Nov

30

A Eureka! Fuel Cell Lightning Strike!

November 30, 2010 | 6 Comments

A group of researchers led by Shriram Ramanathan at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences are increasingly optimistic about the commercial viability of making fuel cells practical and affordable.  From advances in nanostructured devices, lower operating temperatures, and the use of an abundant fuel source and cheaper materials commercial viability of the technology [...]

Nov

29

Making CO2 Better for Oil Extraction

November 29, 2010 | 3 Comments

Researchers have developed a soap-like additive for CO2 that turns it into a viable solvent for commercial-scale enhanced oil recovery to increase the amount of crude oil that can be extracted from oil fields.  This might be a major step in oil field recovery, which could vastly expand the world reserves. At the UK’s University [...]

Nov

26

Big Money Flows to the Raser Series Hybrid

November 26, 2010 | 2 Comments

Raser Technologies, Inc. has finalized a deal with a group of private investors led by California investor Carl E. Berg that forms a new electric automotive company intent on building pickup trucks and SUVs for fleet customers. Kraig Higginson, Chairman of Raser Technologies explains, “We have been successful in the development of a very promising [...]

Nov

25

Ideas For Thankfulness

November 25, 2010 | 3 Comments

It’s a healthy tradition – thinking of the year, the things to be thankful for.  In our arena of energy and fuels 2010 didn’t see any major or abrupt market shifts in supply or demand to trigger price spikes.  On the other hand the supply to demand measure kept prices high enough that much of [...]

Nov

24

A New Fact Check On the Rare Earth Elements

November 24, 2010 | 3 Comments

The U.S. National Defense Authorization Act for 2010 directs the Comptroller General to complete a report on rare earth elements (REE) material. REEs are the fifteen elements with atomic numbers 57 through 71, from lanthanum to lutetium ( the lanthanides), plus yttrium, atomic number 39, which is chemically similar to the lanthanide elements and thus [...]

Nov

23

Something of Far More Concern Than an Oil Shortage

November 23, 2010 | 1 Comment

Most folks think an oil embargo or a running out of supply would be a disaster, some even realize oil could drive nations to war. But there is a much more frightening prospect – a shortage of phosphorus – that if suddenly short would dramatically cut food production. Phosphorus is an element needed by both [...]

Nov

22

Faster Biofuel Plant Growth

November 22, 2010 | 3 Comments

In the real wild world plants have to make tradeoffs such as growth and reproduction for example.  In cultivation and agriculture plant choices are manipulated for harvesting the desired product such as seed, leaves or stalks. At the Duke Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy (IGSP) manipulating a single gene may give perennial grasses more [...]

Nov

19

More American Oil

November 19, 2010 | 2 Comments

The rapidly getting famous Bakken Shale of the Williston Basin that stretches across a large portion of central North America is what most people consider as the latest great American oil field.  But the Bakken is just one of the reservoir formations in the Williston. There are more. The Williston Basin is a vastly prolific [...]

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