Gregoire's CleanTech Blog

Thermofluidics - solution d'efficacité énergétique

Une jeune pousse, Thermofluidics, issue de l'Engineering Department de l'Université de Cambridge, a été inaugurée le 6 février 2006 avec pour objectif de proposer des systèmes de pompe et de chauffage économiques.Basés sur des technologies vieilles de 200 ans, les systèmes proposés par Thermofluidics pourraient être aussi bien appliqués pour les économies d'énergie dans le monde occidental que pour les systèmes d'irrigation dans les pays en voie de développement.

A l'origine, le but est de produire des systèmes oscillants, basés sur les système électrique RLC (résistance induction et capacité), à l'aide de systèmes de mécanique des fluides (une résistance = une vanne ; un inducteur = un serpentin ; une capacité = un réservoir) où la circulation est initiée par la différence de température.

Le Dr Smith,fondateur de Thermofluidics, a passé les 3 dernières années à tester un système de ce type : une pompe alimentée par la chaleur qui transmet de l'eau au toit de son laboratoire. Ces systèmes ont prouvé une plus grande amplitude de pression que les systèmes précédents.

Thermofluidics développe des applications pour cette technologie avec deux priorités :la circulation de l'eau chaude à usage domestique à l'aide de la chaleur perdue ;des pompes d'irrigation pour les fermiers des pays en voie de développement.

La circulation de l'eau chaude domestique représente environ 10-15% de la consommation électrique d'un foyer. Il y a 120 millions de systèmes électriques de circulation d'eau chaude dans l'Union Européenne, ce qui représente une consommation de 57 TWh, soit la production de six centrales nucléaires. En utilisant la chaleur issue des fumées des chaudières centrales ou de la chambre de combustion comme source chaude, et l'air extérieur comme source froide, ce NIFTE va remplacer les pompes, améliorer l'efficacité énergétique du système et diminuer le besoin d'électricité.

La compagnie travaille actuellement sur une"pompe"en laboratoire pour obtenir la puissance d'une pompe d'un système de chauffage central.L'autre principale application est le développement de pompes d'irrigation économiques pour les pays en voie de développement.

A partir de panneaux solaires thermiques (le rayonnement solaire chauffant de l'eau), la chaleur fournie par cette eau chaude alimentera un appareil NIFTE qui fournira l'eau à un système d'irrigation localisé (goutte-à-goutte) ou à des pompes gravitaires.

Les systèmes d'irrigation solaires utilisent généralement des panneaux solaires photovoltaïques (conversion directe de la lumière en électricité) qui alimentent des pompes électriques. Cependant le solaire photovoltaïque possède de nombreux désavantages pour ce type d'application : son coût élevé et ses conditions d'opération.

Il est seulement efficace pour un échantillon de voltage donné : il faut donc un ensoleillement minimum pour faire fonctionner le système. De son côté les collecteurs solaires thermiques opèrent efficacement à n'importe quelle température, ils chauffent l'eau quoiqu'il advienne.

Ils sont aussi beaucoup moins chers, il n'y a pas besoin de technologies sophistiquées pour ce type d'application. L'appareil NIFTE pouvant utiliser l'eau"pompée"comme eau de refroidissement, le système total peut être 5 fois moins cher qu'un système utilisant des panneaux photovoltaïques. Un prototype est actuellement en construction.

De nombreuses applications sont envisageables, dès qu'il y a besoin simultanément de chauffage et de pompage.

Cette information est un extrait du BE Royaume Uni numero 67 du 8/06/2006 redige par l'Ambassade de France au Royaume Uni. Les Bulletins Electroniques (BE) sont un service ADIT et sont accessibles gratuitement sur http://www.bulletins-electroniques.com

SunOpta sells ethanol tech to Celunol

SunOpta Inc. continues to gain momentum in the cellulosic ethanol space. The Brampton, Ontario-based company, which I profiled recently, has sold a biomass "pretreatment" and conversion system to Celunol Corp., a Massachusetts-based producer of cellulosic ethanol that counts Khosla Ventures, Braemar Energy Ventures and Charles River Ventures as investors.

"The combination of SunOpta and Celunol process technologies will lead to a very competitive solution for producing cellulosic ethanol from various biomass substrates," said Murray Burke, vice-president and general manager of SunOpta's bioprocess group, in a statement. "We are excited to be working with Celunol on the first commercial cellulosic ethanol plant in the United States and look forward to the massive grow out in this market."

Celunol is in the process of expanding a pilot facility and planning to build a commercial demonstration facility later this year. The plant will be able to process bagasse, agricultural waste, wood products and dedicated crops into ethanol.

Source : Clean Break - tyler.blogware.com

ReneSola Ltd s'introduit en bourse

ReneSola Ltd s'est introduite en bourse la semaine dernière sur l'AIM. A suivre...

Franklin Fuels Direct Oxidation SOFC's

Franklin Fuel Cells Inc. (FFC) is an early stage company that is commercializing a unique solid oxide fuel cell (SOFCs) technology operates directly on today's hydrocarbon fossil fuels as well as future fuels such as, biofuels and hydrogen. This technology will enable (SOFCs) to become price-competitive with existing generation products while having higher energy efficiency and fuel flexibility. The company is a privately held Delaware corporation founded in November 2001 and capitalized in April 2002. FFC intends to address both the stationary and mobile markets.

Fuel cell advocates promise the world cleaner, more efficient and more reliable power, but widespread adoption of existing fuel cell technologies depend on the establishment of a "hydrogen economy." Without the infrastructure to support hydrogen distribution and storage, current fuel cell systems are too inefficient, too large and too expensive for most applications. Franklin Fuel Cell technology, acquired from the University of Pennsylvania through an exclusive licensing agreement, overcomes most of these issues. This technology is designed to:

1. Accelerate the rate of fuel cell commercialization by using conventional fuels and the existing energy infrastructure (such as gasoline, diesel, kerosene, etc).
2. Be competitive now with conventional modular power generating systems in terms of manufacturing cost.
3. Provide a product that can be fuel flexible to facilitate the transition to the hydrogen economy.

Franklin is the only fuel-cell development company to offer patented Copper-Ceria anode technology, a technology that offers several unique benefits over the common Nickel anode, including:

• No need for reformation
• Not prone to Carbon fouling and contaminations that dramatically reduce fuel cell life and efficiency, thus enabling cheaper, smaller and more efficient power generating systems.
• Can achieve conversion efficiencies up to 56% higher than standard SOFCs, up to two times higher than internal combustion engines

Franklin Fuel Cells has reported that it has successfully “tested, demonstrated, and proven” its patented, proprietary SOFC technology on 16 different hydrocarbon fuels: “virtually every current, commercially-available liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon fuel; done without the need for reformers or de-sulfurizers, and without requiring cell modifications from one fuel to the next.”

The tests were performed on all of the following hydrocarbon fuels: BP/Amoco 93-octane pump gasoline, E85, Methanol, Ethanol, Propane, 2006 commercial Diesel (30ppm S), Kerosene, Natural Gas, Butane, Methane, Hexane, Decane, Dodecane, Hexadecane, JP-8, and Heavy Naphtha. Performance graphs of the tests are available from Franklin.

In the traditional SOFC, Nickel is used in the anode to perform two functions: it’s the catalyst that breaks the fuel down, and it’s also the conductor of electrons. The problem with Nickel is that it is such a good catalyst that it catalyzes the carbon in a hydrocarbon fuel and “fouls” – which destroys the cell.

Next, the common Nickel-based anode is very sensitive to Sulfur, which is contained in all of our readily-available hydrocarbon fuels. In fact, Nickel cannot handle the Sulfur levels in our most common fuels like gasoline, diesel and kerosene.

Franklin’s singularly-unique, proven technology solves the problem in several key ways.

First, Franklin’s unique approach was to separate the two functions of Nickel with Copper to handle electronic conductivity and Ceria (CeO2) to act as an oxidation catalyst.

The advantage of Franklin’s proprietary Copper-Ceria anode technology is that it does not “foul” when exposed to hydrocarbon fuels, AND has a Sulfur tolerance as high as 500ppm, resulting in much better system efficiency and fuel flexibility! (Copper is inert to hydrocarbon fuels and does not “foul” like Nickel; Ceria is an excellent catalyst used in automotive applications and has a high Sulfur tolerance.

Next, Franklin’s DOSOFC (Direct Oxidation Solid Oxide Fuel Cell) technology allows direct oxidation of the hydrocarbon fuel by feeding it directly into the fuel cell with no reforming, de-Sulfurization, or addition of steam - resulting in much greater system simplicity which reduces system size, capital costs, complexity and maintenance. (See diagram below)

Under the appropriations bill, $1 million has been directed to Franklin Fuel Cells for Copper-Ceramic Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Technology research.

John Law, Franklin’s CEO, commented on the latest funding. “This is going to fund a Phase-Two program with our first Navy appropriation begun last year. The most important thing for us is that it is a tangible acknowledgment of our success in Phase One – and you had better show measurable successes in order to merit a ‘Phase Two’. Among those successes were our demonstration of 500+ hours of continuous operation on hydrocarbon fuels at high fuel utilization, increase in average single cell power density of more than 50%, and reduction by two-thirds in cell fabrication cost.

Deployment of fuel cells creates the potential for greatly reduced military fuel costs and distribution logistics. However, current fuel-cell technologies must use either hydrogen or zero-/low-sulfur fuels that render them impractical for military deployment. Franklin Fuel Cells’ project will design, fabricate and demonstrate a 2kW copper-ceramic solid-oxide fuel cell (SOFC) auxiliary power unit prototype to be delivered to the Navy before July 2007

Franklin Fuel Cells, Inc., Malvern, PA USA

Franklin Fuel Cells Inc. (FFC) is an early stage company that is commercializing a unique solid oxide fuel cell (SOFCs) technology operates directly on today's hydrocarbon fossil fuels as well as future fuels such as, biofuels and hydrogen. This technology will enable (SOFCs) to become price-competitive with existing generation products while having higher energy efficiency and fuel flexibility. The company is a privately held Delaware corporation founded in November 2001 and capitalized in April 2002. FFC intends to address both the stationary and mobile markets.

Fuel cell advocates promise the world cleaner, more efficient and more reliable power, but widespread adoption of existing fuel cell technologies depend on the establishment of a "hydrogen economy." Without the infrastructure to support hydrogen distribution and storage, current fuel cell systems are too inefficient, too large and too expensive for most applications. Franklin Fuel Cell technology, acquired from the University of Pennsylvania through an exclusive licensing agreement, overcomes most of these issues. This technology is designed to:

1. Accelerate the rate of fuel cell commercialization by using conventional fuels and the existing energy infrastructure (such as gasoline, diesel, kerosene, etc).
2. Be competitive now with conventional modular power generating systems in terms of manufacturing cost.
3. Provide a product that can be fuel flexible to facilitate the transition to the hydrogen economy.

Franklin is the only fuel-cell development company to offer patented Copper-Ceria anode technology, a technology that offers several unique benefits over the common Nickel anode, including:

• No need for reformation
• Not prone to Carbon fouling and contaminations that dramatically reduce fuel cell life and efficiency, thus enabling cheaper, smaller and more efficient power generating systems.
• Can achieve conversion efficiencies up to 56% higher than standard SOFCs, up to two times higher than internal combustion engines

Franklin Fuel Cells has reported that it has successfully “tested, demonstrated, and proven” its patented, proprietary SOFC technology on 16 different hydrocarbon fuels: “virtually every current, commercially-available liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon fuel; done without the need for reformers or de-sulfurizers, and without requiring cell modifications from one fuel to the next.”

The tests were performed on all of the following hydrocarbon fuels: BP/Amoco 93-octane pump gasoline, E85, Methanol, Ethanol, Propane, 2006 commercial Diesel (30ppm S), Kerosene, Natural Gas, Butane, Methane, Hexane, Decane, Dodecane, Hexadecane, JP-8, and Heavy Naphtha. Performance graphs of the tests are available from Franklin.

In the traditional SOFC, Nickel is used in the anode to perform two functions: it’s the catalyst that breaks the fuel down, and it’s also the conductor of electrons. The problem with Nickel is that it is such a good catalyst that it catalyzes the carbon in a hydrocarbon fuel and “fouls” – which destroys the cell.

Next, the common Nickel-based anode is very sensitive to Sulfur, which is contained in all of our readily-available hydrocarbon fuels. In fact, Nickel cannot handle the Sulfur levels in our most common fuels like gasoline, diesel and kerosene.

Franklin’s singularly-unique, proven technology solves the problem in several key ways.

First, Franklin’s unique approach was to separate the two functions of Nickel with Copper to handle electronic conductivity and Ceria (CeO2) to act as an oxidation catalyst.

The advantage of Franklin’s proprietary Copper-Ceria anode technology is that it does not “foul” when exposed to hydrocarbon fuels, AND has a Sulfur tolerance as high as 500ppm, resulting in much better system efficiency and fuel flexibility! (Copper is inert to hydrocarbon fuels and does not “foul” like Nickel; Ceria is an excellent catalyst used in automotive applications and has a high Sulfur tolerance.

Next, Franklin’s DOSOFC (Direct Oxidation Solid Oxide Fuel Cell) technology allows direct oxidation of the hydrocarbon fuel by feeding it directly into the fuel cell with no reforming, de-Sulfurization, or addition of steam - resulting in much greater system simplicity which reduces system size, capital costs, complexity and maintenance. (See diagram below)

Under the appropriations bill, $1 million has been directed to Franklin Fuel Cells for Copper-Ceramic Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Technology research.

John Law, Franklin’s CEO, commented on the latest funding. “This is going to fund a Phase-Two program with our first Navy appropriation begun last year. The most important thing for us is that it is a tangible acknowledgment of our success in Phase One – and you had better show measurable successes in order to merit a ‘Phase Two’. Among those successes were our demonstration of 500+ hours of continuous operation on hydrocarbon fuels at high fuel utilization, increase in average single cell power density of more than 50%, and reduction by two-thirds in cell fabrication cost.

Deployment of fuel cells creates the potential for greatly reduced military fuel costs and distribution logistics. However, current fuel-cell technologies must use either hydrogen or zero-/low-sulfur fuels that render them impractical for military deployment. Franklin Fuel Cells’ project will design, fabricate and demonstrate a 2kW copper-ceramic solid-oxide fuel cell (SOFC) auxiliary power unit prototype to be delivered to the Navy before July 2007

Franklin Fuel Cells, Inc., Malvern, PA USA

Which fuel cell will sell ?

It was interesting to see last week's brief disclosure that highly secretive fuel-cell venture Ion America -- yet another John Doerr/Kleiner investment -- has raised $102 million (U.S.) in a Series D round of financing. Rob Day at Cleantech Investing says that brings Ion's overall VC funding up to $165 million. That's not bad for a company we know little about. What we do know is that Ion is focusing on solid-oxide fuel cell technology for stationary, distributed energy generation. One can imagine the markets would include back-up power for businesses and homes and primary co-generation systems (heat and power) for the same markets.

The size of this investment contrasts with an announcement three weeks ago in which the European Fuel Cell Forum, at its annual international conference in Lucerne, Switzerland, said it would be discontinuing its European PEFC Forum. The PEFC (polymer electrolyte fuel cell) -- also known as the PEMFC (proton exchange membrane fuel cell) -- lays at the core of Ballard Power's and Hydrogenics' fuel cell technologies and is widely believed to be the fuel cell that will eventually drive hydrogen-powered cars.

Or will it?

Ulf Bossel, chair of the highly respected global conference, said it's more efficient and economical to use electricity straight from the grid (say, in a battery-electric vehicle) rather than convert water or a fossil fuel into hydrogen to run a PEFC system. The "hydrogen economy," he said, can never compete with the "electron economy."

"The best sustainable solution is obtained by linking renewable electricity sources directly to the energy needs of consumers by means of efficient power transmission lines," wrote Bossel in announcing the forum's cancellation. "A hydrogen infrastructure is not needed for solving the energy problem."

Then, in thanking the companies and scientists who participated in the PEFC forum, Bossel made this compelling statement: "You and your colleagues have developed a magnificent technology, but the fuel needed to make it work is not offered by nature. The energy problem cannot be solved by creating artificial fuels. The laws of physics speak against a hydrogen economy, and physics cannot be changed by wishful thinking, political initiatives, research programs or venture capital."

Bam! Pow! Uppercut! 10-count... talk about a comment that hurts. An energy analyst who forwarded me Bossel's statement had this to say: "That is why Ballard doesn't matter, nor Chinese collaborations on fuel-cell cars. Glad to see some scientists finally admitting it."

Interesting, of course, is that forums related to solid-oxide, molten carbonate, and phosphoric acid fuel cells for stationary applications remain alive and well. It seems that increasingly, the new "thinking" on fuel cells is that they will help us use existing fuels more efficiently, rather than become a machine whose raison d'etre is to support a hydrogen economy. Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, for example, are high-temperature fuel cells that can use a number of fuel inputs -- including natural gas, propane, paint fumes, etc. -- to generate power and produce waste heat that can be recycled. Two bangs for the fossil-fuel buck.

So this may explain Ion America's ability to raise so much venture capital, while Ballard tries to figure out what it wants to be to the world beyond fuel-cell provider for the forklift industry. I'm not dissing Ballard and Hydrogenics, which are both great companies with great technologies. I'm just questioning whether the "hydrogen economy" we had a vision of 10 years ago has a role in a world where momentum is on the side of hybrid and biofuel technologies that take advantage of existing infrastructure.

Source : Clean Break - tyler.blogware.com

REC Doubling Silicon Capaciy

Renewable Energy Corporation (Oslo:REC.OL) has initiated construction of a new production facility for granular polysilicon in Moses Lake, Washington, USA. The new plant will be built adjacent to REC's existing plant where the production is already focused on production of solar grade silicon (SOG) qualities.

REC Silicon has made substantial investments in a new proprietary technology. The new production technology features polysilicon deposition in fluidized bed reactors (FBR) instead of the more traditional thermal deposition furnaces or “Siemens reactors”. REC Silicon has run continuous test production with the FBR technology over the last year. The technology provides substantial reductions in investment and dramatic reductions in energy consumption.

The new plant is based on the FBR technology that REC has developed for production of granular solar grade polysilicon (SOG). The plant will add approximately 6,500 MT to REC's polysilicon production capacity, totaling close to 13,000 MT. SOG is used as raw material in the production of solar cells. 20-25 % of all solar cells in the world are primarily made from REC's polysilicon.

Mechanical completion of the plant is expected by the end of the first quarter 2008, with final completion and ramp-up of production in the third quarter of 2008.

REC has a very optimistic view of the solar market as can be seen from their graph, reproduced below.

Renewable Energy Corporation ASA, Høvik, NORWAY

Source : the Energy blog - thefraserdomain.typepad.com

Renewable Energy Corporation (Oslo:REC.OL) has initiated construction of a new production facility for granular polysilicon in Moses Lake, Washington, USA. The new plant will be built adjacent to REC's existing plant where the production is already focused on production of solar grade silicon (SOG) qualities.

REC Silicon has made substantial investments in a new proprietary technology. The new production technology features polysilicon deposition in fluidized bed reactors (FBR) instead of the more traditional thermal deposition furnaces or “Siemens reactors”. REC Silicon has run continuous test production with the FBR technology over the last year. The technology provides substantial reductions in investment and dramatic reductions in energy consumption.

The new plant is based on the FBR technology that REC has developed for production of granular solar grade polysilicon (SOG). The plant will add approximately 6,500 MT to REC's polysilicon production capacity, totaling close to 13,000 MT. SOG is used as raw material in the production of solar cells. 20-25 % of all solar cells in the world are primarily made from REC's polysilicon.

Mechanical completion of the plant is expected by the end of the first quarter 2008, with final completion and ramp-up of production in the third quarter of 2008.

REC has a very optimistic view of the solar market as can be seen from their graph, reproduced below.

Renewable Energy Corporation ASA, Høvik, NORWAY

Source : the Energy blog - thefraserdomain.typepad.com

La société en devenir HyBiom développe des «éponges à hydrogène»

Carburant de l’avenir, l’hydrogène n’est pas sans danger. Une société fribourgeoise en devenir, HyBiom, a développé avec l’Empa un procédé de stockage sans risque et à très haute capacité.

Avec ses tuyaux gainés de tresses d'inox, il a tout d'une petite usine à gaz, le générateur électrique autonome mis au point par HyBiom, l'Ecole d'ingénieurs de Bienne et le Laboratoire fédéral d'essai des matériaux (Empa). Et, pour une fois, les apparences ne sont pas trompeuses, car cet appareil qui tient sur une table fonctionne effectivement au gaz. À l'hydrogène, pour être tout à fait précis, qui alimente une pile à combustible. Sur simple pression d'un bouton et dans un silence à peine troublé par le ronronnement de la pompe à air, ce générateur est capable de fournir une puissance continue de 500 watts - ou 1000 watts en pointe - sous 220 volts. De quoi faire fonctionner une perceuse, un frigo ou tout autre appareil électrique pendant une douzaine d'heures, indépendamment du réseau et sans émissions toxiques.

Hydrogène, pile à combustible, pompe à air… pourquoi une telle débauche technologique pour fournir le même service que n'importe quel générateur à essence? «Parce que l'hydrogène est le vecteur d'énergie de l'avenir», répond Rainer Warth, responsable financier et opérationnel chez HyBiom. Car la vocation de cette société en devenir n'est pas de construire des générateurs, aussi sophistiqués soient-ils, mais de développer et de commercialiser des systèmes de stockage d'hydrogène. À ce titre, cette machine est surtout un démonstrateur des performances des hydrates métalliques.

Pierre angulaire d'HyBiom, le professeur Andreas Züttel, qui a rejoint récemment l'Empa, travaille depuis dix ans sur ces «éponges à hydrogène» qui piègent de manière sûre de grandes quantités de gaz. Par rapport aux bombonnes traditionnelles où l'hydrogène est confiné à 250 bars, le stockage dans des hydrites métalliques présente de nombreux avantages. Ainsi, le module HyBiom 300 d'une capacité de 300 grammes d'hydrogène, soit 3,5 m ³ environ à pression ambiante, est composé d'une douzaine de tubes en acier inoxydable occupant un volume de 60 x 40 x 30 centimètres. Même si cela semble défier le bon sens, les hydrites permettent, à volume et poids égaux, de stocker beaucoup plus d'hydrogène que sous forme liquide dans une bouteille.

Surtout, le procédé est sûr par nature, contrairement au stockage sous pression où les risques d'explosion sont très importants en cas de fuite. En effet, les hydrites métalliques doivent être chauffés pour libérer l'hydrogène. La dépression provoquée par une fuite abaissant la température, l'émission de l'hydrogène est automatiquement bloquée. «C'est une sécurité intrinsèque», explique Andreas Borgschulte, qui fait partie de l'équipe du professeur Züttel.

Source : www.24heures.ch

Auteur : Laurent Aubert

TOTAL s'engage dans l'énergie des courants marins

Total annonce avoir pris une participation de 10 % dans la société Scotrenewables Marine Power Ltd. Cette société, filiale de Scotrenewables Wind Power Ltd., est basée aux îles Orcades en Ecosse. Elle est spécialisée dans le développement d’une technologie de production d’électricité à partir d’hydroliennes fonctionnant grâce aux courants marins.

La société Scotrenewables Marine Power Ltd. travaille en étroite relation avec le centre EMEC (European Marine Energy Centre), qui dispose des infrastructures nécessaires à la qualification de dispositifs de production d’électricité d’origine marine. Elle bénéficie également du soutien des chercheurs de l’Université Heriott-Watt d’Edimbourg et de l’université des Orcades, avec lesquels Total entretient plusieurs partenariats.

Outre le fait que cette technologie de production de l’électricité n’émet pas de gaz à effet de serre, l’énergie des courants marins présente l’avantage d’être prédictible. A long terme, cette source d’énergie pourrait contribuer significativement à la production d’électricité d’origine renouvelable, en particulier au Royaume-Uni et en France. Les îles Orcades se situent dans une zone où l’intensité des courants marins atteint des niveaux parmi les plus élevés observés en Europe.

Ce nouvel engagement de Total dans les énergies marines fait suite à une prise de participation en juin 2005 dans un projet de valorisation de l’énergie des vagues en Espagne. Les demandes d’autorisations correspondantes ont été déposées et sont en cours d’instruction.

Le Groupe confirme ainsi son intérêt pour les énergies renouvelables. Outre les biocarburants, Total est en effet présent depuis plus de vingt ans dans l’énergie solaire photovoltaïque et poursuit son action à travers deux sociétés, Photovoltech et Tenesol.

Par ailleurs, après avoir inauguré en 2003 une première centrale éolienne près de Dunkerque, Total a été sélectionné en 2005 par le ministère français de l’Industrie pour développer le plus grand projet éolien terrestre (90 MW) en France, dans l’Aveyron. Total poursuit en outre les études concernant un projet éolien en mer de plus de 100 MW situé au large de Dunkerque.

Source : www.enerzine.com

Des microalgues pour purifier le biogaz

La société Schmack Biogas AG a développé un procédé de purification du biogaz grâce à des micro-algues. Celui-ci doit dorénavant être optimisé à l'échelle pilote dans un projet qui durera jusqu'à mars 2008 et sera financé par l'agence allemande des matières premières renouvelables FNR. Ce procédé est économique et respectueux de l'environnement. Les tests sont réalisés dans trois photo-bioréacteurs afin de déterminer les meilleures conditions de croissance des algues ainsi que celles où elles captent le plus de CO2, polluant du biogaz. En effet, le CO2 est nécessaire à la photosynthèse et à la croissance des algues. De même, moins le biogaz contient de CO2, plus il est riche en méthane et plus il est effectif d'un point de vue énergétique. Enfin, les algues qui poussent plus vite grâce à l'apport de CO2 peuvent ensuite être recyclées en biomasse également pour produire de l'énergie.

Solar successes

Pacific Gas & Electric vows a five-fold increase in solar use. SunEdison LLC acquires a Sacramento-based solar system installer to expand its skills base and capabilities in California -- America's fastest growing solar market. Cambridge, Ontario-based ATS Automation announces terrific growth in its solar business and says it will file a preliminary prospectus -- finally! -- for the IPO of its Photowatt business in Canada and the United States. And Victoria, B.C.-based solar provider Carmanah Technologies reports a strong second quarter, showing a 142 per cent year-or-year increase in revenues ($15.8 million) and a positive swing back to profitability. "All of these achievements signal increased mainstream acceptance of our products, which bodes well for a strong finish to the year," said Carmanah CEO Art Aylesworth. "With the wide range of 'unusual' integration and expansion activities of the past year behind us, management is now focused on growth, efficiency and profitability initiatives."