Resources
Oil on water may be colorful, but it's not pretty in any way
From Science journal, New research from Oregon State University presented at the Alaska Marine Science Symposium shows how higher water temperatures harm Arctic cod eggs and larvae and favor lower-latitude, lower-fat fish that have been moving north: Pacific cod and walleye pollock. Farther south, the Bering Sea has emerged as a hot spot for warming.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology looked at a historic dataset of ocean information stretching back more than 50 years and searched for long term trends and patterns. They found that oxygen levels started dropping in the 1980s as ocean temperatures began to climb.
The nearly 3 degrees F increase in ocean temperatures over the last few decades has put the world's unbelievably productive kelp forests at high risk. On the east coast of Tasmania, 95% of them are already gone, and it is nearly as bad on the coast of Norway.
Eastern Canadian Arctic mosses that are being exposed through snow melting after being boring for 45,000-110,000 years reveal that temperatures there are now warmer than at any time in the tens of thousands of years. This is startlingly bad news.
Georgia Tech researchers report in Geophysical Research Letters that they looked at data for the last 50 years and found that oxygen levels started dropping in the 1980s, as ocean temperatures began to climb – and are falling unexpectedly rapidly.
Perhaps the most significant, and likely most enduring, rapid changes that are taking place in many ecological systems as a result of global warming are those taking place in the Earth's oceans. Whilst many readers may have read or heard about Ocean Acidification, there are numerous other changes taking place in the oceans which should be equally as concerning. One such phenomena to appear in the last few decades is mass coral bleaching, a consequence of the continued warming and acidification of the oceans from carbon pollution.
As the Smithsonian's Ocean Portal notes, ocean acidification is sometimes called “climate change’s equally evil twin,” and for good reason: it's a significant and harmful consequence of excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that we don't see or feel because its effects are happening underwater.
Fossil fuels are expensive. Much of their costs are hidden, however, as subsidies. If people knew how large their subsidies were, there would be a backlash against them.
Working with University of Western Australia, UBC scientists in a new study show that the statistics showing steady or increasing catches worldwide are inaccurate.
The new study, published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences, showed that the increase in ocean heat for 2017 took place in most regions of the world, with the Atlantic and Southern oceans showing more warming than Pacific and Indian oceans.
A new study published in Science magazine shows that King/Chinook salmon have lots 2/3 of their genetic diversity are much less able to withstand habitat, temperature and other stressors associated with carbon pollution and associated ocean and atmospheric warming.
Recreational Fishing Boat at Shearwater Resort - Using B100 shipped up from Vancouver, BC by barge (Photo by P. Wilcox)
Pioneering marine biofuel work over the last 20 years at NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab led by Supt. Dennis Donahue.
Straightforward article from Advanced Biofuels USA describing the differences between RedD and BioD.
Good primer on Hydrocarbon biofuels from the US Dept. of Energy.
The Berkeley Marine Center has converted its petroleum diesel fuel pump and tankage to Renewable Diesel, one of the first in the US to do so. There are still none in the Inside Passage marine waterway...who will be the first five fuel docks to do so and make toxic free voyaging possible in the NW?
One way to meet these requirements is by adding a biodiesel or Renewable diesel pump!
NESTE of Finland is shipping Renewable diesel made from pulp and paper mill waste on oil tankers to California to meet commercial and personal demand. Their handbook is a terrific guide to the fuel most likely to be at the center of decarbonizing and detoxing the Inside Passage marine waterway.
Enerkem has figured out how to solve two major problems at once: reducing landfill volumes and costs, and supplying locally made jobs and fuel from municipal waste (minus just the metals). When will the first retired large pulp and paper mill became a Renewable diesel producer in Canada?
The San Francisco based Red & White Lines has joined other fleets around the world to switch to clean, very low carbon and cost competitive Renewable diesel from petro-diesel. Who will be the first fleet in the NW to do the same? The roughly 50% reduction in highly-carcinogenic soot (particulates) is making their filters last longer and helping to reduce operating costs. The UK's venerable Red Funnel line of ropax ferries is currently trialing RenD and expecting to make the same switch. Many trucking lines have already done the same locally and worldwide, including the municipal trucks of Vancouver, BC and NYC.
Like most other diesel engine manufacturers, Cummins issued this statement re. their full approval of Renewable diesel in there medium-duty engines. They are finishing testing other engines in their line and other approvals can reasonably be expected.
Like virtually all other diesel manufacturers, Volvo has signed off the use of RenD100 in its heavy engines. As reported by Transport Topics.
This groundbreaking new study looks at the ideal non-toxic, waste-sourced (renewable) fuels for types of vessels. It endorses Renewable diesel as an ideal future clean fuel for four-stroke marine diesels in light displacement vessels including recreational boats, tugs, small passenger vessels, etc. Must reading.
CA Air Resources Board Tier 1 study of RenD, including production toxicity, transport, etc.
Practical Sailor is the gold standard for the unbiased review of marine gear. They have twice given their highest award to H2Out for its highly effective dessicant devices for extending the life of biodiesel in fuel or storage tanks.
Delta/Vancouver, BC based producer and supplier of green biofuels since 2009.
E. Vancouver, BC producer and supplier of green biodiesel. No marine biodiesel station...yet.
All waste-based (Used Cooking Oil) biodiesel source in Victoria, BC on Vancouver Island. Their website boasts of 92.5% greenhouse gas deductions! No marine station...yet.
Cowichan's nearly 20-year-old biodiesel co-op, north of Victoria and Sydney, BC, makes 100% of its B100 biodiesel from waste, Used Cooking Oil (UCO) to be specific. And they are looking into putting in a marine fueling pump! The saved a new biodiesel blending pump that looks interesting and useful.
SQ makes 8M gallons of certified biodiesel annually from used food production oil, available at two dedicated stations and dozens of pumps throughout OR. Ama Natura has always used SQ biodiesel.
The latest research indicates that biodiesel green house gas emissions overall are 10% lower than prior studies have shown.
As reported by the Nanaimo News Bulletin, the need to get more of the Island "off of diesel" is one of the clear conclusions. The Inside Passage Decarbonization Project is about nothing if not vision and leadership! Let's all work together!
Europe is trying hard to reduce its waste by finding ways to convert it to fuel, petroleum-based chemicals and plastics, etc. Read about that here.
Waste is the new worldwide resource extraction industry, except that this industry is dramatically lowering carbon and in general focused on cleaning up the environment rather than downgrading it while creating jobs and wealth.
Empirical experience, mostly in VW turbodiesels, regarding the non-recommended use of high concentrations of biodiesel in common rail diesels.
One page marine biodiesel use guide from Dr. Randall von Wedel of CytoCulture.
Account of Scripps Oceanographic Institute's one-year use of Renewable Diesel in one of its floating research platforms.
Increasingly common example from Alberta of making Renewable and Biodiesel from municipal waste; Portland, OR is doing the same now.
Financial, regulatory and participant look at the Canadian bioeconomy from Jim Lane of the Biofuels Digest.
Helsinki plans to have their entire commercial and public transport fleet using biodiesel by 2020! Here's how.
From Canfor's website. Report of over $13M Canadian government grant to develop Canfor's new Prince Rupert green RenD production plant.
Maritime Executive report on the US Coast Guard's look at going to a single fuel, which could easily become Renewable diesel. This may be the answer for how gas outboard owners can go near carbon free.
New study looking at how to finance the transition to Renewable Aviation Fuel and how Seattle leads on this.
US National Institute of Health funded medical study on biodiesel versus diesel air quality. Very detailed.
Useful data from the old EPA, before this kind of data was hidden by a new US administration determined to deny and hide the science of Climate Change.
Government Fleet's well-reseached overview of RenD benefits and weakness, costs, etc.
Using a novel, reusable carbon material derived from old rubber tires, an Oak Ridge National Laboratory-led research team has developed a simple method to convert used truck tires into biofuel.
Continuing to expand the waste-to-fuel paradigms, chemists at a Chinese and California university have shown how common hydrocarbon-based plastics can be economically converted to biofuel, as reported in Science magazine.
Much of the costs of fossil fuels are hidden. The British Guardian newspaper reports on research from World Development journal that estimated that in 2016 the fossil fuel industry worldwide received $5.8 TRILLION in direct and indirect subsidies. After being in business over 100 years and making countless millionaires and many billionaires, one would think that it is time to instead support new fuels such as Renewable Diesel and Renewable Aviation Fuel that meet our needs so much better in this age of climate change.
Scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory are utilizing a photosynthetic process to use carbon dioxide to produce fuels and alcohols, and doing so more efficiently than plants do.
Ensyn-provided primer on refinery feedstocks suitable for Renewable diesel, gasoline and aviation fuels.
''At first, renewable diesel seemed like a ‘too good to be true’ cost-neutral way to achieve our goals. But renewable diesel gives you the ability to convert your entire diesel-powered fleet to alternative fuel overnight,' said Richard Battersby, CAFM, CPFP, manager of equipment services for the city. 'When the product became available through a local supplier at a very competitive cost, it was an easy decision to make.''
Electric Skiff in Amsterdam Canal (Photo by P. Wilcox)
Dutch company Mastervolt is now making clever series and parallel piggyback electric propulsion systems to create an integrated hybrid system while keeping a vessel's existing diesel plant that can be run on Renewable or Biodiesel power for a complete low-carbon vessel. The German company Siemens sell related parallel electric propulsion systems.
South China Morning Post reports on the local engineers concerns given that Hong Kong's electricity is anything but green. In this case, electric propulsion would be a step backward.
As part of "Washington Blue," the state's new marine greening program, Washington state is retrofitting its three largest ferries to hybrid diesel-electric. (Hopefully, this will soon become hybrid RENEWABLE diesel-electric! Big fuel costs savings are an anticipated result.
Norwegian oil giant lightens the impact of its ocean drilling operations with electric offshore supply vessels.
Why biofuels are necessary as part of a transition for existing infrastructure. This is a huge factor when looking at the Inside Passage's marine fleet economics.
Don't just think PowerWalls or Firefly batteries, the so-called "Flow," instantly-rechargeable battery will be a game changer, if it gets to market.
Wärtsilä's announcement of a fully-integrated hybrid ship propulsion system.
Japan's largest cruise ship company has signed a letter of intent to build what could easily be the world's greenest cruse ship, the "Ecoship.
SF's Red and White Fleet has signed a contract for the construction of a 600' hybrid-electric ferry.
24-vehicle, 149 passenger retrofitted ferry will be the 2nd electric car ferry in the world. Is that a trend? When will see the first all electric ferries in the NW?
Siemens' perspective on the world's first battery-powered car and passenger ferry in Norway. Very clever battery solution!
Integrated hybrid electric propulsion for smaller boats. Expensive but elegantly engineered.
Torqeedo's German outboards and new inboards just keep getting better, and they were already the best in many ways. Their Deep Blue series comes in engines with integrated control battery systems up to 80hp. Their Travel series includes a 1 1/2 HP-equivalent motor with the Lithium-Ion battery integral to the outboard, as used on Ama Natura's dinghy.
Navy electric outboards are available in 3 or 6 horsepower equivalents, and they have a lightweight kayak/canoe electric.
A Great Resource for the Electric Boating Community. You willl find it (almost) all here!
Australian store specializing in electric boat engines and solar.
Very fast Dutch catamaran w/Oceanvolt propulsion.
17 years and still going strong in Sydney's harbor, the revolutionary electric ferry, Solar Sailor.
Professional Mariner reports that the lithium polymer batteries in Campbell Foss, made by Corvus Energy Ltd. of Richmond, British Columbia, are lighter and more powerful than the conventional lead-acid batteries in Foss’s first hybrid tug.
Stockholm ferry operator Ballerina has introduced a new, electrically propelled passenger ferry, built in composite material, that runs smoothly, comfortably and with essentially none of the noise that accompanies combustion-engined vessels.
The experience and expertise in engineering, naval architecture and renewable energy allowed us to create the perfect boat - our first green dream.
Description of an EU-funded project to come up with new standard electric ferry for Europe, designed for wind-generated eletricity.
Icelandic Hydrogen-powered Whale Watching Boat
Engineering 360 (and others) report that Sandia National Laboratories, in collaboration with SF's Red and White Fleet, has proven the feasibility of building and operating an emission-free high-speed ferry powered entirely by hydrogen fuel cells.
Gemini News article on Norwegian proposal to ship surplus hydrogen by ship to Longyearbyen rather than lay a power cable from the mainland to save millions and be nearly carbon-free.
Using increasing amounts of surplus wind electricity, Rotterdam is looking at producing large quantities of hydrogen fuel.
NOAA believes that hydrogen is the optimum fuel of the furure for boats and ships, and the some of the petroleum industry's largest players apparently do too.
Stanford Energy reports a breakthrough in storing electricity using hydrogen.
Dezeen reports that a fleet of the world's first zero-emissions passenger trains are set to go into service in Germany.
Bluewater Sailing's primer on hydrogen fuel cell propulsion.
Comparison (aimed at autos) between hydrogen combusion in existing engines and fuel cells to electric motor power.
Wikipedia article on retrofitted oil tanker producing its own hydrogen fuel from a Savonius rotor wind generator.
Another 9-year-old report of the "first" commercial hydrogen passenger ship, the Alterwasser in Hamburg, Germany.
Another, early hydrogen powered vessel, this time a canal boat in central England.
Report on H2 supply problems, from Scientific American.
Yet another "first" hydrogen passenger vessel that uses industrial waste hydrogen in Bristol, England. Tried out by Capt. Wilcox and Mate Bayer in 2014.
Engineering 360 (and others) report that Sandia National Laboratories, in collaboration with SF's Red and White Fleet, has proven the feasibility of building and operating an emission-free high-speed ferry powered entirely by hydrogen fuel cells.
Hydrogenesis is the first hydrogen-powered boat to operate in the United Kingdom. The eco-friendly boat was ordered in 2010 by Bristol City Council as part of its Green Capital initiatives to make Bristol a low carbon city.
Georgia Strait Massive Algal Bloom 2016 (Photo by P. Wilcox)
31 Algae players, what do they make now, and how are they making out?
3 roadblocks remain between today’s cost and $3.00. In Biofuels Digests' two-part series, we get a look first at the breakthroughs that have radically changed the costs and outlook. In Part II, we look at where the opportunities lie to reach $2.00 per gallon algae biocrude oil.
In Part II, Biofuels Digest looks at where the opportunities lie to reach $2.00 per gallon algae biocrude oil.
The first Chilean tests of microalgae biodiesel in high-powered diesel engines show that a reduction of gases emissions and particulate matter. of up to 80 per cent can be achieved
Taken from the bottom of the marine food chain, microalgae may soon become a top-tier contender to combat global warming, as well as energy and food insecurity, according to a study by researchers associated with the Cornell Algal Biofuel Consortium, published in the journal Oceanography (December 2016).
An extensive and useful look into the players and progress by fuel type.
From Reuters: Chilean scientists are trying to improve algae growing technology to ramp up production at a low cost using limited energy.
In California at the annual BIO convention, ExxonMobil and Synthetic Genomics announced a breakthrough in joint research into advanced biofuels involving the improvement of the Nannochloropsis gaditana algae strain. Currently at proof of concept scale, at the productivity rates seen under lab conditions, the strain could produce up to 1600 gallons per acre per year of lipids suitable for low-carbon fuels
Terrific Biofuels digest overview of the current state of algal fuels and profitable by-products. Per the article, algal farming is like getting a full crop every week, with lipid production at 40-50 times other feedstocks.
From Nature: A study has unpicked how warming ocean temperatures have already driven an intensification of blooms around North America — the first time this link has been established at an ocean scale.
Economic algal-based biofuel has been an elusive target for more than a decade, and still is. This is an assessment by a venture capitalist thinks it may always be that, and he certainly could be right. Or not.
Algae basics from what appears to be an industry-funded website.
Gas2's optimistic take on saltwater algae's potential, including examples.
Carbon-negative algal biofuel from sewage waste treatment plant floating bioreactor bags. A possible smaller scale fuel solution for ports with treatment plants.
The definitive document on where algal biofuel scaling is at from the US Dept. of Energy (DOE).
CO2 PHOTOSYNTHESIZED TO PRODUCE FUELS AND ALCOHOLS AT LBL
Scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory are utilizing a photosynthetic process to use carbon dioxide to produce fuels and alcohols, and doing so more efficiently than plants do.
Energy Observer - Innovative hybrid solar/wind self-generating hydrogen-powered vessel currently circumnavigating
Plaxx is an innovative marine diesel fuel made from waste plastic - of which there are essentially unlimited quantities - entering testing.
New Atlas report on speculative hybrid petroluem/waste shipping fuel using major waste stream from biodiesel production, glycerol.
The amazing Energy Observer plans to circumnavigate for 6 years using a combination of solar, wind, and hydrogen from sea water.
Scientists are making progress in harnessing electricity from algae in what could be a breakthrough in green-energy technology to combat climate change, although mass-market applications are years away, new research suggests.
A new study published in Science says that algae quantities will increase by 19% in the US.
Wave energy technology is ready to be combined with solar and wind power to create zero emission ships, says ZShips International CCC. ZShips is a Canadian company readying a proprietary wave power system that uses oscillating water columns integrated into a ship's hull.
The HybridMaster is a compact electrical propulsion system that can be combined with every type/brand of engine with capacities up to 45 hp and with existing propeller.
Researchers from the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry (SIOC) and University of California, Irvine (UCI) have discovered a new way to process the millions of tons of waste plastic we produce each year into usable fuel.
California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. has welcomed Norway to the Under2 Coalition - the global pact of cities, states and countries committed to limiting the increase in global average temperature to below two degrees Celsius. The news follows an agreement on green shipping between California and the Norwegian Maritime Authority.
RENEWABLE SHORE POWER
This section is in development. It is remarkable that no marinas or ports who already have some percentage of renewable shore power appear to be promoting this...
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