The following link provides a really good description of a fuel cell. It is published by the US Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy department. I do not know if there is a British equivalent body but the article and concept makes for fascinating reading, especially after the BBC documentary on Chernobyl last night. The World Nuclear Association website has some useful links on this and a number of related subjects.

Energy consumption is rising at such a high rate in the UK – 19% between 1990 and 2001. This dramatic rate of increase is one of the main reasons why we have a power protection industry and why we as an industry must constantly strive for better operating efficiencies in our UPS.

This is not a rant but why is the UK government now effectively taxing “initiative” ? Car owners (one of the scourges of modern society we are lead to believe) are actually trying to do something that is environmentally friendly and the British government is going tax them for it.

Vegetable oil, the humble catalyst that turns boring potatoes into crispy chips is now to be taxed if you use it to fuel your car. Basically car owners are running their vehicles on waste vegetable oil from pubs and restaurants. The fuel burns well and is very eco-friendly. Read this article by Oliver Duff in The Independent Online. Surely this is not the way to spur innovation and lead to advances in energy efficiency.