(via BAE Systems)

Recently the US military has been increasing its use of ‘green’ technology in the last few years, but they have been in the area of renewable energy sources for some time. The armed forces are slowly but surely incorporating hybrid vehicles into their ranks. One such vehicle, being developed by the partnership of BAE systems and Northrop Grumman for the US Army, is both green and lethal. Called the Ground Combat Vehicle, the armored troop-carrier sports a hybrid-electric drive system that uses two electric motors (generating 1,400 horsepower) powered by a lithium-ion battery. Two diesel engines, which hold 255 gallons of fuel, provide back-up power as well as recharging the batteries when necessary. What makes the GCV a formidable threat is its ability to run completely on battery power, which makes it almost silent on the battlefield. Overall, the fuel efficiency of the tank gets a 10-20% boost over its stock counterpart. Another notable feature of the hybrid is the ability to ‘plug’ in electric-powered weapons systems such as LRADs (Long Range Acoustic Device) and microwave weapons which gives troops more options when it comes to load-outs.

The 70 ton hybrid can carry three crew members and nine passengers with a top speed of 43 Mph at a range of 186 miles. It’s also outfitted with a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun and 25mm auto-cannon as a base platform which can be upgraded with different weapons for depending on the scenario. The GCV looks like an updated hybrid Bradley Fighting Vehicle for the 21^st century but with thicker armor and a completely different drive system. The Defense Department has approved for production at a cost of about $11,000,000 US each which would make the GCV a truly ‘Mean Green Killing Machine’!

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The energy cycle (via Vattenfall)

In a time when the European Union is in financial turmoil, German, French and Swedish companies are showing that there is the undeniable potential of renewable energies. Creating a small “ecosystem” of energies, each supporting or complementing the other is a clear example of what scientists and engineers are capable of when given the right resources and are not doubted by investors or restricted by money.

While there are many ways of generating renewably energy, engineers have had trouble finding ways to store excess energy. This has always been a drawback to obvious renewable-energy  solutions like wind energy. However, a new innovative power plant in Germany has found a solution.

Many European companies, including Vattenfall, Siemens, Enertrag along with research institutions and environmental organizations are behind a project that has been operating since October in Prenzlau Germany, 75 miles north of Berlin. Their project is in the form of a Hybrid power plant that solves the storage problem by converting electrical energy generated by with wind turbine, into hydrogen. 

A hybrid power plant is the first of its kind in Europe, consisting of three wind turbines, a biogas unit, an electrolysis unit and two combined power plants that make use of waste heat. 

The turbines are capable of delivering 2 MW of electricity. This electricity is then converted into storable hydrogen by the electrolysis, a process that been theorized to be 80%-94% efficient.  The hydrogen can be distributed via pipeline and used like natural gas for heat; it can fuel hydrogen vehicles, and it can also co-fire the power plant along with the biogas to produce more electricity exactly when it is needed.

Vattenfall Innovation head Oliver Weinmann stated their mission best, "There is currently no system designed to compensate for the differences between supply and demand within the sector of renewable energy... But this project allows us to find a balance in the system and it’s also good business.”

Eavesdropper