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Lifecycle Study Finds Algae as Bioenergy Feedstock Has Higher Environmental Impacts than Conventional Crops in Energy Use, GHG Emissions, and Water Use; The Importance of Using Waste Streams

Green Car Congress

For all crops, the entire plant was used to facilitate comparison on a total energy basis. Colosi (2010) Environmental Life Cycle Comparison of Algae to Other Bioenergy Feedstocks. The large environmental footprint of algae cultivation is driven predominantly by upstream impacts, such as the demand for CO 2 and fertilizer, they found.

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The Case for Nuclear Cargo Ships

Cars That Think

The IMO’s previous goal was a 50 percent reduction by 2050 in comparison with 2008 levels. Based on the number of players in the United States that are quite far advanced in their development, like TerraPower, my rough guess is that in 10 years we will see the first commercial civilian vessel with [next-generation] nuclear power,” says Lien.

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NREL develops novel method to produce renewable acrylonitrile; carbon fibers from renewable biomass

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Acrylonitrile, a petroleum-derived commodity chemical, is one of the most widely used monomers in the chemical industry with many commercial applications. Moreover, this new high-yield process can utilize non-food biomass, such as agricultural wastes, as a feedstock instead of propylene.

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ORNL researchers use stop-light cameras to reduce fuel consumption of less-efficient vehicles via traffic management

Green Car Congress

Approximately 6 billion gallons of fuel are wasted in the US each year as vehicles wait at stop lights or sit in dense traffic with engines idling, according to US Department of Energy estimates. That was a bit of an effort, too, but that’s what it’s all about. —Thomas Karnowski.

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Aqua Metals is building a more sustainable battery recycling ecosystem

Charged EVs

Several companies are developing chemical processes, but these are still at pilot scale, and Aqua’s execs see serious challenges in delivering the required product purity and dealing with waste streams. The more collection we do, the better for the environment. There’s nothing that’s really running at commercial scale.

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EPA Awards $2M to Small Businesses to Develop Sustainable Technologies; Includes Biofuel, Emissions Reduction Projects

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million to 34 small businesses to develop innovative, sustainable technologies to protect human health and the environment. Included in the 34 FY2010 SBIR Phase I awards are the following biofuel and emissions-reduction projects: Technology Specialists, “Thermochemical Biofuels Production from Biomass Waste Materials”, $70,000.

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DOE, USDA Announce Up To $33M in Funding for Biomass Research and Development Initiative

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Forest resources (forest thinnings, wood chips, wood wastes, small diameter trees, etc.); Urban wood wastes; Oilseed crops; Animal waste; and. Feedstocks or combinations of feedstocks that will be considered include: Agricultural residues; Energy crops (switchgrass, miscanthus, energycane, sorghum, poplar, willow, etc.);