A2SEA is building a new vessel with greater capacity than existing vessels on the market
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Risk mitigation strategy for offshore Great Lakes projects

Lita Cuen will be presenting at WindEnergyUpdate’s Offshore Wind Energy in North America’s Great Lakes conference

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Who are the BP Republicans?

It’s really a shame that BP has been left all alone, standing in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico holding the million-plus-gallon barrel of oil that gulf has become. We really should have more sympathy for the likes of Tony Hayward. After all, his personal life has been seriously disrupted by all this. Now, to make matters worse, the Obama administration continues to push for a moratorium on all new offshore drilling and BP has been “forced” to set aside $20 billion (and probably more) for clean-up and relief to affected Gulf residents.

Fortunately for BP, the company still has some loyal friends in high places, there to nurse their scapegoat back to health even if it means wide public embarrassment and ridicule by anyone who isn’t completely blind to BP’s culpability in the worst oil disaster in U.S. history.

These are the BP Republicans. These are the poor saps who are either so deep in Big Oil’s pocket or unfathomably detached from public opinion and solid politicking that they remain staunchly in BP’s corner. Indeed, the oil that once quietly lined their pockets now drips from their ears.

Now you may have heard these greasy stalwarts expressing their love for BP on the airways, especially lamenting any recourse to make BP pay for its mistakes and negligence. But just in case you’re not sure exactly who is and who isn’t prestigious enough to be a BP Republican, the Democratic National Committee has been sporting enough to give them their very own website, complete with complementary list as follows:

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Who are the BP Republicans?

It’s really a shame that BP has been left all alone, standing in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico holding the million-plus-gallon barrel of oil that gulf has become. We really should have more sympathy for the likes of Tony Hayward. After all, his personal life has been seriously disrupted by all this. Now, to make matters worse, the Obama administration continues to push for a moratorium on all new offshore drilling and BP has been “forced” to set aside $20 billion (and probably more) for clean-up and relief to affected Gulf residents.

Fortunately for BP, the company still has some loyal friends in high places, there to nurse their scapegoat back to health even if it means wide public embarrassment and ridicule by anyone who isn’t completely blind to BP’s culpability in the worst oil disaster in U.S. history.

These are the BP Republicans. These are the poor saps who are either so deep in Big Oil’s pocket or unfathomably detached from public opinion and solid politicking that they remain staunchly in BP’s corner. Indeed, the oil that once quietly lined their pockets now drips from their ears.

Now you may have heard these greasy stalwarts expressing their love for BP on the airways, especially lamenting any recourse to make BP pay for its mistakes and negligence. But just in case you’re not sure exactly who is and who isn’t prestigious enough to be a BP Republican, the Democratic National Committee has been sporting enough to give them their very own website, complete with complementary list as follows:

More »

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Obama Enacts New Ban on Deepwater Drilling

In opposition to two separate rulings by federal judges, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and the Obama administration imposed another moratorium on new offshore drilling permits in U.S. waters. After an appeals court judge last week denied the administration’s request to overturn the lifting by a previous circuit judge of the initial ban, the Obama administration decided to take matters into its own hands. The new moratorium will be in effect until November 30 or such time as Secretary Salazar sees evidence that deepwater oil exploration and drilling can proceed with safety.

The oil industry and its political allies are in an uproar over the move, citing primarily the loss of thousands of jobs as good reason not to enforce the ban.

Said Secretary Salazar, “I am basing my decision on evidence that grows every day of the industry’s inability in the deepwater to contain a catastrophic blowout, respond to an oil spill, and to operate safely.”

Democratic Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu felt otherwise: “Obviously more effective regulations and greater transparency are a must, but this Deepwater Horizon incident is an exception and it should be treated as such,” she told a presidential commission investigating the BP oil spill. “I urge this commission to take immediate and swift action to immediately lift the moratorium.”

Landrieu noted that the ban could cause the loss of up to 120,000 jobs in Louisiana as unusable oil rigs move to countries where they are allowed to work. She stated that this “second economic disaster has the potential to become greater than the first.”

42,000 other wells still operate in U.S. waters in the Gulf of Mexico, and the moratorium only affects new deepwater drilling permits, limited to just 33 projects.

While the Obama administration has expressed concern and understanding regarding the economic loss in the region stemming from the moratorium, it presses that safety is of the utmost concern. As Salazar and a number of other administration officials have reiterated several times, any evidence showing that oil companies are prepared for an oil spill or even to operate safely pales in comparison to the glaring evidence that they are not. Until these companies can show the administration otherwise, the moratorium remains in effect.

“I remain open to modifying the new deepwater drilling suspensions based on new information,” noted Salazar, but first the oil drilling industry “must raise the bar on its practices and answer fundamental questions about deepwater safety, blowout prevention and containment, and oil spill response.”

Oil companies have been using their economic clout to try to dissuade the administration from instituting the moratorium. Indeed, Diamond Offshore Drilling, which operates 10 of the 33 rigs affected by the moratorium, has already redeployed two rigs to Egypt and West Africa with a third slated for departure to Brazil if the administration sticks to its guns on the new moratorium.

Source: Grist.org

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Gregory Ashley Joins Solar Frontier Americas as Vice President and COO
SANTA CLARA, Calif., July 13 /PRNewswire/ — Solar Frontier Americas Inc., a 100% subsidiary of Solar Frontier K.K., which is a 100 % subsidiary of Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K. headquartered in Tokyo, has appointed Gregory Ashley as vice president and chief operating officer of its operations across the Americas. Ashley oversees sales and marketing in North and South America and is responsible for commercializing Solar Frontier’s breakthrough CIS thin-film solar PV technology in some of the most dynamic global markets for solar energy. 

“Greg brings nearly 30 years of experience in the energy sector and will be invaluable to Solar Frontier’s emergence in the North American and South American markets,” said Brooks Herring, executive officer of international business at Solar Frontier K.K.. “With his expertise in solar energy systems, smart grid development and energy efficiency, Greg was our top choice to help bring to market the most bankable PV technology yet available to customers across the continents.”

Solar Frontier’s proprietary CIS thin-film solar technology offers compelling economic benefits by delivering superior performance compared to other leading technologies, and delivering more energy for less. Solar Frontier also uses less natural resources and raw materials than competing crystalline-silicon processes, enabling faster energy payback as well as less carbon emissions per KW of production capacity. Finally, Solar Frontier does not use materials like cadmium or lead in its production process, thus minimizing its environmental impact and offering superior PV panel recyclability. Solar Frontier’s key products in the U.S. market (SF-US-B series CIS solar modules) are UL certified and CEC listed.

“Solar Frontier’s highly sustainable PV technology is extremely well positioned in the critical ratio of cost versus efficiency,” said Ashley. “We will be able to meet demand competitively when our third plant comes online in 2011 at 900 MW. It will be the largest solar panel manufacturing facility in the world. My immediate focus is on building a top-notch operations team, which will be headquartered here in Santa Clara, Calif.” 

Ashley joins Solar Frontier Americas from Canadian Solar, where he recently held the position of president, United States Division, and was responsible for U.S. sales and marketing and supporting the growth of emerging global markets.

Solar Frontier will be exhibiting at Intersolar North America 2010 in San Francisco’s Moscone Center West Hall from July 13-15, booth number 9423.

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Knox County Detention Facility to Start Gathering Sunshine
KNOXVILLE, Tenn., July 13 /PRNewswire/ — A new solar farm will soon enable Knox County officials to harvest sunshine to meet the hot water demands at the county’s 1,036-bed detention facility. Officials anticipate that the new solar thermal system, one of the nation’s largest for domestic hot water according to FLS Energy - the solar company with which Trane worked on the project - will save $60,000 a year in natural gas expenses and reduce CO2 emissions by 174 tons annually.

A ceremony will be held to formally launch the solar thermal installation on Thursday, July 15 at 11 a.m. on the lawn outside the Knox County Detention Facility, 5109 Maloneyville Road, Knoxville, TN 37918.

The solar hot water installation features 300 solar collectors and produces and stores nearly 14,000 gallons of hot water a day for domestic use. Funding for the $1.88 million solar farm was provided through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program.

“The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program is an important part of Gov. Phil Bredesen’s strategy to invest in cost-effective clean energy resources in Tennessee,” said Commissioner Matt Kisber of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. “The EECBG grants will help Knox County to lead by example in their energy conservation efforts, while reducing energy bills in the short term and supporting Tennessee’s rapidly growing clean energy economy in the long term.”

“The solar farm is an important step forward both fiscally and environmentally,” said Mayor Mike Ragsdale. “From the cost-savings, we can provide services to our citizens with money we were using to pay energy bills. Environmentally, we are following the advice of our own Knox County Green Team and tapping into alternative energy sources. In this case, that resource is sunshine, which is readily available here in the south.”

County-wide Improvements Currently Underway

The solar thermal system installation is part of $16.2 million in improvements that the county launched in collaboration with Trane in August 2009 to address aging infrastructure and high energy and operating costs. The improvements will be completed in January 2011. The county is combining anticipated energy and operational savings with $2.1 million in U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant funds to pay for the improvements.

When completed, the improvements will reduce the county’s energy costs an estimated 36 percent by upgrading and enhancing infrastructure in 40 facilities, 24 parks and 37 traffic intersections. In addition to creating one of the nation’s largest solar farms, the improvements are also expected to add county jobs and significantly reduce the county’s environmental impact while providing a more productive and comfortable environment for county employees and residents who use county services.

Over the 15-year life of the program as it was approved by the Knox County commission, the county will save an estimated $29 million, more than covering the program’s $27 million cost. This total cost includes $16.2 million in infrastructure upgrades, $7.5 million in maintenance and repair services, and allotments for debt service and measurement and verification services. The resulting project requires no new tax dollars.

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Detroit Edison to Build Solar Installation on Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Roof in Downtown Detroit
DETROIT, July 13 /PRNewswire/ — Detroit Edison and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan today announced the signing of a 20-year agreement that will provide BCBSM and the utility’s customers with renewable energy generated from the sun.

The 200-kilowatt, $1 million photovoltaic system will be installed on the roof of a BCBSM four-story parking structure at the corner of Congress and Beaubien in downtown Detroit. The solar array will cover 31,000 square feet of the 42,000 square-foot roof.   It should be operational next spring after design and construction is completed.

The installation is part of Detroit Edison’s pilot SolarCurrents program that calls for photovoltaic systems to be installed on customer rooftops or property over the next five years to generate 15 megawatts (MW) of electricity throughout Southeast Michigan.

“We’re pleased that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan will be among the first organizations in our state to participate in SolarCurrents, which is one of the largest distributed solar programs in the country,” said Trevor Lauer, DTE Energy vice president, Marketing & Renewables. “We expect the program to encourage the development of new green energy projects by providing financial incentives to non-residential customers interested in solar energy systems.”

Detroit Edison plans to invest more than $100 million in the program, which requires customers to participate for 20 years. The solar energy systems will be owned, installed, operated and maintained by the utility. In return, BCBSM and other customers that participate will get an annual credit on their energy bill, as well as a one-time, upfront construction payment to cover any inconvenience during installation.

“Blue Cross is making ‘green’ activities an integral part of how we do business everyday,” said Tricia Keith, BCBSM vice president, corporate secretary and services.  “We are pleased to join with DTE in one of the largest efforts in the country to distribute solar energy.”

This is one of a series of ‘green’ projects at BCBSM’s downtown Detroit campus.  In 2006 BCBSM installed a green roof on its other parking structure located at Congress and I-375.  The structure earned LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) because of its environmentally friendly design and features that include rain water recycling and a 1/10th-mile-long roof walking path.

The BCBSM photovoltaic system will generate an equivalent amount of power that would be consumed by about 40 homes in a year.  BCBSM expects it will produce about 20% of the base power for its Lafayette campus.

Detroit Edison continues to offer incentives to residential customers who install their own photovoltaic systems. For more information on both programs, visit dteenergy.com/solar.

Detroit Edison expects to invest nearly $2 billion in the coming years to add more than 1,200 MW of renewable energy to meet the state’s renewable energy goals.  In addition to the solar installations, the company plans to acquire or build wind farms and other green energy facilities for half of that capacity, and contract with third party vendors for the rest.

Detroit Edison is an investor-owned electric utility serving 2.1 million customers in Southeastern Michigan and a subsidiary of DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE), a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. Information about DTE Energy is available at www.dteenergy.com.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is a nonprofit corporation and independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more company information, visit bcbsm.com.

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Ignite Solar 1 MW Innovative Turnkey Solar Park
HOUSTON, July 13 /PRNewswire/ –  Ignite Solar, developer of large scale solar photovoltaic projects and manufacturer of tracking systems, introduces a 1 MW turnkey solar park for distributed installations.  The innovative design is scalable from 1 to 30 MWs, and delivers a distributed solution at the cost advantage of a large utility project.  The fully integrated 1 MW solution is able to greatly reduce the deployment cycle and cost of traditional solar.

The Ignite 1 MW turnkey design uses innovative large format 2.6m x 2.2m a-Si thin film 360-W modules.  These modules deliver reliable and robust performance, capable of performing well under diffused and indirect sunlight, and in diverse climatic conditions. 

The modular 1 MW design is available in a fixed configuration or with Ignite’s 1-axis tracking system.  The customizable mounting solutions are also able to accommodate many soil conditions with driven pole, ground screw, concrete, and ballasted foundation options.

Peter Mathey, the CEO of Ignite Solar, stated, “The 1 MW design brings a level of customization, deployment speed, and cost competitiveness not previously available to distributed solar installations.”

Ignite Solar, LLC will be exhibiting at Intersolar North America 2010 in San Francisco’s Moscone Center West Hall from July 13-15, booth number 7067.

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TVA Renewable Energy Program Moves Forward
KNOXVILLE, Tenn., July 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Tennessee Valley Authority has resumed enrollments in its Generation Partners pilot program for renewable electricity projects of up to one megawatt in generation capacity to help encourage the development of solar, wind and other non-traditional electricity sources.

Under the new plan announced Monday to address the unexpectedly fast growth in the pilot project, TVA will:

    * Process all participation agreements submitted by Aug. 31 for qualifying systems from 201 kilowatts up to 999 kilowatts;
    * Maintain the existing pilot project for systems of up to 200 kilowatts or less;
    * Extend the deadline to install approved projects from six months to one year for all systems larger than 200 kilowatts.

“TVA is responding rapidly to fulfill the commitments we have made in recent months to the distributors and developers seeking to participate in Generation Partners,” said John Trawick, senior vice president for Commercial Operations and Pricing.

After these adjustments are in place, longer-term modifications will be considered to accommodate ongoing growth and interest in projects greater than 200 kilowatts. TVA will be collaborating with both distributors and renewable developers to provide input into these long-term opportunities.

The changes in the Generation Partners pilot program will support efforts to increase low-emission and zero-emission sources of electricity for TVA’s Green Power Switch program. Now in its 11th year, the program includes 113 distributors and about 12,000 residential and more than 500 commercial participants. Their voluntary renewable energy purchases, sold in $4 blocks of 150 kilowatt-hours a month, have offset nearly 450,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, which is equal to the amount produced from using about a million barrels of oil or 50 million gallons of gasoline.

“The continuing growth of Generation Partners shows the interest in renewable energy by people in the TVA service region,” Trawick said. “We thank all of those involved for their support and patience.”

TVA briefly held up new Generation Partner enrollment in June to adjust to overwhelming customer response and develop a plan for addressing the large number of projects proposed. The surge in applications came in April after TVA began approving participation in advance to make it easier for customers to finance projects.

On June 23, TVA resumed enrollment of projects of 200 kilowatts or less. Under the changes announced then and Monday, qualifying solar, wind, biomass or hydroelectric projects of up to 999 kilowatts will be eligible for the Generation Partners incentives, which include a $1,000 payment to offset startup costs. In addition, TVA will buy 100 percent of the green power that participants produce, paying the retail rate, plus any fuel cost adjustment, and a premium per kilowatt-hour, depending on the type of renewable energy produced.

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The New Solmetric PV Analyzer Verifies Electrical Performance
SEBASTOPOL, Calif., July 13 /PRNewswire/ — The new Solmetric PV Analyzer is a complete electrical test solution for verifying and troubleshooting photovoltaic array performance. For each string, the analyzer measures current and power as a function of voltage. Measured results of the I-V and P-V characteristics are compared to the performance predicted by advanced built-in models. When predicted results match modeled results, system performance is verified. Any differences can offer insights into potential performance issues such as excess series resistance, failing cells, or module mismatch. The PVA solution is ideal for system verification during installation and for troubleshooting performance problems.

Benefits of the PVA-600 include: increased confidence in system performance at startup, identification of problems with equipment and interconnects, maintenance and performance logs, and guidance during troubleshooting. “Solmetric’s mission is to provide tools with embedded expertise to help make solar installers more effective,” said Solmetric President Willard MacDonald. “The new PV Analyzer exemplifies this. It enables better installations and faster repairs by providing actual measurements where before there could only be guesses.”

Irradiance and Temperature Measurement Modes

For accurate predictions of I-V and P-V curves, irradiance and cell temperature must be known. The PVA-600 derives these values in several ways. With a novel “array-as-sensor” mode, the PVA extracts the irradiance and cell temperature mathematically from the measured I-V data. This technique effectively uses the array itself as the sensors, so external sensors are not required. This method allows detailed comparison of the shapes of measured and predicted I-V curves, even under conditions of changing irradiance and temperature. Irradiance and cell temperature can also be measured and entered into the PVA either manually or automatically with an optional wireless sensor accessory kit.

PV Model Choices

The Solmetric PVA compares measured and modeled array performance. Several models are available, including the advanced model from Sandia National Laboratories. To specify the system configuration, the user chooses the module and inverter type, the number of modules, and the array orientation. Strings up to 600V and 20A can be measured and compared to the model.

At a cost of $2,595, the PVA-600 brings full I-V curve tracing and unprecedented analysis capabilities within reach of any installer. The PVA-600 includes a Measurement Unit, a wireless USB interface, and PVA software for Windows™. A laptop or UMPC is required but not included. The wireless sensor kit is available as an option for $1,495. Currently the PV Analyzer is available for sale in North America, and international versions are planned later in 2010.

Background: Solmetric Corporation provides tools for solar installers, including the Solmetric SunEye for fast, professional solar site evaluation and the Solmetric PV Designer software for accurate simulations of PV systems. Since its introduction in 2006, the SunEye 110 has become the standard for solar site evaluation. Its integrated fish-eye lens and digital camera captures an image of the sky and horizon, and its on-board processor plots solar exposure at that location. Users can edit images, simulating the removal or addition of obstructions such as trees or structures. PV Designer takes the SunEye data to the next level by allowing the user to specify a roof plane, identify the location on the roof where SunEye readings were taken, drag-and-drop modules onto the roof, and simulate the energy output of the system. A sophisticated interpolation technique allows the software to predict the partial shading of individual modules anywhere on the roof.

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City of Lancaster, BYD and KB Home Provide a Look into the Future of Energy Efficiency
LANCASTER, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The City of Lancaster, BYD and KB Home today announced the completion of a new earth-friendly prototype home utilizing BYD’s solar, battery and LED Lighting systems. During the grand opening event to be held today at KB Home’s Alamosa community in West Lancaster, the three parties, who began working on this futuristic home just a few months ago, will unveil the state-of-the-art technology that will potentially lead to more affordable solar electricity and energy storage options for Americans across the country.  

The City of Lancaster has made the advancement and research of such green technologies a priority and continues to help drive innovation in its community. As such, Lancaster has waived all local municipal development fees for the project and fast-tracked it through the approval process, allowing construction to begin almost immediately.

“This remarkable new house is truly the home of the future,” said Mayor R. Rex Parris. “This type of cutting-edge initiative is precisely what happens when you combine the brain power of one of the nation’s premier homebuilders with one of the world’s most forward-thinking energy companies. The City of Lancaster is proud that our residents will be among the first to benefit from the cost savings and environmental protection offered by homes such as this. We look forward to building upon this successful collaboration with KB Home and BYD well into the future.”

KB Home began construction on the home in late March 2010 in association with BYD. BYD’s green energy technologies were incorporated into a new model home at KB Home’s Alamosa community in Lancaster. The home was built to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR® guidelines and includes many earth-friendly features. BYD provided renewable energy-related materials, including solar panels, energy storage batteries, and LED energy-saving lights. KB Home also installed an electric vehicle outlet to demonstrate the home’s ability to charge BYD’s F3DM and e6 electric vehicles, which were on display at the home.

“At KB Home we are constantly seeking out new technology that will improve the quality of life for our homeowners,” said Steve Ruffner, president of KB Home’s Southern California division. “This collaboration has driven innovative thinking as we incorporate cutting-edge technologies so that future homeowners can enjoy the comforts of greener living.”

“BYD continues to be impressed with the support of City and County leaders in Lancaster and LA County to drive green policy and these energy-efficient technologies. These are real solutions for real people available today for mass-market adoption. BYD is ready and excited to deliver these green technologies at reasonable prices and our association with KB Home demonstrates that,” said Stella Li, Senior Vice President of BYD.

This home and four other KB Home model homes at Alamosa are now open to the public daily for tours. For more information, including community hours and driving directions, call 888-KB-HOMES or visit www.kbhome.com.

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City of Lancaster, BYD and KB Home Provide a Look into the Future of Energy Efficiency
LANCASTER, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The City of Lancaster, BYD and KB Home today announced the completion of a new earth-friendly prototype home utilizing BYD’s solar, battery and LED Lighting systems. During the grand opening event to be held today at KB Home’s Alamosa community in West Lancaster, the three parties, who began working on this futuristic home just a few months ago, will unveil the state-of-the-art technology that will potentially lead to more affordable solar electricity and energy storage options for Americans across the country.  

The City of Lancaster has made the advancement and research of such green technologies a priority and continues to help drive innovation in its community. As such, Lancaster has waived all local municipal development fees for the project and fast-tracked it through the approval process, allowing construction to begin almost immediately.

“This remarkable new house is truly the home of the future,” said Mayor R. Rex Parris. “This type of cutting-edge initiative is precisely what happens when you combine the brain power of one of the nation’s premier homebuilders with one of the world’s most forward-thinking energy companies. The City of Lancaster is proud that our residents will be among the first to benefit from the cost savings and environmental protection offered by homes such as this. We look forward to building upon this successful collaboration with KB Home and BYD well into the future.”

KB Home began construction on the home in late March 2010 in association with BYD. BYD’s green energy technologies were incorporated into a new model home at KB Home’s Alamosa community in Lancaster. The home was built to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR® guidelines and includes many earth-friendly features. BYD provided renewable energy-related materials, including solar panels, energy storage batteries, and LED energy-saving lights. KB Home also installed an electric vehicle outlet to demonstrate the home’s ability to charge BYD’s F3DM and e6 electric vehicles, which were on display at the home.

“At KB Home we are constantly seeking out new technology that will improve the quality of life for our homeowners,” said Steve Ruffner, president of KB Home’s Southern California division. “This collaboration has driven innovative thinking as we incorporate cutting-edge technologies so that future homeowners can enjoy the comforts of greener living.”

“BYD continues to be impressed with the support of City and County leaders in Lancaster and LA County to drive green policy and these energy-efficient technologies. These are real solutions for real people available today for mass-market adoption. BYD is ready and excited to deliver these green technologies at reasonable prices and our association with KB Home demonstrates that,” said Stella Li, Senior Vice President of BYD.

This home and four other KB Home model homes at Alamosa are now open to the public daily for tours. For more information, including community hours and driving directions, call 888-KB-HOMES or visit www.kbhome.com.

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Boeing, Boeing Gone! Phantom Eye to the Sky

In March 2010 I had talked about the Phantom Eye HALE (high altitude long endurance) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by Boeing that was getting ready to take to the skies. Now, Boeing has unveiled its hydrogen-powered aircraft.

Due to a rapid prototyping method this behemoth of a UAV with its 150-foot wingspan will demonstrate that it indeed can stay aloft at 65,000 ft for 4 days, which is an essential for military operations.

The Phantom Eye is powered by a couple of 2.3-liter, four-cylinder engines burning hydrogen fuel creating 150 hp each. The Boeing Phantom Eye will be tested carrying a 450 lb payload while traveling at 150 knots.

The naysayers keep talking about how hydrogen will never take off as an alternative transportation fuel but development of aerial vehicles such as the Phantom Eye proves otherwise. The wagons are circling.

Hydrogen forklifts, buses, UAVs, satellites, submarines, ships, stationary power, power plants, batteries for small electronic devices and eventually cars all powered by hydrogen cannot be ignored. The evidence mounts day by day that hydrogen will play a large roll in a green, alternative fuel future for both civilians and the military.

The Phantom Eye plus other hydrogen powered UAVs I’ve already spoken about add to the evidence that hydrogen transportation is here to stay, so the critics, deniers and naysayers had better get used to that.

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