First General Meeting October 2, 2008. Agenda Mission Statement Fiji Project Overview Coconut Oil...

First General MeetingOctober 2, 2008

Agenda Mission Statement Fiji Project

Overview Coconut Oil Progress Micro Hydro Potential

Biodiesel Outreach Fundraising

Mission Statement

Utilization of ALL Sustainable Energies

Energies which contribute positively to Society

Anyone from any field

Coconut Oil Proposal

Target Village: Narukunibua, Fiji Current Energy: Diesel Proposal: Use Coconut Oil

Narukunibua, Fiji

Problem Statement

Village runs off of diesel fuel shipped from Australia

Expensive: Can only run a few hours a day

Village wants more energy

Experiment

Try reading with the lights off Try reading with the lights on We all live the way we do because

of energy

Grate Coconuts

Coconut Oil Press

Overall Process

Energy Balance

Enough Coconuts?

50 acre plantation available 52 palms/acre, 60 nuts per tree 0.2 L/nut = 31,200 L/yr We need 300 L/month Can produce 31,200 L/yr

Economics

Lets say we buy coconut oil $1.30 Fiji/L Oil $6 Fiji/L Diesel Close to 80% Savings $940 US per month Per capita 1% salary increase

Future

Coconut Assessment Complete Need to verify results in Fiji Other Possible Energy Source?

Micro Hydro

Definition: Micro hydro is hydroelectric power generation up to 300kW

Fall Term Goals: Create a proposal for Micro hydro in

Narukunibua, Fiji. In December, validate both coconut oil

and Micro Hydro proposals (Site Assessment trip)

Simple Functionality

River Penstock (pipe)

Turbine

Generator

Water (to river)

Power

Classification

Low-end of hydroelectric scale Small Hydro

Micro (<300 kW) Mini (100 kW-1 MW) Small (1 MW-10 MW)

Background

Most widely used form of renewable energy

Hydroelectric power comes from the potential energy of water

Pressure head dependency

Turbines

Impulse turbines Pelton wheel, Turgo wheel

Used at medium to high head

Reaction turbines Kaplan turbine, Banki turbine

Used at medium to low head

Advantages/Disadvantages

Advantages Elimination of the use of fuel Elimination of greenhouse gas

emissions Miniscule environmental impact

Disadvantages Installation costs Maintenance

How to get involved? Micro Hydro Team

Meeting every other week, starting next Thursday

Anyone can join Proposal

Research type of turbines, penstocks, filtering systems, compatibility with the region & power grid, energy storage, power output, maintenance, & geographical assessment

The Austin Entrepreneurship Program Sustainable Bus Project

• Traveling Program to explain sustainability and Entrepreneurship to areas in Oregon, Washington, & Idaho

• Bus and it’s curriculum to be created and obtained by the Austin Entrepreneurship Program

• Sustainability is key, and Biodiesel is an absolute requirement for the project

+

- Provides the Bus

- Marketing for SEI, sustainability, & Biodiesel

- Provide some man-power for Bio production

- Cover the costs of Production

- Provide BioDiesel

- Make Use of the 40 Gallon Reactor

- Greatly raised visibility

The Austin Entrepreneurship Program Sustainable Bus Project

Fall Projects

Micro Hydro Proposal Site Assessment Trip Plan December Trip January-Build and Construct