More fracking protests in England

On Monday, a high court in West Sussex, England, upheld protesters’ rights to camp outside of a potential fracking sit in Balcombe, saying they can stay until early October. Residents of the small, Mid-Sussex village have recently been evicted to make way for yet another fracking operation. Big machinery. Manpower. No room for the indigenous population, apparently.

How many lives have to be uprooted for a country to stay competitive on the global energy market?

The court ruled that the eviction notice handed down by the local council was flawed, and therefore, additional hearings will be held until a judgment is reached. Hundreds of protesters have been camping out at the site over the summer, with crowd numbers soaring into the thousands during the most intense protests.

Cuadrilla Resources, an oil and gas company based out of the United Kingdom, is currently seeking to explore for oil in Balcombe. But the protests are only the most recent setback for the company which, over the years, has endured a series of them in the UK. Back in 2011, earthquakes at their Blackpool fracking site forced a shutdown that last over a year.

The judge has adjourned the Balcombe case until October 8th, when the local council will have to decide if the public backlash is worth proceeding.  While many support the protest and oppose fracking and, others are aggravated by protestors camping out in their backyards.

"We are delighted to see sanity and justice prevailing for the Balcombe protectors,” says Vanessa Vine, a local resident and protestor. “When will West Sussex county council take action to evict those who are genuinely posing a threat to the local community – those within the gates of the drill site who are putting us at grave risk, for short-term ecocidal corporate gain?"

NRGLab has been asking a very similar question. But until justice is done, we’re determined to offer cost-effective, environmentally friendly solutions to today’s energy crisis. We believe energy independence shouldn’t jeopardize familiar stability. If anything, it should make the family stronger by providing them with self-sufficient means of producing electricity for lighting and heating their homes.

If you’d be interested in something like the SH-Box – a carbon free, polycrystalline generator capable of producing electricity for as little as $0.03 per kWh – or the SV-Turbine – for the gasification of biofuels into clean, useable fuel – visit nrglab.asia, and review our slate of energy projects.

You can help create a better tomorrow.


protests in England, global energy market, NRGLab, Cuadrilla Resources, Balcombe case, energy crisis, sv-turbine, gasification

Why green energy initiatives have failed in the past

The push for cleaner energy is hardly anything new. From the fusion power plants of 1950s Science Fiction to the solar-powered dream-cars of the 90s, the public has been promised a lot. So far, most of those promises have come up empty. But why? And how? And who, if  anyone, is to blame?

Most ambitious green energy initiatives have failed in the past for one of three reasons: either because they were unrealistic from the start, abandoned due to fluctuations in the market, or simply took too long to come to fruition.

Earlier this month, the EPA made sharp cuts in its production estimates for an innovative new biofuel called cellulosic ethanol. “When do you know when to cut your losses?” asks Margot Anderson, executive director of the project. “When is a flop a flop?”

The main problem for any green tech company starting out is the pre-established energy infrastructure. Even reasonably successful renewables like solar and wind  have taken decades just to get to where they are now – and still, they occupy the bottom rung on the global energy ladder.

“Things do take longer in the energy business,” claims energy historian Daniel Yergin. “[Markets] can change more rapidly than people think. If Mitchell Energy had decided that, after year 16, shale gas wasn’t going to happen, we wouldn’t have had a shale gas revolution.”

Here are few of the more recognizable green energy initiatives that have failed to live up to the hype:

- Cellulosic ethanol. Back in 2006, U.S. President George W. Bush made “switchgrass” the word of the day when he promised to make ethanol produced from plants, wood chips, and other biomass “practical and competitive in six years.” However, the U.S. only produced 20,000 gallons of cellulosic ethanol last year. That insignificant number forced the EPA to cut its requirements for how much cellulosic ethanol refineries blend with their gasoline.

- Hydrogen for fuel. Back in 2003, Bush pushed a $1.2 billion plan to make vehicles powered by hydrogen more cost effective and commercially viable “so that the first car driven by a child born today could be powered by hydrogen, and pollution-free.” Today, that child’s only 10-years old, so he or she can’ drive. But hydrogen fuel cells have diminished in popularity. Who knows if we’ll even remember them in another seven years?

- So-called “clean coal.” The U.S. DOE has invested nearly $7 billion since 2005 to help reduce the cost for companies to capture and store carbon emissions from coal-burning power plants, but today not a single commercial scale carbon-capture project is operational.

- Nuclear power. Back in the 1950s, the world was astounded at the splitting of the atom. It spelled a new age for energy – the dawn of the future! Countless movies depicted radioactive heroes and monsters, apocalyptic and Utopian landscapes. Even though nuclear power generates roughly one-fifth of the U.S.’s electricity, high start-up costs, meltdowns, and problems with waste disposal have nearly bankrupted the public’s trust.

Despite these unrealized hopes and dreams, NRGLab hasn’t given up the fight to bring clean, reliable energy to millions of people around the world. The carbon-free SH-Box. Biomass gasification. Plasma torches. You never know when you could strike gold. All it takes is the right team, hard work, and unwavering faith in what you’re doing.

At NRGLab, We believe in a greener future. A better tomorrow. And we will not fail. Visit nrglab.asia for more information.

Gasification in your everyday!

I use the word “gasification” a lot when discussing possible directions for the future of energy, but not a whole lot of people understand what the process actually is. Well fear not! I’m here to make biomass gasification a little easier to understand by explaining how it affects your everyday life.

First, what the heck is gasification? Biomass gasification is the process by which biomass fuels like wood, coal, feedstock and agricultural residues are converted into a combustible mixture known as a producer gas (CO+H2+CH4) or synthetic gas (syngas). The process relies on heat, pressure and partial combustion. The oxidizer can be air, in which case the producer gas will contain nitrogen (N2), steam, or oxygen (O2).

Sound complicated? That’s because it is! Just listen to what gasification technology can be used for:
- Central heating, community heating, or process heating for manufacturing
- Electricity generating systems
- Internal combustion engines

Now, gasification isn’t exactly a new technology. It was first developed back in the 1800s as a means of lighting villages and towns. Miniaturized gasifiers were even used to power vehicles during World War II, when fuel shortages were common. But as technology has advanced, so too has our understanding of gasification’s potential.

It all boils down to the science, really. If gasification occurs at a moderately low temperature (between 700ºC and 1000ºC), the product gas will possess a high concentration of hydrocarbons. This means that low temperature gasification can be used directly to generate electricity via a steam turbine or, with suitable gas clean up, an internal combustion engine.

Conversely, high temperature gasification (between 1200ºC and 1600ºC) results in few hydrocarbons and a higher ration of CO and H2. This is known as a syngas since it can be used to synthesize chain hydrocarbons. If the ratio of CO to H2 is 1:2, synthesis can successfully convert syngas into high quality diesel biofuel – a fuel compatible with most conventional diesel engines.

Come on - you didn't think the fuel you pumped at the gas station just came out of the ground like that, did you?

Ultimately, gasification has the potential to lower commuting costs for motorists. It can power cities. It can shape foreign relations with countries in control of the supply of crude oil. It can bring energy independence to impoverished countries. It can bring an end to dangerous fracking operations. It can change the world!

By now, you may or may not have a better understanding of gasification (hopefully you do). But even if you’re still having trouble wrapping your head around the idea of “hydrocarbons,” don’t worry. Gasification is a complex process mastered only by those who’ve dedicated years to studying the science behind it.

If I’ve peaked your curiosity though, make sure you stop by nrglab.asia, and see what energy projects NRGLab has cooking up in development. Plus, you can learn more about gasification!

Just how big is the energy industry? $6 trillion big!

Most people don’t realize how big the energy industry actually is. You might read about oil stocks in the newspaper. You might hear about some fantastic alternative energy project on the news. You might just pay your utility bills each month without giving it a second thought. But realize this – our current energy infrastructure is buttressed by a $6 trillion dollar economy!

So, think change is easy? Think again.

Such a vast industry consumes natural resources at a furious rate, and is dependent upon a global market to set supply, demand, and price. This complex system keeps the lights on. The warm water flowing. The music bumping.

It's this co-dependent relationship that makes energy such an interesting subject. Leaving lights on in an empty room sends a ripple across the globe. You’re not only contributing to global warming – you’re affecting nations of people, foreign markets, technical development, and fuel processes.

One such fuel process, one you might not be too familiar with, is gasification.

Gasification is quickly gaining ground on other renewable energy alternatives like wind, solar, and hydroelectric. The process uses a limited oxygen supply to convert a carbon-containing feedstock like coal, natural gas, or agriculture waste, into a synthetic gas and useable fuel.

In fact, gasification has been around for centuries! William Murdoch, a Scottish engineer, is credited with discovering the process back in the late 1790s. Using coal as his feedstock, Murdoch produced enough synthetic gas to light his home. Eventually, cities across Europe and America adopted his process to light their city streets and neighborhoods.

Today, as we find ourselves in the midst of a climate crisis, gasification is more important than ever. Power-starved nations are clamoring for the next breakthrough in alternative energy technology, and gasification – a blast from the past – may provide exactly that.  By 2015, the Gasification Technologies Council predicts that world gasification capacity will grow by more than 70%!

At the forefront of the transition is NRGLab. With our innovative gasification techniques, we’re hoping to clean up the $6 trillion energy industry, making it more dependable and sustainable in the process.

Want more information? Visit nrglab.asia and check out what we’re doing to ensure a better tomorrow for millions of lives around the world.

Gasification: the future of energy recycling

We no longer have to rely on ticking-time bombs sitting just off-shore. I’m talking about oil rigs, of course. These ecological disasters in the making are obsolete compared to today’s technology.

Why risk another tragic spill, human lives, or the sanctity of Mother Nature just to save a few dollars on our monthly utility bills?

Luckily, NRGLab has developed innovative new equipment for the conversation of hydrocarbon crude and waste into electricity. From agricultural waste (sugar cane, rice, sunflowers, wild bushes, trees, etc.) to low-calorie coal and oil shale; from automotive rubber waste to municipal waste; from methane to methanol; our unique gasification techniques are going to revolutionize the way our world views energy.

First, in order to properly evaluate energy potential, we must take into account the type of combustible material versus its greenhouse gas emissions. During processing, fossil fuels like coal and crude oil poison our atmosphere with CO2 and NO.

This is particularly important because incineration stations are now under construction in a number of highly-populated cites. These facilities will also be twice as cheap compared to today’s standards. But will they be safe?

The lifespan of gas powered turbines will also increase two-fold as well, from 50,000 hours to 120,000 hours!

While alternative energy projects have proved frustrating for investors in the past (what with their decade-long returns and all), today, most of these projects are expected to see profits within three years.

A common misconception about energy recycling is that it requires more waste than what’s available. Untrue! Combined with local recycling efforts, more than 250 million tons of waste is sent to landfills across the U.S. each year. Even if recycling rates increased, there would still be enough waste left over to convert into electricity. People have a habit of being wasteful, after all!

Today, communities have two options in terms of discarding waste. The first is burying it in a landfill, which can emit harmful greenhouse gases like methane. The other option is taking the same waste and transporting to one of NRGLab’s gasification plants and turning it into useable fuel.

For more information on NRGLab and our slate of alternative energy projects, visit nrglab.asia.

You can be part of a greener future. All you have to do is reduce, reuse, and recycle your waste into electricity.

A golden future for green energy

According to a study published this week by the International Energy Agency (IEA), electricity production from green energy sources like wind, solar, and biofuels will exceed nuclear and gas by 2016, marking a huge victory for the energy revolution!

"As their costs continue to fall, renewable power sources are increasingly standing on their own merits versus new fossil-fuel generation," said Maria van der Hoeven, executive director of the IEA.

On Tuesday, American President Barack Obama revealed his plans to reduce carbon emissions by transitioning away from fossil fuels to renewable alternatives. "I'm setting a new goal," the President said. "[The U.S.] federal government will consume 20% of its electricity from renewable sources within the next seven years."

The IEA’s study analyzed trends in the global market, and expects over 20 countries to see an increase in clean power production. And not minimal, either – an increase by at least 40% during the next half-decade! In fact, the study predicts that green energy will comprise nearly 1/4th of the global market by 2018, up 20% from a similar study done a few years ago. That’s a remarkable turnaround when you consider the current state of the climate crisis.

So, why the sudden progress?

Countries like China and India are turning to renewables more and more in order to meet their staggering energy demands. These markets will offset the slowed growth in the U.S. and Europe.

It also helps that the cost of green energy has gone done significantly since the turn of the century. Wind turbines can now stay competitive with coal and oil-burning power plants in a number of countries, including New Zealand, Brazil, and Turkey.

Even the use of biofuels, which recycle agricultural waste, is up. The study predicts that “more than 50 countries will be generating more than 100 megawatts of electricity using biofuels by 2018.”

For years now, NRGLab has been developing high-efficiency gasification techniques, turning agricultural waste, rice husks, coal, and natural gas into cleaner-burning fuels. If you’re interested in learning more about NRGLab’s innovative energy projects, visit our website at nrglab.asia.

Make sure you’re there to cash in on the looming golden age of green energy.