Sun Earth Energy - CHP4

ChatGPT on CHP Benefits

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 20:13:00 +0000

We asked ChatGPT the following question, its answer was good as it has access to a phenominal amount of relevant data! We also like the way it mentioned wasted heat from {centralised electricity production}

"What are the main benefits of Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems in a city enviroment?

ChatGPT Answered

Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems, also known as cogeneration, offer several benefits when implemented in a city environment. Here are some of the main advantages of using CHP systems:

Increased energy efficiency: CHP systems use the heat generated during electricity production, which would otherwise be wasted, to provide heat to buildings. By capturing this wasted heat, CHP systems can achieve efficiency rates of up to 90%, compared to just 50% for conventional power plants.
Reduced greenhouse gas emissions: Because CHP systems use less fuel to produce the same amount of energy, they emit fewer greenhouse gases than conventional power plants. In addition, by using locally generated energy, CHP systems can reduce the need for energy to be transported long distances, further reducing emissions.
Improved energy security: CHP systems can provide a reliable source of electricity and heat to buildings, even during power outages or other disruptions to the grid. This can help to improve energy security in a city and reduce the risk of blackouts or other energy-related issues.
Lower energy costs: By generating electricity and heat on-site, CHP systems can reduce a city's reliance on expensive grid electricity and imported fuels. This can lead to lower energy costs for businesses and residents, which can be especially beneficial in areas with high energy prices.
Increased resiliency: CHP systems can help to increase the resiliency of a city's energy infrastructure, by providing backup power and heat during emergencies or other disruptions. This can help to reduce the impact of disasters and other events that may disrupt energy supplies.

I Hate to See Cooling Towers

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 30 Jan 2023 15:00:00 +0000

Cooling Towers! I hate to see Cooling Towers!!

"A Testimony to Waste" {approx 60% wasted Heat Energy to the Atmosphere!!} Just as my {then Children} will testify, in the mid 1990's as we traveled down the A1 at Ferrybridge {Power Station} - [now demolished].

But it could have supplied a 'Heat Network' to the adjacent town of Knottingly - similar to the Battersea Power Station, that supplied Heat to the Pimlico Estate.

Coal, Gas, Oil or even Nuclear - all use Cooling Towers in respect of the steam turbines to drive the electricity generation: But the Carnot Cycle needs to revert the steam back into water

But the notion of "Centralised Power Generation remains - and there is the problem!

Cooling Towers at Electricity Generation Plant - Wasting Heat Energy

Net Zero [dogmatic agenda or viable policy]

Combined with the DOGMA of "Net Zero", we have our energy {generation} crisis and insane price rises; and WHY?

Centralised Thinking with Centralised Planning.

Those buffoons in Government and OFGEN are planning to spend £20bn on "transmission infrastructure"

""In December [2022], Ofgem launched the Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment. This is around £20 billion of new investment in our transmission network – the major wires that carry our electricity across the country."
"This was largely based on the design laid out by the nascent system operator in advance – targeting the connection of the 50GW of offshore wind we expect to be built by 2030"

Jonathan Brearley's speech at the Institute for Government - Press release OFGEN 24th Jan 2023:

These guys are completely nuts - all this infrastructure spending to feed the grid with intermittent electricity!

Then we have government dogma as personified by the Net Zero concept - a great idea in theory but the implementation is a disaster! - as now obvious to those of us who have to pay for Electricity {and Gas for Heating} - with the UK being a Country in the Northern Hemisphere, kept artificially warmer by the "Gulf Stream" Effect! Which may be cooling down or collapsing - this would severely impact on the winters within the United Kingdom}

But we still waste the majority of the {Heat} energy up those damn Cooling Towers to our atmosphere!!

Hardly conducive to a "net Zero" objective

""My recommendations are designed to make the most of this historic opportunity, covering the length and breadth of our economy, so that people in every part of the country can reap the benefits of this both in their communities, and in their pockets.""

Chris Skidmore MP Net Zero "Acolyte" {soon to be Skidrow}
""Chris studied History at Oxford, Chris is also a fellow of the Royal Historical Society and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries."" [Hmm, Zero Net Technical Background] - no offence, but??

However: the real solutions is far more CHP {Combined Heat and Power {Electricity}} - typically, Gas Engines {from the UK's extensive gas grid} to generate Electricity, but with a heat jacket to distribute Heat! {Principally suited to city centres, new buildings, housing estates, all Government Buildings, NHS Hospitals etc, etc. Now there are plenty of examples around the UK but, to date only about 860 MW of electricity generation {a drop in the Ocean of Our "Energy Mix"}

https://zeroenergysystems.org/qsir-utilities/inefficiency-of-centralised-generation

This is where £20bn would be better spent. AND it meets the concepts of Net Zero better than the current chaotic shambles of Centralised thinking and Electricity.

I really do hate Cooling Towers!

https://zeroenergysystems.org/chp/combined-heat-power-and-cooling

#energy #opportunity #electricity #investment #gas #economy #housing #infrastructure #hospitals #network

Carbon Capture - Good or Bad Idea?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 22:01:00 +0000

No denying the skill & ingenuity of CO2 "capture. BUT....

Tell and engineer to create a method or facility to "capture carbon" {carbon dioxide to be accurate}, and he or she will do just that. At great expense, to the cost of electrical production and other industrial processes. Which has happened globally.

But is "Carbon Capture" even desirable? Have we proven without a question of doubt that CO2 is leading to "Climate Change"? Well NO! We have not. It's just that the 'politics of science' {lobby} are claiming that the "Science is Settled"! Even the IPCC have done a deal with Google to ensure their "version" of the [Settled] science appears at the top of the search engine!! This is simply propaganda!

But questions and opposing opinion AND SCIENCE are challenging this dogmatic claim. And if correct - we, the consumers are paying an inflated price for this political dogma in our electricity bills and other industrial product subjected to this "notion" of "Carbon Capture", "Climate Emergency" and "Climate Change".

Have we been misled? Is this an example of disinformation or misinformation that governments {and media/social media} have tried to force us to accept?

We know that "carbon Capture" has increased the costs of electricity, in particular - the December 2009 Blog post warned us of this [ https://blog.sun-earth-energy.com/2009/12/report-carbon-capture-adds-50-to-power.html ]. But was any of this necessary?

Or has "Climate Science" become a bastardisation of some kind of "belief-system" a religion no less? Debate on this is very difficult as the 'acolytes' [and those indoctrinated] will simply shout at you - so yes a quasi-religion. But also labelled a "Political Orthodoxy". see below regarding August 2022 petition from 1,100 scientists and other professional who do not agree with the CO2 models. [ https://legalinsurrection.com/2022/08/over-1000-scientists-and-professionals-sign-formal-declaration-there-is-no-climate-emergency/ ]

The scale of the opposition to modern day ‘settled’ climate science is remarkable, given how difficult it is in academia to raise grants for any climate research that departs from the political orthodoxy. (A full list of the signatories is available here.) Another lead author of the declaration, Professor Richard Lindzen, has called the current climate narrative “absurd”, but acknowledged that trillions of dollars and the relentless propaganda from grant-dependent academics and agenda-driven journalists currently says it is not absurd.

"Particular ire in the WCD is reserved for 'climate models'. To believe in the outcome of a climate model is to believe what the model makers have put in. Climate models are now central to today’s climate discussion and the scientists see this as a problem. “We should free ourselves from the naïve belief in immature climate models,” says the WCD. “In future, climate research must give significantly more emphasis to empirical science.”

The declaration is being promoted by the CLINTEL Group, which plans to give “solicited and unsolicited” advice on climate change and energy transition to governments and companies worldwide.

I am thinking that most of the advice they will give will be unsolicited. Here is hoping that policy makers, teachers, and everyone else listen to the group’s many points:

Natural causes contribute to climate changes.
Warming has been slower than predicted.
Climate policy is being based on inadequate models.
Carbon dioxide is plant food, and the basis for life on Earth.
Global warming has not increased natural disasters.

Perhaps the last point the CLINTEL Group makes is the most critical: Climate policy must respect scientific and economic realities.

There is no climate emergency. Therefore, there is no cause for panic and alarm. We strongly oppose the harmful and unrealistic net-zero CO2 policy proposed for 2050. If better approaches emerge, and they certainly will, we have ample time to reflect and re-adapt. The aim of global policy should be ‘prosperity for all’ by providing reliable and affordable energy at all times. In a prosperous society men and women are well educated, birthrates are low and people care about their environment.

For those of you with a background in the climate sciences, and who would like to sign, information to do so is HERE.

If “Green New Deal” polices are allowed to continue, they will be even more destructive on this nation and the world than the {discredited} Covid policies have been.

"Passive House" Standards

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 23:39:00 +0000

“Passive House” is today’s most energy efficient building standard. Buildings that meet the Passive House standard use 90% less energy for heating and cooling than traditional homes while being far more comfortable and healthier. A Passive House conserves energy by creating a nearly air-tight, super insulated building envelope that uses the sun and ambient heat to achieve a comfortable indoor environment. A ventilation system including what is called a heat recovery ventilator or HRV is used to provide a continuous supply of clean fresh air. Heat collected by the HRV is pumped back into the home in winter, keeping you warm, or pumped out in Summer, keeping you cool. Passive House Standards offer three huge benefits.

Increased Personal Health & Comfort
Energy Efficiency
Long Term Value

What if you never had to turn on the heat or AC in your home again? How much would you save on heating and cooling costs throughout the year? Probably quite a bit. The Department of Energy estimates that heat and air conditioning makes up almost half of the average household’s energy bills. That’s why homes built to Passive House Standards are such a great value. Imagine cutting your energy bills by as much as 90% each money. All with increased air quality and comfort.

Passive Homes use a combination of ultra-high levels of fabric insulation, airtight building envelopes, and passive heating and cooling techniques to keep spaces ventilated and comfortable all year long. In many cases, passive homeowners require absolutely no backup heating or cooling systems. Thanks to the International Passive House Association’s rigid standards for housing design.

Passive House Design Overview

SOLAR ORIENTATION

Passive House designers use detailed annual weather data to model a building’s energy performance. The building’s shape is a balance of both form and function. Minimizing heat loss through the exterior is a top design goal which results in an efficient design. Window sizes and orientation are optimized for energy balance throughout the year. A well balanced passive solar design adds excellent day lighting throughout the interior. Sunlight is an excellent source of heat in a Passive House. Heat from the sun is kept in the house by the HRV instead of released to the outdoors like in a traditional home.

HIGH INSULATION

Passive House buildings are super insulated. With walls two to three times as thick as today’s standard construction. This creates a stable and predictable indoor temperature without the need for constant heating or cooling adjustments. Because a steady temperature is far more comfortable than a fluctuating one. And with a Passive House you don’t have drafts and cold / hot spots like in a standard home.

Walls are designed to allow for proper moisture management that results in a long lasting and exceptionally healthy building. Homes built to Passive House Standards also repel mold and mildew growth much better than traditional homes.

HIGH PERFORMANCE WINDOWS AND DOORS

Windows and doors are weak links in a building’s thermal defense system. We can all relate to cold drafts in an average home. What most people don’t realize is air travels both ways through a crack in the exterior. In winter your not only letting cold air in but warm air is also seeping out.Just the opposite is happening in summer. Your AC is cooling the outdoors while hot air seeps in. Both of these situations are very costly and inefficient.

Passive House design places significant emphasis on installing high performance windows and exterior doors. To meet the needs of various climate zones, windows must meet strict standards regarding insulation, air tightness, and solar heat gain values. Exterior glazing is generally triple pane glass on a Passive House. This is a huge upgrade from the double or single pane glass used on a standard home.

AIR TIGHT ENCLOSURE

Passive House takes great care in designing, constructing and testing the building for a near air tight envelope. Blower door testing is a mandatory technique in assuring high building performance through a virtually leak free enclosure. Walls are carefully designed to be virtually air tight. This helps greatly in keeping a constant temperature inside the home with minimal effort.

AIR VENTILATION WITH HEAT RECOVERY HRV

The heat recovery ventilator, provides a constant supply of filtered, fresh, outdoor air while pumping out old, stale, indoor air. Inside the HRV, heat from outgoing stale air is transferred to the incoming fresh air, while it’s being filtered. This process provides continuous comfort and a huge upgrade in indoor air quality.

Thermal Bridge Free Construction

Thermal bridging occurs when a poorly insulated material allows an easy pathway for heat flow across a thermal barrier. The most common form in a traditional home are the exterior wall studs and ceiling rafters. Any component in a building assembly that “bridges” inside and outside thermally, allowing heat and cool to short circuit the thermal resistance built into that building assembly, is considered a thermal bridge. They hide in plain sight: in the form of wood framing, or a junction between wall and concrete foundation, a balcony slab, or even a single metal tie penetrating a wall. In each case they interrupt the insulation layer with a material that conducts heat, providing a direct line for the transfer of thermal energy across the building envelope. Buildings without many thermal bridges is considered thermal bridge free construction.

What Classifies a Building as a Passive House?

Passive House is the world‘s leading standard in energy efficient construction.

The Passive House Standard stands for quality, comfort and energy efficiency. Passive Houses require very little energy to achieve a comfortable temperature year round, making conventional heating and air conditioning systems obsolete. While delivering superior levels of comfort and air quality. While homes built to Passive House Standards can use different techniques to achieve their goals, they all have to meet the same standards. Generally these standards fall into five primary requirements:

The Space Heating Energy Demand is not to exceed 15 kWh per square meter of net living space (treated floor area) per year or 10 W per square meter peak demand.
In climates where active cooling is needed, the Space Cooling Energy Demand requirement roughly matches the heat demand requirements above, with an additional allowance for de-humidification.
The Renewable Renewable Primary Energy Demand (PER, according to PHI method), the total energy to be used for all domestic applications (heating, hot water and domestic electricity) must not exceed 60 kWh per square meter of treated floor area per year for Passive House Classic.
In terms of Airtightness, a maximum of 0.6 air changes per hour at 50 Pascals pressure (ACH50), as verified with an onsite pressure test (in both pressurized and depressurized states).
Thermal comfort must be met for all living areas during winter as well as in summer. All parts of the home must stay below 25 degrees Celsius at least 90 percent of the time.

Passive House buildings are designed and verified with the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP)

These are what iPHA considers the “hard requirements” for Passive House certification. There are also a number of additional “soft” requirements that offer more specific objectives for how to achieve the broader energy goals. Such as how to design the building envelope and the types of windows and doors that allow the house to meet the association’s guidelines. To review these standards in detail, you can go to the Passive House Resource Center and read each specific requirement.

5 Passive House Principles

All of the above criteria are achieved through design and implementation of the 5 Passive House principles. Thermal bridge free design, superior windows, ventilation with heat recovery, quality insulation and airtight construction.

The following five basic principles apply for the construction of Passive Houses:

Thermal insulation
All opaque building components of the exterior envelope of the house must be very well-insulated. For most cool-termperate climates, this means a heat transfer coefficient (U-value) of 0.15 W/(m²K) at the most, i.e. a maximum of 0.15 watts per degree of temperature difference and per square metre of exterior surface are lost.
Passive House windows
The window frames must be well insulated and fitted with low-e glazings filled with argon or krypton to prevent heat transfer. For most cool-termperate climates, this means a U-value of 0.80 W/(m²K) or less, with g-values around 50% (g-value= total solar transmittance, proportion of the solar energy available for the room).
Ventilation heat recovery
Efficient heat recovery ventilation is key, allowing for a good indoor air quality and saving energy. In Passive House, at least 75% of the heat from the exhaust air is transferred to the fresh air again by means of a heat exchanger.
Airtightness of the building
Uncontrolled leakage through gaps must be smaller than 0.6 of the total house volume per hour during a pressure test at 50 Pascal (both pressurised and depressurised).
Absence of thermal bridges
All edges, corners, connections and penetrations must be planned and executed with great care, so that thermal bridges can be avoided. Thermal bridges which cannot be avoided must be minimised as far as possible.

Multi Use

Passive building principles can be applied to almost all building types. From single family homes to multifamily apartment buildings, offices, and skyscrapers.

Passive design strategy carefully models and balances a comprehensive set of factors including heat emissions from appliances and occupants to keep the building at comfortable and consistent indoor temperatures. As a result, passive buildings offer tremendous long term benefits in addition to energy efficiency.

Higher insulation levels and airtight construction provide unmatched comfort even in extreme weather conditions.
Continuous mechanical ventilation of fresh filtered air provides superior indoor air quality.
A comprehensive systems approach to design and construction produces extremely resilient buildings.
Passive buildings offer the best path to Net Zero and Net Positive by minimizing the load renewables are asked to provide.

Can An Existing Building Meet Passive House Standards?

The Passive House Standard cannot always be achieved in building renovations at a reasonable cost.This is due, for example, to unavoidable thermal bridges through existing basement walls. The Passive House Institute has developed the EnerPHit standard for such buildings.

The EnerPHit seal provides the certainty that an optimum thermal protection standard has been implemented for the respective existing building. Through the use of Passive House components, EnerPHit certified buildings offer nearly all the advantages of a Passive House building to the residents, while at the same time offering optimum cost-effectiveness.

An EnerPHit retrofit includes the insulation of the floor, exterior walls and roof with Passive House insulation thicknesses, installing Passive House windows and reducing air leaks. A ventilation system with heat recovery ensures reliable fresh air. Thermal bridges are reduced to a reasonable extent.

What Is the Difference Between Passive House Certification and LEED?

LEED certification, one of the more common green home labeling standards used in the US, rates sites across multiple measurements. These include not only the air quality and energy efficiency, but also the sustainability of the materials and how properties encourage greener behaviors. Such as recycling or biking to work. Passive homes, on the other hand, focus almost entirely on how efficiently the home maintains comfortable temperatures. Because the Passive House Institute is based in Germany, it’s much more common to find homes rated with this certification in Europe than in the US.

How Can I Convert My Home into a Passive House or Build a New Passive House?

If you’re really sold on the idea of passive homes, your first step should be to contact a New Home Builder like Gambrick, if your in NJ that is. If not then find a top local builder who has experience building custom homes, dealing with LEED certification or is familiar with Passive House building techniques and principles.

Some building sites have suggested that a passive house retrofit may only be worth it for a wealthy homeowner with a serious investment in green building. That’s because, in some cases, the airtight requirement may mean renovating the existing walls and foundation. Essentially rebuilding your home from the ground up. You may see some more effective (and budget-friendly) results by simply implementing some features from the Passive House tool belt, such as airtight window assemblies with Low-E glazing; roofing overhangs, awnings and shades for passive cooling; or a thermal mass wall to help with both your heating and cooling needs.

To answer all these questions you should schedule a consultation with a qualified home builder or Passive House designer.

Heat Pumps

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 23:31:00 +0000

For Commercial, Industrial and substantial private properties installations

With the ever rising costs of gas, oil and electricity, with attendant heating, hot water and cooling needs - now is the right time to consider Heat Pumps [at long last - when we consider that Sweden has been installing heat pumps for over 60 years - heck I remember learning about them on my Construction Degree in 1972! However there are several vital prerequisites that need to be in place - otherwise the electricity costs can spiral out of control - see later]

· Heat pumps for industrial and commercial use
· Heating power from 50 kW to 1000 kW (and more)
· Working fluid: R134a (alternative R407C)**
· Multistage options
· Bespoke according to your demand

*Can be powered by an ORC [Organic Rankine Cycle] THE RANKINE CYCLE The Rankine Cycle is a thermodynamic cycle that converts heat into work. The heat is supplied to a closed loop, which typically uses water as working fluid. The Rankine Cycle based on water provides approximately 85% of worldwide electricity production. The Organic Rankine Cycle's principle is based on a turbogenerator working as a conventional steam turbine to transform thermal energy into mechanical energy and finally into electric energy through an electrical generator. Instead of generating steam from water, the ORC system vaporizes an organic fluid, characterized by a molecular mass higher than that of water, which leads to a slower rotation of the turbine, lower pressures and no erosion of the metal parts and blades.

** A growing focus on the environmental impact of refrigerants is fuelling demand for refrigeration solutions that can provide satisfactory cooling performance with a lower impact on global warming. This is propelling environmentally friendly refrigeration solutions to the top of the corporate sustainability agenda. In addition, local legislation is increasingly targeting refrigerant gases with high Global Warming Potential (GWP). R134a and R407c

Our SUSTAINABLE Designs for bespoke Heating & Cooling systems, with possible Electricity Micro Generation

More than 45 years of experience with one of the leaders in the utilization of geothermal energy. Bespoke and efficient heat pumps solutions are our strength, energy savings and energy efficiency are our goals - along with saving money on bills! Renewable energy directly supplied from the ground beneath a building is one of the most sustainable ways of long-term energy usage. As a seasonal "buffer" - to smooth out the peaks and troughs of supply and demand.

The earth is a huge energy storage system, which permanently regenerates through solar radiation. Every square metre of our earth receives a quantity of 750–1,100 kWh of solar energy yearly. Due to this amount of heat, constant temperature levels averaging 10 to 12° Celsius prevail all over the year in Central Europe in the earth from a depth of approximately 10 metres, and this temperature rises by 1° Celsius per each 33 metre of depth. It is quite simple and very cost-efficient to use the heat stored within the ground for heating purposes. About 80% of the required heating energy can be extracted from the ground by means of HEAT PUMPS, the remaining 20% we use, in form of electric power, for operation of the heat pump. However, with the rising popularity on micro generation [of electricity] even that aspect can be reduced to zero running costs.

As a result of heat extraction during winter, the temperatures of the ground decrease. Due to this much-appreciated side effect, the ground may virtually be used for free for cooling purposes during summer. It's simply a gigantic "battery", a buffer, as it were to reduce peak demand

WHAT WE DO?

Irrespective of the size of the project, our focus is always set on the design and implementation of an efficient and energy-saving heat pump solution. A perfect heat pump solution is the result of early stage expert consultation provided to the client combined with the compilation of all essential data regarding climate, soil conditions [on larger projects a soil survey may well be beneficial, water table, building [assuming extremely well insulated building 'fabric' - or upgrading to such - is a VITAL prerequisite] and occupancy dynamics and requirements. This data is essential in order to produce a viable heat pump solution as well as the results of the simulation calculations we use to determine the economically usable energy supply of the earth.

By careful calculation and selection of heat pump components - from heat-exchangers, compressors, buffer storage, expansion valves and circulation pumps – we can provide significant savings on initial capital costs and annual operating costs. In addition supplementing the electrical needs by generation via PV Solar and/or Vertical Axis Wind Turbines or Even Micro Hydro if appropriate.

Factors to consider with existing or new properties,

we cannot stress enough the importance of significant INSULATION of the fabric of the building to maintain comfort levels
This may also need to be combines with a mechanical-ventilation system with heat recovery.
Heat Pumps are best suited to underfloor heating systems, it is impractical to consider them for a radiator based systems
See Passive House Standards

Due to our considerable experience and confidence in our systems we can offer extended warranty periods.

The same rules apply: experience is everything. The concept – is actually simple – does however quite often lead to unsatisfactory results if the overall design and the simulation are not made by experienced specialists. Heat pumps that are designed without adequate experience, are frequently oversized and consequently inefficient. Our clients will however profit by our decades of experience in the implementation of efficient and economic projects.

Heat pumps - heat from nature

Heat pumps are the first choice for those who want to lower their heating bills and generate heat in a more environmentally responsible way. After all, the environment provides the heat pump with an unlimited and free supply of the energy it needs. This fully-fledged heating system needs very little power for its drives and pumps in order to make this energy available within the premises. A heat pump makes you independent of fossil fuels, or can replace them, and in addition, actively contributes towards reducing CO2 emissions.

Simple principle, great result

A heat pump works in an analogous way to a refrigerator – simply the other way around.

In a 'fridge, heat is transferred from the inside to the outside. With a heat pump, this happens the other way around. Heat from the air or the ground is transferred into the living space via the heat pump system. Vapour from a refrigerant is compressed to increase the temperature, to make it high enough for central heating and direct hot water [DHW] heating. in summer in reverse the heat pump can cool - which is of much greater importance in Southern UK and much more so in Southern Europe - [see the irradiation maps]

Renewable energy from ambient heat

Heat pumps use ambient heat from the water, ground or air. This ambient heat is in practice, "stored" solar energy or geothermal heat from below ground. Ambient heat is therefore a renewable energy, of which we have an inexhaustible supply.
Unlike fossil fuels, renewable energies have the big advantage of being able to be regenerated. In addition, ambient heat is a decentralised energy supply, which is always available and which can be used without the need for complex supply systems or centralised energy infrastructures.

Use with various energy sources

The best heat source for each individual case depends on local conditions and the actual heat demand. Heat pumps can use various energy sources:

Air – practically unlimited availability; lowest investment costs, but least efficient
Ground – via geothermal collector, geothermal probe or ice store; very efficient
Water – extremely efficient; observe water quality and quantity
Waste heat – subject to availability, volume and temperature level of the waste heat

Advantages of heat pumps

60 to 75% lower heating costs

Heat pumps obtain 3/4 of required energy free of any charge, from the environment in which you live. Soil, groundwater, and outside air store huge amounts of thermal energy which can be transformed into heating energy using heat pumps. The savings are considerable compared to other conventional heating systems. The amount of power consumed by heat pumps is notably lower than the amount of heat they generate.

Smart future investment

If you decide to install a heat pump today, you should be aware you are making an investment for the future. Its true value lies in many measurable and non-measurable aspects. In addition to the safety of investment, flexibility, low heating costs, comfort, and many economic and ecological benefits, a heat pump is an investment in your future and the future of your children.

New building, refurbishment, or heating system replacement

A heat pump is an ideal solution for heating and cooling of newly constructed or refurbished buildings, or when replacing an existing heating system or even simply an older boiler - it may even be feasible to retain the internal distribution. Since it operates on the principles of low-temperature heating, it is suitable for both underfloor heating and heating with wall-mounted radiators, as well as a combination of both. Heat pumps are also appropriate for rebuilt or refurbished buildings with radiator heating since new high temperature heat pumps can reach water temperatures of 80°C.

Warm in the winter, cool in the summer

Unique heat pump technology allows your heating system to heat your home during the winter and cool it during the summer without additional work or investment. The heat pump system can be used for cooling regardless of whether you use fan coils or underfloor heating.

Pumped Storage - A 'Battery' of sorts

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 27 Feb 2021 17:31:00 +0000

The Principles of Pumped Storage

Pumped storage hydro-electricity works on an extremely simple principle.

Two reservoirs at different altitudes are necessary. When the water is released, from the upper reservoir under gravity, energy is created by the downflow which is directed through high-pressure shafts, linked to turbines.

In turn, the turbines power the generators to create electricity.

Water is pumped back to the upper reservoir by linking a pump shaft to the turbine shaft, using an electric motor to drive the pump.

The pump motors are powered by electricity from the National Grid - the process usually takes place overnight when national electricity demand is at its lowest

A dynamic response - In the example of Dinorwig's six generating units, they can achieve maximum output, from zero, within 16 seconds.

Pump storage generation offers a critical back-up facility during periods of excessive demand on the national grid system.

In effect this pumped storage system is a form of demand management, in short a "battery" of stored potential energy.

Dinorwig and Ffestiniog supply electricity to the Grid on a daily basis, as well as providing back-up for periods of heavy demand. The stations offer fast response times - in the case of Dinorwig, probably the fastest of any power facility in the world - 1,728MW from standstill n just 90 seconds.

Each of Dinorwig's six generating units can produce 288MW of electricity, offering a combined station output of 1728MW. Ffestiniog's four 90MW units have a combined generating capacity of 360MW.

About Dinorwig Pumped Storeage, Snowdonia, Wales

The project was begun in 1970 with an environmental and economic appraisal of three sites, which seemed to offer the right conditions. In 1972 Dinorwig was chosen largely on environmental grounds (the area is already extensively altered by man – the Slate quarries – and attracts thousands of visitors, so can't be said to be wild: the other two sites were much less industrialised), and in 1973 the Act permitting Dinorwig to be built was passed. Exploratory tunnels and bypasses constructed, but the main civil engineering contract was not let until December 1975 and started in January 1976. It was the largest civil contract in Europe at the time (probably now overtaken by projects such as the Channel Tunnel).

Lower Dinorwig Reservior

Over the next 6 years the civil construction was continued, the mechanical engineering (putting in the Machines) and the electrical side (all the transmission gear, switching etc.) being started as and when. Areas of excavation and building allowed. The first generation was in 1982; the scheme was in full production and officially opened in 1984.

The workforce peaked at 2,700 of which 90% were local. The agreed figure had been 70%. So no work camps were necessary, most living at home; this reduced labour relations difficulties both with the local communities, and the strife within camps, which sometimes exists when people work and live too closely, without the usual outlets.

Since so much local labour was used, training was necessary. As work progressed, and different phases of the work were reached, men were retrained in the new skills. Considerable EEC grants aid was given to help with the training. The labour relations at Dinorwig, at a time when there was considerable unrest elsewhere, are reckoned to have been exceedingly good. There were regular consultations between management, workforce and local communities, with Local Liaison Committee meetings every month, at which any problems were aired and resolved.

Environmental issues included maintenance of water quality (there was daily, weekly and monthly sampling at up to 20 sites), protection of salmon and trout stocks, preservation of the Arctic Charr, and revegetation of upper dam and lower works, as well as the most costly part of the environmental care – undergrounding of the transmission line from Dinorwig to the National Grid, Landscaping was undertaken by one of the leading landscape architects, Sir Frederick Gibberd.

Detail from above

As regards future energy use – pumped storage at the present time uses night time electricity production from 'base-load' (generally very large or nuclear) power stations. So it is not really a 'renewable resource' station. However, if there were a great deal of renewable energy in the future, all round the world, then pumped storage would be vital – e.g. solar energy is only produced during the day, and depends on the degree of sunlight; tidal energy varies on a monthly cycle, hydro depends on rainfall, wind is seasonal, variable, and unpredictable. The best way to store energy so produced is to use pump storage.

By Denis Egan - https://www.flickr.com/photos/theancientbrit/545879229/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15817352

Natural Gas and CHP and sometimes cooling

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 17:28:00 +0000

Combined Heat and Power Systems

Using energy efficiently has become a goal across industries in the past decade. Rising energy prices, an increasingly competitive marketplace, and environmental regulation of harmful pollutant emissions have all incited commercial and industrial energy users to search out the most efficient and cleanest ways to use energy.

One innovation that is finding applications in commercial, industrial, and even residential settings is what is known as Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems. Essentially, this type of system takes the waste heat from the burning of fossil fuels and applies it to power another process. For example, a basic CHP system might generate electricity through a large gas-fired turbine. The generation of this electricity would produce a great amount of waste heat. A CHP system might apply it to heating an industrial boiler instead of allowing this heat to escape. In this way, more of the energy contained in the natural gas is used than with a simple gas turbine. This increases energy efficiency, which implies that less energy is needed to begin with (costing the user less), and fewer emissions are generated because a smaller amount of natural gas is used. Typically, a CHP system produces a given amount of electricity and usable heat with 10 to 30 percent less fuel than would be needed if the two functions were separate. A typical electric generation facility may achieve up to 45 percent efficiency in the generation process, but with the addition of a waste heat recovery unit, can achieve energy efficiencies in excess of 80 percent.

Combining Heat and Power gives big efficiency improvements

CHP systems can be implemented to produce as much as 300 megawatts (MW) of electricity, to as little as 20 kilowatts (kW) of electricity, depending on the electrical and usable heat needs of the facility. It is not uncommon for larger cogeneration units to be installed in a facility that has very high space and water heating requirements, but lower electricity requirements. Under this scenario, the excess electricity is easily sold to the local electric utility.

Types of Combined Heat and Power Systems

A typical CHP system consists of an electric generator, which can take the form of a gas turbine, steam turbine, or combustion engine. In addition to this electric generator, a waste heat exchanger is installed, which recovers the excess heat or exhaust gas from the electric generator to in turn generate steam or hot water.

There are two basic types of CHP systems. The first is known as a ‘topping cycle’ system, where the system generates electricity first, and the waste heat or exhaust is used in an alternate process. Four types of topping cycle systems exist. The first, known as a combined-cycle topping system, burns fuel in a gas turbine or engine to generate electricity. The exhaust from this turbine or engine can either provide usable heat, or go to a heat recovery system to generate steam, which then may drive a secondary steam turbine.

The second type of topping cycle systems is known as a steam-turbine topping system. This system burns fuel to produce steam, which generates power through a steam turbine. The exhaust (left over steam) can be used as low-pressure process steam, to heat water for example.

The third type of topping cycle systems consists of an electric generator in which the engine jacket cooling water (the water that absorbs the excess emitted heat from an engine) is run through a heat recovery system to generate steam or hot water for space heating. The last type of topping cycle system is known as a gas turbine topping system. This system consists of a natural gas fired turbine, which drives a generator to produce electricity. The exhaust gas flows through a heat recovery boiler, which can convert the exhaust energy into steam, or usable heat.

While topping cycle systems are the most commonly used CHP systems, there is another type of CHP system known as ‘bottoming cycle’ systems. This type of system is the reverse of the above systems in that excess heat from a manufacturing process is used to generate steam, which then produces electricity. These types of systems are common in industries that use very high temperature furnaces, such as the glass or metals industries. Excess energy from the industrial application is generated first, and then used to power an electric generator second.

In addition to these two types of systems, fuel cells may also be used in a CHP system. Fuel cells can produce electricity using natural gas, without combustion or burning of the gas. However, fuel cells also produce heat along with electricity. Although fuel cell CHP systems are still in their infancy, it is expected that these applications will increase as the technology develops. To learn more about fuel cells, click here.

Combined Heat and Power Applications

CHP systems have applications both in large centralized power plants, and in distributed generation settings. Cogeneration systems have applications in centralized power plants, large industrial settings, large and medium sized commercial settings, and even smaller residential or commercial sites. The key determinant of whether or not combined heat and power technology would be of use is the nearby need or purpose for the captured waste heat. While electricity may be transferred reasonably efficiently across great distances, steam and hot water are not as transportable.

Heat that is generated from cogeneration plants has many uses, the most common of which include industrial processes and space and water heating. Those facilities that require both electricity and high temperature steam are best suited for CHP systems, as the system can operate at peak efficiency. There are many industries that require both electricity and steam, for example the pulp and paper industry is a major user of CHP systems. Electricity is required for lighting and operating machines, while the steam is useful in the manufacturing of paper.

Many commercial establishments also benefit from CHP systems. Universities, hospitals, condominiums, and office buildings all require electricity for lighting and electronic devices. These facilities also have high space and water heating requirements, making cogeneration a logical choice. For example, the University of Florida has an on-campus 42 MW gas turbine cogeneration facility that produces electricity and space and water heating for the campus. For more information on this cogeneration system, click here.

CHP systems are also available to serve smaller sized facilities. In this type of facility, these smaller, ‘modular’ cogeneration units can generate anywhere from 20 kW to 650 kW, and produce hot water from engine waste heat. It is most common to install a system based on the hot water needs of the establishment. For facilities like restaurants or medical facilities, which require hot water year-round, cogeneration makes an economic and environmentally friendly option. In terms of household sized CHP systems, it is possible to install a small system that can generate up to 10 kW, and fulfill all of the household heating requirements of an average home. However, these types of systems are not common. Fuel cell manufacturers are expected to target these small sized cogeneration units once the technology is perfected and it is economical for a household to install such a unit.

To learn more about CHP systems and explore other internet resources, visit the United States Combined Heat and Power association.

Icelandic Expertise to Bring Geo-Thermal to Ethiopia

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 17:02:00 +0000

by Ragnhildur Sigurdardottir, Bloomberg

Reykjavik Geothermal, a power developer backed by hedge fund billionaire Paul Tudor Jones II, is about to kick off a $4.4 billion project to bring geothermal energy to Ethiopia.

Tapping long-built Icelandic expertise in channeling geothermal power, the developer is preparing to start exploration drilling in September for two 500-MW plants in Corbetti and Tulu Moye, south of the capital Addis Ababa. At full-scale, each project would become the largest independent power producer in Africa, according to RG.
The Reykjavik-based company’s exploration teams have picked spots to drill where they can see steam rising from the ground. “All the results from the surface exploration work indicate that we are developing projects in a huge caldera, huge active volcanoes which can sustain at least 1,000 megawatts or more,” Gunnar Orn Gunnarsson, RG’s chief operating officer, said in an interview in Reykjavik.

Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Station, Iceland

The projects would become a vital cog in Ethiopia’s drive to become a middle-income country by 2025. Currently, its installed electricity capacity of 4,200 MW only provides power for 40% of its 105 million people. Neighboring Kenya already has 685 MW of installed geothermal capacity, providing almost a third of its energy.

The projects will cost money and need more investors to reach full potential. The first phase will develop 50 to 60 MW, requiring an equity investment of $175 million for each. They have been fully funded and RG holding a significant minority share in each project.

Bringing the full projects on-line would cost about $2.2 billion apiece, with 75% anticipated to be financed via debt. Other owners in the projects include Africa Renewable Energy Fund, Iceland Drilling Co. and Meridiam SAS.

RG expects “strong emerging market returns” from the projects, which will continue to improve as the projects gain scale, according to Gunnarsson.

Gunnarsson said RG is “fortunate” to be backed by Tudor Jones, who owns 23%, and Ambata Capital Partners, which holds 27%.

“But as the scale grows, RG continues to seek further investors,” he said.

The company is now negotiating drilling contracts after getting everything in place with the government, according to Gunnarsson. The projects have been in the works since 2010, through three prime ministers.

“Our relationship with the government has always been very positive and the current government is very supportive,” he said. “They have shown, in particularly over the last year, that they want this to happen and now we have cleared the pathway to go to exploration drilling.”

Are Green Energy Policies Effective - or are they all Failures

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 15:57:00 +0000

Whilst this article [Link Below] mainly blames the politicians, the main issue it neglects to cover with regard to cleaner energy methods [Wind, Sun, Tides and Bio-Digesters] is that of the distortion that misaligned subsidies have.

The initial subsidy for Solar Photo-Voltaic [Solar PV] was so over-generous that a massive 'industry' of direct-selling organisations sprang up almost over-night. These panels soaked up so much subsidy that the scheme has been massively cut back - so who set the original subsidy at 44p per kWh? Way, way over the current retail price of electricity - and not into the best technology either.

Now efficiency of 'renewables' [cleaner technologies is a better description; and certainly not wood pellet burning technologies] is often slated as the reason whey they are not effective or efficient.

Now the photo below shows steam [yes STEAM] rising from the cooling towers [yes COOLING TOWERS - not Chimneys] - probably Drax with a total of 8 Cooling Towers, ARE DESIGNED TO WASTE AROUND 60% of the energy released from burning Coal or even wood pellets - its the engineering answer to "efficient energy production" [...of a large scale remote power station].

Power Station Cooling Towers Wasting 60% Heat

However the electricity generated under centralised power plants like this is rarely above 22% at the plug in your house. Some say as low as 11%.

This in-efficiency [in centralised power systems] could have been solved by utilising lots of smaller power plants, built close to towns and cities which would not necessitate Cooling Towers, as waste heat can be distributed to houses and industry - just like in Denmark. Its called de-centralised power or even embedded power where tiny street corner electricity and heat for distribution are generated. So these remote [centralised] power stations are part of our problem.

Embedded Power Islington

Tidal projects also suffer from 'pilot project issues' and unnecessarily high subsidies - so the technology is fine, the "power" is clean and there is zero fuel cost - so lets look into differing cost models and subsidy strategies - this is the problem - how to assist innovation.

Dailymail online/debate/Christopher-Booker

Turn Down Markets

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 15:46:00 +0000

Innovative, carbon free ‘turn-down’ demand response sector delivering for consumers

23 Mar 2017

Capacity Market results announced today mean dozens of industrial and local businesses will help keep the lights on at peak demand next winter and cut carbon through innovation in the demand response sector, the Association for Decentralised Energy said.

Reducing Energy Loads

Approximately 312 MW of carbon free turn-down demand response has been secured as part of the Transitional Arrangements auction, which is aimed at preparing and supporting this innovative sector for the main Capacity Market auction.

The auction, which cleared at £45 per kW on Wednesday, means businesses across the UK will earn just over £14m in revenue, helping them to manage their energy costs and boost their competitiveness simply by turning down or shifting non-critical processes. Examples of demand turn down include temporarily switching off unnecessary lighting, pumps and motors, while demand shifting is the practice of moving a business process to earlier or later in the day.

There is nearly 10GW of untapped business led demand response, including highly efficient combined heat and power, ready to support the UK’s energy security. To achieve this potential however, user led demand response must be able to access all markets, from the Capacity Market and Balancing Mechanism to the Wholesale Market and ancillary services market, on an equal footing with traditional generation.

ADE Director Dr Tim Rotheray said:

"Today’s results are returning value to energy users for helping keep the lights on, while also cutting emissions through zero carbon demand response. Instead of paying power stations to increase supply, businesses will be managing demand in innovative ways while meeting all their energy needs leading to a more efficient, more affordable and lower carbon system.

"This auction is designed to help lower costs and improve uptake of demand response so that this tool will play a key part of the future energy sector. The Transitional Arrangements are vital in supporting this innovative sector to grow, deliver Britain’s security of supply needs and ultimately help drive a more competitive demand response market."

Notes to editors:

Auction results
A total of 373 MW entered the Auction, of which 83.69% received Capacity Agreements for delivery in 2017/18.

Waking the 'sleeping giant' of energy efficiency

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 20:00:00 +0000

A message from Dr Steven Fawkes (Sept 2012)

Energy efficiency can play a major role in addressing the multiple challenges of improving energy security, reducing the environmental impacts and reducing costs to consumers, as well as creating economic growth and jobs. We need to urgently develop the tools to wake up, what Angela Merkel recently referred to as,“the sleeping giant“.

The German Prime Minister’s reference has prompted the question how do we significantly scale-up energy efficiency? A scale-up of energy efficiency deployment requires an increase in demand, supply of products and services, and availability of financing. These preconditions need to occur across all sectors of the economy. Many companies in heavy industry claim they have invested in as much energy efficiency as they can because of the high costs associated with efficiency. However, opportunities still remain, both in retrofit and major process change.

Electric Natural Gas Buses: Cleaner AND Greener

In commercial transport there is a demand for greater energy efficiency but the main constraint is the equipment replacement cycle as energy use is largely locked in by vehicle choice. There is a lot of variation in demand in the commerce industry with large retailers typically carrying programmes that have produced good investment returns for many years. In smaller organisations there is a latent demand for energy efficiency but the constraints are more around lack of capacity. However, there is increasing recognition in non-domestic buildings of the potential to holistically retrofit buildings in a way that can produce energy savings of 30-80% but still little demand.

The Empire State Building, where savings of 38% were achieved with a three year payback period on the marginal capex has shown the art of the possible.

Empire State Building

Constraints include the well-known split of landlords’ and tenants’ incentives, the nature of commercial property financing and short term investor behaviour. Across all organisations there is a need to increase knowledge amongst decision makers as many opportunities to improve energy efficiency are still being missed because clients don’t know what can be done. Capacity and knowledge needs to be built from the board, through energy managers and down to the shop floor.

Unfortunately, housing demand is a more difficult issue. The Green Deal has a target of retrofitting 14 million homes, which implies a massive increase in demand for energy efficiency. Although most householders would prefer lower energy bills this is not the same as demanding an energy-efficiency retrofit. A retrofit implies disruption equivalent to having a major extension.

Energy efficiency is abstract and unlike an extension it is hard to enjoy or display. Very few people wake up and think of buying some energy efficiency, they are more likely to wake up and think of buying an object of desire such as a new car or a new computer. Making efficiency desirable is particularly difficult because of the level of disengagement that consumers have from their energy bills and suppliers, with bills largely seen as another form of unavoidable taxation.

The other aspect of demand for energy efficiency in households is behavioural change. Opower, a customer engagement platform for the utility industry, has produced measurable savings by giving consumers information about their own energy use compared to their neighbours usage, so called “neighbour power”. Onzo, a data and analytics service for utilities, has technology that can provide consumption data for individual appliances as well as the whole house. Impressive savings and reduction in peak loads have been achieved with this approach.

On the supply side we need to build capacity in several areas, particularly measurement and verification of savings (M&V), integrative design techniques, and supply of financing products. M&V should be an essential element of all energy efficiency projects.

The Empire State Building retrofit has shown the power of integrative design but these design techniques are still not widely used.

IR Image Showing Differing Heat Loss

Traditional component rather than system engineering design techniques are still the norm in practice and classroom. We need to increase the supply of architects and engineers trained in integrative design techniques.
Financing for cars does not make people buy cars, and the same is true for energy efficiency. It does, however, enable them to overcome the barrier of upfront cost. Many different designs of energy efficiency financing techniques exist and in the USA there has been a flowering of innovation. Even in the US, however, the market remains tiny (c.$5bn) and not widely recognised by the financial sector. Only standardisation, such as we saw develop in the renewables industry, can lead to a mass finance market.

Gabions: Water Soaks in the Desert

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 12:33:00 +0000

Posted November 25, 2010 by Geoff Lawton & filed under Gabions, Irrigation, Land, Soil Conservation, Soil Rehabilitation, Water Conservation, Water Harvesting.

Gabions are one of the crucial feature elements of dry land landscape water harvesting design.

A gabion is a leaky rock dam wall built in a wadi, valley canyon or water flow, at a point where there would be a reasonable amount of water caught if there was a dam wall in the same position, but the gabion instead leaks through the rocks, slowly releasing a steady flow of water and retained moisture over time.

As the water is slowed down by a gabion, it drops its sediments, organic materials, behind the rock wall.

Desert catchments are often large and feature very infrequent rainfall events, and are an actively eroding landscape that is continually being blown away, with sediments either eroded or deposited by the wind if there are wind traps like desert tree systems and forests, but also by water flows which are usually strong and can carry large amounts of organic material and sediments away with them.

A gabion traps this material, because, as a principle of aqua dynamics, the slowing of the water drops the material volume and quantities that the velocity can carry. So this aqua-dynamic deposition system, placed in a location that forms a large back-up silt field, retains water-soaked silt enriched with organic materials, storing it away from the sun, and acts as a giant sponge, holding the water for long periods whilst slowly leaking it into the landscape.

A winter’s rainfall can be harvested in a set of silt fields in a gabioned, wadi, canyon or a desert valley that then release that water over the next few months. These silt fields retain more rainfall each year, soaking in quicker because they are already have dampened hydrology, building to a maximum capacity on an average of 7 years.

In the photos I have included in this post, there is a documentation of two gabions in a wadi in the Dead Sea valley that comes down to the Dead Sea itself. I witnessed these gabions built in 2002 and have visited this site many times since, often after winter rain, and have seen residual water flows extending through the silt fields and down the wadi for long periods of time — increasing each year.

During a PDC in Jordan in Oct/Nov this year (2010), the students and I took a field trip to examine these two wadi gabions and much to our surprise at the end of an exceptionally hot summer with record temperatures the gabions were releasing large flows of clean water through the silt traps.

Green vegetation, although overgrazed by goats, was beginning to proliferate, and there were even frogs and native freshwater crabs in the water. These are exceptional features for regenerating life in the shaded canyons and other potential locations in a desert system.

I’ve included one or two other photos from reference points around the world where I have witnessed the dramatic effect of gabions that have been used traditionally for productive yields. We can reverse desertification by the use of these features and others I’ll be reporting on in future posts.

My advice to you is to study and learn about gabions, report in about good gabion systems, have fun installing them and seeing the great beneficial results that will be obvious as a comparison to the surrounding arid landscape!

Finding Ways to Prevent Water Waste

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 12:16:00 +0000

Posted April 17, 2015 by Lauren Manning & filed under Water Conservation. Taken From Permaculture News Australia

THE CURRENT STATE OF CALIFORNIA’S UNPRECEDENTED DROUGHT

Startling Statistics

California is currently in its fourth year of a severe drought. The United States Drought Monitor estimates that over 90 percent of California is currently experiencing “severe” to “exceptional” drought conditions. For farmers, the increasing scarcity of water has been devastating. According to the American Farmland Trust, California is home to 27 million acres of cropland. Nine million of those acres are irrigated farmlands, requiring a steady water supply. Crops typically requiring regular irrigation include vegetables (1.1 million acres), orchards and vineyards (3.1 million acres), and forage crops (1.7 million acres). Roughly 7 out of 10 irrigated farms in California depend entirely, or at least in part, on surface water allocated from state and federal projects. In 2014, farmers received zero water allocations from federal projects and only one-fifth of the water that they would normally receive from state water projects.

The shortage of water for agriculture has forced many farmers to fallow thousands of acres of their land in order to allocate what little water they receive to producing a successful harvest. Some reports estimate that in 2014 alone nearly half a million acres of California farmland were fallowed as a result of the water shortage. Other farmers have chosen to switch their crops to more drought-friendly varieties, including GMO seed varieties designed to thrive in soil with lower moisture content.

The Governor and Local Communities Take Action

Farmers have found some relief from favorable economic circumstances. For example, decreasing fuel prices and a surge in American imports have provided temporary relief from the crippling impact of the drought. In many communities, residents have started sourcing their food from local farmers and agricultural producers in an attempt to keep their businesses going through these tough economic times. Some local grocers are making an effort to source as much of their produce as they can from local farms as opposed to importing fruits and vegetables from other regions.

The State of California has taken action to help soften the blow of a fourth year of severe drought. On April 1, 2015, California Governor Jerry Brown signed an Executive Order mandating water restrictions for all California residents. This is the first time in California’s history that a mandatory water restriction has been set into place to combat drought-related issues. As part of the mandatory water cuts, residents will be required to reduce their water consumption by 25 percent, or face daily monetary fines. The executive order exempts farmers from the new requirement, noting just how badly many farmers have already been impacted.

INCREASES IN FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PRICES

California: The Horn of Plenty

To truly comprehend the impact that California’s drought may have on food prices, it is important to have an understanding of just how crucial California’s agricultural industry is to the nation and the world at large. Many people refer to California as the nation’s breadbasket. The rich soil and ideal weather conditions make it some of the most fertile planting soil in the world. It is no surprise, therefore, that California produces 400 different types of agricultural commodities and provides roughly half of the nation’s fruits, vegetables, and nuts.

California is the nation’s leading producer of many food staples, including avocados, broccoli, tomatoes, spinach, grapes, tree nuts, and dairy. According to a study conducted by the University of California Agricultural Issues Center, in 2013 California exported $4.16 billion worth of almonds and over $2.4 billion in dairy products. Other key California exports include wine, tree nuts, grapes, rice, cotton, and beef. Overall, the California Department of Food and Agriculture reports that California’s 77,900 farms earned over $46 billion for agricultural exports in 2013.

Produce Prices are Predicted to Increase as a Result of the Drought

The extent to which California’s drought will have an impact on produce prices depends on the overall severity of the drought and how the drought affects total crop yields. When it comes to produce, the most critical concern during a drought is the diminishing groundwater supply, which is typically needed to provide consistent irrigation to fruit and vegetable crops. In response to a groundwater supply shortage, many farmers choose to plant a smaller amount of a particular crop, or to plant an entirely different crop that is more tolerant to drought conditions.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, when it comes to fruits and vegetables, any production impacts that may lead to price increases typically manifest at the supermarket shelves within one month. Produce is highly perishable, meaning that farmers cannot hold onto their produce until market prices are more favorable and consumers are more willing to buy. Other factors affecting the price of produce are labor wages, competitive imports, and fuel prices.

As a consequence of the growing scarcity of water for agriculture, the prices of fruits, vegetables, and other food products are expected to increase. For many farmers, the increasing cost of water and fallowing of fields requires them to raise the prices of the their crop yields.

How much of a price hike should consumers anticipate paying? According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) reports, “[i]ncreases in retail prices for fresh fruits and vegetables in 2014 were primarily driven by an increase in the prices for citrus fruit.” Additionally, “[p]rices for fresh vegetables fell in 2014 after seeing higher than average price increases in 2013.”

These price increases will likely increase into 2015. USDA estimates that during 2015 supermarket prices will increase an additional 2 to 3 percent over 2014 prices. In particular, fresh fruit prices should rise between “2.5 to 3.5 percent and fresh vegetable prices 2.0 to 3.0 percent.” The USDA cautions, however, that California’s status as a crucial food producer gives it “the potential to drive prices for fruit, vegetables, dairy, and eggs up even further.” Ultimately, the USDA predicts that produce prices will continue to rise.

Other researchers have echoed the USDA’s conclusions regarding the escalating prices of produce as a result of California’s historic drought. For example, a study conducted by Timothy Richards at the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University predicts that the California drought could increase avocado prices up to 28 percent. According to the USDA, California produces 88 percent of avocadoes consumed throughout the United States. The study also concluded that the price of lettuce could increase between 62 cents and $2.44.

Richards believes that the most significant produce increases will occur with “avocadoes, berries, broccoli, grapes, lettuce, melons, peppers, tomatoes, and packaged salads.” Additionally, the California Farm Bureau has “projected that the average American family will spend about $500 more on food this year because of the drought.”

Of course, estimations regarding potential food price increases are not evaluated in a vacuum. Many other current events and factors play a part in determining whether consumers will pay more or less for fresh produce in the coming months. For example, the California Avocado Commission reports that part of the reason for the increased price of avocados, which rose 16 percent between 2013 and 2014, is the alternate bearing cycle of avocado trees. One year, the tree will produce a high volume of fruits, while producing substantially fewer fruits the following year. In 2013, California’s avocado yield was estimated at 500 million pounds. In 2014, total crop yield was projected at 350 million pounds.

Bridging the Gap with Imports from Abroad

Because California produces “nearly half of US-grown fruits, nuts and vegetables,” finding sources from out of state to supplement the drought’s impact on capacity is difficult. If the price of meat becomes high, grocers can turn to other sources of protein, like eggs and fish, to meet consumers’ needs. When it comes to fruits and vegetables, however, there are no comparable replacements to meet consumers’ demand for freshly grown food.
Since foreign countries that rely on California agriculture to meet their produce needs, like Canada, have started locating potential backup suppliers.

Argentina, South Africa, and Australia offer bustling agricultural economies that may help foreign food importers bridge the gap caused by California’s drought. One impediment to sourcing produce from these other countries, however, is the tendency of certain produce, like lettuce and fruit, to perish during the journey. For example, citrus fruits and potatoes can be stored on a transatlantic cargo ship for over a week. Berries, fruits, and lettuces, however, must be kept at low temperatures and consumed within seven days.

Despite the logistical hurdles that must be overcome when importing produce from far away localities, some predict that California food wholesalers, distributers, and grocers will have no choice but to import food from Mexico, Central America, and South America. Current reports indicate that a number of fruits, like peaches, are being imported from Chile and are taking up a substantial share of California’s fruit market.

According to the United States Trade Representative, Chile was the eighth largest source of agricultural imports for the United States in 2013, providing fish, seafood, and $1.8 billion in edible fruits and nuts. Mexico is the second largest supplier of agricultural imports for the United States, providing $17.7 billion worth of fresh vegetables, fruit, wine and beer, and snack foods. Canada is the largest source of agricultural imports for the United States, totaling $21.8 billion.

STRATEGIES TO MITIGATE WATER LOSS

Despite the enormity of California’s drought crisis there are many solutions and methodologies that can be used to help reduce water consumption and to reduce the cost of each trip to the grocery store for fruit and vegetables.

A New Water Paradigm Through Permaculture

At a more global level, a potential method for ensuring the optimization of water usage is Permaculture, which integrates resources, people, land and the environment through beneficial synergies. Permaculture enables farmers, urban agriculturalists, and rooftop gardeners to imitate the “no waste, closed loop systems” often observed in diverse natural ecosystems. Permaculture utilizes holistic approaches to restoring balance in ecosystems and ensuring that environmental assets, like land, water, and air, are revitalized, recharged, and protected.

When it comes to water management, the development and implementation of a water management system is an necessity. According to Geoff Lawton, it is about “gravity irrigation systems, water harvesting swales and simple systems”, when talking about the Permaculture Research Institute’s site going through his shires largest drought in a hundred years. Geoff continues on to explain that “even though the local village was cut off from water and water was issued in the street, we were able to continue to irrigate all kinds of crops, because we had an oversupply of water”.

Simple Ways to Save Water Around the House

One method that can be used to combat the current paradigm’s incredible water waste is a composting toilet. Composting toilets require little-to-no water, which enables users to cut their water bills drastically. A “dry composting converts human fecal material into a soil-like humus, which is essentially odorless and is scarcely 10 percent of the original volume.” Dry composting facilities are typically emptied once a year, depending on size, making them a low-maintenance way to fight water waste right in your home.

Many features of our modern water paradigm are designed to perform one-time usages of water. For example, “water enters a city, becomes contaminated with human and industrial wastes, and leaves the city dangerously polluted.” Current water systems allocate substantial amounts of water to the clearing away of human waste, typically into a sewer system. The results of this practice are devastating, and include disease, disruption of nutrient cycles, river death, and the formation of so-called “dead zones” in certain coastal areas.

Many regions have implemented water treatment facilities designed to make use of wastewater instead of dumping into lakes, rivers, or oceans. In California, Orange County constructed a $481 million treatment plant that converts sewage into water that is used to replenish local ground aquifers. As the California drought continues to affect farmers and other water users, the “flush and forget” system may become less common.
Other ways to save water around the home include installing water-efficient showerheads, toilets, laundry machines, and dishwashers. In some localities, newly installed appliances must comply with water efficiency requirements. If you cannot afford a low-flow toilet, simply place one to two inches of pebbles inside the bottom of your water tank, or fill two empty plastic bottles with rocks to weight hem down. This strategy alone can save over ten gallons of water each day. Additionally, do not let the water run while you clean produce. Fill the sink or a pan with clean water instead.

Permaculture at Home

Until legislators and policymakers adopt policies that encompass the full spectrum of water sources, individuals should consider implementing permaculture practices right in their backyards, rooftops, and homes. At its heart, permaculture is a design science that can be applied to any human habitat no matter how small the space may be.
According to Lawton, city environments are especially in need of the benefits that permaculture has to offer. A city block requires a remarkable amount of power and electricity to feed the many businesses, homes, and utilities that cover its acreage. One of the greatest features of permaculture is that it can be implemented in almost any setting or environments. There are ways to integrate permaculture practices even for folks who live in apartments, high-rises, or multi-tiered condos. For example, if you live in an apartment that features a balcony, consider growing sprouts or mushrooms.

When it comes to reducing water waste in cities, permaculture provides a method for ensuring that surplus water is returned to the environment or redirected to another source that can make good use of the water. For example, some cities have implemented permaculture streets, which feature controlled water runoff from hard surfaces towards gardens and other growing plants in need of hydration. Because cities are often burgeoning centers of design and intricate landscapes, they provide the perfect habitat for implementing creative permaculture strategies.

For homeowners, front and rear lawns represent ideal opportunities for implementing and experimenting with permaculture methodologies. In many cases, the amount of chemicals and treatments applied to lawns surpasses agricultural activities. Homeowners should consider converting up to half of their lawns to gardens or back to natural habitat. One of the greatest benefits of planting a home garden is the readily available bounty of fruits and vegetables that it provides. As Californians and produce consumers around the world begin to feel the drought’s impact on the price of fruits and vegetables, low-cost, home-based solutions may provide a solution. Permaculture offers an easy, efficient, and affordable way to grow produce right at home.

To achieve ultimate synergy, permaculture focuses on the habits and practices that characterize wild habitats like forests and pastures and mimics them in a controlled environment. Forests typically feature many different layers of vegetation growing side by side, including shrubs, plants, and trees. Among these vegetation layers are insects and animals. Each of these strands operate synergistically with one another as an ecosystem. In permaculture, the integrated relationship between all of these living things is known as a guild. While traditional gardening practices teach individuals how to plant gardens, permaculture focuses on equipping individuals to create and maintain successful guilds right at home. Ultimately, permaculture is a theory of design. Permaculture guilds typically have seven key components: (1) food for humans; (2) food for the soil; (3) diggers and miners; (4) groundcover; (5) climbers; (6) supporters; and (7) protectors. Each of these components work together to create a thriving synergistic system.

Many water saving strategies can be adopted for both permaculture gardens and traditional gardens. First, only water a lawn when it needs watering. To see if your lawn is in need of moisture, step on the grass. If the grass springs back up, it does not need water. If it lays flat, the lawn could use a little water. Intermittent deep-soakings are more effective at providing moisture to parched soil instead of frequent light showers. Also, the time of day that you choose to water can have an impact on how much of that moisture reaches the garden or lawn’s roots. Try to water during the night or early morning, and avoid watering when the sun is out or when it is windy. Adding a thick layer of mulch near the base of plants and tress can help retain moisture as it saturates through the soil. Mulch is particularly helpful for gardens that rely on drip systems. Composting is another helpful tool that can increase water retention. It also provides a dose of minerals and nutrients to the soil and vegetation. Many gardeners are surprised to learn that adding just one pound of compost material can yield “40 pounds of water retention.” Also, rain barrels can provide quick and easy surpluses of fresh water during the rainy season, and add aesthetic character to your lawn or garden.

Solar Thermal Ponds

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 14:09:00 +0000

Waste is rife in all ‘corners of the globe’. Be-it water, sewage, medical, municipal, heat, distribution losses, negligence, inefficiency or even sunshine. If only we could reduce wastes and unify our systems, we could supply the ‘same for [much] less’.

The sun is the biggest source of power known to man

Unfortunately it is overlooked in many power projects
Salt Ponds are Simple technology and well proven
Ideally located near salt water
Inexpensive and easily maintained
Useful by products; salt and shrimps

Patented and passive purification technologies to produce potable water; including small scale purification units for villages.

Additional possibilities with fish farming in side ponds

Additional Ponds can be added as the development expands

Concept project

A very saline artificial lake can be utilised as both a solar collector and solar energy storage medium. We have expertise within this field and are seeking projects where this technology can be utilised and scaled up to produce significant energy volumes.

The ideal location closes to the sea in very high sunshine areas, with needs for both electricity generation and water purification. Drinkable water will be available from this station near the sea.

This innovative system will also allow the user to produce sea-salt. This new salt is of a very good quality and will allow the user to stop using and withdrawing salt from the lake. This dramatic change will take some time and will protect the delicate Lake ecosystem in the long run.

Furthermore this same pond can harbour brine shrimps as a way to clean the water. This gives the opportunity of a new source of revenue from marketing the shrimp.

Initially the salt ponds will be filled with sea water or from the flood waters entering the Lake. Zero Energy Systems[ZES or Sun Earth Energy -SEE] can advise on the construction and specification of such ponds and to design these to power the development around Lake.

Technically the water at the bottom of a solar salt pond can reach up to 95 ^oC. This heat allows the production of electricity - dependent on the size of the solar salt pond between 2-5MW of power can be produced continuously.

Permaculture and Soil Management

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 19 Jan 2014 14:51:00 +0000

Flood Control and Nutrient Harvesting

Permaculture and the brilliant Geoff Lawton, has the solution to wasteful and damaging river and other types of flooding. Bamboo!! [but also see Vetiver Grass too at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vetiver_System].

See the video at the link below.

The real benefit is that the careful placing of differing types of bamboo into differing strata of a flood zone can provide a valuable harvesting of the nutrients washed out from the flood upstream. Not only will the roots of bamboo stabilise, it will trap sediments washed down. So there is a double function to start.

This has to be a key attribute to turn 'poor' quality landscapes into a fertile and productive resource for those working the land.

http://www.geofflawton.com/fe/61148-power-of-bamboo

Profile and suggestions for flood control

River debris caught by the bamboo

These types of planting will become the backbone of an holistic approach to the management of land. The need to stabilize and to add nutrients are paramount to productive farming. Just as the opposites are key factors in the despoiling of the local environment.

Tri-GENERATION: Fuel Efficiency on Steroids

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 03 Nov 2013 20:19:00 +0000

TRI-GENERATION - CHCP - COMBINED HEAT/COOLING & POWER

Schematic of Tri-Generation

Tri-Generation - Electricity - Heat - and Refrigeration/ Absorption chillers provide an economic and environmental alternative to conventional refrigeration.

Combining high efficiency, low emission power generation equipment (including solar thermal collectors) with absorption chillers allows for maximum total fuel efficiency, elimination of HCFC/CFC refrigerants and reduced overall air emissions.

Combining a cogeneration plant with an absorption refrigeration system allows utilization of seasonal excess heat for cooling. The hot water from the cooling circuit of the cogeneration plant serves as drive energy for the absorption chiller. The hot exhaust gas from the gas engine can also be used as an energy source for steam generation, which can then be utilized as an energy source for a highly efficient, double-effect steam chiller.

Up to 80% of the thermal output of the cogeneration plant is thereby converted to chilled water. In this way, the year-round capacity utilization and the overall efficiency of the cogeneration plant can be increased significantly. The diagram (Schematic of Tri-Generation) illustrates the simplified operation of a typical tri-generation power plant for refrigeration, electricity, and hot water.

This technology utilizes waste heat through a peak load boiler to absorption and compression refrigeration equipment, while generating electricity for on-site consumption.

The actual Situation without CHP and / or Tri-Generation

Current Centralized Inefficiencies

Most recently the U.S. Government, through its Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, conducted a research project to analyze current energy inefficiencies and to define effective ways to reduce energy losses. The blue graphic chart above (see Current Centralized Inefficiencies) shows the actual situation.

Two-thirds of our natural resources that are burned to produce electricity (mostly coal and natural gas) are lost as heat to the environment.

Today’s traditional power plants are only 33% efficient at best - some are at only 22%.

Most electricity consumers are not aware about the fact that the generation and distribution of electricity through the national grid is notoriously inefficient. Conventional power plants emit the heat created as a by-product of electricity generation into the environment through cooling towers, flue gas, or by other means.

Also in most engines and standard diesel & gas generator sets, more than half of the available energy is lost as excess heat.

Already in 1978, the U.S. Congress recognized that efficiency at central power plants had stagnated and sought to encourage improved efficiency with the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA), which encouraged utilities to buy power from decentralized and private energy producers.

However, the bill left implementation and enforcement up to individual States, resulting in little or nothing being done in many parts of the country. Relatively low prices for raw materials like coal, fossil fuel, and natural gas created further complacency.

CHP - Cogeneration and Distributed Generation Today the situation is different. Prices for coal, fossil fuel, and natural gas are increasing. Due to the fact that coal and crude oil is in high demand, especially in emerging economies, and because the world has reached its peak in oil production, traditional energy resources are getting scarce and prices are expected to increase to extreme high levels never seen before.

Carbon Dioxide emissions are leading to global warming and the vast majority of all leading scientists worldwide are in agreement that CO2 release into the atmosphere must be significantly reduced.

Already during the 90’s Europe has actively incorporated renewable energy sources and CHP co-and tri-generation into its energy policy.

Most recently the US Government followed this trend and today all agencies like the Department of Energy, the EPA, and most State Energy Authorities are actively supporting decentralized power generation policies (distributed generation), especially CHP (combined heat & power) co-and tri-generation, and the effective utilization of new renewable energy technologies.

Combined with new renewable energy technologies (see Proposed Decentralised Efficiency ) this will lead to significant improvements. Tri-generation is a thermodynamically efficient use of fuel.

In separate production of electricity some energy must be rejected as waste heat, but in cogeneration this thermal energy is put to good use. New CHP technologies are available to greatly increase power generation efficiency technologies.

Proposed Decentralised Efficiency

Power Demand Planning Fails to allow for ultra low Generation Efficiency and Utilisation

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 12 Oct 2013 12:45:00 +0000

Why not add some serious focus on ENERGY DEMAND and ENERGY EFFICIENCY. [Updated/Reprinted from my March 2011 blog, but still highly relevant - and nothing much in the way of any improvements. Still!]

We in the UK like most of the western world have some pretty miserable performance characteristics when considering turning fossil fuels into electricity. Around 25% fuel efficiency. The remaining 60% losses to 'low grade heat' dissipated to the cooling towers (erected as a testimony to waste), and 10-12% grid distribution losses etc.

Just as bad in the USA see graphic: Interestingly the figures for generation losses translate into 67.2% of the energy inputs, even after allowing for the Hydro and other renewable inputs. Poor efficiency indeed!

The nuclear cycle is similar with the cooling towers/sea water cooling systems (designed to 'waste' heat energy) warming up the atmosphere rather than being usefully employed to heat buildings etc.

Pimlico District Heat Plant

BUT WAIT: we can't use the heat from cooling towers because all power stations (with the exception of Ferrybridge and Trent) are too far away from population centres to justify the district heating distribution network.

As a historical pointer Battersea Power Station, London had no cooling towers (land was too expensive) so they piped the heat energy to Pimlico and sold it to the residents in 1950! And its still there today.

So in effect our whole approach to centralized power (electricity but not heat energy) is flawed. THATS THE FIRST PROBLEM.

For the sake of brevity I will summarize:
THERE IS NO ENERGY POLICY: What we have is a series of lobby groups shouting at weak Governments. What goes for a 'policy' is to do with taxation on North Sea Oil and other taxes on transport fuels. The rest is to keep you quiet.

THERE ARE NO DRIVERS TO MAKE POWER GENERATION EFFICIENT: Otherwise we would see hundreds of 'mini' (unseen to the 'man/person in the street') power, heat and (optional chilled water) generation systems providing around 85+% fuel efficiency heating and powering our homes, offices and retail parks. What we do is just pay more and more per kWh, heck the Government even taxes us for the Carbon because of this inefficiency. On top of that they want us to stump up to artificially support renewable because you have been 'told' they are more expensive(?). Renewables can stand on their own. Which is more than can be said for Nuclear.

The factors that are determining our plans for electricity supply (not energy needs) are still based on the hopeless inefficiency I have merely touched on. Its also based of the economist's 'favourite mistake' of constant upward industrial growth and electricity needs expanding as they have done in the past. That will not happen.

In fact the power companies will never object to talk of brown-outs and demand outstripping supply. It's their business. They get bigger and more powerful on comments like that.

Football Stadium that Acts as a power station

The real alternatives are for efficient 'parish' or even 'estate' scale power and heat generation systems utilising all energy sources, gas, wind, geo-thermal, small scale hydro and solar thermal. (forget the vastly over sold solar PV for the next 10 years). Then we will have our own independent power supplies and then we might actually see real ENERGY COMPETITION.

Bunhill CHP Opened Dec 2012 [Note Water Tower Storage]

Good example in Islington Bunhill estate. 2MWe generation plus 2km of district heating to serve the local houses. 700 homes supplied with a CHP engine which feeds a 115,000 litre hot water buffer storage tank for all heating and hot water needs. All on a 'street corner' site and oblivious to the untrained eye!!

So start forming your local energy co-operatives, forget NIMBY'ism and lets create real energy security in our homes and offices. Because we certainly don't have it now if we continue with the energy propaganda that fills the press and the BBC.

313 MPG: Hybrid Engines are Go

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 12 Oct 2013 12:16:00 +0000

The world’s most fuel-efficient car, the Volkswagen XL1, which was first unveiled at the Qatar Motor Show in 2011, has now been confirmed for an initial production run of 250 examples.

Two passenger VW XL1

Pioneering construction techniques, an advanced plug-in hybrid drivetrain and innovative packaging all play a part in allowing the XL1 to return 313 mpg on the combined cycle while emitting 24 g/km of CO2 to set a new benchmark for vehicle efficiency.

Powering the XL1 is a compact 800 cc TDI two-cylinder common rail diesel engine developing 48 PS. It’s linked to an electric motor producing 27 PS, resulting in a total of 75 PS – a modest output yet more than enough when the low kerb weight (795 kg) of the vehicle is taken into account.

The TDI engine is linked to an electric motor and a seven-speed DSG gearbox with an automatic clutch mounted between each unit. The electric motor can either work independently of the TDI engine or in tandem when accelerating. Accelerating from rest to 62 mph can be achieved in 11.9 seconds; the electronically limited top speed is 99 mph. Thanks to its plug-in hybrid system, the two-seater can cover a distance of up to 50 km in all-electric mode and therefore with zero local emissions.

In both its styling and packaging the XL1 draws on lessons learned from the 1-Litre car (2002) and the L1 concept (2009). The XL1 has evolved to feature staggered seating with the driver and passenger placed next to each other in a body structure made from advanced new materials providing immense strength yet weighing just 230 kg.

To make such weight savings possible, and yet viable for series production, Volkswagen developed and patented a new system for the manufacture of the Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) parts on the car called the Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM) process.

In total the XL1 weighs 795 kg. In addition to the body structure, the weight is accounted for by the drivetrain (227 kg), the running gear (153 kg), the interior including a pair of bucket seats (80 kg) and the electrical system (105 kg). In total just 23.2 per cent of the car (184 kg) is made out of either steel or iron.

Further savings are made through the extensive use of lightweight materials including magnesium (wheels), ceramics (brake discs) and aluminium (dampers, steering system, brake calipers).

The styling of the XL1 is borne out of functional requirements – easy access to the interior is granted via a pair of elegant scissor doors that hinge on the A-pillar while the profile of the car has been honed in the wind tunnel, the result being a remarkable coefficient of drag figure of 0.186. The XL1’s overall length (3,970 mm) and width (1,682 mm) are similar to those of a Volkswagen Polo yet its height (1,184 mm) is more akin to that of a sports car.

The XL1 will be produced at Volkswagen’s Osnabrück factory in Germany.

Code 6 Means Practically No External Energy Required

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 22:28:00 +0000

So if many properties are built to code 6, or Code 5, then DEMAND for energy REDUCES - As they are net energy Zero Homes/Properties.

Contrary to the ever increasing projections for power, these energy efficiency improvements can benefit all, and end 'fuel poverty'. Ultra low running costs for heating, power and water can only benefit the consumer.

Homes Look Normal Enough

Green Space, a 10-unit residential scheme in Chelmsford has been certified to Code for Sustainable Homes level 6 – the highest possible level. To reach Code level 6, homes must reach a zero carbon standard and only a handful of developments have achieved the certification so far, six years before government’s commitment to zero carbon homes.

CHP [Not to be confused with Combined Heat and Power], the housing association that developed the scheme used a combination of super insulation and water efficient products, with low carbon renewable energy generation and rainwater harvesting to achieve level 6. Some features of the Chelmsford scheme are:

Twin Wood Pellet Boilers: but CHP Better

Heating and hot water from communal biomass district heating fuelled by wood pellets.
Power from photo-voltaic cells on the roof producing 4kW per house and 2.5kW per flat
Building fabric in walls and roof with U-values of 0.13W/m2K
Triple argon glazed windows with low E to maximize solar gain with U-values of 0.7W/m2K.
Timber structure with insulated panel and heat recovery mechanical ventilation provide air-tightness.
Rainwater harvesting designed to 76L per person per day for flushing WC’s and washing machines.

Reduced energy bills

Insulated Flues

The Code for Sustainable Homes should have benefits not only for the environment, but essentially for the residents also. CHP, the housing association that developed the scheme in Chelmsford are keen to promote this benefit to their customers. The architect, Jon Boon of Ingleton Wood expects “a predicted energy cost for heating, power and lighting of less than half that of a typical house built to current Building Regulations standards.” The homes also meet Lifetime Homes, a standard that seeks to ensure that homes are adaptable for the changing needs of residents throughout their lifetime.

http://www.chp.org.uk/about_chp/green_space.htm

Reducing carbon emissions and other environmental impacts

The Code for Sustainable Homes provides a template and regulatory checklist to guide development towards designs, features and building practices that reduce environmental impacts. A significant focus for the Code is to reduce CO2 emissions but it also encourages a range of other environmental considerations from water efficiency to sustainable sourcing, reducing flood risk and improving both health and well being of the occupants and the ecological impact of construction.

The Green Space scheme used sustainably sourced timber frame design and incorporated a green roof to encourage biodiversity, along with composting and recycling arrangements to halve expected landfill waste.

The importance of the Code for Sustainable Homes

From 2016 all new homes will be required to reach zero carbon by building regulations. The Code for Sustainable Homes points the way forward for this change and regulations are already changing to catch up with aspects of the Code in terms of water and energy efficiency. Achieving Code level 3 is currently a requirement for all social housing schemes and for planning permission in many areas. From April 2011 we expect this to rise to Code level 4.

The cost of reaching Code for Sustainable Homes level 6

The Green Space development project came in at £1.5 million, 40% more than that of Code for Sustainable Homes level 3 schemes. These technologies save the owner around £380 per year in energy for heating and lighting. The initial output to build homes to Code for Sustainable Homes level 6 will be costly but the operating costs will be much lower than existing homes.

The future and reducing build costs for Code 6

Modern Factory Modules of Varying Design

With modular construction technologies these construction costs can come down to more acceptable levels. By rationalising the construction and building many units, modular factory methods will reduce costs. This does not mean identical boxes either.

And linked to Combined Heat and Power systems with power exported to the grid, a developer could look at their projects as a long term investment.

Meanwhile France Promotes Tidal Power Hub

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 20:42:00 +0000

Port Area

West Normandy Marine Energy president François Piquet and Ports of Normandy chief executive Jean Michel Sevin discuss developments at France’s foremost tidal power hub. This November’s West Normandy Marine Energy Conference, at the International Tidal Energy Summit, promises to be a key industry gathering.Organisations such as West Normandy Marine Energy and the Cherbourg port owner Ports of Normandy Authority (Ports Normands Associés or PNA in French) have long recognised the value of tidal power and their efforts to foster the industry are beginning to bear fruit.

With just a few weeks left ahead to register for the International Tidal Energy Summit and West Normandy Marine Energy Conference, Tidal Today invited the heads of both organizations to comment on why this part of France should be a major focus for tidal power at the present time.

Q: What makes Normandy an important location for tidal power?

Jean Michel Sevin: "Cherbourg possesses a major asset: its immediate proximity to the Raz Blanchard or Race of Alderney, which represents half of France’s tidal energy potential.

"The port of Cherbourg has several other advantages, such as offering extra land possibilities and firm ground ideal for heavy loads and for building specific installations.

"It is accessible 24-seven, with no locks or air space constraints, 13 meters of water guaranteed all year round and a favorable business environment, accessible from land, with existing industrial fabric and companies with experience of major construction projects."

Q: What are the objectives of the tidal work underway in Normandy?

François Piquet: "Our goal is to decrease the price of the electricity produced by marine renewable energy and make it competitive with other energy sources. This is a niche market and we cannot all be competitors if we want to be successful.

"Currently we are carrying out a diagnosis of the strengths and weaknesses of those actors that are capable and willing to invest in this area in France and Normandy. The industry is helping us do this diagnosis and can propose solutions for cooperation.

"The work involves industrial players from many territories, such as Alstom and Tidal Generation Limited in Bristol, and DCNS and OpenHydro in Ireland, for example, as well as the European Marine Energy Centre research and development site in Scotland."

Q: What are the next steps taking place in terms of technology development?

Undersea Turbine

François Piquet: "We are working gradually to validate the quality of the prototypes and check the capabilities of companies developing industrial-scale farms.

"Collectively, we also have to solve some technological problems to do with topics such as environmental impact, wake effects and the displacement of sediments."

Q: What specific actions are you taking to support tidal at Cherbourg?

Jean Michel Sevin: "In order to strengthen the position of the port of Cherbourg, PNA has begun preparing for tidal energy operations by building a new quay with a load capacity of 15 tons per square meter and an additional 39-hectare platform.

"With a coordinated and cohesive construction project that includes a terminal with unique Channel-facing durability, as well as almost 100 hectares of dedicated real estate and improved marine facilities, the port of Cherbourg is ready for an expansion in marine renewable energy."

François Piquet and Jean Michel Sevin are both attending the 7th International Tidal Energy Summit (25-27 November, Victoria Park Plaza Hotel, London). For more information, visit http://www.tidaltoday.com/tidal-conference/.

Source: Will Broad

Project Director | Tidal Today

Wave and Tidal Projects Projects Blow by SSE

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 20:02:00 +0000

Scottish and Southern Electricity, apart from putting up charges by 8.5% this year are withdrawing from these vital and low impact projects: Disgraceful

Following recent speculation that major utility SSE are considering largely withdrawing from wave and tidal projects , the REA [Renewable Energy Association] has today responded by acknowledging the continued involvement of those still involved in the sector and calling for greater practical support for wave and tidal projects.

Major energy utility Scottish Power, the Scottish Government and DECC have shown tremendous commitment to the sector to date and this is welcomed by the marine energy industry.

REA Head of Marine Dr Steph Merry commented;
“While SSE’s possible withdrawal from the sector is unsettling, the REA acknowledges and congratulates those organisations whose continued involvement will enable the industry to develop.

For example we commend the actions of Scottish Power, existing investors and technology and project developers and the Scottish Government in promoting the sector as the industry seeks to move from being a developing technology to commercial viability, delivering significant clean energy for the UK.”

Non-financial means of support required
There are a series of non-financial measures which could be taken to strengthen the sector which should be taken forward. For example the REA welcomes the Crown Estate’s work commissioning background surveys and studies to support environmental impact assessments in the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters, (one of the most promising areas of development) to reduce the burden on individual developers.

There is further scope for such initiatives, which the REA would like to see expanded to other areas of marine energy resource, such as;
Assuring support for wave and tidal in the Government’s EMR programme, via guaranteed capacity in the Contracts for Difference scheme.

Ensuring all projects have equal access to the grid at a reasonable rate - grid connection threatens to be a show-stopper for many wave and tidal generators, especially in the remote Scottish Islands. Failing to resolve this issue could make or break developments and must be urgently addressed.

Ensure effective use of Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult programme for the sector.
There could be opportunities to coordinate joint procurement and installation services that would save industry considerable costs.

As is being increasingly acknowledged, the UK’s wave and tidal sector has numerous great strengths. Many players are smaller sized companies and we would welcome targeted support for them, through the BIS programme which focuses on SMEs. The UK remains the global leader in marine renewables, with considerable potential for employment and exports. The opportunity for engineering and construction investment is also clear and the sector is more geographically dispersed than other industries, therefore spreading jobs and investment beyond London and the south east.

Solar Power After Sunset

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 18:12:00 +0000

October 9, 2013.– Abengoa (MCE: ABG.B), the international company that applies innovative technology solutions for sustainability in the energy and environment sectors, has announced that Solana, the world´s largest parabolic trough plant with a total installed capacity of 280 MW (gross) and also the first solar plant in the United States with thermal energy storage, has successfully passed commercial operation tests. This milestone marks a major accomplishment for Abengoa and the Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) industry.

Solana is the first solar plant in the U.S. with a thermal energy storage system that is able to generate electricity for six hours without the concurrent use of the solar field, which is a turning point for renewable energy in this country, being a tangible demonstration that solar energy can be stored and dispatched upon demand.

Solana, located near Gila Bend and about 70 miles southwest of Phoenix, Arizona, began construction in 2010 and on Monday, October 7, successfully fulfilled production forecasts required to date and testing for commercial operation. These tests included operating at the turbine’s full capacity while charging the thermal storage system, continuing to produce electricity after the sun went down, and starting up the plant and producing 6 hours of electricity using only the thermal storage system. These tests successfully demonstrated the various operation modes of the plant’s operation.

Abengoa’s first utility-scale solar plant in the United States employs parabolic trough technology. This technology consists of parabolic shaped mirrors mounted on structures that track the sun and concentrate the sun’s heat, later transforming water into steam and powering a conventional steam turbine. This mature technology has additional value since the heat can also be stored and used to produce clean electricity after the sun goes down or during a transitory period.

This ability to generate electricity when needed, or dispatchability, is one of the unique characteristics of concentrating solar power versus other types of renewables. Solana’s thermal storage system, without the use of the solar field, can produce clean energy for six hours at maximum power. These six hours will satisfy Arizona’s peak electricity demands during the summer evenings and early night time hours. Dispatchability also eliminates intermittency issues that other renewables, such as wind and photovoltaics, contend with, providing stability to the grid and thus increasing the value of the energy generated by CSP.

Arizona Public Service (APS), the largest utility in Arizona, will purchase all of the electricity produced by the solar plant for 30 years through a power purchase agreement with Abengoa.

Solana will generate the clean energy equivalent to that needed to power 70,000 households and will prevent about half a million tons of CO₂ from being emitted into the atmosphere per year. The construction of Solana led to the creation of more than 2,000 jobs and a national supply chain that spans 165 companies in 29 states.

The total investment of the plant is approximately two billion dollars and during financing, Solana received a federal loan guarantee for $1.45 billion from the United States Department of Energy Federal Loan Guarantee Program. This support made the construction of Solana possible, creating or maintaining thousands of jobs both in the building of the plant as well as those direct and indirect jobs in the supply chain, as well as providing the Southwest with clean, sustainable energy using innovative technology.

Abengoa currently has 1,223 MW of concentrating solar power in operation and 430 MW under construction. It is the largest CSP company in the world and one of the few that constructs and operates both solar tower and parabolic trough plants.

Bio Diesel EU Duty Plans

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Oct 2013 17:25:00 +0000

We have to draw a distinction between what constitutes BIO-DIESEL:

Derived from arable crops [In my opinion 'Bad' Bio-Diesel]
Derived from food/farming wastes [Good]
Derived from Algae [from industrial wastes] [Best]

It would appear the the EU is getting very touchy about the first category, and has plans to 'certify' bio-diesel by it's source. The following article is from physorg.

The EU plans to impose stiff taxes on Argentinian and Indonesian biodiesel imports for alleged trade dumping, industry players said on Friday.

According to Argentinian companies the Commission will seek to apply a permanent duty of 22 to 25 percent on Argentinian biodiesel from the beginning of 2014.

In May, the European Commission imposed temporary import duties on biodiesel imports from Argentina and Indonesia, saying they were being dumped below cost on the European market.

The European Biodiesel Board, which represents most European companies active in the sector, said the proposed permanent duties would mean a tax of 215 to 250 euros ($292-340) per tonne on Argentinian biodiesel imports and 120 to 180 euros on Indonesian biodiesel.

Tanks of biodiesel (L) and soy oil in Argentina on September 4, 2013

The Commission declined to confirm the figures.

It said concerned parties had two more weeks to make comments before the proposals are submitted to EU member states, which should decide by November 28 on the duties.

European companies have welcomed the efforts to protect their sector, but Argentinian producers said in a statement Friday the duties "will be prohibitive ... and close the doors to the European market".

The EU accounts for 90 percent of Argentinian biodiesel exports.

Argentina is the world's top biodiesel producer, making 2.5 million tonnes worth $1.8 billion in 2012. Some 1.6 million tonnes were exported.

Trouble for the Argentinian biodiesel sector began in 2012 when Spain put in place measures to limit imports after the Argentinian government nationalised a stake of YPF oil company owned by Spanish oil giant Repsol.

Tri-Generation: A New Fuel Source?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 13:36:00 +0000

TRI-GENERATION - CHCP - COMBINED HEAT/COOLING & POWER

Schematic of Tri-Generation

Current Centralized Inefficiencies

Proposed Decentralised Efficiency

Energy From Waste

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:08:00 +0000

In my last blog I called for more effort on energy from wastes. I showed some nice pictures of Anaerobic Digester Plant in the Czech Republic. Who listens? Not many, I was not bold enough in my delivery..

So lets show what wastes we are talking about:

This is where London sends at least 50% of their DOMESTIC wastes

London is a great example. It generated hundreds and thousands of tons per year of domestic waste plus a further 16 million tons of commercial wastes (including construction materials). No, that is a lot of stuff.

But most of it is transported out of London! The total bill each year for collecting and redistributing (I cannot use the word recycling as this does little which could truly be considered recycling) is £580m. At the same time they run 10,000 buses on diesel choking up the hard pressed residents. It's utter madness. It smacks of blinkered, too specialised, compartmentalised thinking. We need some generalists who can co-ordinate - to pull together all these strands; and to bang a few heads together.

A Mountain to "Recycle"

Luckily Boris Johnson has a plan. And its not too bad; so long as the plan is carried out and not just started as a publicity stunt (as if....). He has begun to listen to what a great deal of people in the UK already know. However all this is put into practice on the Continent already and has been for decades.

In Germany they reckon that they could replace all their natural gas needs from bio-gas, or bio-methane. This would be generated from 'digesters' which would process farming wastes, food industry wastes and sewage works to make gas. In fact they already do a huge amount.

And the best thing is that they generate gas, which they can easily store - unlike electricity. This is a great point worth making. All the detractors regarding renewables always complain about the [assumed] storage problems with all technologies. Well with bio-methane we can store the energy for plenty of things.

If properly designed sewage can be big exporters of bio methane

Like using the stored bio-methane to run Buses (as they do in Sweden), Lorries and Cars and even trains. The bio-methane can also be used to generate electricity on demand -just so long as we can find a usage for the heat that this process generates (something that is rarely done in the UK's conventional power thinking).

Food Wastes can make useful bio-methane

Lastly bio-methane can be injected into the gas grid, like our partners have done in Didcot, Oxfordshire with Thames Waters Sewage Works there. When it goes in we get 'Green Gas Certificates', and users can buy it out at their end, so we can effectively utilise the existing gas grid to distribute all the bio-methane generated from anywhwere in the UK within a sensible distance from a gas main (for which we have the UK's plans). Just like the renewable electricity schemes. But unlike electrcity, as I have said it can be stored and used when needed. In fact it has to be stored, because there are times when the gas grid is not ready to receive the bio-methane.

Our' love affair' with waste is institutionally inefficient. Very little of what happens today makes much economic sense. Sending stuff to landfill is not necessarily good. But not capping off the gas generated by this same landfill is [energy wise] criminal. The gas needs to be 'harvested', and ideally injected into the grid. Transporting wastes out of London is pretty stupid too, all that energy expended to move waste around - it's well ...wasteful.

All those crisp clean tanks from my last blog could be dotted all around the less attractive parts of London, to generate gas on the spot, from food wastes from all those eating places. In turn that gas could make electricity, heat or transport fuel.

It just needs vision and a generalist thinker. Like me.