Deutschland über alles - Solar success

[Messie]

I know of a team who are working on producing hydrogen from the methane produced by human waste, which will then go to power the fuel cells which can run a vehicle.

Originally Posted by flymo

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The sunny days are fading now but this past week is the first time I've had to buy any electricity since March. it works!

That's pretty cool!

Originally Posted by timwilky

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They best use of free or excess energy was in my opinion the build of pumped storage hydro systems such as Dinorwig in Wales. Where excess elasticity is used to pump water to higher reservoirs and when demand hits the water is then released through turbines to generate electricity.
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I passed a resevoir in Germany that did exactly this!

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by Messie

I know of a team who are working on producing hydrogen from the methane produced by human waste, which will then go to power the fuel cells which can run a vehicle.

It isn't particularly hard to chemically decompose methane into hydrogen.

My question would be scale, if you digested with good efficiency one persons worth of waste is it sufficient energy to fuel them for that day?
I'd say nowhere near, but it's a good source of energy which is a shame to waste and a strong greenhouse gas as well.

Originally Posted by andreis

2. The second is much more difficult to see. The development of fusion is highly political. Let me explain.
The design which has received the most attention is the tokamak design.

Yeah, absolutely. It also happens to be the one I know anything about really. I understand where they are in the process, well I did. I've forgotten all my physics since getting a "Proper" job.

I am also generally cagey about theories that the oil companies are holding back tech. (not saying they are or aren't, just suspicious of the theories). But either way, yeah the oil is going to be used and agree its getter to reduce reliance on companies like that.

Originally Posted by ClunkintheUK

I am also generally cagey about theories that the oil companies are holding back tech. (not saying they are or aren't, just suspicious of the theories). But either way, yeah the oil is going to be used and agree its getter to reduce reliance on companies like that.

I wouldn't go as far as saying it's a full blown theory. More like a gut feeling (probably coming from the part in me that thinks everything is one big conspiracy..) for which I have nothing more than anecdotal arguments. But it would make sense that they would like to ensure their survival in some manner. And this manner makes a lot of sense (doesn't make it true though).

[timwilky]

It is fair to say that every company in the energy business is doing R&D into alternative technologies. Whether they come to market is simply a commercial decision. No big conspiracy.

If the oil companies had a device that could have the fuel consumption of an engine. They would make a fortune marketing/licensing it and still have the fuel for the next 100 years instead of 50. Thereby ensuring their longer term security.

[Messie]

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

It isn't particularly hard to chemically decompose methane into hydrogen.

My question would be scale, if you digested with good efficiency one persons worth of waste is it sufficient energy to fuel them for that day?
I'd say nowhere near, but it's a good source of energy which is a shame to waste and a strong greenhouse gas as well.

I wish I knew more about it to answer this question. All I know is that they are reverse engineering an old vehicle that did run on fuel cells in order to better understand it. I don't know how far they've got with the methane extractor

This clip explains some of it
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rq_epX4Z28M" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[timwilky]

I think there is more scope to put small gas turbine plants within sewage processing systems. Let the waste power the turbines which in turn can be used for power generation, pumping etc. Again large land fills are capable of driving small plants for provision of local CHP.

Originally Posted by timwilky

I think there is more scope to put small gas turbine plants within sewage processing systems. Let the waste power the turbines which in turn can be used for power generation, pumping etc. Again large land fills are capable of driving small plants for provision of local CHP.

This is the sort of thing I am much more hopeful of. Getting little chunks of power right at the point were they are needed. It will take a while for it to all evolve, though.

People who think energy companies and car manufacturers are keeping more efficient fuel technologies from the public amaze me.

If there was a car that could get the same power from half as much fuel dont you think the petrol companies would happily double their prices and take the extra profit?