A cleantech military future

The military has put its stamp of approval on cleantech and is now increasing its efforts to fund and promote the use of clean power, biofuels and energy efficiency products and services. 

The U.S. government is close to becoming cleantech’s number one customer and is paving the way as a major consumer of green technologies.  The U.S.Defence Department has been testing green technologies to increase its efforts to fund and use cleantech.
The department uses 80 percent of the energy consumed by the federal government and recognised the need to change the military to greener and cleaner fuel.  The Navy has joined forces with the Departments of Energy and Agriculture to help fundbiofuel plants that willtransformfeedstocks into fuels that can be combinedwith or replace existing jet and diesel fuels.
The Navy will focus on energy storage by developing energy storage systems that will provide long-lasting power supply. Both the Navy and the Army aim to become more energy efficient and the Army want to use 25 percent renewable energy for electricity supply by 2025.  John McHugh, the Army Secretary recently said in a press conference that the Army wants to see more solar and wind power installed at its bases. McHugh opined that the recent criticism by project developers over the bureaucratic process for selling the Army green technology could be solved by setting up a task force to simplifythe procurement process.
The largest renewable energy buyer in 2006, the Air Force has solid plans in place to increase the use of biofuels that will cut energy use and reliance on fossil fuels.  The defence department has been in lead when it comes to cutting-edge technologies using funding from its DARPA program.  The department requested proposals to build energy storage systems to make the base more self-sufficient with uninterrupted power supply.
The Military has been moving towards cleantech for several years and some of the projects include a $730,441 contract to develop lithium-ion battery systems for tanks and armoured vehicles, algae fuel from Solazyme, and $1.48 million of contracts to design systems that will generate electricity from waste heat.

The Gambia to showcase products at Global Economic Conference

The upcoming Global Youth Economic Opportunities Conference will be the platform for The Gambia to showcase 300 finished products, predominantlyagricultural products.

The Conference will be held in September this year, in Washington DC and 11 members of the Green African-American AGOA (African Growth and Opportunity Act), who are also young business experts from The Gambia will attend.  This was disclosed by Professor Darryl R.O. Prevost, president of the African-America Diaspora Alumni Club in the United States to the Daily Observer.
Professor Prevost, who is also an executive director of CADIA Institutes and Academies, is currently in The Gambia to promote the AGAO through the Green African-American AGOA that is pioneered to support investment in Africa.  The AGOA is a U.S. commerce department that encourages trade and investment in Africa and ensures adherence of the fair trade law agreement by managing the global trade. 
Prevost pointed out that The Gambia has the capabilities to trade widelyin the international markets, and said he was impressed withthe products he has seen.  “By advancing a more robust trade relationship between the American processors and manufacturers of products from Africa, our hope is to drive the cost down on the American consumer side while increasing volume on the supply side,” he said.
Prevost reiterated the AGOA’s commitment to youths and women and he said the AGOA would partner with the University of The Gambia (UTG) toprovide training on food science.  This he said was one of the main areas of AGOA’s mission in Africa.
The Green African Tour will further enable the establishment of direct purchasing and technical agreements and sustenance between African markets and North American investors, retailers and processors by encouraging the trade and the infrastructure of African markets. 
The potential of The Gambia to alleviate poverty lies with its young and dynamic tourism industry, Prevost said.  He pointed out that the country’s tourism, due to the attractive riverbanks and ocean sites could improve the country’s economy. 

Renewable energy from UK’s largest power station

Drax coal power station – the UK’s largest coal power station is set to become one of the biggest sources of renewable energy.

Drax coal power station generated around 6% of the UK’s total renewable power during the first 6 months of the year.  The coal-fired power station in Yorkshire uses straw and other biomass to produce renewable power.
“Drax power station could be transformed to produce more renewable energy than fossil fuel power, using biomass from straw, waste wood and other sources instead of coal,” says chief executive of Drax, Dorothy Thompson.
Coal-fired power stations could achieve a lower carbon footprint by using biomass, a relatively green fuel.  Miscanthus grass, a source of biomass energy could transform Drax to the top renewable energy source.  
In order to address the threat of power shortages and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, the UK government is currently promoting gas as the “greener” alternative to coal.
Thompson explains that it would be uneconomic to burn biomass under current conditions and subsidies from the government are needed to burn biomass in large quantities.  If adequate financial support was provided, the transition to biomass could be a quick process, she said.  "We would see ourselves starting along this path immediately, with delivery within three to four years.  By 2020, we could be delivering renewable energy to more than 2million homes."
Currently, biomass generation is awarded half of a "renewable energy obligation certificate" (ROC) per unit of electricity, compared with two ROCs for each unit of offshore wind. 
According to Chris Huhne, secretary of state and energy and climate change, biomass is one of the cheapest ways of meeting renewable energy targets, but the key issue is setting the level of support.    Huhne said the current review of subsidy levels and government consultation would be completed later in the year.

Mozambican Biofuel exports to German airline Lufthansa

Sun Biofuels Moçambique, a subsidiary of UK-based Sun Biofuels, has exported the first batch of 30 tonnes of biofuel to German airline Lufthansa, from its central province of Manica. 

Sun Biofuels Mozambique director for corporate affairs, Luis Gouveiaadvised that Lufthansais considering using biofuel in its aircraft and is currently performing testing on the biofuel.
Gouveia said, "On a recent visit to our project, the deputy chairman of Lufthansa considered that the oil produced at our unit was of a high quality."
The biofuel was initiallyrefined in Mozambique. The second stage of refiningwas carried out in Helsinki, Finland and turned the biofuelinto kerosene.
Gouveia said they are also targeting the automotive industry and the energy supply industry. The company aim is to reach 11,000 hectares of planted area over the next five years.
Environmental protection is another factor that encouraged the company to invest in biofuel production, because of its contribution for the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.

The Gambia eligible for The 2011 Future Policy Award

The 2011 Future Policy Award celebrates the most inspiring, innovative and influential forest policies worldwide. The Gambia, alongside Bhutan, Nepal, Rwanda, Switzerland and the USA, is in the running for this prestigious award.

The Gambia Community Forest Policy aims to achieve sustainable forest management and poverty alleviation by handing control of forests to the communities that use them. Gambia is leading the trend of reforestation in Western and Central Africa by showing a net increase in forest cover of 8.5% over the last two decades.
The Future Policy Award awards the most exemplary national polices that create better living conditions for current and future generations. The focus for 2011 is forests, and the year has been declared the International Year of Forests by the United Nations.
The director of the World Future Council, Alexandra Wandel says, "With the Future Policy Award we want to cast a spotlight on policies that lead by example. The aim of the World Future Council is to raise global awareness of visionary policies and speed up policy action in the interests of present and future generations."
Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity and Honorary Councillor of the WFC said, "These six shortlisted candidates all demonstrate leadership towards the achievement of the 2020 Biodiversity targets: halving deforestation, restoring forests worldwide and ensuring that all forests are managed sustainably. Through the implementation of these policies, we can achieve the 2050 vision, which is a future of life in harmony with nature."
The Gambia Community Forest Policy includes a far reaching tenure transition of forest land from state ownership to permanent ownership by communities. The policy has also achieved a reduction in illegal logging and the incidence of forest fires in community forest areas as well as contributing to the development of new markets for branch wood and other forest products which benefit women and rural populations economically.

EU approves seven biofuel schemes

The first seven biofuel schemes to be officially certified as sustainable were recently granted approval by the EU. The seven voluntary certification schemes are intended to demonstrate that sustainability of biofuels will contribute toward the EU's renewable energy targets.

Gϋnther Oettinger, the European commissioner, said, "The schemes recognised on the EU level today are a good example of a transparent and reliable system which ensures high standards are met."
The approved schemes include: ISCC, a German government-financed scheme covering all types of biofuels; Bonsucro EU, a roundtable initiative for sugarcane-based biofuels focused on Brazil; RTRS EU RED, a roundtable initiative for soy-based biofuels focused on Argentina and Brazil; RSB EU RED, a roundtable initiative covering all types of biofuels; 2BSvs, a French industry scheme covering all types of biofuels; RSBA, a scheme from biofuel producer Abengoa covering its supply chain; and a scheme from biofuel producer Greenergy covering sugar cane ethanol from Brazil.
The EU has granted approval, despite concerns from some environmental groups over the methods used to ensure the resulting biofuels will cut greenhouse gas emissions.
A number of NGO groups argue that the decision excluded consultation and the NGOs were unable to scrutinise or object to any of the schemes. They further argued that the exclusion violates the Aarhus Convention, which guarantees all EU citizens and environmental organisations the right to participate in green decision-making and the right to information necessary for effective participation.
Earlier in the month, in Florida, the Digest released its annual review of biofuels mandates and targets around the world. The bulk of the mandates come from the EU-27, where the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) specifies 10 per cent renewables content by 2020 across the entire membership, of which seven per cent will come from biofuels, the balance from the electrification of the fleet.

A new government mandate requires two per cent biofuel content for heating oil and diesel sold in Canada

The Canadian Environment Minister Peter Kent announced the mandate to be active from this month, to help reduce the country's greenhouse gas emissions by 17 per cent by 2020.

Kent said, "Our Government will continue to ensure that protecting our environment, while balancing economic growth and prosperity remains our priority". The new mandate envisions the reduction of harmful emissions by the equivalent of removing one million cars from the roads.
But the new mandate goes beyond just the environment. Kent explains that mandating minimum renewable fuel contents would also strengthen the nation's biofuel industry, boosting demand for feed stocks like canola and ensuring a stronger bottom line for farmers.
The new mandate follows the December 2010 regulation requiring all gasoline sold in Canada to have a five per cent average renewable fuel content. According to Kent, these regulations will form an important part of the (federal) government's Renewable Fuels Strategy, and will establish a demand for renewable fuels to help stimulate the Canadian biofuels industry.
As well as Canada, several US states and cities have introduced biofuel requirements for heating oil and diesel to limit the harmful emissions and reduce the nation's reliance on foreign oil imports. US President Barack Obama signalled that renewable fuels and sustainable energy policies would play a key role in America's future energy needs.
With the rising oil prices and environmental concerns becoming more of a priority, renewable energy such as biofuels will become critical to support global energy needs.

Simple changes to agricultural practices could cut greenhouse gas emissions and halt the looming climate calamity

The recent United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment shows that carbon dioxide (CO2) levels have increased by over 100 parts per million by volume (ppmv) since pre-industrial times, reaching about 385 ppmv. If we continue burning fossil fuels, climate models calculate that by 2100, global average temperatures near the surface could increase by 5°C compared to pre-industrial times, causing catastrophic effects on planetary processes that will lead to a serious negative impact on our society.

Globally, energy crops are being used to mitigate future CO2 emissions. The concept is relatively simple – as plants grow they draw-down atmospheric CO2 through photosynthesis. If they are then used to generate energy, the CO2 released will have previously been taken out of the atmosphere in the recent past (unlike mined fossil fuels) and will not raise atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Crops like Miscanthus Giganteus absorb as much carbon as they release when burnt, so there is no net increase in CO2 into the atmosphere.
Miscanthus Giganteus is a 'sterile hybrid perennial rhizomatous' C4-grass species with a high energy balance associated with a high carbon balance. This means for every one part of man-made carbon inputs needed to grow and harvest it, 53 parts are absorbed by the crop from the environment.
Harvested for co-firing in late winter, the crop is potentially carbon neutral, because only the carbon fixed by photosynthesis in the previous growing season is released when the crop is co-fired with coal, saving an equivalent amount of fossil fuel carbon from coal. Thus a significant quantity of emissions can be prevented by co-firing. In addition to its positive energy balance (particularly when compared with other energy crops such as rapeseed), Miscanthus Giganteus can sequester large amounts of carbon underground for a long period (over 100 years).
Long-term annual cropping reduces soil carbon, and arable soils typically contain less than 2% carbon. Non-cultivation of arable land typically increases soil carbon. Land typically contains 130 to 650 tonnes of carbon per hectare, so the potential for carbon sequestration with Miscanthus Giganteus can be considerable.

Biofuel developer KiOR raises $150 million in initial share sale

Renewable fuels company KiOR Inc raised $150 million in a U.S. initial public offering of 10 million shares of common stock.

The offering was priced at $15 each, well below the initial expectation of $19 to $21 a piece, according to a recent regulatory finding. KiOR said in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that it plans to use the proceeds to fund the company's second commercial plant in Newton, Mississippi.
The Texas-based company gave the underwriters a 30-day option to buy up to an additional 1.5 million shares to cover any excess demand. While the re-price represents a lowering of KiOR's fundraising ambitions, the firm still raised more money than its original US$100 million target announced in April. KiOR processes wood and non-food agricultural biomass into a renewable crude oil that can be converted using standard refining equipment into substitutes for gasoline and diesel fuel.
The technology combines proprietary catalyst systems with "well-established fluid catalytic cracking, or FCC, processes that have been used in crude oil refineries to produce gasoline for over 60 years," KiOR said in its IPO prospectus.
Gavin Maxwell, executive chairman of bioenergy consultancy Coolfin Partnership in Ireland, said KiOR is a "great company" with strong fundamentals but he would have been "astonished" if it had priced at the top of its range.
Given the long lead time for commercialising biofuel technologies, he said it is essential that policy-makers and capital investors take a long-term approach to the development of the sector.
"The sector needs long-term thinking when it comes to investment and to returns, and there's the need to support good vanguard companies and supply chain technologies, many of which are pre-IPO," Maxwell said.

Donations strengthen agricultural efforts in Gambia

Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh has since 1994 vowed the attainment of food self-sufficiency in the country through agricultural means. 

His prospect for an intense agriculturally productive country has strengthened with the donations of multi-purpose Dri Prime High Capacity pumping machines, that will allow The Gambia to grow food for its own domestic use and become an export productive country. The pumping machines will also boost economic production around the River Gambia.
The pumping machines will facilitate rice production, even during the dry season, providing vast capacities and benefits to the government's commitment for food security
One of the pumping machines can cover over 25 square miles and is one of the strongest industrial pumps utilised in the world right now. The pump can be programmed to run by itself for months, and can be used for irrigation and mining.
The Gambia Emergency Agricultural Production Project (GEAPP) also donated seven power tillers, seven bags of fertilisers, seven rice tracers; seven seeders, seven sine hoes, 200 litres of pesticide and four knapsack sprayers. The GEAPP commended the devotion and importance of President Jammeh's commitment to agriculture.
The GEAPP was a complementary project to the recently completed Africa Emergency Locust Project (AELP), a project established in 2005 that was funded by the EU for the total of 5.3 million Euros.
The project was founded to strengthen he country's capacity in controlling and mitigating locust infestations and their effects. The GEAPP aided the second phase of the AELP, to stimulate the production capacities of those affected by the locust invasion in 2005.
The objective of the GEAPP is to enhance the agricultural production and productivity of 20,000 farmers countrywide. The GEAPP has two components. Component A was the provision of agric inputs and equipment that allowed the Gambians to procure and distribute 525 metric tonnes of certified seeds countrywide during the 2010 seasons. Six hundred villages benefitted.
The second component is the rehabilitation of 30 village seed stores countrywide and the strengthening of three seed multiplication centres to ensure year-round production to supply farmers.

Paris: painting the air Green

The Paris air show has gone green, with airlines using a blend of biofuel and conventional jet fuel.

The Gulfstream G450 jet from New Jersey to Paris was the "first-ever transatlantic biofuel flight" in history, while Boeing flew its new 747 freighter from Seattle to Paris on a blend of conventional jet fuel and 15 percent camelina-based biofuel. This was another first for the Atlantic, flying with biofuels, and an active approach to substantially reduce carbon emissions. The show also included a special exhibition area for alternative aviation fuels.
During the week, other airlines also embraced the "green air". Seven other airlines announced their intentions to work with biofuel producer, Solena Fuels, to provide fuel for their flights out of the San Francisco Bay area. Solena's fuel starts with recycled urban and agricultural wastes, and is produced in a multistep process. The facility in Northern California will produce as much as 16 million gallons of jet fuel from this waste per year by 2015, to support airline operations at Oakland, San Francisco and San Jose airports.
Solena's biofuel manufacturing process was approved in 2009 for use as jet fuel by ASTM International, the worldwide consensus standards organization. Airlines need a standard fuel content and quality in order to be considered a reliable fuel source. Standardised fuel properties will ensure the quality of this new fuel and will lead the way for its use as "HEFA" fuels (Hydro-processed Esters and Fatty Acids) derived from biomass products such as camelina, Jatropha, or algae. Conventional jet fuel will be used in conjunction with this new fuel at up to a 50/50 ratio.

Global Bioenergy Partnership releases biomass voluntary policy

The first guidelines for producing biofuel have been introduced and the U.S. and China led 23 nations in agreeing to the policy. 
 
The Global Bioenergy Partnership released a voluntary policy for producing and using biomass and biofuels in ways that do not add to the issues associated with climate change or affect food prices. The partnership was established in 2005 by the Group of Eight nations and five emerging economies and includes 13 international organisations and institutions.
Corrado Clini, Chairman of the partnership and Director General of Italy's Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea pointed out that palm oil climbed to almost a three-year high as consumers and companies increased their use of the product. Clini said, "Biofuels could cover up to 25% of the fuels portfolio in the next 30 years. The environmental certification of biofuels would be a very important driver for promoting biofuels in the market."
On 10 February 2011, palm oil rose to 3,967 ringgit ($1,304) per metric ton on the Malaysia Derivatives Exchange, the highest since March 2008.

Biomass program funding in line for Ohio

Energy efficiency is high on the agenda in Ohio and federal money will support Trumbull and Ashtabula counties to grow a new energy grass: Miscanthus Giganteus.

 

Funding from the government's Biomass Crop Assistance Program will support the growth of Miscanthus Giganteus, an energy grass that can grow on soil where other crops can't. The nearly US$6 million in funding is expected to create more than a thousand agriculture jobs in the area and support the efforts to produce about three times the energy from Miscanthus Giganteus compared to other sources, such as corn.
Miscanthus Giganteus can be burned to produce heat and steam for power turbines and when combined in a 50%-50% mixture with coal, it can be used in some current coal-burning power plants without modifications.
The key difference between Miscanthus Giganteus and corn is that the former is not a food crop and has no direct competition with food. As a result, market prices for corn directly affect the price of maize, which in turn, affects the ability of many farmers to produce the crop. Miscanthus Giganteus will not be affected by changes in demand and has no direct correlation to the price of food.

Shell embarks on biofuels venture in Brazil

Shell has embarked on a biofuels joint venture with ethanol and sugar producer Cosan, to become a leading producer of ethanol for the retail market.

Cosan aims to produce and sell more than 500 million gallons of low-carbon biofuels annually. Shell released a statement saying, "Low-carbon biofuels will be the most practical and commercially realistic way to take carbon dioxide out of transport fuel in the coming years and will be a vital part of the future energy mix."
Biofuels currently make up about 4% of the transport fuel in Europe and 3% in the U.S., where biofuels use is predicted to increase by about 9% by 2030, according to Shell.
Shell Chief Executive Officer, Peter Voser, said, "We are building a leading position in the most efficient ethanol-producing country in the world."
The company said Brazilian sugar cane has a higher ethanol yield compared to corn or wheat and added that "Production in Brazil takes up less than 1% of the country's land and the government prohibits industries from displacing food crops. This is a turning point in the search for alternative energy sources."

$161 Million towards education in Mozambique

The Board of Executive Directors of the World Bank has approved an International Development Association (IDA) credit of $71 million to support the Mozambican government's Education Strategic Support Programme (ESSP). 

The programme will run from 2011 to 2015 and will be in addition to a previous commitment through the World Band administered Education For All – Fast Track Initiative Catalytic Fund (EFA-FTI CF) program, that totalled R90 million.
The money will increase access to education, promote HIV/AIDS prevention programmes, improve the quality of education and support curriculum reform. Olivier Godron, World Bank representative said ""I am pleased that in times of austerity and budget cuts, we are keeping our commitments, thus helping the country fill financing gaps, keep its sectorial priorities afloat, and meet its critical development challenges".
The funds will be managed by the Education Ministry and received praise from the World Bank. The project team leader Sophie Naudeau said "it is gratifying to see that Mozambique is making steady progress toward the achievement of universal primary education by 2015 (Millennium Development Goal number 2). Net enrolment in primary education more than doubled from 45 to 95 per cent between 1998 and 2010, and the completion rate (grade 7) increased from 34 per cent in 2004 to 50.8 per cent in 2010. A major achievement is the increase in the net enrolment rate at 6 - 7 years of age from 19 per cent in 1998 to 70 per cent in 2010".
The World Bank funds have come at a crucial time as the education sector during 2010 faced a 36% cut in bilateral funding and an 8% cut in the education sector donor funding pool.

Japan from nuclear to renewable

The on-going Fukushima nuclear crisis in Japan has prompted a turnaround of events as Japan abandons plans to double its nuclear power capacity and move over to renewable energy.

Japan with the world's 3rd largest economy has exchanged plans to construct 14 new nuclear plants with an energy policy to develop wind, solar and biomass energy sources.
The Japanese Prime Minister, Naoto Kan has made the incredible announcement two months after Japan was brought close to a nuclear catastrophe by dual impacts of a n earthquake and tsunami on the Fukushima/Daiichi nuclear plant.
The crisis however is far from over and the latest setback for the authorities came as the fuel rods at Fukushima Reactor 1 had been fully exposed and the melted fuel that has now accumulated at the bottom of the reactor vessel is in danger of leaking through, which could cause the release of radiation. A lesson learned that nuclear plants are vulnerable to unforeseen natural disasters, even in a country as technologically advanced as Japan.
The Japan crises also motivated the German government to change their nuclear plans, by reversing an earlier decision to extend the lifetime of existing reactors. The government ordered nearly half of its existing nuclear reactors to immediately stop operations and end the use of nuclear energy in exchange for renewable energy as quickly as possible.
Both countries has made strong statements against nuclear plants and other countries are sure to be influenced by this decision. Both countries are well positioned to lead the development of cutting edge technologies for harvesting renewable energy potential and to combine them into a robust and reliable energy system for a new era. Japan currently gets 30% of its electricity from nuclear and Germany with the 4th largest economy, get 25%.
The growing evidence that renewable energy will power most of the world by 2050 will have other countries not lag far behind Japan and Germany.

Moringa leading the Biofuels Industry

The biofuels industry has received aggregated attention in recent years and the quest for alternative energy has become the buzz word for environmental activists and world leaders alike.

The global demand for second-generation biofuel has however not been without controversy with the "food vs. fuel" debate causing the industry to seek a more lucrative option. The most recent source is the Moringa Oleifera tree, which has reignited the hope for sustainable biofuel.
The Moringa tree or better known in Africa as the "miracle tree" has surfaced as a source of both biofuel and food. The Moringa tree is considered to be a more sustainable biodiesel feedstock than any other existing feed stocks. Moringa has been heralded as a wonder plant because it has no direct competition with food crops. The Moringa tree is fast becoming the best source of organic products from alternative fuel (biofuel), organic food products (both for human and animal consumption), cosmetics ingredients and is best for malnutrition control.
Most parts of the tree are used and the greatest contribution of Moringa to health is its nutritional value. The rapidly growing and drought resistant tree can be used for fibre, medicine and water purification. Furthermore, Moringa is also identified as a potential solution to Vitamin A deficiency in poverty stricken countries such as Malawi and Rwanda.
With Moringa bridging the gap between food and fuel, it can do well to silence the mouths of critics who are known to debate the negative consequences of the biofuels industry. The tree is very much poised to become the next big thing in the Biofuel market and many finance and investment firms are picking Moringa as an opportunity to provide rewarding returns in the commodities market.

Biofuels role in the state of Iowa

The Iowa State Research Farm boasts two experimental plants, producing oil from biomass such as corn stover, switchgrass, miscanthus, wood chips and algae. Biocrude is produced by one plant through a form of incineration called pyrolysis, which heats biomass to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit in an oxygen-free environment and then decomposes the biomass to vaports and aerosols. Rapid cooling then turns the vapors into bio-oil and later fuel.

The second prototype is a gasification plant, a process by which heat of up to 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit breaks down the biomass to its most basic elements to produce a synthetic gas. A steam process turns the biomass into a synthetic gas. An interesting byproduct is the carbon waste, or "biochar" that drops out of the gasification process.
The $23 million project was introduced by a grand in 2007 from ConocoPhilips and assisted with funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Energy as well as Dupont (owner of Pioneer Hi-Bred) and Danisco.
The facility is one of a kind due to the variety of biomass products. The centre isn't limited to a single biomass, but can take all biomass products for conversion to fuels. With current oil prices nearing $100, prospects for alternative fuel has increased the goals to produce usable biofuel by 2022.
Director Robert Brown of the Iowa State University Bioeconomy Institute says that the public has been given a somewhat misleading picture of biofuels by the explosive growth of traditional ethanol. It grew from less than 1 billion gallons of annual production in the middle of the last decade to almost 14 billion gallons this year, or 10 % of U.S. annual gasoline consumption.

The importance of Biofuels

The political instability has contributed to the rising oil prices globally. Furthermore the majority of the world's oil fields will reach maximum petroleum extraction capacity in 2020. This impending crisis has increased the importance of finding an alternative energy solution. Biofuels, however is nothing new and tracks back to the early 19th century, where the first internal combustion engines were designed to run on alcohol. 

Since the 19th century the search has progressed to find more effective methods of alternative energy. From edible crops such as soya bean, sugar cane and oil palm to the cellulosic biomass of poplar trees and switchgrass, to toxic shrubs like Jatropha.
More recently the second-generation biofuels source Moringa oleifera has silenced most of the biofuels critics. The Moringa tree has no direct competition with food crops as it is an edible source of fuel and can be grown for both food and fuel.
During 2009, biofuels provided 1.8% of the world's transport fuel and investments keep pushing this lucrative industry. New policies are incentives are stimulating this fledgling industry as the search continue to find a much needed alternative to petroleum.

Renewable Energies to double by 2020

The global wind, solar, and biofuels industries are poised to double within the next 10 years. In this year's "Clean Energy Trends report" Clean Edge has included information comparing where the world was ten years ago to where it is now. The combined global market for solar and wind power is $131.6 billion today, but in the year 2000, it was only worth $6.5 billion. This enormous increase shows a positive shift towards clean energy sources which should be seen as a remarkable achievement.

This latest report has some interesting figures. The current global industry projections, for biofuels, put biofuels at twice its current value, $56.4 billion for 2010 and predict it will grow to $112.8 billion by 2020. It surveys the global wind industry at $60.5 billion for 2010, predicted to grow to $122.9 billion by 2020. The global solar industry is placed at $71.2 billion for 2010, predicted to grow to $113.6 billion by 2020.
The last decade, in the U.S., for example, there were less than 10,000 hybrid vehicles on the road in 2000 compared with more than 1.4 million hybrid vehicles in 2010. The percentage of U.S. Venture Capital spent on clean technology in 2000 was 1.2 %, compared to over 23% in 2010.
Clean Edge has been tracking data and releasing reports on these and related industries for a decade, and has made some really good predictions. They have only fallen short because some of the company's prior predictions have been more on the conservative side. It was predicted that major alternative energy industries would grow from $7 billion in 2000 to more than $82 billion by 2010. Therefore, the Market has actually exceeded expectations.
Clean Edge also predicted that wind power would grow to more than $49 billion by 2012, and that's already at $60.5 billion for 2010.
According to the report, there are 5 additional key trends that will significantly affect the alternative energy markets in the coming years. Incandescent phase-out lights the way for low-Cost LEDs, natural gas advances as a powerful partner for wind and solar energy, cleaner aviation fuels are poised for take-off, low-cost green building brings relief and sustainability around the world and innovation provides alternatives to rare earths.

Coal, an untapped commodity in Mozambique's Tete city

Mozambique's Tete City, with its untapped coal reserves estimated at 23 billion tonnes has a logistical nightmare in moving its precious commodity. Moving it out and getting the coal to port is a headache with trucks queuing to cross the bridge that spans the Zambezi river in this northern city of Mozambique.

 
Countries like China, Brazil, India and Australia have invested in Mozambique. China invested over five years and last August signed a five-year deal. Investments include Brazilian mining giant Vale, and Australia's Riversdale, with 24 percent owned by India's Tata that have invested 1.5 billion dollars. Coal wealth is not a new discovery but being one of the poorest countries in the world, Mozambique is recovering after nearly two decades of civil war and has opened its territory to nations and companies seeking mineral resources.
This city located in a remote corner of the country was taken by surprise and thousands of Mozambicans flocked there in the past five years. Due to the rapid and sudden development the population has grown significantly. Deputy-mayor Arnaldo Morais Charimba said: "Because it was so quick, Tete was not ready". Around the city, roads and railways are being reconstructed and the existing 720-metre bridge was meant to reopen last December but unfortunately it did not open on the proposed date. The Sena railway line was partly reopened last year and later this year the train is expected to carry six million tonnes of coal from Vale and Riversdale to Beira. When production starts in six months delays at Beira may stall exports while mines are ready. Countries are exploring other ways to get their cargo out of the country with production expected to triple in a few years.
No reconstruction work has started on the old terminal, while another terminal is planned for later and so an atmosphere of development is not necessarily being felt. "If the port is not ready, there is no other way to get the cargo" says Fanoe.

Ways of choosing conservatory and double glazing in Newport.

A conservatory can seem to be very expensive to purchase but its great importance is that you can get a bigger space at your place. Their popularity is increasing as only a small number of people can afford to shift to other places but require additional space in their homes.In order to make sure that you got the best conservatory Newport, you should make sure that the conservatory is an ordinary extension to your home or property but not something that doesn’t correctly match to its surroundings. In such a case the supplier is supposed to advise you on the best preference for your house but should not just vend you the most costly.

In order to obtain quality Newport conservatory all the way through United Kingdom, then the best company to trust is Inspire Windows. Before setting up the conservatory, the first step should be to consider the purpose of the conservatory. If for instance it is a dining area, then close propinquity to the kitchen would be the most perfect. For one to ensure that the Newport conservatories are used frequently, he/she should ensure that they are positioned close to rooms normally used frequently.

Having decided what the upvc doors cardiff would be used for then you can decide on the size you would wish to have them in. This style is in most cases dictated by the property you have. For instance, it would be a benefit to have a conservatory close to older properties that have low roof pitches and also you should consider that Victorian properties are usually ideal for large conservatories such as dining areas. Having decided on the style to use, the other thing to consider is the type of materials to use to make the conservatory. White upvc is usually the most in style and cost effective decision though you’ll have to match that to your property.


There are however, two main schemes that are used in order to regulate Newport double glazing installations. These are the Certass and the Fens a. They oblige very strict rules to their members which in most cases adhere to the regulation standards for building and proffer aftercare to its customers. It is therefore important to think about the quality of the product that you are about to purchase and judge whether it conforms to the acceptable standards.

Leading double glazing cardiff, UK. Finest quality bespoke conservatories, sash windows cardiff,cardiff conservatories. Get a Quote now!  For more information please visit http://www.inspirewindows.co.uk/

Read More About:-

• Alternative Investments Profitable for yo

•  Alternative investment Biofuels

Considerations in choosing Newport conservatories and double gazing companies

There are a few questions and answers that a person should have before choosing a Newport conservatory or even the best double glazing Newport companies. These include; considering the grade of the glass that you are provided with. Currently, windows are rated according to their energy competence ranging from A to G. Although the most preferred domestic property of the glass is the rate of ‘C’ or above. The other consideration to make should be finding out whether the frames of the windows act in accordance with all the given building regulations. In order for the frames to do so then they must be sufficiently reinforce, be able to offer ventilation and most importantly operate as fire exits.

The discoloring aspect of the frames should also be taken into consideration. This is because the frames discolor only if they are made of low quality plastic material. It is thus important to note that a high-quality plastic material should be able to last for over 20 years with no discolor issues. It is also advisable to make sure that the frames are welded rather than being mechanically fixed since the mechanically fixed windows tend to weaken of the attached frame.

For good double glazing Newport products the locks should be a least amount of a two point locking system so as to make sure that all your home belongings are safe and sound. This is such that they comply with the British Standard 3621 which is usually a key prerequisite of all the home insurance providers.

You should also note that internally beaded windows are always more secure compared to the externally beaded once which can easily be broken into by intruders from the outside. The inspire windows ensures that you get the best double glazing products with a ten year guarantee on the frames. This would really save you from spending a lot of cash and help you to shun from any problems that maybe encountered in the future.

For the upvc doors cardiff you should always consider the size that you would wish to have them in. This would be dictated by the size of your belongings. For instance, it would be a benefit to have a conservatory close to older properties that have low roof pitches and also consider that Victorian properties are usually ideal for large conservatories such as dining areas.

Leading double glazing cardiff, UK. Finest quality bespoke conservatories, sash windows cardiff,cardiff conservatories. Get a Quote now!  For more information please visit http://www.inspirewindows.co.uk/

Different Style of Conservatories

Nowadays, conservatories have become famous to families who wish to add extra space in their homes. Because of this, businessmen have taken the opportunity to launch several new and unique designs for the public to choose from. It is very important that when you are choosing a design for a conservatory in your home, take into consideration the style of your home and the purpose of the conservatory you want to install.

The most popular style is the Victorian conservatory. This type of conservatory is very flexible in nature that it can be placed in different kinds of properties. It is perfect on almost every kind of property available. Its roof is designed to give you an airy feeling. Its front windows are angled to create a bay window effect.

There is also the Edwardian conservatory. It is also known as the Georgian conservatory. This type of conservatory is somehow similar to Victorian conservatories. The only different is that these conservatories do not have the bay window in front. Edwardian conservatories are also popular because the design aims to maximize every possible space available on the property, making the conservatories big and spacious.

The cheapest styles of conservatories are the Mediterranean conservatories or the Lean to conservatories. This is the easiest and simplest styles of conservatories to build. They are designed with a shallow sloping roof. These conservatories would be perfect for bungalows style houses. They are very versatile that they can be placed in almost any shape of property.

Then, there are also the L shaped, B shaped, P shaped, and T shaped conservatories. These conservatories are mostly big. The letters are the actual floor shape of the conservatories. With such huge conservatories, it is not a problem to divide them into areas.

One of the key features of conservatories is the windows. The windows are considered very important in designing conservatories. The windows have their own purposes in conservatories. They let natural light in the property, they help keep the heat within the property, and they prevent strangers towards inside the property. During the earlier times, windows were for its natural function only. But over the years, they had become a social status, the larger the windows the wealthier you are.

No matter what design you choose, what's important is that you build the conservatory that would suit your taste and would serve its purpose in your home.

Leading double glazing cardiff, UK. Finest quality bespoke conservatories, sash windows cardiff,replacement windows cardiff. Get a Quote now!  For more information please visit http://www.inspirewindows.co.uk/

Biofuels: the only replacement for fossil fuels for different modes of transport

Alternative fuels have the potential to gradually replace fossil energy sources and make transport sustainable by 2050" (The European Expert Group on Future Transport Fuels).

Biofuels are the only alternative available between now and 2050 for all modes of motor transport. Electricity, hydrogen and the transition to cleaner fossil fuels will not be enough to meet the demands of the entire transport sector. Alternative fuels have the potential to gradually replace fossil energy sources and make transport sustainable by 2050 (The European Expert Group on Future Transport Fuels).
Different modes of transport require different options of alternative fuels and it has been revealed that biofuels are the only option for all forms of transport by land, water and air. Biofuels, with its higher energy density are touted as being more suitable to longer-distance operations. According to The European Expert Group on Future Transport Fuels, "Biofuels could technically substitute oil in all transport modes, with existing power train technologies and existing re-fuelling infrastructures".
Important factors determining the economics of the different options are the compatibility of new fuels with current technologies and infrastructure, or the need for disruptive system changes. The sustainability of biofuels is paramount and must be guaranteed moving forward.
The production of first and second generation biofuels from both traditional crops and lignocellulosic crops requires efficient land use, and compliance with strict sustainability criteria is important.
The EC's Vice-President, Siim Kallas has said: "If we are to achieve a truly sustainable transport, then we will have to consider alternative fuels. For this we need to take into account the needs of all transport modes."

Biofuel for a Greener Qantas

National airline Qantas Ltd has started plans to build a biofuel plant in Sydney with the assistance of US bioenergy company Solena.

 
The airline plans to use the plant to burn rubbish in an effort to power the airline's fleet with greener fuel, reported The Australian.
A Quantas spokesperson told the paper, the airline expects to produce a business case for the plant, which would enable the company to power its fleet with greener fuel, by the end of the year.
The Australian reported the plant is one of the two biofuel projects Qantas is evaluating for the purpose to cut carbon emissions and meet the airline industry guidelines to improve fuel efficiency by 1.5 per cent a year to 2020. The second project involves the using of crops to make biofuel in a sustainable industry for the airline.
Olivia Wirth, the spokesperson for Qantas said, "While we are still in the early stages of the project, the possibilities are exciting."
It is reported that Qantas has a long-standing interest in biofuels and is a member of the global Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group. Wirth further said, "Qantas is closely involved with other industry stakeholders in a "road map" study into sustainable aviation fuel development in Australia.