. . . ENERGY FLASHES...... ENERGY FLASHES...... ENERGY FLASHES. . .
September/October 1982
By the Mother Earth News editors
POPEYE WAS RIGHT: Three Ohio State University scientists have developed a chemical solar battery that uses spinach chloroplasts — the substances that transform sunlight into electron — rich chemicals as part of the plant's foodmaking process-to generate electricity. The spinach cell's efficiency of 1.7% compares favorably with the 0.1% typical of other chemical solar batteries . . . and if the vegetable device's efficiency ever reaches 5%, it will actually be competitive with photovoltaics.
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CULTIVATED EELS: A Swedish sulfuric acid plant — whose high -grade waste heat is already being utilized by a municipality — will soon begin growing eels in water that's been warmed by the facility's low -grade discarded BTU. Preliminary tests show that the eels reach almost 1-1/2 pounds each during their first year when raised in the warmed-to-75°F ocean water.
NUKE NOTES: In 1981 the U.S. ranked thirteenth among 19 nations in terms of nuclear-plant operating success, with 77 of the country's licensed reactors operating at an average of only 56.4% of capacity. When nuclear utilities are licensed, federal agencies assume that the plants will function at 70% of capacity . . . therefore, the government uses that level for making cost/benefit comparisons with other energy alternatives . . . . During February of 1982, though, 24 of the 72 "operating" nuclear power stations were out of commission because of functional problems.
ZUCCHINI AS A REPLACEMENT FOR FIREWOOD? Don't get your hopes up, as did a number of readers who believed a facetious magazine account about two New York entrepreneurs who were selling split zucchini (or "Z-wood", as the men had dubbed it) for $20 a cord, including a bale of grated zucchini to be used as kindling. After being deluged with inquiries from readers, the publication 'fessed up to its joke . . . and, for the time being, the energy generated by the prolific squash is pretty much limited to that expended by gardeners trying to give away their surplus.
SOLAR SENTRY: A south Florida apiarist has developed an ingenious method of thwarting the honey-loving black bears that sometimes savage remote hives: a solar-powered electric fence. The gentleman surrounds his bee colonies with electrified barbed wire connected to a solar panel/12-volt gel battery arrangement. Since the sun-powered barriers have been erected, bear depredation has occurred only when the fences have been out of commission because of equipment failure or battery theft.
AGRICULTURAL ALTERNATIVES: A new 70-page federal report, Energy Research for the Farm . . . An Overview, examines the feasibility of developing alternative sources of agricultural power and of extending energy use in crop production. The document features more than 100 studies on wind turbines, methane digesters for livestock operations, farm-grown fuels, solar drying and heating, and more. Single copies are free, and may be obtained from the Office of Governmental and Public Affairs, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Dept. TMEN, Washington, D.C. 20250 (be sure to note that you want publication AIB 447).
