Algae–based biofuel is a new energy source that has been getting a lot of attention lately. Certain types of algae contain natural oils that can be readily distilled into a vegetable oil or a number of petroleum-like products that could serve as drop-in replacements for gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.

Waltham, Mass. – Harvest Power, a developer of technology for recycling waste materials into soils, fertilizers, energy, and engineered fuels, has raised $1.3 million in venture capital, according to a new filing by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Founded in 2008, Harvest Power has developed technology that re-uses organic waste from landfills. The company currently diverts over 425,000 tons of organic material from landfills, in conjunction with its retail and municipal partners in the U.S. and Canada.

The water-energy nexus is a critical aspect of sustainability that must be understood. Energy production requires water, and when energy is saved, so is water. A 2006 report released by the U.S. Department of Energy stated that 39 percent of total freshwater withdrawals in the U.S. were for energy production. This is second only to withdrawals used for agricultural irrigation, but it can be argued that energy is used in order to pump the water required to irrigate. However, for the purpose of this blog, the two categories will remain separate.

Even with the heavy requirements for water and energy, there are many ways that the water-energy nexus can be used in a way that reduces and minimizes environmental impacts. Efficiency and conservation can be practiced and are the two most affordable and immediate ways that everyone can use less energy, thus saving water. Also, renewable energy such as wind and rooftop solar can be implemented in many areas, and these two types of energy production do not require any water. They also reduce impacts by lowering demand for fossil fuel power plants, and this means less water is pulled from rivers and lakes that power plants rely on to produce electricity. This point is critical everywhere, but in regions like the Rocky Mountain West where water is scarce and population is growing rapidly, it becomes even more important. Reducing demand on power plants also means that there are fewer toxic chemicals and other harmful pollutants entering our water and air. 

As America struggles down the road toward a coherent energy policy that focuses on a higher degree of self-reliance, policymakers face numerous issues and realities. These include: the finite supply and environmental impact of fossil fuels, the feasibility and costs to implement a widespread switch to renewable energy sources, and the variables that lead to consumers' preferences for particular types of power generation.

What if the ever-increasing amounts of carbon dioxide that are heating up the atmosphere could be used to produce an abundant supply of liquid fuels? The U.S. government and private labs are pursuing that Holy Grail of renewable energy — but for now the cost of large-scale production is prohibitive.

State-owned power generating companies are dealing with high global energy prices that have cut their profits.

Standing in front of 200 New Hampshire loggers on a cold night last February, it was my job to explain electricity markets and why biomass power projects are facing a tough time. For these guys, it wasn't an academic discussion of the influence of natural gas prices on wholesale power prices. It wasn't a class on supply and price interactions in the market for Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). It was about their jobs.

Even if the United States takes no explicit action to regulate greenhouse gases, emissions of carbon dioxide and other climate-altering substances will grow slowly over the next two decades, not returning to 2005 levels until 2027, according to a new projection from the Energy Information Administration, the research branch of the Energy Department.

Kazakhstan has huge potential for renewable energy, in particular in wind. Since the renewable sector is almost untapped and the government of Kazakhstan is actively working on promoting renewable energy sources and starting new programs to reach the renewable energy target of 5 percent by 2024, this presents an opportunity for many new projects.
About 50% of Kazakhstan’s territory has average wind speeds about 4-5 m/sec at a height of 30m which is perfect for wind energy development. In some estimates the wind potential of Kazakhstan forms about 1820 billion KW/h per year. Kazakhstan Wind Energy Summit will focus on local regulations, investment opportunities and advanced technology solutions.