Cement, Energy and Environment

storms and overloading of the grid will become a thing of the past. People and businesses are demanding more reliable power sources. The economic cost of power disruption in information-driven business like finance and e– commerce, is extremely high. Power may be generated locally for neighbourhoods and individual residences and businesses. This will be done via micro-turbines, internal combustion engines and fuel cells. There will be an increased use of natural gas because it's cheap, clean and available. 2. Fuel Cells There has been a lot of progress in fuel cell technology over the past ten years, but much more need to happen over the coming decade. Fuel cells will become increasingly popular for transportation and for portable and stationary power generation over the next decade. These systems will provide power at competitive rates while drastically reducing the impact of power generation on the environment. According to Energy Science Technology division of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, fuel cells would be accep ted by the public if they are made smaller and cheaper. 3. Gas to Liquid Conversion Scientists predict the development of chemical engineering processes to transformhydrocarbon compounds from gases to liquids. This will permit more flexible use and storage of fuels, e. g. conversion of natural gas to diesel fuel for transportation. Gas to liquids technology offers an exciting, economically attractive opportunity to convert natural gas from remote locations, which otherwise would be wasted, into easily transported and inherently clean fuel. 4. Advanced Batteries Batteries will continue a 20-year trend of advancements into the next decade. These next- generation batteries will be based on lithium polymer technology and have about three times as much energy capability as those currently on the market. These developments will play a more crucial role as the transition is from hybrid to electric vehicles. Consumers also will see better batteries for laptop computers and cell phones. 5. A Shifting Energy Industry Structure Substantial innovations in the energy industry and energy technologies are occurring. Deregulation of the natural gas and electric utilities will continue, resultirg in more competition and more mergers. Sma ll, independent utilities . Oil compani es will become energy markets. New players, such as automobile companies, may eme rge as formidable influences in the energy ind ustry. The convergence of the e lec tric, gas, telecommunications and water industries likely will result in one-s!op shopping. 6. Hybrid Vehicles With $2 a gallon prices still fresh in the minds of consumers, the idea of hybrid vehicles doesn't sound bad. Mile-age of seventy-miles-per-gallon will create a lot of <::onverts. The first generation of these vehicles is already here in a spo~ty two– seater car from Honda. Hybrid vehicles use smaller, more efficient internal combustion engines and use power from electric batteries for an ex tra boost during accelera tion. According to Oak Ridge National La.boratory, US automakers have produced a next– generation of hybrid concept cars thatwill pave the way for 80 mpg, five-passenger sedans. However, while making progress in the next ten years, full transition may require decades. 7. Methane Hydrate Crystal Mining Geologists have discovered rich deposits of frozen natural gas crystals on the ocean bottom.