China - the world's first green superpower?

Photo: kevindooley Flickr

With an incentive package dedicated to renewable energy of between 200-600 billion dollars over the next decade, according to rumors, it is likely that China is aiming for a position as the world’s leader in renewable energy and low carbon technology.

China has published an astonishing and ambitious plan for renewable energy for the next decade.

According to the ambitious plan China will increase

• wind power from the existing 25 GW to 150 GW,
• ethanol production from the current 2 million tonnes to 10 million tonnes,
• biodiesel production from 0.05 million tons to 2 million tonnes,
• pellets for heating from <1 million tonnes to 50 million tonnes, and
• biogas and biomass gasification from 8 cubic meters to 44 cubic meters.

China is already the world leader in solar heating systems to heat water (rooftop solar water heaters). Rooftop solar water heaters have been installed on more than 40 million Chinese homes, and were up to a total of 100 million square meters in 2006. During the next decade an additional 200 million square meters will be installed!

China will definitely lead the race towards a green economy, and most likely become "the first green superpower."

LNG yields greener shipping

Triality

Illustration: "© DNV / Making Waves"

Nothing much has happened in the shipping industry over the last 30-40 years. It is basically the same ship design and same fuel. Vessels burn more than 370 million tons of oil annually, resulting in emissions greater than the total emissions from the entire African continent. Due to increased consumption emissions are expected to increase by nearly 40 percent from 1.2 billion tonnes (2007) to 2 billion tonnes in 2015.

But, thanks to the development of a new crude oil tanker concept – "Triality", by Det Norske Veritas(DNV) we are looking at a major step towards the new environmental ear for tanker shipping. “Triality” is fuelled by liquefied natural gas (LNG), has a hull shape that removes the need for ballast water and will almost eliminate local air pollution.

Less harm to the environment

By using LNG instead of bunker oil, carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced by 34%, nitrogen oxide (NOx) by 84% and sulfur oxide (SOx) by 94%, and use 25% less energy than conventional vessels.

No need for ballast water

A traditional tanker in unloaded transit needs ballast water to obtain full propeller immersion and sufficient forward draft to avoid bottom slamming. The new V-shaped hull form and cargo tank arrangements completely eliminate the need for ballast water.

Profitable

Although an additional capital expenditure of 10-15% is expected for a Triality VLCC newbuilding compared to a traditional VLCC, the estimated life cycle cost is expected to be 25 % lower than than the newbuilding cost for a traditional VLCC.

Naturgas ger grönare sjöfart

Triality

 Illustration: "© DNV/Making Waves"

Lite har hänt inom sjöfarten de senaste 30-40 åren. Det er i stort sätt samma design och samma bränsle. Fartygen förbränner 370 miljoner ton olja varje år, utsläppen från sjöfarten är större än de totala utsläppen från hela den afrikanska kontinenten, och utsläppen förväntas öka med nästan 40 procent under en 8-årsperiod – från 1,2 miljarder ton (2007) till 2 miljarder ton år 2015, på grund av ökad konsumtion i hela världen.

Men, tack vara utvecklingen av en ny supertanker med nytt renare bränsle och ny design, kan sjöfarten äntligen stå inför ett trendbrott som ger stora miljöfördelar.

Det Norske Veritas (DNV) har utvecklat en supertanker – ”Triality” – som ska drivas med naturgas. Genom att använda naturgas (LNG – Liquide Natural Gas) som bränsle i motorerna i stället för bunkersolja, reducerar man koldioxidutsläppen med 34%, kväveoxid (NOx) med 84% och svaveloxid (SOx) med 94%, samtidigt som fartyget använder 25 procent mindre energi än ett motsvarande konventionellt fartyg.

                                                   

Och med det nya v-formade skrovet elimineras behovet för ballastvatten. (En traditionell tanker behöver i olastat tillstånd ballastvatten för att få ner propellerna i vattnet och tillräckligt djupgående i fören för att undvika bottenslag.)

Koncernchef Henrik O. Madsen är övertygad om att LNG är framtidens bränsle och att de första fartygen kommer att lämna varvet om 2-3 år.

Have you heard of Camelina biofuel?

Camelina (also known as gold-of-pleasure or false flax) can be one of the most important crops for biofuel production. Camelina grows in rotation with wheat and/or on marginal land, it grows fast, needs little water and less fertilizer than many other crops, and does not compete with food crops.

High levels of fatty acids/oil

Camelina sativa is grown increasingly in the U.S. for biofuel production, and grows best in northern parts of North America, Northern Europe and Central Asia. After the oil has been extracted from the seeds, the remaining protein-rich crop residues can be used as animal feed.

Reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 75%

Updated life cycle analysis of the carbon footprint of camelina found that the renewable camelina-based jet fuel reduces GHG emissions by 75% compared to traditional petroleum-based jet fuel, and 80% compared to petroleum-based diesel.

Camelina, which is among the most tested of all renewable fuels, has been tested by the US Air Force, the US Navy, and Japan Airlines, in different aircraft types and vehicles, with successful test results.

Major order from the US Navy and the US Air Force

By mid-2011 the US Navy and US Air Force will have made orders totaling nearly 500,000 gallons of Camelina biofuel from the firm Sustainable Oils.

Photo: cc-sa Fornax