http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydrogen/Earth_Clean-Energy_Hydrogen_18_151_707.html Press Review of the Earth from the most relevant websites. Keep in touch with the Earth and your future ! fr-FR http://www.earth-stream.com/logo-stream-Earth.png http://www.earth-stream.com Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:50:12 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydrogen/Future-cars-could-sport-carbon-sponge-gas-tanks_18_151_707_134887.html The battle to squeeze the most gas safely into hydrogen vehicles continues, but will "nanosponges" or ants' poison win out? Fri, 03 Oct 2008 03:23:43 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydrogen/New-Sensor-Could-Help-Avert-Pipeline-Failures_18_151_707_134778.html Researchers have developed a prototype sensor that quickly detects very small amounts of hydrogen accumulation in coated pipeline steel. The new sensor could provide early warning of pipes that have accumulated excessive amounts of hydrogen and avert potentially disastrous failures of pipelines. Sun, 28 Sep 2008 10:25:43 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydrogen/Generating-Hydrogen-Without-a-Carbon-Footprint_18_151_707_132537.html By Shelley, Suzanne NANOTECHNOLOGY A greener, less-expensive method to produce hydrogen fuel may eventually be possible using water with the help of solar energy and nanotube diodes that use the entire spectrum of the sun's energy, according to Penn State scientists. Sat, 27 Sep 2008 09:48:01 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydrogen/Hydrogen-Power-from-Bacteria_18_151_707_132297.html In the desperate search for renewable energy sources scientists are turning to bacteria to more efficiently produce hydrogen. Hydrogen has long been touted as a potential wonder fuel for cars and other energy needs. However, the majority of hydrogen production has been relegated to cost-effective methods involving extraction from fossil fuels. This manufacturing process releases large amounts of CO2 making hydrogen a dirty fuel source. Fortunately, scientists with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and North Carolina State University (NC State) have developed a cleaner technology that produces hydrogen from nitrogen-fixing bacteria.  Nitrogen-fixing bacteria live in the soil and convert nitrogen ... Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:22:31 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydrogen/Synthetic-CO2-Scrubbers-Hydrogen-Microcabs-and-A-Tree-Powered-Sensor_18_151_707_132028.html :: Could synthetic trees be used as CO2 scrubbers? :: The UK's University of Birmingham test drives 5 hydrogen Microcabs. :: A new system developed by Voltree Power uses the energy from trees to help prevent forest fires. :: BIll McKibben accounces his support of San Francisco's Clean Energy Act. :: EcoLibris reviews green children's book, Butt Ugly by Lynn Montgomery. Most Huggable is a regular roundup of some of Hugg's top ... Fri, 26 Sep 2008 16:33:20 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydrogen/Iceland-gives-hydrogen-the-cold-shoulder_18_151_707_131956.html Iceland has long been touted as a hydrogen economy pioneer. So it is quite shocking that electric vehicles — both plug-in hybrids and pure battery electric cars — crowded out hydrogen at a recent Reykjavík conference. Thu, 25 Sep 2008 22:20:12 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydrogen/Experience-Alternative-Fuel-Vehicles-at-AltCar_18_151_707_131630.html If you’re pondering your next choice of vehicle, then Santa Monica’s AltCar, the Alternative Energy and Transportation Expo, is the place for you this weekend. The event features 100 eco-friendly vehicles for test drives and for sale, including:   zero-emission electric cars and trucks hybrids plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, rated in excess of 100 miles per gallon vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells, natural gas, propane, biodiesel and ethanol Read more of this story » Thu, 25 Sep 2008 19:53:24 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydrogen/Ammonia-Borane-Could-Store-Hydrogen-for-Fuel-Cell-Vehicles_18_151_707_131542.html While electric vehicles have enjoyed a lot of recent attention, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles have somewhat fallen to the wayside. Sure, we can build FCVs. Honda has begun commercial production of its FCX Clarity, fuel cell busses are on the road, and there are even hydrogen filling stations being opened in California. But the general sense out there is that hydrogen will “always be ten years away”, as I once heard it put (by an EV advocate, it should be noted). One reason some people feel this way has to do with the problem of hydrogen storage. Because hydrogen’s energy density is so low compared to gasoline, the equivalent of a tank of gas amounts to an enormous volume of hydrogen. Fuel cell vehicles today solve that problem by compressing the hydrogen gas into heavy metal tanks. These tanks, however, could use improvement. Much energy is lost simply compressing the gas, and some are concerned about the safety of a tank of highly pressurized, explosive gas . For this reason, scientists are investigating alternative means of hydrogen storage. One chemist, Tom Autrey from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, has been experimenting with a compound called ammonia borane (AB), which consists of hydrogen, nitrogen and boron – all relatively light elements. When AB is heated, it releases hydrogen gas for use in the fuel cell. When all the AB is “spent”, hydrogen gas can be pumped in to regenerate more. The breakthrough for Autrey came when he discovered a more efficient way to synthesize AB – something that could make or break a technology’s ability to go to scale. He is also looking into ways to recycle solvents in order to make the entire production process economical (and clean). Other researchers are trying to do similar things with ammonia and metal hydrides. This guy uses tiny spheres of titanium, which hydrogen adheres to. As long as the material is light, hydrogen dense and feasible to produce, it is a good candidate. And if we ... Thu, 25 Sep 2008 18:26:06 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydrogen/New-Research-Could-Lead-To-Practical-Uses-For-Metal-organic-Frameworks_18_151_707_131524.html Scientists are putting the pressure on metal-organic frameworks. Behaving as molecular-scale sponges these MOFs have wide ranging potential uses for filtering, capturing or detecting molecules such as carbon dioxide or hydrogen storage for fuel cells. Wed, 24 Sep 2008 22:13:30 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydrogen/Ethanol-Helping-to-Reduce-our-Reliance-on-Foreign-Oil-Opinion-_18_151_707_131108.html Editor’s Note: This post was provided by one of our paid sponsors, the Ethanol Promotion Information Council (EPIC). EPIC is a nonprofit alliance of ethanol industry leaders who have come together to grow consumer demand for ethanol energy through targeted marketing. The Ethanol Promotion Information Council (EPIC) is working to get the word out that ethanol is actually helping to keep gas prices lower. The following is from an interview with Toni Nuernberg, executive director of EPIC. If you’ve been exposed to the media lately you’ve probably heard the phrase “renewable fuels.” What exactly are renewable fuels? According to Wikipedia, “renewable fuels are alternative fuel sources such as biofuels (ethanol, biodiesel -e.g. soy, vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled restaurant greases-) or hydrogen.” Texas Governor Rick Perry recently petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to lower ethanol mandates, saying that the production of ethanol was causing food and fuel prices to go up. The EPA rejected Gov. Perry’s request in August, saying that the Renewable Fuels Standard “remains an important tool in our ongoing efforts to reduce America’s greenhouse gas emissions and lessen our dependence on foreign oil.” Read more of this story » Wed, 24 Sep 2008 19:29:49 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydrogen/South-Africa-Boosts-Research-into-Fuel-Cells-and-Hydrogen_18_151_707_131024.html The South African government has announced plans to increase spending into the research of hydrogen and fuel cell technology over the next three years. They believe that, with the country’s metal rich resources, an increase in research could create more manufacturing and more income for the country. The government announced to spend ZAR 400 million, which equates to roughly $49 million USD. Read more of this story » Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:23:56 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydrogen/A-World-s-First-Hydrogen-Generation-Plant-In-Japan_18_151_707_130895.html Hydrogen, touted by many sources as the carbon neutral "energy of the future", has been receiving more and more attention lately in both environmental circles and the popular press. Although not everyone is convinced hydrogen is the solution to our problems, many countries and corporations are pushing ahead with research into hydrogen-based technologies such as home-based hydrogen refuelling stations, Sun, 21 Sep 2008 21:27:20 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydrogen/Mitsubishi-i-MiEV-Electric-Car-to-Invade-Iceland_18_151_707_129566.html The i MiEV Sport, image courtesy of Neolaia The Mitsubishi i MiEV is one of the most promising electric vehicles in development (as you loyal TreeHugger readers are likely aware). And now they could become the most prevalent car in Iceland. Hydrogen Transit Trouble Iceland announced in 1998 that it had plans of becoming the world's first hydrogen based economy, and that the nation wanted to be fossil fuel free by 2050. But according to a recent Fri, 19 Sep 2008 04:33:54 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydrogen/Steam-Heat-Researchers-Gear-Up-For-Full-scale-Hydrogen-Plant_18_151_707_128723.html Hydrogen has many industrial uses and may one day replace fossil fuels such as gasoline to power vehicles without emitting carbon dioxide. But finding an environmentally friendly way to produce hydrogen in large quantities is still a big challenge. At Idaho National Laboratory, a team of engineers is working to develop a greener process, splitting steam into hydrogen and oxygen using high-temperature electrolysis. Coupled to an advanced nuclear plant, high-temperature electrolysis would use heat and a portion of the plant's electricity to generate hydrogen. Tue, 16 Sep 2008 01:55:39 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydrogen/Honda-Citing-Battery-Limits-Avoids-Rush-to-Plug-Ins_18_151_707_127181.html Bloomberg: Honda Motor Co., first to lease hydrogen autos to U.S. drivers, said batteries haven't advanced enough to make rechargeable cars a good replacement for gasoline models and isn't following rivals who plan to sell plug-ins. ``For battery-powered vehicles to become more widespread, more popular in the market, we feel battery technology needs to advance further,'' said Masaaki Kato, president of Honda's research unit, in an interview at the Tokyo-based company's U.S. headquarters. ... Mon, 15 Sep 2008 20:38:17 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydrogen/GM-s-$1-5-Million-Hydrogen-Fuel-Cell-Vehicle-Won-t-Be-Available-for-At-Least-10-Years_18_151_707_127036.html GM’s Equinox Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle Makes a stop at the International Trade Center, and I get a first hand look. The car costs approximately 1.5 million dollars to produce, and by General Motors estimates, wouldn’t be available for sale for another 10 to 15 years. Editor’s Note: This post is a guest contribution by Adam Shake. It was an overcast Friday morning in Washington D.C., and stepping off the Metro at the Federal Triangle stop in Washington D.C., I had been thinking about how Global Warming was contributing to the strength of Hurricane Hannah.  Hurricane Ike was right on her coat tails, and looked to be like one of the largest Hurricanes on record. Rounding the corner of the International Trade Center to enter the building from Pennsylvania Avenue, I saw an S.U.V. parked on the plaza with a small shelter positioned near it.  Inside the shelter were stacks of brochures and four people standing beneath it, staying out of the impending rain. Intrigued, I stepped over to the vehicle to have a closer look.  The doors were open, showing a spacious interior and well designed dash board.  The vehicle was running, and idling quietly as I stuck my head into the front seat, inhaling that new car smell. Read more of this story » Sat, 13 Sep 2008 01:17:41 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydrogen/$227M-Plant-Will-Convert-Hazardous-Waste-to-Energy_18_151_707_126238.html ForeverGreen Enterprises and International Power Group have partnered up to launch a venture to build a power plant in Indiana that will convert hazardous waste into energy. 750 tons a day of industrial, chemical and medical garbage will be converted to methanol and hydrogen, plus a little electricity – but we don’t know how much of an output the plant will have. This is an effort to find a new niche away from cellulosic and municipal waste conversion, which has seen a flood of interest the last couple years. ForeverGreen feels that all this other junk has potential, and no one else is really going after it...yet. Construction is set to start at the very beginning of 2009, and in about 22 months, the plant will hopefully start turning hazardous materials into useable substances using a combination of International Power’s waste-heat-to-energy process and ForeverGreen’s gasification process. The byproducts will include scrap steel and silicates – among other things? Details are still vague while the companies work to find financing to cover the full project, but we’ll follow this one as construction time approaches. Via Cleantech, Photo via andynahman Fri, 12 Sep 2008 20:33:20 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydrogen/Green-Bombs-_18_151_707_126097.html Green the world, and scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have taken that to the level of explosives. Researchers have added unique green solvents (ionic liquids) to an explosive called TATB to improve the crystal quality and chemical purity of the material. “Improving crystal quality and purity leads to explosive materials that are safer (less likely to react violently) when subjected to mechanical impact or heat,” said Larry Fried, the project’s principal investigator. The researchers looked for a green alternative to the general class of materials called molecular crystals in which most explosives belong. The materials are bound together by a network of hydrogen bonds and the materials are nearly insoluble in common organic solvents, leading to poor quality limited size crystals, which in turn hinders progress in many technological applications. The alternative the scientists have come up with is ionic liquids, which are a type of molten salt that becomes liquid under the boiling (100 degrees Celsius) point of water. Ionic liquids are solvent with little vapor pressure and do not evaporate under high temperature conditions. Improving the quality, stability and precision of explosives using new ionic liquids means they’re less likely to react violently under heat and impact pressure. These types of explosives are also purer and less polluting. Greener bombs. All I can think of is WTF? So upon further reading, I realized that there may be some other applications rather than using this process to make bombs more, well, ummm, eco-friendly. The researchers say the ionic liquids could also lead to more effective ways of dissolving cellulose in plant fibers that could lead to more bio-renewable polymeric materials. In addition, the greener explosives could help the mining industry. Via Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Science Daily, Tech Radar Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:28:40 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydrogen/Innovative-Hydrogen-powered-Car-Created_18_151_707_125957.html As the price of gasoline fuel soars, and concerns grow about the impact of car culture on the environment, a team of scientists have come up with a hydrogen-powered car, which they believe is a significant step forward in creating a mass-produced green machine. Fri, 12 Sep 2008 15:52:37 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Hydrogen/-The-car-of-the-perpetual-future-The-Economist-agrees-with-Climate-Progress-on-hydrogen_18_151_707_125949.html When the world’s uber-centrist magazine of choice runs a headline almost identical to mine (see “The Last Car You Would Ever Buy — Literally“), you know it’s all over. Especially when one of that magazine’s leading energy columnists, Vijay Vaitheeswaran, used to sing that technology’s praises (here). Here’s the bottom line: But the [...]