Papers in Energy Policy from Mark Delucchi and Mark Jacobson, Stanford / California University USA – 100% renewable energy at reasonable prices and timescales

Mark Jacobson and Mark Delucchi recently published two papers in Energy Policy expanding upon our article on 100% wind, water, and solar power for the world, published in Scientific American in November 2009. I am attaching corrected in-press proofs of the articles. Mark and I continue to work on various aspects of this, so we […]

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ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CO2 COMPARISONS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT VEHICLES

ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CO2 COMPARISONS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT VEHICLES

It was good to meet you yesterday at SET offices. As I mentioned there is an issue about the energy efficiency of public transport vehicles which you might be able to clarify for us.
I have urged James to publish comparison data on Sustraco website to show the energy efficiencies of different public transport vehicles. I am also discussing the issue in relation to work Temple Group is undertaking for clients in the railway industry.
On behalf of Sustraco I also made a submission to the Government of Australia Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport parliamentary inquiry into “Investment of Commonwealth and State funds in Public Transport infrastructure and services”. This energy eficciency issue is well stated in their report of Aug.09. I quote from para 3-33 pages 23 / 24 and footnote 28 thereto :-

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Trams, energy saving, private cars, trolley buses, diesel buses

Dear Claverton, If was a matter of belief, then this debate would be theological. If should however be a matter of engineering and science. If we consider the energy issue as a supply side question, then no one would be promoting trams (or buses etc) because bicycles are an order of magnitude more energy efficient […]

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"trams as the preferred solution for public transport in urban areas"

How very sensible of you to recommend trams as the preferred solution for public transport in urban areas. I attach a note on the potential for integrating waste recycling with ultra light trams. If really good tram networks are installed (and the cost of installing lightweight rail has now been brought below £2 million per route kilometre double track) then, together with pedestrianisation, cycling and rickshaws, urban mobility can be brought to a very high level before having to bring in a few electric taxis.

Unfortunately I cannot get any of the relevant Departments in Government even to discuss these proposals, although Jonathon Porritt has now volunteered to take up the issue. I attach a copy of a letter to Hoon which still awaits a reply. The programme I am suggesting could easily be funded from a progressive transfer of money from the so-called Bus Service Operators Grant which spends some £400 million a year in subsidy to reduce the cost of fuel for diesel buses! The waste needs to be recycled urgently to prevent methane emissions to the atmosphere and to take some of the strain off landfill.

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Electrical Energy Storage: applications, markets and technologies

The energy storage industry is assured of a successful future.  There will be setbacks in these difficult times, of course, in a sector that has many vulnerable pre-commercial technology developers.  However, storage has all the attributes of a cornerstone technology, enabling real progress in areas that are certain to be of huge significance: the effective use of […]

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ZERO EMISSION HYBRID RAILCAR

Ultra Light Rail – the Fast Track to Fuel Cells Introducing Fuel Cells to the Commercial Public Transport Market Fuel cells are now recognised as a key technology in the process of weaning the modern world from its dependence on fossil fuels and leading it into a new age of alternative energy. The principal obstacle […]

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BBC newsitem: Rapid-charge/discharge modified lithium-ion batteries

   Interesting item claims scientists have developed “affordable”, rapid-charge / discharge modified lithium-ion batteries. This improvement might make a significant difference to the prospects for practical EVs / PHEVs, by extension to G2V for smoothing wind energy outputs.   http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7938001.stm

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Revealed – how the hybrid car "works"

The hybrid Toyota is a well known and claimed fuel efficient car. We all know its somehow got a battery and an engine.  But what is the idea? Why does this make it more efficient? Essentially the Toyota is more efficient (well a bit) than many similar cars, because the engine operates on what is […]

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