Affordable renewable energy is still science fiction, right? Dead wrong, says Dr. Eric Martinot, and he should know. A former senior energy specialist with the World Bank in Washington, DC from 1999 to 2003 and affiliated with the Worldwatch Institute, Eric created an annual compendium on renewable power in 2005 called the REN21 Renewables Global Status Report. The author of that and dozens of other influential publications on renewable and sustainable energy since 1990, he’s also an editorial board member of the journal Energy Policy. Currently a senior research director with the Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies in Tokyo and teaching fellow at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand, Eric shuttles between Japan, China, Europe and New Zealand researching real-life examples of renewable energy to track our long-term energy future to 2050. He’ll be spending most of 2013 and 2014 on a global tour speaking about his pioneering REN21 Renewables Global Futures Report, issued in January 2013.

http://www.martinot.info
http://www.martinot.info/renewables2050
http://www.twitter.com/renewables2050
http://jp.linkedin.com/in/renewables2050

About TEDx, x = independently organized event
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)
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Gasifier uses wood pellets to create flammable mixture that a generator can run on without gasoline. This video shows how it was constructed, how it works, and how to use it from start to finish. Great project for anyone looking for alternative energy or wanting to live off the grid.

Just for some clarification — I mention a rheostat that I ordered; I ordered a 25w 20 ohm rheostat. That rheostat will effectively give me the control to adjust the voltage to the blower motor from 12v down to nearly 0v (I think… I’m not an electrical engineer).