Category: Archive

Wave-driven generator uses magnets to generate electrical pulses with virtually no moving parts

admin /13 March, 2006

A wave-driven generator with virtually no moving parts could make wave
power a more efficient and competitive form of renewable energy,
reports New Scientist (11 March 2006, p.28).

Jackhammer pulses of energy: The key to the device, dubbed the
Snapper, is the way it converts a slow, steady wave motion into an
efficient current-generating jackhammer-like action.

Verticle armature: Ed Spooner, a consultant engineer based in
the UK at Crook, County Durham, has devised a buoy linked to a
generating unit on the seabed. The buoy is attached to a vertical
armature inside the generating unit, and as it bobs up and down magnets
mounted on the armature induce a current in static coils fixed to the
generating unit.

Parallel fixed magnets: Mounted next to the armature are a
parallel set of fixed magnets, aligned with the magnets on the
armature. It is the interaction between the two sets of magnets that
produces the Snapper’s jerky motion.

Pulses repeated as buoy rises … The attraction between the two
sets of magnets tends to hold them in place next to each other. As the
buoy tries to rise with a wave, this attraction initially holds it
down. When the buoyancy force becomes large enough to overcome the
attraction between the magnets, the buoy and the armature attached to
it move sharply upwards until the magnets align again. As the buoy
continues to rise this behaviour is repeated.

… and falls: Then as the buoy descends after the wave has passed, a spring produces a similar effect as the armature moves downwards.

Cost advantages: Spooner told the World Maritime Technology
Conference in London this week that the result is a sequence of rapid
movements that generate pulses of current. Experiments on a prototype
show the arrangement results in increased current-producing forces
compared with existing wave-power systems, suggesting that much smaller
generators could be built for the same output, reducing costs.

Energy-intensive economy makes South Africa one of world’s worst polluters

admin /13 March, 2006

South Africa’s energy-intensive economy resulted in the nation being
one of the world’s worst polluters, reported Johannesburg’s Mail & Guardian in an article on the nation’s energy policy.

19th for greenhouse gas emissions: The article said the World Resources Institute ranked South Africa 19th for annual greenhouse gas emissions.

Low-cost electricity: South Africa’s economy relied on low-cost
electricity to power industries such as mining and metals processing.
The economy used 4230 petajoules (PJ) of energy in 2003 and this was
estimated to more than triple by 2050.

urgent need to invest in renewable energy: A major study into
the nation’s energy commissioned by Earthlife Africa and released last
month concludes that South Africa, as a matter of urgency, had to start
investing in renewable energy sources.

Huge costs of fossil-based strategy: The report said the current
fossil-based strategy had huge economic and environmental costs.
“Fossil fuel scarcity and pricing as well as climate change concerns
provide critical motivations for change,” it said.

Abundant renewable sources being neglected: “The most polluting
energy sources are highly used while we are neglecting the abundance of
renewable energy sources in this country,” Earthlife said.

SA outback faces water pollution: 17 towns affected by water that is unfit for consumption

admin /13 March, 2006

Residents in at least one South Australian community have become
seriously ill from potentially serious water pollution this year,
reported The Advertiser (13/3/2006, p.13).

Bacteria, parasite threat: SA Water provided a detailed list to The Advertiser
of the water problems facing the communities for which it is
responsible. Problems include harmful E. coli bacteria, cryptospiridium
and giardia parasites and chemical and biological contaminants.

Community reps concerned: Community organisations and mining and
tourism industry representatives said they were concerned about the
poor water supply, particularly because the industries were so
important to the local economy.

Some water unfit for consumption: The communities of William
Creek, Mintabie and Glendambo were recently told their water is unfit
for human consumption, but the nature of the problem has not been
disclosed.

Another 17 towns involved: It followed similar warnings to
another 17 towns throughout the SA Outback and the erection of signs
warning people not to use the local water supply.

Legal liability: Authorities advised towns that they needed to
display warning signs to reduce their legal liability. Major concerns
surround William Creek, where there are no warning signs and tourists
wash, cook and brush their teeth in the water.

No action in two years: William Creek Hotel owner John Sheedy
said the community had been told two years ago that its water was
unsuitable for human consumption, but nothing had been done yet. He
said the water supply badly needed to be improved in addition to
putting up warning signs.

Four fall ill at Mintabie: At Mintabie, several residents became
seriously ill over Christmas, which coincided with the forced closure
of the town’s water supply. Mintabie Trading Post proprietor Robyn
Lloyd said four people became ill because of the water. “My husband and
I were very sick, I couldn’t move for four days,” she said.

Consistent approach needed: Outback Areas Community Development
Trust chair Bill McIntosh said an outback waters program with a more
consistent approach to pricing and supply infrastructure was being
investigated.

How sustainable is the coffee you drink?

admin /13 March, 2006

How sustainable is the coffee you drink? Do you know what you are drinking when you sip your coffee in the mornings? If you are concerned about the environment and your health, you may have already made the switch to certified organic coffee. You may even be buying locally produced coffee, and there is plenty Continue Reading →

BHP had eyes set on Iraq’s Halfayah oilfield in 1995

admin /12 March, 2006

When BHP began its first dealings with Iraq in 1995, gaining access to
the 3 billion barrel Halfayah oilfield in Southern Iraq could have
tripled BHPs oil reserves overnight, reported The Sydney Morning Herald
(10/3/2006, p.19). So shipping a $US5 million donation of wheat to Iraq
in return for “goodwill” was considered a drop in the bucket.

Politically sensitive issue: BHP knew any deal with Saddam
Hussein’s regime would be politically sensitive and might not be seen
positively from the public’s point of view. There were UN sanctions
against Iraq that needed to be lifted before BHP could develop
Halfayah.

BHP serious about Halfayah: Nevertheless, BHP’s plan to secure
first rights on Halfayah was discussed at the organisation’s highest
levels. After hearing of the petroleum division’s plan, BHP’s chief
executive at the time, John Prescott, voiced an “undefined” objection
to giving aid to Iraq.

Bribes labelled “ethically justifiable”: In a memo, BHP
executive Tom Harley noted one possible objection was that payment for
“goodwill” could be akin to some sort of bribe. “If his objection is
that it is a bribe then I think there are some good arguments that can
be mounted that it is an ethically justifiable payment, albeit
unusual,” Harley wrote.

Cryptic memos: The topic of Iraq was so sensitive that even in
internal memos, Iraq was comically rebadged as “Italy” while the
Australian Wheat Board (BHP’s ally in the $US5 million wheat shipment)
became the “Australian Egg Board” and oil was referred to as “wax”.

Chief Scientist Peacock careful not to conflict with Govt greenhouse line in interview with The Age

admin /12 March, 2006

On the gagging of climate scientists Australia’s new Chief Scientist,
Jim Peacock, takes the CSIRO management line that scientists are there
to put forward facts – not recommendations – to the Government lest
they risk turning into lobbyists, reports The Age (11 March 2006, p.10) after an interview.

No view on Kyoto: It says he “neatly dodges” whether Australia
should have signed up for Kyoto. “I really can’t say because I don’t
know enough about the subtending circumstances. I really don’t. There
is very convincing data that there has been a real trend in increase in
temperature around the world … we need to get the best possible
knowledge we can in front of the decision-makers for Australia.”

Nuclear must be an option: Linked to this is the supposedly
greenhouse-friendly option of nuclear power, which Peacock wants
considered as an option. “I think it’s time that Australians got up to
date and had some public discussion on an informed basis,” he says.

No generation options excluded: Australia needed to consider the
whole “portfolio of energy generation . . coal versus gas versus solar
versus wind versus nuclear. It’s likely that these components of energy
generation are going to change in relative importance over time”.