Breakthrough in alternative green energy actually holds real promise

I've been wondering when a really good alternative energy source would come out; this has the potential to be that. From the University of Minnesota comes this announcement about a clean "green" method of generating electricity. It's covered in an article today at http://wattsupwiththat.com/2011/06/22/new-multiferroic-alloy-creates-electricity-from-waste-heat/. Go there to read more details, as well as following links to more about the research and potential of this discovery/invention. Below, I've quoted some of today's article:

From the University of Minnesota via Eurkealert today, this looks interesting:

University of Minnesota engineering researchers discover source for generating 'green' electricity

Figure 2. Schematic (a) and actual (b) views of the demonstration. C, coil; R, heat source; S, specimen of Ni45Co5Mn40Sn10; M, permanent magnet with direction of magnetization indicated; T, thermocouple; V, voltmeter.

University of Minnesota engineering researchers in the College of Science and Engineering have recently discovered a new alloy material that converts heat directly into electricity. This revolutionary energy conversion method is in the early stages of development, but it could have wide-sweeping impact on creating environmentally friendly electricity from waste heat sources.

Researchers say the material could potentially be used to capture waste heat from a car's exhaust that would heat the material and produce electricity for charging the battery in a hybrid car. Other possible future uses include capturing rejected heat from industrial and power plants or temperature differences in the ocean to create electricity. The research team is looking into possible commercialization of the technology.

"This research is very promising because it presents an entirely new method for energy conversion that's never been done before," said University of Minnesota aerospace engineering and mechanics professor Richard James, who led the research team."It's also the ultimate 'green' way to create electricity because it uses waste heat to create electricity with no carbon dioxide."

This could be revolutionary since waste heat can be found just about anywhere. If they can size it right, we could generate by running on a treadmill! For that matter, this is the opposite of traditional electricity generation, because it produces waste heat that must be addressed by cooling towers or other methods. This new invention could be adapted fairly easily, I'd imagine, to wring more electricity at that existing back end of standard generators.

How much effect this may have on the alternative energy markets obviously will depend on the costs of commercialization, along with the cost-benefit payback ratio it'll represent for companies adopting it. This will be a development worth monitoring.

For that bullish feeling, check out RINO which has traders charging

When Trader Brian who's posting nowadays at the UBTNB3 site (see links and site feed at right) and tweeting - under the moniker, "kalkgrun" - first mentioned RINO, I'll admit I thought it was a biotech probably focused on flu prevention or remedies. Might be a waste of the name, except that this China-based maker of waste disposition, environmental protection equipment has traders charging ahead like rhinos! A rhinoceros has bulk like a bull, and its stubborness helps it charge and break through with just one massive horn (compared with a bull's two). It's Rino International (Nasdaq: RINO). Brian tweeted again today about volumes, so check those out on the daily and weekly charts below.

So you say, it's too late and the money's been made after it zoomed up from a penny? Well, Investor's Business Daily likes the fact it's built a base at/above $12 - read Paul Whitfield's article on this, at http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Rino-Shaping-Its-First-Base-Above-$12 (9/22/09). Holding this stock as a position underpinned by this base therefore also makes sense as a KI$$ position too! Browsing about, I also learned that the Motley Fool folks like RINO because of insiders buying and holding substantial stock in it. From an Elliott Wave perspective we should allow for the possibility that it's embarking on a large third wave up to come. If that's the case, then it really should not fall under $11 or $12, so that's a logical area to stop out if the situation changes. Interesting that the parabolic SAR just turned positive on the weekly - but it isn't my favorite indicator so let it just be part of the positive indicators. So thanks Brian "kalkgrun" - the volumes generated as traders charge into RINO may be signaling that this beast will be charging ahead for a long time to come ...!