Hochshule Bochum | Sun Is The Future

Posts Tagged ‘Hochshule Bochum’

25 January

Which Is Better: Solar Powered EV or Biofuel Powered Car ?

Dear Friends, Readers/Viewers/Visitors,

(Please click onred linksbelow)

Before continuing on the next part of our series on solar vehicles, I just want to quickly share an article/paper, responding to a question asked by a professor at the UCSB Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, Professor Roland Geyer‘s,

“The energy source for biofuels is the sun, through photosynthesis. The energy source for solar power is also the sun. Which is better?”

Environ Sci Technol. 2013 Jan 15;47(2):1170-6. doi: 10.1021/es302959h. Epub 2013 Jan 3.

Spatially-Explicit Life Cycle Assessment of Sun-to-Wheels Transportation Pathways in the U.S.

Geyer R, Stoms D, Kallaos J.

Source

Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California , Santa Barbara, California 93106-5131, United States.

Abstract

Growth in biofuel production, which is meant to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and fossil energy demand, is increasingly seen as a threat to food supply and natural habitats. Using photovoltaics (PV) to directly convert solar radiation into electricity for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) is an alternative to photosynthesis, which suffers from a very low energy conversion efficiency. Assessments need to be spatially explicit, since solar insolation and crop yields vary widely between locations. This paper therefore compares direct land use, life cycle GHG emissions and fossil fuel requirements of five different sun-to-wheels conversion pathways for every county in the contiguous U.S.: Ethanol from corn or switchgrass for internal combustion vehicles (ICVs), electricity from corn or switchgrass for BEVs, and PV electricity for BEVs. Even the most land-use efficient biomass-based pathway (i.e., switchgrass bioelectricity in U.S. counties with hypothetical crop yields of over 24 tonnes/ha) requires 29 times more land than the PV-based alternative in the same locations. PV BEV systems also have the lowest life cycle GHG emissions throughout the U.S. and the lowest fossil fuel inputs, except for locations with hypothetical switchgrass yields of 16 or more tonnes/ha. Including indirect land use effects further strengthens the case for PV.

The paper shows that PV cells are far more efficient than biofuels at powering a vehicle by energy from the sun.

“What it says to me is that by continuing to throw money into biofuels, we’re barking up the wrong tree. That’s because of a fundamental constraint, which is the relative inefficiency of photosynthesis. And we can’t say that right now biofuels aren’t so great but they’ll be better in five years. That fundamental problem for biofuels will not go away, while solar EVs will just continue to get more efficient and cheaper. If they’re already looking better than biofuels, in five years the gap will be even greater. A search for a silver bullet is under way through synthetic photosynthesis, but using genetic engineering to improve the efficiency of photosynthesis is a pipe dream. If there is a silver bullet in energy, I think it’s solar power.”

At this moment, please allow me to reshare the video below, the SolarWorld GT Team of Bochum (Germany) University of Applied Sciences, is the first solar-powered vehicle that has circumnavigated the world, started the trip in 2012 from Australia, after the World Solar Challenge:

~have a bright and sunny day~

Gathered and posted by sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker

Any of your comments/suggestions/questions will be welcomed at sunisthefuture@gmail.com

Homepage: http://www.sunisthefuture.net

Share on Facebook

Tweet This Post

Tags: Australia, biofuel, Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, car, EV, Germany, Hochshule Bochum, Kallaos J, powered, Roland Geyer, SolarWorld GT, Stoms D, Sun Is The Future, sunisthefuture, sunisthefuture.net, susan sun nunamaker, UCSB, University of CA at Santa Barbara, World Solar Challenge
Posted in Educational | No Comments »

31 October

Wrapping Up Veolia World Solar Challenge 2011

Dear Readers,

If you are in favor of renewable, clean, or solar energy, please sign this petition for FIT/CLEAN Program, accessible at http://sunisthefuture.net/?page_id=1065 Thank you very much.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MibIzEE-xOE

——————————————————————————————————————————————-

Dear Readers,

This post may had been prepared/written earlier than the day it appears, but right after the finish of the Veolia World Solar Challenge (world solar car race of twenty countries, 3021 km (1877 mi) between Darwin, Australia, to Angle Vale (official finish line) and Adelaide (ceremonial finish line), Australia, and thirty-seven solar cars) I had to fly to a location/ country where my internet access was not very convenient (it kept on being disconnected whenever I tried to write). However, I was able to load up various video clips onto youtube and I hope many of you have been enjoying these videos about the Veolia World Solar Challenge of 2011. I understand one of you from Netherland is trying to gather as much information about the race as possible. Since this is my first time covering Veolia World Solar Challenge, or WSC (and only had time and budget for the start and end of the race), I hope these photos I took and video clips I uploaded (and filmed by Mike) to youtube will help to meet part of your need. I promise you in two years (next Veolia World Solar Challenge) more detailed coverage about the scrutineering process (before the race) and events along the race will be included. Please keep in mind that the goal and focus of this World Solar Challenge is to increase greater awareness and education for our future generations in application of solar energy in cars and to stimulate greater interest in math, science, and engineering. The emphasis is both in how far and how fast (rather than just how fast) these solar cars can go using energy from the sun. As a matter of fact, part of the rule this year had actually restricted total surface area of the solar cells to 6 sq m and of which only 3 sq m can be of GaAs (gallium arsenide) so to even the playing field. Facility is available if a solar car needs to be “trailered” when insufficient sunshine is available for the duration of the race. This year, due to the extra challenges of cloudiness, rain, and bush fire, only about 7 out of 37 solar cars were able to finish the course completely using solar energy. The atmosphere at WSC is friendly and encouraging rather than fiercely competitive. One finds this to be true either in the scrutineering process (insuring safety of drivers/pilots and those around), tracking of the timing (please refer to: http://www.worldsolarchallenge.org/files/318_2011_veolia_world_solar_challenge_provisional_results_pending_protests.pdf), or in the finish presentation (ritual dip in the Victoria Fountain by all teams (those that were not too shy or too cold) at the end of the race or not so ritual “burning rubber” of the German team). Finally, I’d like to take my hat off to Veolia World Solar Challenge 2011 team for being able to pull off a race of this magnitude (involving solar cars from twenty countries) with mostly volunteers working together to make this race work. Running an organization composed of mostly volunteers is not the same as running a normal company (I’ve had experience in both and believe me, running an organization composed mostly of volunteers is not easy!). So, if any of you out there with good ideas (to help improve the solar car race), funding, or time to volunteer, perhaps you’d like to contact Mr. Chris Selwood (leader and rightful owner of Veolia World Solar Challenge) and/or the organization at http://www.worldsolarchallenge.org/contact_us For the ease and convenience of our readers’ pleasures, there are written descriptions for these solar cars with each of the youtube video clip of the interviews for its team members. So please be sure to read (click on “Show more” at each youtube clip) about the descriptions for these solar cars. I tried to take photograph and to interview as many of the participating solar cars of Veolia World Solar Challenge 2011 as possible, but due to time constraint, please forgive me if I missed any one. With regard to all the video interviews at youtube, if any of the interviewees’ names is either misspelled or not mentioned, please feel free to contact me at sunisthefuture@gmail.com so I can make the necessary modification. Below, you will find links to our youtube clips/interviews with various teams and photographs of these solar cars. Keep in mind that these videos and photos pertaining to Veolia World Solar Challenge 2011 are under Creative Commons as long as you would attribute it/them to Sun Is The Future at http://sunisthefuture.net There will be more posts on human interest stories and lessons learned regarding Veolia World Solar Challenge 2011 later.

1. Open Ceremony of Veolia World Solar Challenge 2011 at Darwin, Australia, part 1 of 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iAnz_sOjs4

2. Open Ceremony of Veolia World Solar Challenge 2011 at Darwin, Australia, part 2a of 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gscMsAP1cpE

3. Open Ceremony of Veolia World Solar Challenge 2011 at Darwin, Australia, part 2b of 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TL282bRrUGg

4. Interview with Chris, Selwood, the leader and rightful owner of Veolia World Solar Challenge 2011: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=102F8993NGs

5. Interview with Nanyang Technological University of Singapore’s Nanyang Venture V day before the race started: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orKZfIGojiA

Nanyang Technological University’s Nanyang Venture V (Singapore)

6. Interview with Wahj of Seraaj Solar Car Team and Professor day before the race started: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGfEfETJY0Y

Seraaj Solar Car Team’s Wahj (meaning glow) of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

7. Interview with Tokai Challenger 2, Winner of Veolia World Solar Challenge 2011, at Adelaide, Australia: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFZA9kQnAnQ

Tokai University’s Tokai Challenger 2 (Japan), First Winning Team reaching Adelaide, Australia

8. Interview with Nuna 6 Driver of Nuon Solar Team (Netherlands), Second Winning Team of Veolia World Solar Challenge 2011 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Riju3yX1OSc

Nuon Solar Team’s Nuna 6 (Netherlands), 2nd Winning Team that arrived at Adelaide, Australia

9. Arrival of Nuna 6 of Nuon Solar Team (Netherlands), Second Winning Team of Veolia World Solar Challenge 2011, at Victoria Square of Adelaide, Australia: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdNZei5kJmw

10. Interview of Quantum Driver/Member of University of Michigan (USA), Top Third of Veolia World Solar Challenge 2011: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWttRwxB96E

University of Michigan’s Quantum (USA), 3rd Winning Team that arrived at Adelaide, Australia

11. Arrival of Quantum of University of Michigan (USA), Top Third Winning Team of Veolia World Solar Challenge 2011, at Victoria Square of Adelaide, Australia: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E6yO30-5Q8

12. Interview with Ashiya University (Japan) Solar Car Project’s Ashiya Sky Ace V team (4th car that arrived) member at Veolia World Solar Challenge 2011: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtkKA2MKyYs

Ashiya University Solar Car Project’s Ashiya Sky Ace V (Japan), 4th Winning Team arriving at Adelaide, Australia

13. Scrutinering of Ashiya University Solar Car Project’s Ashiya Sky Ace V after the race: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guxo7yrWFvo

14. Arrival of 21 Connect of Solar Team Twente (Netherlands) as 5th Car Arriving at Veolia World Solar Challenge 2011: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcKRX8mw4-s

Solar Team Twente’s 21 Connect (Netherlands), 5th Winning Team arriving at Adelaide, Australia

15. Interview with Xenith member of Stanford Solar Car Team (USA)at Veolia World Solar Challenge 2011: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTYEU-P6Y8M

Stanford Solar Car Team’s Xenith (USA)

16. Arrival of Stanford Solar Car Team’s Xenith (USA): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPvnzfQAN4A

17. Interview with volunteer Martin Brook of Aurora Vehicle Association (Australia) at aurorasolarcar.com: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeWLx2SaEes

Aurora Vehicle Association’s Aurora Evolution (Australia)

18. Interview with German Hochshule Bochum Solar Car Team BO GT of Veolia World Solar Challenge 2011: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpkXy2-Ig2U

Hochshule Bochum Solar Car Team’s BO GT (Germany)

19. Arrival of Hochshule Bochum Solar Car Team’s BO GT (Germany) at Veolia World Solar Challenge 201: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3DFWlxu4hs

20. Interview with Solar Spirit Australia (Australia) in Veolia World Solar Challenge 2011: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHijwso8sHw

Tafe SA’s Solar Spirit Australia (Australia), rear view

Solar Spirit Australia of Australia, side view

21. Arrival of Solar Spirit Australia of Tafe University of SA in Veolia World Solar Challenge 2011: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ0zJ5oblsA

22. Interview with Principia’s Ra 7s (USA) at Veolia World Solar Challenge 2011: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jI_7nRL3n40

Principia’s Ra 7s (USA)

23. Arrival of Ra 7s of Principia (USA) at Veolia World Solar Challenge 2011: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keenHgvTOC8

24. Interview with MIT’s Chopper Del Sol (USA) at Veolia World Solar Challenge 2011: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jGy08T3odk

MIT Solar Electric Vehicle Team’s Chopper Del Sol (USA)

25. Interview with MIT’s Chopper Del Sol (USA) team member minutes before the beginning of the race at Veolia World Solar Challenge 2011: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8r2rVpfnEM

26. Interview with French Canadian’s Eclipse 7 in Veolia World Solar Challenge 2011: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwGqa9wt1J4

27. Interview with Taiwan’s Apollo VI team member at Veolia World Solar Challenge 2011: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiMZtexRye0

Apollo Solar Car Team’s Apollo VI (Taiwan)

28. Interview with Solar Ranger 2 team member of United Solar Ranger team (Malaysia) at Veolia World Solar Challenge 2011: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMRd4I15t-c

United Solar Ranger Team’s Solar Ranger 2 (Malaysia)

29. Interview with Schulich Axiom team member of University of Calgary (Canada) at Veolia World Solar Challenge 2011: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9xDtH3bnOU