China now world's biggest energy user

That day has come, China has now passed the US and become the world's biggest energy user.

China disputed the figures without offering any alternative view. Maybe it feels bad being the world's biggest polluter. As an expat American, I know I feel a lot better knowing that my homeland is only the world's second-biggest polluter.

Now our ocean future is held by China, not only leading the world of seafood but also leading the world in ocean acidification and other CO2-linked ocean ills.

Tweet

Energy from ocean heat

It sounds too good to be true. Use warm and cool ocean water to make electricity, from a heat engine. The concept is good, it's been around for decades, but now it might be time to get serious.

Take a look at these 3 engineer-looking fellas on the right. What are they doing? Looking up the poop chute of a giant squid? No, looking at the water pipe that's part of a prototype electricity plant that uses ocean temperature gradients.

And here we go, it's Captain NIMO (Not In My Ocean) time again here on blogfish. Shall we consider ocean energy? Dismiss it immediately? Does Captain NIMO get to decide?

I think we need to consider it, because climate change may be a bigger worry than ocean thermal energy plants. OK, I'll admit it, my current prediction and guess is that climate change IS a bigger ocean worry than ocean thermal energy plants. So let's do the research and the prototypes in the right places, and figure it out as best we can.

Tweet

Obama wants energy from ocean wind

It's like I wrote President Obama's Earth Day speech. In Iowa, Obama announced the death of Captain NIMO with a nod to blogfish:

"Captain NIMO is dead, and we're going to explore clean energy options from the ocean" he said, "and I'd like to thank the ocean blog, blogfish for leading on this issue."

OK, he didn't really say that, but it's almost like he did.

He did announce new regulations that authorize offshore wind energy leases. And the goal of the program is clean energy and green jobs.

Now it's time for ocean people to find a way to play in the new push for clean ocean industry, by helping solve problems rather than playing Captain NIMO. If we're worried about the acid ocean zombie plague monster, then we have to find a way to bring some ocean-based solutions to the climate change table. Otherwise, we and the oceans will be road kill in the race for solutions.

It's the new face of Earth Day, who will help find solutions instead of just pointing out the problems??

image: ocean wind energy, solution or threat?

Tweet

Electricity from tides gets real

Canada gets real on energy from the ocean, with the first commercial tidal energy plant in North America set to go online before the end of 2010.

Just like other ocean people, I'm worried about the impacts of industrial development of our oceans. But...CO2 rise is probably a bigger threat, so it's time to test tidal energy and similar options.

"Just say no" to ocean energy is no longer an option, we have to learn when and where to say yes to projects that can help solve our CO2 problem. Captain NIMO (Not In My Ocean) needs to go into retirement.

Is this the right tidal energy plant, in the right place? I don't know, but that's the question to be asking.

Tweet

Capturing body heat and human energy to power buildings

Ever get a warm feeling and wonder what to do? How about capturing the heat and using it for energy savings?

It's real in Sweden; there's a plan to capture body heat from scrambling commuters to heat a nearby building.

And the ideas don't stop there.

Imagine using "crowd farming" to power your building, by capturing the energy in human footsteps that depress floor tiles.

Or visualize a sustainable dance club where booty shaking runs the sound system, or a gym where exercise power lights lights the building

Tweet

Oil drilling in the Arctic Ocean?

There are few pristine places left on earth, but the Chukchi Sea in the Arctic Ocean may be one of them...until we start drilling for oil.

The Minerals Management Service has decided to lease large areas in the Chukchi Sea area of the Arctic Ocean for oil and gas exploration. Is this a problem?

"MMS, by its own admission, has stated that oil spills are likely from its proposal to open up the Chukchi Sea to oil and gas development," said Mike Daulton, Audubon's Director of Conservation Policy. "That, combined with findings from the Army Corps of Engineers citing there are no effective methods for cleaning up oil spills in Arctic waters, seems enough reason to halt oil and gas activities until more is known about the migratory birds, marine life and unique conditions in this very harsh environment."

The MMS defends the oil leasing, while many critics contend that it's far too risky and that the government is understating and ingoring likely problems.

This is not what I would choose to do with the Arctic Ocean.

Tweet

Electricity from ocean waves is coming

A new wave in electricity is coming, and it doesn't produce CO2. That makes ocean wave power compelling. Now the first ever commercial permit has been issued for a wave power-to electricity facility in nearby ocean waters off Washington.

Is it a good idea to generate electricity from ocean waves, or does it create scary new impacts? Where should wave power be harnessed for electricity?

Washington is a great place for ocean wave electricity. We have a rough ocean and lots of wave energy, nearly all the time. Another wave power proposal off Westport, Washington is on the table, and attracting some opposition. Tres Arboles doubts that Westport is the right place, no maybe he's a little stronger than just doubting. Here's the view from the company with the permit.

Westport has a great surfing beach, and that may be a higher use of the ocean than making electricity. How should we decide?

Is it time for ocean zoning? Should Washington and other states figure out where to fish, generate electricity, have undersea cables, and surf? Yes. Otherwise these decisions will happen one at a time and we'll find ourselves sorry in 30 years when we have the ocean equivalent of unplanned development (think Houston).

Tweet

Mini nuclear power plants

There's a new nuclear power option for producing low CO2 electricity, mini nuke plants. Oregon State University scientists propose baby nukes in the relative safety of Corvallis, Oregon.

This is not the only place where baby nukes are being talked up as a solution. What do you think? Should we have these mini nuclear reactors "dotting the countryside?"

Tweet

Wind power is a misunderstood giant

Telling a story is a great way to make things real. Here's a fun story told by a German company promoting wind power. It has mystery, redemption, and a surprise ending. All of that in just 2 minutes. See if it doesn't change your emotional connection to wind power.

Tweet

The nuclear renaissance is here

Applications boom for new nuclear power plants, as the need for zero-carbon power rekindles the nuclear power industry.

Remember the Bellefonte nuclear plant? The one that was partially built and then mothballed? Well, it's back. The Tennessee Valley Authority plans to build the first of a new generation of advanced nuclear power plants on the site of the failed Bellefonte plant.

Is nuclear power an answer to global warming and the need to cut CO2 emissions? Some say yes, what do you think? The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (remember them?) expects upwards of 30 applications to build new nuke plants in the US over the next several years.

It's a hard sell here in the northwest, where we're still getting over the WPPSS debacle. The Washington Public Power Supply System (with the unfortunate name "WHOOPS") created a massive public bond default that we're still repaying. We owe $2.25 BILLION and most of the power generation never came online.

Even so, nuclear power is coming back. Who knew in the 1980s that CO2 would turn out to be scarier than plutonium?

Tweet