Daily News – November 17, 2008
November 17, 2008
Kia to Showcase Hybrid at Auto Show
Korean car manufacturer Kia will showcase an eco-friendly version of its Borrego Sports Utility Vehicle at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show. The car will be powered by hydrogen fuel cell technology. The Borrego Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) has Kia’s latest 3rd generation fuel cell stack, which has the key capability to perform efficiently even in low temperature situations. This fuel cell stack is more efficient and powerful than previous generation versions. Equipped with an electric motor and three hydrogen tanks, the Borrego has a range of 426 miles and comes with 154 horsepower.
Global Green Power Plans Big Investment in Biomass Projects
Global Green Power, a renewable energy company that comprises of UK and Filipino investors, has said that they will invest 200 million USD in biomass projects in the Philippines. The projects, to be located in five different areas in the country, will total to a capacity of 87.5 MW. Global Green Power stated that this was part of the company’s 1 billion USD investment planned for the Philippines. The projects would all be in renewable energy technologies like biogas, wind, solar and geothermal, among others. The company is working with banks like the Philippines-based Land bank to fund the projects.
Australian Academy Wants Biofuel Industry to Move to Sunny Areas
Australia’s Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (AATSE) has said that biofuel industries should be developed in the country’s sunny areas. Professor Robin Batterham, the president of AATSE, said that while biofuel research had centered around the fuel production from the by-products of food, it made more sense to focus on researching fuel development from sources like algae and woody plants, given the scarcity of arable land and water in the country. The professor said because some areas got so much sunlight, it was possible to make a breakthrough with algae in spite of the brackish water in these regions.
Canada Opens Its Largest Wind Farm
Canada’s biggest wind farm, capable of a capacity of 199.5 MW, has finally opened, after construction that spanned over three years. The plant is situated near the city of Shelburne in Ontario. The Melancthon EcoPower Centre has 133 turbines and can generate enough power for 70,000 homes. Two other wind farm projects will also go live in Ontario in the next two months. Smaller projects are also coming up in the Quebec and Alberta areas. It is estimated that these three areas will produce 1917 MW by the end of 2008. The country has plans to close all of its coal-powered plants by the year 2014.
Toronto Zoo to Use Animal Waste for Biogas Production
The Toronto Zoo in Canada has plans to use the dung produced by its animals in the zoo to power a proposed 13 million USD biogas power plant. The Zoo says that the 5000 animals it houses can produce enough waste to recover the proposed investments within a period of five years. Toronto’s Budget Director, however, said that the funds for the plant’s construction might not be available due a debt problem. The Zoo is therefore on the lookout for outside help, in the form of a private financier and has hopes of starting construction next year.
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