Weekly Online Lesson Online Lesson Archive Grade Level: 10-12 Subject: Chemistry

Alternative Energy

Texaco Oil, the third largest U.S. oil company, agreed on May 2, 2000, to make a major investment in Energy Conversion Devices, Inc., a company that specializes in hydrogen fuel production and storage. If other oil companies likewise invest in alternative energy, it could eventually lead to the end of petroleum fuel and the internal combustion engine. That could make the planet a lot cleaner place to live.

In this week's online lesson you will learn more about the science of alternative energy and why some companies are looking for better ways to power our cars, our homes, and our lives.

Energy Conversion Devices

Start the lesson by visiting the Web site of Energy Conversion Devices. First read the press release of Texaco's announcement. What reason does Senior Vice President William Wicker give for Texaco's investment in ECD?

Ovonics is "a branch of electronics that deals with applications of the change from an electrically nonconducting state to a semiconducting state shown by glasses of special composition upon application of a certain minimum voltage." Put another way, ovonics is the science and technology of amorphous and disordered materials that have widespread applications for energy and information.

How does the word ovonics apply to ECD? Click the Hydrogen Technology link on the left, and then click Ovonic Vision. This page tells you the history of ECD's work developing hydrogen technology. What have been the discouraging factors in hydrogen use for energy applications?

Why is hydrogen a better form of energy than petroleum? To learn more about this question, click Why Hydrogen? How much of the universe is made up of hydrogen? How can pure hydrogen be produced? Click the Hydrogen Facts link. What does the hydrogen molecule look like? Why is hydrogen one of the building blocks of life?

To use hydrogen as a form of energy, you must be able to safely store it. That's where metal hydride technology comes into play. Click the Metal Hydrides to learn what metal hydrides are and how hydrogen interacts with them.

Now that you understand more about hydrogen fuel and hydrogen storage, click Ovonic Technology to see how ECD has combined these technologies as a complete alternative energy system. Click Ovonic Products to learn about some of the products ECD has produced to support the new generation of hydrogen vehicles.

Alternative Fuels Data Center

ECD technology is all about safe, efficient production and storage of hydrogen fuel. Texaco was impressed enough with their technology to make a major investment in the company. But hydrogen isn't the only alternative fuel vying to replace petroleum. Learn more about alternative fuels at the Alternative Fuels Data Center site, hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Start by clicking the Alternative Fuels link on the left. You will see a list of alternative fuels (anything other than gasoline); click each fuel, and then click General Information to learn more about it.

How soon will alternative fuel vehicles be available from major auto manufacturers? Browse to the Fuel Cells in Transportation site to read the latest announcements and developments.

© Copyright 2002
Learners Online, Inc.