greenswitch – climate change and cleantech solutions

DaimlerChrysler works together with environmental organizations…ecological product research — would that be possible in the US? probably only at Ford. the young Ford seems to be ‘greener’ than this father. but that doesn’t stop him from pulling the plug on big SUVs…”people want to buy these cars, so we build them”…naaahh…Ford sucks!

Daimler Chrysler Normalerweise sind sie eher Gegner, die großen Automobilkonzerne und die Umweltverbände. Seit zwei Jahren verbindet jedoch den Automobilriesen DaimlerChrysler und acht Teilnehmer von großen Umweltverbänden ( u.a. Stiftung Europäisches Naturerbe, BUND, Deutsche Umwelthilfe) eine gemeinsame Aktion: Die ökologische Produkterprobung.

Portland Community LAN Resource Guide Solarize

Distribution is easy and ubiquitous with 2-way satellite dishes like Starband and Wildblue. Put them on a hill and power them with sunlight. SolarHost is an Internet company powered only by the sun with a turnkey system running about $40,000. Photovoltaics Power it with U.P.S. solutions providing backup. DOE’s Renewable Energy Network and their NREL lab helps you find a cost/effective solution.

Modern solar panels convert light to electricity with about 5% to 15% efficiency. Most panels have 20 – 120 watts power output in full sun but when operated in shaded or overcast conditions, power output drops drastically. Even shading one cell can reduce the power output of a solar panel to a “shadow” of it’s former self.

Solardyne’s wind generators can produce 1000 watts while their Power Pack ($550) outputs 300 watts, 18 Amp/hrs and charges with 20 watt solar cells. An alternative power source for community “livecasts” might be Electric Bikes like the Zap or Electric Cars like Cobin’s Sparrow. Fuel Cells developed by Idatech which plans a 1 Kw Fuel Cell in 2002 and a 675 Watt Fuel Cell Bike may provide an alternative to photovoltaics with instant recharging using common hydrogen.

Canadian company Greenvolt Power Corp has developed a flashing red light that uses a fuel cell for power. The really interesting part is that to turn it on, you have to add salt water. They claim it will run for more than a week using 4.5 oz of water.

((some interesting info on renewable energies in Germany

- photovoltaic (solar): boom in Germany right now; two years ago Germany photovoltaic companies moved to the US..now they are back and very busy producing and selling (German government subsidies ’solar roofs’)

- wind energy: worldwide top with more than 5000 megawatt installed windpower, 25.000 people work in this area in Germany

- ‘bio mass’ — farmers produce ‘bio energies’ with their waste..

Boom bei der Photovoltaik

((interesting German source — in English language — on new fuel cell technology, potential and applications..))

World Fuel Cell Council Home Page Commercialisation is being driven by four major challenges that fuel cells are uniquely able to address:

* Build-up of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases is leading to global warming with unpredictable but potentially catastrophic consequences. When fossil fuels burn, they emit a cocktail of toxic pollutants that damage the environment and people’s health.

* World oil production will decline in the next 10-20 years and dependence on a few energy rich nations will significantly increase.

* Energy security and price will be threatened.

Deregulation of the electricity supply industry is changing the market. New companies are entering the market offering energy services based on distributed on-site power generation. This segment of the energy market is likely to grow rapidly and utilities will have to adapt to the opportunity and challenge.

* The market for automotive power and stationary generation conversion equipment is the largest market for capital equipment in the world. Fuel cells and fuel cell powered vehicles will be an economic growth leader in the coming decades securing high quality employment for many thousands of people.

((how about commenting little tidbits like this? following is about wind energy in Denmark))

Viridian Note 00240: News from Europe

“Today, more than 5,600 windmills dot the Scandinavian nation, producing about 10 percent of Denmark’s electricity. In 2030, half of Denmark’s energy should come from windmills, according to the government. (…)

“Last year, Denmark exported windmills to key markets including the United States, Germany, Britain, India and China. Its sales have increased sixfold in the last five years, amounting to $1.5 billion in 1999, according to the industry association.

“Middelgrunden will retain its position as the world’s largest offshore park for at least a year.

“Two bigger seaside parks are expected to open in Denmark next year, and more are planned off Sweden and the Netherlands, some producing as much as 160 megawatts == four times the size of the Middelgrunden.”

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