Steve Pilgrim: Energy

SPECIALIZATION

Niche market sparks an unlikely franchise - charged up with unusual power. Call it the mother of all narrow-retailing concepts. It's one-stop battery shopping, with batteries for everything from automobiles, RVs and lawnmowers to electric razors, remote controls, camping lanterns, smoke detectors and backup power systems for hospitals and other institutions. That's a unique a gimmick. What's yours? # [John Henry on Business]

IEEE SPECTRUM ON DIGITAL HUBS

"Digital Hubbub" is an article about the digital alternatives in future home entertainment centers. It's quite well done and worth the read.

Victor Borge. "The difference between a violin and a viola is that a viola burns longer." [Quotes of the Day]

A LONG WAY FOR FUEL CELLS

Fuel Cell Car Coasts Across U.S.. DaimlerChrysler's Necar 5 goes from San Francisco to D.C. without a major failure. Nevertheless, fuel cells have a long way to go. John Gartner reports from Washington. [Wired News]

Here We Go Again

Energy alert issued in California [USA Today : Front Page]

Fuel Cells

Energy Conversion Devices. "The implementation of fuel cells could be delayed years by recessions and slow moving auto companies." [The Motley Fool] "PAV"

Energy - a new posting category

In the next several weeks, I'm going to be doing some research into alternative energy sources. I once worked in this field, and I continue to find it intriguing. I'm not a 'green' advocate, but I like good engineering. Good engineering and design always seems to have as one of its attributes an attention to the by-products of the engineered system.

I'm an engineer by training, though I've used my engineering degree as a model for problem-solving more so than in some specific field of engineering.

I hope to provide a bit of insight into various types of energy research and development. Included will be:

fuel cells

resource recovery and incineration technology

wind technologies

ethanol

modern battery technology

turbines and small generators

active and passive solar alternatives

...and others

In my recent trips to east Tennessee, I spent a bit of time in Oak Ridge. Yes, security is dramatically beefed up there. But, the mountains in the surrounding area are full of companies doing interesting things with alternative energy sources that will provide serious benefits.

Here's where I draw the line. Short of a dire national emergency, I don't advocate government subsidies, investment or development of alternative energy. I believe the needs and wants of people coupled with the price of traditional energy will drive development.

When a Duracell battery can run my laptop for as long as I need it to run on batteries, laptop manufacturers will switch. When ethanol can truly power a class of motors that we need, ethanol will become popular regardless of BigOil or BigCarCo lobbying.

So, this won't be a place for griping and grousing about what the government did or didn't do or what some BigCo did or didn't do to stifle or promote a given form of alternative energy. Rather, this will be about the engineering and (potential) investment opportunities that might begin to come into their own in the coming years.

THIS WILL NOT BE A PLACE TO HYPE COMPANIES FOR INVESTMENT!!!