market meet an average declining standard of 'carbon intensity'. This is established by determining the sum of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production, transportation and consumption of a fuel, also referred to as the fuel pathway.

Economic mechanisms will allow the market to choose the most cost-effective clean fuels (those with the lowest carbon intensity) giving California consumers the widest variety of fuel options.

Seeking to enhance private sector and federal investment into alternative fuel production and distribution, California is also providing funding to assist in the early development and deployment of the most promising low-carbon fuels. The Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program, AB 118 (Nunez, 2007), managed by the California Energy Commission, will provide approximately $120 million dollars per year over seven years to deploy the cleanest fuels and vehicles.

Regulators expect the new generation of fuels to come from the development of technology that uses algae, wood, agricultural waste such as straw, common invasive weeds such as switchgrass, and even from municipal solid waste.

The standard is also expected to drive the availability of plug-in hybrid, battery electric and fuel-cell powered cars while promoting investment in electric charging stations and hydrogen fueling stations.

California's Governor issued the executive order requiring a low carbon fuel standard in early 2007. It directed the state to drive down greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector which accounts for 40% of the state's total greenhouse gas emissions.

The regulation is designed to increase the use of alternative fuels, replacing 20 percent of the fuel used by cars in California with clean alternative fuels by 2020, including electricity, biofuels, hydrogen and other options.

The Air Resources Board is a department of the California Environmental Protection Agency. ARB's mission is to promote and protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and considering effects on the economy. The ARB oversees all air pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain health based air quality standards.

Transportation costs can be reduced on the wheel and in the landfill when quality retread tires are used on fleets of trucks, cars and other equipment.

Retread Tire Solutions for Public Sector Fleet Managers in Cities, Counties and States

With the worldwide downturn in the economy facing cities, towns, counties, states, provinces and even villages everywhere, it is more important than ever for fleet managers to manage their tire costs, a significant part of the transportation budget.

Retreads can be the cost saving, and green answer.

Not only are retreaded tires very environmentally friendly, they are far more economical than comparable new tires. The larger the tire size the greater the savings. In fact, for most tire sizes retreads can cut your tire costs by 50% and sometimes even more!

Retread Tire Safety and Reliability

The safety and reliability of today's top quality retreads (quality matters!) has been proven by millions of vehicles throughout the world over billions of miles.

All major commercial and military airlines use retreads - even on the largest planes flying - as do fire engines and other emergency vehicles, school and municipal buses, taxi fleets, race cars, small package delivery services such as FED EX, UPS and even the U.S. Postal Service, along with all types of other commercial and passenger vehicles.

U.S. Federal Executive Order (13149) even MANDATES the use of retreaded tires on selected federal fleet vehicles.

Objective information is available for fleet managers who wish to evaluate the benefits retreads have to offer and much of it can be found on the Tire Retreat & Repair Information Bureau web site, www.retread.org.

Take a look at their extensive information about the true causes of tire debris (also known as rubber on the road & road alligators).

The Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau is a worldwide association and our materials are all non-commercial and available at no cost to interested readers everywhere.

Information about Retread Tire Solutions

They will send a CD and two DVDs to those who wish to learn more. Their latest DVD, "Reputable Retreading," contains a virtual retread plant tour, along with testimonials from public sector fleet managers and is very convincing to those who are not certain about retreads.

This nonprofit retread organization will also arrange a tour of an actual retread plant in your area. They encourage "doubters" to take a tour because it is very convincing to see how much care goes into the retread process.

You can do get the attention of taxpayers and the environmentalists in your area by using retreaded tires on your public sector fleet vehicles. Your agency can do well and good at the same time by making the switch to this recycled solution of tires -- definitely a problem for communities that must deal with the millions of discarded tires that end up in landfills!

To order the retread tire information CD and DVDs, or to arrange for a retread plant tour or for more specific information contact the organization:

Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau
www.retread.org
info@retread.org,
Toll-free: 888-473-8732. From other parts of the world call +831-372-1917

Independent financial consultant Jim Hansen runs every investment through the "peak oil test". In this presentation from the ASPO-USA 2008 conference, he explores traditional energy investments; opportunities in renewables, rail, and electrifying the transportation system; areas to avoid like airlines and trucking; and what to watch, like electric cars and the unwinding of globalization.

In this interview, ecologist and professor Charlie Hall looks at energy return on energy invested. Whether it's a cheetah chasing antelope, or humans making ethanol -- the energy we get back has to exceed the energy we put in, or the story is over. He compares oil's energy return in the 1930's (1 calorie invested returned 100 calories of energy) with the current situation (1:12) and still declining.

Presenters respond to the final question in the Q&A session at the close of ASPO-USA's 2008 conference: how do we better harness the intellect, energy and commitment at this conference, and what one thing would you have people ask an elected official to do about peak oil?
 
Peak Moment Conversation #136 "Energy Investment - Energy Return" with financial consultant Jim Hansen, and ecologist Charlie Hall, plus final Q&A from the ASPO-USA 2008 conference in September, is now online at www.peakmoment.tv (video), and www.globalpublicmedia.com (audio and video).