The Clean Energy View

Recycling Rare Earth Metals: What Does China Know That We Don’t?

Posted by June Stoyer on August 26th, 2012

Sponsored by Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority

What Are They & Why Do They Matter?

Rare earth metals are actually not rare in and of themselves but tend to be present with other compounds in very small quantities. Rare earth metals are used for a myriad of reasons including electronics, fuel cells, fiber optics, magnets, CRT’s and LCD’s, as well as their extensive use in green technology.

Most new plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles will use lithium-ion batteries (above) rather than the nickel-metal hydride batteries used in most hybrid electric vehicles.
(photo credit: /www.afdc.energy.gov)

Here is a more detailed list. (source: http://energy.gov)

Rechargeable batteries (in camcorders), cell phones, PDAs, laptop
Computers and other portable devices.
Wind turbines, drinking water filters, petrochemical catalysts,
Polishing powders, hydrogen storage, fluorescent lighting, flat panels,
Color televisions, glass, ceramics and automotive catalysts.
Fiberoptics, dental and surgical lasers, MRI systems, as medical
Contrast agents, in medical isotopes and in positron emission
Tomography scintillation detectors.
Magnetic refrigeration
Rechargeable batteries used in hybrid vehicles
Permanent magnets
Military application

China Raises Rare-Earth Export Quota

According to an article in the Wall St. Journal, by James T. Areddy and Chuin-Wei Yap

“China’s government eased its restrictions on rare-earth exports for the first time since 2005 in an apparent nod to a trade fight over Beijing’s tight global grip on production of the strategically important minerals.

But industry executives said the move will do little to shake China’s dominance of a market crucial to industries as diverse as oil refining, electric vehicles and ballistic missiles.

China’s Ministry of Commerce said Wednesday that it will permit 2.7% more volume of rare earth—30,996 metric tons—to leave the country this year than it did in 2011. The increase follows a number of tighter limits imposed …”

One Man’s Trash Is Another Man’s Treasure

Americans continue to toss out materials that utilize rare earth metals. China profits from our waste by recycling them. They are refurbishes, repurposed and sold right back to the American market at a huge profit. At what point will Americans recognize the potential in this waste?

One Man’s Trash Is Another Man’s Treasure

According to a research by Dr. Peter Dent from Electron Energy Corp., The total world market size for rare-earth magnetic materials was:

$9.1 billion in 2007 and is projected to grow to
$12 billion in 2011 and to
$21 billion by 2020

The Interview

In this segment of The Clean Energy View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer talks to expert, Jack Lifton, a Founding Principal of Technology Metals Research, LLC and a Senior Fellow of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security. Click here to listen to the interview on iTunes or use our podcast player below:

Bio: Jack Lifton is also a consultant, author, and lecturer on the market fundamentals of the technology metals, the term that he coined to describe those strategic rare metals whose electronic properties make our technological society possible. These include the rare earths, lithium and most of the rare metals.

Jack Lifton

Educated as a physical chemist, specializing in high-temperature metallurgy, Jack was first a researcher before becoming both a marketing and manufacturing executive. Finally, he became a metal trader specializing in the field of technology metals and of rare metals. Today, after 48 years of industry involvement, he advises both OEM high tech industry and the global institutional-investment community, on the natural resource issues that impact either a proposed business model or a high-volume manufacturing plan for the mass market. His work today is principally as a due-diligence consultant for institutional investors, looking into opportunities where rare and technology metals availability are a factor in determining the probability of commercial success of a metals-related venture. Stay tuned!

How Economically Viable Is Natural Gas?

Posted by June Stoyer on August 22nd, 2012

Sponsored by Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center

Not A Renewable Source

According to the EPA, “natural gas is defined as a fossil fuel formed when layers of buried plants and animals are exposed to intense heat and pressure over thousands of years. The energy that the plants and animals originally obtained from the sun is stored in the form of carbon in natural gas. Natural gas is combusted to generate electricity, enabling this stored energy to be transformed into usable power.

A Washington, D.C. Metrobus, which runs on natural gas.
(photo credit: Wikipedia)

Natural gas is a nonrenewable resource because it cannot be replenished on a human time frame. The natural gas power production process begins with the extraction of natural gas, continues with its treatment and transport to the power plants, and ends with its combustion in boilers and turbines to generate electricity.

Natural gas extraction by countries in cubic meters per year.
(image credit: Wikipedia)

Is It A Cost Advantage?

Natural gas is used to generate electricity, serves as an alternative to gasoline, can be used to generate hydrogen and helps create fertilizer. It has a cost advantage over other forms of energy such as solar, wind and geothermal. However, there is a huge debate as to whether or not natural gas makes sense because of the pros and cons with this form of energy such as the environmental impact, the current return on the investment the impact on the face of energy.

Natural gas prices at the Henry Hub in US Dollars per MMBtu for the 2000-2010 decade.
(Image Credit: Wikipedia)

The Interview

In this segment of The Clean Energy View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer talks to energy expert, Tom Drolet.

To download the interview, please click here: Tom Drolet or simply use the podcast player below

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The Clean Energy View Radio Show

Thomas Drolet

He has also worked with several new technology industries in the areas of energy (fusion energy, distributed generation, fuel cells, and innovative geothermal processes), as well as in the area of medical pharmaceutical breakthrough applications in cancer treatments. In the last 25 years Mr. Drolet has worked internationally in 44 countries, predominantly in North America, South America, Australia, China, Russia, South Korea, Japan, Africa and Europe. He has spoken at over 175 major conferences on issues in energy and the effects of new technologies on the economies of the western world. Stay tuned!

Making An Impact With Harvard’s Clean Energy Project!

Posted by June Stoyer on July 24th, 2012

Sponsored by Murdock Capital Partners

The Age Of Energy

We are living in the Age of Energy. The fossil fuel based economy of the present must give way to the renewable energy based economy of the future. Getting there is the grandest challenge humanity faces. Chemistry can help meet this challenge by discovering new materials that efficiently harvest solar radiation, store energy for later use, and reconvert the stored energy when needed.

The Clean Energy Project is the world’s largest distributed computing project for calculating the properties of candidate molecules for organic solar cells. It uses computational chemistry and the willingness of people to help look for the best molecules possible for: organic photovoltaics to provide inexpensive solar cells, polymers for the membranes used in fuel cells for electricity generation, and how best to assemble the molecules to make those devices. By helping them search combinatorially amongst thousands of potential systems, you can contribute to this effort.

Every time your computer is idle, you could easily contribute your energy! Why not? It costs nothing to participate!

Watch The Video & Download The Tool!

To download the tool, please click this link!

Meet The Team & Learn About The Project!

This Perspective introduces the Harvard Clean Energy Project (CEP), a theory-driven search for the next generation of organic solar cell materials. We give a broad overview of its setup and infrastructure, present first results, and outline upcoming developments. CEP has established an automated, high-throughput, in silico framework to study potential candidate structures for organic photovoltaics.

The Aspuru-Guzik Group

The current project phase is concerned with the characterization of millions of molecular motifs using first-principles quantum chemistry. The scale of this study requires a correspondingly large computational resource, which is provided by distributed volunteer computing on IBM’s World Community Grid. The results are compiled and analyzed in a reference database and will be made available for public use. In addition to finding specific candidates with certain properties, it is the goal of CEP to illuminate and understand the structureproperty relations in the domain of organic electronics. Such insights can open the door to a rational and systematic design of future high-performance materials. The computational work in CEP is tightly embedded in a collaboration with experimentalists, who provide valuable input and feedback to the project.

The Interview

In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer talks to Dr. Aspuru-Guzik about The Harvard Clean Energy Project.

Listen to The Clean Energy View Radio Show

Bio: Alán Aspuru-Guzik

Professor Alán Aspuru-Guzik is currently Associate Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Harvard University, where he started his independent career in 2006. Alán received his undergraduate degree in Chemistry from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in 1999. He received the Gabino Barreda Medal from UNAM, which prizes the top achiever in each field of study. After receiving his PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley in 2004, under Professor William A. Lester, Jr., he was a postdoctoral scholar in the group of Martin Head-Gordon at UC Berkeley from 2005-2006.

Professor Aspuru-Guzik carries out research at the interface of quantum information and chemistry. In particular, he is interested in the use of quantum computers and dedicated quantum simulators for chemical systems. He has studied the role of quantum coherence in excitonic energy transfer in photosynthetic complexes, and developed methodology for studying the spectroscopy of molecules in nanoscale environments. He and his group recently developed a density functional theory for open quantum systems. He leads the Clean Energy Project: a distributed computing effort for screening renewable energy materials.

Alán Aspuru-Guzikm Associate Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University

In 2009, Professor Aspuru-Guzik recently received the DARPA Young Faculty Award, the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar award and the Sloan Research Fellowship. In 2010, he received the Everett-Mendelsson Graduate Mentoring Award and received the HP Outstanding Junior Faculty award by the Computers in Chemistry division of the American Chemical Society. In the same year, he was selected as a Top Innovator Under 35 by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Technology Review magazine.

One Year Later: Fukushima’s History, Recovery And Future!

Posted by June Stoyer on June 24th, 2012

Sponsored by Murdock Capital Partners

The Largest Nuclear Disaster Since Chernobyl

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster consisted of a series of equipment failures, nuclear meltdowns, and releases of radioactive materials at the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant, following the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami on 11 March 2011. It is the largest nuclear disaster since the Chernobyl disaster of 1986.

Japan’s Nuclear Power Plants (credit: Wikipedia)

Observing The Difference Before & Now

Nuclear energy expert, Thomas S. Drolet, President of Drolet and Associates Energy Services, Inc. recently visited Fukushima and was also at the site shortly after the disaster occurred to assist with the recovery process. Mr. Drolet has also been to Chernobyl and is a highly sought after speaker on the subject of nuclear energy.

Thomas Drolet

Was It A Cultural Issue?

There is a lot to be learned from this event, especially as it pertains to Japan’s history, culture and ability to create its own source of stable energy. In this segment of The Clean Energy View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer talks to Thomas Drolet about the criteria leading up to Japan’s decision to move forward with nuclear, the dramatic impact on the business environment as well as the social impact on its people.

The Big Effect On Japan’s Culture!

According to Mr. Drolet, things have definitely changed for the Japanese people. Radiation detectors are commonly used everywhere from supermarkets to private residences. Mr. Drolet discusses a personal experience at a dinner event in which the hostess utilized a radiation wand on guests to detect radiation. People are taking matters into their own hands to determine exposure by utilizing a myriad of gadgets.

Japanese smartphone detects radiation (Credit: MARI SAITO, REUTERS
FIRST POSTED: TUESDAY, MAY 29, 2012 05:23 AM EDT)

About Thomas Drolet:

Mr. Drolet has worked in the energy industry and technology innovation industries for over 42 years. He brought a wealth of experience at the senior management level to the electrical utility industry at Ontario Hydro, the fourth largest electrical utility in the world (Nuclear, Coal, Natural Gas, Hydroelectric), American Electric Power (Canada) and DTE Energy. He has worked on BOD and in the oil and natural gas industries in North America and on Renewable Energies in North and South America, Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines. He has also worked with several new technology industries in the areas of energy (fusion energy, distributed generation, fuel cells, and innovative geothermal processes), as well as in the area of medical pharmaceutical breakthrough applications in cancer treatments. In the last 25 years Mr. Drolet has worked internationally in 44 countries, predominantly in North America, South America, Australia, China, Russia, South Korea, Japan, Africa and Europe. He has spoken at over 175 major conferences on issues in energy and the effects of new technologies on the economies of the western world.

Listen To The Interview

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The Homeowner’s Guide To Renewable Energy

Posted by June Stoyer on May 28th, 2012

Sponsored by Uncle Matts Organics

Are you ready to slash your home energy costs while dramatically reducing your carbon footprint? The Homeowner’s Guide To Renewable Energy, Achieving Energy Independence Through Solar, Wind, Biomass and Hydropower by Dan Chiras, is packed with the most practical and affordable methods to significantly improve your home’s energy efficiency. Dan’s book is not only important for reducing your carbon footprint but can also save you thousands of dollars in home energy consumption.

There are many options for homeowners to take advantage of tax credits and incentives!

Dan Chiras talks about how homeowners can take advantage of many tax credits and incentives!

The Scoop On What Homeowners Should Know

Focusing on the latest technological advances (and never losing sight of the economic bottom line), this comprehensive manual demystifies:

Solar Heat Solutions: systems which produce solar hot water and solar hot air.
Space heat: Passive and active solar retrofits and heat pumps
Wood heat: options for sound economic and environmental advice
Passive Cooling: a key element of a larger strategy known as “natural conditioning” heating, cooling, ventilating and lighting a building naturally, that is without mechanical or electronic devices and without outside energy.
Generating Electricity from solar, wind and mirohydro. (Mirohydro is the ability to generate electricity from running water.)

This well-illustrated and accessible guide is an essential resource for those wanting to enter the renewable energy field. Packed with practical tips and guidelines, it gives readers sufficient knowledge to hire and communicate effectively with contractors and is a must-read for anyone interested in saving money and achieving energy independence. If you are ready to save tens of thousands of dollars over the coming decades, this is one show you don’t want to miss!

The Interview

In this segment of The Clean Energy View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer talks to Dan Chiras, who is a respected educator and the author of 29 books on residential renewable energy and green building including Power from the Sun and Power from the Wind.

More About Dan Chiras: Dan has studied and worked with renewable energy and energy efficiency for over 30 years. Dan is the director of and lead instructor at The Evergreen Institute’s Center for Renewable Energy and Green Building, where he teaches workshops on energy efficiency, solar electricity, solar hot water, small wind energy, green building, natural plasters, and natural building. Dan lives half the year in Boulder, CO and half the year in Gerald, Missouri.

Energy conservation expert, Dan Chiras!

Cutting The Waste With The Green Scissors Campaign

Posted by June Stoyer on May 8th, 2012

Sponsored by CreationCare.org

Old Tech & Risky Tech= Waste

Each year the US government spends billions of dollars to promote old energy technologies as well as new, unproven and even risky ones. Many of these technologies are destructive to public health and to the environment. However, billions of taxpayer dollars could be saved by cutting subsidies to them. Yet, we continue to ask taxpayers to subsidize these technologies of the past or to ante up money for new harmful technologies is fiscally and environmentally reckless.

Windmills and nuclear energy are mature energies that are still heavily invested in.

Cutting The Waste!

The government has been doling out too much money in subsidies that being used for old technologies that are not helping us secure sustainable and reliable energy. Since its inception in 1994, the Green Scissors Campaign has fought to make environmental and fiscal responsibility priorities in Washington. The campaign seeks to eliminate subsidies and programs that harm the environment and waste taxpayer dollars. By making these cuts, the federal government can save money for priorities including deficit reduction. ConservAmerica has partnered with The Green Scissors Campaign to help educate and provide outreach for this initiative.

Rob Sisson, President of ConservAmerica

The Interview

In this segment of The Clean Energy View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer talks to Rob Sisson, President of ConservAmerica, the national grassroots organization of Republicans for Environmental Protection. Stay tuned!

About Rob Sisson: Prior to joining ConservAmerica, he spent 22 years in commercial banking. In 2000, he was named Michigan’s Small Business Advocate of the Year. He served two terms as Mayor of the City of Sturgis, MI. During his tenure, he helped lead the city to national recognition for energy and environmental conservation programs (saving tax dollars). A hallmark of his administration was the work to privatize city services including the city owned ambulance service and hospital. He led the effort to lower the city’s tax rate to the lowest level since 1950. For his efforts in expense reduction via conservation programs, he was named Michigan’s Environmental Leader of 2008. Sisson is the author of two books: Financing the Small Business (Adams Media Inc) and The Legend of Chief White Pigeon and the Old Sauk Trail.

Active in economic development, Rob served twice as president of the St. Joseph County EDC/Brownfield corporations and is long time VP of the Sturgis EDC/Brownfield corporations. He is a strong supporter of the entrepreneurial spirit.

He is a member of Right to Life, NRA, and the Chamber of Commerce. Rob hunts, fly fishes, and hikes in Michigan and the northern Rockies. A proponent of the 2nd Amendment, he is a CCW permit holder.

Myths, Lies and Oil Wars

Posted by June Stoyer on April 27th, 2012

Running Into Or Out Of Oil?

The myth of oil scarcity is one of the foundations that have allowed four giant oil corporations along with a handful of Wall Street banks to control the world’s largest and most essential commodity: oil. The myth originated in the 1950′s from a speech by a geologist at Shell and was revived in 2003 at the time of the US bombing of Iraq. The reality is quite different from the claims of Peak Oil. In reality, the world is running into oil and not running out of oil. Huge new oil and gas fields are being discovered from the eastern Mediterranean to the coast of Brazil, from East Africa to Iran and Iraq, from Norway to the Caribbean.

Is oil scarcity a myth?

In F. William Engdahl newest book, “Myths, Lies and Oil Wars,” he discusses the little-known details of wars and manipulations designed over the past half century or more up to the wars in Africa, the Arab Spring, Iraq, all to maintain a lock-grip control of the world’s known oilfields. The myth of scarcity has been a pillar of their power and as a result, propaganda for their self-serving agendas.

Author F William Engdahl

Countering this attempt to control oil supply, the book details a revolutionary new scientific hypothesis that was developed in secrecy in the Soviet Union during the Cold War which proved scientifically that oil originates not from dinosaur detritus or fossilized algae as western geology mythology maintains. The Soviet scientific team proved that oil and gas have deep origins at the level of the Earth’s mantle some 200 km below. Like volcanoes, the hydrocarbons are forced upwards until they typically are “trapped” in reservoir rock formations. The Russian work has been the target of a concerted campaign to discredit the theory. Little wonder. Were its implications understood widely, oil and gas would be considered as virtually a renewable energy and our energy crises and wars a thing of the past.

As Henry Kissinger said, “If you control the oil you control entire nations.” The converse is also true–If oil cannot be controlled the controlling powers lose their control over other nations.

The Interview

Listen to this segment of The Clean Energy View Radio Show, as host, June Stoyer is joined by special guest F. William Engdahl.

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The Clean Energy View Radio Show

Posted by June Stoyer on March 4th, 2012

Announcing The Clean Energy View Radio Show!

The Clean Energy View Radio Show, hosted by June Stoyer, explores clean energy, renewable energy, alternative energy, emerging technology and their impact on the environment. Please stay tuned each Tuesday and Thursday at 12pmEST/9amPST as we interview industry experts, scientists and discuss new emerging technologies.