Making fuel at "home"

 

Hydrogen fuel station with its own electrolyser, Canberra, Australia

Wether it be solar panels, batteries, wind turbines, pumped hydro, geothermal power, biofuels or green hydrogen, this renewable energy can be in your own country and some in your own community or home. What this does is reduce the extraction and transport of oil and gas from a few energy rich countries and makes your home/community/country more energy secure and independent.

Renewable electricity supply can now be made at home, can come from microgrids in remote locations, can be portable to natural disaster locations, can be large scale and can be stored thus making a country, community or home independent of imported fuel. An electric vehicle can be powered from a standard power point and a variety of local or remote chargers.

Green hydrogen can be produced from electrolysers which use water (and soon seawater) and renewable electricity. This can be large scale or small scale. Hydrogen can be used in a number of industries from transport fuel, heating and cooking fuel to large industries such as aluminium and steel making. By making its own hydrogen, a country can reduce the importation of fossil fuels.

In the example above, the public hydrogen fuel station makes its own hydrogen on site with a small electrolyser, water and renewable electricity. Canberra sources all its electricity from renewable energy and here it makes its own hydrogen. This reduces the sometimes dangerous transport of petrol, diesel or gas to Canberra. 

Further Reading:  

• Microgrids could help communities weather the next disaster.
• Stand-alone solar and battery systems now seen as the "new normal" in regions.
• Solar, battery and hydrogen microgrid to power Daintree Rainforest
• Sweden could take global lead in green steel production - report
• Australia's Fortescue sets sights on becoming world's first supplier of green iron ore
• Frequently Asked Questions - American Hydrogen Association
• Renewable hydrogen could reduce emissions in alumina refining.
• Northern Territory to trial off-grid system making hydrogen from 'water from air'
• Novel catalyst produces green hydrogen from seawater via solar

Woolworths joins Renewable Energy 100 (RE100) and AGL joined EV100

Source: 'Solar Quotes' for Woolworths

 A growing number of companies worldwide are committing to 100 percent renewable energy by joining the RE100 membership list. Similarly, companies are joining the EV100 membership list when they commit to zero emissions transport by a certain date.

The Australian supermarket chain, Woolworths, has just joined RE100 by committing to 100 percent renewable energy by 2025. They will do this by adding solar panels to their buildings and by buying Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) possibly from solar farms, wind farms or stored renewable electricity. In doing this, they will reduce their greenhouse emissions and save on electricity costs. 

To date, there are 268 members of RE100 worldwide with 14 members from Australia. The Australian membership includes: Westpac, Suncorp, QBE, NAB, Mirvac, Macquarie, Interactive, Dexus, Commonwealth Bank, BINGO Industries, Bank Australia, Atlassian, ANZ, and Woolworths. 70 international companies operating within Australia are also members such as Apple, Facebook and Google.

The number of international companies that pledge to having fleets of zero emission vehicles is at 92 to date. Of those we have one that is Australian and that is AGL Energy which is to transition its fleet of over 400 vehicles to EVs by 2030.

References: 

- RE100 members: https://www.there100.org/re100-members  

- EV100 members: https://www.theclimategroup.org/ev100-members

VoloCity, the world's first operating electric air taxi

VoloCity electric air taxi (Source: CleanTechnica)

Volocopter has produced an electric aircraft that can take off and land vertically (an eVTOL). Volocopter has called this one the VoloCity Air Taxi, which is the first-to-fly certified air taxi. Volocopter is based in Germany but has trialled VoloCity in Stuttgart, Helsinki and Singapore.

It is expected that VoloCity will be operational in two to three years. Bookings are available now anywhere in the world for the first public flights of 15 minutes duration.

Read more: 

- Volocopter opens world's 1st electric air taxi flight reservations. CleanTechnica, September 16, 2020. 

- Volocopter: https://www.volocopter.com/en/

Nissan dealers in the UK to provide EVs with green-flash number plates

 

Source: CleanTechnica

“Nissan dealers [in the UK] are preparing for the arrival of a new kind of numberplate this autumn.

The plates are being brought in especially for electric vehicles and have an eye-catching green flash on the left-hand side to highlight the fact that EVs are emission-free.

As 70-plate models are introduced at Nissan dealers, trial green number plates have been fitted to show electric vehicle customers how they could look when they hit the road later this year.

The initiative was announced by Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, in June as part of a wider plan to drive a ‘green economic recovery’ after the turmoil caused by the coronavirus pandemic.” 

Read more: New Nissan plates to identify emission-free cars in UK. CleanTechnica, August 28, 2020.

Melbourne start-up is to lease electric vehicles to fleets

Hyundai Ionic Electric (Source: The Driven)

 

EV Lease is taking the plunge into electric vehicles (EVs) as it has been shown that running an electric vehicle fleet now costs less than a petrol and diesel fleet. What held up the adoption of EVs by leasers was the lack of resale data as companies need to be able to guarantee the value of cars after their lease life. But the director of EV Lease, Shane Priest, is taking a punt on the fact he knows EVs have less wear and tear, and will likely have a greater resale value at the end of their lease life than petrol cars. 

EV Lease, which is headquartered in the Melbourne suburb of Mitcham, Victoria, was founded by Priest to make electric vehicles more accessible to fleets, and perhaps eventually, private drivers. The company currently has 3 electric vehicles and one plug-in hybrid available: the Hyundai Ioniq Electric Elite, the Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus, the Hyundai Kona Electric and a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. 

Read more: 

- Car lease startup places bet on electric vehicles for fleets. The Driven, August 13, 2020. 

- EV Lease: affordable, worry-free electric car driving 

Electromotiv expands to supply more zero emission bus/truck powering hubs and bus/truck leases

Charging and Refuelling for Trucks. (Source: Electromotiv)

Electromotiv, based in the Australian Capital Territory, is in the business of supplying fast EV charging and green hydrogen fuel hubs for powering electric and hydrogen fuel cell buses and trucks. They also supply zero emission buses and trucks for lease. They are expanding from an electric bus trial in Canberra to business in Queensland and Auckland, New Zealand. 

In Auckland, Electromotiv have a contract to supply electric buses to Auckland Airport and in Queensland, they go into the final phase of design of a privately owned zero emissions bus hub. 

New Zealand has approximately 80 percent of its electricity coming from renewable sources which is mostly hydro and geothermal. This means the electric buses will be near zero emissions and these emissions will decrease as New Zealand moves towards net zero emissions by 2050. 

Queensland has only about 15 percent renewable electricity now but with the potential for much, much more. Such that Queensland is looking to improve that figure and becoming a green hydrogen producer through its Hydrogen Industry Development Fund. This fund is there to promote jobs in regional areas and to provide green hydrogen for local and export markets. The Queensland Government has also set a state target to reach net zero emissions by 2050. 

Read more: 

- Electromotiv expands team as electric bus plans ramp up. The Driven, June 16, 2020. 

– Electromotiv: https://www.electromotiv.com.au/ 

- New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. New Zealand Government. 

– Transition to a zero carbon economy. Queensland Government. 

See also:

- Queensland unveils “gigawatt” scale green hydrogen plans for Gladstone. RenewEconomy, February 27, 2020. 

– Evie to install ultra-rapid charging stations at Puma Energy truck stops. The Driven, July 16, 2020.

Australian green hydrogen refuelling stations and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles

Source: The Driven

In Port Kembla, NSW, a company named H2X plans to build a range of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles from cars to heavy duty trucks and even trains. It hopes to re-boot Australia's car industry with vehicles powered by green hydrogen and in doing so create many jobs.

The development of renewable hydrogen made by the electrolysis of water with power from renewable electricity has been funded by the Australian Clean Energy Finance Corporation. This will be a good move for Australia as it can make its own green fuel and export it as well. Australia imports its oil and only has a month to six weeks supply at any one time.

H2X has joined forces with Elvin Group which invests in Australia's Hydrostar's green hydrogen electrolyser technology. The Elvin Group will put small scale hydrogen electrolysers at service stations. They will be 500kW to 1MW containers for hydrogen production and hydrogen refuelling onsite for vehicles. The Queensland and ACT governments already have small fleets of hydrogen fuel cell cars and these Elvin Group systems are being trialled in the ACT (Australian Capital Territory).

Larger-scale electrolysers will be available for larger industries. The systems can be located at existing service stations or at business-based locations such as vehicle fleet depots, work sites, farms and distribution centres.

Read more: 

- H2X hopes to reboot Australia car industry with launch of hydrogen SUV. The Driven, June 12, 2020. 

- CEFC to kick-start Australia's hydrogen industry with new $300m investment fund. RenewEconomy, May 4, 2020. 

- H2X teams with Elvin Group to develop green hydrogen refuelling stations in Australia. The Driven, June 26, 2020.

Norway to have commercial electric planes by 2030

'Alice' Israel's e-plane. (Source: Financial Times 17.06.19)

Norway’s northern most region is well suited for short-haul electric planes as there are 16 airports within a radius of 350 kilometres. A report launched by Avinor and the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority says that battery operated planes will be available before 2030 and well suited to this network of airports within the Arctic Circle. 

The world is facing a climate crisis and Norway has been a leader in reducing fossil fuel transport emissions by encouraging the uptake of electric cars. Now it is focusing on air transport and plans to be the driving force and arena for the development, testing and early implementation of electrified aircraft. Norway has an abundance of renewable electricity to charge the planes' batteries.

The goals are to have a commercial fleet of domestic electric planes operating by 2030 and to have all domestic civil aircraft electrified by 2040. 

Read more: 

- Electric aviation ready for take-off in Norway by 2030, report says. The Independent Barents Observer, March 8, 2020. 

- Norwegian authorities aim for electric aircraft debut by 2030. Flight Global News, March 9, 2020, 

- Commercial electric planes set to take-off in Norway by 2030. The Driven, March 13, 2020.

"Mobility for Africa" providing EVs and solar microgrids

Mobility for Africa's Hamba electric three-wheelers, Zimbabwe (Mobility for Africa)

In Africa, the lives of the women have not changed much as they still need to walk large distances to obtain their daily requirements. A start-up called Mobility for Africa (MFA), with the help of sponsors, is trying to improve local mobility by piloting low-cost three-wheeler electric vehicles in the rural Wedza district of Zimbabwe. Along with the EVs, solar hubs are also provided where the people can charge their electric tricycles. 

MFA’s aim is to empower women and their families by providing this transport so they can easily get their produce to market and use the family services available in their local villages. The people can purchase the EVs through their financing system called PayGo; a pay-as-you-go system. 

The electric tricycle is known as the Hamba which means ‘go’ in the local language. The parts come from China and the plan is to assemble the EVs in Harare. Once the pilot has succeeded, MFA intends to extend the EV tricycles and solar microgrids to other parts of Africa. 

Read More: 

- Mobility for Africa shows how electric vehicles can transform lives where it matters most. CleanTechnica, May 11, 2020. 

- Mobility for Africa: https://www.mobilityforafrica.com/

Bicycles in Amsterdam

Last year I was in Amsterdam and was intrigued by their bicycle culture, so I took a few photographs. To tell you more about Amsterdam’s bikes, here are some headlines from “19 interesting facts about bicycles in Amsterdam” (Amsterdam Hangout, September 2019): 

– 1. There are over 881,000 bikes in Amsterdam. 

– 2. The number of bikes is four times the number of cars. 

– 3. Statistically, each resident of Amsterdam owns at least 1.5 bikes.

 – 4. The most popular type of bicycle on Amsterdam’s streets is the traditional Omafjets (see blue bike in photos). 

– 5. 35% of trips daily in Amsterdam are by bike. 

– 6. 60% of Amsterdammers use their bike every day. 

– 10. Amsterdam has a wide network of traffic-calmed streets. 

– 13. Amsterdam has currently over 400 kilometers of bicycle paths. (Read more from the hyperlink above.)

Renewable fuels from direct air capture could soon compete with petrol, diesel, jet fuel

Source: RenewEconomy

It may soon be possible to produced zero-emission petrol (gasoline), diesel and jet fuel from the direct air capture of CO2 and water vapour in a way that will compete with fossil fuels in price. A Silicon Valley company called Prometheus led by Rob McGinnis is aiming to do this. The process has been presented recently in the journal Joule. 

Although the science of making fuels from CO2 and water has been known for some time it has been far too expensive. The Prometheus process has CO2 and water in an aqueous electrolyte which is reacted with a copper catalyst to directly make alcohols such as ethanol, butanol, propanol, etc. with the power coming from wind and/or solar electricity. Originally, the alcohols would be extracted via distillation, which is expensive, but Prometheus has invented a carbon nanotube membrane that can do this economically. (Launch HN, 2019). 

This fuel can be used with existing infrastructure for cars, trucks, ships and aeroplanes, so can be employed quickly. It is not seen as a replacement of electric or hydrogen transport but as an addition to help speed up the transition to clean transport, particularly for heavy transport. Once the green fuel is cost competitive there is still one main drawback and that is that huge amounts of renewable electricity will be required. But one advantage is that the process can be stopped and started easily to fit in with the fluctuations in electricity supplies and costs (i.e. it would be another way to store excess renewable energy). 

References: 

- Prometheus: https://www.prometheusfuels.com/ 

- Remove CO₂ from air and turn it into gasoline. Launch HN: Prometheus (YC W19). 

- Renewable fuels could soon be cost competitive with petrol, gasoline, RenewEconomy, March 19, 2020. 

- CO₂-to-fuels: renewable gasoline and jet fuel can soon be price competitive with fossils fuels, Joule, Commentary, Vol. 4, Iss. 3, pp 509-511, March 18, 2020.

An Australian-assembled electric cargo van looks to be efficient and affordable

ACE Cargo EV. Source ACE EV, Adelaide.

Australia’s ACE EV in Adelaide has built up a team of experts to import and assemble flat-pack electric vans from kits. The vans look ideal for small businesses and 'last mile delivery', with a carbon composite chassis clad with ABS plastic panels. When fully built up, the vans themselves will tip the scales at 900 kg (1,980 lbs) with the ability to carry 500 kg (1,100 lbs). They are planned for sale in Australia and abroad.

The ultra-lightweight build makes them extremely efficient, with a range of 150-250 km (93-155 mi) per charge, depending on the weight being carried and terrain. Power comes from an 18 kW/45 kW (rated/peak power) motor that boasts 174 Nm of torque. That’s critical for delivery vehicles as it ensures drivers will have enough torque to haul their cargo across town.

ACE EV recommends the cargo vans for a range of uses including: Couriers, Home nurses, Pathology transport, Government agencies, Florists and news agencies, Catering companies, Aged care providers, Caterers and many more….

ACE EV is also planning to manufacture a small ute, ACE Yewt, and a small car, ACE Urban. All three vehicles plan to be affordable and will be cheaper to run with a cost of electric at A$1.80/50km vs petrol average of A$9/50km. Source www.fleetcare.com.au. They are taking orders and answering queries on their website.

Read more: 

-The ACE Cargo Van is an efficient option for fully electric last mile deliveries. CleanTechnica, September 3, 2019. 

-ACE Cargo: https://www.ace-ev.com.au/ace-cargo/. 

-AuManufacturing– First ACE electric vans assembled in Adelaide. ACE EV News, August 20, 2019.