Powering the World with Sunlight

Scientists are making progress toward development of an “artificial leaf” that mimics a real leaf’s chemical magic with photosynthesis — but instead converts sunlight and water into a liquid fuel such as methanol for cars and trucks.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2009 — Scientists are making progress toward development of an “artificial leaf” that mimics a real leaf’s chemical magic with photosynthesis — but instead converts sunlight and water into a liquid fuel such as methanol for cars and trucks.

That is among the conclusions in a newly-available report from top authorities on solar energy who met at the 1st Annual Chemical Sciences and Society Symposium. The gathering launched a new effort to initiate international cooperation and innovative thinking on the global energy challenge.

The three-day symposium, which took place in Germany this past summer, included 30 chemists from China, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. It was organized through a joint effort of the science and technology funding agencies and chemical societies of each country, including the U. S. National Science Foundation and the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world’s largest scientific society.

The symposium series was initiated though the ACS Committee on International Activities in order to offer a unique forum whereby global challenges could be tackled in an open, discussion-based setting, fostering innovative solutions to some of the world’s most daunting challenges.

A “white paper” entitled “Powering the World with Sunlight,” describes highlights of the symposium and is available along with related materials here.

“The sun provides more energy to the Earth in an hour than the world consumes in a year,” the report states. “Compare that single hour to the one million years required for the Earth to accumulate the same amount of energy in the form of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are not a sustainable resource, and we must break our dependence on them. Solar power is among the most promising alternatives.”

The symposium focused on four main topics:

• Mimicking photosynthesis using synthetic materials such as the “artificial leaf”
• Production and use of biofuels as a form of stored solar energy
• Developing innovative, more efficient solar cells
• Storage and distribution of solar energy

The scientists pointed out during the meeting that plants use solar energy when they capture and convert sunlight into chemical fuel through photosynthesis. The process involves the conversion of water and carbon dioxide into sugars as well as oxygen and hydrogen. Scientists have been successful in mimicking this fuel-making process, termed artificial photosynthesis, but now must finds ways of doing so in ways that can be used commercially. Participants described progress toward this goal and the scientific challenges that must be met before solar can be a viable alternative to fossil fuels.

Highlights of the symposium include a talk by Kazunari Domen, Ph.D., of the University of Tokyo in Japan. Domen described current research on developing more efficient and affordable catalysts for producing hydrogen using a new water-splitting technology called “photocatalytic overall water splitting.” The technology uses light-activated nanoparticles, each 1/50,000 the width of a human hair, to convert water to hydrogen. This technique is more efficient and less expensive than current technologies, he said.

Domen noted that the ultimate goal of artificial photosynthesis is to produce a liquid fuel, such as methanol, or “wood alcohol.” Achieving this goal would fulfil the vision of creating an “artificial leaf” that not only splits water but uses the reaction products to create a more usable fuel, similar to what leaves do.

Among the “take-home messages” cited in the report:

• There’s no single best solution to the energy problem. Scientists must seek more affordable, sustainable solutions to the global energy challenge by considering all the options.
• Investing in chemistry is investing in the future. Strong basic research is fundamental to realizing the potential of solar energy and making it affordable for large-scale use.
• Society needs a new generation of “energy scientists” to explore new ways to capture, convert, and store solar energy.

“The meeting was an experiment worth trying,” said Teruto Ohta, executive director of the Chemical Society of Japan.

Conference organizers expressed hope that the symposium will be the first of several to tackle “the global challenges of the 21st century and the indispensible role that the chemical sciences play in addressing these issues,” said Klaus Mullen, president of the German Chemistry Association.

“Building on the success of this first symposium, we’re now gearing up for the future, convening top chemical scientists to address other, equally pressing global challenges,” said Julie Callahan of the ACS Office of International Activities and principal investigator on the project. “It is an exciting time to be a chemist!”

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The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With more than 154,000 members, ACS is the world’s largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

Source: www.eurekalert.org

CSIRO managers are narrowly interpreting the agency’s charter in Australia to effectively ban scientists from criticising the Government’s emissions trading scheme, while the man at the heart of this issue, economist Clive Spash, points to the potential of emissions trading to have “undesirable ethical and psychological impacts and to crowd out voluntary actions”.

Nicola Berkovic  in The Australian (5 November 2009):

CSIRO managers are narrowly interpreting the agency’s charter to effectively ban scientists from publishing any critique of emissions trading schemes, in a decision that has sparked alarm among the organisation’s climate change experts.

The move comes amid a crackdown by the CSIRO on public comments by scientists in their personal capacity.

The organisation began rolling out a new public comment policy three weeks ago that limits what scientists can say publicly about issues within their area of expertise.

The new policy forbids scientists from making comments, even in their private capacity, if the remarks might affect “public confidence in CSIRO as a trusted adviser”. If such a perception could arise, scientists are required to discuss the issue with their supervisor to “effectively manage risks”.

Scientists told The Australian yesterday the vague wording of the policy meant they would be forced to seek permission before making any public comments, even if the comments were not associated with the CSIRO.

The rollout of the new policy comes after CSIRO scientists gave evidence earlier this year to a Senate inquiry into climate change. Some managers were unhappy with the media coverage that followed.

And it follows a dispute with CSIRO economist Clive Spash, whose paper on emissions trading schemes has been banned from publication.

CSIRO spokesman Huw Morgan said the new document did not change existing policy, merely clarified it.

CSIRO staff association secretary Sam Popovski met officials yesterday to raise concerns about Dr Spash’s treatment by senior managers.

Dr Spash said this week he felt harassed after he received a strongly worded letter outlining a list of trivial breaches of CSIRO policies, such as not filling out a leave form properly. This was sent 24 hours after he received a letter regarding the decision to ban his paper.

CSIRO chief executive Megan Clark is reviewing the decision to ban Dr Spash’s paper, but reasons for the ban became clearer yesterday for the first time.

The head of the CSIRO’s sustainable ecosystems group, Daniel Walker, decided to block the publication of the paper because it commented on government policy.

Dr Walker told Dr Spash that any critique of emissions trading schemes in general breached the CSIRO’s charter, which states that scientists are not permitted to “debate the merits of government policy”.

The charter was praised by Science Minister Kim Carr last year as a means of protecting academic freedoms.

Senator Carr told The Australian scientists should be able to contribute their personal opinions to public debate.

“Individual opinions should be subject to debate, and as I’ve always said science is contestable,” he said.

“People have the right to be wrong.”

Source: www.theaustralian.com.au

Here’s the abstract of the paper in question, presented at the 2009 Australia New Zealand Society for Ecological Economics (ANZSEE) Conference last month:

Clive Spash, Presenter, Independent Research for the Environment (IRE)

As human induced climate change has become a prominent political issue at the international level so the idea that emission trading can offer the solution has become more popular in government circles. Carbon permits are then fast becoming a serious financial instrument in markets turning over billions of dollars a year.

In this paper, I show how the reality of market operation is far removed from the assumptions of economic theory and the promise of saving resources by efficiently allocating emission reductions. The pervasiveness of Greenhouse Gas emissions, strong uncertainty and complexity prevent economists from substantiating their theoretical claims. Corporate power is shown to be a major force affecting emissions market operation and design.

The potential for manipulation to achieve financial gain, while showing little regard for environmental or social consequences, is evident as markets have extended internationally and via trading offsets. At the individual level, I explore the potential of emissions trading to have undesirable ethical and psychological impacts and to crowd out voluntary actions.

I conclude that the focus on such markets is creating a distraction from the need for changing human behaviour, institutions and infrastructure.

Source: www.ecoeco.org

The Heat Is On For Electric Vehicles   

The Renault-Nissan Alliance is involved in the French joint venture company to develop and manufacture batteries for electric vehicles, while a new zero emission car resembles a spa inside and out. CEO Renault Australia is one of the keynote speakers at the nation’s first Electric Vehicle Conference in Brisbane 11 November.

What role could electric vehicles play in making the transition to cleaner and greener transport?

That’s a question being asked and answered at Australia’s first annual conference on Electric Vehicles being held in Brisbane on Wednesday 11 November.

Conference speakers will not just focus on electric vehicles, but how they could impact the electricity infrastructure, says organiser Philippe Reboul, managing director of RBL Management Consulting. The event has the support of Brisbane City Council, Ergon Energy and other industry players.

It will be opened by Michael Choi, Parliamentary Secretary for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy and Trade, and will feature speakers from leading universities, energy and automobile industries, including the CEO of Renault in Australia, Rudi Koenig. Renault-Nissan is one of the leading automobile groups committed to electric vehicles.

“Electric vehicles are really entering a new era and starting to have an impact worldwide,” says Mr Reboul.

“Now there is the opportunity for Australia to become a front runner. The industry and the government, including utilities, are working hard on developing the right infrastructures and policies, despite the considerable challenges a large penetration of electric vehicles would mean in the short term,” he says.

International players like Renault and Mitsubishi, as well as local entrepreneurs like Blade EV and DeepGreen Research will present their vehicles and talk about their products at the conference venue, the Novotel Hotel in the city.

Dr Andrew Simpson from Curtin University’s Sustainable Policy Institute will set the scene on electric vehicles; Conal Horgan from University of Technology Sydney will discuss the possibility to use electric vehicles to feed electricity back into the grid, and Dr Peter Pudney from the University of South Australia will talk about the planning required to introduce electric transport.

In addition to their role as policy makers, governments and councils play a crucial dual role as fleet and infrastructure owners and operators. They can greatly influence the speed of adoption of electric vehicles and the level of investment in the required infrastructure.

“Electric vehicles will reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels and decrease urban pollution. They could also be charged on green power and become a driver for more clean energy production in line with Australia’s renewable energy target,” Mr Reboul added.

Luke Grana, CEO of ChargePoint Australia will speak about “fueling the electric transportation industry”, while Glenn Walden, General Manager of Ergon Energy will look at the network requirements, and Dr David Finn, Managing Director of Tritium, will consider component technology and interaction with the grid.

Electric Vehicle policies adopted and proposed around the world will be explored and explained by Ken Hickson, author of “The ABC of Carbon”.

Source: www.evconference.com.au

ZOE Z.E., a 100% electric, zero-emission city car, is for men and women who want to take care of

the environment while taking care of themselves – even behind the wheel.

The roof has been designed as an intelligent protective membrane that insulates against heat and cold, optimizes climate control, and recovers energy using honeycomb photovoltaic cells.

The car features a shield of polyurethane gel at the front and the back, acting as a second skin that protects vulnerable parts of the body in the event of mild urban impact.

ZOE Z.E. boasts the finest in air filtration and purification technology to fully protect the health of

passengers and keep their skin young-looking.

Drivers can “fill up” in one of three ways:

_ Standard charge: in 4 to 8 hours, using a recharge socket outside the car

_ Fast charge: in 20 minutes, using the same socket at special charge stations

_ The exclusive “Quickdrop” system, or rapid battery exchange: in 3 minutes at exchange stations

Biotherm research teams and Renault engineers and designers have combined their expertise in a

co-innovation partnership.

Since the brand was created in 1952, Biotherm research laboratories have developed in-depth knowledge on the cellular mechanisms of the skin, together with proven scientific know-how in the virtues of aromatherapy.

For more than 110 years, Renault has developed recognized expertise in the design and approval of equipment for comfort and well-being.

Thus, ZOE Z.E. presents all-new benefits for its occupants:

1- Hydrated skin: The air conditioning system, generally optimized to respect temperature settings, has been entirely redesigned to keep passengers’ skin hydrated. Occupants benefit from intelligent climate control that keeps the air in the cabin from drying out.

2- Pollution protection system: Thanks to a toxicity sensor and cabin-mounted particulate filters that

close air vents if required, ZOE Z.E. passengers travel in a clean atmosphere.

3- Active essential oils function: An electric system diffuses essential oils, exclusive active substances

adapted to the needs of the driver: dynamic in the morning, relaxing coming home from work, and

awakening vigilance while driving at night. Developed by Biotherm, they transform the cabin into a “spa” cocoon and contribute to passenger vigilance.

The electric vehicle is the breakthrough solution for bringing zero-emission mobility to all. It has

already received worldwide political support, in the shape of tax breaks on CO2 emissions and the

development of infrastructures necessary for electric mobility. As early as 2011, Renault will

launch volume production of a range of electric vehicles accessible to all.

Source:  www.media.renault.com

Paris, November 5, 2009

The Renault-Nissan Alliance, the CEA and the FSI sign intent to create a joint venture to develop and manufacture batteries for electric vehicles in France

A letter of intent was signed today in Flins between the Renault-Nissan Alliance, the French Atomic

Energy Commission (CEA) and the French Strategic Investment Fund (FSI) to set-up a joint venture

company that would develop and manufacture batteries for electric vehicles, under the patronage of

Christian Estrosi, the French Minister for Industry.

Renault, Nissan and the CEA would bring technical expertise and infrastructure support in addition to

an equity investment. Consistent with its mission making long-term investments in companies in order

to boost French competitiveness, the FSI will contribute 125 million euros to the project.

In order to complete the financing of the project, the European Investment Bank (EIB) is considering a loan of up to 50% of the 280 million Euro debt financing.

The joint venture between Renault, Nissan, CEA and FSI would focus on advanced research,

manufacturing and the recycling of electric vehicle batteries.

The joint venture plans to produce batteries from mid 2012 at the Renault Flins plant, located 30km

from Paris. Production capacity is targeted at 100,000 batteries a year. The investment value of the first phase of the project is estimated at 600 millions Euros.

Batteries produced by the joint venture would be available for sale to any manufacturer. The Renault-

Nissan Alliance will use its European battery plants in France, the UK and Portugal to supply electric

vehicles built around Europe and Turkey. Renault intends to use the batteries produced at Flins primarily for the all-new electric car that will derive from the Zoe Ze Concept, also to be built at the Flins plant.

The joint venture will have a sustainable approach to its entire operations, including developing technologies to recycle batteries on site.

To date, the French government has created several initiatives towards zero emission mobility including public and private sector company bids on joint purchases of a 100 000 electric vehicles fleet by 2015, consumer incentives of up to €5,000 for the purchase of an electric vehicle (through 2012) and the development of infrastructure through a planned investment of 900 millions Euros financed by the French government.

“Realizing the potential of zero-emission mobility on a mass scale requires unique collaboration between public and private sectors”, said Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and CEO of Renault and Nissan. We welcome the vision and commitment made today by the French government, the CEA and the FSI to invest with the Renault Nissan Alliance in the future of clean transportation.”

Bernard Bigot, Chairman of CEA added, “Bringing its strong know-how in the field of CO2-free energy technologies for a sustainable development, the CEA will be a key contributor for the the R&D programs of the joint-venture. Our partners can count on the full support of the CEA research teams in its challenging ambition to lead the electric vehicle market”.

Gilles Michel, General Manager of FSI said “The FSI’s role is to help stabilize and strengthen the supplier network, in particular through the investment fund FMEA. By participating in a joint venture that holds great potential for the future of the auto industry, the FSI reaffirms its conviction that the industry still has much to contribute to France’s competitiveness.

Source:  www.media.renault.com

Waste Not, Want Not

Wasteful Australian households are being advised to avoid shopping when hungry after a study found least $5.2 billion worth of food is thrown out each year, while an Australia-wide program to keep computers, TVs and other electronic waste out of landfill will be underway by 2011.

By Karen Collier in the Herald Sun (5 November 2009):

WASTEFUL Australian households are being advised to avoid shopping when hungry after a study found we throw out at least $5.2 billion worth of food each year. 

Fruit and vegetables are turfed most, followed by unfinished restaurant and takeaway meals and fresh meat and fish. 

Consumers are being urged to think twice about bulk buy discounts, use plastic containers to store leftovers and write and stick to shopping lists to reduce the amount of food that winds up as rubbish, the Herald Sun reports.

Singles living alone buying over-sized items and territorial flatmates refusing to share their fridge’s contents are the biggest offenders, according to new research. 
The Australia Institute study for the environmental initiative, Do Something, warns that the mountain of discarded food is taking an environmental toll through millions of tonnes of waste left rotting in landfill and giving off methane gas. 

Victorians admitted wasting an average $560 a household and $214 a person – one of the lowest rates in the nation. 

While wealthy households in states outside Victoria were more likely to dump food, our rich were less wasteful. 

Environmental campaigners blame some retailers for feeding waste through two-for-one deals, clever store designs for impulse buys and free plastic bags. 

They want to see a government campaign to reduce the problem as incomes rise and household sizes shrink. 

The report, based on an online survey of 1603 consumers last month, says the dollars thrown down the drain are more than the Australian Army budget. 

Do Something founder Jon Dee said the annual waste was the equivalent of 150,000 truck loads of garbage. 

Source: www.heraldsun.com.au

Karen Dearne in Australian IT News (5 November 2009):

AN Australia-wide program to keep computers, TVs and other electronic waste out of landfill will be underway by 2011, with the nation’s environment ministers today agreeing to fast-track a landmark product stewardship approach advocated by industry.

Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett said householders will be able to drop off outdated equipment for recycling free of charge, with the new scheme expected to put 80 per cent of all old TVs and computers into recycling facilities by 2021.

“Backed by new Commonwealth legislation, a new industry-run national collection and recycling scheme for the growing mountain of e-waste will be up and running in or before 2011,” Mr Garrett said.

“This is a major development which sees manufacturers taking responsibility for managing one of the fastest growing areas of waste, and it will be done at minimal cost to consumers.

“This is a fundamental shift in our approach to waste, complementing broader action on climate change and sustainability.”

Industry and consumer groups have been keenly awaiting the outcome of today’s meeting of the Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC) in Perth, reflecting the close co-operation that has developed under the broad leadership of the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA), the Total Environment Centre and the Boomerang Alliance.

In 2007-08, nearly 17 million old TVs, computers and related products reached the end of their useful lives, but the overwhelming majority – 84 per cent – were sent to the local dump. Only 10 per cent of this equipment was recycled, and the mountain of e-waste continues to grow.

Under the new national waste policy, manufacturers will have the option to join accredited, voluntary, industry-run schemes, although the government will ensure non-participants must comply with the same standards through mandatory or co-regulatory arrangements.

“This will ensure that free-riders are unable to gain a financial advantage over those companies that willingly contribute to recycling their own products,” Mr Garrett said.

AIIA chief executive Ian Birks said the decision put a strong emphasis on compliance, and there would be clear penalties for companies that refuse to participate.

“We’ve been working towards this result for many years, and we can now get on with the job,” Mr Birks said. “The EPHC has accepted our recommendations, based on our experience with the Byteback program in Victoria over the past four years.

“Byteback has provided essential data to support the creation of the co-regulatory framework, and demonstrated the detailed requirements for a successful working relationship between all parties.”

Source: www.theaustralian.com.au

Algae Feeds Bio-Sequestration Project

Australia’s first large scale Algal Research and Development Facility at James Cook University, Douglas Campus, Townsville will open on 20 November 2009, while Anglo Coal has been named as the latest partner with MBD for its bio sequestration project. Eco Generation explains what this is all algae energy business is all about.

Article from EcoGeneration magazine:

Geo-sequestration, or storage of carbon dioxide underground, is the most commonly known carbon capture and storage solution; however, companies are developing alternative and more lucrative solutions to lower emissions and power the future.

Lucy Rochlin caught up with MBD Managing Director Andrew Lawson to discuss the potential for bio-sequestration in 2010 and beyond.

MBD Energy uses algae to recycle captured industrial flue-gas emissions, converting them into oils suitable for manufacture of high grade plastics, transport fuel and nutritious feed for livestock. The process also produces algae meal which can be used as biomass for electricity production or feed for livestock. The algae meal makes up 65 per cent of the end product, and has the potential to create over 10 MW of power from a small scale algal synthesiser plant. MBD is currently developing a business model for electricity generation using algae meal.

Bio-sequestration

In the bio-sequestration process, also known as bio carbon capture and storage (bio CCS), carbon is treated as part of a carbon cycle.

The conversion of carbon into oil and meal draws emissions that would usually be emitted to the atmosphere. The process also creates other carbon based products that can be used as useful forms energy. The alternative geo-sequestration process uses 50 per cent more coal to extract and liquefy the CO2, before injecting it into the ground. Furthermore, no useful forms of energy are produced.

Mr Lawson sees a parallel between our storage of carbon and rubbish disposal in Australia.

“The last 200 years have seen landfill fill up with pollution and rubbish. This option is increasingly becoming more expensive and unsustainable. Recycling has started to reduce the quantity of landfill, by recycling rubbish into new, useful and sustainable products. Geo-sequestration is the landfill of the 21st century, while bio CCS seeks to provide a solution for the next millennia that is sustainable.”

The algal synthesiser

The algal synthesiser is an algae farm, in which greenhouse gas is cooled using cooling tower water, and then fed to the algae. Additional nutrients are added to the farm to complete the algae’s diet.

The algae selected are local strains that are high in oil and protein, and double their mass every 24 to 48 hours. Fifty per cent of the algae is harvested each day, dewatered and crushed to yield oil and nutritious meal. In this process, 100 per cent of the algae is used. The algae strain is also matched to the type of oil required.

MBD has focused on oil for fuel and plastic – however strains rich in Omega 3 and other high value oils have been identified for future investigation.  The remaining meal is 50 – 70 per cent protein, and when blended with carbohydrates, provides a drought proof feed for livestock and aquaculture, year round.

Implementation

The algal synthesiser may be retrofitted to a majority of existing CO2 emitting industrial facilities provided there is sufficient space for installation of the modular and compact array of transparent tubing – the component at the heart of the process. The synthesiser can also be integrated into new emissions producing infrastructure and located on buffer land adjacent to the emitter.

MBD plans to harness the use of the greenhouse flue gas from an emitter’s smoke stack rather than the significantly more expensive and still-to-be-developed pure CO2 capture solution, geo-sequestration. MBD’s process is commercial, and reduces the complexity, risk, cost and timeframe of transforming an emitter to a low carbon footprint operator.

MBD’s projects

Full scale plants at Loy Yang, NSW and QLD

MBD has developed a fully operational research and development facility and is currently moving to develop full scale display plants at a number of Australia’s major coal-burning power stations at Loy Yang A in Victoria, Eraring Energy in New South Wales, and a large Queensland-based emitter.

The company has also completed additional works at the Townsville-based research and development facility, and is in the process of inoculating the growth systems. Originally launched in 2008 by Queensland Premier Anna Bligh, the new facility will be re-launched by Ms Bligh on 20 November as the largest micro algae research and development facility in the world.

The bio-carbon capture and storage demonstration projects

MBD is also participating in a joint demonstration project that will aim to bio-sequester more than 25 per cent of emissions by 2020 in three high-emitting regions in Australia: Gippsland in Victoria; south Queensland; and Western Australia. The projects are privately funded, commercial projects. The other companies involved include Lawrie Co, Ignite Energy Resources, Plantstone Technology, CO2Australia, New Forests, Spectrum Renewable Energy, Soil Carbon Australia and Licella.

“Biology has provided nature with ready-made filters – MBD’s bio carbon capture and storage demonstration projects will harness these filters to demonstrate the commercial viability of speedily cleaning the air, improving water quality, and improving food outputs by ‘closing nature’s loops’,” says MBD Managing Director Andrew Lawson.

International Support

MBD’s discussions in China and India in October 2009 were expected to result in the finalisation of several sites to develop bio-sequestration commercial demonstration projects.

“Both of these countries have severely depleted soils and looming food security concerns and both are heavily dependent on coal for the near future. To a large extent, the battle against climate change will be won or lost in these countries,” says Mr Lawson.

Bio-sequestration – a viable climate change solution

Kyoto and the majority of subsequent investigation and world discussion have focused on transferring to a low carbon environment through geo-sequestration. However, policies that stabilise sequestrations through oceans and forests are also of key importance.

MBD considers that bio-sequestration has previously been marginalised as a solution to climate change in Australia.

Mr Lawson suggests that this is because bio-sequestration necessitates the difficult task of a comprehensive reassessment of the carbon cycle. While the geo-sequestration proposes to store carbon, it is far less simple to track a path from greenhouse gases to fixation in oils, cellulous and other derivatives.

However Mr Lawson says that regardless of their complexity, it is these processes that will provide commercial long term sustainable solutions and optimise the energy/resource balance.

Bio-sequestration – the benefits

Sustainable: Generation of fuel and feed from waste greenhouse gases

Clean: Lower emission fuel and feed

Green: Algae made all the oil on earth over millions of years – MBD is cutting this process down to one day. The process enables the mineral oil to be maintained in underground reservoirs and the CO2 in the atmosphere and from industry to be harnessed for fuel.

Bio-sequestration and the CPRS

MBD believes that the CPRS legislation needs to be built on a clear and definite central basis – where any technology that has a net reduction in atmospheric CO2 is supported.

“The legislation should recognise all forms of sequestration or reduction in the physical greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere,” says Mr Lawson.

The company considers that bio-sequestration has the potential to offer a commercially viable solution for large scale reduction of carbon emissions to the atmosphere.                      

Source: www.ecogeneration.com.au and www.mbdenergy.com

Caltex Scanning the Energy Horizon

As the world moves towards cleaner fuels in coming decades, Caltex CEO Julian Segal said natural gas, renewable power and biomass would become the ”new oil” in decades to come, posing a threat to many traditional refiners. But the company believes the CPRS as it stands could actually lead to an increase in petrol emissions.

Clancy Yeates in Sydney Morning Herald (6 November 2009):

CALTEX’S chief executive, Julian Segal, has conceded the traditional business of oil refining is likely to lose its relevance as the world’s energy mix changes.

In an outline of how Caltex plans to survive under climate-change policies, Mr Segal also said the company was ”scanning the horizon” for opportunities, as big oil producers exit the retail market.

As the world moves towards cleaner fuels in coming decades, Mr Segal said natural gas, renewable power and biomass would become the ”new oil” in decades to come, posing a threat to many traditional refiners.

Companies that looked beyond oil refining would be the main winners, Mr Segal said. He nominated growth in biofuels as a potential growth area for the company.

He called on the Government to back biofuels such as ethanol, and said the company was concerned about the impact of future excise changes.

”There is no coherent policy framework for biofuels development and we hope the Federal Government’s energy white paper will address this issue,” Mr Segal said in Sydney.

He said the carbon pollution reduction scheme would send only a weak signal to drivers, and called on the Government to encourage people to buy more fuel-efficient vehicles.

Another response by Caltex to the changing environment has been to expand its share in the retail end of the market, where it is awaiting the competition watchdog’s approval on a deal to buy more than 300 petrol stations for $300 million from ExxonMobil.

Caltex shares fell by 1 per cent, to $9.95.

Source: www.smh.com.au

Here’s Caltex position on CPRS, from its website:

Caltex Australia believes the treatment of emissions intensive trade exposed (EITE) industries under the proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) needs to be reviewed, while its treatment of motorists is flawed and could actually increase petrol emissions. Instead, Caltex believes an emphasis needs to be placed on complementary measures for motorists.

Does Caltex support an emissions trading scheme?

Yes, Caltex sees an emissions trading scheme of some kind as an important tool for reducing point source greenhouse gas emissions. However, the proposed CPRS is flawed and needs major changes before being implemented.

How long does Caltex think the scheme should be delayed?

The scheme should be delayed until the design is right and until economic conditions return to normal. There should also be time for a trial period so businesses can test the operation of scheme and their business systems.

What is wrong with the scheme’s treatment of EITE industries?

Caltex would need to purchase $25 to $40 million of permits for carbon emissions from its two refineries each year, and that’s assuming we receive 60 per cent of our permits for free. Yet our direct overseas competitors, such as refineries in Singapore, would have no carbon costs, so we could not pass on our carbon costs. This would mean a loss of international competitiveness and effectively impose a new tax on business.

What are Caltex’s refinery emissions?

Caltex’s two oil refineries directly and indirectly emit about 2.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO 2e) each year, about 0.4% of Australia’s total emissions.

What does Caltex propose for EITE industries like oil refining?

Caltex proposes that activities such as refining receive a 100 per cent allocation of free permits until such time as our international competitors face equivalent carbon costs.

What are the emissions from the use of petroleum products, such as transport?

In2006, a total of 115 Mt or 20% of Australia’s total emissions was from the use of petroleum products, including petrol, diesel and jet fuel. Transport use was 14%.

Why does Caltex believe motorists should be removed from the CPRS?

Caltex will have to buy permits for customers’ carbon emissions, then charge them back to the customer. However, the government has proposed a reduction in the fuel excise related to carbon cost which effectively removes private motorists and some small businesses from the scheme. In fact, emissions from petrol would increase be higher until 2025 than without the CPRS.

How much would Caltex have to spend to buy customers’ carbon permits?

Based on the CPRS design, Caltex would have to purchase between $0.9 and $1.6 billion in permits for our customers’ emissions each year.

How would the CPRS actually increase petrol emissions?

For the first three years and several years beyond that, the excise reduction for petrol will actually be greater than carbon price being imposed. That means petrol prices will actually go down and emissions will go up. By 2025, petrol suppliers will have churned $20 billion in permits for no environmental gain.

What about larger diesel vehicles?

We don’t propose changing the CPRS carbon cost proposals for on-road vehicles over 4.5 tonnes or off-road vehicles in various industries.

What should be done instead of including motorists in the CPRS?

Caltex proposes voluntary targets for carbon emissions from vehicles, government incentives for consumers to purchase low-emissions vehicles through a “cashback” (feebate) scheme, funding for cleaner vehicle technology together with greater reliance on alternative fuels, and investing further in public transport and better land use planning.

 Source: www.caltex.com.au

Dire Risks for Icy Waters & Reefs

World leaders in Antarctic marine conservation this week sent a strong message to Copenhagen negotiators concerning the dire risks facing the southern continent, while WWF-Australia also says the Great Barrier Reef still faces enormous threats from coastal developments. On 11 November there’s at a high level briefing in Brisbane on the Reef.

In Brisbane on 11 November, WWF Australia has organised for Dr Russell Reichelt, CEO, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority will provide a high level briefing on the latest science in the recently published Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009.

Dr Russell Reichelt was appointed as Chairman and Chief Executive of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority in November 2007. He is presently a board member of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre. He has a PhD in marine science from the University of Queensland (1980) and has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Institute of Marine Science,

Chairman of the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation and as a member of Australia’s State of the Environment Committee and the Queensland Government’s Smart State Council.

Nick Heath will explain the key threats to the Reef and WWF’s campaign to save it.

CEO of WWF Australia Greg Bourne will be there to outline to business leaders and Government the full extent of the problem and what needs to be done for the Great Barrier Reef.

On 2 November 2009, WWF reported:

Environment Minister Peter Garrett’s decision not to allow a massive resort development on Great Keppel Island is welcome news at a time when the Great Barrier Reef faces enormous threats from coastal developments and wildlife across the country continues to decline.

There are currently 110 proposed marine infrastructure areas planned along the Queensland coast with 45 of these in or adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Meanwhile the Federal Government has released a report today that reveals all of Australia’s threatened species are in continued decline.

“It’s very welcome news that Minister Garrett has knocked back the proposal for an unacceptably large tourist resort on Great Keppel Island,” said Lydia Gibson, WWF’s Marine Policy Manager.

“We hope this is an indication that the government will show a similar level of consideration for the future development proposals in the area.”

However, Minister Garrett’s decision to protect Great Keppel Island comes amidst continuing and precipitous species declines across Australia, as recognised by the Australian Terrestrial Biodiversity Assessment released today.

The report notes that “There were no cases of real improvement in the status of listed (terrestrial) taxa at the national level.”

“Today’s Terrestrial Biodiversity Assessment Report clearly shows that Australia’s wildlife is still in massive decline. We must clearly do a better job of protecting our marine life than we have of protecting our terrestrial species,” said Averil Bones, WWF’s Biodiversity Policy Manager.

Coastal development was considered one of the major threats to the reef in the recent Reef Outlook Report, which painted a grim picture for the reef’s future unless such pressures were reduced.

The report also identified a lack of integrated planning, resources and enforcement in managing coastal development that was seriously compromising the protection of the Great Barrier Reef.

The massive GKI Resort Pty Ltd proposal included a 300-room hotel and day spa, 1700 resort villas, 300 resort apartments, a 560 berth marina and yacht club, ferry terminal, retail village, golf course and sporting oval.

“What is urgently needed is a fundamental strategic approach to avoid the mass industrialisation of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area,” Ms Gibson said.

“The impacts of this scale of development on coral communities, coastal wetlands and marine species when combined with the additional pressures of climate change and farm run-off, would push the reef to the point of no return.”

WWF reports on 5 November 2009):

World leaders in Antarctic marine conservation gathering in Hobart this week must send a strong message to Copenhagen negotiators concerning the dire risks facing the southern continent as a result of climate change, WWF-Australia warned today.

Representatives of more than 30 nations, including Australia, New Zealand, Russia, China, the European Union and the United States are meeting in Hobart from October 26 to November 6 as part of the annual Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR).

The convention is one of the last opportunities on a global level to send a strong message to world leaders as the countdown to climate change talks in Copenhagen in December begins.

“It’s not only the species living in this extremely cold environment that will be impacted by climate change in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. Changes to the southern polar regions could create devastating cascade effects felt throughout the world,” said Mr Rob Nicoll, WWF Antarctic and Southern Ocean Initiative Manager.

“Antarctica and the ocean currents that surround it have a profound effect on the world’s climate. A change to any one of the major systems on this continent will be felt by us all.

“It is critical that delegates meeting this week at CCAMLR make their voices heard in Copenhagen: we need a strong agreement in December if we are to effectively deal with the dangers posed by climate change to this pristine and most precious of environments.”

Alarming research recently published in respected journal Science indicates that carbon levels today are only slightly lower than they were 20 million years ago, when temperatures were 3-6C higher, the Antarctic ice caps had completely melted and sea levels were 25-40 metres higher.1 “In short, we could be very close to a major climate tipping point and not even be aware of it,” said Mr Nicoll.

Despite the far-reaching effects climate change in Antarctica could have on the rest of the planet, research into how quickly the continent is changing has been limited by its isolation and extreme weather conditions.

To combat this lack of knowledge, WWF and the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre is supporting the Australian Antarctic Division’s effort to establish the Southern Ocean Sentinel climate change monitoring program.

“The 2007 IPCC Report indicated our current understanding of climate change in Antarctica and the Southern Oceans has made it difficult to predict with certainty when key climate change tipping points will be reached in this region and how quickly those changes will affect the rest of the world,” Mr Nicoll said.

“The Sentinel program aims to facilitate a long term collaborative international program to gather data on climate change and its effects on the Southern Ocean.

“This information can be used to improve management practices and predict future climate change impacts on the Southern Ocean and the rest of the world.

“With recent research indicating climate change is proceeding more rapidly than was predicted by the IPCC, the Sentinel program is an urgently needed component in our understanding of climate change.

“Not only does the Antarctic’s future depend on it, so does our own.”

Source: www.wwf.org.au

A Vote for Sustainable Growth

British diplomat and former European commissioner Chris Patten says climate change is the biggest problem we face – the unforeseen result of increased economic activity and prosperity – so we need to promote the right sort of growth, which won’t ravage our future prospects.

Chris Patten writing for The Australian (30 October 2009):  

HAVING reached pensionable age, I qualify to be a grumpy old man. I should be boring my children, and the students at Oxford University where I am chancellor, with grumbles about how everything is going to the dogs. But that is not quite how I see things.

I went to university myself in 1962. My first term coincided with the Cuban missile crisis. The world seemed to be teetering on the brink of nuclear catastrophe.

Those were the days when global peace was sustained by a concept known suitably enough by the acronym MAD – Mutually Assured Destruction.

Was that world a worse and more dangerous one than today, where our main nuclear concerns are how to prevent proliferation and strengthen the treaty that has deterred it for the last generation?

At the end of my years at Oxford, I went as a student to the US and visited Alabama. You may recall the story of Richard Nixon attending the independence celebrations in Ghana.

At a gala reception, he went up to one guest, mistaking him for a local, and asked what it felt like to be able to vote and enjoy freedom under the rule of law. “I wouldn’t know,” the man replied, “I’m from Alabama.”

Within my adult lifetime, we have moved from the murder of civil-rights campaigners in the US to the election of a black president. Nothing to be grumpy about there.

Elsewhere, some of our biggest problems have a sort of Hegelian quality. They are the result of solving past problems or of past success. Consider, for example, the biggest challenge facing us, which deserves to be called existential: global warming and climate change.

In the last century, the world got richer; its population quadrupled; the number of people living in cities grew thirteen-fold; and we consumed more of everything. Water consumption rose nine-fold and energy use thirteen-fold.

Industrial output soared to 40 times its level at the beginning of the 20th century.

But – and here comes the real hit – carbon-dioxide emissions grew seventeen-fold.

That is the biggest problem we face; the unforeseen result of increased economic activity and prosperity.

Looking at preparations for the Copenhagen summit in December, when we will try to broker a new global agreement to combat climate change, does not make me grumpy. At last, the big players are taking the issues seriously.

The US is no longer in denial on the question. President Barack Obama and his advisers do not deny the scientific evidence of what is happening to us all.

In China, political leaders seem genuine in their commitment to reduce the carbon content of their runaway economy.

The big problems, of course, are how we take account of past responsibility for the carbon in the atmosphere, how we balance aggregate national emissions and per capita figures – China leads in the first category; the US, Australia and Canada are the biggest culprits in the second – and how we manage technology transfer from developed to emerging and poor economies.

There will be plenty to moan about if we don’t solve these problems sooner rather than later.

This is where old men seem past their political expiration dates.

Let me explain. For all of our lives, my generation has defined success in terms of rising GDP growth: more money in more pockets, more resources for public programs, and more jobs. None of these will necessarily be a measure of future success. We need to talk more about the quality of growth. French president Nicolas Sarkozy has raised this issue, and he is right to do so.

I am not arguing that growth is bad. Try telling that to the poor. But what we should want to promote is the right sort of growth, growth that won’t ravage our future prospects.

We have to define the sustainability of growth in ways that create an attractive narrative for our citizens.

At the moment, people applaud sustainable growth, but they don’t vote for what it means in practice.

German voters baulk at any suggestion that we should limit the environmental damage caused by big and expensive cars.

British voters line up behind the truck drivers when protests are launched against hikes in the price of petrol, not least through the introduction of higher energy taxes.

Ideas for carbon taxes run into resistance everywhere.

I have five grandchildren below the age of four. By the time they qualify for pensions and the licence to grumble, the century will be into its seventh or eighth decade. We hope!

How much will they have to get angry about then because of the way that we are behaving today?

Chris Patten, the last British governor of Hong Kong and a former EU commissioner for external affairs, is chancellor of Oxford University

Source: www.theaustralian.com.au

Red Hot Centre for Eco Tourism

The Northern Territory’s solar city, Alice Springs, will host the brightest sparks of the ecotourism industry at the Asia Pacific ecotourism conference, Global Eco, from 9-11 November. Australia’s Red Centre hosts a 3.1million centre which showcases the largest range of solar power technologies in the southern hemisphere.

Report on 4 November 2009

Australia’s Red Centre Solar City hosts Global Eco Tourism Conference  

The Northern Territory’s solar city, Alice Springs, will host the brightest sparks of the ecotourism industry at the Asia Pacific ecotourism conference, Global Eco, from 9-11 November.

As travellers continue to display their growing appetites for all things green, the conference program will introduce tourism operators and industry participants to new technologies, research, product partnerships and policies, and showcase the “full gamut” of challenges, and potential solutions, facing the industry.

The impressive list of speakers includes chief executive of Ecotourism Australia, Kym Cheatham; Federal Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, Peter Garrett; president of non-profit organisation Sustainable Travel International, Brian T. Mullis; director of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s Tourism and Recreation Group, Lisha Mulqueeny, and Frank Hubbard, director of corporate responsibility for IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group).

IHG includes the Crowne Plaza Alice Springs, which has set the green benchmark for the Australian business sector and hotel industry, by covering its roof in solar panels, creating the largest building-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) system in the southern hemisphere. This ground-breaking $3.3 million installation will reduce the hotel’s energy consumption by between 40 and 80 percent.

The most anticipated speaker will be Costas Christ, the global travel editor of National Geographic Adventure, and an internationally recognised expert on sustainable tourism. An ecotourism pioneer, he is also the lead author of Tourism and Biodiversity: Mapping Tourism’s Global Footprint and a contributing author in Wilderness: Earth’s Last Wild Places.

Alice Springs was deemed the most suitable location for the conference in light of the extensive ‘green’ initiatives that have been instigated by its local government and tourism operators, in an attempt to create the most sustainable tourist destination in Australia.

Tourism NT Environmental Tourism Development Officer Natasha Smith said that the Alice Springs businesses and community had shown tremendous initiative in making Alice Springs the solar capital of Australia.

“Tourists travelling to Alice Springs now have a fantastic opportunity to learn about solar technologies at the new, world class Desert Knowledge Solar Centre,” Ms Smith said.

“This 3.1million centre showcases the largest range of solar power technologies in the southern hemisphere, through commercial-scale installations.

Within the town of Alice Springs, the local community and businesses are also heavily engaged in embracing sustainable technologies. Since the Alice Solar City was launched in March 2008, 1121 households and 75 businesses have got on board to reduce their energy consumption.

Source: www.globaleco.com.au, www.alicesolarcity.com.au, www.dkasolarcentre.com.au and www.australiasoutback.com

Climate Change Not Good for Surfers!

The topic was hot and controversial. The atmosphere was light and casual. The result was perhaps predictable. In spite of a spirited presentation by the affirmative team of Colman Ridge, Liz Cantor and Ken Hickson, the audience voted against the motion that “climate change will be good for surfers”.

Debate Topic: “Climate change will be good for surfers”

On Saturday 7 November, as part of the 2009 Surfrider Foundation National Education Conference at  the Southern Cross University, Riverside Campus at Tweed Heads, there was a battle involving some of the brightest minds on the twin subjects of climate change and surfing.

The adjudicator was Wendy Harmer, one of Australia’s best-known humourists, which set the scene and made it imperative that all was not to be taken seriously.

Wendy lives on Sydney’s Northern Beaches with her husband, two young children, and (at last count) fifteen chickens and three ducks.

The team for the NEGATIVE was made up of:

Tim Baker is the author of four best-selling books on surfing, including “Bustin’ Down The Door,” “High Surf” and “Occy”. He is a former editor of Tracks and Surfing Life magazines, and former editorial director of Morrison Media Services. He has twice won the Surfing Australia Hall of Fame Culture Award and been nominated for the CUB Australian Sports Writing Awards.

Narelle Sutherland works in the Office of Climate Change, where she supports the Premier’s Council on Climate Change to advise the Queensland Government on a wide range of climate change issues. Narelle is a keen surfer and has a social work and sociology background. She previously worked, for nearly 2 decades, with NGOs on a range of social justice challenges including homelessness, the rights of prisoners and income inequality – but believes that climate change is the mother of them all.

Darrell Strauss is a researcher at the Griffith University’s Centre for Coastal Management. Darrell was previously an IT Officer at The National Tidal Facility Australia and contributed to the activities of the South Pacific Sea Level and Climate Monitoring Project. Darrell is currently completing his PhD which is focused on the surf zone dynamics of sandy beaches.

The highly charged team for the POSITIVE was led by:

Colman Ridge is the director of Greenfest, Australia’s largest free green festival commencing on World Environment Day.

In support was:

Liz Cantor is a television presenter who currently reports for Channel Seven Queensland lifestyle programs, Great South East and Creek To Coast; and also presents the Golden Casket Lotto draw segments. She also files weekend beach and surf reports for Seven News Brisbane.

Ken Hickson is author of The ABC of Carbon and CEO of ABC Carbon, a climate change consulting business. Ken supports the World Wide Fund for Nature, acting as their honorary representative in Singapore for 4 years and now serving as a Governor of WWF Australia, also providing business, communications and fund-raising support

Of course the event had a serious side and created greater awareness for all the issues relating to climate change and its impact on our coastal communities, as well as beaches. In spite of a telling case that surfers would gain (albeit selfishly) from rising seas, wild weather and tourist-deserted beaches, the environmentally minded surf lovers swayed the vote and the greater community good was the winner.

This event – debate and conference was also environmentally managed and the greenhouse gas emissions generated have been calculated & balanced by Climate Wave Enterprises, EcoFund and Southern Gold Coast.

Source: www.surfrider.org.au