Electric car hype hiding a quiet revolution

Philippine Daily Inquirer

10:29 pm | Tuesday, September 13th, 2011

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BERLIN—Electric cars and hybrids may be capturing headlines and the imagination of green-leaning consumers around the world as one automaker after another announces plans to push into the brave new world of fossil fuel-free mobility.

But away from the spotlight, carmakers have been quietly delivering significant cuts in CO2 emissions with some re-engineering of internal combustion engines, technology advances, weight reduction and aerodynamic improvements. Increasingly stringent fuel economy standards in Europe and the United States that were mandated due to climate change concerns have been the main catalyst. Yet with rising fuel pricesand a waxing awareness of global warming, consumers have also been clamoring for more fuel-efficient vehicles.

“Carmakers have finally gotten the message and have made a good start in making cuts in CO2 emissions but only after they were forced to,” said Dorothee Saar, an industry analyst at the German Environmental Aid Association (DUH) in Berlin ahead of the Frankfurt international car show starting on Tuesday.

“Before 2008 they had only voluntary targets that were largely ignored. They’re moving forward now because they know if they don’t cut emissions they’ll pay heavy fines. They’re doing better but there is still a lot of untapped potential.” In the European Union, CO2 emissions fell 3.7 percent last year to 140 grams per kilometer after dropping 5.1 percent in 2009. Average emissions are down from 186 grams in 1995. The EU is on track to meet a 130 grams target by 2015 set in 2008 in the face of heavy resistance. The limit will be 98 grams in 2020. In the United States, notorious around the world for its gas guzzlers, the Obama administration announced plans in August to raise fuel economy requirements by 53 percent by 2025. The proposal requires companies to reach an average fuel efficiency across their US fleets of 54.5 miles pergallon by 2025.

“The industry has done what they have agreed to with the CO2 reduction goals but the problem is that they are aiming at moving targets,” said Philippe Houchois, car industry analyst at UBS in London. “The CO2 targets get tougher all the time. “Everyone has made good progress because they have to with the regulations,” he added. “There are no obvious laggards. But as the requirements continue to move, they are going to have to have sell more electric cars to be able to meet the targets.”

That is an important reason why many carmakers are turning to electric cars even if they now only represent a tiny slice of the global business—where about 50 million cars are sold each year. Until now only a few thousand have been electric. Even hybrids represent only a small slice of the pie so far.

Out of an estimated one billion vehicles on the roads worldwide, only 47 million alternative vehicles are running as hybrids, on hydrogen or electric power, according to a recent report by the Low Carbon VehiclePartnership. Electric cars, a key part of a low-carbon economy, have been on the minds of consumers with a green consciousness for years.

Green will be a major theme at the Frankfurt Car Show with an entire building—Hall 4—devoted to electric mobility. “Never before have the stars of the Frankfurt Car Show been so revolutionary, so green, so efficient, so quiet and so super clean as in 2011,” wrote Bild am Sonntag newspaper on Sunday. Tesla Motors made a splash in 2004 with its battery-powered Roadster while Mitsubishi’s i MiEV and Nissan’s Leaf followed. Nissan with its French partner Renault has sold 8,500 Leaf cars since it was launched in December 2010.—Reuters

The real score on biofuels

Educators Speak

By DR. FILEMON A. URIARTE JR. (Academician, National Academy of Science & Technology)

MANILA, Philippines — What is the real score regarding the production and use of biofuels such as bioethanol from sugar cane and biodiesel from plant or vegetable oils? Republic Act No. 9376, the Biofuels Act of 2006, was signed into law on January 12, 2007. The Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) were approved and signed by the Secretary of Energy on May 17, 2007. Section 2 of the IRR declares the government’s policy concerning biofuels while Section 5 states the mandatory use of biofuels in the country – a minimum of 5% to 10% bioethanol blended into gasoline fuel and 1% to 2% biodiesel blended into diesel fuel. But several questions persist: Is this sustainable? Can we produce enough bioethanol and biodiesel to supply the country’s requirements? Will this not divert limited crop lands from the production of food to the production of energy? Will this not result in higher food prices? Does the use of biofuels result in a positive energy balance, meaning, does it produce more energy than it consumes?  

There is no doubt that an enormous potential exists to produce energy from biomass. The total amount of solar energy that reaches the earth’s surface is estimated to be about 100,000 terawatts (one terawatt is equal to one trillion watts). The existing crop lands cover approximately 1.5 billion hectares of the earth’s surface. Therefore, about 4,000 terawatts of solar energy can be captured by crop lands. Even assuming that only one percent of captured solar energy can be converted into usable energy, still the existing crop lands could theoretically produce 40 terawatts of usable energy. This amount is more than 3 three times the current total global primary energy supply of 14 terawatts.  This calculation shows that there is considerable scope for the expansion of biofuels, given the fact that in 2003 this contribution was estimated at only 0.17 gigawatt (one gigawatt is equal to one billion watts) or way below one-tenth of one percent of the total energy that can potentially be derived from agricultural crops. In other words, there is tremendous potential to produce biofuels or energy from biomass.     
For the Philippines and other developing countries, there are two crucial elements for an effective energy strategy. The first element is to find energy solutions that can be deployed with only modest capital requirements. The second element is to effectively manage the competing demands for food production, environmental protection, and energy use. The Philippines, like most developing countries, has a shortage of capital and thus there is a need to develop new, less capital-intensive energy sources. And because the Philippines has a limited land area and a relatively large population, the issue of finding a proper balance between food, energy, and environment is of paramount importance.

In some areas of the country where there is still an abundant resource base to support both food and energy crops, the efficient use of biomass feedstocks for the local co-production of heat, electricity, and transportation fuel will have a significant positive impact on the rural economy. It will also enable rural populations to have access to cleaner forms of energy with the consequent improvements in the quality of life. However, in places where the production of crops for energy will significantly reduce the areas available for food production, there will be a need to search for win-win solutions such as the use of higher yielding food crops and the cultivation of new or marginal areas without adversely affecting the environment.

But the biggest challenges to a sustainable and competitive bioethanol industry in the Philippines are the relatively inefficient agricultural practices for the production of sugar cane and the antiquated product sharing system that result in high costs and poor yields. The equivalent price of cane in the Philippines is 2 to 5 times higher than in other countries such as Thailand, India, and Brazil. Similarly, the biggest challenge to a sustainable and competitive biodiesel industry in the Philippines resides not in the methyl ester manufacturing technology, which is available and competitive, but in the agricultural aspect for the production of the plant oil feedstock. In other words, the main challenges for a sustainable biofuels industry are in the agricultural sector. In addition, there are serious food-energy-environment issues related to the use of coconut oil and palm oil as feedstocks for biodiesel production. The good news, however, is that the production of bioethanol from sweet sorghum and biodiesel from jatropha may offer possible solutions although there are still agricultural production issues that will need to be addressed and surmounted. 
(To be continued)

Vegetable-based Biodiesel Powers Machines

MANILA, Philippines — The government is continually developing technologies to help farmers increase their yields, earn more income and improve their social and economic status.

One initiative is to harness a new technology that will produce biodiesel from used vegetable oils to give farmers the opportunity to increase their farm efficiency without increasing their expenses. The new technology is being tested for use in farm machines by the Nueva Ecija-based Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).

The fuel and energy crisis and the society’s concern over the depletion of the world’s non-renewable resources have prompted several sectors to look for alternative fuels. One of the most promising alternatives is vegetable oils and their derivatives. In the Philippines, research on the use of vegetable oils as fuel substitute has been done since the 1970s, using coconut oil.

The Biofuels Act of 2006, Republic Act 9367, seeks to develop and use renewable energy to mitigate toxic and greenhouse gas effects, decrease the country’s dependence on imported fuel, and increase rural employment and income. It mandates the incorporation of 1 percent biodiesel in diesel and 5 percent bioethanol in gasoline, which has been done since 2009.

New technology, introduced by US-based Filipino scientist Dr. Rico O. Cruz, is expected to make biodiesel cheaper since it does not need any heating ingredients and sophisticated equipment. Cruzesterification, as Dr. Cruz called his process of producing biodiesel from used vegetable oils, is the result of 20 years of research.

The new technology is environment-friendly as it does not emit dark and poisonous fumes. Farm waste such as rice hull can also be used to filter the biodiesel before loading it into the engine. Another chemical process to convert oil to biodiesel is called transesterification, in which glycerin is separated from the fat or vegetable oil.

The process leaves behind two products – methyl esters (the chemical name for  biodiesel) and glycerin (a byproduct used in soaps and other products).

Biodiesel is better for the environment because it is made from renewable resources and has lower emissions compared to petroleum diesel. Its many advantages are: Simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic, essentially free of sulfur and aromatics, contains no petroleum, but can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel blend, and can be used in diesel engines with little or no modifications.

Green Energy for the World

By ELINANDO B. CINCO

MANILA, Philippines — THE day is not far away when Western European countries, known for exporting medicines, cars, tennis players and beauty contest winners, will be selling their non-traditional export to the world – green energy.

“Green,” what?

That may, indeed, sound Greek to not a few of our readers.

But Sweden, in particular, one of those nations in the continent so obsessed with environmental protection, is upbeat about this “green energy” thing.

In fact, it has already perfected this developmental product.

And the Swedes want the world – already reeling from increasing pollution and decreasing sources of energy – to join them in adopting what their country has been successful at.

In the August 15, 2011, issue of the American TIME weekly news magazine, is a front-page feature article whose title appears to tell it all:

“Stockholm runs on green energy and wants to export it to the world.” And to quote the opening paragraph:

“Call it recycling opportunity. After their failed bid to host the 2004 Summer Olympics, Stockholm city leaders decided to turn a would-be sports village in the Hammarby Sjostad district into one of the world’s successful eco-villages

“The practice of powering buses with biogas, recycling rainwater for irrigation, and using organic waste for fertilizer spread to other districts of Sweden’s largest city.

“Today the city’s water is so clean that fishermen actually stand on bridges in the central business district catching fresh salmon and trout.”

Why am I quoting all this?

It is simply because some of those Swedish initiatives are already being done here in the Philippines since 2008, or even earlier. With concerted government assistance and workable technical inputs from the private sector, we could have easily preempted the successful Nordic experiment.

And some of those environmental benefits would have filtered down to communities in Metro Manila or in some other major urban areas.

TIME explains those possibilities:

By 2050, Metro Manila, just like Stockholm, could become a fossil-fuel-free metropolis. The latter is now acknowledged as the First European Green Capital, given the accolade last year.

Take note of this – Stockholm hopes “to turn green into gold by exporting smart power to a now energy (saving)-conscious world.”

At its Royal Seaport, now under construction, is a smart grid that will allow renewable energy (including solar and wind power) to flow among the homes and offices of residents.

Thus, “buildings will become ‘green houses’ that not only use but also store green energy and then feed it back into the grid whenever possible.”

Through this initiative, carbon emissions will be reduced “to less than 1.5 tons per person by 2020, well below the US average of 20 tons. Ships will be able to plug in and charge up using the onshore electric grid, meaning, they can shut off noisy engines, making the harbor area more attractive to live in.”

“Di ba nakaka-inggit?”

Philippine-made batteries propel solar-powered vessel

By: Amy R. Remo

Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—The world’s largest and most advanced solar-powered boat, the M/S Tûranor Planet Solar, is proof that energy harnessed from the heat of the sun can power practically everything—from pocket-sized calculators to cruise ships.

M/S Tûranor Planet Solar has finally arrived in Manila, not only showcasing the potential of environmentally responsible mobility concepts, but also largely demonstrating the immense potential of solar energy, among other renewable energy sources, as a sustainable resource that can power the future.

“The sun has always been our planet’s most important source of power—wind, rainfall and waves—are all indirectly generated by the sun. Harnessing even a tiny portion of its immense power can provide us with limitless amounts of clean energy,” said World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Philippines) chair Vincent Pérez  in a statement.

“The message of M/S Tûranor Planet Solar is clear: clean and dependable renewable energy technology is here,” added Pérez, who served as Philippine energy secretary from 2001 to 2005 and has since been active in promoting renewable energy.

The German-built vessel measures 31 by 15 meters and tips the scales at 85 tons. Over 537 square meters of photovoltaic solar panels provide up to 127 horsepower – enough to keep the craft moving at a constant speed of 14 kilometers per hour.

The ship is exclusively powered by 38,000 high-efficiency solar cells all produced in the Philippines at the manufacturing facilities of SunPower Corp. Already, it has won two accolades – the fastest crossing of the Atlantic by a solar-powered vessel and the longest distance covered by a solar-powered electric vehicle, according to WWF.

The catamaran now targets to be the first solar-powered boat to circumnavigate the world. Traveling over 55,000 kilometers westward across the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, the M/S Tûranor set sail from Monaco in southern France on September 27, 2010 and has just arrived in Manila from Australia.

WWF claimed that the Philippine stop was recognition of the country’s strong support for renewable energy.

Over the next 20 years, the Philippine government, through the Department of Energy, targets to increase the use of renewable energy by threefold as clean energy is now being seen as a another way to secure the country’s energy supply.

Specifically, the Philippines will target to increase renewable energy-based power capacity to over 15,200 megawatts in installed capacity. This target will allow the country to have a power mix in which RE resources will account for over 50 percent. As of end 2010, total RE generation stood at 26.3 percent.

These goals set under the National Renewable Energy Program can be achieved given that the country has abundant renewable energy sources, with various estimates ranging from 200,000 MW to as high as 276,000 MW in potential capacity. These resources included biomass, geothermal, solar, hydro, ocean and wind.

4 Western Visayas provinces eye renewable power

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  By Teresa Ellera-Dulla

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BECAUSE of the high cost of power, four provinces in Western Visayas said that it is high time to develop and rely on renewable sources of energy.

The provinces of Guimaras, Antique and Aklan are now looking forward for power supplies from biomass, hydro and wind power.

Among the provinces in Western Visayas, Negros Occidental has the lowest power rate. Several investors for renewable energy have already signified interest in putting up their power plants in the province but they are still conducting feasibility studies for their respective projects.

Among those investors are Alto power for a hydro power plant tapping the Bago River and a Korean firm, which identified E.B. Magalona town as its site for solar power.

Meanwhile, Guimaras Governor Felipe Nava said the island province expects to produce wind power by year 2012 to 2013, as TransAsia is already laying the groundwork for the production of 54 megawatts of wind power.

The construction phase is expected to start next year, he said.

Guimaras consumes only 5 megawatts of power, so the rest of the generated power can be sold to Panay Island electric cooperatives, he added.

On the other hand, Rey Malleza of the Department of Energy - Visayas Field explained that the present high cost of power is due to the privatization of the power generating sources.

After the National Power Corporation (Napocor) was privatized, the government no longer subsidizes the generation cost which resulted in the increase from P3 to P7 per kilowatt hour.

Published in the Sun.Star Bacolod newspaper on July 02, 2011.