Energy

The blog of Pasefika Archive Contact

12/22/2010 | Energy

As written here by National Geographic, Tyson Foods turning fat into fuel.
09/30/2010 | Energy
Turning excess heat into electricity seems the basis for many electric generation ideas but much heat is lost from other industries that could also be used to be converted to electrical energy as written here by National Geographic
09/24/2010 | Energy
As written here, LEDs the new eco friendly light bulb
09/12/2010 | Energy
As written here, Lightweight Wall-Crawling Solar Panels aren't anything radical in technology but may change the way we think about solar panels and utilizing more surface areas of buildings for solar energy.
09/08/2010 | Energy
As written here, China builds deepestdeepest sub in search for energy sources.
09/07/2010 | Energy

As written here, Swedish Researchers Create Solar Cells from Jellyfish
09/02/2010 | Energy
As written in this article, Thorium is an abundant metal and can be used as an alternative to energy from oil.
08/23/2010 | Energy

Advanced Refining Concepts is reducing pollution from their refining process called ClearRefining this in turn produces reduced emissions from their GDiesel, GPetrol and GJet products. GDiesel was written in articles such as this from pickuptrucks.com and seen on videos such as this from FOX news
01/07/2010 | Energy
Throughout the last decade, environmental awareness and climate change have changed from news in the science articles to headline news. Athough there are photos and evidence of climate change, there many critics. Energy awareness has been gaining popularity because most people who pay for energy in the form of fueling their transportation or electrifying their homes have notices rate increase amount other issues associated with energy. On this site is a proposed Interactive solution for the future of energy. It is an interactive slideshow brochure that has data as well as plans to handle the increasing demand for energy.
12/16/2009 | Energy

As seen in this CNN video some homes in Sweden are being designed and built without the use of a furnace to heat the interior of the house.

This is an example of the recent movement in architecture to value the relationship of the natural environment to the built environment in order to increase energy efficiency, decrease building cost,while solving the design problems of the project. For many modern residential and commercial buildings this is a great step toward increased climate control and comfort within buildings.
11/15/2009 | Energy
Going green, is a vague statement that can start with individual choices and environmental awareness. When the goals of going green are on a larger scale than community involvement can produce larger results. The global community and global collaboration will be a great step toward enviromental awareness projects on a massive scale as seen by this ecxample of Texas turbines made in China.
11/14/2009 | Energy

This is an interesting article about a hybrid luxury yacht that is driven by solar power as well as diesel engines. Although a $600,000.00 yacht is high priced, perhaps this will lead to other models by ship builders to bring the cost to a more affordable level. Without the luxury amenities this type of ship could have applications in pacific islands. Even with a high price tag it could be purchased as a joint use research vessel more marine and environmental scientists which would reduce the cost of fuel to perform experiments. This could also be a commercial ship for coastal ocean tours. It could also have commercial application as a transport ship for islands that are near each other or even just as another option to cross a bay which people would normally have to use road transportation.
Whatever the application I think this is an example of how environmental awareness, buzzwords, and trends in one industry such as “hybrid” can have positive effects in another.

The Sky Sails is another take on using wind power from what looks like a parachute or kite as a sail. I’m sure that the skysail could easily for fitted to work the solar hybrid ship or in another configuration creating another type of sail boat.
10/28/2009 | Energy
Darpa for Energy grants funding toward energy related projects as noted in this wired article.
10/18/2009 | Energy
In establishing itself as the better choice than its competitors Google is making efforts to share it's bettter choices for environmental awareness, as noted in the Google blog and this ars technica article.
10/10/2009 | Energy

As seen here, an all electric locomotive runs for 24 hours on single charge. Many locomotives are true hybrids, using a diesel engine and generator to make power for electric motors to drive the wheels. Replace the diesel generator and the electric locomotive it self is a zero emissions vechicle.

Like the solar powered cargo ship in this article, energy conservation and emissions is now a priority in the shipping and cargo industry to start development of such vehicles.
09/10/2009 | Energy
As reported by cnet Lithium a growing energy source is found at Salar de Atacama desert in Chile. Most commonly known to consumers due to lithium batteries, the demand for lithium and other metals is increasing dramatically due to consumer electronics and the shift in the automotive industry into electric hybrids, plug in hybrids and full electric vechicles. Time will tell where the sources for lithium and other metals will come from but for now, Chile is producing half of the world's lithium, making Chile an important country in energy (energy storage) related resources.
09/07/2009 | Energy

Most people who use electrical energy do so by using a wired connection between the souce (electrical powerplant then outlet) to their electrical devices. Even mobile devices use a wire or physical connection from the energy souce (battery) to the device.

Wireless electricity is not a new idea. Infact, wireless electrical energy has been reported to have been used in 1859 by the telegraph office and is often associated with Nikola Tesla's wireless electricity research. Lately as science fiction becomes science fact, the idea of wireless electicity is becomeing a reality.

The wireless Power Consortium is made up of large electronics manufacturers that are already creating a standard called Qi for wireless power. Japan is also taking wireless energy seriously as written in this article in their research to develop a solar powered satellite that would power 300,00o house on earth. It will be a challenge for agencies such as the FCC to assure compliance with wireless communications as well as the EPA monitor the effects of wireless electricity on the environnment as well as humans.
08/12/2009 | Transportation
As seen here, Orange County Choppers builds"the first custom electric chopper" This bike can go a maximum of 60 miles, with a top speed of 100 from a 27 horse power electric motorthat can be charged in 5 hours from a standand 110 volt U. S. socket, for Siemens.
07/29/2009 | Energy
Along with biofuel research, aiplane technology is also looking at hybrid options for increased efficientcy to drive propellers as seen in this article. One day this airplane engine configuation along with a biofuel mixture may be seen on Pacific Island airplanes whos fleets include smaller propeller driven airplanes to reach the less populated remote outer islands.
07/27/2009 | Energy
As written in this article, The use of CO2 with sunlight may actually help in the manufacturing of bio fuels. Joule Biotechnologies has developed its own system called Helioculture that is claimed to convert sunlight and CO2 into SolarFuel which should compete as an energysource with fossil fuels, know for being used in internal combustion and turbine engines which emit many toxic gases including the most popular CO2.
07/25/2009 | Energy
As written in the article, Tokelau has a goal to be the world's first country with 100 percent renewable power mostly solar based and some coconut oil.
06/13/2009 | Energy
municipal solid waste ot trash a huge problem for Pacific Islands land fills can only cover up a growing problem and hardly be considered a true solution with limited land available. Incineration has been used to help but creates a tremendous amount of air pollution. What's different about Plasoco Energy is their whole process involves trying to be as efficints as possibile and have multiple positive products from teh waste.
05/26/2009 | Energy
As written in this article, Solar Panels to be installed in Vava'u High School at Tonga by the group Engineers without boards from Canterbury University.
05/25/2009 | Energy
As written in this article a low cost Solar Powered Cell Phone made in China to be sold in the Pacific including Papa New Guinea, Tonga, Vanuatu, and Samoa.
05/23/2009 | Energy

As written in this article, Japan Hosts Pacific Islands nations to talks about clean energy, and creating a Pacific Environmental Community. Among the nations Japan hosted were Australia, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

This is a great initiative by Japan assist Pacific Island nations awareness, conservation, and look for solutions to energy and environmental challenges of their own communities.
05/14/2009 | Energy
As written in this article Chevron is considering closing of Hawai'i refinery. The desicion comes from the lower demand for fuel but brings up issues of how this refinery effects Hawai'i's fuel supply, cost, and environment, with or without the refinery
05/06/2009 | Energy
What do Biofuels, Animal feed and Human food supply have in common? As written in this article, in America all three are competing for the limited Agricultural land and resources available. Read more about Biofuels, Animal feed and Human food supply here.
04/26/2009 | Energy
Saudi Arabia is often in headlines with it's oil reserves. Becuse of the world demand for oil as an energy source and Saudi Arabia as the world's leading oil exporter, this is a country who effects others world wide. This is a CNBC video about the history of the Oil Economy in Saudi Arabia.
04/03/2009 | Energy
As written in this article The U.S. has conducted a study that shows coastal wind farms could have a significant impact on generating elctricity for the U.S. A similiar study may also be a good for Pacific Islands with regards to the environmental impact of coastal windfarms vs the environmental impact of diesel electric generators, and as a step forward to self sustainable power supply.
03/23/2009 | Energy

As stated in this article, American Samoa is preparing itself by renting generators to increase its reserve capcity for electricity. This may also be a good time to too at alternative enrgy sources from Pacific Islands which if anything else could help to increase electric reserve capcities.

Such sources could include the wind energy, most turbines have a huge foot print and possibilities like this new wind turbine design not only turbine but kites, as talked about in this video.

Even if energy from kites in the wind seems to far fetched, there's always tidal energy options like this and San Francisco and solar.

Perhaps one solution be be growing in the backyards of Pacific Islands, agriculture that could be converted into biodiesel for modified diesel generators.
02/11/2009 | Energy
You may have read mass chain emails about not filling your fuel tank in your automobile for a day.
Earth Hour 2009 is similiar to this in that the WWF ( WWF-World Wide Fund For Nature aka WWF, the global conservation organization ) is asking everyone on earth to turn ttheur lights off for one hour on Sturday March 28, 2009, what ever your local timezone is. This is a project for energy conservation that anyone can participate in. More Information on how to show you support for this event, visit this web site.
Comment on this blog directly or share your thoughts at the Pasefika Forum about Earth Hour 2009.
Write an educational article about the Earth Hour and energy conservation around the Pacific at the Pasefika Wiki.
01/04/2009 | Energy

This article about bio fuel for jet arplanes is a good example of utilizing alternative fuel for air travel. Although the flight will use jatropha, algae has also been tested as a biofuel for jet engines. Although jet airplanes only account for a percentage of air pollution from petroleum based fuel, every effort to reduce emmissions with renewable fuel sources can only help. As the fuel consumption data on this page shows, the demand for fuel has continued to grow since the 1960s.

With the close proximity of airports in the Pacific Islands to Pacific Island communities hopefully the biofuels will reduce air pollution emissions and their impact on the airquality in the islands. This news also may lead to further developments in bio fuels that may be adapted for internal combustion engines of automobiles.

Energy