The ocean going cargo ships that deliver many of our consumer products – from cars to electronics – consume millions of gallons of dirty fuel and emit a frightening array of emissions and toxic chemicals into the atmosphere. Eco Marine Power, a Japan-based technology company, has designed a propulsion system for ocean going vessels that reduces the consumption of dirty fossil fuels. The Aquarius Eco Ship concept incorporates solar and wind power into vessel design to reduce emissions and increase fuel efficiency.

The center piece of the design is the Aquarius MRE System - an innovative fuel saving and emission reduction technology that utilizes a variety of technologies including: solar panels, energy storage modules, a computer control system and an advanced rigid sail design that can rotate with the prevailing winds to provide optimum energy returns.

The systems is designed to be highly flexible and configurable so that it can installed on variety of ship sizes and types. Applications for the system include bulk carriers, oil tankers, survey ships and passenger ferries.

Future designs could be fitted with other fuel saving technology, including advanced electrical propulsion systems, optimized hull designs, waste heat recovery systems and fuel cell technology.

The company estimates that this combination of technologies could lead to fuel savings of 40% or more, while simultaneously reducing the emission of noxious gases such as Sulphur Oxides (SOx) and Nitrogen Oxides (NOx).

An Aquarius Eco Ship could include enough solar panels for a 1MWp solar system and enough energy storage modules to eliminate the need to use auxiliary diesel generators whilst in port.

Note: About 50,000 cargo ships carry 90 percent of world trade; most of the ships are powered by heavily polluting oil known as bunker fuels. The International Maritime Organization says shipping was responsible for 2.7 percent of global carbon emissions in 2007, but that would double or even triple by mid-century if no action is taken.

Remember how high the initial demand was for hybrid vehicles? Now the growing demand for pure electric vehicles (EVs), is making things even more hectic. It’s a good thing the number of electric car charging stations is rising too.

Nationwide there are currently twice as many charging stations (roughly 4,500) as there are E-85 ethanol stations, with the government finalizing a proposal to expand the number to nearly 14,000 in the near future. The growing proliferation of charging stations means that current electric vehicles will be able to travel farther and more frequently.

Ultimately, the combination of more charging stations, increased vehicle range, lower electric car prices and improvements to the national power grid may all add up to a clean, bright future for the electric car.

Related: more articles on green cars on The Alternative Consumer

top image: electric car charging shutterstock.com

A 2008 report by CNN points out that the greenhouse gas emissions from ocean-going ships is a far greater problem than most people realize. The shipping industry emits an astonishing 1.2 billion tons of greenhouse gases per year — over twice the amount of the aviation industry! The Australian company, SolarSail, may offer the industry some hope.

Recipient of the Technical Innovation Award at the Sea trade China Awards 2010, SolarSailor specializes in hybrid marine power. Their SolarSail and Hybrid Marine technologies are patented for use on tankers, cruise liners, commercial ferries, private yachts, and unmanned coast guard drones. They have it all covered.

Their website offers this description of how their solar panels function like wings, “Comprising a unique pivotally mounted airfoil and joint it is attached in such a way as to be able to angle to the sun and/or the wind to harness solar power and sail, folding away when not in use.”

• This month SolarSail launched the first of four new hybrid-powered passenger ferries for the Hong Kong Jockey Club. The vessel seats up to 100 people.
• A hybrid SolarSailor ship has been running in the Sydney harbor since 2000.
• SolarSailor estimates that an 800 square meter SolarSail attached to a bulk carrier could reduce the vessel’s fuel consumption and associated emissions by 20% to 40% per year.

‘Is it solar powered?’ Imagine if this question became the new, ‘does it have meat in it?’ Something considered so possible. What if one day you had the option to take a cruise on a solar powered vessel? How amazing would it be if your favorite restaurant received its seafood and produce from a vessel powered by SolarSailor technology?

“Solar Sailor technology can be applied to everything from unmanned ocean vehicles up to ocean liners: In fifty years time people will look back at the ships of the 20th Century and ask where are the wings?” – Dr Robert Dane, CEO SolarSail.

A new set of Android-based smartphone apps can help you get off the fossil fuel merry-go-round. California-based Iconosys, Inc. has created its “Alternative Fuels” apps to provide users a GPS guide to the nearest alternative energy refueling stations along any travel route.

The Alternative Fuels apps include:

• the ‘Alternative Energy Fueling Directory’ which provides essential information for identifying and locating fueling/charging stations
• ‘Where to get Biodiesel’, for those users driving vehicles that burn diesel fuels that want to go green
• ‘Where to get NGV’, for those users driving vehicles running on CNG, LNG, or LPG
• ‘My Plug-In Directory’, for users driving vehicles that only re-fuel from electric charging stations

Fuels the apps can help you locate:

• ethanol and methanol
• compressed natural gas (CNG)
• electric fueling stations
• hydrogen
• liquefied natural gas (LNG)
• biodiesel

The apps will allow users to find the most convenient fueling stations/charging points, search for alternative fuel stations by zip code, get driving directions, website addresses, facility hours and facility phone numbers. All “Alternative Fuel” listings are common among the suite of apps. By clicking on a map for other fueling/charging points, you can see the deals and amenities that each location offers, as well as roadside assistance numbers for popular electric and hybrid makes in the event you have a highway safety or fueling emergency.

Alternative Fuels Apps are free of charge from the Android Marketplace and also available for download from Adshark’s AppStore AppHysteria (www.apphysteria.com).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9jGis5V5LE

British inventor, Alvin Smith, and the British energy company, Ecotricity, are developing a new wave energy device called the Searaser to create electricity by harnessing the power of ocean swells. The basic device consists of (see the video above) a vertical piston between two buoys — one on the surface of the water, the other suspended underwater and tethered to the seabed.

As the ocean waves activate the buoys up and down, the piston works like a bicycle pump – sending seawater through a pipe either directly to an onshore turbine, or to a coastal water storage reservoir that can then release the water to turn the hydro-electric turbine and generate electricity on demand.

via: bbc.com

The explosive proliferation of smartphones and other small electronic devices has created a growing demand for portable power solutions. One company hoping to feed that hunger for sustainable power is PowerSkin, which is debuting an array of new portable power solutions at this month’s CES. PowerSkin’s battery-boosting skins for mobile gadget users include: SolarCharge, KeyCharge, Gaming Skins for iOS and Nintendo 3DS, as well as new smartphone skins.

Featured will be PowerSkin’s new SolarCharge (pictured above), a 1000 mAh universal charger for use with all types of smartphones and all generations of iPod touch. SolarCharge is said to provide up to 350 minutes of extra talk-time. The SolarCharge charges off of natural light and can also be re-charged indoors via USB.

KeyCharge (at right), is a funky looking charger that attaches to your key chain and packs 750 mAh – extending talk time up to 90 minutes on most smartphones. Users connect their phone directly onto the KeyCharge’s Micro USB to start charging.

Both SolarCharge and KeyCharge will feature blue rubberized skins with LED lights indicating the amount of battery levels left. PowerSkin’s SolarCharge, $69.99, and KeyCharge, $24.99, will both be available beginning February @ Power-Skin.com.

Related: more solar charger and green gadget on The Alternative Consumer

SolarFocus Technology Company’s

The product will be the first in SolarFocus’ new solar gadget line. SolarKindle’s design features a flexible, lightweight high performance solar panel built into the cover and a dual-charging (USB/solar) reserve battery that greatly extends reading time. In addition, the built-in 800 lux LED reading lamp can be powered continuously for up to 50 hours without using the Kindle’s main battery.

Related: more green gadget featured on The Alternative Consumer

Phil Pauley, founder of the design agency PAULEY, has a new concept for renewable power generation, the Marine Solar Cell. Marine Solar Cells (MSC) are hybrid solar and wave energy generators with the unique ability to generate photovoltaic solar power and wave energy from a single off shore system.

The solar-wave units – which look a little like bobbing jellyfish – would capture wave energy through natural buoyancy displacement and solar energy through photovoltaic cells – with the added bonus of capturing reflected light off the ocean’s surface that could increase the device’s potential solar capture output by an estimated 20%.

This design contrasts with conventional solar power installations and wave power designs which only harvest one form of power. Pauley envisions the installation of hundreds of low-cost solar-wave units in off-shore floating power arrays, generating sustainable energy, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and creating a new, green economic engine.

Related: alternative energy products on The Alternative Consumer

via: good clean tech

Designers Wan Xuan Lim and Tang Xueling Jane’s award winning Eco-Leaf Curtain/Light is envisioned as a next generation window treatment that reduces energy use during the day and serves as an energy efficient light source after dark.

During the day the product conserves energy by providing shade and allowing for the passage of ambient daylight and cooling fresh air. The curtain captures daytime solar energy with its flexible, integrated solar panels. A small on-board battery can then utilize the stored solar power to transform the curtain into an energy efficient lighting fixture after sundown. The curtain can roll-up like a conventional window shade if desired.

Related: more green gadgets on The Alternative Consumer

Time’s running out but there’s still a few days left to take advantage of some good tax breaks for greening your home, commute or car. Forbes compiled a handy list of 10 ways to save money while saving the planet.

1. Home Improvements – a 10% tax credit is available for many energy efficient upgrades such as replacing windows, improving insulation and certain a/c and heating units. See the Alliance to Save Energy for a straightforward explanation of details.

2. Electric Cars – receive a $7500 federal tax credit when you buy a new Chevy VOLT, Nissan Leaf or Ford’s forthcoming Focus Electric.

3. Residential Charging Station – although you don’t absolutely need to have one  to go with that e-car, they can make your life a little easier and Uncle Sam will provide a tax credit equal to 30% of the cost of installing a charger (up to a maximum of $1000). not too shabby.

4. Car Conversion – convert your gas-guzzler into a plug-in with an electric car conversion kit and the feds will credit you for 10% of the cost, with a maximum credit of $4000. Act now – this credit will expire at the end of 2011.

5. Low speed electric vehicles – love this one, too. Sport about in a street legal golf cart or moped and get a federal tax credit of up to 10%, up to a maximum credit of $2500. Act now – only available through Dec 31, 2011.

6. Green Commuting – bus, train, subway and van-pooling commuters can save $240 a month pre-tax to pay their commuting expenses, provided their employers offer a pretax plan. (This is expected to become $125 per month, effective Jan 1, 2012.)

7. Home Solar - receive a tax credit equal to 30% of the cost to install home solar panels to generate electricity of heat water (excluding your pool). This credit will be available through 2016. 

8. Home Geothermal – just like solar, you can snag a 30% tax credit for the cost of geothermal heat pump system. Also available through 2016 and, like solar, it can be used to offset the amount and carried forward to the next year if you can’t use it all at once.

9. Wind Energy – receive a tax credit equal to 30% of the cost to install a basic residential windmill. (Credit can also be carried forward to the next year if you can’t use it all at once.)

10. State Incentives – for the most complete list of state and local tax breaks and incentives available, take a look at North Carolina State University’s Database of State Incentives for Renewable & Efficiency.

photo credit: electric car charging image via shutterstock.com