E-fuel setback, preventing battery fires and revolutionary process heat and cooling advances
In this issue:
Electrifying process heat – a new innovation
Scientists from Stanford have developed a new electrically powered, thermochemical reactor that can produce industrial level heat. The new electrified reactor uses magnetic induction to generate heat – the same sort of process used in induction stoves. Using high frequency, fast switching, alternating current with poor conducting reactor materials containing a lattice that carries the chemicals to be processed. The designers claim 85% efficiency in electricity to heat conversion with no fossil-fuels needed (assuming your electricity is renewable).
New circularity index for the bioeconomy
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a new circularity index (CI) to aid the assessment of bioeconomy initiatives. The index runs from 0 to 1 with 0 being linear and 1 demonstrating complete circularity. In a demonstration on fertiliser use on crops, the use of natural fertiliser delivered a CI of 0.86, with a urea based fertiliser delivering a CI of 0.687. The tool has extensive application in agriculture.
Built environment becoming more sustainable
The results of a survey of 600 professionals in the built environment show solid progress is being made on sustainability, at least in the UK. The survey, by NBS, shows:
- 70% of construction projects now incorporate sustainability targets;
- a 13% increase in net zero projects over the previous year;
- 43% of industry professionals report successfully achieving sustainability goals, up from 33% the previous year;
- 64% of professionals have worked on a net-zero project in the past year, up from 49%.
Fresh cooling and heating breakthrough
Scientists from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology have designed a cooling technology they claim delivers an efficiency of 48%, record breaking cooling performance and avoids using damaging greenhouse gas refrigerants. The elastocaloric materials react to mechanical forces like stretching or compression by absorbing or releasing heat. Being non-volatile and greenhouse gas-free, they are also environmentally friendly and, it is claimed 100% recyclable. Once commercialised, the technology will have widespread applications in cooling and heating.
Preventing battery fires
Newshounds will have seen the story about the apartment block evacuation in Auckland this week, caused by an electric scooter fire. As well as care in storage and charging there are additional precautions that can help reduce inconvenience and danger. American company, Littelfuse, for example, offers an easy, stick-on, battery temperature monitoring system, mainly intended for EVs, that detects localised cell overheating and alerts the battery management system. It could save property and lives.
Ozzies ahead on targeting efficiency
In the week we’ve all had to submit comments on the ERP2, it was interesting to see the Australian federal government has announced a AU$160m (NZ$175m) investment (under its Household Energy Upgrades Fund) supporting low-cost loans to finance home efficiency upgrades. Initiatives to support energy efficiency were unfathomably lacking in the ERP2 consultation document and we should be taking a leaf out of Australia’s book in supporting actions that will deliver quick and cost-effective results in addressing emissions and energy hardship at the same time.
E-fuel setback
The e-fuel market has just taken a bit of a knock with Danish company, Ørsted, announcing it is abandoning its plans to develop Europe’s largest e-methanol facility in Sweden. Production was scheduled to come on line in 2025 but the project has now been cancelled with Ørsted citing the lack of a viable market as the main reason.