Tag Archives: technology
BP, Shell Biofuel Investments Hit Seven-Year Low
July 9, 2013 Big oil companies in Europe including BP and Royal Dutch Shell have cut back on biofuel research , which will slow efforts to find a sustainable alternative to gasoline that does not involve food-based supply, Fuel Fix reports. BP and Shell have stopped funding four different projects because they say the technology to generate fuel from woody plants and waste will not be economically viable until 2020 or later. This funding cut brought biofuel investments from a high of $7.6 billion in the last quarter of 2007 to a low of $57 million for the first quarter of this year — the lowest it has been since 2006. Such reductions will make it unlikely that the US and the EU will meet their targets to wean people off of gasoline any time soon, Fuel Fix says. The International Energy Agency says biofuels must supply 27 percent of the fuel for vehicles by 2050 so the US and EU can meet climate change targets. So far, most of the 1.9 million barrels of biofuel produced daily comes from corn or sugar, which in turn has pushed corn prices up and led to food-versus-fuel worries that this will take away food supplies from the poor. Research into next-generation biofuels may open up opportunities to tap non-food sources like jatropha, switch grass and corn stalks, and waste sources like paper. But BP and Shell, both considered among the most open to alternative fuels, scuttled their programs because they found their technologies could not be scaled up to commercial production levels in an economical manner. However, BP says it will continue to work with DuPont on biobutanol and has jointly opened a $520 million wheat-to-ethanol plant in the UK. In a parallel situation in the US, Exxon and Chevron have also cut back on biofuel spending . Chevron explored 100 feedstocks for viability before it shelved plans, while Exxon invested $100 million on algae but could not find a commercially viable solution, Fuel Fix reports. Global biofuels output last year fell for the first time since 2000 due to weakness in the US, BP reported last month. In May, the EPA proposed changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard program that include new renewable fuel pathways aimed at enhancing the ability of the biofuels industry to supply advanced biofuels, including cellulosic biofuels, to the market. Cellulosic biofuels will likely remain well below targets set by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 , according to a February statement by the US Energy Information Administration. Continue reading
All Dubai buildings will get geo-address codes
All Dubai buildings will get geo-address codes Sajila Saseendran / 9 July 2013 Each building in Dubai is slated to soon receive its geo-address code number which will help find locations easier and faster through a geo-address navigation system launched by the Dubai Municipality. The GIS Department of the municipality has completed issuing a special location number and barcode to 123,000 buildings in Dubai, Director of the Department Abdul Hakim Malik told Khaleej Times on Monday. “This means we have got the accurate location of the entrances of all these buildings in Dubai, including those in the free zones and in Hatta. There will be no more confusion in identifying any place, building, street or locality in Dubai if you use the new Geo Address System of the municipality.” Finding the location of these premises, which include government organisations, hospitals, schools, hotels, commercial buildings, houses, factories and warehouses, can now be done with a single click on using a globally integrated code via smart phones, iPads, computers and navigators. The latest navigation product from Garmin, the municipality’s partner in the project, has exclusively incorporated the municipality’s system into it. “If you put the geo-coordinate number of your home in the Garmin system, it will guide you exactly to your home.” A team of officials will be assigned to personally visit and distribute the geo-coordinates of each and every building, said Malik. “They will double check the code and hand it over to the reception desk or the watchmen to distribute it among the occupants. We hope to start distributing the codes in two months and finish it in four months.” Pasting the code on the website www.mylocation.ae will allow one to find the exact location of the specific building. For example, the Dubai Municipality’s main building in Deira can be located by searching by its name or by its coordinates for the building 40R CN 30002 95324. “These are more accurate than Google map or any other product available now. If you are accessing the browser through a mobile phone, you have the option of sending the location code through SMS as well. If it is on the computer, you can email it to your friends.” The live traffic view on the site will help motorists choose route with less traffic to reach their destination faster. Emergency services, police and civil defence officials are expected to start using the DM’s new system soon after the department completes the project. “Hopefully, the system will be fully launched by the end of 2014 once the numbering of entire buildings and locations is completed, which will ultimately help different nationalities who speak around 127 languages in the city of Dubai,” Malik said. According to him, the second version of the municipality’s digital navigation product will be out in three months. sajila@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
Sharjah Transport denies cab fare hike reports
Sharjah Transport denies cab fare hike reports Ahmed Shaaban (ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com) / 8 July 2013 Sharjah Transport on Sunday denied reports that cab fares had been hiked in the emirate and the taxi meter calibration changed. Abdulaziz Al Jarwan, Assistant Director-General for Operations at the corporation, told Khaleej Times that taxi meters started ticking at Dh3 for all trips inside and outside the emirate. “Passengers are only charged Dh20 extra for cab trips to Dubai,” he said. All cabbies had been instructed to add the Dh20 additional charge for outside trips only at the end of the trip. This was because some passengers had complained that cabbies added the extra Dh20 at the beginning of the trip itself and those passengers who changed their mind on the way and did not cross the border ended up fighting with the cabbies. All passengers might now change their mind at any time of the cab trip. “All cabbies have been strictly ordered to add the extra Dh20 only at the end of the trip.” Besides Dh20, the Salik fee was added if the cab passed through any of the toll gates in Dubai. “Cab meters start ticking at Dh3 from 6am to 10.59pm and Dh4 from 11pm to 5.59am.” Al Jarwan said the poster stuck in all taxis displayed these facts. “All passengers are urged to keep in touch with the Sharjah Transport office round the clock at 600525252 to submit their comments, complaints and suggestions on the services being provided.” Continue reading
