With fuel prices touching nearly $150 per barrel, it is about time we heard some breakthrough !

India’s largest automaker Tata Motors is set to start producing the world’s first commercial air-powered vehicle. The Air Car, developed by ex-Formula One engineer Guy Nègre for Luxembourg-based MDI, uses compressed air, as opposed to the gas-and-oxygen explosions of internal-combustion models, to push its engine’s pistons. Some 6000 zero-emissions Air Cars are scheduled to hit Indian streets in August of 2008.  Â

The Air Car, called the MiniCAT could cost around Rs. 3,50,000 ($ 8177) in India and would have a range of around 300 km between refuels.

The cost of a refill would be about Rs. 85 ($ 2). Tata motors also plans to launch the world’s cheapest car, Tata Nano priced famously at One lakh rupees by October.

The MiniCAT which is a simple, light urban car, with a tubular chassis that is glued not welded and a body of fiberglass powered by compressed air. Microcontrollers are used in every device in the car, so one tiny radio transmitter sends instructions to the lights, indicators etc.

There are no keys – just an access card which can be read by the car from your pocket. According to the designers, it costs less than 50 rupees per 100Km (about a tenth that of a petrol car). Its mileage is about double that of the most advanced electric car (200 to 300 km or 10 hours of driving), a factor which makes a perfect choice in cities where the 80% of motorists drive at less than 60Km. The car has a top speed of 105 kmph. Refilling the car will, once the market develops, take place at adapted petrol stations to administer compressed air. In two or three minutes, and at a cost of approximately 100 rupees, the car will be ready to go another 200-300 kilometers.

As a viable alternative, the car carries a small compressor which can be connected to the mains (220V or 380V) and refill the tank in 3-4 hours. Due to the absence of combustion and, consequently, of residues, changing the oil (1 litre of vegetable oil) is necessary only every 50,000Km.] The temperature of the clean air expelled by the exhaust pipe is between 0-15 degrees below zero, which makes it suitable for use by the internal air conditioning system with no need for gases or loss of power.

Small Wind Turbine – Ryan Somma

When travelling in remote areas, sometimes it is possible to view gigantic wind-mill structures working to provide ‘green’ energy, not only to supplement existing energy sources – in order to provide enough for Earth’s inhabitants – but also to provide renewable energy which does nothing but utilize the power of the wind.

No coal is mined or burned. No trees are chopped. No fossil fuels are drilled for or piped. It is not only earth-friendly – it is consumer-friendly. Less manpower means less expense to consumers. Not every resident sees this difference in their power bill, but that is changing, especially with the increased utilization of small wind turbines. Like personal wind mills, these versions are adaptable to properties of rural homes and businesses and in some cases even urban homesteaders.

Uses of Small Wind Power Turbines

• Drinking water purification
• Irrigation
• Telecommunications
• Off grid home facility power
• Reduction of electric power bills

A Californian Case Study

The Rhyames, a Californian family, installed a small wind turbine (80 foot tower – 100 feet is allowed in most Californian counties) in 2002. California’s electricity is the most expensive nationally. Their goal was to power their 2,000 sq. ft. home, barn, and office above their barn. Their wind power installation was half paid for by California government incentives.

Their investment, and power, was estimated to pay for itself entirely within five to seven years. A detailed description of cases like these and experiences of those who have switched to small wind power turbines in California can be read about in a manual designed to help readers learn from the experiences of those who have made the investment already.

A 30% Tax Federal Tax Credit Benefit for Homes and Businesses

With the federal tax credit, families like the Rhyames’ can continue to benefit from making the switch, as can rural homesteaders who install small wind power turbines. In Oregon, a rural consumer can receive up to $6,000 in incentives for installing small wind turbine energy, or $1,500 per year for four years – up to 50% of the cost of installation. A database called DSIRE lists state incentives for ‘going green’ by investing in efficient-use energy and renewable energy options. Everything state funded to save energy iis listed out state by state. Wind power turbines are not only state but federally funded with grants and incentives.

Small, Personal Wind Power Machines Used for Homesteading

Families are used to making an investment in a vehicle, and it makes sense to opt for the most fuel efficient, technologically advanced models. These same families have often not yet learned how to make an investment in their power source. Owning power and the equipment from which it is sourced is not yet a typical expense when buying or maintaining a home. Unlike shopping for efficient appliances, shopping for small wind power turbines might require a little more public relating.

As in the case of the Rhyames, however, with their initial investment paid off, the new federal tax incentive basically pays them for owning the device from which their power is created. This is because the power, or energy, is green, renewable, and it limits the number of consumers for which the government must find ways to provide power. It was once a rare sight to view a satellite dish on a property. Now, with cable companies like dish network, compact dishes are often seen on at least several homes per neighborhood and are often a must in rural areas. Maybe one day, green, renewable energy sources like small wind turbines will be as commonly viewed as cable dishes.

Around the Globe

Renewable energy in developing countries where electricity is often quite expensive is a god-send. Many countries purchase their power from super power nations, often at exhorbenant prices. Small wind turbines are coming to the rescue in some cases, but the spread is much slower than need be. One capability of small wind turbines which could really help around the globe is water purification and treatment.

• Afghanistan is using these small turbines to treat water where people are filtering back to areas after the dissolution of Taliban regimes.
• New Zealand and Nepal have experimented with the use of small wind turbines.
• In China, nomads of Mongolia often use small wind turbines to provide luxury appliances to yurt housing, packing up to move two times each year, wind turbines and all.
• In India, specifically Aruna Pradesh, wind power provides electricity to villagers who might not have any amid the rugged terrain of the Himalayas.

To find out more about the specifics of wind power, read our web page with a set of frequently asked questions about small wind turbines for rural areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do they work? The wind turbine, which is installed on top of a tall tower, collects wind energy and converts it into electricity. The electricity is used to charge batteries, reduce the fuel consumption on a diesel generator, or drive a pump. Since the wind is intermittent, some sort of storage is usually incorporated into the system and back-up generators are often used.

What applications are they used for? In developing countries small wind turbines are primarily used for rural energy applications. Rural electrification of homes, villages, farms, and small industries can often be done less expensively and more quickly with renewable energy, such as wind power, than by extending the utility grid. Using newly developed wind-electric pumping technology, wind turbine systems are also being used for village water supply and irrigation. These new windpumps provide an alternative to the traditional diesel powered pump.

Why are these systems any better than grid extension or diesels? They are better because they are more sustainable and offer a number of other socioeconomic benefits. Wind systems are smaller, modular and have a shorter leadtime than grid extension. For grid extension distances as short as one kilometer a wind system can be a lower cost alternative for small loads. While they cost more initially than diesels they are much better from the users point of view. Donor agencies, for example, typically supply diesels at no cost, but leave operational costs (fuel, maintenance and replacement) to the local people. This requires scarce hard currency and usually results in limited utilization and a shortened life of the diesel because of inadequate maintenance. Many countries must also import their fossil fuels, further magnifying the burden imposed by diesels.

Can you give some concrete examples? In India the government is using 20 kW wind system packages, using two of our 10 kW units, to bring electricity to villages far from the utility grid. Jengging village, Arunachal Pradesh, which is in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains, for example, was electrified with wind turbines in 1988. Due to the rugged terrain in the area it is doubtful that utility lines would ever be brought to Jengging.

In Morocco the government, with the support of US-AID, is using wind-electric pumping systems to replace diesel powered pumps that are too expensive for the local people to operate. In the Naima Rural Commune, near Oujda in northeast Morocco, two 10 kW wind turbines are supplying four villages with several times the water volume previously pumped by diesels. The villagers prefer the wind turbines both because they deliver more water and because they cost nothing to operate.

In fact, the largest decentralized rural electrification project in the world is based on wind generators. In China, over 100,000 locally produced small wind turbines, 10 megawatts of nameplate capacity, have been installed in Inner Mongolia in the last seven years. Today, it is not difficult to find Chinese herdsmen whose wind-powered yurts (felt tents) have small washing machines, TV sets, and even VCRs! Twice a year the nomadic Mongolian herdsmen pack up all their belongings, including the wind turbine, and move to new pastures.

How does wind power compare with other renewable energy technologies suitable for decentralized rural electrification? Wind power is very competitive with photovoltaics, biomass, and diesel generators, but is usually more expensive than micro-hydro. It is also very attractive for its jobs creation potential and the ease with which its technology can be transferred to developing countries. In the big picture, wind power complements these other power sources by providing a least cost approach under certain conditions. This expands the scope of potential projects, pointing to the day when decentralized electrification projects will be implemented on the same scale as current grid extension projects. In many situations the lowest cost centralized system will be a hybrid system that combines wind, photovoltaics and diesel power.

Aren’t wind turbines too “high-tech” for rural people? The high technology of a wind turbine is in just a few manufactured components such as the blades. A wind turbine can actually be much simpler than a diesel engine. They also require substantially less attention and maintenance. Our turbines, for example, have only three moving parts and do not require any regular maintenance. They can operate for extended periods, five years or more, without any attention. Our latest unit, the 1.5 kW BWC 1500, is designed for Village Level Operation and Maintenance (VLOM), following guidelines established by the World Bank. With training and spare parts, local users can support the wind turbine equipment they use.

Doesn’t it take a really windy area to make wind turbines effective, limiting their range of application? Actually, the economies of scale in small wind turbines makes them particularly competitive in cost for sizes above 250 watts. For daily loads as small as one kilowatt-hour per day a wind turbine will be less expensive than diesels, grid extension, or photovoltaics for virtually any wind resource above 4 m/s (9 mph). This wind resource is available in most of the developing world. For larger daily load requirements the economics of wind power get progressively better. For a 10 kW wind turbine a wind resource of only 3.5 m/s (7.2 mph) will usually make wind the least cost option. There are not many areas of the world that have average wind speeds below 3.5 m/s (7.2 mph).

Much of the wind data in developing countries shows average wind speeds in the 2-3 m/s (4.5-6.7 mph) range; should wind still be considered? An all too common mistake made by project planners is to predict wind turbine performance based on historical wind data without first checking the reasonableness of that data. Meteorological services in developing countries often collect wind data in the middle of towns from antique wind sensors placed with poor exposure to the wind.

Thus, much of the available wind resource data from developing countries underestimates the actual resource available in rural areas. Macro-scale data and analytical methods are now available that can be used to check historical data for reasonableness. Accurate wind resource assessment is a major impediment to large scale implementation of wind power in many developing countries.

Would developing countries import U.S. wind turbines? They will import a few units, but will eventually want to move to local production of the equipment. Small wind turbines are not difficult to manufacture and they lend themselves well to technology transfer. However, they are very difficult to develop and many companies and agencies have underestimated the cost and time required to develop a reliable small wind turbine. It seems a lot easier than it really is. A 5 megawatt per year small wind turbine production facility would cost under $1 million, including licensing fees, which compares favorably to the $5-10 million figures that have been quoted for photovoltaic factories of this capacity.

We believe that local manufacturing, under license or through a joint venture, is necessary if widespread utilization is to be pursued. The developing country benefits from reduced foreign exchange requirements, better support capabilities, local economic development and, usually, lower production costs. The U.S. company benefits from fees, royalties and the sales of special components. We have already licensed production of our units in Australia and are considering similar arrangements in other countries. We have a joint venture in China.

Does US-AID use, and encourage the use of, small wind systems and other renewables? With a few exceptions, such as the project in Morocco, the U.S. Agency for International Development (US-AID) has continued to rely on diesel generators and grid extension in its projects. Even though sustainability is often a key project goal, AID Missions have been very slow to incorporate competitive renewable energy systems into their projects. Few of AlD’s fifty-odd overseas Missions have the technical staff to implement new technologies, so the conventional approaches win out by default. Although AID missions will spend nearly $400 million on energy projects this year, almost all of it will all be with fossil fuels. There has been some solid improvement in renewable energy project activity at US-AID, but clean energy is just not a priority.

Another barrier is an attitude among many managers at US-AID that aid and trade don’t mix. These people believe that trade promotion should not be factor in developing foreign assistance projects, even when there is a clear benefit to the project from using advanced U.S. environmental technology.

Is this typical of other donor agencies? Many other international donor agencies take a much more pro-active role in introducing renewable energy systems in developing countries and facilitating technology transfer. European countries, in particular, have shown how donor agencies and industry can work together to bring the benefits of renewable energy to the world’s poor. This often makes it difficult for U.S. companies to compete in developing country markets even when they have superior technology. Fortunately, the situation at US-AID is changing as environmental concerns increase and US-AID’s awareness of modern renewable energy technologies, including small wind turbines, improves.

How can I get more information? We would be happy to send you further information on small wind turbines for developing countries or answer any of your questions. Just call or write to Bergey Windpower Co. at the address below. You can also get further information on wind energy and its use in developing countries from the American Wind Energy Association (202-383-2500) or their web site: http://www.awea.org You can learn more about the programs of the U.S. Agency for International Development at http://www.us-aid.gov

Bergey Windpower Co., 2200 Industrial Blvd., Norman, OK 73069 USA T: 405-364-4212, F: 405-364-2078 BWC was formed in 1977 and has been manufacturing small wind turbines since 1980. BWC wind turbines have been installed in all 50 states and approximately 90 countries.

Climate change is in the news. It seems like everyone’s “going green.” We’re glad you want to take action, too. Luckily, many of the steps we can take to stop climate change can make our lives better. Our grandchildren-and their children-will thank us for living more sustainably. Let’s start now.

We’ve partnered with the Million Car Carbon Campaign to help you find ways to save energy and reduce your carbon footprint. This campaign is uniting conscious consumers around the world to prevent the emissions-equivalent of 1 million cars from entering the atmosphere each year.

Keep reading for 10 simple things you can do today to help reduce your environmental impact, save money, and live a happier, healthier life. For more advice, purchase State of the World 2010 – Transforming Cultures: From Consumerism to Sustainability, a report from 60 renowned researchers and practitioners on how to reorient cultures toward sustainability.

1. Save energy to save money.
   • Purchase State of the World 2010: Transforming Cultures to learn more about the shift from consumerism to sustainability Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer to save on heating and cooling costs.
   • Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) when your older incandescent bulbs burn out.
   • Unplug appliances when you’re not using them. Or, use a “smart” power strip that senses when appliances are off and cuts “phantom” or “vampire” energy use.
   • Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water.
   • Use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy otherwise used during machine drying.
2. Save water to save money.
   • Take shorter showers to reduce water use. This will lower your water and heating bills too.
   • Install a low-flow showerhead. They don’t cost much, and the water and energy savings can quickly pay back your investment.
   • Make sure you have a faucet aerator on each faucet. These inexpensive appliances conserve heat and water, while keeping water pressure high.
   • Plant drought-tolerant native plants in your garden. Many plants need minimal watering. Find out which occur naturally in your area.
3. Less gas = more money (and better health!).
   • Walk or bike to work. This saves on gas and parking costs while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.
   • Consider telecommuting if you live far from your work. Or move closer. Even if this means paying more rent, it could save you money in the long term.
   • Lobby your local government to increase spending on sidewalks and bike lanes. With little cost, these improvements can pay huge dividends in bettering your health and reducing traffic.
4. Eat smart.
   • If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a week. Meat costs a lot at the store-and it’s even more expensive when you consider the related environmental and health costs.
   • Buy locally raised, humane, and organic meat, eggs, and dairy whenever you can. Purchasing from local farmers keeps money in the local economy.
   • Watch videos about why local food and sustainable seafood are so great.
   • Whatever your diet, eat low on the food chain [pdf]. This is especially true for seafood.
5. Skip the bottled water.
   • Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste.
   • Bring a reusable water bottle, preferably aluminum rather than plastic, with you when traveling or at work.
   • Check out this short article for the latest on bottled water trends.
6. Think before you buy.
   • Whether you’ve just moved or are looking to redecorate, consider a service like craigslist or FreeSharing to track down furniture, appliances, and other items cheaply or for free.
   • Check out garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops for clothing and other everyday items.
   • When making purchases, make sure you know what’s “Good Stuff” and what isn’t.
7. Borrow instead of buying.
   • Borrow from libraries instead of buying personal books and movies. This saves money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes into printing new books.
   • Share power tools and other appliances. Get to know your neighbors while cutting down on the number of things cluttering your closet or garage.
8. Buy smart.
   • Great for classrooms: Climate Change Reference Guide Buy in bulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging.
   • Wear clothes that don’t need to be dry-cleaned. This saves money and cuts down on toxic chemical use.
   • Invest in high-quality, long-lasting products. You might pay more now, but you’ll be happy when you don’t have to replace items as frequently (and this means less waste!).
9. Keep electronics out of the trash.
   • Keep your cell phones, computers, and other electronics as long as possible.
   • Donate or recycle them responsibly when the time comes. E-waste contains mercury and other toxics and is a growing environmental problem.
   • Recycle your cell phone.
   • Ask your local government to set up an electronics recycling and hazardous waste collection event.
10. Make your own cleaning supplies.
    • Join the Million Car Carbon Campaign by purchasing your Earth-Aid kit today.
    • The big secret: you can make very effective, non-toxic cleaning products whenever you need them. All you need are a few simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap.
    • Making your own cleaning products saves money, time, and packaging-not to mention your indoor air quality.
11. Bonus Item!
    Stay informed about going green. Sign up for our newsletter!

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If you are tired of paying for electricity and want to reduce your power bill, then this is definitely a great opportunity to discover home alternative energy.

Seriously, you can generate your own power?

“I am so excited I found Bret’s guide about how to make solar panels. The first month after I installed my first solar panel generator my electric bill was reduced by about $30 dollars. I can’t believe I done this – I ' m glad.”

Commercial Solar Panel systems costs can exceed $3K! Not too many homeowners have that kind of expendable money nor do they want to spend that amount of money on residential solar panels that take years to get a return from the investment

You can start on your home solar panel system setup for about $200! Not only that you IMMEDIATELY save money!

Bret Parker’s solar power package includes solar power, wind turbines, complete home power systems.

Bret decided to put together his instructional solar panel guide to help you save money, keep in mind the number one goal for renewable energy is to save our planet.

Benefits of Solar Panels –

You are going to save money. How much you save is up to you!

It's Clean, Quiet, & Easy to use.

Solar panels consume no fuel and give off no waste and are therefore clean. There are no moving parts so there is no mechanical noise being produced.

It Maximizes Battery Life.

Solar panels generate pure D.C. electricity to charge the systems batteries.

Electrical Independence!

Solar Panels offer Low Maintenance

Simply keep the surface of the panels clean as needed.

Solar Panels are Safe and Reliable.

Now that you know the benefits of diy solar panels you should also know that it's easier to setup and install than you think. Bret’s Solar Power Package shows you everything about creating your own solar electricity with your very own diy solar power.

The guide manuals will walk you through the science and setup you need to have your very own renewable energy.

Also the guide and videos are detailed yet simple and packed with the illustrations and photos of the solar panel construction.

via Make Solar Panels .. Alternative Energy Home.

As of December 15th, it had not yet been determined how much funding the program could have for 2010. So far, $517 million has been allocated for the period January 1 through March 31, 2010. Other questions include: whether or not the program will be extended after two years, which biomass categories (e.g. black liquor) will be eligible, and how wood fiber costs for pulp mills and composite board mills may be impacted.

There have been loud protests from both North American and European forest industry organizations who are concerned that the BCAP program will unfairly favor US energy companies and that sawdust and wood chip costs will go up as the result of the program. With the first payments from the government having been distributed in mid-December, it is still too early to conclude how much the biomass energy subsidy will impact prices for wood chips, shavings, sawdust and hog fuel in the coming months.

The BCAP program is available for producers/sellers of biomass for a period of two years, and both the seller and the conversion facility have to apply to participate in the program. As of December 15, 2009, 306 conversion facilities had qualified. A majority of the registered facilities are located in the US South (37%) and on the West coast (27%).

At this point, it seams unlikely that the BCAP program will have anything near the impact that the black liquor tax credit has had (an estimated 8-9 billion dollars was transferred to the US pulp industry).

It may very well be that in the end, the BCAP program will not add as much biomass to the market as was intended. In fact, most of the biomass supply that will enter the market in the coming years would likely have been available even without the subsidy. The only difference is that biomass consumer may benefit from lower fiber costs and suppliers will increase their profits from the sales of forest and agricultural residues.

Pulpwood and biomass market updates are included in the 24-page publication North American Wood Fiber Review. The report, established in 1982 and with readers in North America, Europe and Asia tracks wood chip and pulpwood prices in 15 key markets of the US and Canada.

For More Information, Please Contact :

Hakan Ekstrom

http://www.woodprices.com