Fuel Cells and Hydrogen

MIT researchers split water to store solar energy

The key to plentiful solar power is water, says Massachusetts Institute of Technology Professor Daniel Nocera.

Nocera and his MIT colleague, Matthew Kanan, on Thursday will publish a technical paper that describes what they claim is a breakthrough in solar energy storage.

The idea is to use the energy from solar photovoltaic panels (or another electricity source) to crack water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen gas. Those gases would be stored and used later in a fuel cell to make electricity when the sun is not shining.

The concept is a closed-loop system: running the hydrogen and water through the … Read more

PolyFuel to demo methanol fuel cell laptop

Powering a laptop with a portable liquid fuel is getting closer to reality. But don't expect to buy one for your next birthday.

PolyFuel, a company that develops fuel cell membranes, said Wednesday it has developed a prototype laptop--a Lenovo T40 ThinkPad--that uses methanol cartridges and a fuel cell as a power source.

The company intends to show it off to consumer electronics and PC manufacturers in the coming weeks. PolyFuel, which was spun out of what is now called SRI International, has about 19 customers, including NEC and Sanyo.

The functioning prototype is a proof of concept, rather … Read more

MTI Micro partners for fuel cell ultra-mobile PC

MTI Micro and Korean manufacturer NeoSolar said on Thursday they will build prototype ultra-mobile PCs powered by fuel cells.

The two companies said they will develop digital devices that use MTI Micro's Mobion fuel cells, which use liquid methanol cartridges as a fuel.

The development could lead to external chargers, snap-on attachments or devices with the Mobion fuel cell embedded in them, the companies said.

Fuel cells are being developed for a wide range of applications, from back-up electricity in buildings and data centers to transportation.

Rather drawing on tanks of hydrogen to make electricity in a fuel cell, … Read more

Sharp's solar-powered LCD TV

At 26 inches for an LCD TV, you might sniff at its puny dimensions. But Sharp's shining some light on this particular flat panel, literally.

Its 26-inch LCD TV, showcased at this week's G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit, is powered by solar energy. The set was designed specifically for developing nations where the nearest AC mains are probably a town away. Sharp claims its experimental eco outing guzzles 30 percent less power than its low-power rival, though no names were mentioned.

While the TV is intended for those earning less than $2 a day, its specs are far from … Read more

Green tech news harvest: Redesigning suburbs, cooking carbon, and mapping wildfires

Correction June 30 11:30 a.m. PDT: See below for details.

A sampling of green-tech news with quick commentary.

High fuel costs threaten suburban lifestyles - The Boston Globe Does America need a redesign? Rising gas prices could drive an exodus from suburbs into city centers.

Novomer launching plastic made from CO2 - Greentech Media Plastic made from carbon could be used in electronics and solar equipment.

Google Earth maps California fires - Google Earth Blog Tagged maps and NASA satellite imagery help to pinpoint some 1,400 fires raging in California.

Number of flights to plummet by summer's end - The New York Times … Read more

Building a 'greener' flashlight

The push for energy-efficient lighting in the developed world focuses on replacing wasteful incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents and LEDs. In developing regions, however, kerosene lanterns still bring dim nighttime light to an estimated 1.6 billion people.

Off-grid lighting is a growing area of focus for social entrepreneurs eyeing opportunities for "green" technologies in developing markets.

Engineers, start-ups, nonprofit groups, and venture capitalists involved are working on portable flashlights and fixtures powered by solar panels and even bicycle-like pedaling contraptions.

Safe and affordable lighting can be key to development efforts in poor communities. With better light, people … Read more

Methanol fuel cell powers ruggedized computers

A California company has introduced a 25-watt mobile fuel cell system designed to power a ruggedized laptop computer for up to 14 hours at a time using a single 250cc cartridge.

The XX25, as it is called, internally generates fuel cell-ready hydrogen from a highly concentrated methanol solution, providing power to a field computer and communications equipment at weight savings of up to 65 percent, according to Livermore, Calif.-based UltraCell.

Fuel cells are electrochemical devices that use hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, and continue to produce it as long as the fuel lasts. This is not only ecologically … Read more

A car for the eco-minded bootlegger

Cars that run on alternative sources of energy needn't look like one of those sober vehicles produced by Eastern Bloc countries at the height of the Cold War economy. At the same time, we're not sure if this Chinese-made model is headed in the right direction either.

The "STM3004 Electric Car" looks vaguely like something Bonnie and Clyde would have ridden, Tommy guns ablaze, with state troopers on their tail. But this version wouldn't make much of a getaway, as Red Ferret notes, as it tops out at 28 miles per hour and has a … Read more

Honda produces first commercial hydrogen cars

Honda has begun the first commercial production ever of a hydrogen fuel cell-powered car.

The Japanese auto manufacturer ceremoniously launched production of its first hydrogen-powered vehicles on Sunday in Tochigi, Japan, and announced its first customers.

The four-door sedan, called the FCX Clarity, runs on electricity from a fuel cell battery that is powered by hydrogen fuel. Steam is the car's only byproduct. The car can get a combined (city and highway driving) fuel efficiency of about 72 miles per kg of H2 which, according to Honda's own estimates, is the equivalent of getting about 74 mpg on … Read more

Green news harvest: Soggy ethanol forecast, Tesla and Daimler?

Here's a sampling of recent green-tech news and a quick commentary:

Tesla inks small deal with Daimler - FoxBusiness.com A small deal that could lead to a big deal, says CEO Elon Musk without elaboration. Also, a $59,000 Tesla in the works. BrightSource Energy-Luz II dedicate solar energy development center - press releaseSolar thermal company BrightSource Energy's park in Israel will test concentrating solar thermal power plants that use reflective mirrors and a "power tower."

PG&E to add 100MW of solar thermal-biofuel hybrid power - Clean EdgeBiomass will power the … Read more