Scientists Produce Cheap Hydrogen from Rust and Sunlight

Researchers at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) have managed to accurately characterize the iron oxide nanostructures to be used in producing hydrogen at the “lowest known possible cost”.

The news could make is possible to achieve the idea that water and some nano-structured iron oxide is all it takes to produce bubbles of solar hydrogen.  Photoelectrochemical cells (PECs) are devices able of splitting water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen in a single operation using only solar radiation.

The French are feeling pretty good.  Michael Grätzel, Director of the Laboratory of Photonics and Interfaces (LPI) at EPFL and inventor of dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cells said, “As a matter of fact, we’ve already discovered this precious ‘chalice’. Today we have just reached an important milestone on the path that will lead us forward to profitable industrial applications.”

The peer-reviewed paper appeared this week in Nature Materials.  The standout point of the paper is they have managed to accurately characterize the iron oxide nanostructures to be used in a water splitting operation.

Scott C. Warren, first author of the article said, “The whole point of our approach is to use an exceptionally abundant, stable and cheap material: rust.”

The press release isn’t especially complete, but hints a major point of the groups progress may have been Kevin Sivula, one of the collaborators at the LPI laboratory, presenting a prototype electrode based on the same principle last year. Its efficiency was such that gas bubbles emerged as soon as it was under a light stimulus. That lit off realizing the potential of such cheap electrodes was demonstrated.  Still, there is still room for improvement.
 
The researchers were able to precisely characterize the movement of the electrons through the cauliflower-looking nanostructures forming the iron oxide particles, laid on electrodes during the manufacturing process by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques.

Grätzel explains, “These measures have helped us understand the reason why we get performance differences depending on the electrodes manufacturing process.”

Then comparing several electrodes, whose manufacturing method is now mastered, the scientists were able to identify the “champion” structure. A 10×10 cm prototype has been produced and its effectiveness is in line with expectations. The next step will be the development of the industrial process to large-scale manufacturing. A European funding and the Swiss federal government could provide support for this last part.

The long-term goal is to produce hydrogen in an environmentally friendly and especially, a competitive way. Grätzel said, “Current methods, in which a conventional photovoltaic cell is coupled to an electrolyzer for producing hydrogen, costs €15 per kilo at their cheapest. We’re aiming at a €5 charge per kilo.”

Source: http://actu.epfl.ch/

Thailand Plans to Boost Renewable Energy Output to 25% of Total

Thailand plans to increase production of electricity from renewable sources to 25 percent of total output over the next 10 years to reduce imports and boost energy security, the Ministry of Energy said. 

Power generation from renewables will jump by 51 percent to 13,927 megawatts by 2021, from a current target of 9,201 megawatts, the ministry said in a statement yesterday. 

Under the new goal, approved by the National Energy Policy Committee, output from biomass will be 4,800 megawatts; biogas 3,600 megawatts; solar 3,000 megawatts; wind 1,800 megawatts and the balance will come from hydropower and waste, it said. 

Thailand is providing incentives for renewable energy projects to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, which account for more than 80 percent of the nation’s energy consumption, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said on its website. 

Demco Pcl (DEMCO), a builder of electricity networks, rose 7.1 percent to 9.05 in Bangkok as of 3:50 p.m. local time, poised for its highest close in almost three weeks. Gunkul Engineering (GUNKUL) Pcl, a power producer and engineering company, gained 4.6 percent. Both companies will benefit from the government’s plan to diversify Thailand’s energy sources, Maybank Kim Eng Securities Thailand Pcl (MBKET) wrote today in a note to clients.

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com

TMEIC's utility-scale PV Inverter Business

Junichi Ichihara, President and CEO of TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION (TMEIC) has announced 2012 utility-scale PV Inverter orders above 1GW.

Total shipments for 2012 reached 472MW, most in the first quarter of 2013. TMEIC's current production capability of 1.5 GW per year will be expanded to 2GW per year by July, 2013.

TMEIC has been manufacturing the Solar Ware(R) line of large scale PV inverters since 2009. The product line includes inverter capacities of 100/175/250/500/630kW. TMEIC has been expanding production capability and growing the sales network to meet the needs created by Japan's renewable energy FIT program, announced in July, 2012.

TMEIC's industry-leading efficiency characteristics, shortened lead-time, production capabilities, and sophisticated power control capabilities have been very well recognized by the market, leading to 2012's high number of orders. Utility Scale Installations accounted for most of the orders, followed by market share growth in the Utility segment.

About Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation (TMEIC):

Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation (TMEIC) was formed in 2003 from the merger of the industrial systems departments of Toshiba Corporation and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. TMEIC manufactures and sells variable frequency drives, motors, and advanced automation systems for a range of industrial applications.

Source: http://asia.wsj.com/

Now is Not the Time to Gut Funding for Innovative Energy Research

Last month, a subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives quietly voted to gut funding for the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) efforts to promote innovative energy research. The DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) was first on the chopping block. The subcommittee voted to slash its funding from the current level of $252 million to just $50 million—an 80% cut. On top of that, the subcommittee cut funding for the DOE’s work on renewable energy in half.

ARPA-E was created by the 2007 America COMPETES Act, signed into law by then President George W. Bush. The agency is modeled after the successful Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)—credited for transformative innovations like GPS and computer networking. ARPA-E is intended to facilitate small government grants for basic research into transformative energy technologies that are too risky for the private sector. Since its first funding allocation from the Obama administration in 2009, ARPA-E awardees have already doubled the world-record energy density for a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and pioneered a near-isothermal compressed air energy storage system.

ARPA-E’s numerous success stories and proven funding model have given it a measure of bipartisan support. ARPA-E is a major component of the Obama administration’s push for clean energy jobs, drawing high praise from Vice President Biden. Notably, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney agrees with the administration on this point: “Government has a role to play in innovation in the energy industry. History shows that the United States has moved forward in astonishing ways thanks to national investment in basic research and advanced technology.” In addition to Romney, other key Republican lawmakers have voiced support for ARPA-E: Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee both spoke at ARPA-E’s annual summit in February. Considering the fact that ARPA-E has already attracted over $450 million in private sector funding, its bipartisan support should come as no surprise.

This recent move to axe clean energy funding does nothing to truly address our budget woes and hurts our footing in the international race towards a clean energy future. As President Obama laid out in his landmark speech on climate change, it is time for Americans to come together and create a smart, clean, low-carbon economy that protects future generations from the threat of climate change. Programs like ARPA-E provide the vital funding needed to see innovative energy technologies through to commercialization.

Now is not the time to cut these vital programs. We must continue supporting clean energy research and inspiring the next great generation of scientists and engineers.

Source: http://blogs.scientificamerican.com

My dream is to make renewable energy affordable for all: Steven Chu

Steven Chu was awarded the 1997 Nobel Prize in physics jointly with compatriot William D Phillips and Claude Cohen-Tannoudji of France for "developing methods to cool and trap atoms with laser light". Chu is now better known as US President Barack Obama's former energy secretary, a post he resigned from in April to return to Stanford University. An advocate of sustainable development and renewable energy, Chu speaks to Narayani Ganesh on the sidelines of the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings with young researchers, 22 of who are from India. Excerpts:

What kind of solar energy business model would you suggest for India?

Solar energy being too expensive is not something one has to worry about. On a global scale, the Chinese made solar panels are cheaper but the difference is due to import duties pricing, shipping charges, taxes, licensing fee and so on. In a context where international prices are coming down and the technology is getting better and more reliable, you have to be concerned about installation cost and licensing fee. In the US, it also depends on where you are located. For example, the southern parts get more sunshine and in 10 years, you could get solar power generated at 8 cents an hour and that is not expensive.

Won't the utility companies — what we call electricity boards — be up in arms over consumers generating their own electricity on their rooftops?

In order for utility companies to be part of the solution you have to make them part of the business. It means if you have rooftop space at home, you can hire someone to install the panels from the utility company. In the US more and more solar projects are done this way — a company says you don't have to pay for anything; just pay for the electricity. Have a contract for five or ten years at a certain rate (about the same as normal electricity costs) — you don't have to bear the capital costs nor worry about maintenance. If utility companies are part of business, it would be good as they can borrow money at lower rates. It is a new business, a good business where they can make money.

What about storing solar energy?

As the technology gets better, energy storage too is possible, in batteries in your home. It is inexpensive — in 15 years maximum you can have storage inside home where it does not get up to 40 degrees Celsius. Utility companies, if they have to build a building to hold all batteries, will have to bear high costs. All they need is space. Which means they can offer you electricity at lower cost if they have local storage. So the consumer does not have to worry about inflation or equipment but just pay for the electricity. That is the business model I have been talking about to electrical companies this past year. If they know they can make money from solar energy generation on someone's roof, they would be most interested. And with batteries in homes, you would not have to worry about blackouts.

You gave up your post as Obama's energy secretary. Do you think scientists should stay away from politics?

I neither like nor dislike politics. It's just that I needed to get back to my research as a practicing scientist.

Obama has said he is concerned about climate change. But the US has a poor green track record...

He is certainly concerned, but the Congress has to pass the laws. We do need to change agricultural practices, reduce carbon emissions and ocean acidification. We need another green revolution but without the drawbacks of pesticides. High nutrition is important and to achieve that, we could explore safe GM food. My dream is to make renewable more affordable.

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com