A new way to make renewable hydrogen from seawater

How renewable hydrogen could be produced for export (From ABC News)

With our Chief Scientist suggesting Australia should enter the renewable hydrogen export industry (and other 'clean' H₂ industries) and innovations from CSIRO making that possible, the question is: where is all the water to make hydrogen coming from on this dry continent? The answer could be to make renewable hydrogen from seawater.

Making hydrogen from water using electrolysis powered by renewable energy is becoming a popular development as burning hydrogen in fuel cells to provide power emits only water vapour. However, the process needs purified water which is expensive to produce and freshwater is a valuable resource.

Stanford University, USA, has been working on using seawater to make hydrogen but the salts in seawater corrode the nickel anode during electrolysis. Now they have come up with a catalyst of carbonate and sulphate molecules with a high negative charge that greatly reduce this corrosion of the nickel anode, giving it a much longer life. Apparently this process is simple and affordable, which could assist the path to a renewable hydrogen export industry and an ample supply of 'clean' hydrogen for fuel cell electric vehicles and other fuel needs in regions where freshwater is scarce.

Read more:

- Seawater could bring breakthrough for hydrogen cars. Green Car Reports, May 21, 2019.

- A new way to generate hydrogen fuel from seawater. Stanford News, March 18, 2019.

- Briefing paper: Hydrogen for Australia’s future. Australia’s Chief Scientist, August, 2018.

- Renewable hydrogen could fuel Australia’s next export boom after CSIRO breakthrough. ABC News, May 12, 2017.

- Don’t write off hydrogen as a storage of renewable energy for transport. Using Renewables, October 24, 2017.

The story behind the red wax-tipped bananas in Australia

Queensland wax-tipped bananas (Source: Verdemode)

The red wax-tipped bananas are those grown on banana plantations in Northern Queensland that use less chemicals and have created working farm ecosystems. This type of farming is called ecoganics which was started by Frank and Dianne Sciacca.

The Sciacca’s have been farming bananas for 30 years but changed the way they operated 15 years ago. The chemicals that they were advised to use on the soil and plants were not working and very costly. So Frank decided to farm more like what was done 60 years ago. Now insects abound and synthetic fertilisers are forbidden. A number of nearby farmers are following his methods and have formed a team.

Methods employed include:
- eliminating insecticides, miticides, nematicides and any fertiliser that kills organisms in the soil,
- cut herbicide use by 25%,
- applied fungicides sparingly,
- planted trees and shrubs to provide food and shelter for native animals,  
- provided a network of dams, drains and grassed areas to prevent runoff to the sea and Great Barrier Reef,
- allowed grasses and weeds to remain to provide flowers and habitats for insects and other small animals.

It took 4-6 years for improvements to appear and now the farms have working ecosystems; they save thousands of dollars in costs; production is not as good as before but this approach is profitable and sustainable. The conventional approach disrupted the ecosystem and reduced biodiversity. Now a working cycle has returned which is more biodiverse. For example, insects are seen as useful contributors as they are predators, pollinators, recyclers, scavengers, decomposers, soil creators and a food source. Other plants and animals join this web on land and in soil and water.

Nearby is a Queensland Department of Agriculture research station which is studying their results and doing further research. So far they have found the following:
- the carbon in the soil has risen (carbon sequestration),
- the number of microbes in the soil has risen,
- beneficial insects have returned,
- there is greater soil nutrient cycling,
- there is less soil nitrogen which creates competition and helps keep down pests such as Panama disease,
- greater insect diversity,
- beneficial nematodes have returned,
- research is underway to safely keep problem fungi under control.

Frank Sciacca says that these methods can be applied to other farming enterprises.

More information:
- ABC Landline: Red Tips: The story behind the bananas with the red tips.
- Pacific Coast Eco bananas

Amsterdam joins a list of 20 cities/territories and 10 countries planning to ban fossil fuel vehicles

Amsterdam (Source-The Driven)

There is a growing list of cities and countries planning to ban petrol, diesel and LPG vehicles in the near future. These regions (and others) are also increasing renewable electricity production making ready for electric vehicles (EVs). This means that the uptake of EVs will happen fairly quickly as car manufacturers adapt.

Amsterdam plans to ban all petrol and diesel vehicles from entering the city from 2030. Many other cities plan to do similar and also plan to have electric buses running sooner. These cities and territories (with dates) include: Amsterdam (2030), Athens (2025), Auckland (2030), Barcelona (2030), British Columbia (2025), Brussels (2030), Cape Town (2030), Copenhagen (2030), Hainan - China (2030), Heidelberg (2030), London (2030), Los Angeles (2030), Madrid (2025), Mexico City (2025), Milan (2030), Oxford (2020), Paris (2025), Quito - Ecuador (2030), Rome (2024), Seattle (2030), Vancouver (2030).

The countries that plan to have all new vehicle sales to be emission-free (which does not include hybrids) by a certain date are: China (date to be confirmed), Costa Rica (2021), Denmark (2030), France (2040), India (2030), Ireland (2030), Israel (2030), Netherlands (2030), Norway (2025), United Kingdom (2040 with Scotland 2030). There are other countries, such as Sweden, that subsidize EVs and tax fossil fuel vehicles.

There are also many cities with Low Emission Zones for their central business districts which fine high emission vehicle owners for entering the zones. They are to be found in these countries/region: Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, UK, Denmark, Italy and Hong Kong.

References:

https://www.roadtraffic-technology.com/features/european-countries-banning-fossil-fuel-cars/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phase-out_of_fossil_fuel_vehicles

https://thedriven.io/2019/05/06/amsterdam-bans-all-petrol-and-diesel-cars-and-motorbikes-from-2030/

https://thedriven.io/2019/05/02/uk-push-to-bring-100-pct-electric-vehicle-target-forward-to-2030/

https://www.lowemissionzones.scot/

https://usingrenewables.blogspot.com/2019/04/londons-ultra-low-emission-zone-has.html

AGL plans 250MW pumped hydro plant in SA to replace gas

Old Kanmantoo mine planned for pumped hydro (Source: RenewEconomy)

“AGL Energy, the owner of the biggest gas generation fleet in South Australia, has announced plans to build a massive 250MW/2000MWh pumped hydro energy storage project in an old copper mine about 55km south-east of Adelaide.”

“The company said on Tuesday [April 16] that it has agreed to pay $31 million for the rights to develop the pumped hydro project at the old Kanmantoo mine from Hillgrove Resources, using the existing open mine pit, with a new upper pond to be built on nearby land.”

“South Australia is already sourcing more than half its energy needs from wind and solar, and this is expected to grow as it adds yet more projects – to more than 70 per cent by 2021 and close to 100 per cent as early as 2026/27.” As this transition occurs, gas fired power stations will be retired.

Read more: AGL plans 250MW pumped hydro plant in South Australia as replacement for gas. RenewEconomy, April 16, 2019.

Australia’s MagniX propulsion system chosen for Eviation’s electric aircraft

Eviation Alice (Source: Renew Economy.

Australian-based electric flight propulsion tech innovator MagniX has been selected by fellow flight innovator Eviation to provide propulsion units for its 9-seater electric plane – to be known as Alice.

For both Eviation and MagniX, the focus is on medium-haul routes, ideal for regional flights. The Alice aircraft, which will begin testing later this year and will be able to handle distances of up to 1,000km on a single charge.

That range would enable the Alice to serve many existing air routes and make new connections via smaller, underserved airports. The Alice will have three pusher propellers – one behind its “V” tail and one each at the wingtips.

Read more: Australia’s magniX chosen to power Eviation electric aircraft. The Driven, April 22, 2019.