Coal to Electricity sans Combustion

While enviro-evangelists Gore and Suzuki preach doom and gloom, Ontario proceeds with plans to transition coal-fired plants to natural gas and go nuclear long-term. Meanwhile, multi-nationals advance prototypes of clean energy generation based on coal-fed fuel cells.
Read about General Electric's test of its gassified-coal solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). Potential efficiency of over 50% is claimed vs. 35% for coal-fired plants.
Another article claims Siemens' pilot unit has a projected 90% efficiency. These articles include interesting quotes from a manager at the US National Energy Technology Laboratory: In January's Technology Review, Mr. Surdoval says, "I do believe GE has established new state of the art." A couple of months later in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, he says, "...the type of fuel cell that Siemens created is the most efficient of all."
The SOFC technologies which are designed to run on gassified coal are called distributed co-generation with carbon dioxide capture and storage (sequestration). Prototypes are scalable, and according to an April 07 article in Mechanical Engineering Magazine, megawatt systems will be online in 2012.
The International Energy Agency claims nearly one quarter of the world's energy is produced by coal. With China and India economic expansion, such use is expected to increase 30% by 2015 and 60% by 2030. Carbon dioxide spews into the atmosphere wherever coal, oil, or gas are burned to generate heat or electricity. Only wide-scale adoption of new coal technologies can curtail toxic emissions and climate change. Even 90% percent coal effecinecy, however, won't cut it in Europe and North America, let alone in Asia if coal gassification and carbon dioxide sequestration costs aren't acceptable -and if there aren't international phase-in agreements.

An Australian firm may be first to domestic market with a natural gas fuel cell unit targeted at lighting and heating homes. Indeed, 2008 & 2009 could be the years that "distributed generation" and CHP (Combined/Heat Power) register on investor and consumer radars.

An undated snapshot of fuel cell R & D in Ontario indicates the Province supports a variety of new energy initiatives. The March 07 issue of IEEE Magazine takes an outside look at Ontario's electric generation capacity and its long-term plans. More locally, world-class fuel cell work is well underway: UWO in commercializing a bio-fuel cell which uses a micro organisim, and Sarnia/Lambton going mobile this spring with hydrogen powered golf carts.
On the stationary front, there is an opportunity for London Hydro to become an early adaptor of coal-fed fuel cell generators. With appropriate planning and reserve build-up, the Great Southwest gets economic advantantage with uninterrupted electricity supply.
Monitor Canadian clean energy engineering at the h2fcc site.

Silos as Hi-Tech Accelerators

High-risk municipal incentives are not needed to kick-start next economy companies. Speculative bets are the domain of the private sector. It is not Council's mandate to provide seed capital. Needed is a culture conducive to starting and growing businesses, i.e. an arms-length role by council in coordinating and cultivating.
By underwriting London Economic Development Corp'n and contributing to various incubators, London taxpayers already prime the growth pump to the tune of $30 millions annually. Some would have us "up the ante" another 2 to 3 million. Out-of-control civic expenditures outpace home-owner tolerance for aggregating yearly tax increases ...and send progressive businesses to better managed jurisdictions.
Venture capitalists shun early stage investments. Why would a city council venture where professional VC partnerships dare to tread ... and draft taxpayers as guillible investors?
The most attractive lure for new entreprneurs is a competitive tax level. It is attained by operational management -not equity risk management. The city will never have the expertise to compete with angels, banks and venture capital firms. Stick to municipal basics. Do them well, and economic health follows.
To play devil's advocate: if the city has no business being lead VC, what in the name of economic development can be salvaged from the Next Economy Report?
1.Synergy amongst city silos : LEDC, Stiller Center, and TechAlliance should realize economies of combining info-structure before infusion of new civic money is even considered. Industry and university collaboration is best for fostering home-grown hi-tech. Any government-sponsored VC pool should be left to the Feds or the Province a la Israel's Yozma fund.
2. Regionalism: This would be a noble departure for London. A place to start is working with municipal partners from Woodstock to Strathroy in lobbying for an extended 403 trade corridor. Short-sighted turf mentality is the barrier.
The single-silo Toronto Region Research Alliance (with Fed and Prov support) also chases the holy grail of a high-wage economy. Unlike London, there is no sign that Toronto City Hall dares take equity positions in early stage startups.
New Directions: We have to decide between an emerging research, development, and commercialization center ...or an encroaching wilderness. Tree City's council must reverse its back-woods image and get its priorities straight by putting "open for business" ahead of saving old buildings that have outlived their usefulness ...and using property taxes to acquire woodlots at subdivision land prices.
T'is time for those seeking re-election to worry more about high taxes and decaying infrastructure and to worry less about promoting the hip element and starting a municipal venture capital pool. Millwaukee recognizes the drivers of standard of living are competitiveness and productivity. Its next economy slogan is "Competitive City." Also, for reality in the post dot com economy, read Uncool Cities.
Only enlightened leadership can instill the requisite "next economy" mind-set on Council ...and curtail excess zeal for investing tax dollars in nano/bio start-ups, woodlot acquisition and decrepit building preservation.

Old posts may be updated with new information. Re-visit.

With their location and cultural mix, Montreal and Vancouver rate high on Fast Cities. All speed-readers (and Prof Florida fans) should click on those side bar titles.

Within weeks of Christmas, creation of the new London Regional Development Development Board is announced as a merger of LEDC, TechAlliance, Stiller Centre for Biotechnology and the Small Business Centre.

While regional members in the new single silo are sparse, we still expect to see a noticeable leap in our region's techno-competitiveness. Regular reports on projects and results would be appreciated; no need for expensive annual high-gloss PR ...just a straight-from-the-shoulder blog by the honcho would suffice.

A week before commercial Xmas, a couple of tech-hip councillors use their BlackBerrys to message that the Civic VC fund died before birth ...and that a city-funded agri-expressway is among the walking dead.

On the eve of the penultimate longest night: Merry Holiday to all, and to all a good hike!

Dateline Queen's Park Nov 15, 2007 7, The Provincial Liberals have assembled a Super VC fund with four institutional investors to administer an initial $165 million pool.

Small Town Turn Around

Small Town Anywhere is about small business -and unfortunately about small vision. Let's think for a moment of the commercial plight of satellite communities of cities, and the responsibilities of both commuters and merchants in generating economic change in towns that principally serve as dormitories of choice for many city workers.
Local hardware stores, pharmacies and coffee shops are now being KO'd by chain outlets on the rim of the big city. There is no quick fix. But, if the townspeople remain apathetic, the prospects are grim indeed. Surviving establishments will have to capitalize on proximity to a large market. More businesses will have to mimic auto dealerships and furniture stores in pushing product by wider advertising. By offering products not being mass-merchandised and by providing personalized service, retailers and service shops can wean some customers from the chains.
A consistent "Main Street" theme can make a difference -but only if local consumers are part of the solution. Commuters have to buy into allocating an appreciable portion of their budgets to the town where they sleep and school their children. This takes a conscious effort. When buying groceries, picking up lumber, or having prescriptions filled, think local -not big box. Think small, not mall.
On a somewhat broader scale, enlightened consumers can easily shift more support to estate wineries and small town brewers. By helping each other, we help ourselves.
With apologies to Nike, Jacques Sweeney says, "Courage, mes amis, Just do it."
In Ontario Farmer Magazine and the Middlesex Banner in January 2002