ENERGY

Energy ministers and business leaders to meet at Resilience Summit

The growing importance of resilience is demonstrated in the calibre of delegates gathering in New Zealand’s capital next month for the Asia-Pacific Energy Leaders’ Summit hosted by the World Energy Council and BusinessNZ Energy Council. Energy resilience is emerging as a clear priority for both the private and public sector. The Asia-Pacific Energy Leaders’ Summit is attracting CEOs and senior executives from across the globe, including Shell, Rosseti Russia, Enersis Chile, Chevron, Honda and Fujitsu, and energy experts from Norway, US, UK, Japan, China, the Philippines and Australia. They will be joining over 50 major corporates and institutions from New Zealand and around the world, including the World Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Asian Development Bank, APEC Energy Working Group, International Renewable Energy Association and the APEC Sustainable Energy Centre. Energy Ministers and high level officials from across the Asia-Pacific will join New Zealand Ministers Bridges and Bennett to discuss the growing resilience risks and challenges presented by climate change, emerging technologies, extreme weather events, cyber security, and the energy-water-food nexus. Hon Simon Bridges, NZ Minister of Energy and Resources says, “Energy system resilience is key to supporting and growing a vibrant economy. The Asia-Pacific Energy Leaders’ Summit offers an opportunity for dialogue on transitioning to more sustainable and resilient energy systems, and I look forward to taking part.” The aim is to share insights and lessons about what can be done to address these challenges, including solutions available to the Asia-Pacific region. The World Energy Council will be launching a new report on the energy-water-food nexus at the event. Dr Christoph Frei, Secretary General, World Energy Council says, “Bringing business and policymakers together in this unique fashion is a vital step forward in finding solutions to building resilience in the Asia-Pacific region. I look forward to being part of […]

Revolutionary wind energy conversion system

The novel cross-axis-wind-turbine (CAWT) is a new type of wind turbine that has the capability to extract energy from multi-directional wind that is commonly found in urban areas due to the interaction of airflows between high-rise buildings. Its ability to operate in areas with complex wind pattern and low wind speed overcomes the weaknesses of the vertical and horizontal axis wind turbines (VAWT and HAWT). The novel wind turbine consists of vertical and horizontal blades arranged in a cross axis orientation, therefore enabling it to function with airflows coming from horizontal and vertical directions. The horizontal blades serve as the radial arms that link and support the vertical blades and the hubs through specially designed connectors to form the CAWT. Any airflow streams channeled to the bottom of the turbine interact with the lower and upper radial supporting-arms, therefore maximising the wind energy potential that can be extracted. Viewed from the top, the upper and lower radial arms can be considered as a double-layered HAWT that extracts energy from the vertical wind. Moreover, the lift created by the interaction between the vertical airflow and the horizontal blades creates aero-levitation forces which reduce bearing friction in the generator, hence extending the lifespan of the wind turbine. Initial studies have shown that the CAWT can overcome the problem of self-starting ability of a conventional VAWT, and produce better performance output by up to 2.5 times. In conclusion, the CAWT presents an innovative outlook on the future of wind turbines, creating significant opportunities for the use of wind energy devices and therefore alleviating dependencies on fossil fuel power plants. -chong_wentong@um.edu.my

Business addressing climate change

Climate change is moving up the agenda for New Zealand businesses, according to a survey released by BusinessNZ. Businesses that make up 36 percent of New Zealand’s private sector GDP participated in the BusinessNZ Climate Change Survey. The survey shows that 61 percent of those surveyed have introduced initiatives to reduce emissions, and that businesses want to see unified commitment at the international climate change COP21 negotiations in Paris this month. BusinessNZ has also released a Business Brief for the COP21 negotiations. BusinessNZ Head of Climate Change Policy John Carnegie says business will continue to take action regardless of what happens at Paris, but the negotiations are still an opportunity to set climate goals to give businesses the confidence to invest, innovate and act to reduce emissions. “We need to see an agreement that sets a predictable and transparent regulatory environment, to provide the direction to enable scaled-up action at a country level. “New Zealand businesses want to work with Government to develop and implement market-driven solutions to address emissions while maintaining our international competitiveness. This means supporting the development of international carbon markets to facilitate the global transfer of low emissions technology and finance to where it is needed most. “Through to 2020, businesses in New Zealand will focus on reducing emissions in the transport sector, improving energy efficiency beyond transport, improving urban infrastructure and being strong leaders on climate change mitigation and adaptation.” Survey findings: • 52% of respondents said climate was a material issue that warranted a business response. • 61% have introduced initiatives to reduce climate emissions. • Two-thirds of respondents have emission reduction targets in place, with strong representation from energy, transport, telecommunications and retail sectors. • 85% of business climate activity sits within business operations, working with customers and through supply chains. • Climate […]

Energy conversion principle to double engine efficiency

Professor Ken Naitoh of Waseda University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering (Department of Applied Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering, School of Fundamental Science and Engineering) and his associates have discovered a revolutionary energy conversion principle (new compressive combustion principle) able to yield stand-alone engines with double or higher the thermal efficiency potential of conventional engines, independent of their size. If engines utilising this principle can be put to use in practical applications, it is believed that they could become innovations with the ability to solve today’s immediate environmental energy problems. This new compressive combustion principle was formulated by Professor Naitoh through the development of a new thermofluid dynamics theory, as well as thought experiments, supercomputer simulations, and high-speed airflow experiments drawing on that theory. The fundamental principle is that while thermal efficiency can be raised by reaching a high compression ratio, achieved through pulsed collisions of multiple high-speed jets of an air-fuel gas mixture at microscopic regions in the central area of a combustion chamber, expanded uses and ranges of application were attained with the further addition of 3 new measures. This method is also considered to be lower in cost than batteries, as well as having possibilities for noise reduction and the potential to eliminate the need for cooling mechanisms. If the effectiveness of this principle can be confirmed through combustion tests, it will not only open up the doors to new lightweight, high-performance aerospace vehicles, but would also lead to prospects of next-generation, high-performance engines for automobiles. The maximum thermal efficiency of present-day gasoline engines for automobiles is on the order of 30%, believed to fall to a level as low as 15% in states from idling to low-speed city driving. Therefore, if automobiles could be equipped with ‘low-cost, ultimate-efficiency engines’, reaching a stand-alone thermal efficiency of 60% or […]

Low maintenance solar tracker actuators

Low maintenance Airstroke actuators from Firestone provide a compact and easily installed way to continuously orient solar trackers’ payload towards the sun to optimise the amount of energy produced from installed power generating capacity. The rubber and fabric actuators can be used to solve the problem of stationary solar collection panels becoming inefficient as the sun shifts from a 90-degree angle to the panels. Usually inflated or deflated by standard fixed or mobile compressed air (typically 7 bar (100 psi), they move photovoltaic systems to minimise and angle of incidence between the incoming sunlight and a photovoltaic array. Alternatively, an ingenious actuation alternative uses the expansion and contraction of Freon gas as it is heated and cooled within the actuators to extend and retract them and change the angle of the collection panels (as per illustration above). Airstrokes are particularly beneficial for commercial installations, where continuous focusing of the arrays through single or dual-axis arrangements enhances energy returns. Such installations – sometimes in remote locations and subject to climatic extremes over 24 hours – need extremely reliable actuators to continuously reposition payloads such as solar panels, reflectors, mirrors or lenses. Airstroke bellows offered by for use by solar engineers and installers have been proven in widespread heavy duty industrial actuation throughout Australia, including providing millions of cycles of service on conveyors and mineral processing screens and vibrators, where they have to withstand dust, heat, moisture and extremes of Outback climate. They are identical in construction to the airbags proven in truck and train suspension so they are extraordinarily tough. In addition to having no internal rods of seals to wear – unlike conventional metal cylinders – they have the ability to rotate through an angle without a clevis. In addition to making air springs easy to install in compact spaces, […]

Leadership called for

New Zealand businesses want the government to show greater leadership around carbon, waste and water issues, a University of Waikato study has found. The report’s co-authors, Associate Professor Eva Collins and Professor Juliet Roper from the University’s Waikato Management School, say the findings are important for the government as it prepares for climate change talks in Paris later this year. The report shows many businesses are reluctant to invest more in sustainability initiatives until the government steps in to provide long-term regulatory certainty and level the playing field and lack of government leadership has seen companies stop measuring their carbon footprint or put their carbon strategies on hold. The full survey results are available online at http://www.mngt.waikato.ac.nz/sustainabilityreport/2014sustainabliltyreport.pdf

New Emission Targets Achievable

New emission trading targets are a realistic goal for New Zealand business, says the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA). However, it warns that New Zealand must continue to show willing to play its part in initiatives designed to combat climate change to maintain the goodwill of its trading partners. EMA CEO Kim Campbell says climate change and green technology issues were a major focus at a recent OECD meeting he attended in Paris and climate change issues are a major focus for many of our trading partners. “Climate change and emissions are a significant concern for our trade partners and if they don’t see us taking steps on these issues they will begin to question trade links with our businesses. It is also critical that whatever steps New Zealand takes, that we also retain our business competitiveness,” says Mr Campbell. “The new target presents an achievable goal for New Zealand while remaining a challenge given the balance of our economy. Around 50% of our emissions (mainly methane) are from the agriculture sector and another 22% from the transport sector. With the majority of our electricity generation already coming from renewables the quick gains available to many developed countries, made by switching from coal to alternative renewable generation sources, aren’t available to us in New Zealand.” The new targets have been set at 30% reductions on 2005 emission levels by 2030 or an 11% reduction on 1990 levels with the previous target being just 5% reductions on 1990 emission levels. “New Zealand is leading the international research project to reduce methane emissions from farm animals and the results are proving encouraging, while electric vehicle technology is playing a faster than expected role in transport options. Focusing on green technologies is also an area where New Zealand lags when compared to many […]

NZ clean technologies exported to Asia

Two clean-tech investors, London-based ETI Dynamics and Auckland-based Greenhouse Capital, have joined forces to invest $100 million in exporting New Zealand clean technologies into India, Asia and Africa. The partnership was announced at the pair’s first bi-annual clean tech investment forum in Auckland today, which included discussions with companies seeking funding for offshore growth. Greenhouse Capital will also be a key partner for one of eight regional cleantech innovation hubs that ETI Dynamics is setting up. The partnership was a step forward for the kiwi cleantech sector and trade relationships with India, Greenhouse director Duncan Stewart said in a statement. He said ETI Dynamics had a large portfolio of projects in India and other regions could benefit from New Zealand’s technologies in this area. ETI Dynamics has released a prototype solar electric hybrid scooter in India which can travel 50 kilometres on a single charge at a top speed of 45 kilometres per hour. The company has said it’s planning to extend the concept to auto-rickshaws, buses and golf carts. In March, ETI Dynamics, whose technology and engineering hub is in India, participated in two roadshows in Auckland and Christchurch as part of a trade and investment delegation. It’s website says it signed eight memorandums of understanding on that trip with various kiwi organisations including Lincoln University and the Canterbury Development Corporation. It signed an MoU with Intelligent Green Energy NZ to develop utility-based and community oriented projects in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands in energy, drinking water, sanitation, and waste management. VR Power Dynamics, a joint venture between ETI Dynamics and VR Group, is also said to have signed an MoU with the Auckland company to provide green micro and mobile renewable energy solutions. The website also said that ETI Dynamics develops infrastructure projects through extensive use of […]

Emissions target challenging but achievable

New Zealand’s new target for emissions reduction is challenging but achievable with collective effort says BusinessNZ. The new national target of 30 percent less emissions than 2005 by 2030 will not be easy to achieve, but many businesses are already showing leadership in moving in that direction, BusinessNZ Chief Executive Phil O’Reilly said. “Business will want to engage with Government over how to deliver these reductions and more. “Our unique profile, with unusual predominance of agricultural and transport emissions, means we must be deliberate about how we achieve reductions without harming the economy. “Key to this will be a balanced outcome for all countries taking part in forthcoming negotiations in Paris, facilitating investment, technology development and access to markets in a way that provides New Zealand businesses with the confidence to invest in low-carbon solutions for emission reductions over the long term.”

Uptake of energy efficient products saves New Zealand millions

Uptake of energy efficient products saves New Zealand consumers and business more than $96 million in a one-year period, according to analysis of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority’s (EECA) Products Programme. EECA’s Energy Efficient Products Manager Eddie Thompson says EECA calculated the energy savings for the year ending March 2014 by tracking improvements in the energy efficiency of products through sales information, as well as analysing how much businesses and households are avoiding in energy costs by using more efficient appliances.“These electricity savings are the equivalent of the electricity used in a year by over 130,000 New Zealand homes. ”Mr Thompson says nearly eight million energy efficient products have been sold over the year (about 1.6 million large consumer and industrial products and 6.3 million lighting and small electronics), an increase of three percent compared to the previous year. Forty seven million energy efficiency products have been sold since 2002, bringing total savings to $450 million, he says. “New Zealand products are becoming increasingly energy efficient, mainly as a result of minimum energy performance standards developed jointly with the Australian Government. Minimum energy standards allow New Zealand to make gains in energy efficiency, at low-cost to government and industry, with little impact on consumer choice.” Improved energy efficiency standards, along with New Zealanders choosing more energy efficient Energy Star qualified products, have resulted in national benefits, Mr Thompson says. “Energy Star qualified fridge/freezers, which use up to 40 percent less energy than a standard model, are a good example of the opportunities for consumers to save on running costs. These energy savings at a household level translate into major savings for the New Zealand economy.” Mr Thompson says minimum energy performance standards work in combination with consumer education, with the Energy Star mark and energy rating labels making it […]

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