[Terrapreta] Fwd: 2007 California Clean Tech Open Invitation

[Sean K. Barry]

Hi Jim,

Plants do convert solar energy to chemical energy in plants (via photosynthesis).  However, the density of the energy produced per square meter is very low in comparison to even fair PV cells.  The efficiency of photosynthesis in plants on land is ~1-3%, so at a nominal solar energy flux of 1000W/sq. m, that is maybe ~20W of chemical energy stored in all of the plant material on that square meter.  PV cells @10-15% efficiency would produce ~120W/sq m of electricity.

For usable comparison, the chemical energy in the plants remains to be converted into electricity.  If you could harvest half of the biomass (leaving roots) and convert half of the energy of that biomass into low/med BTU biogas (methane via anaerobic digestion, synthesis gas or producer gas via pyrolysis, etc), then run a 25% end-end efficiency internal combustion powered generator, you would be able to produce 0.50 x 0.50 x 0.25 x 20W or 1.25W per square meter.  The initial capital outlay for the equipment to process that biomass to gas and then generate electricity would be much less per sq meter than PV, but the yield of usable electricity per square meter is at least 100 times greater and at light speed vs process time (and labor) through the gasifier.

Just some thoughts.

SKB

Sean K. Barry
Principal Engineer/Owner
Troposphere Energy, LLC
11170 142nd St. N.
Stillwater, MN 55082
(651) 351-0711 (Home/Fax)
(651) 285-0904 (Cell)
sean.barry at juno.com<mailto:sean.barry at juno.com>  

----- Original Message ----- 
  From: jim mason<mailto:jimmason at whatiamupto.com> 
  To: terrapreta<mailto:terrapreta at bioenergylists.org> 
  Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 2:11 PM
  Subject: [Terrapreta] Fwd: 2007 California Clean Tech Open Invitation




  here is the second round of the california clean tech start up funding competition.  let's all propose things (for those in california).  lots of money and support for new endeavors. 

  it is admitedly very pv and smart power focussed competition, as this is a silicon valley endeavor.  i keep arguing with all the valley locals that nature has already well solved the "solar energy to dense fuels" problem, and helpfully already installed it globally ( i.e. plants), for near free, and gasifiers will mine their structural matter found in all our waste streams, but they keep seeming to want to reinvent the system.  maybe the terra preta biochar addition to the biomass argument will bring new traction.  still, it is difficult to get any new monetizable ip over biomass based solutions, so it will continue to not be very attractive to the venture capital crowd (which this competition is). 

  nonetheless, it's a great competition.  reading who was selected last year is quite inspiring, though also revealing of their field of vision.  so maybe i'll send them a gasifier and terra preta proposal this year.  i'm finding folks in the valley circle really have no idea it even exists.  i describe it and run my little demos and about all they can say is "but you are burning things" and "shouldn't we just drive EV cars?"  actually no, we should respirate things like nature does, using our current mechanical animals.  just feed them better "foods".  treat fuels and their associated combustion machines as the synthetic metabolic systems that they are. 

  still so few systems approaches in these endeavors.  still so many single point hail mary passes.  still such a common assumption that new tech must be needed here.  ugh . . . 

  j 




  ---------- Forwarded message ---------- 
  From: California Clean Tech Open <notification at cacleantech.com <mailto:notification at cacleantech.com>>
  Date: Apr 27, 2007 8:22 AM
  Subject: 2007 California Clean Tech Open Invitation 
  To: jimmason at whatiamupto.com<mailto:jimmason at whatiamupto.com>


  Please save the date!

  Join us on May 15 at San Francisco City Hall for the 2007 Kick-Off Event 

    a.. San Francisco City Hall, North Light Court 
    b.. May 15, 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm, registration starts at 4:30 pm 
    c.. Free to attend 
    d.. Food and drinks will be provided. 

  Your RSVP allows us to plan for your attendance. Click Here To RSVP<http://www.cacleantech.com/contest/launchrsvp.php>
  We will send out additional details the week before the event.

  The California Clean Tech Open Team
  www.cacleantech.com<http://www.cacleantech.com/>


  Link to reset password: http://cacleantech.com:8070/contest/reset.php<http://cacleantech.com:8070/contest/reset.php>
  Link to unregister: http://cacleantech.com:8070/contest/unsubscribe.php?verification=7b6b1116-3417-1029-afed-0007e9243492 <http://cacleantech.com:8070/contest/unsubscribe.php?verification=7b6b1116-3417-1029-afed-0007e9243492>



  -- 

  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  jim mason
  website: www.whatiamupto.com<http://www.whatiamupto.com/>
  email: jimmason at whatiamupto.com<mailto:jimmason at whatiamupto.com>
  current project: mechabolic (http://whatiamupto.com/mechabolic/index.html <http://whatiamupto.com/mechabolic/index.html>) 

  -- 

  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  jim mason
  website: www.whatiamupto.com<http://www.whatiamupto.com/>
  email: jimmason at whatiamupto.com<mailto:jimmason at whatiamupto.com>
  current project: mechabolic (http://whatiamupto.com/mechabolic/index.html<http://whatiamupto.com/mechabolic/index.html>) _______________________________________________
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