Purdue research on nuclear fusion brings a safer energy alternative closer to reality

There are two main types of nuclear reactions: fusion and fission. In a fusion reaction, two light-atomic nuclei fuse together to form a heavier nucleus, resulting in the release of a large amount of energy. In a fission reaction, the opposite process occurs: a single atomic nucleus splits apart into two smaller parts (lighter nuclei). Though both reactions produce energy, fusion is deemed much, much safer, in that the precise requirements for the reaction to occur negate the possibility of a catastrophic accident that could release radioactivity into the environment. Just as importantly, it is estimated that a single fusion power plant could produce 10 times more energy than a conventional nuclear fission reactor. Unfortunately, at this time the wide-scale use of controlled fusion power is not yet a reality. But researchers at Purdue University are working hard to change that.

In a joint effort with Princeton University, Purdue’s team of scientists is working to develop special coatings that can be used on the inside surfaces of a fusion reactor. The makeup of the coating is critical because it must have the ability to withstand the extreme heat generated within the reactor, a place where temperatures can reach millions of degrees. For this reason, Purdue’s research is focused on this "plasma-material interface." Among the materials being tested is one that contains lithium, which when applied to the graphite inner surface of the reactor creates an entirely new material during the reaction. The results have been positive. While there is still much work to be done, researchers are confident that someday the use of nuclear fusion power will take its rightful place as the safer, more efficient alternative to fission.

Full story at Environmental News Network.

DOE to distribute $92 million for clean-energy technologies

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced that it will distribute $92 million in support of 43 leading-edge research projects dedicated to facilitating efficiencies in power-grid storage and building-cooling systems across the nation. The funds will be divided among universities, small and large businesses, national labs and non-profits. Nearly $28 million will go to grid-storage programs to develop new technologies for the country’s power grid that will integrate extensive use of renewable energy sources, including wind and solar. An additional $34.6 million will be allocated to improve the efficiency and cost of power conversion and switching. Building-cooling programs will receive the balance of the funds, which will be utilized to develop new technologies that reduce the substantial amounts of greenhouse gases that are currently generated using conventional cooling methods. The DOE’s actions, lead by Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, underscore the White House’s commitment to clean and renewable energy sources and serve to facilitate innovation and commercialization within this rapidly-growing industry.

Full story at EcoSeed.

Uganda upholding Kyoto with first of its kind program

Uganda will create a solid waste composting program aimed at reducing methane emissions. The program will target nine municipalities in Uganda: Soroti, Mbale, Mukono, Jinja, Fort Portal, Kasese, Mbarara and Kabale.

The solid waste composting program is registered under the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Uganda is the first nation to register an activity under CDM, and the solid waste composting program will be the first of its kind in the world. These are major accomplishments for a developing nation.

CDM is a program within Kyoto that defines a strategy for how to achieve an emissions reduction target. Programs like CDM are intended to offset emissions and stimulate further emission-reduction strategies. The Kyoto Protocol holds CDM as 1 of its 3 mechanisms for achieving this:

1. Emissions trading
2. Clean development mechanism
3. Joint implementation

These mechanisms are intended to be cost-effective while also stimulating further investments in green technology for energy and emissions solutions. The composting facilities in Uganda will trap methane emissions equivalent to 750,000 tons of carbon dioxide over the next decade. Methane is 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide and remains in the atmosphere for nine years to 15 years.

At present, Uganda deposits waste into landfills. This activity produces other negative environmental impacts like further methane production and contamination of ground water and wetlands areas. The composting program will alleviate some of these impacts by reusing solid waste. It is a first step, but hopefully other African nations will begin developing solid waste composting programs of their own.

Full article at Ecoseed

Terra-Gen Power raises $1.2 billion for California’s largest wind-energy project to date

The State of California is embarking on its largest wind-energy project ever. In a partnership with private firm Terra-Gen Power, which raised $1.2 billion in funds, construction on the second of five wind farms is slated to begin immediately. The farms—which will be part of the Alta Wind Energy Center—will be located in Kern County, an area the size of New Jersey in the state’s southern Central Valley that includes portions of the Mohave Desert, San Joaquin Valley and Sierra Nevada mountain range. This is an ideal local, as the county possesses one of the United State’s most proven wind resources.

When completed, the five wind farms will increase California’s installed wind capacity by more than 25 percent, generating 720 megawatts of power and producing enough electricity to sustain 200,000 households. The project is also expected to create more than 1,500 jobs and inject an estimated $600 million into the local economy. Operations are projected to go live by the second quarter of 2011.

Full story at EcoSeed.

Recycling Carbon Dioxide

Carbon Dioxide is the substance most emitted into our air from burning fuel. There is so much we don’t know what to do with it all. The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 and the United States Department of Energy has given over 100 million dollars to research projects for figuring out where we can use all the carbon dioxide we are producing. The simplest thing to do is give it back to trees and plants so they can make more trees and plants. Or just use it to carbonate drinks. But these research projects will be focusing on turning CO2 into fuel, plastics and cement. Cornell University in New York has a center that turns CO2 into polymer that can be used in plastics to make things like packaging and utensils. Some companies are working to turn carbon dioxide into carbonates such as sodium, ammonium, potassium, etc, to make construction materials like cement. Research is also being done to make CO2 into soluble bicarbonate and carbonate to be used in fertilizer. The carbonate itself is not the fertilizer. Calcium carbonate, for example, can be used to soil pH. Potassium carbonate helps supply the potassium to the plant. Algae with captured carbon dioxide is also going to be used to create biofuels, which can be blended with other fuels for power generation. The ideas are there and research is starting to get on its way. CO2 emissions may not end up being so terrible after all.

Studying plant cell walls for better biofuels

A common garden plant known as zinnia may yield important results for better future biofuels. Current research at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are focusing on the leaves of the zinnia plant, on the nanometer scale, to hopefully develop better biofuels than current biofuels.

The researchers are trying to understand ways to break down lignin, the substance that cell walls are composed of. Lignin is tough to break down, so understanding the decomposition of it will help producing biofuels. The basic idea is that cellulose is composed of a polymer of sugars. If released by enzymes, this polymer can become an alchohol or other chemical, which can be converted to biofuel.

Scientists are able to view this process using high-tec imaging processes, allowing them to visualize singles cells in detail along with cellular substructures, fine-scale organization of the cell wall and the chemical composition of single zinnia cells.

Full story at Ecoseed

Geothermal capacity to surge with new technologies

According to a study conducted by Global Industry Analysts of San Jose, California, the world’s geothermal energy capacity is expected to increase substantially over the next five years as the search for alternative, clean forms of energy spurs new technologies that will facilitate its use at much lower costs. Though currently producing 18.4 gigawatts (GW) annually, geothermal has a global capacity potential of an estimated 70 GW. Equally important are the undeniable benefits of this energy source: in addition to producing virtually no greenhouse gas emissions, it can be accessed at any time, unlike solar and wind energy, both of which have variability issues. Geothermal will also become increasingly vital as conventional fossil fuel sources are depleted. The United States and countries in the Asia Pacific region currently lead the way in harnessing geothermal resources, which are used predominantly for generating electricity and heating.

Full story at EcoSeed.