Showing posts with label alternate fuels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label alternate fuels. Show all posts
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Algae to Oil Update
Good news, even with lower oil prices, is research into Algae into oil is continuing:
Pond Scum Gets Limelight Moment
Jerry Brand has been tending the world's largest pond scum collection for 10 years. The quest for renewable energy has made him and his algae hot commodities.
From the WSJ.Saturday, December 20, 2008
Alternate Energy Funding
I am curious what is going to happen in this area, since the incoming Secretary of Energy questions the cost effectiveness of Ethanol, yet the incoming Secretary of Agriculture is very pro Ethanol. And with the falling prices of oil, it has hurt Ethanol a lot.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Minimum Gas Price
What would be the impact of setting a minimum price for gas economically?
Say set it at $4.50 as Thomas Friedman suggested to assure the development of alternative energy sources, increases in fuel efficient cars, and use the tax benefits to invest in alternate energy. The extra for alternate energy assumes there could be a difference, with a lower price of gas + variable tax = $4.50.
What's the incentive for the service station to shop around for lower gas, and the suppliers just set the wholesale price at $4.40, allow the gas station to make 10 cents. I would guess a percentage of the difference would need to be given to the station so they shop for the best price. The higher the difference, the higher their profit.
On the economic side, with the price of gas being more than halved that is helping households, my guess is a couple of hundred every month. I am surprised this has not had any positive effect yet, but I am sure it will in time. The only negative is more usage of gas due to lower prices.
Say set it at $4.50 as Thomas Friedman suggested to assure the development of alternative energy sources, increases in fuel efficient cars, and use the tax benefits to invest in alternate energy. The extra for alternate energy assumes there could be a difference, with a lower price of gas + variable tax = $4.50.
What's the incentive for the service station to shop around for lower gas, and the suppliers just set the wholesale price at $4.40, allow the gas station to make 10 cents. I would guess a percentage of the difference would need to be given to the station so they shop for the best price. The higher the difference, the higher their profit.
On the economic side, with the price of gas being more than halved that is helping households, my guess is a couple of hundred every month. I am surprised this has not had any positive effect yet, but I am sure it will in time. The only negative is more usage of gas due to lower prices.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Low Oil Prices Take Wind Out Of Renewables
Low Oil Prices Take Wind Out Of Renewables from the SF Chronicle.
I am afraid of this.
Interesting quote:
"So if you believe that we are about to enter a rather severe global recession ... then my guess is it won't be long before oil prices are back where they were before this spiral began, back in the $20s," said Jerry Taylor, senior analyst with the Cato Institute think tank. "And political interest in energy will disappear."
I am afraid of this.
Interesting quote:
"So if you believe that we are about to enter a rather severe global recession ... then my guess is it won't be long before oil prices are back where they were before this spiral began, back in the $20s," said Jerry Taylor, senior analyst with the Cato Institute think tank. "And political interest in energy will disappear."
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Next Big Industry - Energy Technology?
Per Thomas Friedman's Column today, Thomas L. Friedman: No Laughing Matter, the next big industry is Energy Technology. And if the US government just focused a little bit on this, it would help the economy of the US tremendously by allowing us to be leaders in this.
It's definitely something to think about.
Why Energy Technology is important:
It's definitely something to think about.
Why Energy Technology is important:
- Energy is an important part of our economy that when it rises in cost can cause substantial issues.
- Global warming as well
- Increased income causing increased pollution in the world and energy usage.
- Example of where Detroit is today (near bankruptcy again) and where Toyota, who invested in the Prius is today.
- Increased Energy efficiency would make the US economy more cost competitive and healthier. There is a lot of potential energy savings in green buildings, transportation, more efficient motors, DC Powerlines, etc.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
China's Oil Thirst is actually good?
How China’s thirst for oil can save the planet - The pioneers of green energy report a ‘gold rush’ mentality as soaring oil prices speed up the search for alternatives. From the UK Times.
Good article to read. Keypoint is lots of R&D into different types of energy. The focus in the UK is wind, not solar. Probably makes sense as wind is more economical at this time, especially in a less sunny area. The idea with solar is with a big enough production it will lower in price enough to be economical. And with solar subsidies this will help create a local industry.
The only question with solar is when will it become more cost effective. There is so much research going on right now a silver bullet may appear that dramatically lowers the cost for alternative energy. The challenge then is how long will it take to go into production? GE's windpower for example is already booked for the next two years.
Good article to read. Keypoint is lots of R&D into different types of energy. The focus in the UK is wind, not solar. Probably makes sense as wind is more economical at this time, especially in a less sunny area. The idea with solar is with a big enough production it will lower in price enough to be economical. And with solar subsidies this will help create a local industry.
The only question with solar is when will it become more cost effective. There is so much research going on right now a silver bullet may appear that dramatically lowers the cost for alternative energy. The challenge then is how long will it take to go into production? GE's windpower for example is already booked for the next two years.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Vegetable oil fuels cars -- and tax bills
Vegetable oil fuels cars -- and tax bills - Things you never think about. California on alternate fuel cars that use oil from restaurants requires a tax per gallon burned, permits for moving the grease in case of toxic spill, and liability insurance of $1 Million. Even the Governor was not in keeping with the law.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Green Energy is making Money
Green energy is making big money from the SF Chronicle.
Key Points:
Key Points:
- Alternate energy grew last year to $77.3 Billion with 40% growth.
- Revenue for Windpower was $30.1 Billion and Solar photovoltaic $20.3 Billion.
- Exon's sales in comparison were $404.5 billion in sales last year
- Information is CleanEdge Clean Energy Trends Report 2008 that was just released. The report estimates the market for alternate energy will triple by 2017.
- Alternate energy in the US is highly dependent on tax credits, and the US congress has not extended them yet.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Algae Start Up for Bio Fuels
Article from the Mercury News
Vindu's View: Algae startups chase green slime dreams
and a blog entry from the writer that has some interesting comments"
Algae blog post
Lots of investment going on. This is interesting...
De Beers Fuels, a South African company that collapsed last year in a web of deception
Some more information on De Beers. And a paper (negative) on the costs for Green Fuels. BioPact has a lot of great content on green fuels!
Vindu's View: Algae startups chase green slime dreams
and a blog entry from the writer that has some interesting comments"
Algae blog post
Lots of investment going on. This is interesting...
De Beers Fuels, a South African company that collapsed last year in a web of deception
Some more information on De Beers. And a paper (negative) on the costs for Green Fuels. BioPact has a lot of great content on green fuels!
Friday, February 1, 2008
Demand for Oil
Confusing article from Business Week The Oil Paradox - A worldwide slowdown won't end the oil price boom anytime soon. The article title and 90% of the article suggest that oil prices will stay high for a while. The reason is old fields being depleted, lack of exploration for new fields, and some governments deliberately restricting supply of oil to keep the price of oil high. Then at the end of the article, say last 10%, is something like a "But" statement, that is 100% opposite of the first part of the article. The argument here is a global downturn may decrease demand for oil and increased usage of alternate fuel may result in lower oil prices.
Thomas Friedman has argued that the higher oil price is actually helping the US by increasing the R&D into alternate fuels, and even if the price of oil falls the US should keep it artificially high to continue the development of alternate fuels.
My 2 cents.
Alternate fuels in the next 4-5 years besides getting huge tax subsidiaries for Ethanol, are not going to have much of an impact on oil prices. Price of food - yes. If the US started importing Ethanol from Brazil without tariffs, I would have a different answer, but I don't see this happening due to politics. Oil demand from China and India is increasing. Especially China that is having more and more cars as well as demand for diesel due to generators needed due to problems with their electricity producing infrastructure. China is building more nuclear and coal plants, but demand is still outstripping supply. And recently China went from being an exporter of coal to being an importer. Solar powers price is decreasing, but not fast enough to be truly competitive yet. Estimates are for peak utility costs by 2010 and bulk is a ways out. Fuel efficiency such as hybrid cars in the US won't substantially reduce usage of oil in the US in the next couple of years.
The current increase in oil prices is also due to a war premium being caused by Iraq and Iran, lack of investment in new oil fields, oil future trading, and increased demand by oil by China and India. Iran is not getting new equipment due to embargo's of technology that are impacting production. Saudi Arabia is not funding yet needed to replace their older fields and increase production yet. Oil producers are also increasing investment in local industry that is a heavy user of energy as a way to diversify their economy.
My guess on the price of oil? My guess, and it's a guess would be down in the near term as the US economy recovers from the deflating of the property bubble that has increased consumer spending.
Thomas Friedman has argued that the higher oil price is actually helping the US by increasing the R&D into alternate fuels, and even if the price of oil falls the US should keep it artificially high to continue the development of alternate fuels.
My 2 cents.
Alternate fuels in the next 4-5 years besides getting huge tax subsidiaries for Ethanol, are not going to have much of an impact on oil prices. Price of food - yes. If the US started importing Ethanol from Brazil without tariffs, I would have a different answer, but I don't see this happening due to politics. Oil demand from China and India is increasing. Especially China that is having more and more cars as well as demand for diesel due to generators needed due to problems with their electricity producing infrastructure. China is building more nuclear and coal plants, but demand is still outstripping supply. And recently China went from being an exporter of coal to being an importer. Solar powers price is decreasing, but not fast enough to be truly competitive yet. Estimates are for peak utility costs by 2010 and bulk is a ways out. Fuel efficiency such as hybrid cars in the US won't substantially reduce usage of oil in the US in the next couple of years.
The current increase in oil prices is also due to a war premium being caused by Iraq and Iran, lack of investment in new oil fields, oil future trading, and increased demand by oil by China and India. Iran is not getting new equipment due to embargo's of technology that are impacting production. Saudi Arabia is not funding yet needed to replace their older fields and increase production yet. Oil producers are also increasing investment in local industry that is a heavy user of energy as a way to diversify their economy.
My guess on the price of oil? My guess, and it's a guess would be down in the near term as the US economy recovers from the deflating of the property bubble that has increased consumer spending.
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