T. Boone Pickens Responds to Al Gore's Climate Speech: In a "My plan is better than your plan" kind of statement T. Boone Pickins announced: "Today, former Vice President Al Gore put forward a framework of a plan that is focused on global warming and climate issues. My plan is aimed squarely at breaking the stranglehold that foreign oil has on our country and the $700 billion annual impact it has on our economy.
The "cubic mile of oil"--a metric roughly equivalent to the amount of oil consumed worldwide each year--is frequently used to explain the challenge facing solar, wind, geothermal and biomass power. What would it take to replace the amount of energy in a cubic mile of oil? The best location for specific technologies varies, and some areas are best for one technology or another. Some places are windy, others sunny, the wind varies from season to season, and geothermal power is easily tapped only in volcanic regions.
"First Solar, which makes cadmium-telluride solar cells, is having one of those years that corporate managers and investors dream about." They're having great sales etc but the article asks why there aren't competitors coming into the market to make cadmium-telluride solar panels. They discuss several aspects but it appears there are two.
A tutorial going over construction of a simple solar powered hot water heater. The 'five dollar' price is under the assumption you have access to a pile of discarded parts, so I'd expect a higher cost. For example, a solar hot water heater is a simple device, you have a sheet of glass behind which is located some piping to pump water which is heated by sunlight. The tutorial suggests using discarded heat exchangers from old refrigerators with slight modifications.
The photovoltaic panel industry is looking to decrease the price of the products. So long as their price is uncompetitive related to the entrenched technologies solar power will remain a niche business. If solar power is to fulfill its destiny in helping us clean our environment and have a clean earth, the price must become competitive.
This article starts with a demonstration hydrogen plant in Las Vegas built by Air Products. Apparently the plant is becoming a popular spot for visitors who they hope will see the hydrogen economy in operation and bring their excitement home with them.
The article discusses that the most common use for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles today is evaluation by municipal departments. This is like the evaluation programs conducted for electric vehicles over the last couple decades.
The Nevada Solar One power plant is essentially a tea kettle, just one that happens to take up 300 acres and can provide enough power for 15,000 homes. The plant, which will start to generate electricity for nearby Las Vegas in April, consists of approximately 184,000 mirrors arranged in long, parabolic arrays that focus the sun's energy on a receiver--a metal tube filled with oil that's encased in specialized glass--from German conglomerate Schott.
A compendium listing of articles published on CNET NEWS about green technology
