Iron Horse!

[Ah Fai]

deleted

[retro]

Originally posted by Ah Fai@Oct 30 2006, 08:52 PM

Commando leh, don play play

Die leh... run and run...

[Ah Fai]

Originally posted by retro@Oct 30 2006, 09:12 PM

Die leh... run and run...

so how is your IPPT? have not over yet?

[retro]

Originally posted by Ah Fai@Oct 30 2006, 09:15 PM

so how is your IPPT? have not over yet?

going to fail it on sat!!!!

[Ah Fai]

Originally posted by retro@Oct 30 2006, 09:21 PM

going to fail it on sat!!!!

haha, then aim for RT liao

 

anyway just try your best loh

[retro]

Originally posted by Ah Fai@Oct 30 2006, 09:25 PM

haha, then aim for RT liao

 

anyway just try your best loh

sigh... jus run and pull cannot only... sigh... but the $400 is very encouraging!!!! must work hard for it!!!

[Ah Fai]

Yestarday check my green turtle speedometer, then realise I already click milage 25,000km++ :banana:

[Ah Fai]

Originally posted by retro@Oct 30 2006, 09:27 PM

sigh... jus run and pull cannot only... sigh... but the $400 is very encouraging!!!! must work hard for it!!!

Don't wanna pour cold water but getting S$400 is mission impossible

 

[Ah Fai]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v189/Loontoot/Food/DSC00002-1.jpg

 

Johor Curry Fish Head 04-11-2006 (Saturday)

 

Time: 1930hrs (Sorry cant change the timing as the restaurant closes @ 2230hrs)

 

Meeting Place: GP Esso

 

For Reviews: Click Here & Here!

 

 

PaLmEr will lead us to makan

 

Going list:

1. PaLmEr (Honda 400)

2. Ah Fai (kawasaki Z1000)

3. wait4me (Honda SP)

4. zhybird (Kawasaki ZX-10)

5. Ah Zuo

6. RVF400 (RVF400)

7. Wheelie45 (Suzuki GSX-R1000)

8. Kawasakininja (Suzuki GSX-R1000)

9. johnny73 (runner)

 

Pending:

1. Zorom (Suzuki GSX-R1000

2. Gixxertan & gf (Suzuki GSX-R1000)

3. Raymond (Honda 400)

4. WW (Suzuki GSX-R1000)

5. Jas400 (RVF400)

 

A Kind Reminder from Ministry of Bikes: Safety always come first. If you are feeling unwell, please do not ride. The responsibility to ride safe belongs to every individual rider. Speed Kills, know your limit. Always check your F.A.C.T. before ride --- Fuel, Attittude, Controls & Tires

[voodoodoll]

Originally posted by gssiong@Oct 30 2006, 05:33 PM

eh....

your gf wearing green T?

 

kuku only notice girl only..hehe

[Ah Fai]

Honda Develops Hybrid Scooter Prototype

 

August 24, 2004—Honda has developed a 50cc hybrid scooter prototype that offers reduced emissions, exceptional fuel economy, and ample storage space. Employing both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, the new prototype takes Honda one step closer to a mass-market hybrid scooter.

 

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i5/Fai_photo/01.jpg

 

The new prototype features an alternating current generator (ACG) with an idle stop function and the Honda PGM-FI electronic fuel injection system. In addition to an electronically controlled belt converter and a range of Honda environmental technologies, the new scooter features a dual series and parallel hybrid powertrain with a direct rear-wheel drive electric motor. Thanks to a compact power system and a rechargeable nickel hydrogen battery located under the front cowl, the hybrid scooter is about the same size as the Dio Z4, a standard-size 50cc scooter, and is only 10 kg heavier.

 

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i5/Fai_photo/02.jpg

 

The hybrid scooter’s internal combustion engine and direct rear-wheel-drive electric motor function in two distinct modes. In series mode, when riding on flat ground and when high output is not required, the engine alone powers the electric motor. In parallel mode, used during acceleration and when high output is required, the electric motor assists the engine. In parallel mode, an electronically controlled belt converter automatically selects the optimum assist ratio.

 

To make the most efficient use of energy, the hybrid system charges the battery during deceleration and whenever possible and utilizes this power when higher output is required. In addition, the scooter enters idle stop mode, when the scooter is stopped, and whenever power is not needed, during deceleration. These advanced features allow the hybrid scooter to achieve 1.6 times the fuel economy of the Dio Z4 (when riding on flat ground at 30 km/h) and to produce 37% less carbon dioxide.

[Ah Fai]

Hybrid Scooter Would Run on Hydrogen

 

 

An industrial design student in The Netherlands has built a prototype scooter that is designed to be run on hydrogen.

 

Crijn Bouman of Delft University of Technology designed the scooter for use in inner cities.

 

He calls it the Fhybrid.

 

"The look and feel of the scooter are aimed at selling the clean technology inside," he said in a statement today.

 

The scooter has an electric motor powered by a (Li-)ion battery. If the Fhybrid is ever put into production, the idea is to charge the battery with a fuel-cell system, which would derive its energy from a tank of hydrogen. While scientists are working to make such systems more efficient, obtaining hydrogen (by splitting it out of water) is for now too costly to be practical. Scientists disagree whether it will ever be viable.

 

The prototype scooter uses a simulated fuel-cell to recharge the battery.

 

"A special course and various permits are required to build a hydrogen-powered engine. It wasn't possible to achieve this during the time period of my graduation project," Bouman explained. "The faculty is now trying to assemble all the necessary means to fully develop the hydrogen-powered scooter."

 

The scooter also recharges the battery by snagging energy during braking.

 

Since two-wheeled vehicles rely primarily on front-wheel braking for efficient stops, Bouman's scooter is front-wheel drive—better to capture the braking energy, he explained.

 

The Fhybrid has a top speed of 40 mph. Bouman says it accelerates faster than regular scooters and could travel approximately 124 miles on a tank of hydrogen.

[voodoodoll]

Originally posted by Ah Fai@Oct 30 2006, 06:55 PM

Not a need to post speed here

of coz must put avg traveling speed.. the last time went to kulai with fireymonkey and kopi jac. whack 160 to 180 oh my poor krr. Anyway any 2b bike going to the house warming??

[Ah Fai]

The Mysterious Origin and Supply of Oil

 

 

It runs modern society and fuels serious political tension. But where does oil really come from, and how much is left? The far-out possibilities might surprise you.

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Nature has been transmuting dead life into black gold for millions of years using little more than heat, pressure and time, scientists tell us.

 

But with gas prices spiking more than $1 per gallon in the United States this year and some experts predicting that the end of oil is near, scientists still don't know for sure where oil comes from, how long it took to make, or how much there is.

 

A so-called fossil fuel, petroleum is believed by most scientists to be the transformed remains of long dead organisms. The majority of petroleum is thought to come from the fossils of plants and tiny marine organisms. Larger animals might contribute to the mix as well.

 

"Even some of the dinosaurs may have gotten involved in some of this," says William Thomas, a geologists at the University of Kentucky. "[Although] I think it would be quite rare and a very small and insignificant contribution."

 

But another theory holds that more oil was in Earth from the beginning than what's been produced by dead animals, but that we've yet to tap it.

 

How it works

 

In the leading theory, dead organic material accumulates on the bottom of oceans, riverbeds or swamps, mixing with mud and sand. Over time, more sediment piles on top and the resulting heat and pressure transforms the organic layer into a dark and waxy substance known as kerogen.

 

Left alone, the kerogen molecules eventually crack, breaking up into shorter and lighter molecules composed almost solely of carbon and hydrogen atoms. Depending on how liquid or gaseous this mixture is, it will turn into either petroleum or natural gas.

 

So how long does this process take?

 

Scientists aren't really sure, but they figure it's probably on the order of hundreds of thousands of years.

 

"It's certainly not an instantaneous process," Thomas told LiveScience. "The rate at which petroleum is forming is not going to be the solution to our petroleum supplies."

 

The United States' latest reminder of its petroleum dependency occurred when hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck the Gulf of Mexico, where the majority of the country's oil platforms and refineries are located. Many analysts predicted gas prices would surge to $4 and $5 per gallon, but the fears turned out to be overblown. Many of the structures suffered only glancing blows and were operating again soon afterwards.

 

 

POWERING THE FUTURE

10 Ways to Run

the 21st Century

 

 

SPECIAL REPORT

Thinking Beyond Oil

 

Still, the average price of regular gas nationwide is about $2.94 a gallon now, according to the American Automobile Association. It was $1.77 at the beginning of the year.

 

Alternative source

 

The idea that petroleum is formed from dead organic matter is known as the "biogenic theory" of petroleum formation and was first proposed by a Russian scientist almost 250 years ago.

 

In the 1950's, however, a few Russian scientists began questioning this traditional view and proposed instead that petroleum could form naturally deep inside the Earth.

 

This so-called "abiogenic" petroleum might seep upward through cracks formed by asteroid impacts to form underground pools, according to one hypothesis. Some geologists have suggested probing ancient impact craters in the search for oil.

 

Abiogenic sources of oil have been found, but never in commercially profitable amounts. The controversy isn't over whether naturally forming oil reserves exist, said Larry Nation of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. It's over how much they contribute to Earth's overall reserves and how much time and effort geologists should devote to seeking them out.

 

If abiogenic petroleum sources are indeed found to be abundant, it would mean Earth contains vast reserves of untapped petroleum and, since other rocky objects formed from the same raw material as Earth, that crude oil might exist on other planets or moons in the solar system, scientists say.

 

Both processes for making petroleum likely require thousands of years. Even if Earth does contain far more oil than currently thought, it's inevitable that reserves will one day run out. Scientists disagree sharply, however, on when that will occur. And, some say, a global crisis could begin as soon as increasing demand is greater than supply, a possibility that might be measured in years rather than decades, some analysts argue.

[kOpi_jaC]

gssiong's house warming (11th Nov 2006)

 

Going List:

1. Ah Fai (Kawasai Z1000)

2. kawasakininja (Suzuki GSX-R1000) + super pillion (tbc)

3. Retro + queen (Suzuki GSX-R1000)

4. Virgin_boy + pillion (Yamaha R606)

5. [c]arbine (Honda 400)

6. MinMin

7. Jeff (Kawasaki ZX-6)

8. fierymonkey

9. Kopi + NO pillion

 

Pending:

1. Bikecraz ( provided bike discharge )

2. JAS400

3. johnny73

4. voodoodoll

5. Wheelie45

[Ah Fai]

Originally posted by voodoodoll@Oct 30 2006, 09:57 PM

of coz must put avg traveling speed.. the last time went to kulai with fireymonkey and kopi jac. whack 160 to 180 oh my poor krr. Anyway any 2b bike going to the house warming??

so far I think wait4me is going

[Ah Fai]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v189/Loontoot/Food/DSC00002-1.jpg

 

Johor Curry Fish Head 04-11-2006 (Saturday)

 

Time: 1930hrs (Sorry cant change the timing as the restaurant closes @ 2230hrs)

 

Meeting Place: GP Esso

 

For Reviews: Click Here & Here!

 

 

PaLmEr will lead us to makan

 

Going list:

1. PaLmEr (Honda 400)

2. Ah Fai (kawasaki Z1000)

3. wait4me (Honda SP)

4. zhybird (Kawasaki ZX-10)

5. Ah Zuo

6. RVF400 (RVF400)

7. Wheelie45 (Suzuki GSX-R1000)

8. Kawasakininja (Suzuki GSX-R1000)

9. johnny73 (runner)

 

Pending:

1. Zorom (Suzuki GSX-R1000

2. Gixxertan & gf (Suzuki GSX-R1000)

3. Raymond (Honda 400)

4. WW (Suzuki GSX-R1000)

5. Jas400 (RVF400)

 

A Kind Reminder from Ministry of Bikes: Safety always come first. If you are feeling unwell, please do not ride. The responsibility to ride safe belongs to every individual rider. Speed Kills, know your limit. Always check your F.A.C.T. before ride --- Fuel, Attittude, Controls & Tires

[Ah Fai]

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a376/gssiong/map01.jpg

 

gssiong's house warming (11th Nov 2006)

 

Going List:

1. Ah Fai (Kawasai Z1000)

2. kawasakininja (Suzuki GSX-R1000) + super pillion (tbc)

3. Retro + queen (Suzuki GSX-R1000)

4. Virgin_boy + pillion (Yamaha R606)

5. [c]arbine (Honda 400)

6. MinMin

7. Jeff (Kawasaki ZX-6)

8. fierymonkey

9. Kopi

10. wait4me (Honda sp)

 

Pending:

1. Bikecraz ( provided bike discharge )

2. JAS400

3. johnny73

4. voodoodoll

5. Wheelie45

 

A Kind Reminder from Ministry of Bikes: Safety always come first. If you are feeling unwell, please do not ride. The responsibility to ride safe belongs to every individual rider. Speed Kills, know your limit. Always check your F.A.C.T. before ride --- Fuel, Attittude, Controls & Tires

[Ah Fai]

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i5/Fai_photo/gallery_2004_bg20.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i5/Fai_photo/gallery_2004_bg16.jpg

 

The Singapore Motorshow 2006

 

Time: 10–19 November

 

Place: Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre (Suntec Singapore)

 

The region’s most celebrated and prestigious motoring event, The Singapore Motorshow 2006, will once again wow visitors from 10–19 November at the Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre (Suntec Singapore). The event will provide a visual feast of world-class concept cars, exotic automobile designs and exciting new car models.

 

It is the largest automotive display of revolutionary technology for cars and motorcycles in Singapore and will feature exciting new automotive launches and groundbreaking technology.

 

The Singapore Motorshow 2006 is proudly presented by the Motor Traders Association (MTA) and supported by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc. (JAMA), and the Singapore Motor Cycle Trade Association (SMCTA).

 

Organiser's Contact:

Singapore International Motorshow Pte Ltd

253 Alexandra Road

Level 3 (Lobby 4)

Singapore 159936

 

Tel: (65) 6472-4934

Fax: (65) 6472-4930

[Ah Fai]

The Mysterious Origin and Supply of Oil

 

 

It runs modern society and fuels serious political tension. But where does oil really come from, and how much is left? The far-out possibilities might surprise you.

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Nature has been transmuting dead life into black gold for millions of years using little more than heat, pressure and time, scientists tell us.

 

But with gas prices spiking more than $1 per gallon in the United States this year and some experts predicting that the end of oil is near, scientists still don't know for sure where oil comes from, how long it took to make, or how much there is.

 

A so-called fossil fuel, petroleum is believed by most scientists to be the transformed remains of long dead organisms. The majority of petroleum is thought to come from the fossils of plants and tiny marine organisms. Larger animals might contribute to the mix as well.

 

"Even some of the dinosaurs may have gotten involved in some of this," says William Thomas, a geologists at the University of Kentucky. "[Although] I think it would be quite rare and a very small and insignificant contribution."

 

But another theory holds that more oil was in Earth from the beginning than what's been produced by dead animals, but that we've yet to tap it.

 

How it works

 

In the leading theory, dead organic material accumulates on the bottom of oceans, riverbeds or swamps, mixing with mud and sand. Over time, more sediment piles on top and the resulting heat and pressure transforms the organic layer into a dark and waxy substance known as kerogen.

 

Left alone, the kerogen molecules eventually crack, breaking up into shorter and lighter molecules composed almost solely of carbon and hydrogen atoms. Depending on how liquid or gaseous this mixture is, it will turn into either petroleum or natural gas.

 

So how long does this process take?

 

Scientists aren't really sure, but they figure it's probably on the order of hundreds of thousands of years.

 

"It's certainly not an instantaneous process," Thomas told LiveScience. "The rate at which petroleum is forming is not going to be the solution to our petroleum supplies."

 

The United States' latest reminder of its petroleum dependency occurred when hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck the Gulf of Mexico, where the majority of the country's oil platforms and refineries are located. Many analysts predicted gas prices would surge to $4 and $5 per gallon, but the fears turned out to be overblown. Many of the structures suffered only glancing blows and were operating again soon afterwards.

 

Still, the average price of regular gas nationwide is about $2.94 a gallon now, according to the American Automobile Association. It was $1.77 at the beginning of the year.

 

Alternative source

 

The idea that petroleum is formed from dead organic matter is known as the "biogenic theory" of petroleum formation and was first proposed by a Russian scientist almost 250 years ago.

 

In the 1950's, however, a few Russian scientists began questioning this traditional view and proposed instead that petroleum could form naturally deep inside the Earth.

 

This so-called "abiogenic" petroleum might seep upward through cracks formed by asteroid impacts to form underground pools, according to one hypothesis. Some geologists have suggested probing ancient impact craters in the search for oil.

 

Abiogenic sources of oil have been found, but never in commercially profitable amounts. The controversy isn't over whether naturally forming oil reserves exist, said Larry Nation of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. It's over how much they contribute to Earth's overall reserves and how much time and effort geologists should devote to seeking them out.

 

If abiogenic petroleum sources are indeed found to be abundant, it would mean Earth contains vast reserves of untapped petroleum and, since other rocky objects formed from the same raw material as Earth, that crude oil might exist on other planets or moons in the solar system, scientists say.

 

Both processes for making petroleum likely require thousands of years. Even if Earth does contain far more oil than currently thought, it's inevitable that reserves will one day run out. Scientists disagree sharply, however, on when that will occur. And, some say, a global crisis could begin as soon as increasing demand is greater than supply, a possibility that might be measured in years rather than decades, some analysts argue.

[voodoodoll]

Originally posted by Ah Fai@Oct 30 2006, 10:05 PM

so far I think wait4me is going

ok no prob. anyway AH FAI PM me yur number.

[Ah Fai]

Thinking Beyond Oil

 

"There is tremendous potential in the oceans to supply energy for the world."

Annette von Jouanne, an Oregon State electrical engineering professor

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

AS THE PRICE OF A BARREL OF OIL continues to surge and oil traders eye possible disruptions in production from hurricane Katrina, scientists are turning to the ocean as a possible source of alternative energy.

 

Many forms of renewable energy have been contemplated, and of course solar and wind power plants are already in use. But so far, only a small fraction of the world's energy production comes from renewable resources.

 

President George W. Bush has talked of a hydrogen economy, in which abundant energy would be extracted from water and the tailpipes of cars would be clean. But extracting hydrogen from water requires energy -- fossil fuels or nuclear power, for example. Many scientists say technology will never allow the extraction of a enough hydrogen to make up for the energy needed to do the extracting.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Scientists have even proposed giant space projects to capture solar energy above the clouds and beam it back to Earth. Those proposals have not come close to getting off the ground, however.

 

High stakes

 

Meanwhile, scientists agree that the world will eventually have to rely on something besides oil. Just when the crude will stop bubbling is a matter of huge debate. One scientists says the slow decline will begin later this year. If the wells go truly dry later in this century, as some experts figure, the major nations of an unprepared world might be drawn into all-out war.

 

"The oil will run out," says Caltech physicist David Goodstein. "The only question is when."

 

The strain is already building. The United States now imports nearly 60 percent of the oil it uses. China's oil consumption is expected to grow 7.5 percent per year, and India’s by 5.5 percent, according to the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security.

 

But so far, no renewable resource has been developed to the point that it could replace oil.

 

The new wave

 

The potential for harnessing the power of waves has drawn serious study by Oregon State University, federal and state agencies, and communities along the Oregon Coast.

 

"There's a real good chance that Oregon could turn into kind of the focal point in the United States for wave energy development and I think that would be a boon to the economy,'' said Gary Cockrum, spokesman for the Central Lincoln People's Utility District.

 

Groups hoping to begin work on experimental technology are considering the International Paper mill site in Gardiner.

 

"We have a lot of momentum going for it, I think, but we still have to work out lot of details,'' said Alan Wallace, Oregon State University professor of electrical engineering.

 

The plan is to take over the site to make it a showcase for a "renewable ocean extraction system,'' he said.

 

Tremendous potential

 

Last Friday at the Port of Umpqua office in Reedsport, officials from Oregon Department of Energy, Oregon State University, Electrical Power Research Institute and other federal and state officials gathered to explain the fledgling project to more than 100 southern Oregon Coast residents.

 

"There is tremendous potential in the oceans to supply energy for the world,'' Annette von Jouanne, an Oregon State electrical engineering professor told the crowd. "A 10-square-mile wave power plant could supply the entire state of Oregon.''

 

The electric institute and the Bonneville Power Administration identified the Gardiner site as the ideal place for the project in their feasibility study.

 

The former mill has an outflow pipe already in place -- a structure that could reduce the cost of building a power plant. Electricity from the Gardiner site could be transmitted to other stations up and down the coast.

 

The biggest obstacle

 

Money is the biggest obstacle. It will take about $5 million to complete the project's initial phases. But the recently passed federal energy bill could reduce much of that burden.

 

U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., who is visiting the southern Coast this week, called the project "intriguing.'' He added: "I would definitely be supportive.''

 

At first, he was skeptical that a system could function along the Pacific Northwest Coast, famous for its rough seas. But he said he's seen a similar system operate successfully off the coast of Scotland.

 

How much energy could be generated from the water is still unclear, but those involved with the project say the possibilities could be limitless.

 

"I read something involved with this that said if 0.2 percent of the ocean's energy were harnessed, it could produce enough energy to power the entire world,'' added Cockrum, the utility district spokesman.

[VoLcAnO]

I also 2b bike goin with you voodoodoll!! steaady laahhh..

[Ah Fai]

Power of the future, 10 ways to run Part 1

 

10: solar

 

If things go according to plan, construction on a giant solar tower could begin in Australia in 2006. The 3,280-foot tall tower will be surrounded by a vast greenhouse that will heat air to drive turbines around the base of the tower. It is estimated that the power station will be able to generate 200 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 200,000 households.

Solar energy requires no additional fuel to run and is pollution free. Sunlight can be captured as usable heat or converted into electricity using solar, or photoelectric, cells or through synchronized mirrors known as heliostats that track the sun’s movement across the sky. Scientists have also developed methods for using solar power to replace a gas-powered engine by heating hydrogen gas in a tank, which expands to drive pistons and power a generator.

 

Drawbacks of solar energy include high initial cost, and the need for large spaces. Also, for most solar energy alternatives, productivity is subject to the whims of air pollution and weather, which can block sunlight.

 

9: coal

 

Coal was the fuel that powered the Industrial Revolution, and it has played an increasingly larger role in meeting the world’s energy needs ever since. The major advantage of coal is that there is lots of it, enough to last the world for another 200-300 years at current rates of consumption.

While its abundance makes it very economical, burning coal releases impurities like sulfur and nitrogen into the air, which can combine with water in the atmosphere to form acid rain. Burning coal also produces large amounts of carbon dioxide, a gas that according to most climate scientists contributes to global warming. Major efforts are underway to find new ways of making coal burn cleaner and to recover waste coal, a formerly unusable byproduct of coal mining.

 

8: wind

 

Taking the concept of windmills one step further, or higher, scientists want to create power stations in the sky by floating windmills 15,000-feet in the air. The strange crafts will be kept afloat by four propellers that double as turbines, and feed electricity back to earth through a cable.

Wind energy currently accounts for only 0.1 percent of the world’s electricity demands, but that number is expected to increase as wind is one of the cleanest forms of energy and can generate power as long as the wind blows.

 

The problem, of course, is that winds don’t always blow, and wind power cannot be relied upon to produce constant electricity. There is also concern that wind farms could impact local weather in ways that are yet to be fully understood. Scientists hope that taking windmills to the skies will solve these problems, since winds blow much stronger and more consistently at high altitudes.

 

7: Petroleum

 

Some call it black gold. Whole empires are based upon it; wars have been fought over it. One reason petroleum, or crude oil, is so valuable is because it can be transformed into a variety of products, everything from kerosene to plastic and asphalt. Whether it's a source for the future is hotly debated.

Estimates of how much petroleum is left in the Earth vary wildly. Some scientists predict that petroleum reserves will reach a peak and then rapidly decline as early as 2005; others believe that enough new reserves will be discovered to meet world energy needs for several more decades.

 

Like coal and natural gas, petroleum is relatively cheap compared to other fuel alternatives, but its use comes at the larger cost of environmental damage. Oil use produces large amounts of carbon dioxide, and oil spills can damage fragile ecosystems and are extremely difficult to clean up.

[Ah Fai]

Power of the future, 10 ways to run Part 2

 

6: Biomass

 

Biomass energy, or biofuel, involves releasing the chemical energy stored in organic matter such as wood, crops, and animal waste. These materials are burned directly to produce heat or refined to create alcoholic fuels like ethanol.

But unlike some other renewable energy sources, biomass energy is not clean, since burning organic matter produces large amounts of carbon dioxide. It may be possible, however, to offset or eliminate this difference by planting fast growing trees and grasses as fuel supplies. Scientists are also experimenting with using bacteria to break down biomass and produce hydrogen for use as fuel.

 

One exciting but controversial biofuel alternative involves a process known as thermal conversion, or TCP. Unlike conventional biofuels, TCP can convert practically any type of organic matter into high quality petroleum with water as the only byproduct, proponents claim. It remains to be seen, however, whether Changing World Technologies, the company that patented the process, can produce enough oil for it to become a viable fuel alternative.

 

5: Hydroelectricity

 

Whether falling, flowing, or otherwise moving in tides or under-ocean currents, water can be harnessed to produce electric power. Hydropower supplies approximately 20 percent of the world’s electricity. Until recently, it was generally believed that water energy is an abundant natural resource that requires no additional fuel and produces no pollution. Recent studies, however, challenge some of these claims and suggest that hydroelectric dams can produce significant amounts of carbon dioxide and methane through the decay of submerged plant material. In some cases, these emissions rival that of power plants running on fossil fuel. Another drawback of dams is that people often need to be relocated. In the case of the Three Gorges Dams Project in China -- which will be the largest dam in the world when completed in 2009 -- 1.9 million people were moved and countless historical sites were flooded and lost.

 

4: Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion

 

Oceans cover 70 percent of the Earth, and water is a natural solar energy collector. OTEC, or ocean thermal energy conversion, aims to exploit this fact and use the temperature differences between surface water heated by the sun and water in the ocean’s chilly depths to generate electricity.

OTEC plants generally fall into three categories:

 

Closed Cycle: A liquid with a low boiling point like ammonia is boiled using warm seawater. The resulting steam is used to operate an electricity-generating turbine; the vapor is then cooled using cold seawater.

Open Cycle: Similar to the closed cycle OTEC, except there is no intermediate liquid. The warm seawater is converted into low-pressure vapor that is used to generate electricity. The vapor is then cooled and turned into usable fresh water with cold seawater.

Hybrid Cycle: A closed cycle OTEC is used to generate electricity, which is then used to create the low-pressure environment necessary for the open cycle.

OTEC plants can double as fresh water sources and the nutrient rich seawater drawn from ocean depths can be used to culture marine organisms and plants. The major drawback of OTEC is that since they operate on such small temperature differences, generally about 36 degrees Fahrenheit (20 Celsius), they are only 1 to 3 percent efficient.