Ethical Dilemma Say Researchers

14 April 2011

Second generation biofuels that use waste as a feedstocks could be the answer to ‘unethical practices’ that are encouraged by current policies on biofuels, according a report by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics.

The UK based Nuffield Council on Bioethics examines ethical issues raised by new developments in biology and medicine, and in 2009 established a working party to examine the ethical issues raised by biofuels. The report – Biofuels: ethical issues – has been published recently following an 18 month inquiry.

According to the report policies such as the European Renewable Energy Directive (RED) are particularly weak when it comes to protecting the environment, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and avoiding human rights violations in developing countries.

Critically, the report also claims that such policies include few incentives for the development of new biofuel technologies that could help avoid such problems.

“Biofuels are one of the only renewable alternatives we have for transport fuels such as petrol and diesel, but current policies and targets that encourage their uptake have backfired badly,” said Professor Joyce Tait, who led the inquiry.

Tait cites the rapid expansion of biofuels production in the developing world as a cause of deforestation and displacement of indigenous people, and adds that a more sophisticated strategy that considers the wider consequences of biofuel production is needed.

However, the report goes on to say that research into a second generation of biofuels has the potential to provide feedstocks that:

• Do not compete with food
• Have a high energy yield with low inputs of water, land and fertiliser etc.
• Do not negatively affect the environment or local populations
• Can be produced in sufficient quantities to allow economically viable biofuels production.

New research

1. Biofuels development should not be at the expense of human rights
2. Biofuels should be environmentally sustainable
3. Biofuels should contribute to a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
4. Biofuels should adhere to fair trade principles
5. Costs and benefits of biofuels should be distributed in an equitable way.

Joule Unlimited is located in Kendall Square, Cambridge, among a stretch of older buildings dubbed “Life Sciences Square” in the neighborhood of many pharmaceutical companies. Having an infrastructure, such as third-party companies to do DNA sequencing, around genetic engineering helps the company rapidly identify promising strains.

Sourced & published by Henry Sapiecha

$1.50 per gallon

synthetic gasoline

with no carbon emissions

UK-based Cella Energy has developed a synthetic fuel that could lead to US$1.50 per gallon gasoline. Apart from promising a future transportation fuel with a stable price regardless of oil prices, the fuel is hydrogen based and produces no carbon emissions when burned. The technology is based on complex hydrides, and has been developed over a four year top secret program at the prestigious Rutherford Appleton Laboratory near Oxford. Early indications are that the fuel can be used in existing internal combustion engined vehicles without engine modification.

According to Stephen Voller CEO at Cella Energy, the technology was developed using advanced materials science, taking high energy materials and encapsulating them using a nanostructuring technique called coaxial electrospraying.

“We have developed new micro-beads that can be used in an existing gasoline or petrol vehicle to replace oil-based fuels,” said Voller. “Early indications are that the micro-beads can be used in existing vehicles without engine modification.”

“The materials are hydrogen-based, and so when used produce no carbon emissions at the point of use, in a similar way to electric vehicles”, said Voller.

The technology has been developed over a four-year top secret programme at the prestigious Rutherford Appleton Laboratory near Oxford, UK.

The development team is led by Professor Stephen Bennington in collaboration with scientists from University College London and Oxford University.

Professor Bennington, Chief Scientific Officer at Cella Energy said, “our technology is based on materials called complex hydrides that contain hydrogen. When encapsulated using our unique patented process, they are safer to handle than regular gasoline.”

Sourced & published by Henry Sapiecha

Because conventional photovoltaic panels produce electricity directly from sunlight, the energy they generate must either be used as it is produced or stored – either in batteries or by using the electricity to produce a fuel that acts as a storage medium for the energy. Now U.S. and Swiss researchers have developed a prototype device that directly converts the Sun’s rays into fuels that can be stored, allowing the energy to be used at night or transported to locations where it is needed. Read More

Sourced & published by Henry Sapiecha

Mexico’s street vendors go solar (1:55)

Dec 20 – Roadside food vendors in Mexico’s Oaxaca are re-fitting gas-powered food stalls with solar technology. It’s all thanks to efforts of a Swiss solar cooking pioneer who wants to change the world one street cart at a time.

Click here below to watch video

Breakthrough solar reactor makes fuel from sunlight

Because conventional photovoltaic panels produce electricity directly from sunlight, the energy they generate must either be used as it is produced or stored – either in batteries or by using the electricity to produce a fuel that acts as a storage medium for the energy. Now U.S. and Swiss researchers have developed a prototype device that directly converts the Sun’s rays into fuels that can be stored, allowing the energy to be used at night or transported to locations where it is needed. Read More

Sourced & published by Henry Sapiecha

Sourced & published by Henry Sapiecha

Platinum-free, methane-fueled fuel cells developed

Reliable, affordable fuel cells have come not one but three steps closer to reality this week, with announcements from two research institutions regarding advances in the field. If the reported developments make their way into production, we could be seeing fuel cells that use more abundant, less expensive fuels and building materials, that are more consistent in their electricity production, and that have a lower operating temperature. Read More

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Presenter: Robert Rosen

Brunswick Heads Chamber of Commerce
Listen to Presentation

Robert provided an overview of EV developments and prospects in Australia. Byron Shire has been acknowledged as a holiday destination that attracts envrionmentally aware visitors and sets the scene for a project involving a hire care business which adopts environmental alternatives.

Recieved & published by Henry Sapiecha