Contributing Member of the Energy & Industrials Councils

All News Analyses by this Author

Biofuel is not just Ethanol

October 25, 2009

Analysis of:Biofuels do harm, aren't they? | pellets-wood.com

Sugar, Beets, Corn, Rape and Soybeans are the current feedstock for bio ethanol, but the potential for cellulosic, algea and seaweed based ethanol, butanol and other developing fuels has very large potential to offset fossil fuels. Certainly, it is not sustainable to take food and escalate prices over the long term, farmers have ramped up as demonstrated by the bumper crop in corn this year, but prices have not fallen. The US needs to put the research, development and implementation funding into cellulosic biofuels, biomass and biogas because they represent North America's ability to get off fossil fuels, the current ethanol and biodiesel industry have started to established an infrastructure for this conversion over time. Other sustainable alternatives including plug in hybrid and pure electric vehicles from wind, hydro and solar sources will also reduce our dependance on crops for fuel.

Sustainable Energy - Competing Resources

July 5, 2009

Analysis of:Sustainable Energy | scitizen.com

This article makes an important point on National and Global Energy Planning, fossil fuel replacement must have a holistic plan because the alternatives have dramatic impact and natural resource constraints.  Wind Power is great if climate change doesn't reduce windspeeds on the Plains and Great Lakes; Southwest Solar Panels can generate huge amounts of electricity if you select the right solar collector, storage and transmission technology and biomass/biofuel can offset a lot of oil if it does not drive the price of food and divert the use of water.   A National Energy Plan is more than developing interesting technologies and new business initiatives, it must focus holistically on the interests which many times do not have advocacy.

Forklifts and Fuel Cells - A Good Solution

May 11, 2009

Analysis of:Materials Handling Giving Fuel Cell Industry Major Lift | www.fuelcellsworks.com

Industrial forklifts and tugs have unique operational requirements that make Fuel Cell applications a really good environmental and practical solution.  Originally these vehicles were powered by LP or CNG Gas so they could work for an entire shift without stopping, but as plant air quality became an increasing concern, battery power was substituted but they cannot meet high usage cycles for an 8 our period without "opportunity" charging or battery change.  Fuel Cells, especially if they can operate on methanol reformers, have the potential to eliminate this cost without impacting production or air quality. 

What is the Carbon Footprint Incentive?

April 30, 2009

Analysis of:Status of Carbon Disclosures by UK firms | www.greenbang.com

Carbon Footprint reporting for UK Business is a no win situation for those who have a big carbon footprint, but no government mandate such as utilities.  It is easy to say that companies who know their carbon footprint should self-report, but the reality is that the media and public attention could be very negative to their business.  Companies with low carbon footprints can easily declare their environmental stewardship even though their business may be intrinsically low in emissions, but companies who use energy as part of their manufacturing, service or transportation business may not be able to impact it without significant capital or operating expense.

Chrysler and Fiat - Alliance or Toll Manufacturer

April 3, 2009

Analysis of:Chrysler Plan Trims Fiat's Stake, Cuts Out Cerberus | online.wsj.com

Chrysler and Fiat are both regional automotive manufacturers.  Chrysler has maintained intermediate and full size automobiles and strong Jeep, minivan and Pick-up Truck markets.  Fiat pulled out of the US due to small volumes, but is well known in Europe for their Fiat and Alfa small cars.  This Alliance has very little product overlap which is good from a Marketing and Sales perspective since both can benefit from a Technology exchange and initial export of units into their respective markets.  Re-badging and interior trim changes on units could broaden both of their vehicle lines.  The challenge is whether this alliance is intended to create a global company with platform and product integration or is it simply a mutual toll manufacturing agreement.  Fiat and Alfa are probably not looking for a Hemi and Chrysler can only use their small gas and diesel engine technology in small cars.  So where is the retooling capital, engineering for federalization and other costs? 

Auto Volume speaks Volumes on Profits

December 28, 2008

Analysis of:Toyota Expects First Operating Loss | www.nytimes.com

Automotive Volume is a primary driver for fixed cost structure including plants, models and employment, the expansion of Toyota both in Product offering and overhead required to support that volume have made them suspectable to the same market swings as the US auto manufacturers.  Since Toyota makes a large share of their profits from US Sales, the contraction of the market from 16.5 million to 10.5 million units per year has impacted their profits since they have invested hundreds of millions of dollars to develop US unique models such as Tundra Pick-up and Sequoia SUV.  Toyota has a great balance sheet, so these setbacks are containable, but the plant in Mississippi is on hold and the Texas Tundra Plant is underutilized.  Toyota is in a position where for the first time they may need to reduce their permanent workforce in Japan as volumes shrink globally.

Same Old Song - Energy Independence and Carbon Footprint

December 10, 2008

Analysis of:Alternative energy ideas power down | www.delawareonline.com

This is very much the same old song for the alternative energy and sustainable energy sector, fossil fuel prices rise based on speculation, supply and demand and perceived availability and alternative energy solutions become attractive, obtain capital investment and begin to be implemented.   As soon as energy prices falter, either from speculators pulling back from the market or demand falling, the value of alternative energy is discounted because it is not next quarter's problem.  Many of the current economic and climate change issues (including alternative energy and autos) are a direct result of economic uncertainty in the energy sector and must be addressed as part of a US Energy Strategy.  Although I resist taxation as a method of price control, some level of support pricing is necessary to protect our national interest and promote energy independence.

Thermal Solar - Steam or CPV - An Effective Solution

December 4, 2008

Analysis of:USA-Solar thermal projects gather steam and opposition | www.latimes.com

Thermal Solar using mirrors to concentrate light on a single point to generate steam for electricity or a combination of photovoltaic and heat are the most efficient and cost effective solar collection processes.  The technology is simple and cost effective compared to crystalline silicon PV Panels and concentrating the sun's energy using mirrors could be a significant energy resource in the South and West.  In an urban setting, CPV using mirrors to concentrate solar on a photovoltaic cell and collect heat could be a great combined heat and electricity (AC or DC) distributed energy option.    

Innovation - An Applied Science

December 3, 2008

Analysis of:USA-Do We Overrate Basic Research? | www.nytimes.com

Basic Research is done throughout the world today and the United States needs to continue to excel in this venue to produce outstanding scientists and engineers, but the key to keeping the US competitive is the ability to apply this science through innovation.  The reason the US maintains its advantage in productivity and has been able to remain competitive in spite of labor and material advantages in other countries is because of the ability of industry to innovate and create solutions that don't exist.  The US should increase its support for innovation, especially in energy, transportation and sustainable design that are essential to the US maintaining and increasing their competitive advantage.

Oil is Forever or Until it Runs Out

November 18, 2008

Analysis of:At Exxon, Making the Case for Oil | www.nytimes.com

If I were Exxon, I would love to have the New York Times write such a wonderful article praising their business, efficiency and success, it unfortunately does not change the fact that the earth is running out of fossil fuels at an alarming rate.  Exxon is a great business and helped by speculators has made tremendous profits in the short term, but believing that oil is a sustainable business without "greener" alternatives is a fantasy.  Just as the oil rich Sovereign Funds are investing in their country's future, Exxon needs to be investing in their business future beyond fossil fuels while they have those large profits.

Engineering Investment in the Future

October 28, 2008

Analysis of:US oil shale resources look promising yet still uncertain | www.ogj.com

Oil Shale and Sands are necessary in the longer term for continued availability of petroleum based products just like Coal gasification and liquidation.  Conversion of transportation fuels to biofuels, renewable energy and ultimately hydrogen must be accomplished in the short to medium term to reduce the depletion rate of petroleum, but ultimately there will continue to be a market for some petroleum based products as the best economic and resource utilization alternative.  Continued engineering investment in oil shale and sands extraction processing is essential to provide these commodities to North America for many generations to come.  Many industries are dependent on petroleum fractions to make lubricants, chemicals and other commodities within a low cost competitive market, future availability of oil even from a higher price structure will continue to make these businesses competitive without turning to synthetic alternatives. 

CHP - A "Green Machine"

October 23, 2008

Analysis of:Basic Information | www.epa.gov

Combined Heat and Power needs government partnerships in the United States because Power Generation is a protected industry and this kind of distributed energy solution threatens their growth.  Gas turbines or reciprocating generators with heat recovery are an ideal solution to a growing problem with the overtaxed Grid and can be over 80% efficient in delivering BTU's to the load compared to central Electrical Power Plants that are typically 30% efficient.  CHP provides a "Green Machine" solution improving fossil fuel efficiency through high efficiency power generation and heat recovery for heating and cooling.  Power Companies make interconnectivity difficult for distributed power generation adding both capital costs and stand-by costs.  Legislation, like the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) recently passed in Michigan, intended to improve renewable power generation, effectively insure established Utilities of guaranteed rates and traditional Power Plant growth regardless of need. 

Energy Alternatives - Joe's Financial Risk is High

October 22, 2008

Analysis of:Alternative Energy Suddenly Faces Headwinds | www.nytimes.com

Joe has no alternative if he lives in the United States and expects to maintain his standard of living, it is easy to fall back on fossil fuels if you are Joe and costs are coming down but there is only so much of this commodity and most of it is controlled by countries outside or our sphere of influence.  It is not a matter of if energy prices go up, but how they will be manipulated by the commodity market forces that seek to gain financial or political advantage from their limited supply.  Energy efficiency and renewable alternatives are needed for the United States to mitigate the financial risk to Joe and allow the US to maintain our economy.

Thin Film Solar - An Energy Efficient Solution

October 21, 2008

Analysis of:New approach may power future of solar | articles.latimes.com

Thin Film Solar is more cost and energy efficient than many of the PV solutions currently being promoted.  Thin Film is the most manufacturing efficient from a materials, total energy input and cost of production.  Although the energy per square foot is less, the ability to apply thin film to existing roofs without reinforcement, to external surfaces such as windows and facades can significantly increase the effective solar energy production from any building.  As the use of thin film solar increases cost of production should reduce since its raw material requirements are less.

The Saga of Unintended Consequences - Terra-forming

October 1, 2008

Analysis of:Global warming A changing climate of opinion? | www.economist.com

Although this article specifically relates to sequestration of carbon, it assumes that we understand the equilibrium, the biology and chemistry of our ecology.  Most of the evidence indicates mankind has poor understanding and even less concern for the unintended consequences of our actions on the environment.  Certainly reductions in carbon dioxide are essential and use of plants, algea and other species are a good solution, but when we begin to create artificial growth environments, we harken back to man creating nature or terra-forming which is currently a bad idea.

Paris Hilton May Be Right!

September 22, 2008

Analysis of:Energy security 'more important than climate change' | www.guardian.co.uk

Recent years have confirmed that fossil fuels are not a sustainable solution for energy and have significant political and financial impact on the world.  Alternative Energy solutions are progressing, but costs are still high compared to fossil fuels and some like biofuel have had the unintended consequence of driving food prices more than expected.  Paris Hilton's comments on energy are insightful, we must use fossil fuels now to reduce energy dependence and support alternative energy solutions for the future to replace coal, gas, oil and perhaps nuclear.

Ciba and BASF - A Great Fit for Coatings

September 18, 2008

Analysis of:BASF makes offer to acquire Ciba | www.corporate.basf.com

BASF and Ciba are a great fit for both Specialty Chemicals and Coatings.  Coatings are changing as pigments, resins and nano-technology combine to create exciting possiblilities for appearance, durability and application processes.  Working at Ford with BASF in automotive coatings for 30 years has demonstrated their commitment to base R&D and pushing the leading edge of technology for their customers.   

Coal and Climate - Not an Oxymoron

August 6, 2008

Analysis of:Coal's future is safe - but what about the climate? | www.reuters.com

Coal is an abundant source of energy for today and future generations, but the management of carbon dioxide, particulate, sulfer, nitrogen, uranium and other emissions remain a challange.  Coal gasification/liquification is eliminating contaminants before energy production, but carbon dioxide remains an issue.  The key element for coal success is carbon sequestration and biological capture may be much more efficient than underground storage. 

Wind Turbines - What has Oil got to do with it?

July 22, 2008

Analysis of:Wind Power: Turbine Time | www.economist.com

Wind Turbines are certainly part of the alternate energy solutions for electricity, but the effective base load displacement with wind turbines is much less than the installed capacity.  Analysis of the Canadian Great Lakes Wind Turbines shows that the fluctuation in wind velocity and the seasonal wind speed significantly reduce the amount of base load on the electrical grid that can be replaces.  Except for making hydrogen or electricity for plug-in hybrids, wind turbines do little to reduce oil consumption. 

Dupont Commitment to Sustainable Energy Confirmed

June 26, 2008

Analysis of:DuPont, Genencor Form JV to Produce Cellulosic Ethanol | www.chemweek.com

Dupont has demonstrated their commitment to Sustainability through renewable resources on both the material (Sorona) and energy (cellulosic biofuel).  The JV with Genencor for a cellulosic ethonal plant is key to eliminating the renewable debate on food versus fuel.  It provides the opportunity to use poor agricultural land to produce valuable cellulosic feedstock to replace fossil fuels, reduce our carbon footprint and support America's energy independence.

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