Comments on: Must read: How Green Was the Valley http://climateprogress.org/2008/10/05/must-read-how-green-was-the-valley/ The Latest on Climate Science, Solutions, and Politics Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:49:54 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: John Mashey http://climateprogress.org/2008/10/05/must-read-how-green-was-the-valley/#comment-20216 John Mashey Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:16:47 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/10/05/must-read-how-green-was-the-valley/#comment-20216 Yes, good article, good review of it. last week, I attended a <a href="http://gcep.stanford.edu/" rel="nofollow">GCEP</a> (Global Climate & Energy Project) <a href="http://gcep.stanford.edu/events/symposium2008/index.html" rel="nofollow">symposium</a> at Stanford, many of whose talks were fairly early research (i.e., not really ready yet for my VC friends to fund). Nevertheless, there was a good selection of VCs in attendance. This is a good way to do *real* R in a professionally-run "progressive commitment" R&D program (as opposed to fantasies of scheduling breakthoughs.) One of the most interesting talks (not just to me, but to many others) was: "Artificial Photysynthesis: Membrane-Supported Assemblies that use Sunlight to Split Water." by <a href="http://nsl.caltech.edu/natelewis.html" rel="nofollow">Nate Lewis of Caltech</a>, on research in areas described <a href="http://nsl.caltech.edu/research.overview.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>, and especially <a href="http://nsl.caltech.edu/research.sp.html" rel="nofollow">here on semiconductor photochemistry</a>. Briefly, the goal is to eventually build cheap (i.e., Silicon), reasonably-fabbable structures modeled in some ways after plant cells, that split water and produce hydrogen directly, without going through electricity. Prof Lewis thinks they've made some interesting progress in this direction, and it's the first thing I've seen that causes me any interest in Hydrogen in any way ... but OF COURSE: Research, Applied Research, Advanced Development, Development, Scale... and this is in the R/AR zone, so it's a long way off at best, but still, quite interesting. Yes, good article, good review of it.

last week, I attended a GCEP (Global Climate & Energy Project) symposium at Stanford, many of whose talks were fairly early research (i.e., not really ready yet for my VC friends to fund). Nevertheless, there was a good selection of VCs in attendance.

This is a good way to do *real* R in a professionally-run “progressive commitment” R&D program (as opposed to fantasies of scheduling breakthoughs.)

One of the most interesting talks (not just to me, but to many others) was:
“Artificial Photysynthesis: Membrane-Supported Assemblies that use Sunlight to Split Water.”

by Nate Lewis of Caltech, on research in areas described here, and especially here on semiconductor photochemistry.

Briefly, the goal is to eventually build cheap (i.e., Silicon), reasonably-fabbable structures modeled in some ways after plant cells, that split water and produce hydrogen directly, without going through electricity. Prof Lewis thinks they’ve made some interesting progress in this direction, and it’s the first thing I’ve seen that causes me any interest in Hydrogen in any way … but OF COURSE:

Research, Applied Research, Advanced Development, Development, Scale…
and this is in the R/AR zone, so it’s a long way off at best, but still, quite interesting.

]]> By: crf http://climateprogress.org/2008/10/05/must-read-how-green-was-the-valley/#comment-20215 crf Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:13:00 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/10/05/must-read-how-green-was-the-valley/#comment-20215 It may be a little upbeat, but I liked the article, especially because it made the point that if carbon emitting sources of energy had to pay a penalty (in the form of a carbon tax, or auctioned and traded permits), then many clean technologies KP and other companies have funded and developed could be much more rapidly implemented. The cost differences between carbon intense and low carbon power technologies are not hugely great, in some cases, if the carbon costs are accurately accounted for. The article made it seem that even a small tax (or equivalent) could make a large difference for market success of many technologies. It may be a little upbeat, but I liked the article, especially because it made the point that if carbon emitting sources of energy had to pay a penalty (in the form of a carbon tax, or auctioned and traded permits), then many clean technologies KP and other companies have funded and developed could be much more rapidly implemented. The cost differences between carbon intense and low carbon power technologies are not hugely great, in some cases, if the carbon costs are accurately accounted for. The article made it seem that even a small tax (or equivalent) could make a large difference for market success of many technologies.

]]> By: rpauli http://climateprogress.org/2008/10/05/must-read-how-green-was-the-valley/#comment-20184 rpauli Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:53:25 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/10/05/must-read-how-green-was-the-valley/#comment-20184 VC- Man!, leading the exhilarating march of innovation into a radiant future! Moving faster than any government, ( but will that be fast enough? ) Clever and powerful ! ( but how fast can it bring down CO2 levels?) What other Superheros do we need other than VC-Man ? And will they all work together? VC- Man!, leading the exhilarating march of innovation into a radiant future!

Moving faster than any government, ( but will that be fast enough? )

Clever and powerful ! ( but how fast can it bring down CO2 levels?)

What other Superheros do we need other than VC-Man ?

And will they all work together?

]]> By: Ken Levenson http://climateprogress.org/2008/10/05/must-read-how-green-was-the-valley/#comment-20182 Ken Levenson Sun, 05 Oct 2008 19:14:36 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/10/05/must-read-how-green-was-the-valley/#comment-20182 Great article. For added emphasis, I enjoyed this quote: “Our overarching thesis,” Bill Joy says, “was that a lot of stuff had already been developed, but there were things that were not yet commercialized because they had been frozen by the low price of oil. The innovation had occurred, but they hadn’t been deployed.” On the cautionary side - seems this VC push into renewables screams for government guidance - because a Bloom box in every house/hut and Brazilian sugar cane based biofuels, no matter how well intended, scare the heck out of me... (Solar and wind, no.) PS - Joe, any investment tips? ;) Great article. For added emphasis, I enjoyed this quote:

“Our overarching thesis,” Bill Joy says, “was that a lot of stuff had already been developed, but there were things that were not yet commercialized because they had been frozen by the low price of oil. The innovation had occurred, but they hadn’t been deployed.”

On the cautionary side – seems this VC push into renewables screams for government guidance – because a Bloom box in every house/hut and Brazilian sugar cane based biofuels, no matter how well intended, scare the heck out of me… (Solar and wind, no.)

PS – Joe, any investment tips? ;)

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