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Yeah, there is a lot of irritating things that will probably happen. This is a fragile place for a company to be.... but, as you are well aware and accustomed to, the companies with the real product or commodity don't usually play the fluff games that others do and it takes a while for them to get noticed. Soon i hope to see some positive action.... heres hoping. have a great day!
Greener
GM GFTB
I agree... the lack of actual movement in the right direction is frustrating. I'm sure they are trying to make sure everything is accomplished carefully and correctly. I know certain promos and PR deals recently were just wastes of time and empty promises. For some reason these companies promise a lot and deliver nothing ... empty.
Couple that with the situation in BC where there are locals with money who play with this stock that has such a low float and drive it down with such little trades. Also, the Koreans are taking their time to make sure the business model is viable with carbon output and that makes for some slow going. I am sure this will change rapidly when the deal with Blue Bird is finalized perhaps at the end of this month. Till then it is sleepy time.... but no worries..... this giant will wake up.
Carbon Recycling: An Alternative To Carbon Capture And Storage
June 9, 2009
Rowan Oloman
By Rowan Oloman -- Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is being hailed as the answer to one of the globe’s most pressing questions: what to do with the 27 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emitted yearly from the burning of fossil fuels? Touted as the most promising interim solution to deal with the greenhouse gas responsible for global warming, CCS still remains unproven, costly and will not be commercially available for another 10-20 years. Meanwhile scientists are exploring alternatives to CCS by capitalizing on CO2 as a commodity instead of treating it as waste.
Twenty seven billion tons of CO2 is already a hefty number, but energy-related carbon dioxide emissions are projected to reach 43 billion metric tons per year by 2030, an increase of 60%. A new report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that growing energy demands from emerging giants like China and India, coupled with a lack of cost-effective alternatives to fossil fuels, means that by 2050, 77% of the world’s power will still be derived from fossil fuels.
"We will require immediate policy action and a technological transition on an unprecedented scale,” IEA Executive Director Nobuo Tanaka said in Tokyo after releasing the report.
Carbon capture and storage, the process of capturing carbon dioxide and storing it in deep geological formations, in the ocean or as mineral carbonates, is being promoted by the IEA and others as the most promising technology to deal with fossil-fuel derived emissions. Not negating the role of alternative energies, the IEA is merely realistic about the enduring use of fossil fuels and the urgent need to deal with the resulting carbon dioxide.
On May 15, U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced at the National Coal Council that $2.4 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be used to expand and accelerate the commercial deployment of carbon capture and storage technology, including financing to train a generation of engineers and geologists to work in the field.
Chu said, "To prevent the worst effects of climate change, we must accelerate our efforts to capture and store carbon in a safe and cost-effective way." Governments in Europe, Australia, Canada and China are also strongly investing in the technology.
Nevertheless, several massive hurdles still stand in the way of full-scale CCS deployment.
Consulting firm McKinsey & Co. figures that adding CCS to the next generation of European power plants could lift their price by up to US$1.3 billion each. Their thorough analysis shows that the typical cost of a demonstration project is likely to be in the range of US$80-$120 per tonne of CO2 sequestered.
Legally, there are concerns over whether CO2 transport and long-term storage present human or ecosystem related risks and who is ultimately responsible if a leak occurs. While progress is underway in some countries, no country has yet developed the comprehensive, detailed legal and regulatory framework that is necessary to effectively govern the use of CCS.
In fact, no full-scale CCS project that captures and sequesters carbon dioxide from a coal-fired power plant as of yet exists. The IEA is hopeful that 10 full-scale demonstration plants will be up and running globally by 2015 meaning it may be 10 to 20 years before CCS technology is readily available.
So why expensively transport and store the CO2 underground when it could be profitably recycled post-capture?
Researchers and start-up companies are now investigating a wide range of CO2 conversion methods.
“The market is open for innovation,” states Larry Kristof, CEO of Mantra Energy, a company gaining international recognition in the field of carbon recycling. “It is likely that governments will soon legally mandate carbon capture from industrial plants and there needs to be a cost-effective way to implement it,” says Kristof.
Mantra’s technology, named the electro-reduction of carbon dioxide (ERC), aims to take CO2 directly from industrial waste gases and convert it to formate salts and/or formic acid, both valuable chemicals used in a variety of industrial applications. Formic acid also has the potential to play a leading role in fuel cell development, both as a direct fuel and as a fuel storage material for on-demand release of hydrogen.
The ERC technology could provide a net revenue of up to US$700 per tonne of CO2 recycled, with an ROI previously forecast at 20% per year, depending on local costs.
Compared with CCS, the ERC provides a positive return on investment, not an unrecoverable cost. Plus a demonstration ERC unit could be installed at a client’s premises within a year and a commercial plant within 2 years, much faster than for CCS.
In a speech to the United States Senate Margie Tatro, Director of Fuel and Water Systems at Sandia National Laboratories, a U.S. Department of Energy run research center formed to develop science-based technologies that support national security, advocates that carbon recycling is the way of the future.
“We must act now to stimulate this area of research and development. Other countries are exploring reuse and recycling of CO2 and it would be unfortunate if the U.S. became dependent on imported technology in this critical area,” says Tatro.
Carbon recycling options being developed globally vary considerably. The range includes the biochemical conversion of CO2 into algal biofuel, the thermochemical conversion into methanol and the biocatalytic or solar photocatalytic conversion of CO2 to fuels. Each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages and some are more believable than others.
At this stage, what sets Mantra and a handful of others apart is that it has a publicly disclosed patent application, backed up by several technical articles in reputable journals and has already established market interest for their products.
As fear of climate change grips the globe, businesses and governments are desperate to find an answer to our CO2 problem. Relying solely on CCS is an incredibly risky and in many places unworkably expensive solution. More imaginative thinking shows us that the 27 billion metric tons of CO2 per year may actually represent a business opportunity.
A budding industry, carbon recycling for profit offers an exciting and viable alternative to carbon capture and storage programs. Without a doubt, as a portfolio of solutions will have to be developed to address climate change, carbon recycling is destined to be at the forefront.
Rowan Oloman is a freelance writer living in Vancouver, Canada. She holds a Masters degree in Environmental Management from the University of New South Wales and a BA in Environmental Geography from the University of Sydney. Rowan works as the director of several international conservation projects and as a researcher for green tech solutions.
Investment In Renewables Rebound in Q2
New investment in the worldwide clean energy sector in the second quarter of 2009 has already surpassed that in the first quarter by a third, with several weeks still to go in Q2, according to analysts at New Energy Finance.
However, this is in comparison to a disastrous first quarter, which saw investment down 44% from the fourth quarter of 2008, and down 53% from the peak in the first quarter of 2008.
Overall, new investment is expected to finish 2009 between US$95 billion and $115 billion, a drop of between 26% and 39% on last year’s total of $155 billion, says New Energy Finance.
Total global new investment in clean energy jumped from $35 billion in 2004, to reach last year’s record. However in a report entitled “Green Investment: Towards a Low-Carbon Energy Infrastructure," published earlier this year by the World Economic Forum, New Energy Finance demonstrated that annual investment in clean energy has to more than treble from $155 billion to $500 billion between 2008 and 2020 to ensure that carbon emissions peak before the end of the next decade. The release of this latest full-year forecast for 2009 shows that the financial crisis and recession have knocked these plans considerably off track.
Moving forward though, the figures indicate that the first quarter of 2009 is likely to prove the low point for clean energy investment in this downturn. Already in the second quarter, investment in clean energy companies via the public markets has rallied sharply, with well over $2 billion of completed secondary issues.
Even more importantly, the biggest single obstacle facing the sector this year — the sudden shortage of debt finance for wind farm, solar parks and other clean energy projects caused by the banking crisis — may also be past its worst. Another key issue is the timing of the arrival of “green stimulus” money from government programmes aimed at alleviating the recession. Since September 2008, major economies announced some $184.9 billion of stimulus funds aimed at clean energy or energy efficiency, the company notes.
“It is disappointing that 2009 looks likely to show such a significant fall in new investment in clean energy. However, the good news is that it does look as though the worst is past," said Michael Liebreich, chairman and CEO of New Energy Finance.
"It is also worth remembering that our forecast investment figures for 2009 are still above the figures for 2006. There are plenty of other industrial and infrastructure sectors that would be delighted to be at the same level of activity this year as 2006.”
Reprinted with permission from Renewable Energy World.
CARBON EMISSIONS | JUNE 09, 2009 | BY JOHN GARTNER
CO2 Conversion a Carbon Capture Alternative
Capturing and storing (or sequestering, if you prefer) carbon dioxide to meet international greenhouse gas reduction targets is expected to be a high growth industry in the next few years if the technology can be made cost effective.
An alternative to storing carbon dioxide underground is to work within the industrial waste stream to convert CO2 to an energy source and valuable organic molecule. Mantra Venture Group of Seattle is developing technology that will turn CO2 into formic acid, which is naturally produced by stinging ants who use it as a defense mechanism.
Formic acid is currently used in a variety of applications, including a hog feed additive, for de-icing planes, in pharmaceuticals and rubber manufacturing. According to Mantra CEO Larry Kristof, the company's electro-reduction of carbon dioxide (ERC) technology requires electricity, platinum as a catalyst, and a salt water solution.
The technology cab be used to recycle carbon at coal plants, cement plants, and in petroleum refineries, according to Kristof. Mantra has an agreement to build small scale facility in Korea with an eye towards large scale plants in 2012, and full commercialization by 2014. Mantra acquired the technology from the University of British Columbia in 2007, and in May 2009 received a grant of $75,000 from the government of British Columbia.
A potentially larger use for formic acid would be as an energy source in small fuel cells that can power electronics devices such as phones or laptops. Tekion, of Burnaby, British Columbia, has a license to formic-acid fuel cell technology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. According to the company, the fuel cells would coast about 10-15 percent more than batteries, but would double the amount of power.
Another potential application for formic acid is in "steel pickling" a finishing process that removes oxides. Kristof says that formic acid is a biodegradable alternative to hydrochloric acid.
With carbon caps looming, the price of carbon credits likely to rise, and carbon sequestration still a technical and economic challenge organizations will be looking for ways to eliminate CO2 disposal from their balance sheets. Recycling carbon to create a fuel source -- especially one that is not carbon emitting -- sounds very attractive in theory. Another option currently being cultivated is recycling CO2 can by feeding it to algae to turn it into a biofuel.
John Gartner is Editor in Chief of Matter Network and an Industry Analyst for Pike Research.
GreenChek Announces Its Planned Entry Into the German Market
On Thursday June 4, 2009, 11:03 pm EDT
Buzz up! Print
Related: Greenchek Technology, Inc.
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GreenChek Technologies Inc., a leading globally focused provider of hydrogen based technology for mobile transportation and stationary power generation applications, has announced today that the company plans to enter the German marketplace in the first quarter of 2010, in conjunction with our distribution partner TESEL.
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Symbol Price Change
GCHK.OB 0.21 -0.02
GreenChek will leverage test data gathered in France and England for the planned entrance into Germany. In Germany, we will also be installing our ERD units on a world class transportation company’s heavy goods vehicles. GreenChek’s President and Chief Executive Officer Lincoln Parke stated, “While we are currently focused on the ERD installations in France and England, we are subsequently preparing for the deployment of our technology in Germany.” Parke also added, “The future of hydrogen fuel cell implementation in Europe is on its way and we are excited about the Company’s prospects in the commercialization of the ERD in this lucrative market.”
About GreenChek
GreenChek Technology Inc. is traded under the symbol GCHK on the OTCBB exchange and is based in San Francisco, California. GreenChek manufactures and distributes hydrogen injection technology that is primarily focused on mobile transportation applications, as well as stationary power generation applications. GreenChek manufactures an emission reducing device simply known as the ERD™, which can be retrofitted to any vehicle regardless of fuel source. GreenChek provides innovative world-class mobile Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions reduction technology, while greatly enhancing fuel economy for the mobile transportation industry. GreenChek’s Onboard Hydrogen Generation and Injection (OHGI) technology is positioned to occupy the pre-eminent position in the emerging market for emissions reduction technology and fuel economy enhancement. GreenChek has operations in the United States, Canada, Asia and Europe.
Safe Harbor Statements
Statements in this press release regarding GreenChek’s products, services, capabilities, performance, opportunities, development and business outlook that are forward-looking involve and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond GreenCheks's control and difficult to predict, and could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties may include, but are not limited to: lack of operating history, transitioning from a development company to an operating company, difficulties in distinguishing GreenChek's products and services, ability to manufacture and deploy GreenChek's products, lack of or delay in market acceptance and fluctuations in customer demand, dependence on a limited number of significant customers, reliance on third party vendors and strategic partners, availability of raw materials, subassemblies and components, ability to meet future capital requirements on acceptable terms, continuing uncertainty in the emissions reduction industry and the global economy, compliance with federal and state regulatory requirements, timing, availability and success of new technology and product introductions and the other factors discussed in GreenChek's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contact:
Windfall Communications, LLC
Trevor Justus, 866-590-6589
Mantra Announces Shawn Kim as Executive Vice President of International Business Development
15 minutes ago - Pr Newswire
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Symbol Last %Chg
MVTG 0.28 0.00%
As of 12:00 AM ET 6/2/09
Mantra Venture Group Ltd. ('Mantra', OTCBB: MVTG, FSE: 5MV) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Shawn Kim as the Vice President of International Business Development.
Mr. Kim has nine years experience in the financial industry where he started as a business analyst. After dedicating 3 years to Mackenzie Financial Corporation in Toronto, he moved to AIG in Korea where he successfully implemented a worldwide marketing model and secured new business alliances. In his most recent role, Mr. Kim served as an International Business Consultant with the District of North Vancouver. Mr. Kim graduated from the University of Western Ontario in 1996 with a BA in Administrative and Commercial Studies.
"Through his recent position with the District of North Vancouver, Mr. Kim played a pivotal role in establishing the twinning relationship between Mantra and Bluebird Co. Ltd, of Seoul, Korea," said Larry Kristof, President and CEO of Mantra. "Mr. Kim's wealth of experience in international business and finance will be of great use to Mantra, and we are very fortunate that he has decided to join our team."
Mr. Kim will begin work at Mantra's head office in Vancouver immediately, where he will be taking a leadership role in solidifying the Definitive Partnership Agreement with Bluebird Co. Ltd. The signing of the Agreement, originally scheduled for completion by May 31, 2009, has been extended for a period of 60 days to help ensure that all respective roles, responsibilities and key performance criteria are adequately defined.
Upon completion of the aforementioned Agreement, Mr. Kim will be chiefly responsible for the company's further expansion into Asia, as well as new markets including South America and Europe.
With respect to his new position, Mr. Kim commented: "It is with great honour that I accept the position with Mantra. Mantra and its portfolio of technologies are perfectly positioned to benefit from numerous International Green Tech initiatives, and I look forward to capitalizing on such programs as a part of Mantra's strategic growth strategy."
NEW! Stay up to date with Mantra on Twitter: twitter.com/mantraenergy
About Mantra Venture Group Ltd.
Mantra, through its group of sustainable energy, carbon recycling and consumer product subsidiaries, is active in the green technology marketplace with an innovative, multi-faceted approach focused on profitability through sustainability. By aggressively seeking out new technologies and innovating solutions for a cleaner earth for everyone, Mantra intends to provide a highly profitable and, more importantly, socially and environmentally responsible investment for its shareholders.
Mantra is a public company quoted on the OTC BB under the symbol MVTG and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol EDV 5MV.
Forward-Looking Statements:
Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements and are subject to risks and uncertainties. See Mantra Venture Group's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission which identify specific factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.
Investor Relations
Terry Johnston
604-267-3022
tjohnston@mantraenergy.com
www.mantraenergy.com
SOURCE Mantra Venture Group Ltd.
GreenChek Announces Advancement of French Pilot Project Installation
Tuesday 06/02/2009 4:01 PM ET - Businesswire
Related Companies
Symbol Last %Chg
GCHK 0.20 5.82%
As of 3:52 PM ET 6/2/09
GreenChek Technology Inc. (OTCBB:GCHK), a leading globally focused provider of hydrogen based technology for mobile transportation and stationary power generation applications, reported today that the company , through its European distributor TESEL has begun its planned product implementation for heavy goods vehicles in France. The units, that have already been shipped, are currently undergoing preparation for real time testing at a French transportation company. This particular project, was originally planned for the fourth quarter of this year but has been brought forward to the third quarter of this year due to increasing need for European companies to seek out alternative ways of operating more effectively and efficiently, as part of the European Commission published proposal for Euro VI emission standards. The new emission limits, comparable in stringency to US standards for 2010, would become effective between 2013 and 2014. (source, dieselnet.com)
GreenChek manufactures an emission reduction device simply known as the ERD 2.0, which can be retrofitted to any vehicle or combustible engine regardless of fuel source. This device reduces vehicle emissions as well as increases fuel economy.
About GreenChek
GreenChek Technology Inc. (www.greenchektech.com) is traded under the symbol GCHK on the OTCBB exchange and is based in San Francisco, California. GreenChek manufactures and distributes hydrogen injection technology which is primarily focused on mobile transportation applications, as well as stationary power generation applications. GreenChek provides innovative world class mobile Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions reduction technology, while greatly enhancing fuel economy for the mobile transportation industry. GreenChek's Onboard Hydrogen Generation and Injection (OHGI) technology is positioned to occupy the pre-eminent position in the emerging market for emissions reduction technology and fuel economy enhancement. GreenChek has operations in the United States, Canada, Asia and Europe.
Safe Harbor Statement
Statements in this press release regarding GreenChek's products, services, capabilities, performance, opportunities, development and business outlook that are forward-looking involve and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond GreenChek's control and difficult to predict, and could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties may include, but are not limited to: lack of operating history, transitioning from a development company to an operating company, difficulties in distinguishing GreenChek's products and services, ability to manufacture and deploy GreenChek's products, lack of or delay in market acceptance and fluctuations in customer demand, dependence on a limited number of significant customers, reliance on third party vendors and strategic partners, availability of raw materials, subassemblies and components, ability to meet future capital requirements on acceptable terms, continuing uncertainty in the emissions reduction industry and the global economy, compliance with federal and state regulatory requirements, timing, availability and success of new technology and product introductions and the other factors discussed in GreenChek's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SOURCE: GreenChek Technology Inc.
Windfall Communications, LLC
Trevor Justus, 866-590-6589
Mantra takes step toward commercialization of ERC technology, inks MOU with Bluebird
The ERC technology not only has the potential to solve the CO2 problem, but it can do it right where industrial manufacturers are located.
Mantra Energy’s partnership with Bluebird Co. Ltd., a Korean environmental engineering firm, is another major step in the commercialization of the Vancouver firm’s electroreduction of carbon dioxide (ERC) technology. Mantra foresees building three ERC reactors one in each of Asia, Australia and North America.
It’s not yet certain that Asia will get the first ERC reactor, even though Mantra has inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Bluebird.
“That’s yet to be determined but it’s certainly moving in that direction when you’ve got a group like Bluebird taking the time and expense to move towards this type of technology and integrating into industries over there. Its’ definitely moving quickly towards that type of scenario,” Mantra president and CEO Larry Kristof tells Canadian Green Tech in an interview.
The two companies have set a deadline of May 31 to get a definitive agreement in place, and the MOU was a first and important step. Inked at the end of March, it calls for Bluebird to be an integral partner in the development, deployment and commercialization of Mantra Energy’s innovative technology. Bluebird has committed $3.5 million to develop commercial scale carbon dioxide processing equipment under the agreement. In return, Bluebird will become Mantra’s exclusive licensee, distributor and manufacturing
partner in Korea and other specified regions within Asia.
“The deal really shows that the technology is going global and that we are addressing it not just for our own backyard, but we’re putting it into places that need it and need these solutions quickly,” says Kristof. “We’ve got some really aggressive plans to move this thing forward.” Other countries such as Australia are also aggressively pursuing new environmental technologies. Delegates from the country down under have been criss-crossing the globe looking at these types of technologies, offering to fund 100% of the construction of demonstration sites, Kristof notes.
Building right next to industrial polluters
The ERC technology not only has the potential to solve the CO2 problem, but it can do it right where industrial manufacturers are located. Ideally, an ERC reactor would be built on the same site as a steal maker for example and could tap the flue gas at the source.
“If we can close a loop in a system like a steal facility, that’s optimal,” Kristof explains to Canadian Green Tech. “Those types of fits just make a lot of sense especially if you’re in close proximity to [an industrial site].”
The company is hoping that it can get agreements in place with different manufacturers in different regions so it can gather evidence on how the ERC technology works in various environments.
“That would be optimal because we could put them on three different types of customer sites. We could test different types of flue gas in our system. It gives us a lot more data to work to commercialize in the future,” says Kristof.
What is ERC, how does it work and what are its benefits?
ERC is novel process that converts CO2 in useable products such as formic acid, formates, Hydrogen and oxygen by mixing CO2 with a water electrolyte solution and then electrically charging it. Formic acid can replace hydrochloric acid in stealing making
and pulp and paper operations and formates are used to sterilize agricultural feed.
Rather than taking CO2 and pumping it underground as in carbon capture and storage (CCS), ERC takes the carbon dioxide and turns into useful products that can be sold, notes Kristof. “You’re not ending up with a product that you sell into a market at the end of the day,” he says of CCS. “So our technology seems a little more attractive in
that sense.” Mantra demonstrated the technical feasibility of the technology last october when it constructed a demonstrate site capable of 1 Kg of CO2 per day. Under the MOU with Bluebird, there are three phases to complete.
Phase 1:
Mantra will deliver a 1kg-per day ERC demonstration unit to Bluebird in Korea by November 2009, after which both companies will collaboratively develop and improve upon the current technology.
Phase 2:
Commencing in January 2010, the partnership will see the development and construction of the first commercial scale ERC reactor- capable of processing 1 ton of CO2 per day.
Phase 3:
Upon successful completion of Phases 1 and 2, Mantra and Bluebird will continue on to
Phase 3, the construction of a fully operational ERC unit with a 100-tonne per day capacity. Phase 3 is currently scheduled for 2012.
“The deal really shows that the technology is going global and that we are addressing it not just for our own backyard, but we’re putting it into places that need it and need these solutions quickly. We’ve got some really aggressive plans to move this thing forward.”
Larry Kristof
President and CEO
Mantra Energy
Mantra Venture Group in the News
Capitalizing on Carbon Dioxide emerging technologies hold promise for the steel industry
Originating at the University of British Columbia, a new technology named ERC (the electro-reduction of carbon dioxide) aims to take CO2 directly from blast furnaces and convert it to formic acid, a valuable chemical with many industrial applications.
This was added to the website recently.
It really couldn't hurt. They will probably wait till it reaches super critical with the forests to get aggressive about it. That is unfortunate. I have a good feeling about this weeks news, They are supposed to release regular news so we will see how that pans out. Have a great June hopefully watching things go into an upturn.
It would seem there would be a huge handful of nothing in this cookie jar. They haven't made any money yet that I am aware of. I hope it is just an error in classifying expenditures or something that they want to adjust to maximize efficiency or compliance. It is hard to say what kind of company we are into until it becomes more transparent. Is it just me or do you get the feeling that these guys are doing this as a sideline? Like they have a regular job to pay the bills and this is just on the side. That is just the impression they give me.
Link to recent article that features Mantra. Very well written. I pasted it in the last post but this will be a good link to check it out yourself.
http://cleantechbrief.com/node/560
The Heat Is On: Shifting British Columbia’s Renewable Energy Agenda Into High Gear
June 1, 2009
By Rowan Oloman -- Although British Columbia is magnificently endowed with renewable resources, its potential for green energy production remains largely untapped. Some of BC’s brightest minds are therefore starting to think big regarding BC’s energy future. Driving the ambition of one company is the vision of a clean energy corridor extending east to Alberta and Saskatchewan and south to California with BC as the hub. A brilliant idea, the plan will require stakeholder collaboration and the leadership of a government that is not only ready for action but able to balance public interests with the need for private sector innovation.
The time is now. The world’s top scientists warn of catastrophic consequences including the loss of 85% of the Amazon rainforest, the inundation of cities like New York, London and Tokyo by rising sea levels and a world hardly imaginable by the end of this century if there isn’t responsible climate action.
“We all know that time is running out,” U.S. President Barack Obama told a town hall meeting recently, “we cannot afford politics as usual -- not at a moment when the energy challenge we face is so great and the consequences of inaction are so dangerous.”
President Obama empowered a nation and citizens across the globe with his 2008 presidential slogan ‘Yes we can.’ Now Obama is putting money where his mouth is by designating $76 billion of the U.S. economic recovery bill to renewable energy and energy efficiency technology, out of which $7.75 billion has been set aside for ‘smart’ electricity grid infrastructure. For a country crippled by an economic crisis, the statement is bold and clear: climate change is a top priority. In Canada, the message is less clear. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s economic stimulus package assigns six times less money per capita than the U.S. for clean energy solutions, and the word “renewable” fails to appear in his bill.
Climate change is risky business. It is understandable that governments across the globe are slow to commit to uncertain solutions. Clean energy proposals face an incredibly high rate of attrition; the financial risk in many cases seems way too high for publicly owned utilities. But can we afford to wait for certainty?
The Union of Concerned Scientists declares that “reducing emissions is much less costly than failing to reduce emissions and adapting to resulting climate change.”
Business entrepreneurs understand risk. They also know how to recover when a mistake happens. Climate change mitigation demands the involvement of big thinkers and a business approach that involves unwavering commitment across the board.
One small company thinking big is Mantra Energy Corporation, a BC company committed to developing and commercializing green technologies. Mantra sees the potential in the province’s abundance of renewable resources. Company CEO Larry Kristof believes BC is primed to become the Pacific Northwest’s hub for renewable energy generation.
A province blessed with miles of mountainous terrain, a wild and windy coastline, and a desert-like interior, which is located on the Pacific Rim’s subterranean ‘ring of fire,’ BC’s potential is remarkable. Various studies propose that BC has 17,310 Megawatts (MW) of potential wind power, 37,000 MW of offshore wave power, 4,015 MW of tidal power, 2,454 MW of small hydro power, 3,000 MW of geothermal power, 6,000 MW of long-term solar power, and due to its forestry industry, a variety of biomass energy options. As some of the above numbers may be underestimated, an inter-university review of potential resource hotspots is required.
Not limited by borders, the market for greenhouse gas solutions remains wide open. Both Oregon and California have passed progressive renewable energy bills mandating that 25% and 33%, respectively, of state energy must come from renewable sources by 2025. Having fewer and fewer resources to pull from in California, the state is looking to its neighbors. Their major electric utilities company PG&E has already shown interest in connecting various renewable energy projects in BC to California’s electricity grid by way of a $4 billion transmission system upgrade.
Alberta, although wealthy in renewable energy resources, built its economy on the backbone of oil and gas, and now on the oil sands. A recent $2 billion commitment to investment in carbon capture and storage technology shows that they are ready to upgrade their image. In the future, buying renewable energy from BC would go a long way toward creating a clean slate for the oil sands.
Steeped in both financial and natural wealth and home to an internationally renowned hotbed of innovative technology, BC along with its green conscience, has all the components needed to become a leader in clean and renewable energy technologies.
Still BC’s potential remains widely unrealized.
It’s not that there aren’t companies and organizations trying valiantly to make green energy work in BC. Various companies are working hard at harnessing BC’s potential. But a lack of large-scale political commitment and the ongoing debate in BC over public versus private ownership continues to hinder BC’s green energy transformation.
The BC Energy Plan: A Vision for Clean Energy Leadership states that a ‘combination of renewable alternative energy sources and conservation will allow us to pursue our potential to become a net exporter of clean, renewable energy to our Pacific neighbors.’ Government initiatives like the $25 million Innovative Clean Energy Fund and the Standing Offer Program, which encourages small (under 10MW) clean energy projects, are steps in the right direction but they only take BC so far.
BC Hydro, a predominantly hydroelectric company which controls 94% of BC’s electricity production, has also opened its doors in recent years to alternative energy sources. Run of the river projects have received the majority of support from BC Hydro through the Calls for Power as their transition into the BC Hydro economy is relatively smooth. The uptake of non-hydro energy sources like wind, wave, tidal and geothermal however, continues to occur at a snail’s pace as the projects lack the necessary political and financial commitment.
Adding to BC’s slow transformation is the concern of BC citizens over what privatization will do to both the environment and the price of electricity.
Some environmentalists strictly oppose renewable energy projects due to the unknown ecological consequences and others like David Suzuki, Canada’s award-winning scientist, environmentalist and broadcaster, understand that “global warming will kill birds and bats, as well as other species, in much greater numbers than wind power. We just need good planning to ensure that our energy production is balanced with ecological concerns. And we need to believe in our ability to develop solutions.”
On price escalation, the Suzuki Foundation advocates the installment of Advanced Renewable Tariffs (ARTs), a method successfully adopted in Europe which integrates renewable sources of electricity into the grid at a fixed price specified by the power utility.
So how will BC shift its renewable energy potential into high gear?
Mantra believes that the transformation starts with a clear and exciting vision of what we can accomplish together. By stating our ultimate goal, coordination can begin between individual efforts, leading us to a unified approach. As Obama recently stated in regards to clean coal, “If we can put a man on the moon…”
“The first step is a BIG idea and then we start connecting the dots,” says Mantra CEO Kristof, “by bringing the political leaders together, forging relationships with investors and the international community and by building public-private partnerships that honor public interests we can move forward on green energy.”
Kristof believes that an L-shaped clean energy corridor with BC at its hinge is the type of big idea BC needs to motivate action. Equipped for the challenge, companies like Mantra are skilled at connecting the technologies to the people and the finances. They bridge the gap between science and investment, match opportunities with needs, and find innovations that address urgent new questions.
Mantra is just one company that has begun to coordinate a planetary system of partners, collaborators, contributors and licensees committed to green technologies. The company recently signed a Korean firm to help commercialization of its revolutionary clean energy technology, the ERC (electro-reduction of carbon dioxide).
With a variety of similarly ambitious companies in BC and the myriad of opportunity at its doorstep, it is essential that the BC government steps up to the plate and dedicates a provincial strategic governmental agency solely to directing BC’s renewable energy agenda. The agency would be responsible for setting targets, timelines and standards for renewable energy projects, overseeing a one-stop project approval process and coordinating green energy programs.
Big ideas can be successful if they are backed by a clear mandate and strong political leadership. By working together, the public and private sectors in BC can create an L shaped clean energy corridor, open new markets and catapult BC onto the world stage as a leader in green energy.
Rowan Oloman is a freelance writer living in Vancouver, Canada. This article was written by Oloman on behalf of Mantra Energy Corp. She holds a Masters degree in Environmental Management from the University of New South Wales and a BA in Environmental Geography from the University of Sydney. Oloman works as the director of several international conservation projects and as a researcher for green technology solutions with a variety of companies.
RELATED SITES:
Mantra Energy Corporation
The Union of Concerned Scientists
A Vision for Clean Energy Leadership
BC Hydro
The David Suzuki Foundation
Those are my thoughts as well. From what I gather there is a few investors in the Vancouver area that are manipulative and would like to play games at this level. I would post more info... but what's the point? That would only serve their interests in stirring things up. the main point is... this is rock solid technology and I just hope I am smart enough to realize its full potential to take profits when it climbs up to a very generous plateau.
That is way cool for mantra. I notice the form was from 97... how did you happen upon it?
Here is the Link to the previous post... Global Commercialization sounds sweet.
http://www.earthtoys.com/emagazine.php?issue_number=09.06.01&article=kristof
Recent technological developments in the electro-reduction of carbon dioxide to formic acid, a valuable chemical with possible application in the steel pickling process, may offer an alternative to expensive large scale carbon capture and storage operations.
Capitalizing on Carbon Dioxide
Emerging technologies hold promise for the steel industry
By Larry Kristof, Mantra Venture Group
With the inauguration of President Barack Obama, the United States will soon follow in the footsteps of the European Union by introducing measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050. Obama’s plan includes the introduction of a federal cap and trade system in which the government would set limits on carbon emissions by power plants, factories and other installations. Those who emit more carbon dioxide than the prescribed limit will be allowed to buy or trade permits with those that emit less. Further, Obama vows to allot US$15 billion each year to stimulate private sector efforts toward a clean energy future.
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Essential to industrial development, the steel industry will play a vital role in the expansion of alternative technologies including wind, solar and the production of fuel efficient vehicles. For an industry that currently emits 4% of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions, implementation of a carbon cap and trade system would come as a big blow. Although improvements in efficiency have dramatically decreased the industry’s greenhouse gas emissions they remain a staggering 1.7 tons of carbon dioxide released per ton of steel produced. Global steel output is about 1.3 billion tons per year. Scientific advancements in carbon removal and conversion techniques are therefore paramount.A great deal of emphasis has been placed on carbon capture and storage (CCS) as a way to deal with high carbon dioxide emissions. Carbon capture and storage is a broad term used to describe technologies that will capture carbon dioxide from point sources and store it in deep geological formations, in deep ocean masses, or as mineral carbonates. The processes involved in CCS have been demonstrated in other industrial applications, so it will likely be one part of the global solution. So far however, the associated costs and environmental risks have prohibited substantial commercial applications.
In light of the economic, technical and legal challenges facing the large-scale deployment of CCS, scientists are exploring innovative strategies to convert carbon dioxide into valuable fuels and chemicals. By turning a waste product into a commodity, researchers are hoping to provide a financial incentive for companies to begin the transformation to clean technologies. Originating at the University of British Columbia, a new technology named ERC (the electro-reduction of carbon dioxide) aims to take CO2 directly from blast furnaces and convert it to formic acid, a valuable chemical with many industrial applications. Although the ERC process is not limited to use in the steel industry, a patented technology exists that claims the advantages of formic acid over the commonly used mineral acids for steel pickling. Such technology could provide a cyclical industrial benefit and an economic incentive for industry to take the next step toward CO2 mitigation.
Hydrochloric acid is currently used extensively in the steel pickling process to clean the oxidized surface of hot-rolled steel during the manufacturing process. It is an aggressive, non-biodegradable acid that corrodes the surrounding plant equipment, can pit the finished steel product, and must be put through an expensive regeneration or neutralization process before it can be reused or released into the environment.
Formic acid has many potential advantages over hydrochloric acid in steel pickling, including but not limited to; producing a better product quality, the ability to be re-used from the spent solution to provide an easy, cost effective recycling process and the fact that it is non-toxic and bio-degradable. The ERC process also produces oxygen as a byproduct which can be used in the blast furnace to increase iron production.
The amount of formic acid that can be produced at any one steel plant would exceed the local pickling requirements, but the acid is widely used today in a variety of industrial processes and could replace many industrial chemicals in new applications where it becomes cost effective. New technologies also show that formic acid has the potential to play a leading role in fuel cell development, both as a direct fuel and as a fuel storage material for on-demand release of hydrogen.
As the political climate surrounding greenhouse gas emissions grows hotter it will be important for competitive companies to move towards technologies that not only reduce their environmental impact but provide an economic advantage. Innovators are working hard to find practical solutions by capitalizing on carbon dioxide as a valuable commodity instead of treating it as a waste that requires costly disposal. Now it is up to industry to take the bold steps needed to control the emission of carbon dioxide.
More information on the ERC technology can be found at www.mantraenergy.com. Mantra Venture Group facilitates investment in sustainable, commercially viable technologies.
Quick List of references for:
ERC:
Li Hui and Oloman.C., The electroreduction of carbon dioxide in a continuous reactor. J.Appl.Electrochem. In press. April 2005
http://www.faqs.org/patents/app/20080223727
Obama Energy Plan:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/newenergy
FORMIC ACID USE IN STEEL PICKLING PROCESS:
European Steel Research Association information http://www.eurofer.be/publications/pdf/2002-NetEURes.pdf
STEEL INDUSTRY STATISTICS:
EPA Profile of the Iron and Steel Industry
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/publications/...
http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/t3/fact_sheets/steelfs.pdf
Hydrochloric acid information:
http://www.mnsi.net/~pas/hydrochloricwhysnhows.PDF
FORMIC ACID USES:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080507105630.htm
Björn Loges, Albert Boddien, Henrik Junge, Matthias Beller. Controlled Generation of Hydrogen from Formic Acid Amine Adducts at Room Temperature and Application in H2/O2 Fuel Cells. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2008, 47, 3962–3965 doi: 10.1002/anie.200705972
http://www.chemicalprocessing.com/industrynews/2006/035.html
OTHER:
http://www.amazon.ca/CO2-Conversion-Utilization-Chunshan-Song/dp/toc/0841237476
http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-01212004-125820/unrestricted/Indala_thesis.pdf
Announcement of Option Agreement between Kemetco Research, Inc. and Mantra Venture Group
MAY 25, 2009 · POSTED IN NEWS
Electroreduction of Carbon Dioxide
U.S. industry produces an estimated 147 terragrams of CO2 equivalent per year and Carbon Credits currently trade at values of up to $40 USD.
In using renewable energy, Mantra’s Electroreduction of Carbon Dioxide (ERC) technology combines captured CO2 with water to produce high value materials, including: formic acid, formate salts, oxalic acid, and methanol. In addition, companies adopting ERC stand to make significant profit from its by-products. Formic acid, for example, currently sells for approx. $1,200/ton.
Mantra successfully completed a prototype capable of processing 1 Kg of CO2 per day in Oct. 2008, and its first commercial scale reactor is schedule for completion by Q2 2010.
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Definitly
GM Goforthebet,
I believe the technology they have for wind has to do with "signal smoothing" . It is another across the board technology that makes green electricity (solar, wind, hydro, etc) more applicable to the current grid system we use to run our homes. Obviously the rates of output for these is sporadic and needs to be regulated or smoothed out. Other then that I am not sure what they have in store. Talk to you soon,
-Greener
Good volume this morning so far at 15917.
There is talk on Quality stocks about a daily newsletter from MVTG. It will be a challenge to stay in fresh info.... but Larry probably is sitting on a mountain of undisclosed info to spoon out to us.
We're hungry for it!
GM
I am really excited about the CCS. THe CC because it will make it easier for Mantra and the Storage because it will be expensive and outdated as soon as it gets started.
Gruesome horse accident.... I hope the driver and horse didn't die.... looks horrible.
Thanks for the PM. I will do what I can, you should give me a PM with your email for a real response. Thanks
-Greener
Flash Back:
On 7-31-08 Mantra had its 53 wk high of .45
I think we are cruising for some new heights this summer for sure.
The volume is slowly going up at 58,679 for today. Also, a similar news item about the $75,000 deal with Canadian Gov which would supplement research was signed today if I read it correctly. -Great stuff and more to come I'm sure.
Now is the time to keep your eyes and search engine alerts open as Larry is poised to give us exciting news. If we know anything about these guys they are transparent and very cautious and professional with news.
That is great news, they (Canadian Gov) will subsidize their research up to 75,000 commensurate to the amount Mantra puts into research. it is very promising technology that is undervalued... perhaps because so many have cried wolf and not had the tech to back it up. JMHO
Mantra Venture Group Ltd. to be Featured in Small Cap Stock Newsletter QualityStocks Daily
On Thursday May 14, 2009, 9:00 am EDT
Buzz up! Print
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mantra Venture Group Ltd. (OTCBB: MVTG) announced that they have agreed with QualityStocks to be featured in The Small Cap QualityStocks Daily Newsletter, QualityStocks Daily Blogs and Message Boards. QualityStocks, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, is a service that collects data from hundreds of Small-Cap and Micro-Cap online Investment Newsletters into one Free Daily Newsletter Report. QualityStocks is dedicated to assisting emerging public companies with their advertising efforts and now has over 750,000+ subscribers that receive The Daily Stock Newsletter via opt-in email.
Mr. Larry Kristof, President and CEO of Mantra Venture, has the company focused on becoming a world leader in the development of commercially viable, sustainable technologies by minimizing the impact of human activity on our climate, environment and health. The company aims to bridge the gap between innovation and investment by identifying and incubating clean tech innovations and renewable energy solutions.
Mantra is dedicated to developing and commercializing technologies that support a greener economy, with a key focus on meeting the needs of the present without compromising the future. The company is currently focused on two core technologies: The Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide (ERC) - a technology that combines captured carbon dioxide with water to produce high value materials, and Biometals Recovery System - a technology targeting the treatment of acid mine drainage, metal recovery and energy savings.
Mr. Kristof stated, “Mantra Venture Group has a unique and solid business foundation, and the company appreciates the opportunity to be featured in the QualityStocks Newsletter, Video and Blogs. QualityStocks is providing a much-needed service in the micro-cap and small-cap markets."
Michael McCarthy, Managing Director for QualityStocks, commented, "We are very pleased to have Mantra Venture as a featured company. The Company is methodically establishing itself as a leading green tech company.”
About Mantra Venture Group Ltd. (MVTG.OB)
Mantra, through its group of sustainable energy, carbon reduction and consumer product subsidiaries, is active in the green technology marketplace with an innovative, multi-faceted approach focused on profitability through sustainability. By aggressively seeking out new technologies and innovating solutions for a cleaner earth for everyone, Mantra intends to provide a highly profitable and environmentally responsible investment for its shareholders.
For more information on Mantra Venture Group Ltd., visit: www.MVTG.QualityStocks.net.
About QualityStocks
Small Cap Stock Newsletter QualityStocks is a free service that collects data from hundreds of Small-Cap and Micro-Cap online Investment Newsletters into one free Daily Newsletter Report.
You can SIGN UP NOW http://Signup.QualityStocks.net
Forward-Looking Statements:
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain as they are based on current expectations and assumptions concerning future events or future performance of the company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are only predictions and speak only as of the date hereof. In evaluating such statements, prospective investors should review carefully various risks and uncertainties identified in this release and matters set in the company's SEC filings. These risks and uncertainties could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements.
Contact:
QualityStocks
Michael McCarthy
480-308-0703
http://www.QualityStocks.net
editor@QualityStocks.net
ALL ABOARD !!!
The MVTG rocket is moving up if only temporarily.
I may have been off on yesterdays volume.... sorry
THE ASK IS .27
Maybe we will see some gains today.
One sell at 10,000 and it only moved down.01
Curious that 100 share sell yesterday moved it .04 down
Yes Indeed,
Fuel cells will be big time technology. Please take a look at the new videos on Youtube ( some are in Korean which is exciting, but only the pictures are comprehendible to me):
CCS video link
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7584155.stm
The technology is still new but the carbon capture is of primary importance. If these guys capture the carbon from coal lets say, they can drop it off to ERC and be done with it instead of pumping it in the ground. Then they save tons of money and Mantra turns it into Formic acid dollars. Pretty Slick
Oh well.
Hopefully news is coming. They sounded excited about some global interest that is heating up. Hopefully it will be as big as imagined.
-Greener
WOW
Now I want to know the story behind that picture. I don't see how you could live thru that.
Hello Goforthebet
Free tickets to pollute sounds corrupt. I am glad that the ERC technology is value based. Even if they can pollute for free (which they have for years) ERC pays money back as if Carbon is a commodity or a resource. CCS is money in the trash can and not proven to be 100% effective. Just some news that all the CO2 they pump in the ground is bad for the environment and the table s will turn. Even if not, ERC is good business sense.
Hey, that light house photo is fake right? There is no way they could live thru that!
-Greener
Bluebird has committed to investing CDN $3.5 million for the development of commercial scale carbon dioxide processing equipment. In return, Bluebird will become Mantra’s exclusive licensee, distributor and manufacturing partner in Korea and other specified regions within Asia.
Mr. Tae-in Kim, President and CEO of Bluebird commented, “Our company is in the business of clean air and we are therefore very grateful for having been introduced to Mantra through the District of North Vancouver. Our goal is to bring the best technologies from Mantra and Bluebird together to become the number one Green Tech company in the world. I would like to thank all of you for your continued support and encouragement.”
I agree, Mantra has a good concept. It is not short sighted and I think once a few big key players come in we will start going up in numbers. They mentioned to me that they were doing some focus type advertising to get to some choice investors because there is only so much they can get out of news reports. Although there is a lot of good news in the pipes.
Did you get an invitation to the Mine water demonstration on May 6th in B.C.? i am going to see if they want that posted for any who want to go. Thanks
-Greener
GM Goforthebet,
Thanks for the post.
That is one of the most immoral titles for an article. IMO
It is like saying how much a landfill will hold before it bursts. I think they will have to change their minds about this because it sucks up money and gives back nothing. National Geographic says the ocean already has a ton of CO2 in it and acts as the worlds sink. No body knows what will happen by putting too much carbon in the ocean.... I don't think it will be good for life.
-Greener