Global Warming to Submerge 2,400 Miles of Gulf Roads

In 50 to 100 years. But don’t let that un-alarm you. The New York Times parrots—I mean reports—on a new study by the Obama Administration’s U.S. Global Change Research Program.

The report predicts a list of bad, bad things that are going to happen thanks to “unequivocal” global warming. Hang on, are they implying that there’s another kind? Anyway, the Gray Lady points out that “Earlier cuts [in greenhouse has emissions] will be more effective than comparable later cuts, the document adds. Without efforts to limit emissions, the United States could warm 7 to 11 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century.

Cutting emissions could hold that increase to just 4 to 6.5 degrees Fahrenheit.” Balmy, barmy or Barney?

Solar Desalination

Solar desalination is the desalination of water using solar energy. Renewable energy overcomes the usually high energy operating costs as well as greenhouse emissions of conventional reverse osmosis. Reverse Osmosis is currently the favoured technology for desalination, being the most cost-effective. Recently, there is evidence of growing research interest in the field. This is prompted by growing energy costs, demand growth in the face of depleted water stores, and the growing human pollution of many communities' water supplies.

The severity of fresh water shortage can easily be gauged by the fights that have erupted over water in the recent past in India and outside. Statistics emphasize the same—at least 40% of the world’s population lives without drinking water and roughly 80 000 habitations across the planet have no source of safe water. Of the 575 000 Indian villages, about 162 000 face problems of brackish or contaminated water and scarcity of fresh water.

Solar water distillation is a solar technology with a very long history and installations were built over 2000 years ago, although to produce salt rather than drinking water. Documented use of solar stills began in the sixteenth century. An early large-scale solar still was built in 1872 to supply a mining community in Chile with drinking water. Mass production occurred for the first time during the Second World War when 200,000 inflatable plastic stills were made to be kept in life-crafts for the US Navy.

Most people see strong potential for solar thermal (or wind) energy to be used in large scale desalination. This is particularly so for solar in arid regions due to the usual coincidence of water shortage, good solar radiation and seawater (or brackish) availability. While there are many theoretical models the process is not yet developed at large commercial level. A number of small solar desalination devices exist, and whilst larger plants are technically feasible, they fall down on energy cost comparisons. A company called Acquasol plans to build a solar-powered desalination plant in the Upper Spencer Gulf to supply the small town of Port Augusta in Australia. The project is a little short on detail, but is worth keeping an eye on.

Low and high pressure boiler operator training offered at Akron

The University of Akron’s Workforce Development and Continuing Education Division is offering preparation courses for the Ohio Department of Commerce Low and High Pressure Boiler Operator License exam.

A 13-session course in Low Pressure Boilers begins on June 23, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. through Aug. 4. The course fee for the 50-hour program is $479 and includes a textbook and workbook. A 20-session course in High Pressure Boilers begins on June 23, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. through Aug. 27. The course fee for the 75-hour program is $689 and includes a textbook.

For more information and to register, visit UA’s Workforce Development and Continuing Education Web site at http://www:uakron.edu/ce or call 330-972-7577. Registration and payment deadline is June 16. Classes will be held on the UA campus.

The University of Akron is the public research university for Northern Ohio. The Princeton Review listed UA among the “Best in the Midwest” in its 2008 edition of Best Colleges: Region-by-Region. Serving 26,000 students, the university offers approximately 300 associate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and law degree programs and 100 certificate programs at sites in Summit, Wayne, Medina and Holmes counties. For more information, visit www.uakron.edu.

World’s first floating wind turbine launched

Statoil launched the world’s first floating wind turbine this weekend.

Named the Hywind, the 2.3 megawatt turbine combines technologies from both the wind farming industry and the oil and gas sectors. It is to be tested off the coast of Norway for two years.

According to Alexandra Gjorv of Statoil’s new energy division, the technology “should help move offshore wind farms out of sight”.

This would benefit military radar operations, the shipping industry, fisheries, bird life as well as tourism.

"Taking wind turbines to sea presents new opportunities. The wind is stronger and more consistent [and] areas are large,” said Ms Gjorv.