I just started writing for EcoGeek - one of my favorite blogs out there. You can see my first post (one of many to come) right now!
I will probably be focusing most of my cleantech-blogging-energy onEcoGeek for now, but all you guys have to do is change your homepage from www.greenrumors.blogspot.com to www.ecogeek.org and you'll hardly notice a thing!
But there's plenty of cleantech in this blogger, so hopefully I'll still have time to keep GreenRumors going, too.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Bill Gates loves algae, too
You may have noticed that a lot of my posts are about companies who make biofuel out of algae. This is for several reasons. I happen to think this technology is particularly promising, and because there are relatively few players in the market right now, it is easy to keep an eye on exactly what's going on. Oh, and I want to work for one of them. Real bad.
But it seems that I am not the only one who is infatuated with algae, because Bill Gates - that's right - has just invested an undisclosed amount of money into Sapphire Energy, a San Diego based company. For the record, I emailed Sapphire with a resume and cover letter, but they never got back to me. Anyway, Sapphire calls its product Green Crude, and according to this CNET review, it (the fuel) has been rated at 91% octane, which is good.
Other than that, all we know about Sapphire is that they can grow the algae in waste water. That is definitely an asset for Sapphire, but it's nothing that impressive. We all remember those pictures right before the Beijing Olympics - getting algae to grow usually isn't as much of a problem as getting it to STOP...
I'm glad, though, that we (me and Bill) see eye to eye on this issue. We had some slight disagreements over some new Windows Vista features, and when these new Seinfeld commercials started comming out... well, let's just say that our friendship was on the line. But investing in algae has redeemed Bill in my eyes, and I think I will invite him to my Chanuka party this year after all.
But it seems that I am not the only one who is infatuated with algae, because Bill Gates - that's right - has just invested an undisclosed amount of money into Sapphire Energy, a San Diego based company. For the record, I emailed Sapphire with a resume and cover letter, but they never got back to me. Anyway, Sapphire calls its product Green Crude, and according to this CNET review, it (the fuel) has been rated at 91% octane, which is good.
Other than that, all we know about Sapphire is that they can grow the algae in waste water. That is definitely an asset for Sapphire, but it's nothing that impressive. We all remember those pictures right before the Beijing Olympics - getting algae to grow usually isn't as much of a problem as getting it to STOP...
I'm glad, though, that we (me and Bill) see eye to eye on this issue. We had some slight disagreements over some new Windows Vista features, and when these new Seinfeld commercials started comming out... well, let's just say that our friendship was on the line. But investing in algae has redeemed Bill in my eyes, and I think I will invite him to my Chanuka party this year after all.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Green Jet Fuel: The Final Frontier
Planes are a big part of the oil problem. They burn through ridiculous amounts of oil and spew ridiculous amounts of carbon dioxide. But unlike cars, which can easily run on natural gas, diesel, electricity etc. (though marketing them is a different story...), airplanes are pretty much stuck running on kerosene. There are no alternatives. Until now.
I wrote about Solazyme a little while back. I mentioned their unique system of growing algae in the dark rather than in sunlight, like most other algae growers.
By genetically engineering the algae they grow, Solazyme can essentially grow any compound they want. Among other things, they picked jet fuel. And it worked- Solazyme recently released a statement about its biofuel saying that it displays all the same necessary properties as kerosene itself.
This is exciting for several reasons. Obviously, it is exciting because we might soon see a plane fly on this fuel. Maybe after that we'll see some commercial planes running on it, and maybe one day all planes will run on it.
But what is more exciting is that these algae are completely programmable. They can make a kerosene-like molecule, but they can make virtually anything else, either. So if Solazyme succeeds with jet fuel, they could simply go from there and use algae as a base system for the manufacturing of many different organic compounds.
Two other companies who are thinking along the same lines: Ls9, Inc (they use bacteria, not algae) and Amyris Biotechnologies (algae)
I wrote about Solazyme a little while back. I mentioned their unique system of growing algae in the dark rather than in sunlight, like most other algae growers.
By genetically engineering the algae they grow, Solazyme can essentially grow any compound they want. Among other things, they picked jet fuel. And it worked- Solazyme recently released a statement about its biofuel saying that it displays all the same necessary properties as kerosene itself.
This is exciting for several reasons. Obviously, it is exciting because we might soon see a plane fly on this fuel. Maybe after that we'll see some commercial planes running on it, and maybe one day all planes will run on it.
But what is more exciting is that these algae are completely programmable. They can make a kerosene-like molecule, but they can make virtually anything else, either. So if Solazyme succeeds with jet fuel, they could simply go from there and use algae as a base system for the manufacturing of many different organic compounds.
Two other companies who are thinking along the same lines: Ls9, Inc (they use bacteria, not algae) and Amyris Biotechnologies (algae)
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Google's energy plan
Last night, Google CEO Eric Schmidt outlined an energy plan at the Corporate Eco Forum, a conference of global executives in San Francisco. Schmidt's plan called for the following:
- 100% of US Power to be green in 20 years' time
- Millions of new plug-in hybrids
- A new, robust, sophisticated grid
- Action and leadership from politicians
- Investment from corporations
As far as an energy plan goes, I expected more from Google.
Don't get me wrong - those are all important goals. No one doubts that we'd be better off with green power, plug-in hybrids, or a better grid.
But the important question on the table right now is not "what?" but "how?" How are we going to put electric cars on the road? What is the business model?
Mr. Schmidt's plan, essentially, is: invest. Google itself has done seriously impressive amounts of investing, most recently in geothermal. Mr. Schmidt wants more big corporations and the government to invest generously and wisely.
Simply saying that we need to spend lots of money leaves something to be desired, in my opinion. Whether or not you believe in/agree with ideas like the Pickens Plan or Project Better Place, those are both solid proposals that you can wrap your head around. Eric Schmidt offered no such proposal.
I was a little disappointed, as I was hoping to be blown away by the outside-the-box Google approach to the energy crisis. Knowing Google, though, even if they don't come up with their own approach, they will hopefully continue to recognize and fund such approaches when they discover them.
Courtesty of Earth2Tech
- 100% of US Power to be green in 20 years' time
- Millions of new plug-in hybrids
- A new, robust, sophisticated grid
- Action and leadership from politicians
- Investment from corporations
As far as an energy plan goes, I expected more from Google.
Don't get me wrong - those are all important goals. No one doubts that we'd be better off with green power, plug-in hybrids, or a better grid.
But the important question on the table right now is not "what?" but "how?" How are we going to put electric cars on the road? What is the business model?
Mr. Schmidt's plan, essentially, is: invest. Google itself has done seriously impressive amounts of investing, most recently in geothermal. Mr. Schmidt wants more big corporations and the government to invest generously and wisely.
Simply saying that we need to spend lots of money leaves something to be desired, in my opinion. Whether or not you believe in/agree with ideas like the Pickens Plan or Project Better Place, those are both solid proposals that you can wrap your head around. Eric Schmidt offered no such proposal.
I was a little disappointed, as I was hoping to be blown away by the outside-the-box Google approach to the energy crisis. Knowing Google, though, even if they don't come up with their own approach, they will hopefully continue to recognize and fund such approaches when they discover them.
Courtesty of Earth2Tech
Friday, September 5, 2008
I've got my philosophy
I just ran across a great article from EcoGeek, one of my favorite green blogs.
It argues that people generally won't make green or environmentally-friendly choices simply for the sake of being good global citizens. But they will if it saves them money or makes their life better.
I couldn't agree more. But the author makes his point better than I can summarize it, so check it out.
Courtesy of EcoGeek
It argues that people generally won't make green or environmentally-friendly choices simply for the sake of being good global citizens. But they will if it saves them money or makes their life better.
I couldn't agree more. But the author makes his point better than I can summarize it, so check it out.
Courtesy of EcoGeek
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
A123: Batteries of the future
Keep your eyes on A123Systems. They are a battery manufacturer using proprietary MIT technology to make batteries that are far better than the standard lithium ions.
Their recent claim to (potential) fame is that they are being considered by GM to provide the battery for the Chevy Volt. GM was considering one other battery manufacturer, LG Chemicals. GM has announced that it has decided on one, but won't say which.
Personally, I like A123. From what I've read, their batteries are designed to charge quickly, not wear out over time and be able to handle damage without leaking dangerous chemicals or starting fires (which traditional lithium ion batteries are wont to do). I think they are on the right track, and I think their products will offer great performance.
I'm not crazy about the Chevy Volt, though. It still has an oil burning engine (which will charge the battery). I keep hearing that it is behind schedule. And, even though GM claims it is losing money on the thing, I think it will be too expensive for a lot of people (40k).
Still, I think that a lot of people are looking at the Volt as the first "real" EV. In that sense, a GM contract would be amazing for A123; it would establish the company as a major contender in the market of EV batteries.
Of course even without the Volt, I think many eyes are turned towards A123. I'm sure that anyone who is planning on building a fleet of reliable electric vehicles (such as Shai Agassi) has this company on their radar...
Courtesy of Greentech Media
Their recent claim to (potential) fame is that they are being considered by GM to provide the battery for the Chevy Volt. GM was considering one other battery manufacturer, LG Chemicals. GM has announced that it has decided on one, but won't say which.
Personally, I like A123. From what I've read, their batteries are designed to charge quickly, not wear out over time and be able to handle damage without leaking dangerous chemicals or starting fires (which traditional lithium ion batteries are wont to do). I think they are on the right track, and I think their products will offer great performance.
I'm not crazy about the Chevy Volt, though. It still has an oil burning engine (which will charge the battery). I keep hearing that it is behind schedule. And, even though GM claims it is losing money on the thing, I think it will be too expensive for a lot of people (40k).
Still, I think that a lot of people are looking at the Volt as the first "real" EV. In that sense, a GM contract would be amazing for A123; it would establish the company as a major contender in the market of EV batteries.
Of course even without the Volt, I think many eyes are turned towards A123. I'm sure that anyone who is planning on building a fleet of reliable electric vehicles (such as Shai Agassi) has this company on their radar...
Courtesy of Greentech Media
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Super material: ETFE
Materials are awesome. Although we might not associate new materials technology with green technology, we probably should. After all, if you can build a building that is stronger, lighter, cleaner and less resource-intensive it's a greener building, no?
Today's material is ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene). Described by one professor as "very sophisticated bubble wrap", it is a cheap, lightweight material that was used in the famous Water Cube swimming pool at the Beijing Olympics.
Here are some fun facts from this FOXNews article:
- Like Teflon (ETFE's cousin), ETFE is non-stick, thereby facilitating easy cleaning
- ETFE is a very good insulator
- ETFE can handle a lot of stress, but it can be easily cut with a knife
- Building with ETFE is substantially cheaper and less energy intensive than building with glass
Courtesy of FOXNews and Mordechai Treiger (although I don't know if Mr. Treiger wants to be associated with FOXNews...)
Today's material is ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene). Described by one professor as "very sophisticated bubble wrap", it is a cheap, lightweight material that was used in the famous Water Cube swimming pool at the Beijing Olympics.
Here are some fun facts from this FOXNews article:
- Like Teflon (ETFE's cousin), ETFE is non-stick, thereby facilitating easy cleaning
- ETFE is a very good insulator
- ETFE can handle a lot of stress, but it can be easily cut with a knife
- Building with ETFE is substantially cheaper and less energy intensive than building with glass
Courtesy of FOXNews and Mordechai Treiger (although I don't know if Mr. Treiger wants to be associated with FOXNews...)
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