VATIS UPDATE Non-conventional Energy

VATIS UPDATE: Non-conventional Energy Sep-Oct 2008 1

HighlightsSolar energy storage breakthrough

Low-cost wind energy conversion systemPower and fresh water from ocean

Breakthrough for SOFC-based power systemsBacteria as a fuel of the future

“Oil from algae” – climate-friendly fuel

Vol. 2 No. 92 Sep - Oct 2008ISSN 0971-5630

Non-conNon-conNon-conNon-conNon-convvvvventionalentionalentionalentionalentional EnerEnerEnerEnerEnergggggyyyyy

APCTTASIAN AND PACIFIC CENTRE FOR TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY

VATIS UPDATE

2 VATIS UPDATE: Non-conventional Energy Sep-Oct 2008

The shaded areas of the map indicate ESCAP members and associate members

The Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT), a subsidiarybody of ESCAP, was established on 16 July 1977 with the objectives: to assist themembers and associate members of ESCAP through strengthening their capabilities todevelop and manage national innovation systems; develop, transfer, adapt and applytechnology; improve the terms of transfer of technology; and identify and promote thedevelopment and transfer of technologies relevant to the region.

The Centre will achieve the above objectives by undertaking such functions as:

Research and analysis of trends, conditions and opportunities;Advisory services;Dissemination of information and good practices;Networking and partnership with international organizations and key stakeholders; andTraining of national personnel, particularly national scientists and policy analysts.

Cover Photo

Solar-powered air-conditioning device(Credit: Tel Aviv University, Israel)


Vol. 2 No. 92 Sep - Oct 2008

IN THE NEWSIN THE NEWSIN THE NEWSIN THE NEWSIN THE NEWS 44444

China unleashes “clean revolution” Asia’s biggest solar thermalplant to be set up in India Republic of Korea to step up alternativeenergy research Malaysia, Indonesia to use palm oil surplus forbiodiesel Thai PTT and GM sign deal on biofuel research Viet Namlooks into biofuel development Philippines pushes renewable energyprogramme Wind power potential in India

SOLAR ENERGYSOLAR ENERGYSOLAR ENERGYSOLAR ENERGYSOLAR ENERGY 66666

Solar energy storage breakthrough Low-cost solar cell technologyFlexible nanoantenna arrays to capture solar energy Best-yet

dye-based solar cells Flexible CIGS with higher energy conversionefficiency New paradigm for solar cells Organic dye lets windowpanes harvest the Sun Development of Cd-on-Si solar cells

WIND ENERGYWIND ENERGYWIND ENERGYWIND ENERGYWIND ENERGY 99999

New vertical axis wind turbine “Anti-noise” silences wind turbinesLow-cost wind energy conversion system Vertical axis Tesla wind

turbine New high-wind power technology New wind systems

WAVE/TIDAL ENERGYWAVE/TIDAL ENERGYWAVE/TIDAL ENERGYWAVE/TIDAL ENERGYWAVE/TIDAL ENERGY 1 11 11 11 11 1

Simple converter for energy from waves Power and fresh waterfrom ocean

FUEL CELLSFUEL CELLSFUEL CELLSFUEL CELLSFUEL CELLS 1 21 21 21 21 2

New cathode hope for cheaper fuel cells Breakthrough forSOFC-based power systems Fuel cell advance could lower cost

New high power fuel cell stack Fuel cell with zeolite proton exchangemicro-membrane Energy-efficient cell Carbon electrode catalyst forfuel cells Hydrogen-powered fuel cell mopeds

HYDROGEN ENERGYHYDROGEN ENERGYHYDROGEN ENERGYHYDROGEN ENERGYHYDROGEN ENERGY 1 41 41 41 41 4

Scientists replicate photosynthesis step to split water Producinghydrogen from biofuels Bacterial process for hydrogen from foodwaste Hydrogen generation without the carbon footprint Newprocess to lower hydrogen costs Bacteria as a fuel of the future

BIOMASS ENERGYBIOMASS ENERGYBIOMASS ENERGYBIOMASS ENERGYBIOMASS ENERGY 1 61 61 61 61 6

Increasing ethanol yield from grasses and yard waste “Oil fromalgae” – climate-friendly fuel Glycerol converted to synthesis gas

Mutant yeast reduces need for corn in ethanol production Nanotechderives ethanol from garbage New catalyst for small-scale efficientbiofuel production

RECENT PUBLICATIONSRECENT PUBLICATIONSRECENT PUBLICATIONSRECENT PUBLICATIONSRECENT PUBLICATIONS 1 81 81 81 81 8

TECH EVENTSTECH EVENTSTECH EVENTSTECH EVENTSTECH EVENTS 1 81 81 81 81 8

VATIS* UpdateNon-conventional Energy

is published 6 times a year to keep thereaders up to date of most of therelevant and latest technological

developments and events in the field ofNon-conventional Energy. The Update istailored to policy-makers, industries and

technology transfer intermediaries.

Website: http://www.techmonitor.net

Editorial Board

Dr. Krishnamurthy RamanathanMr. Nanjundappa Srinivasan

Dr. Satyabrata Sahu

ASIAN AND PACIFIC CENTREFOR TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY

Adjoining Technology BhawanQutab Institutional Area

Post Box No. 4575New Delhi 110 016, IndiaTel: (91) (11) 2696 6509

Fax: (91) (11) 2685 6274E-mail: [email protected]

Website: http://www.apctt.org

The designation employed andthe presentation of material in the

publication do not imply theendorsement of any product, process

or manufacturer by APCTT.

This publication has been issuedwithout formal editing

* Value Added TechnologyInformation Service

CONTENTS


IN THE NEWS

China unleashes“clean revolution”A recent report, brought out by theClimate Group, hails China as theworld’s leading renewable energyproducer, overtaking more develop-ed economies in exploiting valuableeconomic opportunities, creatinggreen-collar jobs and leading dev-elopment of significant low-carbontechnologies. The Climate Groupis an independent institution, whichworks internationally with govern-ment as well as business leaders toadvance climate change solutionsand accelerate low-carbon economy.

The report, entitled “China’s CleanRevolution”, reveals that China’stransition to a low-carbon economyis well underway, led by supportivegovernment policies that are notonly driving innovation in low-carbontechnologies but also diverting largeamounts of investment into energyefficiency and renewable energy.China’s combination of cost advan-tages, a clear policy framework, adynamic and entrepreneurial busi-ness environment, and abundantabatement opportunities is provingthat developing nations have muchto profit from investments in low-carbon solutions to create green-collar jobs, economic growth as wellas social benefits.

Despite its coal-dependent econo-my, says the report, the Chinesegovernment and businesses haveembarked on a clean revolution thathas already made the country a glo-bal leader in the manufacturing ofsolar photovoltaic (PV) technology.China is also on the way to becomethe world’s leading exporter of windturbines and compete aggressivelyin other low-carbon markets, inclu-ding rechargeable batteries, solarwater heaters and energy-efficienthome appliances.

Source: www.news.xinhuanet.com

Asia’s biggest solarthermal plant to beset up in IndiaIndia’s Minister for New and Renew-able Energy, Mr. Vilas Muttemwar,has said that Asia’s biggest solarthermal energy plant would be setup at Nagpur, India, where a specialeconomic zone is being establishedto manufacture equipment and ap-pliances related to wind, solar andbiogas energy. The 10 MW thermalenergy generation plant is to be setup by Acme Tele Power.

The Minister said that the govern-ment is implementing a scheme togive financial incentive to those youthwho would promote solar thermalenergy systems. He said that Indiais currently ranked at number fourin wind energy followed by Germa-ny, Spain and the United States. Inthe case of solar energy, India hasa potential to generate 5,000 trillionmegawatts and could supply solarenergy to the entire world, Mr. Mut-temwar claimed.

Source: www.economictimes.indiatimes.com

Republic of Korea tostep up alternativeenergy researchThe Republic of Korea plans to dev-elop new and renewable energies(NRE) such as solar energy, windpower, and fuel and hydrogen cellsas next-generation growth enginesand export items. The Ministry ofKnowledge Economy recently saidthat the government will increaseits spending on research and devel-opment in NRE by 60 per cent fromlast year to about US$198 million.The amount is almost double thetotal that the country spent on dev-eloping NRE technologies for 13years from 1988 to 2000. Combin-ing the allocation of about US$46.7

million for NRE projects in the sup-plementary budget submitted to thecountry’s National Assembly, thisyear’s investment in the area willstand at some US$248.5 million.

The Ministry will make particular ef-forts to commercialize organic solarcells, develop floating offshore windpower systems, manufacture equip-ment for producing polysilicon forsolar cells and develop low-speeddirect-drive wind generators. Theseefforts to developing core technol-ogies, components and equipmentare aimed at securing advantage-ous positions in the future energiesmarket. Further, the government willwork on completing a road map fordeveloping NRE technologies by thefirst half of next year. The road mapwill include a review of the globalmarket environment, domestic andforeign technological levels, patentanalyses and feasibility studies.

Source: www.english.chosun.com

Malaysia, Indonesiato use palm oilsurplus for biodieselMalaysia and Indonesia have ag-reed to use the surplus from theirpalm oil stockpiles to produce bio-diesel as part of the mechanism toboost the palm oil price. Malaysia’sPlantation Industries and Commo-dities Minister Datuk Peter Chin FahKui and the Indonesian AgricultureMinister Dr. Anton Apriyantono saidboth countries would continue to doso until the edible oil achieves priceequilibrium in the world market. Theprice of crude palm oil (CPO) fellto around US$871/t, the lowest in15 months.

Describing the low price as worry-ing, Datuk Chin said Malaysia andeach had 1.9 million tonnes of sur-plus, which would be used for thepurpose. The amount was over andabove the 6 million tonnes of palm


In the News

oil, which both countries had agreedto set aside for biofuel production.The Minister hoped that the movecould create a balance in the worldpalm oil market, resulting in a bet-ter price for the commodity.

Dr. Anton said the move was to con-trol supply in the market and preventthe price from going further down.Both ministers assured, however,that the move would not result in theshortage of edible oil in the globalmarket because it was being imple-mented at a time when there wasa surplus in the supply.

Source: www.bernama.com.my

Thai PTT and GMsign deal on biofuelresearchThailand’s top energy firm PTT hassigned a deal with General Motors(GM) to collaborate on research in-to alternative fuels such as ethanolfor cars. “The strategy will focus onalternative energy that is sociallyresponsible, economic, environmentfriendly and with practical technol-ogy,” stated GM chief executive Mr.Richard Wagoner. “GM and PTT willcooperate to study possible mar-kets as well as the infrastructureneeded to realize benefits from in-creased use of alternative energy,”he added. The research will includefinding ways to expand ethanol pro-duction from crops not used for food.The firms will also study hydrogenfuel, low-cost hybrid engines andother fuel-saving technologies inThailand and the rest of SoutheastAsia, Mr. Wagoner added.

Source: www.afp.google.com

Viet Nam looks intobiofuel developmentViet Nam is planning to develop itsgreat potential for renewable ener-gy sources, a government official

stated. Speaking at a recent sym-posium on biofuel development inHa Noi, Mr. Nguyen Kim Son, thedirector of the Institute of Policy andStrategy for Agricultural and RuralDevelopment, said that a possibleenergy crisis will push up oil prices,and Viet Nam would not be able toannually import more than 15-17 mil-lion tonnes.

Like many other countries, Viet Namhas begun to use wind power andsolar energy, as well as biogas, butwith low outputs and on a smallscale. However, Viet Nam boastshuge potential for biofuel develop-ment as it has vast plantations ofmany plants suitable for biofuel suchas sugar cane, cassava, jatrophaand castor oil trees and seaweed.As part of a biofuel developmentproject to be carried out until 2015,around 250,000 t of ethanol andvegetable oil would be produced by2015 to meet 1 per cent of the annualpetroleum demand of Viet Nam.

Source: www.vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn

Philippines pushesrenewable energyprogrammeThe Philippine government is ex-ploring and harnessing all possiblealternative energy sources to reducethe country’s dependence on im-ported fossil fuel and to shift to theuse of renewable energy amid therise in oil prices and the ill effectsof global climate change. Notably,the country now has a Biofuels Lawthat calls for the use of environment-friendly blends of ethanol and bio-diesel in petrol and diesel.

President Ms. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is also enjoining congres-sional and community support tothe proposed Renewable EnergyResources Act – an Act promotingthe development, utilization and com-

mercialization of renewable energyresources and for other purposes– to help move the country towardsa high level of energy sufficiency.“Renewable energy is a big help inour Green Philippines programme,”the President said. The proposedlegislation aims to achieve energyself-reliance through the explora-tion, development and utilization ofrenewable energy resources thatinclude, but are not limited to, bio-mass, solar, wind, hydro, ocean andgeothermal energy sources or hy-brid systems.

President Ms. Arroyo has asked theinfluential Chamber of AutomotiveManufacturers of the Philippines Inc.(CAMPI) to support the new andrenewable energy programme ofthe government. She specificallyrequested CAMPI to lobby in theSenate for the Renewable Energybill which was passed last June bythe House of Representatives. Shealso called on CAMPI to providemore hybrid models and more vehi-cles using liquefied petroleum gas,compressed natural gas or biofuel.

Source: www.pia.gov.ph

Wind powerpotential in IndiaThe wind power potential in India is45,000 MW, while the present pro-duction is 8,760 MW. The Ministryof New and Renewable Energy hasdecided the target for the 11th planat 10,500 MW. It has initiated new“Generation-Based Initiative (GBI)”scheme for wind power generation.The objective of the scheme is toattract new and large independentpower producers to the wind sector.The GBI would be paid only to gridinteractive plants of 5 MW capacityor more. The rate of GBI will be Rs0.50 per unit of electricity and willbe paid for a period of 10 years.

Source: www.pib.nic.in


Solar energy storagebreakthroughIn the United States, researchersat the Massachusetts Institute ofTechnology (MIT) have reported abreakthrough in solar energy stor-age, inspired by photosynthesisand using a catalyst made up ofcobalt metal. Prof. Daniel Nocerahas developed a process that useselectricity generated from the sunor other renewable sources to splitwater into hydrogen and oxygenusing abundant, non-toxic naturalmaterials. The gases can then bestored and reintroduced into a fuelcell to produce electricity.

The key to this process hinges ona catalyst made up of cobalt metaland phosphate that is attached toan electrode placed in water. Byrunning solar energy through theelectrode, the catalyst producesoxygen. Another catalyst like plati-num can make hydrogen from water.The work will now focus on integra-ting this technology into existingintermittent renewable energy sys-tems. The project is part of MIT’sSolar Revolution, an initiative withthe goal of making large-scale de-ployment of solar energy a realitywithin a decade.

Source: www.earth2tech.com

Low-costsolar cell technologyIBM and Tokyo Ohka Kogyo (TOK),Japan, are collaborating to estab-lish low-cost methods for bringingthe next generation of solar energyproducts to market – products thatwill be more affordable and easierto install than those currently avail-able. Specifically, the companieshave agreed to jointly develop pro-cesses, materials and equipmentfor the production of copper-indium-gallium-selenide (CIGS) solar cellmodules. At present, the relativelyhigh cost of electricity produced bysolar cells compared with electri-city from other energy sources isan inhibitor to widespread adoptionof solar energy.

IBM research has developed new,non-vacuum, solution-based manu-facturing processes for CIGS solarcells, and is targeting efficienciesaround 15 per cent and higher. Atpresent, thin-film product efficien-cies are 6-12 per cent. CombiningIBM’s technology with the provencoating technique and high-puritychemicals of TOK has the potentialto bring the large-scale productionof thin-film solar cells to market.

Thin-film CIGS solar cells can be100 times thinner than silicon wafercells, can be deposited on cheapglass substrates and thus, havecorrespondingly lower cost. Thin-film solar cells also have the advan-tage in that they can be arrangedon a flexible backing, suitable for thetops and sides of buildings, tintedwindows and other surfaces. Solu-tion processing allows printing onto rolled backing of a flexible mod-ule or a glass plate, eliminating manyof the high-energy and equipment-intensive processes that are typicalin conventional manufacturing ofphotovoltaics.

Source: www.dataweek.co.za

Flexible nanoantennaarrays to capturesolar energyIn the United States, researchers atthe Department of Energy’s IdahoNational Laboratory (INL) have dev-eloped a cheaper way to produceplastic sheets containing billionsof nanoantennas that collect heatenergy generated by the sun andother sources. The new technologyis hailed as the first step towardsa solar energy collector that couldbe mass-produced on flexible mate-rials.

While methods to convert the ener-gy into usable electricity still needto be developed, the sheets couldone day be manufactured as light-weight “skins” to power everythingfrom hybrid cars to iPods with high-er efficiency than traditional solarcells. The nanoantennas could alsobe employed as cooling devices thatdraw waste heat from buildings orelectronic equipment without usingelectricity. The research team wasled by Mr. Steven Novack, an INLphysicist.

The nanoantennas target mid-rangeinfrared (IR) rays that the Earth ra-diates continuously as heat afterabsorbing solar energy during theday. In contrast, traditional solarcells can only use visible light, ren-dering them useless after dark. Thenanoantennas are gold squares orspirals set in a specially treatedform of polyethylene.

The researchers found that with theright materials, shape and size,nanoantennas could harvest up to92 per cent of the energy at IR wave-lengths. Real-life prototypes werethen built using conventional pro-duction methods to etch a siliconwafer with the nanoantenna pattern.The nanoantennas absorbed morethan 80 per cent of the energy overthe intended wavelength range. A

SOLAR ENERGY

Prof. Daniel Nocera at work in hislaboratary


stamp-and-repeat process was thenused to emboss the nanoantennason thin sheets of plastic. Initial re-sults suggest that it also capturesenergy at the IR wavelengths. Theability of nanoantennas’ to absorbIR radiation makes them promisingcooling devices. As objects give offheat as IR rays, the nanoantennascan collect those rays and re-emitat harmless wavelengths. Such asystem could cool down buildingsand computers without the externalpower source required by fans andair-conditioners. However, furthertechnological advances are neededbefore the nanoantennas can fun-nel the energy into usable electricity.

Source: www.innovations-report.com

Best-yet dye-basedsolar cellsA research group has created a dye-based solar cell with high efficiencyand high stability. The group of re-searchers, from China’s ChangchunInstitute of Applied Chemistry andthe Swiss Federal Institute of Tech-nology, developed the dye-basedsolar cell without employing volatilechemicals that are normally foundin similar cells.

According to Mr. Peng Wang, thestudy’s corresponding scientist,the type of organic solar cell pro-duced by the group contains threekey parts. Two components are asemiconductor – such as silicon– and an electrolytic liquid – a con-ducting solution commonly formedby dissolving a salt in a solvent. Thesemiconductor and electrolyte workin tandem to split the closely boundelectron-hole pairs, called excitons,produced when sunlight hits the cell.The third part is a photosensitivedye, the source of these charge-carrying excitons. A nanomaterialis also often used to hold the dyemolecules in place like a scaffold.

The highest efficiency solar cell evermade is dye-sensitized, having anefficiency of 11 per cent, comparedwith 8.2 per cent achieved by theChina-Switzerland team. However,the high-efficiency dye-sensitizedcells contain volatile solvents intheir electrolytes that can permeateacross plastic, and also presentproblems for sealing the cells. Suchcells are therefore unattractive foroutdoor use due to potential envi-ronmental hazards.

Source: www.physorg.com

Flexible CIGS withhigher energyconversion efficiency

In Japan, researchers have devel-oped a technique for dramaticallyimproving the energy conversionefficiency of flexible photovoltaic(PV) cells that use copper-indium-gallium-selenide (CIGS). Using thistechnique, high-performance PVcells with a variety of flexible sub-strates – such as ceramics, metalfoils and polymers – can be fabri-cated. The technique was developedby Mr. Shigeru Niki and Mr. ShogoIshizuka from the Research Centrefor Photovoltaics, National Instituteof Advanced Industrial Science andTechnology (AIST), in cooperationwith Teijin Limited.

The thickness of the photoelectricconversion layer in solar cells thatuse CIGS can be reduced to sev-eral microns. Owing to this feature,lightweight and flexible PV cells that

can be installed on a curved surfaceand portable PV cells can be pro-duced. So far, it has been difficult todevelop high-performance flexibleCIGS PV cells. The development ofalkali-silicate glass thin layer tech-nique – a new controlled alkalineaddition technique and a new poly-mer substrate handling technology– have now dramatically improvedthe energy conversion efficiency ofthe flexible CIGS PV cells.

In the new technique, first a silicateglass layer is formed on the sub-strate. Then, by adjusting the filmformation conditions of this silicateglass layer, the quantity of alkalimetal that passes via the backsideelectrode layer and diffuses into thelight absorbing layer is controlled.The method therefore increases thereproducibility of adding the alkalimetal, significantly improving theconversion efficiency of PV cells.AIST has tested three substrates– ceramic, transparent plastic filmand titanium foil with a coarse sur-face. The conversion efficienciesachieved were 17.7 per cent for theceramic substrate, 14.7 per cent forthe plastic film and 17.4 per centfor the titanium foil: some of thehighest for a CIGS solar cell on aflexible metal substrate.

Sources: www.aist.go.jp &www.semiconductor-today.com

New paradigmfor solar cellsWakonda Technologies Inc., theUnited States, is developing an in-expensive material that is claimedto enable the production of high-performance solar cells. Photovol-taic cells developed for satellitesexceed 30 per cent efficiency – wellabove the efficiency of commerci-ally available silicon and thin-filmcells. However, these cells are verycostly, as they are produced on ex-pensive single-crystal wafers made

Solar Energy

CIGS cell with ceramic substrate


from III-V compounds like galliumarsenide. Wakonda’s proprietarytechnology and process enable alow-cost, commercial material tosimulate the costly single crystal III-V wafer. The result is a new para-digm in solar cell manufacture thatcould translate into significant costefficiencies for almost all photovol-taic market applications.

According to Mr. L. Marty Murphyat the National Renewable EnergyLaboratory, the low manufacturingcosts and high efficiencies of theapproach “could be a step-changefor the solar industry”. Wakondahas been developing its technologyin conjunction with the RochesterInstitute of Technology, the CornellUniversity and the NASA Glenn Re-search Centre. Contact: WakondaTechnologies Inc., 2A Gill StreetWoburn, Massachusetts, UnitedStates of America. Tel: +1 (781)460 2200; Fax: +1 (781) 460 2222;E-mail: [email protected].

Source: www.marketwatch.com

Organic dye letswindow panesharvest the SunAn exotic organic dye developed inthe United States reportedly facili-tates easier harvesting of sunlightbefore converting it into electricity.Coated onto an ordinary sheet ofglass, the dye traps light inside theglass allowing it to be channelledto photovoltaic cells (PV) placedalong the edges of the sheet. Thistechnique could turn up to 20 percent of incident light into electricityat a fraction of the cost of conven-tional PV cells.

The dye molecules, developed bya team headed by Mr. Marc Baldo,an electrical engineer at Massa-chusetts Institute of Technology,absorb sunlight over a wide rangeof visible wavelengths and then emit

light at a longer wavelength. About80 per cent of the emitted light thenbecomes trapped within the glassby “total internal reflection”, whichguides the light within the sheet inthe same way it is guided throughoptical fibres. Solar cells along theedges of the glass that are design-ed to work most efficiently at thelonger wavelength then convert thistrapped light into electricity.

To reduce absorption, the team useddyes that absorb light only weakly.Furthermore, the team was able toincrease the range of light absor-bed by using two dyes in separatelayers. While the upper layer ab-sorbs shorter wavelength light, thelower layer absorbs longer wave-lengths. According to the team, thedyes can absorb light across thevisible spectrum and emit it at thelonger frequencies needed for op-timal conversion. The power con-version of the prototype would beabout 6.8 per cent efficient, aboutthe same as commercial siliconcells, team has calculated basedon experiments. The technique caneventually provide an efficiency ofmore than 20 per cent, Mr. Baldobelieves.

Source: www.technology.newscientist.com

Development ofCd-on-Si solar cellsIn the United States, Sunovia En-ergy Technologies Inc. and EPIRTechnologies Inc. have developednew solar cell materials that theybelieve will rival the performance ofthe most efficient existing multi-junction solar cells, but at muchlower cost. The firms aim to achievethis by combining cadmium tellu-ride (CdTe) and silicon (Si) in a multi-junction solar cell, which leveragesthe economies of scale and manu-facturing infrastructure associatedwith the materials.

While solar cell materials such asCdTe had shown promise, the lackof suitable low-cost substrates onwhich to deposit high-quality single-crystal thin films had, until now, rele-gated these very efficient materialsto polycrystalline films having low-efficiency on heavy glass substra-tes. In contrast to the efficiency ofabout 16 per cent attained under thebest conditions at different labora-tories for amorphous or polycrys-talline CdTe solar cells, calculationsfor single-crystal CdTe solar cellsby EPIR give an efficiency of 24 percent, using realistic assumptionsand numbers characteristic of CdTeof typical crystal quality for mate-rial grown on silicon employing high-throughput molecular beam epitaxy(MBE) deposition methods devel-oped by EPIR. The companies be-lieve these new results show thatEPIR’s CdTe/Si has the potentialto displace high-cost technologies.The results also indicate that tech-nologies based on EPIR’s MBE de-position technique could displaceexisting amorphous or polycrystal-line CdTe cells and Si cells.

Source: www.semiconductor-today.com

Solar Energy

Incentive for grid-connectedwind power projects

The Ministry of New & Renewa-ble Energy, Government of India,has initiated a Generation-basedIncentive scheme for grid connec-ted wind power projects. The GBIscheme will be applicable only forthose independent power produ-cers who have minimum installedcapacity of 5 MW.For more information, contact:

Mr. K.P. Sukumaran, Adviser,Ministry of New andRenewable Energy

Tel/Fax: (011) 2436 0359E-m: [email protected]

Web: http://mnre.gov.in


New vertical axiswind turbine

Tangarie Alternative Power of theUnited States has introduced theGreenpower Utility System (GUSTM)line of vertical axis wind turbines.The GUS wind turbines have designconsiderations that make them ver-satile and environmentally friendly.These turbines produce up to 50 percent more electricity on an annualbasis than a prop-type turbine ofequal swept area, generates elec-tricity in winds as low as 1.5 m/sand continues to generate power inwind speeds up to 60 m/s. Theycan survive extreme weather suchas frost, ice, sand and humidity.

GUS units require little to no main-tenance and weigh less than com-parable products. Key features ofthe GUS turbines are:

Low cut-in speed of 1.5-2 m/s(varies with size of unit);

Low maintenance (bearings thatdo not require lubrication);

Quite operation (produces virtu-ally no noise);

Aesthetically unobtrusive (blendsitself with architecture);

Do not collect and shed ice; andOptional colouring, logos or rotor

shape may be set to customer spe-cification.

Contact: Ms. Debe Besold, TangarieAlternative Power, P.O. Box 697,Flagtown, NJ 08821, United Statesof America. Tel: +1 (908) 3690 361;Fax: +1 (908) 3690 361; E-mail:[email protected].

Source: www.peswiki.com

“Anti-noise” silenceswind turbinesIn wind turbines, one source of noiseis the motion of the rotor blades,and another is the cogwheels thatproduce vibrations in the gearbox.These are relayed to the tower ofthe wind turbine, where they areemitted across a wide area. Damp-ing systems cancel out this noiseby creating counter vibrations. How-ever, the effectiveness of passivedamping systems used until nowis somewhat limited; they only ab-sorb noise at a certain frequency.Since modern wind energy conver-ters adapt their rotational speed tothe wind velocity to maximize theelectricity generated, however, thefrequency of the noise also varies.A research group led by Dr. AndreIllgen at the Fraunhofer Institute forMachine Tools and Forming Tech-nology (IWU), Dresden, Germany,has developed an alternative to theexpensive active damping systemused to eliminate the noise produ-ced in wind turbines.

In cooperation with Schirmer GmbHand ESM Energie- und Schwingung-stechnik Mitsch GmbH, the teamdeveloped an active damping sys-tem, which reacts autonomously toany change in frequency to dampenthe noise – regardless of how fastthe wind generator is turning, saysDr. Illgen. The key components ofthe system are piezo actuators thatconvert electricity into mechanicalmotion and produce “negative vibra-tions”, or a kind of anti-noise thatprecisely counters the vibrations ofthe wind turbine and cancels them

out. These actuators, mounted onthe gearbox bearings that connectthe gearbox to the pylon, adjust tothe noise frequencies with the helpof sensors integrated into the sys-tem. They constantly measure thevibrations arising in the gearbox andpass on the results to the actuatorcontrol system.

The team has already developed aworking model of the active vibra-tion dampers and the next step willbe to perform field trials. Contact:Dr. Andre Illgen, Fraunhofer-Institutfür Werkzeugmaschinen und Um-formtechnik, Nothnitzer Str. 44,01187 Dresden, Germany. Tel: +49(351) 4772 2332; Fax: +49 (351)4776 2332.

Source: www.fraunhofer.de

Low-costwind energyconversion systemHawaii Consulting Group, the UnitedStates, has developed a low-costwind energy conversion system thatis reported to reduce electricity gen-eration costs from US$0.06/kWh toUS$0.034/kWh – well below mostconventional wholesale electricalgeneration costs. HeliWind replacesthe blades and tower of a conven-tional wind turbine with a lighter-than-air helical balloon and lowersthe generator to the ground. Thebuoyant fluid can be hot air, helium,hydrogen or a combination of thesegases.

Compared with conventional windturbines, the major advantage ofHeliWind is that a balloon is moreeconomical than blades, a tower andcaisson foundation. Another advan-tage is that it is easier to install,service and maintain a wind systemwith the generator (genset) on theground rather than 150 ft in the air.Finally, the HeliWind is silent, andeliminates bird and bat kills. The

WIND ENERGY

A GUS vertical axis wind turbine


main disadvantages are the fragileballoon envelope, intermittent ener-gy supply and its ugliness.

Many HeliWind configurations willbe developed to optimize energy pro-duction over a wide range of envi-ronmental conditions. Two ballooncross-sections are being tested –the sausage (easier to build) andthe ribbon (easier to fly). A gimbaledsupport frame allows the balloon torotate 360º into a downwind posi-tion and tilt into a stable positionthat aligns with the balloon’s lift anddrag. Its free rotation delivers tor-que to a power unit (in most casesan electrical generator). Contact: Mr.Geoffrey Goeggel, Hawaii Consult-ing Group, 98-711 Iho Place #3-903, Aiea, HI 96701 2500, UnitedStates of America. Tel: +1 (808) 4691 523; Fax: +1 (808) 4868 522; E-mail: [email protected].


Vertical axisTesla wind turbineTesnic Inc., Canada, offers a windturbine based on the principles ofthe Tesla turbine, extracting windpower through adhesion, in additionto the classic drag and lift extrac-tion. This enables the Tesnic tur-bine to achieve very high efficiency,with the cost of electricity producedbelow the utility price.

The vertical axis wind turbine com-prises a rotor assembly having morethan 200 disks stacked one on topof each other with a 2 mm gap bet-ween them. The rotor also includeson the circumference of the stack-ed disks a plurality of twisted airfoilblades to redirect the air flow tan-gentially onto the disks surface. Astator assembly around the rotorboosts wind capture and neutralizesrotor turbulences.

The Tesnic turbine can operate withthe same efficiency in turbulences,

as the vanes disposition shields therotor. The turbine is very lightweight(a 3.6 kW turbine weighs less than150 kg) and can be mounted on roof-top. Contact: Tesnic Inc., 101 Ave.Lavoisier, Laval, Qubec, H7N 3J3,Canada. Tel: +1 (514) 8801 845; E-mail: [email protected].


New high-windpower technologyIn the United States, an aircraft de-signer named Mr. Bill Montagne hasengineered a technology to producea new type of high-wind generator.The technology developed by Mr.Montagne allows generators to pro-duce more energy at less cost. Inaddition, this technology can gen-erate electricity at high speeds. Itis claimed that the technology willrecover costs faster than most windgenerators, and that it would costjust about 25-33 per cent of the cur-rent commercial systems.

Mr. Montagne has developed a setof guidelines for his generator tech-nology based on the limitations ofexisting technologies. The conceptis a power generator that employsa specially designed propeller thatquietly steals the natural energy ofthe wind. Using a formula for a windturbine to make power that goes upwith the square of the wind velocity,the Montagne technology is said tocut power costs to one-quarter ofthe cost in 40 mph blows than in20 mph winds. However, the num-bers are yet to be proven.

Source: www.alaskajournal.com

New wind systemsBroadStar Wind Systems in theUnited States offers new wind sys-tems that are nearly 30 per centsmaller than conventional turbines.The AeroCam wind turbines featurebreakthrough turbine technology

that easily adapts to changes inwind direction as well as extremesof wind speed. Thus, the AeroCamcan easily handle highly turbulentenvironments that are problematicfor conventional horizontal axis windturbines. With capacities rangingfrom 10 kW to 500 kW, the new sys-tems can operate at wind speedsfrom 4 mph to 80 mph.

The design is based on Darrieusturbine. However, while the Darrieusmachines typically have vertical axis,the AeroCam design has horizontalaxis with multiple blades, giving itthe appearance of a water wheel.According to BroadStar, a major in-novation in the design is the abilityto automatically and interactivelyadjust the pitch of the aerodynamicblades as the turbine rotates, there-by optimizing its performance. Keybenefits of the new systems are:

20 per cent or more power thanconventional fixed blade designs;

Very wide operating range (~4-80 mph);

Can be deployed where conven-tional turbines cannot be; and

Slow rotation speed.

The scalability and ease of instal-lation enables these systems to bebrought closer to the point of use.Because the turbine does not spinmuch faster than the wind speed,bird casualties are expected to beless than with traditional horizontalaxis wind systems.

Beta models of the turbine will begindeployment in November 2008, whilecommercial installations for build-ings are expected to commence inMarch 2009. Contact: BroadStarWind Systems, 1323 North Stem-mons, Dallas, Texas 75207, UnitedStates of America. Tel: +1 (214) 4688 811; Fax: +1 (214) 4688 822; E-mail: [email protected].


Wind Energy


WAVE/TIDAL ENERGY

Simple converter forenergy from waves

Simulation of an Anaconda deviceanchored on the seabed

At the University of Southampton,the United Kingdom, engineers areembarking on a programme of large-scale laboratory experiments andmathematical studies to try to ad-vance the development of a simplewave energy converter concept thatpromises wave-generated electri-city at lower cost. The device, calledthe Anaconda, is a large distensiblerubber tube that is closed at bothends and filled with water. It is de-signed to be anchored just belowthe sea-surface, with one end facingthe oncoming waves.

A wave hitting the end squeezes itand causes a bulge wave to forminside the tube. A bulge wave is awave of pressure produced when afluid oscillates forwards and back-wards inside a distensible tube. Thebulge wave travels at a speed thatis determined by the geometry andmaterial properties of the tube. In-side the tube, the bulge waves areaccompanied by a periodically re-versing flow. One way of extractingpower from the Anaconda is to usea pair of duck-bill valves to convertthis into a rectified flow past a tur-bine between reservoirs of high andlow pressure. Power thus producedis then transmitted to shore via anelectric cable.

The Anaconda is the invention of Mr.Francis Farley (an experimental phy-sicist) and Mr. Rod Rainey (of AtkinsOil and Gas). It is much lighter thanother wave energy devices becauseit is made of rubber, and dispenseswith the need for hydraulic rams,hinges and articulated joints. Thisreduces capital and maintenancecosts and scope for breakdowns.The concept has only been provenat very small laboratory-scale, soquestions about its potential per-formance need to be answered. TheUniversity of Southampton experi-ments will assess the Anaconda’sbehaviour in regular, irregular andextreme waves, using tubes withdiameters of 0.25 m and 0.5 m.

When built on full scale, the Ana-conda device would be 200 m longand 7 m in diameter, and deployedin water depths of between 40 and100 m. Initial assessments indicatethat the Anaconda would be ratedat a power output of 1 MW and beable to generate power at a cost ofUS$0.12 per kWh or less. Althougharound twice as much as the costof electricity generated from tradi-tional coal-fired power stations, thiscompares very favourably with gen-eration costs for other leading waveenergy concepts.


Power and freshwater from oceanCETO technology, from CarnegieCorporation Ltd. in Australia, deli-vers zero-emission power and freshwater from the energy of ocean’swaves. Unlike other wave energysystems currently under develop-ment around the world, the CETOwave power converter is claimed tobe the first unit to be fully submergedand to produce high-pressure sea-water from the power of waves. Theunits are permanently anchored tothe sea floor, meaning that they are

out of sight and are safe from theextreme forces that can be presentduring storms. They are self-tuningto tide, sea state and wave pattern,making them able to perform in awide variety of wave heights and inany direction.

By delivering high pressure seawaterashore, the technology allows eitherzero-emission electricity to be pro-duced (similar to hydroelectricity)or zero-emission freshwater (usingstandard reverse osmosis desali-nation technology). It also meansthat there is no need for underseagrids or high voltage transmissionor costly marine-qualified plants.

Other advantages of CETO include:

The units are designed to workin harmony with the waves ratherthan attempting to resist them. Thismeans there is no need for mas-sive steel and concrete structuresto be built.

The wave farms operate in waterdeeper than 15 m in areas wherethere are no breaking waves.

CETO units attract marine life.It is the only wave energy tech-

nology that produces fresh waterdirectly from seawater by magnify-ing the pressure variations in oceanwaves.

Contains no oils, lubricants, oroffshore electrical components. Itis built using components with aknown sub-sea life of over 30 years.

The ratio of electricity genera-tion to fresh water production canbe quickly varied from 100 to 0 percent, allowing for rapid variations inpower demand.

CETO uses identical units eachof which can be mass produced.

Contact: Carnegie Corp. Ltd., P.O.Box 1902, West Perth, WA 6872,Australia. Tel: +61 (8) 9486 4466;Fax: +61 (8) 9486 4266.

Source: www.ceto.com.au


Breakthrough forSOFC-based powersystemsTwo technologies developed underthe United States Department ofEnergy’s Solid State Energy Con-version Alliance (SECA) fuel cellprogramme have passed successfulproof-of-concept tests by the NavalUndersea Warfare Centre Division.The tests mark a breakthrough forsolid oxide fuel cell (SOFC)-basedpower systems and underline thepotential of SOFC technology forother spin-off market applicationsas well. The proof-of-concept testscovered SOFC stacks from DelphiCorporation and a special blowerfrom R&D Dynamics. The blowertested was successful in recyclinghigh-temperature fuel exhaust flowsback to the fuel reformer. The proof-of-concept system met the Navy’sparameters for system size, poweroutput and efficiency.

SECA fuel cells operate by separa-ting and transferring oxygen acrossa solid electrolyte membrane, whereit reacts with a fuel – such as syn-thesis gas from coal, natural gasor biofuels – to produce steam andcarbon dioxide (CO2). Condensingthe steam results in a pure streamof CO2 gas that can be readily cap-tured for storage or ready use in acentral location. This feature andthe fact that fuel cell efficiency doesnot depend on high temperaturesensure near-zero emissions at equi-valent or reduced cost of electricitycompared with today’s power gen-eration.

Source: www.fuelcellsworks.com

Fuel cell advancecould lower costA superlattice electrolyte with fargreater conductivity could signifi-cantly improve fuel cell efficiency

while cutting down costs, as com-pared with current solid oxide fuelcells (SOFCs). Researchers fromSpain’s Universidad Complutenseand Universidad Politecnica reportthat their superlattice electrolyteachieves almost 100 million timesgreater ionic conductivity than con-ventional fuel cell components. Theoperating temperature required forSOFCs is more than 538°C, but thenew superlattice electrolyte designoffers not only greater permeability– for greater fuel cell efficiency – butalso operate near room tempera-ture, thereby eliminating the “warm-up” delay usually associated withSOFCs.

Fuel cells based on the new super-lattice electrolyte are being toutedas much more efficient and cheapfor use in automobiles. Ms. MariaVarela of the Materials Science andtechnology division of Oak RidgeNational Laboratory in the UnitedStates, which characterized the newsuperlattice electrolyte, says: “Ourdirect images show the crystal struc-ture that accounts for the material’sconductivity. We can actually seethe strained, yet ordered, interfacestructure and how it opens up muchwider pathway for the ions.” The widegaps that allow oxygen ions to passwithout having to be handed fromatom to atom accounts for the hugeincrease in ionic conductivity nearroom temperature. The new materialuses alternating layers of zirconi-um oxide and titanium-strontiumoxide, which have mismatched crys-talline lattices that account for themembrane’s greater permeability foroxygen ions.

Source: www.eetindia.co.in

New high powerfuel cell stackNissan, Japan, has developed a newfuel cell stack that doubles the powerdensity of its previous technology.

FUEL CELLS

New conducting polymer cathode

New cathode hopefor cheaper fuel cells

A new cathode built by researchersfrom the Australian Centre of Excel-lence for Electromaterials Scienceat Monash University could pave theway for a much cheaper fuel cell.Cathode in conventional fuel cellscontains expensive platinum nano-particles. Prof. Maria Forsyth, whocontributed to the development ofthe new cathode, says the amountof platinum needed for a passengercar would make up the major costof a fuel cell. Besides, the nanoparti-cles can lose their effectiveness byclumping together or by being cor-rupted by carbon monoxide.

Prof. Forsyth’s team developed anew cathode using an electricityconducting polymer called poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) or PEDOT.The cathode material for a green carcan be made more easily and willcost very less, while producing thesame amount of electricity per unitarea as the platinum cathode. Fur-thermore, the new cathode is muchmore stable than the platinum oneand immune from being affected bycarbon monoxide. The researchersare confident the cathode could beused in zinc air batteries, which arebeing developed for storing energy incars. Patents are pending on thecathode.

Source: www.abc.net.au


Using half the platinum of previousdesigns, the fuel cell also achievesa 35 per cent cost reduction in itsproduction. Power in the stack hasbeen raised from 90 kW to 130 kW– enough to power a large vehicle.

Stack size has been reduced usinga more densely packed cell struc-ture to permit more flexibility. Thecarbon separator has been replacedwith a thin metal separator, whichbreaks down the hydrogen, oxygenand water necessary for a chemicalreaction. A coating applied to theseparator serves to improve con-ductivity and increase efficiencyand durability throughout the life ofthe fuel cell stack. Nissan has alsobeen able to reduce the amount ofplatinum used by half after using ahigher durability electrode.

Source: www.platinum.matthey.com

Fuel cell with zeoliteproton exchangemicro-membraneMr. Siu Ming Kwan and Mr. King LunYeung from the Hong Kong Univer-sity of Science & Technology havedeveloped an inorganic zeolite pro-ton exchange micro-membrane andassembled it into a workable microfuel cell. Mr. Yeung claims that thisis the first time that a nanoporouszeolite membrane has been usedas a proton exchange membrane forhydrogen fuel cells. The researchersdiscovered that the HZSM-5 micro-membrane achieved performanceon a par with a commercial mem-brane, Nafion 117. They believe their

work shows remarkable progress ininorganic proton conducting mem-branes as sufficient proton conduc-tivity is currently only achieved atsignificantly higher temperatures.The zeolite micro-membrane couldoffer greater avenues for designingmore efficient micro fuel cells eitherbased on hydrogen or liquid hydro-carbon fuels, predicts Mr. Yeung.


Energy-efficient cellIn Japan, the Energy and Environ-mental Systems Laboratories ofNippon Telegraph and TelephoneCorp. (NTT) has developed a solidoxide fuel cell (SOFC) that is bothhighly energy-efficient and durable.By improving the cell structure andthe way unspent gas fuel is recov-ered and reused, NTT has built a1 kW class unit from a stack of 50cells that generates power with anenergy efficiency of 54 per cent andcan operate for 1,000 h. A smaller30-cells stack can operate with thesame energy efficiency for 3,500 h.

Typical SOFCs with around 55 percent efficiency last for only severalhundred hours. Through connectingcells serially to boost durability, thesystem can operate for tens of thou-sands of hours, but with an energyefficiency of about 20-30 per cent.NTT used a lanthanum-nickel-ironoxide compound for air electrode toimprove overall performance. Thisdurable material permitted NTT tofashion the cells in large diametersof 12 cm, which is not possible withbrittle zirconia material. A tube in-serted inside the cell recovers fuelgas to further boost efficiency. If theamount of fuel used in power gen-eration can be raised to about 80per cent, it would lift the fuel cell’senergy efficiency well above 60 percent. NTT will continue working toimprove the cell.


Carbon electrodecatalyst for fuel cellsIn Japan, Nisshinbo Industries Inc.has worked with the Tokyo Instituteof Technology to develop a technol-ogy that uses carbon instead of ex-pensive platinum as the electrodecatalyst for fuel cells. The commer-cialization of the new catalyst isexpected to start in fiscal 2009 witha product for the electrodes of fuelcells for home use.

The carbon catalyst promises to re-move the cost barrier, which alongwith the needed infrastructure forhydrogen filling stations is a majorroadblock to the adoption of fuelcells for homes and cars. The newcatalyst is made from nanospheresof carbon. For a fuel cell catalyst,10 times more carbon is requiredthan platinum; but even then, thecost is just one-tenth that of usingplatinum.


Hydrogen-poweredfuel cell mopedsShanghai Pearl Hydrogen PowerResource Technology Co., China,has started exporting the nation’sfirst hydrogen-powered fuel cell mo-peds. The fuel cell e-bikes have ahydrogen container under the seatthat is used to generate electricityfor powering the bike. The fuel cellmoped can cover a distance of 70-80 km on 50 g of hydrogen aftertaking 20 minutes for one charge,costing US$0.29. A normal lead-acid e-bike usually rides 30 km andneeds 4-6 h to charge the batterycompletely. The company has in-vested US$294,118 in developingthe fuel cell e-bikes and has al-ready applied 20 patents, includingthree registered on the overseasmarkets.


Nissan’s next generation fuel stack

Fuel Cells


Scientists replicatephotosynthesis stepto split waterAn international team of scientistsled by Prof. Leone Spiccia of theMonash University, Australia, hasused chemicals found in plants toreplicate a key process in photo-synthesis, thereby paving the wayto a new approach that uses sun-light to split water into hydrogen andoxygen. This breakthrough couldrevolutionize the renewable energyindustry by making hydrogen – theclean and green fuel of the future –cheaper and easier to produce ona commercial scale.

The research team – which includedscientists also from CSIRO of Aus-tralia and Princeton University, theUnited States – developed a systemconsisting of a coating that can beimpregnated with a form of manga-nese, a chemical that is crucial tosustaining photosynthesis in plantlife. Prof. Spiccia states, “A manga-nese cluster is central to a plant’sability to use water, carbon dioxideand sunlight to make carbohydratesand oxygen. Human-made mimicsof this cluster were developed byProf. Charles Dismukes some timeago and we have taken it a step fur-ther, harnessing the ability of thesemolecules to convert water into itscomponent elements, oxygen andhydrogen.”

The breakthrough came when theresearchers coated a proton con-ductor, called Nafion, onto an anodeto form a polymer membrane, whichis just a few micrometres thick andacts as a host for the manganeseclusters. When the research teambound the catalyst, normally insolu-ble in water, within the pores of theNafion membrane, it was stabilizedagainst decomposition and watercould reach the catalyst where it isoxidized on exposure to light. This

process of oxidizing water genera-tes protons and electrons, whichcan be converted into hydrogen gas.Contact: Dr. Leone Spiccia, Schoolof Chemistry, Box 23, Victoria 3800,Monash University, Australia. Tel:+61 (3) 9905 4526; Fax: +61 (3) 9905 4597; E-mail: Leone [email protected].

Source: www.eurekalert.org

Producing hydrogenfrom biofuelsIn the United States, researchersat Ohio State University have founda way to convert ethanol and otherbiofuels into hydrogen very effici-ently. A newly developed catalystmakes hydrogen from ethanol with90 per cent yield, using inexpen-sive ingredients and at a workabletemperature. Dr. Umit Ozkan, a pro-fessor of chemical and biomolecularengineering, said that the new cata-lyst is less expensive than othersbeing developed around the worldbecause it does not contain anyprecious metals, such as platinumor rhodium. Further, the catalyst iseasier to make and use comparedwith others currently under investi-gation worldwide: catalysts madefrom precious metals often work onlyat very high temperatures.

Prof. Ozkan states, “Our researchlends itself to what is called a distri-buted production strategy. Insteadof making hydrogen from biofuel ata centralized facility and transport-ing it to gas stations, we could useour catalyst inside reactors that areactually located at gas stations. Sowe would not have to transport orstore the hydrogen – we could storethe biofuel and make hydrogen onthe spot.” The new catalyst, a darkgrey powder, is made from tiny gra-nules of cerium oxide – a commoningredient in ceramics – and cal-cium, covered with even smallercobalt particles. It produces hydro-

gen with 90 per cent efficiency ataround 350ºC – a low temperatureby industrial standards.

The process begins with a liquidbiofuel such as ethanol, which isheated and pumped into a reactor,where the catalyst spurs a seriesof chemical reactions that ultimate-ly convert the liquid to a hydrogen-rich gas. A major challenge that theresearchers faced was how to pre-vent coking, the formation of carbonfragments on catalyst surface. Thecombination of metals – cerium andcalcium – solved that problem bypromoting the movement of oxygenions inside the catalyst. When ex-posed to enough oxygen, the car-bon gets oxidized and is convertedinto carbon dioxide. At the end ofthe process, waste gases removedand the hydrogen gas is purified. Tomake the technology more energy-efficient, heat exchangers capturewaste heat and put it back into thereactor. Methane recovered in theprocess can be used to supply partof the energy.

Source: www.newswise.com

Bacterial processfor hydrogenfrom food wasteIn the United Kingdom, scientistshave combined the efforts of twokinds of bacteria to produce hydro-gen in a bioreactor, with the productfrom one providing food for the other.This technology has a bonus – left-over enzymes can help scavengeprecious metals from spent automo-tive catalysts to make fuel cells thatconvert hydrogen into energy.

“There are special and yet prevalentcircumstances under which micro-organisms have no better way ofgaining energy than to release hy-drogen into their environment,” saysDr. Mark Redwood from the Univer-sity of Birmingham. “Microbes such

HYDROGEN ENERGY


as heterotrophs, cyanobacteria, mi-croalgae and purple bacteria allproduce biohydrogen in differentways,” he adds. When there is nooxygen, fermentative bacteria usecarbohydrates such as sugar to pro-duce hydrogen and acids. Otherslike purple bacteria use light to pro-duce energy (photosynthesis) andmake hydrogen to help them breakdown molecules such as acids. Asthe purple bacteria can use the acidsproduced by the fermentation bac-teria, the two reactions fit together.

Prof. Lynne Macaskie’s FunctionalBionanomaterials Unit at the Uni-versity has created two bioreactorsthat provide the ideal conditions forthese two types of bacteria to pro-duce hydrogen. With a more advan-ced pre-treatment, bio-hydrogen caneven be produced from the wastefrom food crop cultivation, such ascorn stalks and husks. The Univer-sity has teamed up with ModernWaste Ltd. and EKB TechnologyLtd. to form Biowaste2energy Ltd.,which will develop and commercial-ize this waste-to-energy technology.

Source: www.physorg.com

Hydrogen generationwithout the carbonfootprintA greener, less expensive methodto produce hydrogen for fuel mayeventually be possible with the helpof water, solar energy and nanotubediodes that use the entire spectrumof the Sun’s energy, according toresearchers at Penn State Univer-sity, the United States. The processdeveloped by Prof. Craig A. Grimesand his team splits water into itstwo components – hydrogen andoxygen – and collects the productsseparately using commonly availa-ble titanium and copper.

Splitting water for hydrogen produc-tion is an old and proven method,

but in its conventional form it needselectricity. Although photolysis ofwater or solar splitting of water hasalso been explored, it is not yet acommercial method. Prof. Grimesand his team produce hydrogen fromsolar energy, using two differentgroups of nanotubes in a photo-electrochemical diode. The teamreports that using incident sunlight,such photocorrosion-stable diodesgenerate a photocurrent of appro-ximately 0.25 mA/cm2, at 0.30 percent photoconversion efficiency.

In Prof. Grimes’ photoelectrochem-ical diode, one side is a nanotubearray of electron donor (n-type mate-rial), titanium dioxide, and the otheris a nanotube array that has holesthat accept electrons (p-type mate-rial), cuprous oxide-titanium dioxidemixture. While titanium dioxide isvery absorbing in the ultraviolet (UV)part of the solar spectrum, many p-type materials are unstable in sun-light and are damaged by UV light.To solve this problem, the researchteam made the titanium dioxide sideof the diode transparent to visiblelight by adding iron, and exposedthis side of the diode to sunlight.The titanium dioxide nanotubes soakup the UV light in the 300-400 nmrange. The light then passes to thecopper-titanium side of the diodewhere visible light from 400 nm to885 nm is used, covering the lightspectrum.


New process tolower hydrogen costsGlobal Hydrogen Inc., the UnitedStates, has introduced a new low-voltage, low-temperature and high-efficiency DC voltage electrolysisgenerator for producing hydrogeninexpensively. This system, whichemploys proprietary electrode andelectrolyte solution, produces 1 kgof hydrogen per 41.2 kWh with ap-

proximately 90 per cent efficiency.Comparable systems produce thesame amount of hydrogen utilizingaround 53.4 kWh.

The industry goal is to produce hy-drogen for less than US$3/kg, orabout US$0.06/kWh. Currently, themost efficient systems in use areproducing hydrogen at US$3.20/kg.Global Hydrogen’s system produ-ces hydrogen at US$2.47/kg, anddoes it efficiently on any power grid,including residential power grids.

Source: www.newswiretoday.com

Bacteria as afuel of the futureScientists at the University of Shef-field in the United Kingdom haveshown how bacteria could be usedas a future fuel. Using mathemati-cal computer models, the Sheffieldteam has mapped the metabolismof the cyanobacteria (blue-greenalgae) known as Nostoc. Nostocfixes nitrogen and, in doing so, re-leases hydrogen that can be usedas fuel. It was not entirely clear asto how Nostoc produces the ener-gy needed to perform nitrogen fixing,an energy-intensive process. Nowa new computer system has beenused to map out how this happens.

Dr. Guido Sanguinetti, from the De-partment of Computer Science, wholed the study, says that the researchuncovered a link between the energymachinery of the Nostoc bacteriumand its core nitrogen metabolism.Further investigation of this path-way might lead to understandingand improvement of the hydrogenproduction mechanism of the bac-terium. The next step will be furtherinvestigation into hydrogen produc-tion, as well as constructing moremathematical models capable ofintegrating various sources of bio-logical data.


Hydrogen Energy


Increasing ethanolyield from grassesand yard wasteIn the United States, University ofGeorgia researchers have develop-ed a new technology that promisesto dramatically increase the yieldof ethanol from readily available non-food crops such as Bermuda grass,switch grass, Napier grass or evenyard waste. “Optimizing the break-down of the plant fibres is critical tothe production of liquid transporta-tion fuel through fermentation,” saysProf. Joy Peterson, who developedthe new technology with Ms. SarahK. Brandon and Prof. Mark Eiteman.

The new technology features a fast,mild, acid-free pre-treatment pro-cess that increases by at least 10times the amount of simple sugarsreleased from inexpensive biomassfor conversion to ethanol. The tech-nology effectively eliminates the useof expensive and environmentallyunsafe chemicals currently used topre-treat biomass. The technologyis available for licensing from theUniversity of Georgia ResearchFoundation Inc., which has filed apatent application.

Source: www.sciencedaily.com

“Oil from algae” –climate-friendly fuelSapphire Energy, the United States,reports to have developed a liquidfuel from algae that is chemicallyidentical to crude oil but does notcontribute to climate change whenit is burned or, unlike other biofuels,needs agricultural land to produce.The single-celled plants are usedto produce a chemical mixture fromwhich the company extracts fuel.When burned, the fuel releases intothe air only the carbon dioxide ab-sorbed by the algae for its growth,making the process carbon neutral.

Sapphire Energy recently reachedits most significant milestone yet,refining high-octane petroleum fromthe green crude. “The resulting petro-leum is completely compatible withcurrent infrastructure, meaning ab-solutely no change to consumer’scars,” said a Sapphire spokesper-son. An added advantage is thatthis petroleum does not have conta-minants such as sulphur, nitrogenand benzene that are contained instandard crude oil. The companybelieves the cost of its fuels will becomparable to standard fossil fuelson the market.

According to Sapphire, with algaethere is no need to use valuableagricultural land to grow the basicresource. In fact, the process usesnon-arable land and non-potablewater and delivers 10-100 timesmore energy per acre than crop-land biofuels. Where the companydeparts from other algae venturesis that its goal is not to producestandard biofuels such as ethanolor biodiesel. Instead, it takes itsinspiration from the way crude oilwas created in the first place, mil-lions of years ago.

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Glycerol convertedto synthesis gasIn the United States, Florida SyngasLLC, has developed and patenteda technology that converts wasteglycerol produced during biodieselproduction into a clean burning syn-thesis gas. According to Mr. JohnSessa, Chief Operating Officer ofFlorida Syngas, the process invol-ves creating plasma out of glycerol.The plasma is not combusted, butis put through a process of partialoxidation; a catalyst is then added.

Mr. Sessa says the process is exo-thermic and creates extra heat thatis recovered and employed in sub-sequent processes. According toMr. Lawrence Bell, Vice President,marketing, the synthesis gas can beintegrated with a micro-turbine en-gine to create electricity. Mr. AlbinCzernichowski, who holds a docto-rate in plasma technology, createdthe process, which has been trade-marked as GlidArc. According to apresentation by Florida Syngas, theprocess is estimated to be 90 percent energy efficient.

Source: www.biodieselmagazine.com

BIOMASS ENERGY

Algae being grown in tubes at Sapphire Energy facility


Mutant yeast reducesneed for corn inethanol productionAt the Indiana University-PurdueUniversity Indianapolis (IUPUI), theUnited States, Prof. Mark Goebl, ayeast geneticist, is close to devel-oping a mutant yeast that wouldreduce or eliminate the need to usecorn in the production of ethanol.Production of biofuels from basicplant material, rather than corn andother crops, would address suchconcerns as making corn-basedethanol is pushing up food costs,says Prof. Goebl.

Prof. Goebl, whose work is part ofthe programmes at the Richard G.Lugar Centre for Renewable Energy,reports that the crux of the problemof employing basic plant materialto make ethanol involves how yeastdecides what it will eat. Yeast likescorn used to make ethanol. Cornkernels are ground well to producestarch, which is broken down intoglucose. Yeast is then used to fer-ment glucose into ethanol. Unlikecorn kernels, one-third of basic plantmaterial consists of compoundsthat produce pine resins for whichthere are many uses. One-third iscellulose, which can be convertedto glucose and used to make etha-nol. But one-third is another kindof sugar, xylose, from which yeastturns away.

Prof. Goebl has developed strainsof yeast that will use the xylose aswell as glucose. This means nearlydoubling the amount of ethanol onegets from the same volume of basicplant material. Another advantageof reducing or eliminating the needto use corn to make ethanol is thatthe rich agricultural land needed togrow corn is not needed to growbasic plant material.

Source: www.innovations-report.de

Nanotech derivesethanol from garbage

In the United States, a method ofmaking potentially cheap ethanolfuel out of garbage and other wastematerials by deploying a combina-tion of new and old technologies isunder development by governmentand university scientists. The pro-cess employs nanotechnology andgasification to convert organic ma-terials into synthesis gas (syngas),which in turn can then be made intoethanol.

“The great thing about using syn-gas to produce ethanol is that it ex-pands the kinds of materials thatcan be converted into fuels,” says Dr.Victor Lin, Director of the Chemicaland Biological Science Programmeat the Department of Energy’s AmesLaboratory. “You can use the wasteproduct from the distilling processor any number of other sources ofbiomass, such as switch grass orwood pulp. Basically, any carbon-based material can be convertedinto syngas.”

Ames researchers, working with col-leagues at Iowa State University,are employing gasification to makesyngas. Carbon-based feedstocksare subjected to high temperatureand pressure in oxygen-controlledatmosphere to get syngas, whichis composed mainly of hydrogenand carbon monoxide, along witha smaller amount of carbon dioxideand methane. Although there havebeen several attempts to convertsyngas into ethanol, most proces-

ses produced methane, aldehydesand a number of other undesirableproducts along with ethanol. Thefault lay with the catalysts used. Dr.Lin and his colleagues replacedtraditional catalysts with invisiblysmall nanoparticles of a metal alloy.“If we can increase the amount ofsurface area for the catalyst, wecan increase the amount of ethanolproduced,” Dr. Lin explains.

Source: www.ens-newswire.com

New catalyst forsmall-scale efficientbiofuel productionOxford Catalysts, a spin-off com-pany of the Oxford University in theUnited Kingdom, has developed anew cobalt-based catalyst that canenable small-scale efficient biofuelproduction from agricultural waste.

Because it takes 1 t of agriculturalwaste to produce a barrel of biofuel,it makes environmental and econo-mical sense to go for local conver-sion of waste. For such small-scale,locally distributed waste conver-sion, special micro-channel reactorsare ideal. This kind of waste con-version relies on a process calledthe Fischer-Tropsch reaction. Micro-reactors allow efficient and precisetemperature control, which is verycrucial for optimizing this process,and also dissipate the heat gener-ated by the reaction more efficientlythan more conventional systems.The new catalyst improves the per-formance of micro-channel reactors.Oxford Catalysts is currently work-ing with a developer to adopt thetechnology. Contact: Oxford Cata-lysts, 115e Milton Park, Oxford,OX14 4RZ, United Kingdom. Tel:+44 (1235) 841 700; Fax: +44 (1235)841 701; E-mail: [email protected].

Source: www.energyefficiencynews.com

Iowa State University’s Dr. Victor Lin

Biomass Energy


Renewable EnergyEngineering and Technology:A Knowledge CompendiumThis book covers major renewable energy resourcesand technologies for various applications. Conceivedas a standard reference tool for students, experts andpolicy makers, this handbook has been designed toaddress the needs of these diverse groups. Besidescovering the basics of scientific and engineering prin-ciples of thermal engineering, heat and mass transfer,fluid dynamics and renewable energy resource ass-essments, the book further deals with the basics ofapplied technologies and design practices for renew-able energy resources.

Production and Technologyof Biodiesel: Seeding a ChangeThe book is based on the work that TERI has beendoing in the field of biodiesel production from Jatropha.It covers the entire value chain involved in the pro-duction of biodiesel, right from the nursery stage forthe saplings to the production of biodiesel for use indiesel-powered engines. The user will get valuableinformation pertaining to the production of biodiesel,a process that requires inputs from various discipli-nes. It will be a very handy book for biotechnologists,productions engineers, entrepreneurs, policy makersand other professionals interested in biofuels.

For the above publications, contact: TERI Press,Darbari Seth Block, IHC Complex, Lodhi Road, NewDelhi 110 003, India. Tel: +91 (11) 2468 2100/2111;Fax: +91 (11) 2468 2144/2145; E-mail: [email protected].

Renewable Energy: SustainableEnergy Concepts for the FutureThis publication, written by well-known scientists inthe area who discuss the topic soberly and withoutideology, provides a contemporary overview on thiskey topic of the 21st century. The book is full-colourprinted with catchy and informative diagrams andinformation boxes. It offers a sound overview of pos-sibilities of environmental friendly techniques, energyconversion, storage and transportation.

Contact: Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, P.O.Box 10 11 61, 69451 Weinheim, Germany. Tel. +49(6201) 6060; Fax: +49 (6201) 606328; E-mail: [email protected].

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

04-08 Nov Energy Asia 2008Shanghai Contact: Hannover Fairs China.,China 301, B&Q Pudong Office Tower,

393 Yinxiao Road, Pudong,Shanghai 201204,China.Fax: +86 (21) 5045 9355;E-mail: [email protected];Website: www.energyasia.com.

25-28 Nov 3rd International Solar EnergySydney Society Conference, Asia PacificAustralia Contact: ICMS Pty. Ltd.,

3rd Floor, 379 Kent Street,Sydney, NSW 2000,Australia.Tel:+61 (2) 9290 3366;Fax:+61 (2) 9290 2444;E-mail: [email protected].

11-13 Dec Renewable Energy Asia 2008: AnNew Delhi International Conference &India 4th SEE Forum Meeting

Contact: Dr. Virendra Kumar Vijay,Coordinator, Centre for RuralDevelopment & Technology,Indian Institute of Technology,Hauz khas, New Delhi 10016,India.Tel: +91 (11) 2659 6351;Fax: +91 (11) 2659 1121;E-mail: [email protected];Website: web.iitd.ac.in/rea2008.

200919-23 Jan 18th International PhotovoltaicKolkata Science and EngineeringIndia Conference & Exhibition (PVSEC)

Contact: 18th InternationalPVSEC Organization Committee,Indian Association for theCultivation of Science,2A & 2B Raja S. C. Mullick Road,Jadavpur, Kolkata 700 032,India.Tel: +91 (33) 2473 6612;Fax: +91 (33) 2473 2805;E-mail: [email protected];Website: www.pvsec18.in.

25-27 Feb International Solar Energy Expo &Seoul ConferenceRep. of Korea Contact: Expo Solar Bureau,

3F Hwang-geum Building,253, Mapo-dong, Mapo-gu,Seoul 121-050,Republic of Korea.Tel: +82 (2) 719 6931;Fax: +82 (2) 715 8245;E-mail: [email protected];Website: www.exposolar.org.

TECH EVENTS


PUBLICATIONS from APCTTPERIODICALS(Free access at www.techmonitor.net)

Asia Pacific Tech Monitor (6 issues/year) (e-version only)

VATIS Update (6 issues/year) Biotechnology (e-version only) Non-conventional Energy (e-version only) Food Processing (e-version only) Ozone Layer Protection (e-version only) Waste Management (e-version only)

Indian Rupees* US Dollars*BOOKS (India, Bhutan

and Nepal)

Managing Innovation for the New Economy: Training Manual, 2002 1,000.00 50.00Volume 1: How to Guide & Quick reference materialsVolume 2: Articles & LecturesRegional Capacity-building for the Adoption of ISO-14000 and 600.00 30.00Transfer of Environmentally Sound Technology: Training Manual, 2000Small Rural Industries in the Asia Pacific Region: Enhancement of 600.00 30.00Competitiveness of Small Rural Industries in a Liberalized EconomicEnvironment and the Impact of Poverty Alleviation, 2000Technology Transfer and Technological Capacity-building in Asiaand the Pacific

Volume 1: Big Countries and Developed Economies, 1999 600.00 30.00 Volume 2: ASEAN, NIEs, SAARC and the Islamic Republic 600.00 30.00

of Iran, 1999 Volume 3: Least Developed and Pacific Island Countries and 600.00 30.00

Economies in Transition, 1999 Volume 4: Emerging Issues in Regional Technological Capability- 600.00 30.00

building and Technology Transfer, 1999Rural Industrialization as a Means of Poverty Alleviation: Report of 600.00 30.00the Regional Seminar on the Enhancement of Partnerships amongGovernmental, Non-governmental and Private Sector Entities for thePromotion of Rural Industrialization for Poverty Alleviation, 1999Institutional Development for Investment Promotion and Technology 500.00 25.00Transfer, 1999Ozone Depletion Substances Phase-out Technologies: Problems & 300.00 15.00Issues on Technology Transfer, Absorption and Generation, 1998Development and Utilization of S&T Indicators: Emerging Issues in 300.00 15.00Developing Countries of the ESCAP Region, 1998ODS Phase-out: A Guide for Industry, 1998 500.00 25.00Proceedings of the Consultative Meeting on Technology Management 800.00 40.00Education and Training for Developing Countries, 1997

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(2) Subscription through Credit Card should be supplemented with a photocopy of the Credit Card (front & back)* Amount to be sent to APCTT with the order for covering costs and handling charges.

Documents

VATIS UPDATE Non-conventional Energy