As The Wall Street Journal (3/27/08) reported, a Danish
utility has joined forces with a Palo Alto company to design a personal
transport system based on renewable energy. The utility’s partner is
also part of an Israeli consortium
that is implementing a system for running cars on solar power. In
Denmark, the renewable source is wind, but the principle is the same.
The elements of both systems are non-fossil-fuel based electricity
generation, electric powered vehicles, and a national network for
recharging and battery exchange. Although renewable solar and wind are
ideal sources of power, and both Israel and Denmark happen to have
them, any country could adopt a similar system to eliminate the FF
power source by using nuclear power. France uses nuclear for over 70%
of their power, for example, and could easily adopt a similar model.
Eventually, in my opinion, nearly all developed countries that can
afford this approach to reducing fossil fuel usage (it requires a huge
capital commitment) will adopt this model. There will be little
alternative, once Peak Oil is recognized.
How can investors participate? I use companies that help improve
the electrical distribution infrastructure such as AZZ, ABB, BGC, and
FSIN. Companies involved in lithium batteries are also benefited,
including SQM and VLNC.
Here is the full article about the Danish development:
Filling Up Will Be a Breeze
Utility, U.S. Firm Plan
A Wind-Powered Grid
To Charge Electric Cars
By LEILA ABBOUD
March 27, 2008; Page B5
Danish utility Dong Energy
A/S Thursday announced a partnership with a California start-up to
build a nationwide system to charge electric cars, in a major expansion
of the European country’s green energy policies.
The deal with Palo Alto-based Better PLC is the latest step in a
global race to offer alternatives to traditional gasoline-fueled
vehicles. For Denmark, it is a creative way to deal with an unexpected
consequence of success in wind power.
A country of 5.4 million residents, Denmark gets some 20% of its
total electricity needs from wind. On windy days, that percentage can
double. But the success of wind also poses a problem for Denmark that
other countries, such as the U.S. and Britain, are just waking up to:
how to balance power surges on windy days with dead times on still days.
The ups and downs of wind power can strain an electricity grid.
