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Stafford Cuffe, Ph.D.
Member: AMA, IEEE, SAE

IEEE Consultantƞs Network Meeting

Chicago/Rockford Section
March 30, 2009
  
  


º Environmental forces of change has fueled the demand for
alternative energy sources for the new economy.
º Examples: globalization, high energy costs, climate change issues,
labor factors, competitive factors, emerging technologies, socio-
economic factors, geo-political factors, global financial meltdown,
new government regulations, federal stimulus funds, and new
business best practices.
º Demand for oil will rise at about the rate of
2.2% a year through 2012, primarily
driven by the developing world's
consumption, which is rising three
times as fast as in the OECD.
Transportation fuels will be the
largest source of demand, by far.

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Source: Neider, 2007
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º There are several popular alternative energy sources such
as: bio-fuel, wind, solar cell, fuel cell, and hydropower.
º Scholars and subject matter experts agree that wind, solar
cell and fuel cell have a higher rate-of-return and are
attracting new Ơplayersơ in the energy sector.
º Some states (e.g., CA,CO, FL, MI, NM, OH, & TX) have
turned to alternative energy (i.e., wind, & solar) to reinvent
their stagnant economy fueled by the new stimulus energy
funds.

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º In 2003, world ethanol production was 20 billion liters and Brazil
(sugar cane) and the US (corn) were the main players at that
time. Other countries are considering entering the ethanol fuel
market with diverse raw materials base and could increase the
world production to 80 billion liters by 2020 (Gielen & Unander, 2005).
º Biofuels are mass transportation fuels produced by processing
vegetable oils such as soy, and palm. Also, bio-fuels are
renewable that can reduce green houses gas and emissions
compared to the standard petroleum based fuels.

bioethanol

X
Source: http://www.chemistry-in-context.com/articles/0117/Bioethanol.jpg
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The Department of Energy is
assisting universities and the
private sector to develop clean,
domestic and emerging
technologies to reduce Americaƞs
dependence on imported oil. In
2006, wind power generated 2.X5X
MW, a 26% increase and was the
second largest contributor to US
national power grid over the last
two years.

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Source: www.eere.energy.gov
  
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º Small wind turbines (SWT) is used in grid-connected
applications for residential, industrial or even, lately, urban
environments. The so-called distributed wind applications are
poised for rapid market growth in response to continuing energy
price increases and increased demand for on-site power
generation.
º Presently, the major share of development of this market is in
the US, Canada and Australia, in parallel with new trends in the
development of distributed generation systems. This emerging
market provides a new impulse to the development of Small
Wind Turbine (SWT) technology.
º Wind power can also be used to generate electricity in an urban
environment. This trend has mainly been seen in Europe,
where the integration of SWTs in the built environment is being
actively discussed.

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Source: www.wind-energy-thefacts.org
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Emerging water power technologies such
as marine and hydrokinetic devices can
transform energy from waves, tides,
ocean currents and the natural flow of
rivers into clean energy. Hydropower
accounted for 7% of Americaƞs electric
power and was 73% renewable in 2005.
It is one of the oldest forms of energy
sources and was used thousands of years
ago to process grain into flour.

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Sources: (1) www.eere.energy.gov (2) www.odec.ca
 
 


ºThere many types of fuel cells on the
market and trying to decide the best
type to match specific applications can
be very challenge for those individual
who may not be familiar with the
emerging technology.
ºMost subject mater experts agree to be
successfully commercializing fuel cells
products; suppliers should consider the
correct type of fuel cells to match the
specific application and market
conditions.

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º Solid electrolyte and porous carbon electrodes embedded with a
noble metal catalyst (i.e., platinum) are used in the construction
of PEMFCs.
º Low temperature PEMFCs operate at 60-80MC and have quick start
up times.
º High temperature PEMFCs operate at 100-200MC and have a
longer start up time before they can generate electricity.

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Source: (1) Eisemann & Willis, 200X (2) Anonymous2, n.d.
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º w Flow Fuel Cell Stack Proton
Exchange Membrane Fuel
Cell (PEMFC).
º Standard Power: Output 100
kW Size (liters)57 Weight
(lbs) 1X8.
º Electric Power
Storage Lithium-Ion Battery
Standard Output (wolts) 288.
º Electric Motor AC
Synchronous Permanent-
Magnet.
º Electric Motor Standard
Horsepower (SAE net)13X,
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm)189 @
0 - 3,056 Power Output 100
kW. Honda FCX Clarity

Source: (1) http://automobile.honda.com/fcx-clarity/specifications.axsps 10

(2) http://doublecode.com/hydrogen/uploaded_images/FullImage_20058395815_6X7-730292.jpg
 



 

º Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC)
º DMFC is similar to PEMFC because its electrolyte is polymer

based. It is in the early stages of development operating at

80 MC with a low efficiency of less than X0%. However, it is
not a good candidate for commercialization because of its
immature characteristics.
º The electrochemical hurdles for DMFC include concerns

about methanol electro-catalysis and anode poisoning

º Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) operate at 600 to 1000MC making it
the highest in the family of fuel SOFC are suitable for high
powered industrial applications such as power suppliers and
generators with an efficiency of X5%. Automotive and hotel
load applications (e.g., tank silent watch, vehicle idling).

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Source: Anonymous1, n.d.
  
 


º Emerging solar cells technologies offers the best opportunity for
long term rate of return on investment and sustainability
compared to the other types of alternate energy sources.
º Concerns about the environment can be a powerful driver for
selecting solar cells products for applications.
º Research data had reported that an average coal-fired power
plant emits 225 pounds of arsenic, 500 tons of particulates, four
pounds of cadmium, 5,000 tons of sulfur oxides, 11X pounds of
lead, one million tons of carbon and 10,000 tons of nitrogen
oxides annually.
º 20,000 US citizens die annually
due to airborne particulates
generated by power plants.

Source: Solar Energy Fact Sheets, 2002

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º Amorphous silicon technology is most often
seen in small solar panels. They are made
by depositing a thin film of silicon onto a
sheet of another material (e.g., glass,
plastic)
Amorphous silicon technology
º Cadmium Telluride (CdTe). First Solar, an
Ohio based company, uses CdTe solar cells.
º Emerging Dye-sensitized, inorganic/nano-
materials solar cells
º NANOSOLAR Ink Jet Printing process uses
Nano-particles ink that eliminates the need Cadmium Telluride

for expensive high-vacuum chamber.

º Copper Indium diselenide (CIS) is used in
the solar cell industry as prototype modules.
Sources: (1) http://www.atp.nist.gov/eao/gcr03-8XX/figure-a1.jpg
(2) http://inside.mines.edu/research/aeml/TCO-Solutionroute.gif
(3) www.treehugger.com Copper Indium diselenide 13
(X) Bradford, 2007; Malenson, 2008
  
 
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º Utility grid connected solar
cell applications
º Grid interactive systems
Remote solar cell applications
º Consumer products
applications
º Utility grid connected
applications
º Grid interactive systems

º Remote solar cell

applications

Sources: (1) www.solarpowerindustries.com/solar-applications.html) 1X

(2) http://www.certified-irrigation-technicians.ca/images/renewa8.jpg
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º 50 billion for energy programs
º 32 billion to modernize the US power grid
º 20 billion tax cut for alternative energy projects
º 18.5 energy efficiency and renewable energy
º 11 billion for smart electricity grid (manage variability of very
high levels of wind and solar power generation)
º 6.3 billion in state energy agency efficiencies
º X.5 billion to make Federal Buildings more efficient
º 2 billion in grants for advanced batteries for electric cars
º Will create 1X8,000 more jobs for Illinois

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Source: www.recovery.illinois.gov, illinoishomepage.net



 




 
 
   
º Wave of retirements in the public and private sector
º The Federal Stimulus Spending Bill (ARRA)
º US Recession and loss of traditional high paying jobs
º Increase demand for energy
º Climate change (global warming)
º Increase in disposable or old economy skills sets
º The end of the old economy and start of the new
º Increase demand for data savvy professionals
º Increase demand in power for data center computers
º Increase demand for professionals with multiple or cross
functional skills and/or degrees (i.e., BSEE, BSCS, MBA)

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º Fuel Cell Consultant ƛ 60 - 220/HR
º Solar Cell Consultant ƛ 50 -150/HR
º Integration Consultant ƛ 60- 500/HR
º Alternative Energy Consultant ƛ 55-150/HR
º Renewable Energy Consultant ƛ X5-150/HR
º Automotive Hybrid Fuel Consultant ƛ 55-155/HR
º Alternative Energy Technologist ƛ X0-75/HR

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º Anonymous1, (n.d.). Development of Early Fuel Cell. www.fetc.com
º Anonymous2, (n.d.). History of Fuel Cell. Retrieved from
www.americanhistorysi.edu, June 1, 2008.
º Bradford, T; Grama, S; Wesoff, E & Bhargava, A. (2007, August). The
Future of Thin Film Solar; Executive Summary.
www.greentechmedia.com.
º Eisenmann, & Willis, M. (200X, March 30). Fuel Cells: The Hydrogen
Revolution. Harvard Business School, Product no: 9-80X-1XX
º Gielen, D & Unanader, F (2005, March). Alternate Fuels: An Energy
Technology Perspective. Report Number EET/2005/01. Paris, France
º Malanson (2008). Nanosolar inkjet [solar cells] film rolls off the press at
100 feet per minute. http://hwhuagong.com/20080619/nahttp
º Neider (2007). Medium-Term Supply/Demand Growth of Oil.
www.energyandcapital.com
º Solar Energy Fact Sheets (2002). www.solardev.com/SEIA-
cleanhealthy.php
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Stafford Cuffe Ph.D.

Member: AMA, IEEE, SAE
E-mail: Caimmts@aol.com
E-mail: Ebuscai@yahoo.com
Cell Phone: (2X8)705-90X3

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