Many uses for super-charge ion batteries
February 27, 2010
We've seen Toshiba's SCiB (super-charge ion batteries) before at last summer's Consumer Electronics Show, where they were providing the power storage for a battery-assisted bike. SCiB batteries are useful for a wide range of functions, from electric bicycles and hybrid and electric vehicles, to industrial equipment and renewable energy storage. Toshiba has now opened a US-based technical support center to aid in developing the SCiB, particularly for vehicles, grid storage, and wind and solar power applications.
The SCiB has characteristics that make it very appealing. It performs like an ultracapacitor with rapid charge times, reaching 90% charge in about 5 minutes. It is good for thousands of cycles without extensive capacity loss, and it has a life span of 10 years or more. And, of potentially particular interest for vehicle manufacturers, it is able to perform even at low temperatures down to -30 degrees Celsius (-22 degrees Fahrenheit).
The SCiB batteries are based on lithium chemistry, as are many other batteries currently in use. However, according to Toshiba, in addition to the other beneficial features the SCiB offers, they also have an internal structure which helps prevent short circuits and avoid "thermal runaway" even if they do develop a short circuit.
Link: Toshiba
via: NA Windpower
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Texas utility leasing rooftop solar systems
February 25, 2010
TXU Energy, a large Texas utility company, will lease rooftop solar power systems to their customers in the Dallas area.
Homeowners can sign up for the program with TXU and their partner in the project, SolarCity, will design and install the systems. After tax incentives, an owner of a three-to-four bedroom house would owe about $35 a month for a lease, though for $26,000 they could buy the array outright. When leased, SolarCity continues to own the array and performs any maintenance.
Currently, the state utility infrastructure company Oncor has funds to offer rebates on about 400 home installations, but SolarCity expects the program to grow quickly over the next five years.
This is not the first program like this in the country making residential solar affordable for homeowners, though it is the first one run by a utility. The state of Connecticut and the cities of Berkeley, San Diego and Palm Desert have all started solar financing programs for their residents and a California non-profit organization started a statewide financing program.
via Green Inc.
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Why is Bloom Energy lying to us?
February 24, 2010
Don't get me wrong, I'm extremely excited about Bloom Energy. I honestly think that their technology is a good thing for the world and that it might very well revolutionize the power infrastructure in America and throughout the world. And yes, it will create jobs and make a select few people very rich.
In fact, I think it's so revolutionary that it doesn't need to be inflated by false or misleading claims ... which is why I'm a little put off by a few naughty little lies in the Bloom press release I got this morning.
Annoying press point #1:
The Bloom Box "energy server" works with "nearly any fuel source." To me, "nearly any fuel source" means anything containing carbon/hydrogen compounds, ranging from gasoline to wood.
The Bloom Box doesn't run on "nearly any fuel source" it runs on methane or methane or methane. That methane can be pumped out of the ground or captured from landfills, but it's still methane, and as I count it, that's one fuel source.
Annoying press point #2:
Companies using the Bloom Box can "expect a three to five year payback on their capital investment." This is Read more
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