Archive for the ‘transportation’ Category
The case for biofuels in our energy mix
Saturday, February 4th, 2012Fossil fuels are an integral part of the global economy, and will be for many years. But that doesn’t mean we can’t continue to introduce alternatives into Canada’s energy mix or explore new, innovative fuel sources. One of the greatest hurdles we have to overcome isn’t technological or structural – it’s debunking myths and misperceptions about renewable fuels that prevent us as a society from seeing the benefits clearly.
Can solar power help shipping go green?
Sunday, January 29th, 2012Electricity created by the solar panels and stored in a battery powers the engine while the vessel comes in and out of the harbour. Once out in the open ocean and a faster clip is required, the diesel kicks in. One of the fleet, the Solar Albatross, sports two sails covered in solar panels that can be raised to harness both the sun and the wind to further reduce reliance on fossil fuel.
Here is an interesting take on solar and wind applications for the marine industry. Hopefully these concepts will work and allow ships to save 25-45% of the fossil fuel used. Learn more about this concept here. Can solar power help shipping go green?.
Swiss offers solar technology for Dubai
Thursday, January 26th, 2012Guy Wolfensberger, managing director of Swiss-based Grove Boats, said on Thursday that he would meet RTA officials during the Dubai Boat Show in March and discuss the proposal.
“We have a plan for the RTA to provide solar power technology for the abras. We can provide the technology to replace the diesel engines with the solar power. With the technology, the traditional image and looks of these boats will not be affected. The solar-powered boats will also help protect the Creek’s environment as there will be no diesel discharge and no engine sound,” he told Khaleej Times at the fifth World Future Energy Summit (WFES 2012), which ended on Thursday.
The solar boat is making waves in Dubai. Next place for this solution may be Vancouver. Read more here about the Swiss solar company in Dubai Swiss offers solar technology for Dubai
Surrey’s Move Toward Sustainable Future
Thursday, January 26th, 2012“Surrey will have a refuse and recycling fleet by 2014 powered … by a renewable form of natural gas [biomethane] made from the city’s own wastes.”
It is great to see that Surrey’s vision of going green is now being realized also in the waste handling and fuel generation area. Read more about it here.
Little penguins inspire teen activist – The Globe and Mail
Monday, January 16th, 2012Here is a great story on Antarctica and how a visit there, can inspire change in behaviour, that will lead us to becoming cleaner and greener.
The young woman explained the sensation on a satellite phone hours later, in the midst of a recent two-week journey exploring the Antarctic Peninsula with 58 other students and 30 adults as part of the Students on Ice annual expedition. It’s an experience designed to instill deep-seated connections among youth and the environment, while chewing over global warming on the continent that is home to 90 per cent of the world’s ice.
This young women is my daughter who recently went on an amazing trip to Antarctica with Students on Ice. It is wonderful to follow her journey and observe how her interest in the environment and climate change is growing every year.
Cambridge Crude: liquid electricity
Saturday, January 14th, 2012The battery uses a semi-solid flow cell design and stores electric energy as a liquid called Cambridge Crude a very thick electrolyte solution that contains a very large suspension of tiny lithium-ion particles. When the energy in the liquid is exhausted, all users have to do is head to a charging station to pump out the old liquid and pump in a new batch of fully charged liquid. This process is said to take as long as it would be to refill a car with gas, which eliminates the slow charging speed disadvantage of EVs.
Prelude FLNG – are floating energy facilities the next wave?
Wednesday, December 28th, 2011Here is an interesting and very large natural gas project that Shell is developing. A floating facility to generate LNG from a under water gas well.
The floating facility will chill natural gas produced at the field to –162°C, shrinking its volume by 600 times so it can be shipped to customers in other parts of the world. Ocean-going carriers will load the LNG as well as other liquid by-products (condensate and LPG) for delivery to market.
The Prelude FLNG facility will be 488m long, 74m wide and will displace around 600,000 tonnes of water. It will be the largest floating offshore facility in the world.
Hybrid Power System for Ferry
Sunday, December 25th, 2011The vessel design and power configuration additionally realizes 19-24% savings of power input to the propulsion units over a conventional diesel mechanical solution. When in port, the ships will completely switch off the propulsion and switch to batteries and ultimately shore connection, which will result in significant cost savings and further reduction of the carbon footprint. Next to a substantial reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, noise levels will also be reduced. The ferries will charge overnight and in the future the CMAL aims to use energy from wind, wave or solar systems for charging the batteries, making the vessels even more environmentally friendly.
PICS CLIMATE NEWS SCAN – 20 December 2011
Tuesday, December 20th, 2011
Some highlights from this weeks News Scan:
- What really happened in Durban – and will it be enough to combat climate change?
- Ocean acidification may directly harm fish: study
- California proposes rules to spur clean car growth
The PICS News Scan is produced by ISIS at the Sauder School of Business in partnership with the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS). To be added to the News Scan distribution list or to provide content feedback and/or suggestions about interesting news items, please email: isis@sauder.ubc.ca.
Authors: Neil Thomson, Calyn Shaw, Neil Salmond, Kristina Welch
Editors: James Tansey, Jessica Worsley
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CLIMATE NEWS SCAN – 13 December 2011
Tuesday, December 13th, 2011
Some highlights from this weeks News Scan:
- Solar power much cheaper to produce than most analysts realize
- Climate skepticism in media an English-speaking phenomenon
- Canadians want more from feds on climate change
The PICS News Scan is produced by ISIS at the Sauder School of Business in partnership with the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS). To be added to the News Scan distribution list or to provide content feedback and/or suggestions about interesting news items, please email: picsscan@uvic.ca.
Authors: Chris Kantowicz, Calyn Shaw, Neil Salmond, Kristina Welch
Editors: James Tansey, Jessica Worsley
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Marketwire – Alternative Energy
- Avista Corp. Board Increases Common Stock Dividend February 3, 2012
- BC Bioenergy Network Invests $1.5 M in Fraser Richmond Soil and Fibre "Energy Garden"-an Innovative Organic Waste to Energy Demonstration February 3, 2012
- TRC to Host Conference Call to Discuss Second-Quarter Fiscal 2012 Financial Results on February 8 February 3, 2012
- Infrastructure Project Investment Key to Recovery Falling Short Globally February 3, 2012
- Ceradyne, Inc. to Release Fourth-Quarter Financial Results on Thursday, February 16, 2012 February 3, 2012
- AlumiFuel Power's PBIS Products Well Received at AMS Annual Meeting February 3, 2012
- Xicato to Present at SSL Investor Forum During Strategies in Light USA 2012 February 2, 2012
- EnSave, Inc. and Ecology and Environment, Inc. Launch Farm Energy Management Service February 2, 2012
- enXco Service Corporation Signs O&M Agreement With TPW Petersburg Wind Farm February 2, 2012
- Announcing the 2012 International Biomass Conference & Expo Agenda February 2, 2012
Globe Newswire
- EMG's Gas Supply To Israel Interrupted Due To Mandatory Shut Down Procedure After an Explosion in the Egyptian National Grid in the Sinai February 5, 2012TEL AVIV, Israel, Feb. 5, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ampal-American Israel Corporation (Nasdaq: AMPL), a holding company in the business of acquiring and managing interests in various businesses, announced today that it has been advised by East Mediterranean Gas Co. ("EMG"), in which Ampal has a 12.5% interest, that around 01:00 last night there was […]
- Micron Technology Appoints Mark Durcan as Chief Executive Officer, Director February 4, 2012BOISE, Idaho, Feb. 4, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq:MU), today announced the appointment of D. Mark Durcan as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company. Mr. Durcan will also serve as a Director on Micron's Board of Directors. The appointments come after the company reported that Steven R. Appleton, longtime Micron Chairman […]
- Grand County Winter Sports Carnival Ends February 11, 2012 February 4, 2012GRANBY, Colo., Feb. 4, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Grand Winter Sports Carnival, the largest and longest winter carnival in the Rockies, ends Feb. 11 with a bang. […]
- Heritage Oaks Bancorp to Present at Fig Partners 3rd Annual West Coast CEO Forum February 4, 2012PASO ROBLES, Calif., Feb. 3, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Heritage Oaks Bancorp (Nasdaq:HEOP), parent company of Heritage Oaks Bank, today announced plans to participate in the Fig Partners 3rd Annual West Coast CEO Forum. Ms. Simone Lagomarsino, President and CEO of Heritage Oaks Bancorp will participate on the "Central California Banks" panel on Febr […]
- Bryn Mawr Bank Corporation to Acquire Davidson Trust Company, Devon PA February 4, 2012BRYN MAWR, Pa., Feb. 3, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bryn Mawr Bank Corporation (Nasdaq:BMTC) (the "Corporation"), parent of The Bryn Mawr Trust Company (the "Bank"), today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Davidson Trust Company (the "Company") from Boston Private Financial Holdings, Inc. and memb […]
- Precision Castparts Corp. Presents Business Update at the Cowen 33nd Annual Aerospace and Defense Conference 2012 February 4, 2012PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 3, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mark Donegan, chairman and chief executive officer of Precision Castparts Corp. (NYSE:PCP), will discuss current business conditions at the 33rd Cowen Aerospace/Defense Conference in New York City on Tuesday, February 7, 2012, at 8:55am ET. […]
- Pilgrim's Publishes Inaugural Corporate Responsibility Report February 3, 2012GREELEY, Colo., Feb. 3, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pilgrim's, the second largest poultry company in the world, has announced the release of its 2012 Corporate Responsibility Report, the organization's first published summary of its programs for animal welfare, community involvement, food safety, recycling, water conservation and more. […]
- Toll Brothers, Inc. Announces Exchange Offer for Certain Outstanding Debt Securities February 3, 2012HORSHAM, Pa., Feb. 3, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Toll Brothers Finance Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE:TOL) (www.tollbrothers.com), announced today that it has commenced a registered exchange offer to exchange new 5.875% Senior Notes due February 15, 2022 (the "New Notes") for any and all of its currently outstanding 6.8 […]
- Radio Station Settles Lawsuit With Pro Basketball League February 3, 2012CHICAGO, Feb. 3, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Premier Basketball League (PBL) is pleased to announce it has finalized a settlement with KMGZ-Magic 95 Radio regarding unfounded and defamatory claims of alleged misconduct in calling fouls made by a radio announcer during a live broadcast of the PBL Championship Game played in Lawton, Oklahoma on April 18, 2011 […]
- Construction Begins on Daigle House Apartments February 3, 2012LAFAYETTE, La., Feb. 3, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Affiliated Blind of Louisiana Training Center, BancorpSouth Bank, and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) are pleased to announce that construction has begun on the Daigle House Apartments in Lafayette, Louisiana. […]