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Last week, UCLA Anderson hosted the California Clean Innovation conference to facilitate the new ideas that will drive the future of clean technology. I must admit to being a bit intimidated by the topics to be discussed - I’m far from technically inclined - but the event was well done and I learned a ton.
First, what we’re all interested in…the moolah. I’ve been hearing a lot about the investment going into clean tech these days. The first keynote speaker, Ira Ehrenpreis of Technology Partners in Palo Alto also explained why this is so.
Solar System Powers Donggwang Green Village on Semi-Tropical Jeju Island
Donggwang is on the western half of Jeju-do, the largest of South Korea’s semi-tropical southern islands. Near the village, Halla Mountain, a volcano and the tallest mountain in South Korea, rises from the island’s center amidst a patchwork of small farms.
Donggwang has achieved what even the most powerful countries in the world are still struggling to accomplish: total energy independence with clean technology.
Watch this excellent animation of how the new SeaGen project in Northern Ireland built by Marine Current Turbines will work. Transport of the units began a few weeks back and the installation of SeaGen should be completed shortly.
[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.marineturbines.com/swf/video_f8_317x317_v1.swf?videoPath1=http://www.marineturbines.com/uploads/documents/seagenanimation_81458.flv" width="317" height="317" wmode="transparent" /]
In light of our new Live Debate on nuclear energy running in our Green Options Discussion Forum, I see an opportunity to provide some context with another gem from the e2 energy series on PBS. e2 energy is a series of well-produced and thought-provoking pieces that go beyond the issues raised in the longer programs. Running time is 3 minutes.
[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/R6XTDQbAZBc" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
Very short and very simple. I am very envious.
[kml_flashembed movie="http://youtube.com/v/EcycDAJc858" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
Since the energy crisis of the late 1970s, the federal government has employed various policy mechanisms to support renewable energy development. Driving through the neighborhoods that were developed in the late 70s and early 80s, it’s not hard to notice all of the old rooftop solar water heating arrays that were installed because people were taking advantage of a tax credit made available by the Carter administration. But the tax credit expired after Reagan took office, which is why I don’t see rooftop solar hot water nearly as much anymore (at least not recently installed).
The same thing will happen if the renewable energy tax credits expire
By Timothy B. Hurst •
February 29, 2008
Wind turbines and solar photovoltaic have become the iconic symbols of clean energy and environmental consciousness. But what about the other less ’sexy’ forms of clean energy? Well, of course using less energy is the cleanest form to use, and it is usually the most cost-effective. But for people who want to increase the uptake of energy from clean sources, it may be more difficult. Unfortunately, not everyone has a strong enough wind or solar resource to make those investments […]
By Joe Mohr •
February 16, 2008
326 million trillion! It sounds like a number I would come up with as a kid, say, in reference to the number of things I find disgusting about my sister, or the number of reasons I need a new bike, or the number of mosquito bites I got on a weekend camping trip. But, it turns out, 326 million trillion is a real number. It happens to be (approximately—because who could count them all?) the number of gallons of water on our wonderful planet (Earth). That’s an overwhelming, impressive and — when you learn that 98% of that water is ocean water, and therefore too salty to consume, or use for irrigation — frustrating figure!
In these times where climate chaos has caused more frequent severe droughts, and our population continues to grow (read: consume water) at an awesome rate, people are becoming more and more concerned with water conservation. Humanity finds itself increasingly at a loss for freshwater while roughly 315 million trillion gallons of unusable seawater taunts us from our shores.
Sure, desalination plants are becoming more common. They are very expensive, however, and so energy intensive that they only further contribute to the climate change they are attempting remedy (thereby, joining corn-based ethanol as the two largest non-solutions to our climate problems).
Fear not my fellow water-loving earthlings! There is an even better way to remove the salt from salt water: a Seawater Greenhouse! This UK-based company explains the process as one that:
uses seawater to cool and humidify the air that ventilates the greenhouse and sunlight to distill fresh water from seawater. This enables the year round cultivation of high value crops that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to grow in hot, arid (conditions).
Lately, I’ve been hearing about a lot of investment going into green companies and technology, which has me wondering: Is “green” the new tech boom? GE is “doubling down” on clean tech investments. According to Cleantech Network, last year’s 4th quarter saw $600 million in venture capital investments. So, if the opportunities are ripe for budding entrepreneurs and you have a great idea, how do you get started? The 2nd annual
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By Sara Holt •
April 23, 2007
Bioreactor Photo Credit: Chlorophyll Collective
How do you take a damaging substance and evolve it into something beneficial?
In 2005, the United States produced 6,008.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
So, how do you turn 6,008.6 million metric tons of CO2 into something essential for human existence?
From the experts at the Chlorophyll Collective, the answer is simple: Take a bunch of algae, submerge it in water, blast it with
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By Amy Stodghill •
January 30, 2007
Venture capitalists have been sinking a lot of cash into alternative energy and clean technology start-ups in the past few years. $727 million was invested in 2006 alone, which was up from $195 million in 2005.
However, these venture capitalists are finding that in order for their new alternative energy businesses to grow and thrive they're going to need a little help from state and federal governments. This means trying to influence politicians
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