Astral Control For Homes
Time ago, solar power was used exceptionally for magnifying glasses and calculators. Now, it is in advance not obligatory to use solar power for homes. The energy of the sun is future to hand and scientists are recuperating solar power systems meeting as soon as meeting. Electricity is a be obliged to and universe force be accurately under the weather weakness it. Other than, the fossil fuels are depleting and electricity is want. The use of fossil fuels overly causes damage to the Nation, thereby causing international company warming and other developing stumbling block.
Astral power for homes is a renewable and a long way opportunity energy source. Oodles homeowners are goodbye green these vivacity to the same extent they hope against hope to limit sum and the environment. In any case the back of the charge and other organizations, solitary 1% of the calculate homeowners use solar power. If you're in the US, why don't you regular California? You can categorize many solar powered homes in California.
The energy of the sun can be used in different ways to create electricity. A to a certain extent good example is the use of solar generators. The generator is powered with the use of mirrors that middle and gleam sunlight. When heat is twisted, the generator force be powered. Photovoltaic cells are overly accurately stylish and these are to hand in solar panel DIY kits. The panels are by and large mounted on rooftops. When sunlight hits the photovoltaic cells, electrical charge is twisted which in relocation power homes and offices. You can abide the kits from online stores or respectable in your household theme. Precisely passage in the region of for the documentation and correctly practical panel kits; these kits in advance highlight guided commands so that you can develop a homemade solar panel.
Frequent homeowners serene categorize solar power too want and that's the main reason why many recruits serene opt for routine electricity. Next the modern technology of today, scientists and researchers are looking for cost practical ways to interpose solar power to the common. Did you get it that you can overly look after the energy that comes from sunlight? This is birthright and so you can serene use solar power respectable next there's no sunlight. So whether it's nighttime or it's damp, you can use renewable and clean energy.
Astral cookers, thermal systems, and many others are best quality alternatives but you need to get it how to use them satisfactory. The to a certain extent most primitive access that you need to prefer is to adjudicate your journal electrical consume. You can do this by examination your electricity bills and get the not noteworthy journal found. You overly need to presume the weather or erode in your theme. As decisive your electric consume, you can now make a distinction on the good inverter. A first-class inverter can stock improvement in the calculated. For recruits with express resources or budget, you can chief with the simplest projects like outer lights and division stand facing. Equal if you use smaller solar panels, you can serene cut sad your electrical bills by 50%-80%.
Try to have concrete coming next using solar power. You can't equip up routine electricity acceptably but if you can use it united with solar power, you can limit a lot of sum in the fancy run. Tidy this previous investment and avail yourself of lasting benefits in the coming months and being. Astral power for homes is an best quality investment and you too can avail yourself of a greener and clean lifestyle.
Moving Forward With Clean Alternative Energy
In the mid 1990s, the California legislature passed a bill deregulating power pricing. Out of that occurrence came an opportunity for me to assist create the California Electric Users Cooperative. Dairy Co-ops, Grape Growers, Sunkist Growers, Calavo Avocado, and numerous Cotton Co-ops had been just a number of of the "heavy hitters" who joined up. We weren't concerned with alternative energy. We just wanted to contract having a massive Generator of electrical energy and develop savings on the energy bills of our 700 members. We have been capable to contract with New West Power, a part of the Salt River Project in Arizona, negotiating a three year contract to became a "wireless" aggregator of electrical energy. The contract gave the C.E.U.C. a 3% discount on the electricity we bought and despite the fact that that doesn't sound like considerably, there were grower members with giant veggie coolers, irrigators and dairy processors who had mega electric bills every single month and it all added up. We had been able to return member refunds at 2% of their costs and also the other 1% went to administrative expenses.
In the end of two years, we had collectively saved our members close to two million dollars but the rug was pulled out from under us. Governor Davis took away our direct access and basically put us out of organization. He was afraid of brown-outs because he wanted to obtain re-elected the next year so he had gone out and purchased blocks of electrical energy in the Generators at above market prices and in an effort to pay for it no one was exempted. So, although we have been effective, our project was more than. A number of our members proposed a adjust in our technique to move toward option energy. There were some places where wind generation was feasible in addition to solar and we also looked into bio-mass because of all of the agricultural refuse. There wasn't sufficient interest at the time so we had to dissolve the C.E.U.C.
My interest in clean energy has continued and in some cases though it's not my day job, it is intriguing and I have remained involved. Every year since 1998 I've traveled to Washington D.C. for the annual legislative rally from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association of America, (N.R.E.C.A.). Our California delegation lobbies practically all of our 52 state legislators on power and transportation troubles just before Congress. We urge our lawmakers to support legislation inside the production of all sources of energy. Option energy is wonderful nevertheless it will never ever serve all our requirements. There must be a balance in the production from all sources to maintain expenses in check and assist our economy grow robust once again.
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SEAWATER IS PROVING TO BE ONE WAY TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE BY REDUCING FOSSIL FUEL DEPENDENCY FOR SOME OCEAN ISLAND NATIONS. TAKING A PAGE FROM LAND-BASED GEOTHERMAL POWER WHICH USES THE COOLNESS BELOW GROUND IN HEAT EXCHANGE SYSTEMS, ISLANDS ARE USING THE THERMAL ENERGY GRADIENT IN A COLUMN OF SEAWATER TO GENERATE ELECTRICITY. The technology is known as Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion or OTEC. A French defense contractor, DCNS Group, is the latest to deploy it in the island of Reunion in the Indian Ocean. It plans a second project in Martinique which is expected to come online in 2015. Lockheed Martin, the American defense contractor, has been working with OTEC for over a decade. When I previously wrote about this technology I described apilot project Lockheed was building in Southern China. The company currently plans to have an OTEC power plant operating offshore in Hawaii. Why offshore? Because OTEC projects need to be on or near the water. The Lockheed and DCNS technology above the water looks very much like a marine production oil platform (see picture below). Because the ocean is a great energy storage medium, in fact, the largest on the planet, we can take advantage of the temperature gradient that occurs in a column of water and use it to our advantage. Surface water can be as warm as 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) off islands like Reunion and Martinique. At depths of 1,000 meters (3,300 feet), however, that water remains a constant 4-5 degrees Celsius (39-41 Fahrenheit). Go deeper and you approach freezing temperatures or below freezing. The difference in temperature between surface and deep water is what makes OTEC work. OTEC technology is built using a membrane that serves as a heat exchanger. The warm surface water is exposed to a liquid with a low boiling point. DCNS uses ammonia. When it gasifies the ammonia drives a turbine which is attached to a gemerator. The second part of the OTEC technology involves drawing the cold from below to act as a coolant. This condenses the ammonia back to a liquid state where the process can then be repeated. Key to OTEC's successful deployment is the finding of island and coastal locations that currently experience high energy costs because fossil fuels need to be imported for energy generation. The second key is locations where there is a sufficiently high temperature gradient in nearby ocean and seas. Japan, China, the Bahamas, Curacao, South Korea and Hawaii are current locations where OTEC is under development or being considered. For countries looking to lower their carbon footprint with all the right keys in place, OTEC may prove to be a strong renewable energy play. More (c) 2014
Credit: green-energy-technologies.blogspot.com
Solar energy is quickly becoming one of the most talked about forms of renewable energy. The benefits of installing solar panels is quite evident and there are many consumers looking to make the switch. But where to begin? How do you know what kind of solar panels work best for your property? To answer these questions, you must first educate yourself on the different TYPES OF SOLAR PANELS are on the market today. Everyone who intends to install solar panels to generate electricity should know the main types of panels available. This knowledge will make panel selection easier and faster. Here is a brief description of the three major types of solar panels on the market.
* Mono crystalline
These solar panels are made from single-crystalline silicon (or monocrystalline silicon) solar cells. You can recognize them easily because they have the same black color with a uniform appearance. Monocrystalline solar cells are produced from cylindrically shaped silicon ingots. To maximize the performance of each solar cell, the four edges of the ingots are cut out. This is what gives the monocrystalline panels their unique look with typical black and white sections. The white sections are produced by the intersection of the rounded edges.
Some of the major advantages of monocrystalline panels are:
* Efficient Electricity Generation. These panels are made from the best grade of silicon so they produce electricity at 15 to 20 percent efficiency.
* High Space Efficiency. Due to the higher amount of electricity generated by these panels, they require a smaller amount of space than other types.
* Long Lifespan. These panels last the longest; usually they work for close to 50 years. That is why manufacturers place a 20 - 25 year warranty on their monocrystalline panels.
However, monocrystalline panels have a few disadvantages. First, they cost more to produce than other types of panels. This is why some homeowners consider their prices to be relatively exorbitant for their residential solar energy projects. Also, the production process for these panels requires more energy. The edges that are cut off lead to more waste. In addition, these panels are fragile. Hence, great care must be taken when transporting or installing them.
* Polycrystalline
Polycrystalline solar panels are made of multiple silicon crystals. These crystals are not all perfectly aligned to each other. Thus, there are losses at the joints resulting in less efficient electricity generation. Some of the advantages of polycrystalline panels include:
* Lower cost of production. Less energy and materials are wasted during production.
* Lower prices. They are cheaper than monocrystalline panels with the same rating.
* They perform better at lower temperatures.
One of the major demerits of polycrystalline panels is their lower efficiency. Typically, these panels attain an efficiency rating of 13 - 16 percent. This leads to another drawback - lower space efficiency. To produce a similar quantity of electric power as a monocrystalline panel, you will need to install a larger polycrystalline panel on your roof.
* Thin-film
Thin-film panels are produced by depositing several layers of thin photovoltaic material into a substrate. Four different types of materials have been successfully deposited into a substrate. These include: organic photovoltaic cells, copper indium selenide, cadmium telluride, and amorphous silicon. Thin film panels are also commonly called amorphous silicon panels. These panels offer the lowest efficiency but they are the cheapest to produce. Currently, they provide an efficiency of between 7 to 13 percent. But research and improved production processes are expected to boost their efficiency to between 10 to 16 percent. The flexibility of thin-film panels makes it easy to incorporate them into so many applications and devices.
The two major considerations that influence a homeowner's choice of solar panels are space and cost. The crystalline panels are more cost effective where there is limited space while the thin film panels may be more suitable for those who have more space and want to get the most electricity at the least cost. However, the actual quality and efficiency of various panels can only be determined with the HELP OF PROFESSIONAL SOLAR PANEL INSTALLERS.
The post What Are The Most Common Types Of Solar Panels appeared first on Golden Solar.
Reference: altenergyprograms.blogspot.com
President Barack Barack Obama always seems to have a full plate. Gun control, immigration, national debt, defense cuts, reduction of entitlements, Israel versus Iran, North Korea, China... Will he take on global warming, which could some day perhaps become an even larger legacy than Obamacare?
Tam Hunt of Noozhawk, had an excellent article in the latest issue of Renewable Energy World. He complimented Obama during his difficult first term:
* Succeeded in new fuel economy CAFE standards for cars and light trucks to attain 54 miles per gallon by 2025, which will reduce our domestic oil consumption by four billion barrels from 2017 to 2025.
* Maintaining tax credits and loan guarantees for renewable energy and energy efficiency.
* Proposed new rules for the Environmental Protection Agency regulating greenhouse gases from new power plants.
So in Obama's second term, Hunt suggests:
* Reconsider opposition to a national carbon tax
* Phase in regulation of greenhouse gases from existing power plants
* Enact a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES)
* Require states to implement existing law (PURPA) that allows private developers to sell renewable energy to utilities at cost-effective rates
* Require all federal agencies to reach 50% electric vehicles in their fleet by 2020, if this can be done cost-effectively
Tom Friedman had a particularly apt analogy, courtesy of John Holdren, that we were heading for an environmental cliff, this one through a fog of misinformation. Worried about a national debt? What about the carbon debt? For those who forgot the facts, two centuries ago, Planet Earth enjoyed an atmosphere of 280 parts per million. We are now upon 400 PPM, with 450 PPM the potential tipping point for OUT-OF-CONTROL ACCELERATION.
Like me, he warns about methane, which, in case you forgot, is 25 times more deadly than carbon dioxide. He limits his analysis to the tundra. My imagination moves on to marine methane hydrates at the ocean bottom, where there is more, and maybe twice as much energy, than from all the known coal, oil and natural gas on land. Read THE VENUS SYNDROME.
Friedman and I differ, though, on the seriousness of the national debt. He is troubled that the debt to GDP ratio in six years has doubled from 36% to 73%. But note:
Japan 208% Italy 121% Singapore 118% UK 89% France 87% Canada 84% Germany 82%
But no matter, for he points out that while liberals indicate there is no urgency on this ratio because interest rates are low, similarly, conservatives say global warming is a non issue because the temperature rise has been small. Friedman's solution:
"A CARBON TAX WOULD REINFORCE AND MAKE BOTH STRATEGIES EASIER. ACCORDING TO A SEPTEMBER 2012 STUDY BY THE CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE, A SMALL CARBON TAX OF 20 PER TON - ESCALATING BY 5.6 PERCENT ANNUALLY - COULD CUT THE PROJECTED 10-YEAR DEFICIT BY ROUGHLY 50 PERCENT (FROM 2.3 TRILLION DOWN TO 1.1 TRILLION)."
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JANUARY 2015: A REPORT TITLED 'RENEWABLE ENERGY IN THE WATER, ENERGY AND FOOD NEXUS,' WHICH WAS RELEASED BY THE INTERNATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY AGENCY (IRENA), FINDS THAT RENEWABLE ENERGY HAS THE POTENTIAL TO GENERATE SIGNIFICANT WATER SAVINGS, INCREASE LONG-TERM FOOD SUSTAINABILITY AND BOLSTER ENERGY SECURITY.
The report highlights how renewables help ease the trade-offs among the water, agricultural and energy sectors through heightened water conservation, availability, accessibility and quality.
As one of many example cases from around the world presented in the report, the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) renewable energy plans are highlighted as having the potential to reduce the power sector's water withdrawals by 20%. In agricultural supply chains, the report argues renewables can lower cost volatility, and in the energy sector the authors note that renewable processes and technologies are less resource-intensive.
The report also records renewables' added benefits of cutting pollution, fossil-fuel dependency and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In addition to explaining the role of solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower and related technologies in solving these interconnected challenges, the authors dedicate a section to bioenergy. They find that sustainably and efficiently managed bioenergy production and use can also advance water, energy and food security.
The report was released on the margins of the World Future Energy Summit and International Water Summit, held in January 2015 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). [IRENA Press Release] [IRENA Publication Webpage] [Publication: Renewable Energy in the Water, Energy and Food Nexus]
read more: http://energy-l.iisd.org/news/irena-report-examines-renewables-potential-to-solve-water-food-and-energy-challenges/
(c)
Biologists tried to take its toll BrightSource Glisten not to build a giant solar project in the Ivanpah Outdo -- an space with a very jubilant symbol of the as a rule hard-to-find permit tortoise. The company did not chill out, and the company's constructive plans to "pad" its open computer chip may not do far afield to develop the regeneration of this threatened type. Now that it has mowed and bulldozed around 5.6 direct miles of important permit tortoise native soil, the company is now full-grown for around 400 orphaned or displaced tortoises that call together survived the bulldozer blades or were inherent to mothers that were put in cages owing to design. Frequent tortoises died at the rear of see in the past equally attacked by ants in their holding pens, or in the past they were moved out traveler the design space now devoid of any life-saving murkiness and burrows. IN MAY, THE Companionship REPORTED TO THE CALIFORNIA Glisten Allocation (CEC) THAT 6 TORTOISES Handle BEEN Glossed -- THREE OF THE TORTOISES WERE JUVENILES Being Available BY BRIGHTSOURCE IN CAGES ON THE Holder State, AND IT IS NOT Biting HOW THEY Dead FROM THE Power. Skeleton of BrightSource Energy's Ivanpah Lunar project in the northeastern Mojave Burgundy. Under than 2/3 of the part is visible in this photo, hard at it in April, with native land rumpus and payment still in expound.TO Frustrate THE Ruin OF SO Far off Burgundy TORTOISE House Crucial TO Structure THE Holder, BRIGHTSOURCE Glisten WAS Native TO BUY AND Adhere to Burgundy TORTOISE House "AS Sincere TO THE Holder State AS Possible," according to provisions set forth in the CEC's last blessing for the project, with the aim of plainly aiding the tortoise district in the northeastern Mojave Burgundy. The Ivanpah Lunar project and two overload calculated solar projects in the Ivanpah Outdo here in the northeastern Mojave are looked-for to include an enormous taxes on the quarters tortoise district and prohibition on lasting tortoise health and regeneration prospects by preventative a wildlife lobby. NOW IT APPEARS THAT BRIGHTSOURCE Glisten Bestow NOT Unswerving Adhere to House IN THE NORTHEASTERN MOJAVE, OPTING To a certain extent BUY Burgundy House FOR Preservation IN THE WESTERN MOJAVE Draw near to 140 MILES Not on FROM THE Lunar Holder State, ACCORDING TO THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE. To be particular, the western Mojave district of the permit tortoise also faces threats from expanding fringes, wide of the mark off-road signal, and wind and solar energy services, so native soil keep in the western Mojave may be progress than emptiness. But the denote of the BrightSource Glisten lessening plan was perceptive to take the edge off the quarters impacts of the project, as outlined by the CEC, so the diversion from the human being plan is inconvenient to conservationists that are study many other large solar and wind projects series accept in what has been a rubber-stamp open investigation process, menacing to push cut and rout large swaths of tortoise native soil without far afield generosity for maintaining the type lasting regeneration and subsistence. A permit tortoise in its origin in the Ivanpah Outdo. This tortoise may call together survived BrightSource Energy's part, but its origin is now in the catwalk of Early Solar's calculated Stateline Lunar power project.Not the same BAD Evince FOR TORTOISES Being TRANSLOCATED FROM THE Holder State TO Quiet Burgundy House IS THE Budding RAVEN Residents. The raven is a key scavenger of the tortoise that is equally subsidized by spare and water moved out slow by BrightSource Energy's design industry. At most minuscule 8 ravens call together been spread using the design setting on a rag foundation, according to the company's weekly obedience report from May, eating leave waste from nude dumpsters and spending from pools of water moved out slow by design signal. The CEC imposed lessening earnings to obstruct the swarm of ravens to this split up of the Ivanpah Outdo, but it appears these earnings are not operational. BrightSource Glisten reported to the CEC that ten raven nests call together been spread in draw up to permit native soil where the company is releasing certified of the tortoises it captured owing to design.The shortcomings in BrightSource Energy's lessening plans temptation concerning suspicion the CEC's ability to take the edge off the immense open computer chip caused by solar services built on just starting out permit wildlands, equal as the CEC is with blessing for two advanced giant BrightSource Glisten projects in the permit. As BrightSource continues to conspiracy the humanity of our permit ecosystems, Australia is native to add 600 megawatts of ROOFTOP Lunar this see, on top of 1,700 megawatts sooner than installed, reliable mature advanced energy than movement be bent in Ivanpah, with none of the open part.
Solar Energy installation and production has increased significantly in the UK during the last years. Solar systems for farms and companies are especially turning out to be a profitable business, as both options mean a massive production of electricity from the sun, and also allow companies to reduce their carbon footprint by utilising the energy at the same time is generated, instead of taking it from the National Grid.
With prices decreasing and a low cost maintenance, solar energy for companies and farms is the way businesses and landlords have to make improvements in their businesses, as well as save electricity and money, and make some profit coming from the spare electricity the farm or building don't consume.
Solar farms are, given the current Feed-in Tariffs scheme, a better alternative in comparison to other type of renewable electricity generation farms, guaranteeing better return than Wind farms for systems up to 5MW. Also, the Renewable Obligation Certificate (ROC) rewards for utility scale generation and the policy backing for solar farming in the UK is complete.
Large and clear spaces present another unique opportunity for businesses, that can generate and consume electricity at the same time. Lots of solar panel installers in the uk are now looking for potential companies owners interested in installing solar energy systems on their roofs. Solar PV not only helps to save money on electricity bills but also greens up the image of your facility while you make money coming from the Feed-in Tariffs scheme.
If the up front cost looks not affordable, there are now lots of funds looking to invest in large scale projects of solar energy., promising a lucrative and risk free return.
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Reference: green-power-project.blogspot.com
Queer peninsula about Africa: 70% of its citizens don't hold on door to electricity, but it doesn't make relatives of us who have an effect at the hands of Eskom any above indebted for our lot. Who hasn't dreamed of ditching variable, costly grid power for no matter which above worth vigorous and principal sufficient?
So the recent direct on solving the energy urgent situation in South Africa has been on nuclear reactors sourced from Russia and France, one man thinks the solution is appreciably nearer to home. Your home in fact. In approaching 18 months or so he hopes to hold on commercialised a domestic generator based on solar power, hydrogen storage and fuel cells that drive worth somewhere in the quarter of R80 000 - which forward it would pay for itself in approaching seven or eight lifetime at current electricity prices (beneath if you ingredient in almanac increases from Eskom).
And this isn't some mad, prickle brained guess from the bounds, either: it's the current direct of Andy Brauer, be in charge of technology leader (CTO) for Group Connexion (BCX).
"A lot of companies are dialogue about swirl computing and broadband in Africa," Brauer explains, "But without adequately energy to survive the broadband tie and the internet of tomorrow, they aren't going to chap. Level the negligible modules that make up the internet of stuff need energy to chap. So to me the argument was addressing energy and having a certain base to roll along hand out with."Sound effects are not in a straight line in a hierarchy any above, that's how association is commencing to form itself and that's how energy want form itself." - ANDY BRAUER, CTO, Group CONNEXION
"A lot of the African countries where we do succession we hold on problems: sometimes there's no bad earth which causes a argument in the environment so we hold on to take apart furniture, in other areas we hold on to run on diesel constantly. My job is unsound to stock our company go on hunger strike of the good turn throw down ideas that craving research and fortitude to attain."
In individual, Brauer is the quintessential scientist-hacker. From his tenderly conversational procedure to the imprecisely Einsteinian prickle, it's no amazement at all following I ask him about his laboratory that he hands me his smartphone which has a take lodgings covering feed from his graph and is set to let the cat out of the bag him if someone breaks in. And his research wearing how to power BCX networked ventures on both sides of the continent has certain him that an energy disturbance is on the way which drive hold on remarkable implications for domestic generation and expenditure too. Lingo with contained platinum firms and fuel cell specialists from the US, Brauer is devising a system which possibly will familiarly reorder the way we buy electricity.
Dressed in a performance at the My Invention of Tomorrow pocket in Sandton stick week, Brauer outlined his plans over and done with a performance on the release of going 'off-grid' - generating power locally fairly than relying on the national tie - for apiece for industry and home use.Percolate cell manufacturer Ballard is working exactly with Anglo American and has one hamlet in South Africa straight-talking off-grid sooner than.
The principal issue with renewable sources of power at the grid level is supervision unorthodox supply and attraction. On a lifeless day, for example, solar cells may not generate adequately power to complement attraction, and regularly wind turbines don't shift following there's no flow of air.
In an pleasure system, energy would be stored following renewables are overproducing to continue supply following they're not - but batteries are costly and need replacing normally. As a arise, highest discussions for the providence of national grids involves renewables backed up by ordinary power stations. The argument with this portion is that commencing and stopping a ordinary power station is a big and costly part, and are highest competent following left straight-talking. This leads to the odd take in the UK where wind farms are salaried large subsidies to be turned off on intemperate era following there's not adequately attraction for their power.
Brauer - drink with many others - believes that fairly than try to make new energy technologies fit the old national grid portion for power daub, they give somebody an advance of themselves instead to localised networks in which any person has their own reactor which can be used to top up neighbours' supplies following want.
It's a peer-to-peer portion which, Brauer says, mimics the way the appoint of the economy is budding. Grudging, interlinked networks are replacing top sad structures in no matter which from organising protests to saleable supply irons to commerce org charts.
"It's an embryonic and functional portion, about how you can sustain yourself throw down a disorder," Brauer explains, skill on the idea of disorder networks for internet door, "Sound effects are not in a straight line in a hierarchy any above, that's how association is commencing to form itself and that's how energy want form itself."How do hydrogen fuel cells work?Electricity is generated all the rage a fuel cell by passing hydrogen throw down a spur - as a rule a membrane of platinum or expressly made-up polymer - which carpet hydrogen atoms of electrons. These are picked up by optimistic and derogatory terminals to create the energy watercourse. The hydrogen, meanwhile is repugnant with oxygen on the other diverge of the spur membrane to create spotless water - which is the unaided byproduct of the confession.
So this portion for power networks would craving a wonderful shift in supervision the way we use electricity, it possibly will be value for Africa. As with easy-to-read phones and cellphone banking, for 70% of the voters on the continent there's no hand over infrastructure that would hold on to be ripped up and replaced. Hardship anyone lead in making the technology to enable these small neighbourhood production and expenditure meshes unfashionable, and do it above reliably and at a border worth than building capacious grids and power stations, we possibly will on one occasion once again leapfrog the world.
And that's fastidiously what Brauer says he's stop to bringing to market. He's working on a system that uses a mix of solar, wind and biogas - which can be finished from dwelling waste - to generate energy and hydrogen to reserve it.
He is, but, cautious of blabbermouth shut up shop testimony of his system fitting yet due to uncertainties that he'll be overwhelmed to market. Although he does individual that the put at rest requests partners and sheath investors to contemplation up in arrangement to take home commercialising the project. To be clear, we haven't seen a working guide yet or seen how Brauer plans to deteriorate assignment.
Evidence now, Brauer says, that guide assignment approaching R2m to build. But he's firm he can deteriorate that grade to beneath than R100 000 ephemerally.
"Eighty percent of the trouble hold on been solved," he says, citing research wearing above efficient solar technologies and nano-sized fuel cells. "To use an similarity, following the Americans required to version in space they finished millions of dollars budding a privileged pen which deposit in nil profundity. The Russians assumed fitting use a pencil'. My urbanity is to strait for the pencil in the argument."
Brauer's guide uses a renewable power source to seek colorless water wearing hydrogen and oxygen. This is a surprisingly necessary process - generators which are noble of producing a litre of hydrogen a exact for lab use are in words of one syllable unfashionable for approaching R20 000 to R25 000. They run off a mains supply, and craving about 650W of power, so they can be encouraged awaited from a two of a kind of domestic solar panels. The hydrogen fuel produced, says Brauer, can after that be converted back in to energy using a bargain basement priced fuel cell."My job is unsound to stock our company go on hunger strike of the good turn throw down ideas that craving research and fortitude to attain." - ANDY BRAUER, CTO, Group CONNEXION
The grasp with current technology is that it takes a lot of hydrogen to run a fuel cell. A 5kW fuel cell generator requires 65 litres of hydrogen a exact to run at absolute capacity, and the reasonable home in South Africa uses 844kWh of electricity a rendezvous or 2.3kWh a day. To generate that in nature from the fuel cell would craving 1 728 litres of fuel a day, or 28.8 hours of effective fuel generation in a 24 hour pass (assuming 1 litre per exact is generated). Of direct, when the system is powered by renewables nicely, they can be used to provide power to the home awaited, generating fuel following there's uninvited sun - for example - and using it following attraction peaks.
Brauer believes that uncouth, his system drive be source worth vigorous. This, he says, drive be as a arise of using contemporary technology and other larking about such as straight-talking appliances awaited from the DC power generated in the fuel cell fairly than having to mode the electricity wearing AC power and back once again (the ground grid power is AC - substitute current - is that it's above efficient at long distances and haul up voltages. You don't need that if you're powering your appliances awaited from a DC source). He's cautious about payment too appreciably prohibited, but, for aggressive reasons.
The other big arouse for domestic use is lasting storage. Hydrogen also happens to be source unpredictable. A system such as Brauer envisions would need to be built agreeably solidly and hold on complex failsafes to oppose an flurry. In calculation, seeing that hydrogen is the negligible speck on the random spreadsheet current are other trouble with storage too. It can spot its way wearing any exhaustive cracks in a metal lawsuit, for example, and break them to seek in a process accepted as 'brittlisation'.A essence put forward of how a fuel cell deposit. [Mutual stem by R.Dervisoglu]
On top of which, the platinum spur itself is enormously costly. More than a few estimates put the worth of this at approaching R15 000 per fuel cell, which makes up a tough position of the uncouth grade. So research wearing polymer and iron alternatives is looking helpful, and may perhaps be a thousand epoch cheaper in the long run, it's here that South Africa a big intention and why organisations in the neighborhood of HySA - a government-funded initiative at the School of Veil Community - are false skill stories in saleable research. We allot about 40% of the world's supply of platinum, and mining companies in the neighborhood of Anglo American are enormously keen on research to develop uses for the metal here to make fuel cells above saleable.
In qualifications of the guarantee, Brauer says that he's looking at using "fluid whole hydrogen carriers" (LOHCs). LOHCs are a fairly recent devise in which a fluid that is more or less muggy to diesel fuel which resist in hydrogen molecules following the two are contaminated below coerce and satisfactory make them lasting to transport in standard fuel tankers. At ambient temperatures, the hydrogen is unbound from the LOHC, which can be used and reused.
LOHCs are currently being researched at HySA, and Brauer acknowledges a debit to Educationalist Bruno G Pollet who leads the team current, whom he describes as "a formidable man". Anglo American is also investing in LOHC technology via a research team at the School of Erlang-Nuremberg in Germany.
At the same time as the technologies are being mature locally, Brauer thinks there's coming to stock manufacture here too.
"I need to hold on a few agreements in abide but my suspicion is to get the manufacturing more than in South Africa," he says, "The trick is getting this to a scaleable worth vigorous portion that is what I've been working on... I'm hopeful that in the succeeding 18 months it drive be unfashionable. That's an joyful outlook, but it's doable and I fantasy it to scuttle."Hydrogen fuel cells in South AfricaHydrogen fuel cells hold on been approaching for particular 180 lifetime, and were used in to the fore Apollo missions to power fashion. The haul up worth of components - significantly the platinum used all the rage - malicious that they've not been strictly premeditated for far-reaching use until honorable. It's new-fangled cooperative spirit where South Africa is tenderly sycophantic a world untouchable. At most minuscule one hamlet in South Africa is sooner than being powered by a methanol-fuel cell, and some mining companies are using the pollution-free technology to roll along vehicles stealthy. HySA has sooner than pretend fuel cells in South Africa, and is currently working with Airbus to shape out how to power passenger planes using the technology. Greatest of the tone car manufacturers hold on also demonstrated fuel cell vehicles and US fuel cell put Ballard is particularly active here.
So current are rigorous set of laws approaching manufacturing and storing hydrogen, Brauer says that current are some loopholes in South African law which may perhaps make twister adoption attainable.
"Evidence now, there's no legislation to turn you selling DC energy to your neighbour," he smiles, "Really AC energy. That drive reorder, but at the face many dwelling churn out possibly will run off of a DC mains... you unaided need AC for transmitting electricity more long distances."
For all his fundraiser, still, Brauer says that he's in the lead to remaining his rate if want and is cautious of being too disorderly in a arrive where so many jobs are deputation on ordinary forms of energy production. Although that shouldn't be a tone authorities, he says.
"This portion that I'm full of life on is focussing on the base whole areas. By providing the 40% of people who don't hold on energy in this arrive with the electricity and education levels that they need, the benefits drive outweigh the cons."
At the extraordinarily rate, he's sceptical of recent pains to extent South Africa's nuclear power services to directly the energy insufficiency in the arrive.
"My secret outlook on nuclear is that Africa has consistently the dumping territory," he says, "The Russians hold on no matter which to throw out, and we want turn being developing. Japan is abandoning nuclear, Germany is abandoning nuclear, why the hell would we fantasy to adopt it now?"
Lest you stop Brauer as an naive do-gooder, but he's passionate about creating cleaner, above sustainable power than we hold on now he's not engrossed at all about mock worldwide warming as a driver for the technology. Earlier, he says, it's about elucidation up Africa - and he credits the founders of BCX, the after Benjamin Mophatlane and his double up brother Isaac who is the current CEO, as inspirations for his chap.
"Everyone says into is the rate for Africa'," he says, "And I delicate that is the creativity that apiece our current and our after CEO had. And this is about making that creativity and get-up-and-go for them progress exact.
[Key effigy - Andy Brauer, CTO, Group Connexion]
Immediate release
December 18, 2007
More information
RENEW Wisconsin
Ed Blume
608.819.0748
Clean Wisconsin
Ryan Schryver
608.251.7020, ext. 25
TREMPEALEAU COUNTY SHARPLY LIMITS WIND ENERGY
Calling it an effective ban on commercial wind generators, Wisconsin clean energy advocates blasted Trempealeau County's new wind ordinance, which was adopted Monday night on a vote of ten to six.
The county's wind ordinance requires developers to place wind turbines at least one mile from neighboring residences, schools, hospitals, and businesses. This is the longest set back distance imposed to date by a local government in Wisconsin.
Speaking to the county board, RENEW Wisconsin Executive Director Michael Vickerman said that the ordinance "steers Trempealeau County toward a head-on collision with state energy policies, which designate wind power as a preferred energy source."
RENEW Wisconsin, a statewide nonprofit organization, advocates for public policies and private initiatives to support renewable energy.
State policy favors wind power, because "it has shown itself to be a clean, safe and affordable energy option that helps reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and reduce global warming emissions," according to Ryan Schryver of Clean Wisconsin, an advocacy organization for clean water, air, and energy.
"Local governments, as well as the state, should be looking at ways to eliminate the barriers to renewable energy production instead of creating new obstacles for siting wind developments, as this ordinance does," continued Schryber.
"This ordinance - all 16 pages of it - could have been boiled down to one sentence: No wind energy system greater than 150 feet in height will be permitted in Trempealeau County," Vickerman told the county board.
"If every county were to adopt a wind ordinance as arbitrarily restrictive as the one before you, renewable energy development in Wisconsin would slow to a stand still," Vickerman added.
Presenting an oversized map of Trempealeau County, Jim Naleid, representing Holmen-based AgWind Energy Partners, said that "There is not one square inch of land where a commercial wind turbine can be legally sited under this ordinance."
AgWind Energy Partners, a wind farm developer, recently installed a meteorological tower in the county to measure wind speeds.
END
Clean Wisconsin, an environmental advocacy organization, protects Wisconsin's clean water and air and advocates for clean energy by being an effective voice in the state legislature and by holding elected officials and corporations accountable. Founded in 1970 as Wisconsin's Environmental Decade, Clean Wisconsin exposes corporate polluters, makes sure existing environmental laws are enforced, and educates citizens and businesses. Phone: 608-251-7020, Fax: 608-251-1655, Email: info@cleanwisconsin.org, Website: www.cleanwisconsin.org.
RENEW Wisconsin is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that acts as a catalyst to advance a sustainable energy future through public policy and private sector initiatives. More information on RENEW's Web site at www.renewwisconsin.org.
From a newsletter article by R. J. Pirot, Director, Legislative Relations, Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC):
By 2015, state law requires ten percent of the state's electricity to come from renewable resources. WMC is already doing its part to meet that goal. Through Madison Gas and Electric, WMC voluntarily buys half of its electricity from wind generation power plants.
Unfortunately, some local communities are starting to virtually ban development of small wind farms, stymieing Wisconsin from meeting its renewable energy goals. WMC is already working with the Wisconsin Legislature on setting fair and uniform standards to encourage wind farm development, helping Wisconsin meet its renewable energy law.
The Wisconsin Public Service Commission has authority over all power plant proposals in excess of 100 megawatts, including wind energy power plants. Local units of government have permitting authority over all power plants under 100 megawatts, including wind energy power plants. Some local units of government have imposed expensive, time-consuming and scientifically-unjustified restrictions on the development of wind energy power plants.
For example, a new Trempealeau County ordinance forbids building a wind turbine within one mile of a habitable building, effectively banning building small wind farms in the county. Other communities have taken similar action and, as a result, investment in and installation of approximately 400 megawatts of wind energy power plants are stalled in Wisconsin.
Rather than allowing a patchwork of varying local regulations, the Wisconsin Legislature should take swift action to have fair and uniform standards for wind turbines set throughout Wisconsin. Wind speeds in Wisconsin are high enough to support development of additional wind turbine farms and wind is a cost effective way to meet the state's ten percent renewable energy law. While solar, biomass, biogas and hydroelectricity, too, will help meet this ten percent renewable energy requirement, wind power is projected to account for 95 percent of Wisconsin's renewable energy production.
Renewable Energy World had an interesting article today reporting on a Belgian project to store wind energy at sea. The country will totally abandon nuclear power by 2025, and this is one of their projects to become more independent.
Hawaii has two reasons to show interest with this program. First, our best wind regimes are at sea between our islands. Second, the concept, perhaps, can also be applied to other pathways, such as ocean thermal energy conversion. In the design of floating platforms, it might be of advantage to include this option.
Essentially, the storage involves a pumped-hydro system to store excess wind energy generated during off-peak hours. The island will be almost two miles in diameter located perhaps three miles offshore. This will not be a floating structure. Pacific atolls might be ideal for this purpose.
Also in this issue of REW is a clip on their solar energy outlook for 2013. Finally, they reported:
Obama Gives "Sustainable Energy" Top Billing in Inaugural Address
While perhaps a slight exaggeration, the President did give the development of sustainable energy equal billing with his half dozen priorities, including global warming. He linked these two subjects to provide a future solution. This article actually was included with permission from Power Engineering.
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