The Cleantech Show #017 (MP3 - 14MB - 37min)
Interview with Phil Kithill, Atmocean Inc.

In February 2007, Richard Branson and Al Gore announced a new global science and technology prize - The Virgin Earth challenge  - whereby an individual or group can demonstrate a solution that can remove at least 1 billion tons of atmospheric carbon dioxide per year for at least ten years. The objective is to act as a saftey and long term mechanism to help reduce atmospheric CO2 concentrations. The prize? $25 million, but the solution has to be commercially viable and registrations are open until 2010 (wiki)

One company which many have high hopes for being eligible for this prize and a candidate for large scale CO2 sequestration is Atmocean based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Our guest on this weeks show is Phil Kithil the founder and CEO of Atmocean Inc and inventor of the company’s wave-driven ocean upwelling system.

Previously Phil founded and led Advanced Safety Concepts, Inc., an automotive safety technology business where he was awarded 12 US and international patents on occupant sensing and crash sensing, which he sold to Methode Electronics (a Chicago-based automotive supplier) in 2004.

Atmocean is developing its proprietary wave-driven ocean upwelling system to cool the upper ocean and enhance natural biological processes to absorb CO2. When widely deployed across critical ocean regions, the Atmocean technology can help fight global warming by sequestering massive amounts of CO2 on the ocean floor, reduce hurricane intensity, and help revive ocean fisheries.

If you would like to understand how the technology works, the Atmocean website has some good animations and video clips explaining the technology

Currently the company is a significant research phase testing and refining the technology. When deployed estimates are that a 100,000 sq km array of 25,000 pumps would be able to sequester 2.5 million tonnes of CO2.  Phil and his team are also raising capital for further development of the technology.

So in the comments this week, do you think this technology can achieve what is says? Are there other technologies that are better placed to sequester carbon dioxide. Lets hear your thoughts.

Enjoy the show.

cheers
Nick Bruse

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The Cleantech Show #011 (MP3 - 16MB - 44min)

What if you could develop an additive that could be integrated into products in over 25 markets, including paints, power cable coatings, refrigeration consumer food packaging and even clothing that could reduce the temperature of objects and spaces by 15-20%.

Well this is what the Australian company, TAG Technology is able to achieve with its Thermally Active Granule technology. On this weeks show I speak with CEO of Tag Technology, David Forder about the huge implications of their product and the success they have had to date in a broad range of applications.

Paint is an obvious application of this technology, and the company is far down the pathway of developing products in this area. But how bout this, when applied to a coating that can be applied to high tension power cables they can result in a temperature reduction in the power line by 25%. For those that understand electrical resistance this has a huge effect on reducing the resistance and hence loses associate with power transmission. Current results indicate an expected 10% transmission efficiency improvement. Amazing!

In 2000, David took a major shareholding in ‘TAG’ , a unique nano scale technology which allows the production of thermally active coatings, films and textiles. David (now Chief Executive Officer at TAG) has been actively commercialising this technology since 2000. Products incorporating the technology are expected to begin entering the market in September this year.

cheers
Nick Bruse

Subscribe to TPN :: The Cleantech Show by Email - More about the host