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Tuesday, March 9, 2010
New Energy Source from the Common Pea: Scientists Create a Solar Energy Device from a Plant Protein Structure
ScienceDaily (Mar. 8, 2010) — If harnessing the unlimited solar power of the sun were easy, we wouldn't still have the greenhouse gas problem that results from the use of fossil fuel. And while solar energy systems work moderately well in hot desert climates, they are still inefficient and contribute only a small percentage of the general energy demand. A new solution may be coming from an unexpected source -- a source that may be on your dinner plate tonight.
"Looking at the most complicated membrane structure found in a plant, we deciphered a complex membrane protein structure which is the core of our new proposed model for developing 'green' energy," says structural biologist Prof. Nathan Nelson of Tel Aviv University's Department of Biochemistry. Isolating the minute crystals of the PSI super complex from the pea plant, Prof. Nelson suggests these crystals can be illuminated and used as small battery chargers or form the core of more efficient artificial solar cells
Nanoscience is the science of small particles of materials and is one of the most important research frontiers in modern technology. In nature, positioning of molecules with sub-nanometer precision is routine, and crucial to the operation of biological complexes such as photosynthetic complexes. Prof. Nelson's research concentrates on this aspect.
The mighty PSI
To generate useful energy, plants have evolved very sophisticated "nano-machinery" which operates with light as its energy source and gives a perfect quantum yield of 100%. Called the Photosystem I (PSI) complex, this complex was isolated from pea leaves, crystalized and its crystal structure determined by Prof. Nelson to high resolution, which enabled him to describe in detail its intricate structure.
"My research aims to come close to achieving the energy production that plants can obtain when converting sun to sugars in their green leaves," explains Prof. Nelson.
Described in 1905 by Albert Einstein, quantum physics and photons explained the basic principles of how light energy works. Once light is absorbed in plant leaves, it energizes an electron which is subsequently used to support a biochemical reaction, like sugar production.
"If we could come even close to how plants are manufacturing their sugar energy, we'd have a breakthrough. It's therefore important to solve the structure of this nano-machine to understand its function," says Prof. Nelson, whose lab is laying the foundations for this possibility.
Since the PSI reaction center is a pigment-protein complex responsible for the photosynthetic conversion of light energy to another form of energy like chemical energy, these reaction centers, thousands of which are precisely packed in the crystals, may be used to convert light energy to electricity and serve as electronic components in a variety of different devices
"One can imagine our amazement and joy when, upon illumination of those crystals placed on gold covered plates, we were able to generate a voltage of 10 volts. This won't solve our world's energy problem, but this could be assembled in power switches for low-power solar needs, for example," he concludes.
"Looking at the most complicated membrane structure found in a plant, we deciphered a complex membrane protein structure which is the core of our new proposed model for developing 'green' energy," says structural biologist Prof. Nathan Nelson of Tel Aviv University's Department of Biochemistry. Isolating the minute crystals of the PSI super complex from the pea plant, Prof. Nelson suggests these crystals can be illuminated and used as small battery chargers or form the core of more efficient artificial solar cells
Nanoscience is the science of small particles of materials and is one of the most important research frontiers in modern technology. In nature, positioning of molecules with sub-nanometer precision is routine, and crucial to the operation of biological complexes such as photosynthetic complexes. Prof. Nelson's research concentrates on this aspect.
The mighty PSI
To generate useful energy, plants have evolved very sophisticated "nano-machinery" which operates with light as its energy source and gives a perfect quantum yield of 100%. Called the Photosystem I (PSI) complex, this complex was isolated from pea leaves, crystalized and its crystal structure determined by Prof. Nelson to high resolution, which enabled him to describe in detail its intricate structure.
"My research aims to come close to achieving the energy production that plants can obtain when converting sun to sugars in their green leaves," explains Prof. Nelson.
Described in 1905 by Albert Einstein, quantum physics and photons explained the basic principles of how light energy works. Once light is absorbed in plant leaves, it energizes an electron which is subsequently used to support a biochemical reaction, like sugar production.
"If we could come even close to how plants are manufacturing their sugar energy, we'd have a breakthrough. It's therefore important to solve the structure of this nano-machine to understand its function," says Prof. Nelson, whose lab is laying the foundations for this possibility.
Since the PSI reaction center is a pigment-protein complex responsible for the photosynthetic conversion of light energy to another form of energy like chemical energy, these reaction centers, thousands of which are precisely packed in the crystals, may be used to convert light energy to electricity and serve as electronic components in a variety of different devices
"One can imagine our amazement and joy when, upon illumination of those crystals placed on gold covered plates, we were able to generate a voltage of 10 volts. This won't solve our world's energy problem, but this could be assembled in power switches for low-power solar needs, for example," he concludes.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
LIPA to Bring Renewable Hydro Power to LI Over Cross-Sound Cable
Uniondale, NY – January 26, 2006 - Long Island Power Authority Chairman Richard M. Kessel today announced that the LIPA Board of Trustees voted to approve the selection of a proposal to bring up to 345 megawatts (MW) of electricity to Long Island from a pumped-storage hydroelectric facility in Massachusetts. The renewable hydro power will benefit LIPA’s ratepayers and reduce Long Island’s reliance on fossil fuels to generate electricity.
“This historic decision to purchase clean, renewable hydro power over the Cross-Sound Cable is critically important to Long Island’s energy future,” said Mr.Kessel. “It will help us diversify our portfolio of energy resources, increase our use of renewable energy technology, and move Long Island away from its heavy reliance on power generated by fossil fuels.”
The proposal for the Bear Swamp hydroelectric generating facility in Rowe, Massachusetts, was recommended by a selection committee comprised of LIPA staff and consultants that evaluated responses to a Request For Proposals (RFP) LIPA issued seeking off-Island sources of energy that could be transmitted over either the existing Cross-Sound Cable between New Haven, Connecticut and Shoreham, Long Island, or the Neptune Cable from New Jersey that is currently under construction and expected to be in service by the summer of 2007.
Under terms of the 15-year Bear Swamp proposal, LIPA could receive up to 345 MW of power until the New England electric system operator (ISO-NE) implements locational capacity rules that will reduce it to 100 MW. ISO-NE is expected to adopt the rules in the summer of 2007.
The Bear Swamp facility is a partnership of Brascan Power and Emera Inc. It is a 600 MW hydraulic pumped-storage facility that straddles the Deerfield River in Rowe and Florida, Massachusetts. The major generating units are twin reversible pump turbines built within the hillside. During low demand periods for electricity, water is pumped 700 feet from the lower to an upper reservoir. During peak periods the water is released from the upper reservoir to spin the turbines and produce low cost energy.
“I am extremely pleased that LIPA will be able to purchase power from this proven generator of clean, renewable energy and bring it to Long Island over the Cross-Sound Cable, which has already helped us save tens of millions of dollars for LIPA’s customers. But for the Cross Sound Cable, LIPA would not be able to access such clean and low cost power,” said Mr. Kessel.
The Board of Trustees also authorized Mr. Kessel, on behalf of LIPA, to enter into negotiations to purchase up to 685 MW of electric generating capacity over the Neptune Cable for up to 20 years under proposals from FPL Energy and/or LS Power. The Neptune cable is expected to be operational by the summer of 2007.
The recommended proposals from both FPL Energy and LS Power are for electric generating capacity from natural gas-fired facilities in Pennsylvania that have modern pollution control equipment.
To help meet LIPA’s electric generating capacity needs and make effective use of its cable assets, LIPA issued the RFP seeking off-Island resources on February 17, 2005 to solicit proposals for capacity and/or energy over the Cross-Sound and Neptune cables. Eleven entities submitted 28 conforming proposals last April.
Using a phased approach, LIPA’s Selection Committee of in-house staff and retained consultants evaluated all 28 proposals based on their economic, technical, financial and environmental merits and proposed contract terms & conditions.
“This historic decision to purchase clean, renewable hydro power over the Cross-Sound Cable is critically important to Long Island’s energy future,” said Mr.Kessel. “It will help us diversify our portfolio of energy resources, increase our use of renewable energy technology, and move Long Island away from its heavy reliance on power generated by fossil fuels.”
The proposal for the Bear Swamp hydroelectric generating facility in Rowe, Massachusetts, was recommended by a selection committee comprised of LIPA staff and consultants that evaluated responses to a Request For Proposals (RFP) LIPA issued seeking off-Island sources of energy that could be transmitted over either the existing Cross-Sound Cable between New Haven, Connecticut and Shoreham, Long Island, or the Neptune Cable from New Jersey that is currently under construction and expected to be in service by the summer of 2007.
Under terms of the 15-year Bear Swamp proposal, LIPA could receive up to 345 MW of power until the New England electric system operator (ISO-NE) implements locational capacity rules that will reduce it to 100 MW. ISO-NE is expected to adopt the rules in the summer of 2007.
The Bear Swamp facility is a partnership of Brascan Power and Emera Inc. It is a 600 MW hydraulic pumped-storage facility that straddles the Deerfield River in Rowe and Florida, Massachusetts. The major generating units are twin reversible pump turbines built within the hillside. During low demand periods for electricity, water is pumped 700 feet from the lower to an upper reservoir. During peak periods the water is released from the upper reservoir to spin the turbines and produce low cost energy.
“I am extremely pleased that LIPA will be able to purchase power from this proven generator of clean, renewable energy and bring it to Long Island over the Cross-Sound Cable, which has already helped us save tens of millions of dollars for LIPA’s customers. But for the Cross Sound Cable, LIPA would not be able to access such clean and low cost power,” said Mr. Kessel.
The Board of Trustees also authorized Mr. Kessel, on behalf of LIPA, to enter into negotiations to purchase up to 685 MW of electric generating capacity over the Neptune Cable for up to 20 years under proposals from FPL Energy and/or LS Power. The Neptune cable is expected to be operational by the summer of 2007.
The recommended proposals from both FPL Energy and LS Power are for electric generating capacity from natural gas-fired facilities in Pennsylvania that have modern pollution control equipment.
To help meet LIPA’s electric generating capacity needs and make effective use of its cable assets, LIPA issued the RFP seeking off-Island resources on February 17, 2005 to solicit proposals for capacity and/or energy over the Cross-Sound and Neptune cables. Eleven entities submitted 28 conforming proposals last April.
Using a phased approach, LIPA’s Selection Committee of in-house staff and retained consultants evaluated all 28 proposals based on their economic, technical, financial and environmental merits and proposed contract terms & conditions.
Shell Dumps Wind, Solar and Hydro Power in Favor of Biofuels
Published on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 by The Guardian/UK
by Tim Webb
Shell will no longer invest in renewable technologies such as wind, solar and hydro power because they are not economic, the Anglo-Dutch oil company said today. It plans to invest more in biofuels which environmental groups blame for driving up food prices and deforestation.
A Shell employee conducts a safety walk-through of a tanker truck at a gas station in Kuala Lumpur, 2005. (AFP/Tengku Bahar)Executives at its annual strategy presentation said Shell, already the world's largest buyer and blender of crop-based biofuels, would also invest an unspecified amount in developing a new generation of biofuels which do not use food-based crops and are less harmful to the environment.
The company said it would concentrate on developing other cleaner ways of using fossil fuels, such as carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technology. It hoped to use CCS to reduce emissions from Shell's controversial and energy-intensive oil sands projects in northern Canada.
The company said that many alternative technologies did not offer attractive investment opportunities. Linda Cook, Shell's executive director of gas and power, said: "If there aren't investment opportunities which compete with other projects we won't put money into it. We are businessmen and women. If there were renewables [which made money] we would put money into it."
Shell said biofuels fitted its core business of providing fuels, logistics, trading and branding. Cook added: "It's now looking like biofuels is one which is closest to what we do in Shell. Wind and solar are interesting [but] we may continue to struggle with other investment opportunities in the portfolio even with big subsidies in many markets. We do not expect material investment [in wind and solar] going forward."
The company also confirmed that it would increase its dividend payments this year by about 5% to $10bn.
Friends of the Earth (FoE) criticised Shell for freezing investment in renewables such as wind in favour of biofuels. "Shell is backing the wrong horse when it comes to renewable energy - biofuels often lead to more emissions than the petrol and diesel they replace," the campaign group said.
Until recently, Shell's investment in wind power featured prominently in its corporate advertisements. FoE said the company's move heralded a slightly more honest approach. "Shell is at least being a bit more honest about the fact they are a fossil fuel company. It has seen the limitations of the greenwash it was putting out a few years ago."
Shell has about 550 megawatts of wind farm capacity around the world, enough to power a city the size of Sheffield when the wind blows. Last year, it pulled out of the 1,000MW London Array project, the joint venture to build what would be the world's largest offshore wind farm, in the Thames Estuary. Former project partner E.ON has yet to decide to continue with the £3bn investment needed.
Outgoing chief executive Jeroen van der Veer admitted that the company had suffered some "technology baths" in the past when it backed unprofitable technologies. "We don't do it [renewables] all."
The company has predicted that by 2025, 80% of energy will come from fossil fuels and 20% from alternative energy sources. Yet it is spending just over 1% of its budget on alternative technologies. Over the past five years, only $1.7bn of the $150bn it has invested has gone towards alternative energies.
Cook pointed out that at one stage the company only invested 1% of its budget on liquefied natural gas, which is now a big part of its business. "You have to start somewhere," she said.Van der Veer also admitted that Shell's overall R&D budget would "fall a bit" as the company focused on the most promising technologies and in the wake of the oil price slump.
The company said it would raise debt levels to maintain dividend payments and its spending programme. Van der Veer insisted that energy demand in the long term was strong and oil prices would recover. "The problem is you don't know when the long term starts."
© Guardian News and Media Limited 2009
by Tim Webb
Shell will no longer invest in renewable technologies such as wind, solar and hydro power because they are not economic, the Anglo-Dutch oil company said today. It plans to invest more in biofuels which environmental groups blame for driving up food prices and deforestation.
A Shell employee conducts a safety walk-through of a tanker truck at a gas station in Kuala Lumpur, 2005. (AFP/Tengku Bahar)Executives at its annual strategy presentation said Shell, already the world's largest buyer and blender of crop-based biofuels, would also invest an unspecified amount in developing a new generation of biofuels which do not use food-based crops and are less harmful to the environment.
The company said it would concentrate on developing other cleaner ways of using fossil fuels, such as carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technology. It hoped to use CCS to reduce emissions from Shell's controversial and energy-intensive oil sands projects in northern Canada.
The company said that many alternative technologies did not offer attractive investment opportunities. Linda Cook, Shell's executive director of gas and power, said: "If there aren't investment opportunities which compete with other projects we won't put money into it. We are businessmen and women. If there were renewables [which made money] we would put money into it."
Shell said biofuels fitted its core business of providing fuels, logistics, trading and branding. Cook added: "It's now looking like biofuels is one which is closest to what we do in Shell. Wind and solar are interesting [but] we may continue to struggle with other investment opportunities in the portfolio even with big subsidies in many markets. We do not expect material investment [in wind and solar] going forward."
The company also confirmed that it would increase its dividend payments this year by about 5% to $10bn.
Friends of the Earth (FoE) criticised Shell for freezing investment in renewables such as wind in favour of biofuels. "Shell is backing the wrong horse when it comes to renewable energy - biofuels often lead to more emissions than the petrol and diesel they replace," the campaign group said.
Until recently, Shell's investment in wind power featured prominently in its corporate advertisements. FoE said the company's move heralded a slightly more honest approach. "Shell is at least being a bit more honest about the fact they are a fossil fuel company. It has seen the limitations of the greenwash it was putting out a few years ago."
Shell has about 550 megawatts of wind farm capacity around the world, enough to power a city the size of Sheffield when the wind blows. Last year, it pulled out of the 1,000MW London Array project, the joint venture to build what would be the world's largest offshore wind farm, in the Thames Estuary. Former project partner E.ON has yet to decide to continue with the £3bn investment needed.
Outgoing chief executive Jeroen van der Veer admitted that the company had suffered some "technology baths" in the past when it backed unprofitable technologies. "We don't do it [renewables] all."
The company has predicted that by 2025, 80% of energy will come from fossil fuels and 20% from alternative energy sources. Yet it is spending just over 1% of its budget on alternative technologies. Over the past five years, only $1.7bn of the $150bn it has invested has gone towards alternative energies.
Cook pointed out that at one stage the company only invested 1% of its budget on liquefied natural gas, which is now a big part of its business. "You have to start somewhere," she said.Van der Veer also admitted that Shell's overall R&D budget would "fall a bit" as the company focused on the most promising technologies and in the wake of the oil price slump.
The company said it would raise debt levels to maintain dividend payments and its spending programme. Van der Veer insisted that energy demand in the long term was strong and oil prices would recover. "The problem is you don't know when the long term starts."
© Guardian News and Media Limited 2009
U.S. officials take stage at Copenhagen climate summit
Copenhagen, Denmark, December 16, 2009 — From former Vice President Al Gore and Sen. John Kerry to California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, U.S. officials are taking center stage at the Copenhagen climate summit.
Schwarzenegger told conference delegates that the world need not wait for world leaders and representatives at the summit to come up with a plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions when there is still much that can be done to combat climate change on the local, state and regional level.
"The world's national governments cannot make the progress that is needed on global climate change alone," Schwarzenegger said. "California has shown that a sub-national government can lead the way to national change."
California, which is the globe’s seventh-largest economy, has used government subsidies for renewable energy projects, vehicle emissions standards as well as renewable energy generation standards.
For more coverage on the Copenhagen conference and other policy issues, check out our policy and regulation topic center.
In a speech Tuesday, Gore pressured U.S. lawmakers and President Barack Obama to pass a major climate change bill that is currently in Congress.
“Join me in asking President Obama and the U.S. Senate to set a deadline of April 22 for final action in the U.S. Senate," Gore said, referring to the date of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. "I do not believe we can wait until next November or December."
Opponents of the bill question whether the bill’s expense should keep it from being passed at a time when the U.S. is still reeling from the economic turndown and lack of job growth.
Gore said cap-and-trade mechanisms could be an imperfect solution for cutting greenhouse gas emissions, adding that a carbon tax could be more effective.
In prepared remarks for the conference, Sen. Kerry underscored the political realities getting in the way of such a bill being passed.
"Some of my colleagues in Washington remain reluctant to grapple with a climate crisis … when they're confronted every day with the present pain of hard-working people in a tough economic time," Kerry said.
"To pass a bill, we must be able to assure a senator from Ohio that steelworkers in his state won't lose their jobs to India and China because those countries are not participating in a way that is measurable, reportable and verifiable."
Next up for the conference will be an address by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton December 16, followed by remarks by President Obama within the next day.
Schwarzenegger told conference delegates that the world need not wait for world leaders and representatives at the summit to come up with a plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions when there is still much that can be done to combat climate change on the local, state and regional level.
"The world's national governments cannot make the progress that is needed on global climate change alone," Schwarzenegger said. "California has shown that a sub-national government can lead the way to national change."
California, which is the globe’s seventh-largest economy, has used government subsidies for renewable energy projects, vehicle emissions standards as well as renewable energy generation standards.
For more coverage on the Copenhagen conference and other policy issues, check out our policy and regulation topic center.
In a speech Tuesday, Gore pressured U.S. lawmakers and President Barack Obama to pass a major climate change bill that is currently in Congress.
“Join me in asking President Obama and the U.S. Senate to set a deadline of April 22 for final action in the U.S. Senate," Gore said, referring to the date of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. "I do not believe we can wait until next November or December."
Opponents of the bill question whether the bill’s expense should keep it from being passed at a time when the U.S. is still reeling from the economic turndown and lack of job growth.
Gore said cap-and-trade mechanisms could be an imperfect solution for cutting greenhouse gas emissions, adding that a carbon tax could be more effective.
In prepared remarks for the conference, Sen. Kerry underscored the political realities getting in the way of such a bill being passed.
"Some of my colleagues in Washington remain reluctant to grapple with a climate crisis … when they're confronted every day with the present pain of hard-working people in a tough economic time," Kerry said.
"To pass a bill, we must be able to assure a senator from Ohio that steelworkers in his state won't lose their jobs to India and China because those countries are not participating in a way that is measurable, reportable and verifiable."
Next up for the conference will be an address by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton December 16, followed by remarks by President Obama within the next day.
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