Ohio University scientists have developed a new technology that may allow urine-powered cars, homes, and electronics a reality. According to reports, scientists can create large amounts of cheap hydrogen from urine that could be burned or used in fuel cells using a nickel-based electrode. The Organic Consumer Association reports that Gerardine Botte, a professor at Ohio University says, “One cow can provide enough energy to supply hot water for 19 houses.” and in a much funnier (but true) statement, “Soldiers in the field could carry their own fuel.” It’s a little funny to think about, but seriously if you could harness urine to act as energy, we’d never run out. Plus, this is obviously a much cleaner fuel than gas.

Pee is based on hydrogen and the problem is that hydrogen can’t be easily stored or transported, not in a financially efficient way anyhow. Scientists already have found ways to bind hydrogen to water, which makes it easier to store and transport, but once you need to actually release and use said hydrogen it gets tricky and requires an expensive amount of electricity to do so.

The new answer – attaching hydrogen to nitrogen which allows the hydrogen to be stored and released more efficiently and in a more cost effective way as well. Botte notes that, “A fuel cell, urine-powered vehicle could theoretically travel 90 miles per gallon. A refrigerator-sized unit could produce one kilowatt of energy for about $5,000, although this price is a rough estimate.”

Obviously this technology will need to be developed on a much larger scale and continue to be fine tuned, but if it works out maybe toilets will become the hot new commodity over oil wells. It’ll be interesting. What do you think of pee as energy?

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Blisstree

Pee may be the new green power

With President Barack Obama now at the helm of the United States, people are wondering just what will happen to the country. After all, it is in an economic crisis at present and the President does need to focus on things that will help the country make its way back to its prime.

One of the things that the new President is doing is looking at alternative energy as a good source of power. Instead of shelling out billions of dollars on how to further improve production of fossil fuel that the country has, he is instead aiming at how to further develop renewable power. And that is where he is putting his money in.

Renewable power does include solar power as well as the energy we all can get from the wind. But that is not all, according to this report I came across earlier, Obama is also looking at biofuels.

Source: chron.com
Image source: Freefoto.com

Post from: Blisstree

Obama Looks At Alternative Energy

I really like the idea of storing energy in the form of hydrogen inside hydrogen tanks.   Battery banks are the usual storage for solar panel systems.   However, depending on the size, battery banks usually can supply a few hours to a few days worth of electricity.   Michael Strizki’s said that these hydrogen tanks, in conjunction with the solar battery bank, and geothermal setup can store an equivalent of  3 months worth of electricity usage.

The technology is fairly simple to understand.  Solar panels charge the battery banks and supplies the house with power.   If there is excess, power is directed to an electrolizer which if you recall your high school chemistry class,  splits water into Hydrogen + Oxygen thru a process called “electrolysis”.

Hydrogen gas is pumped and stored into the tanks while Oxygen is released to the atmosphere.

During the days or months where the sun cannot produce enough electricity to power the house,  the hydrogen inside the tanks is fed to a  Hydrogen fuel cell where it combines with oxygen and generates power.  The “waste product” is actually pure water.

Post from: Blisstree

Extreme Unplugged Living – The Solar Hydrogen House

Anyhow, according to the report, Israel’s Social-Economic Cabinet has already given the go signal with a solar project that has been laid out by Binyamin Ben Eliezer, the country’s National Infrastucture Minister. According to this plan, they are going to develop the regions of Negev and Arava (both in the southern part of the country) and they would be doing such so that these places are able to use renewable energy.

To be able to accomplish this, they would have to create 10 solar stations in the areas. And they would have to create such solar projects starting next year up until 2020. With that, they are aiming that the country would be using renewable energy by that time. Well, at least, 10% of the country’s energy needs would be taken from renewable energy.

Source: ynet news.com

Post from: Blisstree

10 Solar Projects In 2020

The event features 50 workshops that include “Configuring your Wind System” and “Solar Cookery“, in addition to a wide range of demos, opportunities to talk to renewable energy experts and plenty of cool vendors.

The workshops are free with the price of a very affordable admission (Adult 3-day pass is just $10!) and camping is available. For more info, check out the SolWest web site here.

[via GroovyGreen]

Post from: Blisstree

SolWest 2006 in Oregon Next Month