EU Backs Biofuels

Posted on Apr , 30, 2012 by Ben Sampson

The EU has pumped almost €9 million into a pan-European research network that aims to change the way European’s fuel their vehicles.

BRISK(Biofuels Research Infrastructure for Sharing Knowledge) is a four-year programme that aims to give Europe a research edge in biorefining – the conversion of “biomass” like wood, energy crops and agricultural wastes into fuel.

According to BRISK its main activity will be to fund researchers from any EU country to carry out research related to biofuels at one of the 26 partners' facilities. The project is being coordinated by KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden, and includes partners from Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the UK.

The initiative favours thermal biomass conversion, when biomass is changed into liquids, gases and solids suitable for the production of electricity, heat and transport fuels. Although such processes already exist, BRISK says they must improve if Europe is going to meet its targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020 and 50% by 2050.

The plants and processes required to develop biorefining are expensive. Therefore by increasing access to them across Europe, BRISK says it will “increase the commercial maturity of the most promising value chains for biofuels”. This includes the optimisation of processes that produce advanced biofuels like syngas and biomethane.

Biofuels have many issues and have always had a bad press, at least in the UK. Consumers are naturally suspicious of changes to what they use as fuel, and a major problem is demonstrating that biofuels have positive effects. BRISK’s aim to speed up the development of advanced biofuels is great, but needs to be tempered with an approach that ensures sustainability and consumer buy-in.

What will the legacy of the 1,000mph car be?

Posted on Apr , 14, 2012 by Ben Sampson

Later this year the wheels will finally be fitted onto a chassis that is destined to become the world’s fastest car – the Bloodhound SSC .

The 12.8m, 6422kg long vehicle aims to beat the current land speed record of 1,228km/h, 763mph at the Hakskeen pan in South Africa next year. It is powered by a Eurofighter jet engine and according to engineers will travel faster than 1,000mph.

The first run will be a momentous occasion for the dedicated team of engineers, enthusiasts and sponsors behind the project. But will the car have any lasting legacy apart from getting into the Guinness Book of Records?

According to Bloodhound project director, Richard Noble, “a great number of advances are likely to be made on the way”, and “already during the research programme we are beginning to develop new technologies which are of great interest”. There is also the stated objective that the project is designed to encourage interest in engineering amongst young people.

The main advances will come mainly in the areas of aerodynamics, propulsion, control systems and materials. It’s not often considered, but one of the greatest technical challenges is the wheels, and how these interact with the ground at high speed. According to John Piper, engineering director of Bloodhound SSC, they will spin at 10,500RPM, with a force of 50,000 radial G. Producing a wheel that can withstand those massive forces is a large undertaking, and there has been little communication from Bloodhound on its solution so far.

Only time will tell whether any of the technology developed for Bloodhound ends up in consumer applications and affects how we travel. But all eyes will be on a remote location in South Africa next year when a man in a car / rocket sled attempts to go faster than 1,000mph.

The Rise and Fall and Rise of the Tram

Posted on Apr , 04, 2012 by Ben Sampson

The UK seaside resort Blackpool has reopened its tramway after a £100 million upgrade, reigniting public interest in the use of light rail vehicles in urban environments.

Despite being the first European country to pioneer the use of trams - the first system in the UK was opened in Birkenhead, 1860 - trams are relatively under-utilised in the UK compared to other methods of transportation. Trams have changed radically since they were first pulled by horses through North West England. Blackpool’s new trams are computerised, articulated and travel across 11 miles of coastline 15 minutes faster than the trams they replace.

The history of tramways in Europe is more roller-coaster ride than train trip. After widespread adoption, most were closed down during the first half of the 20th century in favour of cars and buses. However trams have recently undergone a renaissance, with many European countries keen to introduce low carbon mass transportation to help meet EU carbon emissions targets.

In the UK there are eight tram networks in cities across the UK, five of which were opened in the last 20 years. Several new tramlines are also planned, including the controversial Edinburgh Tram Network, which should have been opened last year, but is now planned to open in 2014 at four times its original cost.

Do trams have a future role in the urban transport mix? Blackpool certainly seems to think so with local politician Tim Ashton declaring the new tramway “a world class system fit for the future."

However not everyone agrees. Several years ago the UK’s National Audit Office said in a report that though £2.3 billion had been spent on 12 new schemes since 1980, “passenger numbers have fallen well short of forecasts”, with some systems reporting numbers 45% below expectations. It would be interesting to see if there is any more recent evidence on trams to pin down their undulating popularity.

Update: Looks like the Blackpool tram suffered some trouble when it opened,coming off the rails is a sure way to prove unpopular...