There's news of cars running on hydrogen fuel cells and the still present, yet unbelievable, water-powered cars in the news. The latest in today's race for a viable replacement of gas and diesel powered vehicles are cars running on compressed air to push the pistons.
When I was in Mumbai in 2004, while trying to tour the city to see the Gateway of India, UNESCO-listed Elephanta Cave and visit Mahatma Gandhi at Mani Bhavan, I also noticed the ubiquitous Tata cars practically everywhere in India.
Now, recent news are alloverthe place with Tata,India's largest car maker is planning to produce 6000 units of the zero-emissions Air Cars in August of this year.
Initially priced at $12,700, quite cheap and around the price of most cars in the market, the City CAT, the name of one of the initial models, claimed to hit 68 mph and a range of 125 miles. Refueling can be done ina few minutes for the CityCAT at gas stations equipped with custom air compressor units.
Estimated cost of re-fueling is $2 for the car’s carbon-fiber tanks with 340 liters of air at 4350 psi. There also is a built-in compressor to refill the tanks in about 4 hours using conventional electric power.
Most of all, the car is a true zero emissions vehicle friendly to the environment!
Showing posts with label Renewable Energy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Renewable Energy. Show all posts
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Water-Powered Car: Hoax?
There has been fresh reports lately about certain "breakthroughs" of vehicles that run on a highly available fuel: water. Fueled mainly by the skyrocketing prices of crude oil at historic highs, there's also a race in developing alternative fuels to power the future car.
One of the most controversial is the water-powered car where even the Philippines boasts of an alleged invention by a certain Daniel Dingle even demonstrated on TV from years back.
I do not doubt that we can extract energy from water since I'm aware of hydrogen fuel cells and we all know that water is composed of oxygen and hydrogen.
What I doubt is the commercial viability of extracting hydrogen in water since using electrolysis, you need much more energy, to breakup water into hydrogen and oxygen, than the energy you can produce from hydrogen.
The law of thermodynamics just won't allow that to happen...there however is a new development in India with the latest air-powered car unveiled. That's more reason to celebrate since it's real and feasible.
One of the most controversial is the water-powered car where even the Philippines boasts of an alleged invention by a certain Daniel Dingle even demonstrated on TV from years back.
I do not doubt that we can extract energy from water since I'm aware of hydrogen fuel cells and we all know that water is composed of oxygen and hydrogen.
What I doubt is the commercial viability of extracting hydrogen in water since using electrolysis, you need much more energy, to breakup water into hydrogen and oxygen, than the energy you can produce from hydrogen.
The law of thermodynamics just won't allow that to happen...there however is a new development in India with the latest air-powered car unveiled. That's more reason to celebrate since it's real and feasible.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Palawan's Energy Deposits: Gas and Oil Fields
Palawan, apart from potential magnet of Philippine tourism, sits on a huge energy deposits. Earlier it was the discovery and now operational Malampaya Deep Wayer Gas to Power where natural gas supply is piped to Batangas then the recent start of operation of the Galoc Oil field.
The Galoc oil field's production can produce 10% of the Philippines' oil supply needs, not much compared to neighboring ASEAN countries i.e. Brunei and Malaysia, both members of the powerful OPEC block, but at least brings a ray of hope to more discoveries for oil deposits not only in Palawan but in other areas of the country.
The recent entry of ExxonMobil, the world's top oil producer, in oil exploration in the country bodes well of the confidence of foreign firms in the potential gas and oil finds after 2D and 3D seismic explorations.
Related Palwan Posts:
Cuyo Island
Iwahig Prison Farm
Coron, Busuanga, Calamianes
Crocodile Farm, Tubbataha
The Galoc oil field's production can produce 10% of the Philippines' oil supply needs, not much compared to neighboring ASEAN countries i.e. Brunei and Malaysia, both members of the powerful OPEC block, but at least brings a ray of hope to more discoveries for oil deposits not only in Palawan but in other areas of the country.
The recent entry of ExxonMobil, the world's top oil producer, in oil exploration in the country bodes well of the confidence of foreign firms in the potential gas and oil finds after 2D and 3D seismic explorations.
Related Palwan Posts:
Cuyo Island
Iwahig Prison Farm
Coron, Busuanga, Calamianes
Crocodile Farm, Tubbataha
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Hydrogen Fuel Cells: Energy of the Future
With the skyrocketing cost of crude oil int eh world market, nations and scientists are racing to develop, perfect and market a new generation of fuel and power systems to wean away from the volatile commodity whose price is at the mercy of speculators and produced in the world's most volatile places.
One of the most promising source of energy are fuel cells powered by hydrogen, whose principle has been known since the end of the 14th century though the first practical use was only in 1965 on-board the Gemini 5, an American spacecraft. The fuel cells produce power through a chemical reaction between hydrogen (extracted from natural gas or other fuels) and oxygen with water as the only by-product.
In Japan, there has been news of fuel cell-powered homes supplied with electricity from the cells plus hot water.
At the forefront of fuel cell-powered vehicles, there's Toyota's zero-emission FCHV-adv with nickel-metal hydride battery and Honda's FCX Clarity with lithium-ion battery.
Car models are already roadworthy though expensive plus the lack of fueling stations and the high cost of development are hindering commercialization.
Today it may be costly, but in the future, as technology improves, it'll be a commodity in the days when OPEC lost their black gold.
One of the most promising source of energy are fuel cells powered by hydrogen, whose principle has been known since the end of the 14th century though the first practical use was only in 1965 on-board the Gemini 5, an American spacecraft. The fuel cells produce power through a chemical reaction between hydrogen (extracted from natural gas or other fuels) and oxygen with water as the only by-product.
In Japan, there has been news of fuel cell-powered homes supplied with electricity from the cells plus hot water.
At the forefront of fuel cell-powered vehicles, there's Toyota's zero-emission FCHV-adv with nickel-metal hydride battery and Honda's FCX Clarity with lithium-ion battery.
Car models are already roadworthy though expensive plus the lack of fueling stations and the high cost of development are hindering commercialization.
Today it may be costly, but in the future, as technology improves, it'll be a commodity in the days when OPEC lost their black gold.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Philippines Renewable Energy Bill
Renewable energy, defined as energy sourced from inexhaustible or easily replenishable energy sources like sunlight, wind, ocean tides, and geothermal heat or others like biomass and biofuels.
In the Philippines, more than half of the power plants run using bunker fuel and coal making the power sector highly vulnerable to the surging prices of oil in the world market.
Recent legislation called for the ethanol addition to gasoline where ethanol used can be produced locally using sugarcane, but the move diverts food sources into power needs much like corn production in other countries diverted to ethanol.
The Philippines is currently the world's second largest producer of geothermal energy, next only to the United States. That's mainly due to the presence of many volcanoes, of which 22 are active, inside the Pacific ring of fire. The geothermal plant in Tiwi, Albay is one prime example. Other volcanoes in the Philippines are the beautiful Mayon Volcano, Mt. Pinatubo, Taal Volcanoplus the many volcanoes in Camiguin.
There are studies that pinpointed several viable locations to harness energy from the wind and the wind farm in Bangui town in Ilocos is one such living testament to it.
On solar power, there's a company manufaturing solar cells in Laguna but mainly for export. Small upland communities are already using solar power sourced through donations by foreign government and NGOs. Other visible use of solar energy includes the solar-powered Capones lighthouse in Zambales and Corregidor Lighthouse.
Hydropower is also much used in the country, one example is the Kalayaan hydroelectric power plant in Kalayaan, Laguna whose turbines are powered by Caliraya lake. The first hydroelectric power plant in the Philippines can be found in Villa Escudero in Tiaong, Quezon. Mini-hydro plants are suitable for highland communities with access to the water supply. Dams that produce electric power are Magat Dam in Isabela/Ifugao, Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija, and San Roque Dam in Pangasinan.
Biomass fuel can also be harnessed from rice husks, coconut shells et al while garbage dumps can also generate methane gas to produce power. A similar setup can be seen in "green" piggeries where pig waste can be used to generate methane-powered plants.
With all these energy alternatives, the Philippines, given the right motivation and the passing of the still pending Renewable Energy Act, can ween away from dependence of bunker fuel. But that is if those "honorable" lawmakers can get their act together to pass such urgent legislation.
In the Philippines, more than half of the power plants run using bunker fuel and coal making the power sector highly vulnerable to the surging prices of oil in the world market.
Recent legislation called for the ethanol addition to gasoline where ethanol used can be produced locally using sugarcane, but the move diverts food sources into power needs much like corn production in other countries diverted to ethanol.
The Philippines is currently the world's second largest producer of geothermal energy, next only to the United States. That's mainly due to the presence of many volcanoes, of which 22 are active, inside the Pacific ring of fire. The geothermal plant in Tiwi, Albay is one prime example. Other volcanoes in the Philippines are the beautiful Mayon Volcano, Mt. Pinatubo, Taal Volcanoplus the many volcanoes in Camiguin.
There are studies that pinpointed several viable locations to harness energy from the wind and the wind farm in Bangui town in Ilocos is one such living testament to it.
On solar power, there's a company manufaturing solar cells in Laguna but mainly for export. Small upland communities are already using solar power sourced through donations by foreign government and NGOs. Other visible use of solar energy includes the solar-powered Capones lighthouse in Zambales and Corregidor Lighthouse.
Hydropower is also much used in the country, one example is the Kalayaan hydroelectric power plant in Kalayaan, Laguna whose turbines are powered by Caliraya lake. The first hydroelectric power plant in the Philippines can be found in Villa Escudero in Tiaong, Quezon. Mini-hydro plants are suitable for highland communities with access to the water supply. Dams that produce electric power are Magat Dam in Isabela/Ifugao, Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija, and San Roque Dam in Pangasinan.
Biomass fuel can also be harnessed from rice husks, coconut shells et al while garbage dumps can also generate methane gas to produce power. A similar setup can be seen in "green" piggeries where pig waste can be used to generate methane-powered plants.
With all these energy alternatives, the Philippines, given the right motivation and the passing of the still pending Renewable Energy Act, can ween away from dependence of bunker fuel. But that is if those "honorable" lawmakers can get their act together to pass such urgent legislation.
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