Clean Energy

Tải xuống Minecraft 1.17.30.21 cho Android 2021 Mediafire APPVN

2021-08-12T17:56:00.003+01:00

Những gì mới được thêm vào Minecraft PE 1.17.30.21?

Các nhà phát triển từ Mojang Studios đã phát hành phiên bản mới của Minecraft 1.17.30.21. Việc xây dựng này tiếp tục làm việc trên bản cập nhật toàn cầu cho Caves &Cliffs, bắt đầu vào đầu năm 2021.

Tính năng và sửa lỗi Minecraft 1.17.30.20 Tải về

Tính ổn định và hiệu suất

Đã khắc phục một số sự cố có thể xảy ra trong quá trình chơi
Khắc phục sự cố có thể gây ra sự cố khi tải xuống thế giới thị trường lớn
Khắc phục sự cố có thể gây ra sự cố hoặc ngăn thế giới bị truy cập hoặc mở trên một số thiết bị Android 11 (MCPE-137652)

Vanilla Chẵn hàng

Phù hợp respawn từ hành vi giường với Java bằng cách cố gắng tránh đặt người chơi trên các khối xử lý thiệt hại khi thức dậy từ một chiếc giường
Phù hợp hồi sinh từ hành vi giường với Java bằng cách cố gắng đặt người chơi ở bên cạnh giường mà họ bước vào khi thức dậy từ giường (MCPE-118654)
Mob sinh sản không còn phát ra ánh sáng (Java chẵn hàng)

Mobs

Ở gần Powder Snow không bảo vệ mob xác sống khỏi bị đốt cháy dưới ánh sáng mặt trời (MCPE-131005)

Người tạo nhân vật

Tải vô hạn không còn xuất hiện sau khi chọn nút "Xem gói trong cửa hàng" trong phần mô tả gói da của phòng thay đồ. tàu mìn descargar 1.17.30.21

Giao diện người dùng và HUD

Khắc phục sự cố trong đó màu văn bản thể loại mục không khớp với màu văn bản mục nếu nó được thay đổi trong gói tài nguyên
Đã khắc phục sự cố trong đó các mẫu trong khung dệt sẽ không hiển thị chính xác với một số gói kết cấu, apk minecraft 1.17.30.21 tải xuống miễn phí phiên bản java

Cập nhật kỹ thuật APK Minecraft 1.17.30.20

Khối dựa trên dữ liệu - Tính năng thử nghiệm

Thêm BlockPartVisibilityComponent
- Cho phép người sáng tạo chỉ định điều kiện Molang cho từng "xương" được liệt kê trong JSON hình học bật / tắt xương dựa trên trạng thái khối, apk minecraft 1.17.30.21
- Phải bật tính năng chuyển đổi thử nghiệm để sử dụng

Tiếng Molang

Sửa lỗi thử nghiệm query.bone_orientation_trs có kết quả dịch Y và tỷ lệ chính xác
Thêm truy vấn block_neighbor_has_any_tags nghiệm block_neighbor_has_all_tags MoLang
- Chiếm vị trí tương đối khối và một tập hợp các thẻ
- Trả về 0/1
- Phải bật tính năng chuyển đổi thử nghiệm để sử dụng

Đồ họa

Đã thêm tài liệu DragonFX để hỗ trợ rasterized g-buffer prepass của tài nguyên raytracing

Các mục hướng dữ liệu

Updated documentation for DamageableItemComponent

Tiếng Molang

Sự cố sẽ không còn xảy ra khi bước vào một thế giới với một gói tài nguyên tùy chỉnh có chứa query.armor_color_slot (MCPE-106437) minecraft 1.17.30.21 indir
Chuyển các truy vấn Molang thử nghiệm (ngoài các truy vấn liên quan đến Thuộc tính diễn viên) sang nút chuyển đổi 'Tính năng Molang thử nghiệm' mới

Giao diện người dùng

Hỗ trợ bộ điều khiển cố định khi chỉnh sửa hộp thoại NPC
Phân tích cú pháp trường json giao diện người dùng "bỏ qua" bây giờ ném một content_error nếu nó không hợp lệ

VUI LÒNG ĐỌC trước khi tham gia Minecraft 1.17.30.21 Beta:

Tham gia phiên bản beta sẽ thay thế trò chơi của bạn bằng một phiên bản minecraft đang tiến hành
Bạn sẽ không có quyền truy cập vào Realms và sẽ không thể tham gia trình phát không beta trong khi bạn đang xem trước bản beta
Bất kỳ thế giới nào được chơi trong khi trong bản beta không thể được mở trong các phiên bản trước của trò chơi, vì vậy vui lòng tạo bản sao của thế giới để tránh mất chúng
Bản dựng beta có thể không ổn định và không đại diện cho chất lượng phiên bản cuối cùng
Bản beta chỉ khả dụng trên Xbox One, Windows 10 và Android (Google Play). Để tham gia hoặc rời khỏi bản beta, hãy xem aka.ms/JoinMCBeta hướng dẫn chi tiết

Đã đến lúc cập nhật Minecraft Bedrock Edition Beta khác!
Vui lòng tiếp tục gửi phản hồi của bạn cho chúng tôi trong các chủ đề tại https://aka.ms/CavesCliffsFeedback và tìm kiếm và báo cáo bất kỳ lỗi mới nào bạn có thể gặp phải https://bugs.mojang.com.

Minecraft 1.17.30.21 APK Mediafire cho Android 2021 - Tải xuống

https://tinhte.vn/thread/tai-xuong-minecraft-1-17-30-21-cho-android-2021-mediafire-appvn.3382867/

Tải Minecraft PE 1.17.30.21 APK cho Android Mediafire Appvn | Tinh tế (tinhte.vn)

Clean Energy Helps the Environment

2010-11-28T08:16:00.004+00:00

Conventional manufacturing of electricity is the major source of industrial air and water pollution in the United States. If you choose to utilize 100% renewable electricity instead of coal and oil, your impact on pollution control can be astounding. Wouldn't you like to be a part of the solution to the pollution problem? By choosing clean energy vs. coal and oil, you are not only making the world a better place to live environmentally right now, but for your children and generations to come in the future. Environmental Benefits

Absolutely no emissions of nitrogen oxide (NOx), carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), mercury or particulate matter going into our air, soil or water. The most common effects of these dangerous pollutants are mercury poisoning, climate change, smog and acid rain.
Does not necessitate fossil-fuel extraction through water or mining that seriously damages the landscape and water supply
Manufactured from limitless renewable sources that will in no way be depleted, unlike limited resources including fossil fuel sources which cause pollution.
Helps preserve and protect the environment for future generations

Economic Benefits

Green energy creates job opportunities in the green employment sector in the United States; between the years 1998 and 2007, clean energy jobs - a mixture of both white-and blue-collar careers - grew 9.1 percent, while the entire job rate increased by a mere 3.7 percent (Pew Charitable Trust)
Green energy helps protect the energy future of America by growing domestic energy sources.
Green energy is easily developed in rural areas, where renewable service plants are frequently developed to utilize the wide open spaces and green supply potential.

These are just a few of the reasons to choose the greener and cleaner electricity choices!

Peak Oil, Energy Wars and Powering Your Home in the 21st Century

2010-11-28T08:15:00.002+00:00

What is peak oil and why worry?

About 20 years ago, a well respected geologist by the name of Hubbert proposed a radical new theory now known as 'peak oil' which basically says that at a certain point in the late 20th or early 21st century or thereabouts, the amount of easily recoverable oil on earth which had been used by humans was greater than 50% of ALL the oil on earth. He theorized that after this so-called 'Hubbert's Peak' the availability of oil would decrease dramatically. Not because there was no oil, but simply because we got all the easy stuff FIRST. What would be left would be the very difficult and expensive to extract deep sea oil, oil derivatives mined from shale and other hither to unprofitable deposits.

Whilst this does not sound too bad think about it like this: If we assume the first motor car appeared around the dawn of the 20th century then we used half the available oil in about 80 years. However, it must be remembered that for the major part of that 80 years, most of the people on earth had little or no access to motor vehicles. China for example was barely a developed nation for most of that time. THE United States uses about 25% of all the oil produced on earth and yet has little reserves of its own. It is almost entirely dependent on imported oil. China's extraordinary growth in the last ten years has seen an explosion of domestic wealth with the demand for motor vehicles increasing at an astonishing rate. With a population of over twice the U.S. there is no way that China has access to 50% of the worlds oil!

Energy Wars

Many eminent petroleum experts have debated Hubbert's theory however, many others agree with him. Some experts say we reached peak oil in 1985, some 2005. However, the debate over whether or not we have reached 'peak oil' rages and is mostly denied by the global oil companies. In any event, the fact is that the price of oil is steadily increasing and along with that so is the price of petroleum and almost every other product we use. Many see the problem as manifesting itself in the fight for the remaining major oil reserves in the Middle East. To the consumer like you and I, it will mean ever increasing prices with the cost of running a motor vehicle being just too high to contemplate. Another major cost for us these days, is the cost of power for your home or business. Imagine a world where the power is only available on certain days or at certain hours. Some poorer nations live with this reality right now. Its not science fiction!

Global Warming In The Age Of Oil

I have read various reports that predict that the age of oil will be a very small blip on the timeline of human history. It may last for 200 years, probably not even that long. However, the debate on the environmental impact of burning fossil fuels rages almost every day in newspapers and on television around the globe. Whilst it seems that for every expert proclaiming the effects of global warming, there is another equally qualified expert who loudly decries the very same effects. It does appear however that most of us now recognize that a century of pumping hydrocarbon emissions into our atmosphere has had some sort of derogatory effect on our natural environment. We cannot continue to spew effluent into the air and hope it will not impact us. This is another reason why alternative sources of energy need to be developed which are renewable and have little or no environmental impact. The most obvious sources of clean green renewable energy are solar and wind power.

Well What Can I Do?

Firstly, the only thing we can do about our dwindling oil supply is to use less of it both as individuals and for the whole human race across the board! The other solution is to find much more efficient means of converting oil to energy for our cars and power stations.

On a personal level, it would be prudent to take some steps to provide your family with some energy 'insurance'. What I mean by this, is think about generating your own power. The basis of solar and wind power generation has been around for many years. There are commercially available solar power systems and wind turbine power systems which work very well, are well designed and will provide years of free green power. For most of us however, the initial cost of commercially manufactured and installed systems will be prohibitive. But that need not put you off. There are lots of do it yourself manuals, guides and videos on the internet which offer a much more cost effective way of insuring your family's energy future. Shop around and if you're keen, you'll find that the solutions are pretty simple. It just needs motivation, a bit of handyman skill and not only can you save yourself some money but you can do your bit for a greener, more energy efficient world.

Oil, Energy, and Congress

2010-11-28T08:08:00.000+00:00

Now that Congress has recessed for the end of the summer, what are we to make of the energy situation? At this point, I'm getting tired of hearing that $4.00 gasoline is good for me. How can it be good when Americans are spending less of their money on other goods and investing in their gas tanks? Is it good that transportation costs have sent my food bill sky rocketing? Is it good that many Americans have shortened their vacations and cut back on their entertainment spending? Is it good that the working poor are struggling between putting groceries in their home and fueling their cars to get to work?

Apparently our Congressional leaders and one presidential candidate say the answer is yes. While our Speaker of the House is trying to "save the planet", the rest of the world is out trying to find more oil & energy. Let's look at few recent examples:

Egypt announced last week the start of a 9 billion dollar oil refinery and petrochemical complex, which will be located on its north coast. The complex is expected to begin operation in 2010 and will be completed in 5 years. The facility will refine 350,000 barrels of oil per day.
The Tupi deepwater oil field is located offshore of Rio de Janeiro, one of Brazil's best tourist destinations. Last November, the Brazilian government announced that the location could contain five billion to eight billion barrels of oil. The Tupi oil field is expected to begin producing 100,000 barrels of oil in 2010, according to Petrobas, Brazil's national oil company. Petrobas hopes to bring production to one million barrels a day in about ten years.
Finland is building a 1600 megawatt nuclear power reactor. The country currently gets 28 percent of it electricity from nuclear power.
Japan is working to increase its nuclear power production of electricity from 30 percent to 37 percent by 2009 and 41 percent by 2017.
Now, besides threatening to sue the Saudi's and adding more taxes to oil, what has the United States government energy policy done? Let's look at a few examples:

From 2000 to 2007 domestic crude oil production fell 12.4 percent
Through a congressional mandate, 85 percent of the Outer Continental Shelf is off limits to oil exploration. It is estimated that the Outer Continental Shelf contains 90 billion barrels of oil
The Artic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) is estimated to have 10 billion barrels of oil; in 1995 President Clinton vetoed a bill authorizing oil production on 2,000 acres out of 19.6 million.
U.S. Senator Ken Salazar, Colorado, inserted language into the omnibus spending bill last December that places a moratorium on enacting rules for oil shale development on federal lands. The Green River Formation is estimated to have as much as 1.1 trillion barrels of oil shale.
As mandated by the 2007 energy bill signed by President Bush, the U.S. is now required to mix 9 billion gallons of biofuels into the gasoline supply. The mandate is met primarily with corn-based ethanol. At the start of the biofuel mandates, corn was $2 per bushel. The price of corn now is a little over $6 per bushel.
It seems the more our government gets involved, the worse the situation becomes. And where did common sense go? If I see that you need water, I wouldn't send you to a desert to find it. Yet, that's what we do with our oil exploration. Try to find it where we don't know if it exists.

From 2000 to 2007 American oil companies increased the drilling of exploratory wells by 138 percent (on those 68 million acres of existing leases); oil production still fell to its lowest level since 1947. The American Petroleum Institute reported that oil companies had the highest second-quarter oil well activity since 1986.

The United States has successfully developed other forms of energy; clean coal plants, nuclear power, natural gas plants, solar & wind energy. Our most efficient and cheapest forms of energy production are under constant assault from the environmental movement. The U.S. uses 760 gigawatts of power plants to meet current needs. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) estimates that we will need 135 gigawatts of new capacity in the next 10 years. As of now, only 57 gigawatts of power plants are planned. Why?

59 coal-fired plants were canceled in 2007 because of anticoal activist.
U.S. production of natural gas is beginning to decline because of environmental restrictions on exploration.
The National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) succeeded in stopping 13 natural gas power plants in southern California.
We have the best scientist, engineers and technicians in the world. Give them the opportunity to solve this challenge and they will. There are many private companies working on new technology to bring to the market. If our government is going to pick winners and losers through subsidies, many companies will not get into the market.

For example, NuScale Power, an Oregon-based startup company, is seeking federal clearance to begin its project to build a mini nuclear reactor. The reactor can power 45,000 homes, is 65 feet long and has no visible cooling tower. NuScale states that these reactors require no maintenance and do not need to be refueled. At the end of its useful life of about 30 years, the plant is returned to the factory.

This type of technology should be welcomed and encouraged by all. With a small footprint & no carbon emissions, these plants could replace many traditional coal and gas-fired power plants.

This situation does not require a billion dollar bail out from our government. Nor does it require raising taxes on the oil companies. Remember, we tried the windfall profits tax with President Jimmy Carter. That led to a 6 percent drop in the production of oil and a 15 percent increase in oil imports, according to the Congressional Research Service.

If congress would step back and allow all of the energy companies to explore and develop energy in a responsible way, we would not have to struggle with high energy costs. Take away all of the subsidies and let the market decide which means of energy is cheapest, environmentally sound and durable. American technology is more than capable of producing efficient energy and protecting the environment.

Instead of trying to spend more of my tax dollars, why doesn't congress spend more of their time, which we pay them for, to fix the regulatory landscape of energy production. Congress needs to enact some common sense environmental regulations. If they do, the market will give us a diverse supply of energy that is reliable - American made - and affordable

It's time to streamline & simplify this process, now.

Portable Cooling Guide - Maintaining Your Portable Air Conditioner

2010-11-28T07:24:00.003+00:00

When you need supplemental cooling or you cannot install traditional air conditioners because of impracticality or cost, a portable air conditioner is a great solution. Portable air conditioners can be moved from room to room. They do not require permanent installation. All you need to do to make sure the portable air conditioner works properly is vent it through a window or wall.

The maintenance on portable air conditioners is almost as easy as the set up and operation. Of course, to operate a portable air conditioner the initial venting must be done. This means venting the exhaust hose with a venting kit. This usually comes included with the portable air conditioner when it is purchased and can be slid into a window. If venting through a window is not possible, then venting through a wall or drop ceiling is also acceptable. This helps the portable air conditioner with the cooling process.

Water drainage is also an important component of portable air conditioner maintenance. Portable air conditioners cool and remove water from the air. They use some of the water to cool the unit. This makes the entire process of cooling more efficient. Portable air conditioners deal with excess water in various ways. Some of them collect the water into buckets that need to be emptied regularly. The amount of water in the bucket depends on the climate conditioner and the amount of time the portable air conditioner is in operation. Some units use a self-evaporating technology so that most of the excess water is expended with the hot air discharge. Most air conditioners can support a drain hose so that water can be drained continuously. There are also condensate pumps that move the drained water through a hose that is directed outside or to a drain pump located inside.

Another important factor to consider when performing maintenance on your air conditioner is cleaning and/or replacing air filters. There are washable filters that remove particulates from the air. Some portable air conditioners even have built-in air purifiers that include ionizers for particles and carbon filters for odors and gas control. To maintain an allergy-free, healthy, breathable environment and a properly functioning unit, filters need to be cleaned and changed regularly. Depending on use, you will need to change or clean the filters on a monthly or bi-weekly basis. For washable filters simply slide the filter out, immerse it in warm water with mild detergent and rinse thoroughly before putting it back into the unit. Carbon filters will need to be replaced according to the manufacturer's directions (usually every few months or so.

The housing of your portable air conditioner needs to be cleaned as well. If the air conditioner is clean, the air volume increases. To clean the housing of your unit, wipe the surface with a soft, damp cloth after you have turned the unit off. You should never use abrasive chemicals or detergents because this can result in scratches and damage to the portable air conditioner housing. It is also important to keep the unit out of direct sunlight because this can change the surface color of the unit's body.

As for off season storage, you need to properly store your portable air conditioner when it is not needed to make sure it works with maximum cooling efficiency when it is needed again. To store properly, you'll need to turn off and unplug the portable air conditioner. Next, you should drain all of the condensate water from the water container. Then, to dry the interior of the unit, turn it on fan mode for several minutes. You should then clean the filters, wrap the cord around the cord hooks and pack the unit in its original carton if possible. Make sure you store it in a dry location. Some portable air conditioners have built-in heaters and can be used year-round. You should still maintain these like any other units. Maintaining your portable air conditioners keeps your house allergy free and your unit working properly. Start caring about your portable air conditioner today!

Why Window Air Conditioners Ice Up

2010-11-28T07:24:00.000+00:00

One of the most frustrating problems with a window air conditioner is if it starts to ice up. For the owner of the air conditioner is can be perplexing.

When this problem occurs most people immediately think it is the fault of the refrigerant gas. More often the cause is the result of other difficulties.

It is most often the result of poor airflow.

Any time the airflow through an air conditioner is restricted the cooling system becomes affected. If taken to extremes the critical pressure-temperature balance of the cooling coil can be changed. If they drop too low the cooling coils surface temperature can drop below the dew point temperature of the room. When this happens the cooling coil will begin to operate as a refrigerator rather than an air conditioner. Rather than simply cooling the air it will collect and hold moisture. The moisture will freeze onto the cooling coil where it will appear as ice.

The primary job of an air conditioner is to de-humidify, not refrigerate, the room air. By removing the moisture from the room air it gives us a feeling of comfort. To do this though the temperature of the cooling coil must always be higher than the room's dew point. If it is allowed to drop below the dew point the air conditioner will start to produce ice.

With this information in mind the following are a few problems that can result in your air conditioner icing up:

1. Dirty filter.
To avoid this replace or clean your filter every couple of weeks of the cooling season. If a smoker do it every week. To clean filter remove from air conditioner, wet thoroughly, and lay in bottom of a sink. Sprinkle detergent (laundry detergent works well) onto filter surface. Allow to sit for a few minutes. Add warm water to sink so that filter is completely covered. Soak for 15 minutes. Remove from water and rinse. Allow to air dry.

2. Dirty or blocked cooling coil.
An air conditioner requires regular maintenance. Usually every two or three years. Every year would be best, but this can be costly unless you do it yourself. During cleaning the cooling coil should be degreased and washed to remove accumulated dirt and debris. Degreasing is important to remove any coatings on the coil. If not done greasy residue can trap and hold air borne particles. They will build up on the coil and affect heat transfer. If left too long this can result in the cooling coil becoming partially blocked. This will produce a lower airflow.

3. Dirty or blocked condenser coil.
The condenser coil is the one at the rear of the air conditioner. Its job is to dissipate the heat that is being removed from the room. Just like the cooling coil it too must be cleaned every few years. Since the condenser is on the outside of the home it becomes exposed to a lot of dirt, pollen, and smog. Since airflow direction is from inside to outside it is the inside surface of the condenser that becomes dirty. Therefore to clean this part the air conditioner must be completely disassembled. If not cleaned regularly an airflow blockage here can even burn out the compressor. Before this happens though the lowering of airflow will affect the overall operation. This can result in the compressor efficiency dropping, the internal pressure-temperature relationships being affected, and the resultant production of ice on the cooling coil.

4. Inefficient compressor.
As describe above an inefficient compressor can cause icing up. If the compressor is not able to pump the refrigerant properly the cooing coil may not get cold enough to shut off the cold control. It can hover just above the cut off point. When this happens the cooling coil will begin to refrigerate. Ice on the cooling coil will result. If the compressor itself is at fault the air conditioner will have to be replaced. But note that many icing problems are misdiagnosed as bad compressors when they were actually one of the other faults discussed in this article.

5. Not enough refrigerant. Too much refrigerant.
Both scenarios can result in and icing condition. If your air conditioner was repaired recently suspect too much refrigerant. Mixed with an airflow problem this can be difficult to diagnose. If not repaired recently then suspect airflow problems before considering a refrigerant imbalance.

6. Outdoor temperature too low.
Icing can occur if the outside temperature falls below 60 Degrees Fahrenheit. If the outside temperature is too low the air conditioner pressure-temperatures can be affected. When the outside temperature falls the cooling coil temperature will also fall. So much that the coil will refrigerate the room air. This will result in the cooling coil beginning to produce ice. This problem is more prevalent in the fall. If it is hot during the day but cold at night suspect this problem as the cause of icing up. If this problem is suspected try running the air conditioner in the fan only position. Leave the re-circulating vent open. This will circulate the room air without cooling it, while bringing in a small amount of outside air during the night.

7. Oversized air conditioner.
If the air conditioner is too large for the room size icing up can result. If oversized the air conditioner can short-cycle. This condition is usually seen as the air conditioner starting and stopping every few minutes. Even though it runs almost constantly the air conditioner will give poor cooling. Use a sizing chart to determine what is the proper air conditioner size for that particular room.

8. Cold control not shutting off. If the cold control does not shut off the cooling coil surface temperature will drop below the room's dew point and begin to refrigerate. This will allow ice to build up onto the cooling coil.

9. Cold control bulb broken or loose. As in the previous paragraph this will result in the cold control not shutting off and ice to build up on the cooling coil. If this is suspected remove the front grille and inspect the bulb. If broken replace cold control. If bent, kinked, or not securely fastened suspect a problem here.

Also check out our other related articles about air conditioners:

How to Clean your Air Conditioner like a Pro

How to Size an Air Conditioner

Placement of a Window Air Conditioner

Air Conditioners - How to Cut Running Costs in Half

2010-11-28T07:23:00.002+00:00

In today's world, most people have invested in one form of an air conditioner or another. We have either window air conditioners in our homes or central air conditioners. They keep us cool in the extreme summer heat without fail; however, have you ever set back and looked at the costs of running an air conditioner? When compared to the common household fan the amount of electricity required to run an air conditioner is phenomenal.

When using an air conditioner there are many different factors that can directly affect the cost of running it. These factors include the geographical location of your home, where you live and the amount of work the air conditioner has to do greatly influence the cost. If you live in an area that has mild summers and extremely cold winters, obviously your air conditioner will not have to work as hard. However, if you live in an area, that has warm winters and boiling summers the air conditioner will have to work double time to maintain comfort.

The difference in weather conditions from year to year will affect the costs as well. This is basically geared towards the difference in costs per year. One summer might be cooler than the next, which will lead to a greater bill.

The efficiency rating of your air conditioner plays an important role in the amount of electricity used. Most all appliances in today's world are rated, when you purchase an air conditioner it will have a tag telling you the amount of electricity that appliance uses. Look for air conditioners that use minimal electricity, which will save you money each year. If you have a model that is 10 years or older, it is definitely time to consider a new one.

Another important factor is the size of the air conditioner versus the house-cooling load. All air conditioners come in different sizes, and each will state the amount of space it is designed to cool. For example, an apartment could do with just one or two window air conditioners, while a three-bedroom house could not. Closely consider the amount of space you need to cool when considering an air conditioner. While larger air conditioners will cost more money, it will typically save you money in the long run on usage.

The setting on your thermostat greatly effects the cost. A higher setting will result in the air conditioner running less, while lowering the setting will cause it to run more often. One electric company suggests keeping the thermostat above 78 degrees. This can save you 10 to 20% on cooling costs.

Finally, the local cost of electricity influences the general cost of running your air conditioner. This is something you have no control over, however, you can control your own cost by saving energy.

Here is a general look at the difference of running an air conditioner vs. running a Ceiling or oscillating fan, at medium speed.

Running a central air conditioner that is three ton (and of average efficiency) for 8 hours per day for 15 days per month, with the average rate per kWh (kilowatt per hour) being 0.17, the average cost per month for the air conditioner alone will be $97.92. Amazing isn't it? This does not even include washer, dryer, lights, refrigerator, or stove, only the air conditioner.

On the other hand, running a ceiling fan or oscillating fan at medium speed, for 8 hours per day, for a full 30 days, at an average rate per kWh of 0.035 is only $1.43. With this comparison you could run 68 ½ fans for a full month before you would reach the cost of the central air conditioning unit.

There are many other things you can do to lower you electric bill. Things such as, inspect, clean, or replace your air conditioner filters monthly. When you are not in your home, raise the temperature on your thermostat, keeping in mind pets when you do. Lower the temperature of your water heater to 120 degrees, wash only full loads in your dishwasher or clothes washer, and use the energy saving cycle on the dryer.

Other steps you can take include, replacing incandescent bulbs with fluorescent lamps, this could save up to 75% on lighting costs. You should also caulk all windows, doors, and pipes to prevent air leaks in or out, use weather stripping around windows, doors and pipes as well. Have your ducts tested for air leaks; leaking ducts can reduce the efficiency of your air conditioner by up to 20%.

Window and Portable Air Conditioners

2010-11-28T07:22:00.002+00:00

Perhaps the most widely used air conditioners are the window air conditioners. They are quite popular for heating and cooling in both domestic and commercial premises. The basic advantage of a window air conditioner is that unlike the central air conditioners and the split air conditioners, it fits well in the window giving a good look and it does not occupy any space of the room at all.

Moreover, window air conditioners do not need to be shifted every now and then from one place to the other. However, like any other air conditioning equipment, it produces noise, the intensity of which differs with the type and size of the window air conditioners. Constant noise can indeed be very disturbing and distressing to the home and surrounding residents.

It is, therefore, advisable for the consumer to compare window air conditioners by checking the sound power level labels on the unit or in the literature specifications. The noise levels are often given in decibel ratings and the higher the decibel level, the louder the unit will be. The sound pressure increases by a factor of ten for every 10-decibel increase. For example, 60 Decibels is 10 times louder than 50 Decibels and 100 times louder than 40 Decibels.

The compressor and the fan are combined in a single unit and mounted in the window air conditioners and this is the source of all the noise in the air conditioner. The other causes of noise could be worn bearings, cabinet rattles, dirty or rusty fan blades, worn rubber mountings and compressor wear. Regular maintenance can reduce the noise to some extent but with the passing of time, there is bound to be an increase in the level of the noise.

You should check whether your window air conditioner is vibrating or producing a rattling noise and if so, then it is not a normal situation. The reason for this can be improper installation or loose side panels. If, however, you hear a scraping noise, you should either take the help of an authorized service provider or you can also try to find out the cause and repair it yourself.

The following steps can help you in tracking the fault and repairing it:

You should tighten the screws holding the front panel onto the unit.
You should check carefully the window all round the unit. You should then turn the window air conditioner on and press your hand against the sash. If you find that as you press your hand against the sash, the sound changes in pitch, then you should put some wooden shims in the gap between the window air conditioners frame and the sash. If, however, the pitch of the noise changes when you press your hand on the glass, you should use some insulating cellophane tape between the glass and the frame. You might have to use putty if that does not reduce the noise.

If you feel that the sound is originating from within the unit, you should take the unit out of the window and check to see if the fan blades are bent. If so, just bend them back so that they match the others.

Portable Air Conditioners Ensure Economy And Convenience

With the onset of the damp weather, it becomes difficult to survive without constant central air conditioning but that can prove to be quite expensive. The answer to this problem is a portable air conditioner as it has many advantages. It is easy to shift from one place in the home to another and that makes a portable air conditioner the ideal cooling system solution for your home, office or industrial site.

The portable air conditioners are easy and quick to install, as they do not involve any lifting or tearing up of windowsills. Moreover it can be shifted very easily from one place in the home to the other. For taking care of the hot spots in the central air conditioning, the portable air conditioners are far more convenient than window air conditioners. It is also ideal for window shapes, which present problems for installation. There is nothing like portable air conditioners for use as a spot cooler in the home.

A portable air conditioner is an excellent choice for saving money as just one unit needs to be purchased and it can be shifted easily to where you need it as it is mounted on castors and some can weigh only about 36 pounds. Moreover, as only one room is cooled at a time instead of the whole house, the total energy consumption is very low as compared to other air conditioning systems.

Another advantage of portable air conditioners is the energy efficiency that they provide. The average efficiency is in the 8 to 10 range although some are as high as 15, which is 50 percent better than most older central air conditioners. The small size of the portable air conditioners is very advantageous and as such it can fit in a corner or against a wall. It functions like an effective dehumidifier if you do not vent the warm exhaust air out through a window and its size is also the same as that of a room dehumidifier.

In order to reduce humidity and allergies, even the small ones remove 35 pints of moisture per day from the room air. The portable air conditioners also use the heat-exchange principle as the other air conditioners to cool and dehumidify the air. The operating principle is also similar to a window air conditioner as the room air circulates over cold evaporator coils to cool and dehumidify it inside the unit. The room air is exhausted outdoor after flowing over the hot condenser. There is no chance of already-cooled indoor air escaping outside as two ducts are now used.

Nowadays, you have electronic controls in most models and you can set the desired room temperature, blower speed, start and stop timer, and operation mode (cool, dehumidify, heat). The portable air conditioners also have hand-held remote control with which you can conveniently change all the settings as per your need.

The other features of portable air conditioners include a built-in air cleaner with an optional charcoal filter and oscillating louvers to distribute the cool air throughout the room. You can also switch off the louvers to direct the flow of air towards yourself, if you so desire.

Energy Efficiency - Purchasing an Energy Efficient Room Air Conditioner

2010-11-28T07:21:00.000+00:00

Are you in the market for a new air conditioner? Have you been considering a room air conditioner instead of a central air conditioner but aren't sure what you should be looking for? Purchasing an air conditioner of any type should be researched before hand simply due to the amount of electricity your air conditioner could potentially use. If you purchase the wrong unit you may end up with extremely large monthly electric bills and inefficient cooling.

As a consumer you definitely want to find the best performing unit for you. You want to find a unit which is very energy efficient because not only will it save you money in the long run, it's better for the environment as well. Energy efficiency is about making the best or most efficient use of energy in order to achieve a given level of comfort and convenience.

What is a Room Air Conditioner?

A room air conditioner is an air conditioning system designed to cool a room or rooms instead of the entire house. Do you live in a smaller home, townhouse, condo or even apartment? Would you prefer or do you require a non-permaneant air conditioning installation? If you answered yes then a room air conditioner may be a good matched for you. In comparison to central air conditioners, room air conditioners are dramatically less expensive to operate - even though they are often less efficient.

While central air conditioners often need higher voltage connections a room air conditioner can often be plugged into any 15- or 20-amp, 115-volt household circuit. If you have a larger room air conditioner you may need a dedicated 115 volt-circuit. In only the most extreme cases will you ever need a dedicated 230-volt circuit.

Room air conditioners are often vented or window mounted so they can effectively expel hot air out. Be wary of any room air conditioner that does not offer proper ventilation.

How are Room Air Conditioners Rated?

If you are familiar with central air conditioners you may be already familiar with the SEER or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. Room air conditioners are rated not on in SEER but rather in EER or Energy Efficiency Ratio. The EER of a given room air conditioner is calculated by dividing the cooling capacity in British Thermal Units (BTU) per hour by the power input in watts. You can find room air conditioners offering a range of cooling powers from 5,500 BTU per hour to 14,000 BTU per hour.

While the national appliance standard requires that any room air conditioner built after 1990 to have an EER of 8.0 or greater, and the latest Energy Star standards require in some cases an EER of 10.7 or greater I support the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy's (ACEEE) recommendations. The ACEEE recommends at least an EER of 11.6. Why? This will guarantee your unit is energy efficient throughout the year and when it is needed most - the hottest summer months.

Selecting a Room Air Conditioner

Once you've decided to purchase a room air conditioner make sure you look for the Energy Star label. If every room air conditioner sold in the U.S. were Energy Star qualified, we could prevent 1.2 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions to put that into perspective that is equivalent to the emissions from 100,000 cars. Energy Star room air conditioners use at least 10% less energy than conventional models.

In the room air conditioner game Energy Star isn't the only certification to be looking for. You should also look for Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers or AHAM Certified units. Why? AHAM Certified room air conditioners have their EER ratings verified by an independent laboratory.

Getting the Right Size

Room air conditioners like all air conditioning units are rated by the number of British Thermal Units (BTU) of heat they can remove per hour. Another common way of rating air conditioners is by the "ton," some example are 5,500 BTU per hour or 14,000 BTU per hour.

Getting the right size room air conditioner for your application is crucial. If you get the wrong size you can easily waste large volumes of electricity. The size of your air conditioner depends upon:

How large is your home and how many do you have?
How much shade do you have? Do you have shade on your home's windows, walls, and roof?
Are the ceilings and walls of your home insulated properly?
Do you have air leaks?
How much heat do you, the occupants, and appliances generate?

Remember the key to any air conditioners efficiency and performance depend on you properly matching the size of the AC unit to your specific application.

If you find this a bit confusing then you can always use the free AHAM tool. AHAM offers a handy online tool which can help you calculate your air conditioner (or evaporative cooler) needs.

Installing your Room Air Conditioner

When you install a new room air conditioner you should try to locate the air conditioner in a window or wall area near the center of the room. It is also beneficial to install your air conditioner on the shadiest side of your house. Try not to let your installation increase air leakage - you can minimize this by fitting the either the room air conditioner or its ventilation snugly into its opening and sealing gaps with a foam weather stripping material.

Are Room Air Conditioners my only non-permeneant cooling option?

If you live in a drier climate, somewhere with a relatively humidity level below 50%, then you may be well matched for an "Evaporative Cooler" sometimes referred to as a "Swamp Cooler." An evaporative cooler cools by using a fan to force air through moistened pads. As the hot air passes through the pads, the pads absorb the heat and cool the air in some cases as much as 15-20 degrees.

Evaporative coolers are not for everyone. In the wrong climate, in the wrong conditions an evaporative cooler can create conditions of high humidity in the air which in turn can cause condensation and even corrosion.

In the right conditions and climate, evaporative coolers, can provide cost very effective cooling. When compared to air conditioners, evaporative coolers use an average of 75% less electricity. Evaporative coolers are very energy efficient.

If you think you are a good candidate for an evaporate cooler you can use the free AHAM tool referenced earlier to calculate the proper size for your specific application too.

In many parts of the world air conditioning can seem like a life saver, but it comes at a cost - first in dollars spent for electricity, and second in carbon dioxide pollution from the generation of electricity. According to the the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) we create an astounding 140 million tons of CO2 cooling our homes. You can easily save electricity by purchasing a correctly sized Energy Star rated room air conditioner.

By saving electricity you are doing your part to fight global climate change.

Has Coal Gasification's Time Arrived

2010-10-31T09:00:00.000+00:00

The global economy is affecting our industry dramatically. Rising demand for oil and natural gas means that power generators and industrial plants will be desperate for basic feedstock that helps feed the American economy.

New technologies will be created and innovation in our industry will continue to grow, which will invariably lead to more inventive uses for coal. With the right incentives and under the proper market conditions, companies will introduce relevant products and services too meet these needs and demands. Without this type of thinking in the energy sector -- where the ever-increasing demand for power and gas is tapping the availability of vital fuels and putting upward pressure on prices, it will result in dire consequences to the global economy.

As we all know, natural gas is a finite resource, which at the current rate of production and consumption would last about 60 more years in the United States. We also must face the fact that developing nations will expand and demand more of the world's oil and natural gas to fuel their growth. Since the U.S. comprises approximately five percent of the world population but uses about 30 percent of the energy, it is inevitable for that balance to shift, especially in light of the shift in manufacturing capacity to overseas markets.

With India and China seeking the same resources as the United States, costs for these commodities will rise. For instance, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects oil consumption to increase by 1/3 through 2030 while electricity demand will rise by 50 percent over the next decade. Some experts predict this will lead to oil that may cost as much as $100 a barrel while natural gas could run as high as $8+ per million BTUs, in the same time period.

As oil prices rise, it usually causes other commodities such as natural gas and coal to rise as well, generally at a lesser rate than oil. Coal typically rises at a rate of 40% of that of oil, making it the cheapest and most abundant alternative to oil, which would explain why the EIA projects its use to climb over the next two decades and does not expect nuclear or renewable energy to reduce coal's market share during this time.

There are solutions to the increasing demand for energy, and include several which use coal as its feed stock. Coal-to-liquids, is one in which coal is broken down to form a fuel oil. While potentially much cheaper per barrel than oil, it is capital intensive and requires that oil prices stay high to motivate investors to risk this capital. Coal gasification plants are another technology we have seen in the limelight in our industry. These are power facilities that clean the impurities from coal before it is burned and sent out the smokestack, or in most recent developments (mimicking a DOE project from the 70's), creating pipeline quality natural gas (PQNG).

When coal is burned, it produces sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, which produces acid rain and smog. In addition it produces particulate matter and mercury. Under the Clean Air Act, those pollutants must be removed from exhaust gases that come out of the smoke stack. Coal combustion also produces carbon dioxide, which is not currently regulated. However the pressure to do so is increasing.

Coal gasification removes the sulfur dioxide, mercury and carbon dioxide from the "syngas" before it is combusted or converted to PQNG, say experts. And because the "syngas" is cleaner than raw coal, lower quantities of nitrogen oxide and particulate matter are produced during the combustion process. The carbon dioxide is more concentrated, which makes it easier to capture.

Four coal gasification power plants are now operating: two in the United States and two in Europe. American Electric Power expects to have engineering studies completed next month on two possible coal gasification plants in Ohio and West Virginia. It would like to have one or both facilities operational by decade's end. Duke Energy has picked up Cinergy's proposed coal gasification plant in Ohio, since the merger of the two organizations.

There are viable options to help reduce the global dependence on oil and natural gas. Employing energy efficient technologies is a good start as well as turning waste energy into power and heat.

To keep the global economy viable, creative solutions involving all different fuel forms are necessary. Coal will continue to play a major role, however the form of that role appears to be changing. New technologies are on the verge of becoming commercially commonplace, and those utilities who utilize the traditional combustion method must commit to controlling their emissions and their carbon footprints. Regulatory and market pressures are giving coal a chance to reinvent itself, and with oil and gas prices at their current levels, and no major relief in site, the bulk of the new power required will likely be provided using coal, the workhorse of the industry.

Coal is not without its problems. Eastern spot prices for coal have risen, and have reached their highest levels in more than 25 years. This is the second time in 4 years that coal prices have more than doubled their pre-2000 pricing levels . This spike has caused prices in new long term contracts to rise as well. The current prolonged spike in Eastern spot prices is mainly due to supply shortages, as demand has not grown much in recent years.

There are several reasons that coal prices have spiked. The coal industry has undergone significant consolidation over the past 15 years, with indications pointing to a continuation in that trend. The top ten producers controlled 64% of coal production in the U.S. in 2003, compared to only 36% in 1989. Three companies control 60-70% of production in the Powder River Basin, Northern Appalachia, and Colorado/Utah. This consolidation has contributed to the volatility of spot prices by reducing excess mining capacity along with the number competing for coal contracts.

The reduction in the number of small mines has affected the price of coal in recent years as well. An example of this is a 68% reduction in the number of small mines in Central Appalachia from 1989 to 2003. By reducing the number of small mines, the ability to meet spikes in demand are reduced, resulting in price spikes in the spot market.

There are other factors contributing to rising coal prices; including increase in demand, even though over the last 5 years the increase has been small. Other contributing factors are the reduction in the size of U.S. utility coal stockpiles, the reduction in miner productivity in all of the major coal producing regions (except Northern Appalachia), pressure from U.S. export coal demand, and the reduction decrease in the number of Class 1 railroads.

With spot market coal prices increasing, where do the opportunities for coal exist? They exist with integrated coal gasification combined cycle plants. Gasification, also known as partial oxidation, has been commercially practiced for many years; especially in the chemical industry, where most of the installed plants produce ammonia, hydrogen or other chemicals. The feedstock for these plants has included natural gas, oil-derived fuels, petroleum coke and coal. Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) is often proposed as an alternate method of converting environmentally disadvantaged fuels into electricity. Some believe that IGCC units will not be built in the short term unless natural gas prices remain elevated, there is high load growth and a national cap on CO2 emissions are implemented. However, with the arrival of the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) and the Clean Air Mercury Rule , and the availability of high sulfur (i.e. 7 lb. /MMBtu) coal, such as Illinois Basin coal, (See Figure 2) the market for these fuels rests on a technology like IGCC and other gasification processes, which benefit from high sulfur content and which reduce emissions simultaneously. The technology's main long-term advantage is its ability to control greenhouse gas emissions. Integrated gasification combined cycle technology, combined with the sequestration of carbon stripped out in the process, is as close to a perfect solution for environmental emissions as there is. The biggest challenge will be to make it a reality, in light of the costs to develop gasification projects and their financial ramifications.

Gasification History

Gasification technology, although new to the power sector, has been widely used in the chemical industry for decades. Almost ten years ago, Tampa Electric opened an innovative power plant that turned coal, the most abundant but the dirtiest fossil fuel, into a relatively clean gas, which it burns to generate electricity. The plant emitted significantly less pollution than a conventional coal-fired power plant, and it was also 10 percent more efficient.

Though there are many gasification plants currently on the drawing board, since that plant opened, however, no other similar plant has been built in the United States, mainly due to the price of constructing such a plant, (about 20% more expensive than to build a conventional pulverized coal unit) and to the abundant supply of natural gas, which had been, until recently, a lot cheaper.

In recent years there has been downward pressure on that price differential. GE Energy, a division of General Electric claims the technology offers operational cost savings that offset some of the higher construction costs. In addition, if Congress eventually limits carbon emissions, as many energy industry experts say they expect them to do, the technology's operational advantages could make it a bargain.

There are now several utility executives who are proponents of gasification, because they assume a carbon constrained world is inevitable. Duke/PSI, Bechtel, and General Electric Company have signed a letter of intent to study the feasibility of constructing a commercial, integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) generating station. This is the first plant of its kind announced under a GE-Bechtel alliance. However other projects utilizing this same alliance are close behind.
The operating savings for IGCC plants result from a number of factors, including more efficient combustion (15 percent more than conventional plants do, resulting in less fuel consumption). The plants also use about 40 percent less water than conventional coal plants, a significant consideration in arid locales, and given the increasing difficulty of securing water rights.
Many in the industry who anticipate stricter pollution limits believe the primary selling point of IGCC plants is their ability to chemically strip pollutants from gasified coal more efficiently and cost-effectively, prior to burning, rather than trying to clean the emissions on the back end.
Supporters of the technology believe that half of coal's pollutants - including sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which contribute to acid rain and smog - can be chemically stripped out before combustion. So can about 95 percent of the mercury in coal, at about a tenth the cost of trying to scrub it from exhaust gases racing up a smokestack.

The biggest long-term draw for gasification technology is its ability to capture carbon before combustion. If greenhouse-gas limits are enacted, that job will be much harder and more expensive to do with conventional coal-fired plants. It is estimated that capturing carbon would add about 25 percent to the cost of electricity from a combined-cycle plant burning gasified coal, but that it would add 70 percent to the price of power from conventional plants.

Disposing of the carbon dioxide gas stripped out in the process, however, is another matter. Government laboratories have experimented with dissolving the gas in saline aquifers or pumping it into geologic formations under the sea. The petroleum industry has long injected carbon dioxide into oil fields to help push more crude to the surface. Refining and commercializing these techniques is a significant part of a $35 billion package of clean energy incentives that the National Commission on Energy Policy is recommending.

The recent energy bill has some incentives for industry to adopt gasification technology, and the Department of Energy will continue related efforts. These include FutureGen, a $950 million project to demonstrate gasification's full potential - not just for power plants but as a source of low-carbon liquid fuels for cars and trucks as well, and, further out, as a source of hydrogen fuel.

The Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle Process

In the IGCC process, coal or another carbon containing material (petroleum coke, coal fines, and residual oil) is converted to synthetic gas, composed mainly of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, which is cooled, cleaned and fired in a gas turbine. Next the gas turbine generates hot exhaust that passes through a generator to produce steam to power a steam turbine, whereby electricity is produced by both the gas and steam turbine-generators.

The feedstock is prepared and fed to the gasifier in either dry or slurried form. The feedstock reacts in the gasifier with steam and oxygen at high temperature and pressure in a reducing (oxygen starved) environment. This produces the synthesis gas, or syngas, made up of more than 85% carbon monoxide and hydrogen by volume, and smaller quantities of carbon dioxide and methane.

Coal gasification is a chemical process that removes potentially harmful matter such as sulfur and volatile mercury from the synthesis gas before combustion, when they are much easier and less expensive to remove. Non-volatile heavy metals can be removed in a non-leachable slag which can be usable in construction and building industries, becoming a potential added revenue stream for such a plant. The removal occurs because of the high temperature in the gasifier, and results in inorganic materials such as ash and metals into the vitrified slag material, resembling course sand. With some feedstocks, valuable metals are concentrated and recovered for reuse. The synthesis gas that is produced is much cleaner than raw coal, so it produces lower quantities of particulate matter and nitrogen oxides when it goes through the combustion process.

IGCC vs. Coal Combustion

There is a dramatic difference in the level of pollution reduction when comparing an IGCC facility to that of a traditional pulverized coal plant. A pulverized coal plant produces flue gas and flyash which compose the majority of the pollutants from the coal. Though the flue gases can be cleaned using current technology, which is capable of removing a large portion of the pollutants, it is not without cost, and those costs can be prohibitive.

Gasification on the other hand removes these pollutants more effectively and efficiently, without producing the additional wastes that the coal combustion process does, such as additional carbon dioxide, and sludges that contain sulfur (up to 5 lbs./lb. of sulfur removed). The removal of volatile mercury and carbon dioxide is a much more expensive process in traditional combustion plants, and it appears that this requirement will soon be looming over the industry, due to continued environmental constraints. To remove high levels of mercury from a coal combustion plant, it requires the injection and removal of powdered activated carbon, and the success depends heavily on the coal feedstock and other pollution control equipment

An Example of the levels emissions from an IGCC plant compared to a supercritical pulverized coal plant (SCPC) is in Table 1.

Table 1

Pounds of Pollutants per MWh

Pollutant IGCC SCPC

SO2 0.47 1.19

NOx 0.50 0.72

PM-10 0.06 0.16

Pollutant IGCC SCPC

Hg (Volatile Mercury) >90% Removed 30-80% Removed

Source: Eastman Gasification Services

1) Assumes Eastern bituminous coal with 2.2% sulfur

2) For IGCC, NOX is corrected to 15% O2, For SCPC NOX is corrected to 6% O2

3) Assumes IGCC plant is equipped with an amine scrubber, packed activated carbon bed for Hg, and no SCR

4) Assumes SCPC plant is equipped with wet flue desulfurization

The levels of pollutants for an IGCC can achieve additional reductions from those shown in Table 1, by using enhanced sulfur removal technologies such as Rectisol.

IGCC Economics & Financing

One of the hottest topics in the industry these days is coal gasification and IGCC. At recent industry conferences, the coal gasification sessions were standing room only. Commercial banks are interested in the topic as well, but not without reservations. The attraction is the potentially lucrative offtake agreements from such a project. Depending on where the plant is situated, as much as 30 percent of a project's revenues can come from non-electricity production, for such things as hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur and carbon sequestration.

One of the biggest problems with the growth of IGCC in the past is that the turbines and the gasification equipment came from different vendors, and no one wanted to guarantee the whole package, since there were uncertainties related to the other's equipment. In 2003, Eastman Chemical Company's Eastman Gasification Services Company signed a cooperative agreement with ChevronTexaco under which Eastman was to provide operations, maintenance, management and technical services to ChevronTexaco projects. In 2004, GE acquired the Chevron-Texaco gasification technology, and has paired that up with their existing turbine business, with guarantees around both. In addition they have partnered with Bechtel in a consortium, in order to construct the plants. Eastman Gasification continues to be prepared to provide their services to these projects. All these collaborative efforts help lend credibility and financability to these projects, by helping to eliminate the technology's risk.

The total cost associated with building an IGCC facility is around $1 billion+, with some industry experts claiming that the technology costs 20% more than a pulverized coal plant. Without substantial federal and state subsidies, the future of IGCC technology is considered by some to be dim. In addition, credit ratings may be at stake for utilities, making airtight commitments with regulators a necessity, in order to avoid negative rating action. Strategies to manage the financial and regulatory risks will have to be in place to help insure this.

According to Eastman Gasification Services Company however, the capital costs for new coal gasification power plants are now estimated to be at parity with the newest generation of pulverized coal power plants. The capital costs for pulverized coal plants have risen in recent years and are projected to continue in that direction, due to the increasing severity of federal air pollution regulations. With coal gasification, there are fewer environmental side effects, and it is predicted that the costs will actually head downward as commercialization of the technology moves forward, improvements are incorporated into future designs and increased operating experience is realized.

Solid fuel plants have been recently bid for less than $1,000/kW on a turnkey basis, which is 30-40% of the cost of the first few IGCC plants. Since then, capital cost reductions have been achieved through gas turbine performance improvements, gasification system enhancements, IGCC configuration changes, and finally by moving further down the learning curve in the EPC process that has provided additional efficiencies. An example of configurations changes that have reduced costs is GE's coupling of a 9FA based combined cycle with high efficiency quench (HEQ) which resulted in a 10% reduction in costs of electricity. The reduction was due to a large portion of the high temperature heat exchanger in the gasification plant being eliminated. GE's next generation of gas turbines, such as the GE "H" machine, are expected to provide significant performance improvements and capital cost reductions. These types of improvements will continue to provide additional economic benefits for IGCC. The capital cost of an IGCC plant is estimated to be between $1,200 to $1,400/kW and is expected to go down from there. This range is competitive with the newest generation of supercritical pulverized-coal plants

When you consider total variable costs for a coal gasification plant versus any other fossil fuel based electric power generating facility, (including natural gas) O&M, fuel, waste disposal, and byproducts credits, they are much better with coal gasification. This is a result of the higher O&M costs of coal gasification being offset by lower fuel costs from higher efficiency, lower environmental treatment costs, and lower waste disposal costs. In addition, with the production of marketable by-products such as hydrogen, nitrogen, and sulfur, additional revenue streams can be provided. Finally, with the looming Clean Air Mercury Rule limiting the emissions from new power plants, and expected carbon removal requirements likely being instituted in the future, the costs for removal of these constituents has to be considered, and it is much less for gasification than other technologies.

With gas prices increasing to their current levels, the ownership cost of an IGCC has become competitive with that of conventional, natural gas-fired combined cycle plants. The range that this remains true is when natural gas rises above $4/mmBtu. Most forecasts of long range gas prices indicate that gas will be above this level for the foreseeable future.

State & Federal Incentives for Development

The Clean Coal Power Initiative (CCPI) is the President's response to the National Energy Policy recommendations for developing advanced clean coal technologies to ensure clean, reliable, and affordable electricity for the future of the U.S. CCPI is a ten year, $2 Billion DOE program involving multiple solicitations for coal-based power generation technologies that significantly enhance efficiency, environmental performance, or economics relative to state-of-the-art technologies. The purpose of the program is to try to accelerate the implementation of these new advanced technologies through demonstration at the commercial-scale level. They require 50% cost sharing by industry participants.

Many states, whose coal industries have been dramatically affected by environmental laws requiring reductions in sulfur, have implemented various incentives, including grants and tax abatement, in order to encourage the use of coal mined in their state. States whose resources include high sulfur coal, such as that found in Illinois, western Indiana and Kentucky, Ohio and various areas in Appalachia have borne the brunt of the job losses in the coal industry, and have seen the market for their coal being dramatically reduced. Many of these states are anxious to put these mines back in business and their unemployed miners back to work. The incentives were put in place to do that, and many of these incentives are specifically focused on IGCC, in order to spur development, while acknowledging the concerns of environmentalists.

Indiana

Early in 2005, clean energy legislation unanimously passed out of the Indiana Senate which provides additional incentives for clean coal gasification plants. Senate Bill 378 provides tax credits for companies who build and operate integrated coal gasification power plants in Indiana. The legislation established the Coal Gasification Technology Investment Tax Credit, which applies to newly constructed IGCC plants that exclusively use Indiana coal. The amount of the tax credit would equal 10 percent of a $500 million investment plus 5 percent of the investment above that amount. The tax credit would be divided over a ten year period.

In April 2005, Indiana's General Assembly passed tax incentives that would save Duke $75 million on a $1 billion IGCC plant that they are considering building in a cooperative arrangement with GE/Bechtel, if it were powered with coal from Indiana's mines.

In 2002 Indiana's governor signed a clean-coal law, whereby electric utilities either building new generating stations or repowering existing power plants using Illinois Basin coal are eligible for potential financial incentives including up to 3% over their normal rate of return. The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) determines the actual level of incentives to be awarded on a case-by-case basis.

Since 1987, coal consumption in Indiana has increased by 30 percent, while Indiana's coal production had increased by only 3 percent. Currently over half of the 43 million tons of coal used to generate electricity is imported into Indiana. If Indiana coal were to replace 22.5 million tons of the now imported coal, it would add $1.35 billion and 18,000 jobs to that state's economy. Therefore it is obvious why the state has implemented these incentives.

West Virginia

West Virginia, through using coal as its premier electric generating source material, receives $13.1 to $17.3 billion of annual economic output, $4.1 to $5.6 billion of annual household income; and 111,747 to 162,143 jobs. Taken a step further, coal is responsible for $66 to $114 billion of annual state economic output, $38 to $55 billion of annual household income and 1.1 to 1.7 million jobs, across the entire Southern Appalachian region. In other words, coal is a huge part of their economy, and it is likely to negotiate incentives to use some of their high sulfur coal

Kentucky

The Kentucky Coal Association (KCA) has declared that economic incentives to promote Kentucky coal are a priority for the 2006 legislative session and during the interim committee meetings. KCA has helped pass legislation in the past including severance tax credits for thin seam coal and incentives for utilities to burn Kentucky coal, so it is a reasonable expectation that they will be successful in putting incentives in place.

Numerous governmental programs exist in Kentucky that might benefit an IGCC facility. These include:

-Enterprise zone programs

-Tax increment financing

-Tax credits

-Job assessment fee

-Industrial revenue bonds

Ohio

The Ohio Coal Development Office (OCDO), within the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority (OAQDA), co-funds the development and implementation of technologies that can use Ohio's vast reserves of high sulfur coal in an economical, environmentally sound manner. Ohio generates nearly 90 percent of its electricity from coal and is the third largest consumer of coal and the fourth largest consumer of electricity in the U.S.

Projects supported by the OCDO are sought through public solicitations and requests-for-proposals and cost-share is required. Proposals are reviewed by independent technical reviewers, and then submitted to the Office's statutorily created Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), a 15-member group comprised of public and private members having an interest in coal, power production, and the environment. Projects favorably recommended by the TAC are submitted to the OAQDA for final approval, then grant negotiations commence.

Illinois

Illinois has an extensive program in place to provide incentives to those willing to use high sulfur Illinois Coal which will put unemployed miners back to work. In recent years, the State of Illinois passed the Coal Development Act, which has the following provisions:

-Provides $3.5 billion in bonds for coal and energy projects under a consolidated Illinois State Finance Authority

-Allows sales and utility tax exemptions for new power plant construction started after July 1, 2001

-Gives property tax breaks of up to $4 million over 10 years for new power plants and transmission lines

-Orders the Governor Energy Cabinet to help develop clean-coal technology, help power companies gain required permits more quickly and look into creating a transmission corridor from the south to the north part of the State

-Calls for the IEPA to start investigating more limits on SO2, NO2, mercury, and CO2

The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has pushed coal infrastructure grants through its Office of Coal Development and Marketing (OCDM). The coal infrastructure grants aim to increase domestic and international use of Illinois coal. The Illinois Clean Coal Review Board, established by Southern Illinois University and funded initially by monies from the sale of power plants of Commonwealth Edison Company, provides grants to innovative technologies seeking to increase utilization of Illinois coal resources.

In Illinois, programs that might benefit an IGCC generation facility include:

-Enterprise zone programs

-Grants

-Temporary property tax relief

-Tax increment financing

-Development corporation loan program

-Community development assistance program

-Work force development program

-Community block grant program

-Linked deposit program

-Others

Conclusion

With the costs of BTU's on the rise across the board, including not only natural gas and crude oil, but coal as well, the overall challenge in the energy business today comes down to replacing a higher cost Btu with a lower cost and being able to finance the cost differential. To do so means the banks and financial community have to believe that the spread will remain great enough between the sources for the life of the project, or mechanisms must be in place to protect these investments.

With recent advances in IGCC technology and development, including the ability of these facilities to burn high sulfur coal, such as that found in the Illinois Coal Basin and other high sulfur coal reserves, while meeting or exceeding all necessary environmental regulations, Gasification became a viable source of energy. Coupling those advances with public and governmental support of the technology by way of loans, grants and tax abatement, the bundling of the turbine provider with the gasifier so that they can wrap the guarantees, and improvements in operations, Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle technology is likely to become the solution to the looming domestic energy needs of the United States.

These improvements have opened the door to development of new IGCC generation facilities, such as the one by Duke, AEP, Southern Company, Exelsior Energy, Steelhead Energy, etc. However, an investigation of the transmission, fuel, and water availability, as well as, an understanding of the environmental and stakeholder issues is still critical to the identification and development of attractive sites, just as with any power plant option would require. As we have seen, these pieces can fit together in numerous ways highlighting the existence of numerous attractive sites in the Illinois Coal Basin and elsewhere in high sulfur coal territory, where there is potential to negotiate long term coal contracts for coal whose demand isn't as high as it once was. Many believe the coal in this region will some day be the center of a huge energy complex for the U.S. Furthermore, with the increase in gasification projects that gasify coal and convert it to either PQNG, ultra-clean diesel or other liquid fuels, gasification is becoming closer and closer to being a commercial reality. Some of these gasification projects are even looking to partner with renewable energy technologies in order to achieve additional economies and convert non-dispatchable power to a dispatchable source by combining the technologies.

There is still a capital cost premium for gasification. In the interim (approximately 3-5 years), before commercialization, operation improvements and/or new environmental regulations narrow the price differential gap of gasification's capital costs as compared to those of other technologies, incentives provided by both state and federal sources, coupled with long term contracts for the high sulfur coal and the use of hedging strategies, will be the way the first wave of gasification plants will get built. In the near term, these projects may be able to achieve the required economics through the sale of various byproducts, such as enhanced oil recovery, sulfur, and other chemicals.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Steve Shaw of Power Holdings, LLC and Dennis Corn of Eastman Gasification Services Company for their insight and advice.

Mr. Brian Hill is the co-founder of Superna Energy LLC in Chicago, Illinois. Superna is a full-service management consulting firm providing services to the Energy and Utility Industry, with a primary focus on new generation.

Mr. Hill has over 23 years of experience in the energy industry. Prior to forming Superna, Mr. Hill was MCR Performance Solutions, a consulting and technology firm and was an owner of MWH Global, a $1 billion worldwide energy, environmental and water engineering/construction conglomerate. Prior to MWH he held management roles with Sargent & Lundy LLC, a $300 million international engineering firm focused on global energy infrastructure projects. Mr. Hill started his career with Exelon Corporation, a $15 billion electric utility holding company, where he spent more than 14 years in various management roles.

Mr. Hill received a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Marquette University and is a licensed P.E. in the State of Wisconsin. He also earned a masters degree in business administration from Loyola University

Russia As an Efficient and Clean Global Energy Provider

2010-10-31T08:55:00.000+00:00

Russia as an efficient and clean global energy provider

Russia has enormous potential to be both an efficient and clean global energy provider. Although Russia has a global image as an oil and gas supplier, the "tide is turning" as clean energy initiatives and strategies give rise to investment opportunities and a New Energy Russia.

Why should Russia be interested in efficient and clean energy and what are the benefits?

Russia is one of the largest energy providers in the world and also one of the world's most inefficient energy users and producers. Increasing efficiency will lead to cost savings which can then be channeled into clean and alternative energy projects to capture new and growing market share in the global energy market.

The global demand for alternative and clean energy is growing every year and Russia has a chance to capitalize on this demand with a country full of opportunities to provide clean energy not only domestically, but globally. To do this Russian companies and the Russian government must reverse the relaxed and short-sighted view that Russia will forever live and prosper from the sale of oil, gas, and coal.

Russia can also benefit from positive PR as being a reliable, efficient, and also clean energy provider which is well positioned for life after oil.

Implementation Strategies for clean energy in Russia

Knowledge and technology exchange - This can include scientists, engineers, companies, and governments sharing information and collaborating together to create new energy solutions and technology. As the Russian government plays a key role in Russian energy, their support is the key to driving growth in the market.

Funding of projects, companies, and research - Long-term capital and funding for alternative energy projects and companies is a major necessity as new energy projects can require large up-front investments. Again, the Russian government will be crucial for this strategy as it controls a large share of the Russian energy market.

Public awareness and acceptance including subsidies and tax incentives - The average Russian person, much like the average Russian company and government official, is indifferent at best to implementing clean energy solutions. The best way to change this perception would be a PR campaign aimed at creating awareness and a call to action for citizens and companies to implement clean energy solutions. The Russian government could also offer subsidies and tax incentives for investors to promote the growth of new companies, technology, and production of clean energy in Russia.

Legal Restructuring - Re-working and re-writing laws in Russia to support clean energy initiatives is essential for opening the energy market for growth in clean energy solutions.

Alternative Energy Options

Biofuel - As Russia has a large and growing timber industry, companies can process timber waste as bio-fuel. Russia can also exploit wheat, rye, and corn and utilize it's large land resources to supply bio-fuel. The demand for bio-fuels is growing and the price makes it competitive with less clean alternatives such as diesel oil. Russia's Biotechnology Corp believes that Russia is capable of exporting nearly 40 Million Tons of bio-fuel per annum, with up to 7 Million Tons after the processing of Russian timber.

Wind - Russia's seaside areas such as Sochi provide ample area for large wind farms. Greta Energy of Canada has an ambitious program to develop wind farms across multiple regions of Russia with an expected capacity of 394 MW.

Geothermal - This is one area where Russia has already implemented successful projects and has had the most development. There is vast potential in Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands for geothermal projects. Geothermal energy is utilized for heating and electricity production in the Northern Caucasus and the Russian Far East.

Water - Untapped Siberian rivers could be utilized for hydro-electric power stations and tidal projects along the Pacific coast could make this a very natural progression for companies such as RusHydro. In fact, RusHydro is Russia's largest hydro-generating company and the second biggest in the world. They are also utilizing renewable energy sources such as water flows, wind, tidal, and geothermal energy to generate a total capacity over 25,000 MW.

Solar - Although many do not consider this as a viable option for Russia, consider Rusnano, which is currently investing in the production of high-efficiency solar power plants in Russia. Also, the Russian company Nitol is hoping to increase its' production silicon wafers to a capacity of 60 MW. Russia is the largest country in the world and has ample land for solar energy generation and production facilities.

Nanotechnology - The Kremlin's bet for the future of Russian energy lies with nanotechnology and the Russian government has invested billions of dollars for the development of this sector. "Nanotechnology will be the (foundation) for all industries in a science-driven economy," said Mikhail Kovalchuk, director of Moscow's Kurchatov Institute. "Nanotechnology will be the driving force of the Russian economy - if it can overcome the legacy of the recent past."

Efficiency Strategies

Oil well and refinery efficiency - Not only can Russia become more efficient with this expensive process, but it can also sell the added energy to the markets and keep pace with the ever increasing global demand for oil and gas. New technologies, drilling techniques, and equipment can improve the efficiency, but usually requires large capital investment.

Natural gas and subsequent distribution efficiency - As gas is transported along hundreds of kilometers much of it is lost in transit. Here again, a large up-front investment is required.

Improving domestic heating and electricity transmission - Russia has one of the largest energy intensity ratings in the world, and 2 times more than the US. This inefficiency can affect economic growth and is partly due to the harsh climates experienced in many parts of Russia. The savings can be used to fund alternative energy programs or further increase efficiency of domestic resources. As an example, Russia's heat production loses half of the available energy during the creation and transportation process.

Program and incentives for energy efficient consumers - PR, tax incentives, and the availability of energy efficient products and technologies can push Russian consumers to start being more energy conscious. This can offset the gradual increase of domestic energy prices.

Barriers

Energy Efficiency - Currently Russian's enjoy artificially priced energy far below the level of world market prices and the costs are subsidized by the Russian Government. Inefficient infrastructure such as central heating for the majority of Russia's population also complicates the problem of creating more efficient domestic energy production

Alternative Energy - Lack of public support and a relaxed, short-term view of Russian Government officials and Russian energy companies regarding energy and natural resource utilization. As strong public policy is required from the Russian Government to implement sweeping changes to legislation, investment, taxation, and public support, alternative energy could be on a very slow growth path in Russia.

Outlook for Investors
With the exception of a few companies such as RusHydro and Rusnano, the Russian alternative energy market can certainly be considered in an infant stage. The growth of Russia as an efficient and clean global energy provider is almost certain to present investors with a wealth of opportunities.

What do you think about the future of Russia as an efficient and clean global energy provider? Send us your comments.

Brian Schweitzer - RusKey Biz

RusKey Biz is your key to the Russian Business Market. Features Include:

* Russian Business Directory - Human Edited, Search Engine Friendly Business Directory for Companies on the Russian Market.
* The Best Collection of the Latest Russian Business News and Exhibitions with RSS Feeds for selected Categories
* Russian Business Articles, Latest Rouble Exchange Rates, and The RusKey Biz Blog

Energy and America

2010-10-31T08:52:00.000+00:00

America is entering into a time of Energy crisis. It could easily be the greatest crisis that human-kind is to face. America can not continue to lead the world econimcally and drain it dry at the same time. The National Collegiate Clean Energy Initiative is working to unite American students and citizens alike, to demand CLEAN ENERGY POLICY.

ENERGY ESP ALERT!!
Kevin Gluckstal
NATIONAL COLLEGIATE
CLEAN ENERGY INITIATIVE
WWW.NCCEIUSA.ORG [http://WWW.NCCEIUSA.ORG]
720 Northern Blvd
Brookville NY 11487
516-445-1500

The FED Chairman, Mr. Alan Greenspan was on
capitol hill in the semi-annual monetary policy
meeting with congress. (also known as the Humphrey
Hawkins meeting)While Mr. Greenspan was mostly upbeat
about the economy (Note: I am not as up beat) he made
some very troubling remarks.
Mr. Greenspan commented that the..."Long-term futures
for crude oil...going 10-years out...have risen
substantially in the last few years...and are being
sustained at these levels..."
Now... the market is a discounting mechinism. Has the
futures market begun to discount PEAK OIL? I believe
the answer is YES! In REAL DOLLARS, crude needs to get
over $100/brl to equal the peak of the 70's crunch.
It is extremely crucial that clean energy comes to
market NOW - being infront of this curveball will
determine our future and the state of our economy.
What is just as troubling is that I have not heard any
covering of this in the media.

ENERGY ESP #2

I believe the greatest crisis that Human-Kind has ever
seen has begun. America, a country founded on the
basis of freedom is under attack by unstoppable
inflating energy prices, and it has just begun. The
situation in the middle-east is escalating with no end
in sight, as relations with the OPEC countries has
begun to fall apart. Believing the promises of Saudi
Oil is not an option. With horrifying accounting
scandals of greed in our country.... who truly
believes that the OPEC countries will be honest with
us regarding the oil reserves; or anything else for
that matter?! It is common knowledge of the recent
events at Shell and their false statements of
reserves. It will not stop there I’m sure. While Saudi
Arabia has been pumping water to flush out oil from
their depleting reserves since the mid-late 90's . . .
more problems are developing. Americans are being told
to leave the middle-east. We all know that we need
those Americans in the OPEC countries in order for us
to actually get the oil to American soil. Should
America, the largest and most powerful nation in the
world be relying so much on foreign energy?

From an Economic point of view, RENEWABLE ENERGY, such
as wind and solar energy will be a long-term net
positive, not only for Long Islands’ economy . . . for
the nations’ economy as well. Just as in the Aviation
industry many years ago, Long Island became the
National Economic Leader and was looked upon with
great admiration. Long Island Thrived. It will take
two years to begin construction of the wind park off
Jones Beach. By that time, oil prices will be much
higher then where it is now acting as a devastating
tax on American Citizens. This is a once in a lifetime
opportunity must not be missed. It simply makes
dollars and sense.

The DOE predicts that the price of Crude Oil will
climb until around the year 2025 and then peak. If
true this means that Peak oil is now. Supply has
already begun to decline as not one OPEC country has
claimed new oil finds. Let us not forget the two wild
cards; China and India. America is now at the mercy of
two countries growing by leaps and bounds. We have no
control and it has only begun to effect us all. In
terms of REAL dollars, to reach the equivalent price
of oil during the energy crisis of the 70's. Oil
would need to go to over $100 dollars a barrel. $40 is
simply a drop in the bucket.

Supply is going down - Demand is going up. This is the
current long-term situation and it is not going away –
UNLESS.
Wind Power will give Long Island Independence from the
volatile and raising energy prices ahead. It will give
stability to our children and our grandchildren. It
will give them a chance.
(SIDE-BAR)
“….I’m driving my daughter to school as we always do
and she bursted out singing the song she learned for
her pre-K graduation, “I’m Proud To Be an American.”
By the time she was in the plains of Minnesota and the
hills of Tennessee I was glad I had my sunglasses
on.... my eyes were flooded. This is not the same
world that we were born into... and I for one... am
scared for my children.”
On behalf of students across the country who are
fighting for the future, on behalf of the National
Collegiate Clean Energy Initiative please ADVOCATE and
vote for CLEAN ENERGY POLICY.

ENERGY ESP #3

The National Democratic Convention began on Monday as
President Clinton gave his usual “Reagan-like” speech.
It has been interesting to listen to all of the
members of the Democratic party give praise for John
Kerry as the next President of the U.S.A. What has
been more interesting is listening to the united
conviction towards “clean energy,” “energy
independence and energy sustain-ability.” In almost
every speech that included policy, “clean energy” and
“energy independence” or simply a good “energy policy”
was numero uno.
The Electric Power Research Institute estimates that
power outages and power quality disturbances cost
businesses in the U.S. more than $120 billion a year.
This goes hand and hand as the infrastructure is older
than my grandfather.
In the New Growth Initiative Apollo Alliance for
Energy Independence plan, bio-fuels and energy
efficiency investments alone could produce over one
million jobs by 2015.

Tonight, John Edwards will speak to the country. Will
“clean energy” and “energy independence” be on his
agenda?

Every time President Clinton spoke of the future of
jobs, the first industry on the list was the “clean
energy” industry.
Now . . . by no means do I anticipate the republican
convention to be any different. Do you?
Stay tuned for a complete breakdown of the NATIONAL
COLLEGIATE CLEAN ENERGY INITIATIVE’S positions’ on
Clean Energy policy...or lack there of.

Energy ESP Newsletter #4 7-30-04
Crude oil is now at $43 per barrel reaching new highs.
Or Are they. Lets not forget that about $114 is the
actually peak of the Yom-Kippour War. My how short the
human memory could be. John Kerry gave an emotional
speech full of great rhetoric. In the last ESP I was
waiting to listen for ENERGY information. What will he
do? When will he do it? When time came to talk policy,
he said he was going "say something FDR couldn't do at
his speech,... goto JohnKerry.com" So JohnKerry.com it
is...

What did we find? "...Investing in future technology,
today..." Fuel Cell vehicles were mentioned. Clean
Energy efficiencies..." yadadad... Nothing truly in
depth as I had hoped for. I remind you,reader, that
this is a NON-PARTISAN effort to advocate for CLEAN
ENERGY. With that said...why do you goto JohnKerry.com
then goto Georgebush.com and see if there is a button
on their site called "Energy." When you find it...read
and compare. THIS IS IMPORTANT!!

So needless to say I was a little let down at the
level of importance that Clean Energy and Renewable
Energy was given. THAT, my fellow advocates...is why
there is now the NATIONAL COLLEGIATE CLEAN ENERGY
INITIATIVE.
Soon...very soon, a massive email campaign will begin.
It will go to many student organizations around the
country. But until than, much work needs to be done.

ENERGY ESP #5

There is a lot of talk as of late about something
called “clean-coal.” Kerry promises 20% of the
countries electricity via renewable energy sources
proposing “clean-coal.” Is there such a thing? YES!
A company by the name of Headwaters Inc. (HDWR on the
NASDAQ) based in South Jordan Utah, Headwaters seems
to be leading the way in creating a “clean-coal”
environment. Through it’s subsidiary Coval Fuels, a
coal based synthetic fuel is available that is “safe,
odorless and easy to handle. They do not increase
HAPs, VOCs, Sox or Nox emissions and do not fall under
any hazardous material regulations.”
For more info click the following link:
[http://www.hdwtrs.com/envbenefits/covolfuels.html]

Attorney Generals from eight states including New
York, Iowa and California file lawsuit last month
against utilities including Cinergy Corp., Xcel
Energy, and Southern Company just to name a few, for
dumping a stagering 10% of the countries emitted
greenhouse gases. The question is simple. Did they
know what they were doing? Did they know these gases
were harmful to people? Did they care? Apparently they
are not being fined for anything from the past. They
are simply being asked to decrease harmful emissions.
Is that enough? Shouldn’t there be some kind of
accountability? Why... remember when the EPA was first
formed. We knew then that talons killed.

Global Warming said to be responsible for an
ecological catastrophe as the coastal waters of
Scotland warm. Scores of skuas, terns and guillemots
(all birds) are not breeding. The small fish they eat
is moving closer to colder waters, hence there is not
enough food. “Just a foretaste of what lies ahead,” -
Tony Juniper of the Friends of the Earth.
STUDENTS OF AMERICA - STAND UP! WAKE UP! REALIZE THE
IMPORTANCE OF CLEAN ENERGY AND ENERGY INDEPENDENCE!!!
JOIN NCCEI AND BE ACCOUNTED FOR!!!

ENERGY ESP #6 8/10/05

Fed raises Discount rate 1/4%...why not...
Crude now at $44.5... and the charts spell "higher" -
plan and clear. Commodity prices have stabilized in
the past months... - only a buying opportunity in my
view. Lets not forget... we've entered into a SECULAR
BULL MARKET IN COMMODITIES!!

Yukos up in the air! Accounts frozen one minute... not
frozen the next. Which is it going to be Mr. Putin?
I'm sure he doesn't mind the price of crude going
higher... Mr. Putin figures... Russia has more oil
then people think... if you include all that
wilderness over there and lets not forget about
Putins' attempts to tap into the potential oil under
those frozen (or not so frozen anymore) ice-caps. So
when crude is at $100/brl they will have some amazing
crude finds...I'm sure. It would be nice... since
there hasn't been any oil reserve finds in how
long...?

Can anyone find any oil from Iraq yet... not me...
they keep having to shut-down plants... you know...
that terrorism thing.

Lets talk about ETHANOL - How much money could the
farmers make if the farmers could farm ethanol? How
about turning all that High Fructose Corn Syrup into
Ethanol instead??? Do you know the average person
consumes 63lbs of HFC per year. Oh we're fat alright!
Allocation of resources... Allocate more farmed corn
to produce Ethanol... instead of HFC. Think Coke will
go for that?

When ever NCCEI hears about an ENVIRONMENTALLY
friendly company we will do our best to spread the
word...

New Belgium Brewing Company, from Ft. Collins CO. is
the first American Brewery to be powered by 100% WIND
Energy. New Belgium is also proud of it's recycling
efforts. The best part is... this is an employee owned
company. The employees voted to forgive some of their
profit sharing plan (options) in order to make this
happen. WAY TO GO!!!! And guess what...profits are
up!!
The company is gaining market share as Beer drinkers
are paying attention. This is a perfect example of the
long term economic benefits to using a 100% renewable
energy source. Don't let me forget the energy company
supplying the power - VESTAS.
VESTAS Wind Systems A/S - This Denmark based global
leader in Wind generation sure is making a name for
it's self. Keep up the good work!!

Safe and Clean Energy is Good - Slowing Down is Better

2010-10-31T08:49:00.000+00:00

There are great advances happening in the field of alternative energies and fuels. The processes of development, research and manufacturing take time, however. And, the cost will be high for these choices until the technology grows to the point where eco-friendly sources of energy can be mass produced for everyone to have. In the mean time, taking the foot off the gas pedal of life could help save the planet more than you know.

Safe and Clean Energy Alternatives:

Until we can all have safe and clean energy, here are some changes we can make to stop the continued push of gases into the atmosphere.

Slow down the car. Cars that go 55 MPH, even when the speed limit is 70 MPH, tend to use less fuel. Less fuel burned means fewer emissions in the air.
Leave on time. Rushing to this meeting or this appointment is the number on reason why people speed so leave earlier than you have to even if that means throwing your hair under a hat. See above point.
Take your time in the park. Staying outside longer means using less electricity in the home. While consumers may not see it, electricity can be created from some of the least eco-friendly processes on Earth.
Carry your mobiles with you and walk. Portable solar chargers are very cheap and all your mobile devices can fit into one backpack. As you are walking from here to there, you are getting exercise, reducing fossil fuel emissions and charging your equipment with that solar backpack without using electricity. How is that for safe and clean energy usage.

Make Money Online With an Understanding of How Renewable Portfolio Standards Supports Clean Energy

2010-10-31T08:48:00.002+00:00

Nếu bạn là một người đề xuất của phong trào xanh và có, hoặc đang xem xét tham gia vào chuyển động theo cách của một nhà kinh doanh dựa trên, bạn được khuyến khích liên tục gia tăng hiểu biết của bạn. khách hàng của bạn cần phải nhìn thấy bạn như là một số của một chuyên gia về năng lượng sạch và phong trào xanh. Cả hai đi tay trong tay. Tôi đã tìm thấy rằng những người nói về tái tạo hàng tiêu chuẩn, hoặc RPS, tạo ra nhiều sự quan tâm và thúc đẩy sự hiểu biết về chính sách được thiết kế để cải thiện chất lượng cuộc sống. Theo Cơ quan Bảo vệ Môi trường Hoa Kỳ, một tái tạo hàng tiêu chuẩn là một chính sách được thiết kế để cung cấp cho các tiểu bang với một cơ chế để tăng thế hệ năng lượng tái tạo bằng cách sử dụng một cách tiếp cận, hiệu quả dựa vào thị trường đó là hành chính hiệu quả. Điều quan trọng cần lưu ý ở đây rằng việc sản xuất năng lượng tái tạo chi phí cao hơn so với năng lượng truyền thống.

Dưới đây là một số điểm của thông tin mà bạn có thể chia sẻ và giải thích cho khách hàng của bạn. Trước tiên, sự hiểu biết rằng phương pháp thông thường sử dụng các tiện ích để cung cấp điện được tập trung vào việc sử dụng các nguồn không thể tái sử dụng năng lượng để sản xuất điện. Không cần phải nói, điều này thực tế góp phần đáng kể ô nhiễm và chê bai người nào các lớp ozone và môi trường.

Các chính sách được gọi là tái tạo hàng tiêu chuẩn (RPS) được thiết kế để cung cấp cho các tiểu bang với một cơ chế để tăng thế hệ năng lượng tái tạo bằng cách sử dụng một cách tiếp cận, hiệu quả dựa vào thị trường đó là hành chính hiệu quả. Người tiêu dùng cần biết rằng RPS lợi cho họ bằng cách yêu cầu các nhà cung cấp các tiện ích điện và bán lẻ điện khác để cung cấp một số lượng quy định tối thiểu tải trọng khách hàng (năng lượng) với điện từ nguồn năng lượng đủ điều kiện tái tạo. Mục đích là để kích thích thị trường và công nghệ phát triển như vậy mà cuối cùng, năng lượng tái tạo sẽ được về kinh tế cạnh tranh với các hình thức thông thường của năng lượng điện. Hoa tạo RPS chương trình vì những năng lượng, môi trường, và lợi ích kinh tế của năng lượng tái tạo và phương pháp tiếp cận năng lượng sạch đôi khi khác như hiệu quả năng lượng và nhiệt điện kết hợp tác.

Thứ hai, bạn sẽ muốn khách hàng của bạn để biết cách tái tạo hàng tiêu chuẩn khuyến khích năng lượng sạch. RPS An đặt một nhu cầu trên thị trường để cung cấp năng lượng tái tạo và sạch sẽ. Hiện nay các quốc gia với nhiệm vụ yêu cầu RPS là 4% đến 30% lượng điện được tạo ra từ các nguồn tái tạo của một ngày cụ thể. Bạn cũng có thể cải thiện cơ sở kiến thức của bạn bằng cách tìm ra những gì của tiểu bang yêu cầu được.

Cuối cùng, bạn sẽ muốn thông báo cho khách hàng những lợi ích của một danh mục đầu tư tái tạo chuẩn. Những lợi ích này bao gồm:

1. Cải thiện môi trường (ví dụ, tránh ô nhiễm không khí, thay đổi khí hậu toàn cầu giảm nhẹ, giảm chất thải, môi trường sống, bảo quản, bảo tồn các nguồn tài nguyên có giá trị tự nhiên).

2. Tăng tính đa dạng, an ninh cung cấp năng lượng.

3. Khí thiên nhiên thấp hơn giá do chuyển của một số thế hệ khí đốt, hoặc sử dụng hiệu quả hơn khí tự nhiên bởi hiệu suất chuyển đổi nhiên liệu tăng lên đáng kể.

4. Giảm biến động của giá điện, cho chi phí nhiên liệu ổn định hoặc không tồn tại để tái tạo.

5. Phát triển kinh tế địa phương thu được từ việc làm mới, thuế, và thu được kết hợp với khả năng tái tạo mới.

Như bạn thấy, kiến thức cơ bản này sẽ đặt bạn ngoài nhất, nếu không phải tất cả của cuộc thi. Điều này sẽ giúp bạn xây dựng một doanh nghiệp năng suất cao.

Việc bãi bỏ quy định của các công ty tiện ích truyền thống cung cấp một cơ hội to lớn cho người dân ở tất cả các tầng lớp xã hội để thực hiện mục tiêu tài chính của họ. Bạn có thể kiếm tiền như là một liên kết độc lập bằng nhiều cách. Quan trọng hơn, mặc dù có một cơ hội lớn hơn ở đây để làm một số tốt thực sự cho hệ thống sinh thái của chúng tôi. Giáo dục chính mình để bạn có thể giáo dục khách hàng về tầm quan trọng của màu xanh lá cây đi. Khách hàng của bạn sẽ có nhiều khả năng để làm kinh doanh với bạn bởi vì bạn đang hiển thị cũng quan tâm thật sự cho họ được.

Make Money Online With an Understanding of How Renewable Portfolio Standards Supports Clean Energy

2010-10-31T08:48:00.000+00:00

If you are a proponent of the green movement and have, or are considering entering the movement by way of a home based business, you are encouraged to continuously increase your knowledge base. your customers need to see you as somewhat of an expert about clean energy and the green movement. The two go hand-in-hand. I have found that telling people about Renewable Portfolio Standards, or RPS, generate much interest and fosters understanding about how the policy is designed to improve the quality of life. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a Renewable Portfolio Standard is a policy that is designed to provide states with a mechanism to increase renewable energy generation using a cost-effective, market-based approach that is administratively efficient. It is important to note here that the production of renewable energy costs are higher than that of conventional energy.

Here are some points of information that you might share and explain to your customers. First, understanding that conventional methods utilities use to provide electricity are centered on the use of non-reusable sources of energy to produce electricity. Needless to say, this practice contributed significantly to pollution and the denigration the ozone layer and the environment.

The policy known as Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) is designed to provide states with a mechanism to increase renewable energy generation using a cost-effective, market-based approach that is administratively efficient. Consumers need to know that RPS benefits them by requiring electric utilities and other retail electric providers to supply a specified minimum amount of customer load (energy) with electricity from eligible renewable energy sources. The goal is to stimulate market and technology development so that ultimately, renewable energy will be economically competitive with conventional forms of electric power. States create RPS programs because of the energy, environmental, and economic benefits of renewable energy and sometimes other clean energy approaches such as energy efficiency and Combined Heat and Power Partnerships.

Secondly, you will want your customers to know how a Renewable Portfolio Standard encourages clean energy. An RPS puts a demand on the market for renewable and clean energy supplies. Currently states with RPS requirements mandate that 4% to 30% of electricity be generated from renewable sources by a specified date. You can further improve your knowledge base by finding out what your state's requirements are.

Finally, you will want to inform your customers of the benefits of a Renewable Portfolio Standard. These benefits include:

1. Environmental improvement (e.g., avoided air pollution, global climate change mitigation, waste reduction, habitat preservation, conservation of valuable natural resources).

2. Increased diversity and security of energy supply.

3. Lower natural gas prices due to displacement of some gas-fired generation, or a more efficient use of natural gas due to significantly increased fuel conversion efficiencies.

4. Reduced volatility of power prices, given stable or non-existent fuel costs for renewable.

5. Local economic development resulting from new jobs, taxes, and revenue associated with new renewable capacity.

As you can see, this knowledge base will set you apart from most, if not all of the competition. This will enable you to build a highly productive business.

The deregulation of traditional utility companies offers a tremendous opportunity for people in all walks of life to realize their financial goals. You can make money as an Independent Associate in so many ways. More importantly though, there is a greater opportunity here to do some real good for our eco-system. Educate yourself so that you can educate customers on the importance of going green. Your customers will be more likely to do business with you because you are showing genuine concern for their well being.

How to Make Your Own Clean Energy

2010-10-31T08:46:00.002+00:00

Clean energy is not only helpful for the environment but it can also bring you tremendous benefits. How exactly can it benefit you? By creating your own clean energy you will be able to save hundreds of dollars every month. Why? Because you will eliminate the need to pay your utility company for energy. Let's take a look how you can make you own green energy.

Make A Clean Plan

There are many different questions that you should ask yourself during the planning stage. What type of green energy source would you like to build? Where would you like to put your renewable energy source? How much money are you willing to spend? But before you can answer these questions you need to be familiar with your options.

The two most popular and most effective forms of renewable energy are wind turbines and solar panels. Now, obviously you won't be building energy systems of huge proportions. Instead you will be building a scaled down homemade version of either of these natural energy sources.

After you have chosen which type of natural power you would like to utilize you must pick an area around your home that will offer the most potential for your new energy source. This is very important because if you do not do it correctly you really won't see much of any results from your clean energy source.

The final question that you need to ask yourself is how much money you are willing so spend. It is very realistic to spend thousands of dollars on a natural energy source, but if you know what you are doing you can do it for less than it costs to power your home one month.

Take Action!

Now that you are done planning you can start building you new energy source. The only other thing that you need to worry about is what you will be referring to while building your renewable energy source. Either do the research or get a DIY natural power guide. Good luck and remember, keep it clean!

I forgot to ask. Would you rather spend hundreds of hours on researching your new clean energy source or keep things simple? Research may be your thing but if not I've found a pretty cool guide that I think you will really like. It saved me a lot of time and a ton of money! Anyway just click the link below if your interested!

http://makenatural-power.info/

Clean Energy

2010-10-31T08:45:00.002+00:00

Clean energy may also be called green energy or renewable energy, is a term used to describe energy that is derived from resources, like the sun and the wind -- resources that are continually available to some degree or other all over the world.

The use of natural energy sources to provide heating and electricity is rapidly increasing in popularity among homeowners. Wind power is growing at the rate of 30% annually, with a worldwide installed capacity of 158 gigawatts (GW) in 2009, and is widely used in Europe, Asia, and the United States. Sunlight is the source of most renewable energy power, either directly or indirectly. The sun can be harnessed to produce solar energy -- electricity for heating, cooling, and lighting homes, offices, entertainment complexes, airports, and a variety of other industrial structures. Hydroelectric power is produced from streams, rivers, and waterfalls that flow downhill, their tremendous power turning large turbines that convert the flow to electricity. Geothermal energy taps the Earth's internal heat in the form of steam for a variety of uses, including electric power production, and the heating and cooling of buildings. Some new systems are in development for harvesting even more power by injecting water back into underground heat sources to produce more steam. Organic plant matter, known as biomass, can be burned, gasified, fermented, or otherwise processed to produce electricity, heat and biofuels for transportation.

Advantages of Clean Energy

Clean Energy can be considered only energy that doesn't pollute at all and doesn't use resources that can't be easily renewed. It comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat. An additional reason why clean energy can be so desirable is because it tends to come from sources that are free. While harnessing this energy costs money, wind and sun aren't owned by anybody in particular. After the initial cost of; solar panels, wind turbines, and geothermal energy systems, the only cost to the consumer relates to any required maintenance. You could even sell excess electricity back to your national grid.

Some limitations of Clean Energy

Renewable resources are often located in remote areas, and it is expensive to build power lines to the cities where the electricity they produce is needed. The use of renewable sources is also limited by the fact that they are not always available - cloudy days reduce solar power; calm days reduce wind power; and droughts reduce the water available for hydropower.

Despite some negative consequences to the environment from things like wind farms or use of hydroelectric power, these tend to be minimal in comparison to the use of petroleum or non-clean coal. By making the switch to natural and renewable energy sources, you will be doing your part in helping to improve the quality of the environment and the air we breathe.

Hydrogen Transmission Network - Clean Energy and Clean Water at Once

2010-10-31T08:42:00.000+00:00

While much has been written and studied about such energy solutions as solar energy, wind energy and biofuels, there has not been enough written about a clean energy solution that, besides solving global warming, also stands to solve freshwater depletion, deliver convenient round-the-clock water and energy, and replace two infrastructures with one integrated system of pipes.

The solution is Hydrogen Transmission Network (HTN). The Hydrogen Transmission Network will use solar energy to perform electrolysis of ocean water and send the resulting hydrogen through pipes to all places of energy and water consumption, there to react with oxygen in the air to create clean energy and clean water at once. The hydrogen will be plentiful and available around the clock, delivering convenience to the user. No carbon will be involved in the process at any stage.

HTN will replace two expensive and inefficient systems - electricity grid and water system - with a single elegant network whose energy efficiency will be greater than that of the current electric grid. It will end the burden on the freshwater resources, that are running out in much of the world. As an added benefit, it will make it possible to fuel a fleet of hydrogen-powered vehicles.

HTN has been reviewed and found to be technically and economically feasible. It stands to be a full solution. Environmentally, it stands to resolve both the global warming crisis and the water crisis that is taking place in much of the world. Economically, it stands to create vast numbers of jobs to lift the economy and realize vast economic benefit in the long term by replacing two systems - electric grid and water system - with one integrated network of hydrogen pipes. And technologically, it stands to replace a large array of power plants and expensive, wasteful electric transmission lines with much cheaper and more efficient hydrogen pipes connected to one or several ocean-side electrolysis plants.

Oil Character and Clean Energy Character

2010-10-31T08:37:00.000+00:00

The basis of the economy percolates through all levels of human activity to become the basis of the character of the people in the economy, which then becomes the character of the societies and policies that the people create. In the same way as the Roman Empire built itself on slave labor - and made the basis of Roman character cruelty, brutality, conquest, predation, short-sightedness, laziness and oppression - so the oil economy fosters in people a character that mimics in its mentality the character of oil industry itself. This character is toxic, extractive, destructive, short-sighted, polluting, and ensnaring. And its poisonous influence can only be significantly reduced through a greater use of clean energy - and greater influence for life-affirming, intelligent, provident, and socially and environmentally responsible character that its development and widespread use stand to foster in humankind.

The oil character is the character of extraction and exploitation, but that's not remotely the end of it. From combustion of oil, are encouraged worldviews that see the world as being given, and of man as only there to burn it without consideration for the rest of the world or for its future. The planet is seen as there for people to burn; the people are seen as there only to burn it for present consumption. Which means that anything that cares for the given world that man has not created, like anything that cares for the future of the civilization that man creates, is a competing interest that must be wiped out by any possible means.

Since the oil resources are finite, the oil character does not see nor plan for life beyond the time that oil runs out. Any mentality that sees this, looks for alternatives, or stands to create alternatives, is mortal enemy to the oil industry. Not only therefore is the oil character is short-sighted to the point of being apocalyptic and as such foresees - and effectively works to bring about in its spirituality, politics and economics - an artificial end of the world; but far more significantly it is aggressively, imposingly and overbearingly so, and seeks to stamp out by all measures all that is not itself.

As people are made dependent on oil industry for their lives and their livelihood, the economic foundations of life and liberty are likewise destroyed. All thought systems, spiritualities, psychologies, are manipulated by this interest toward forcing assimilation into the oil-industry way of living, but more profoundly into the oil character. These then are directed directly toward destruction of qualities that might influence people to not quite like this state of affairs or be motivated to look for or seek to create better alternatives: qualities such as knowledge and respect for the planet and nature in all its complexity and diversity; caring for humanity and its future; ability to create innovative solutions; and all in the human being - intellect, curiosity, natural wisdom, compassion, love of life, humanitarian orientation, and capacity for creative and innovative thinking - that might make these possible. Which means that destroyed is not only life and liberty, but also all in people that seeks and makes possible the above. First the order destroys life and liberty at economic level; then at spiritual, intellectual, and psychological levels; then finally at the political level. And then the oil order sets humanity careening toward planetary destruction while in the process destroying everything that is of life and liberty in its own ranks.

The extractive oil character is one of destruction of nature with no sight for the future and no creative role for man. It pits the interests of the industry against both what man has not created and everything that man has created and that he stands to create. Which means that both nature and mankind become enemies of the industry; and that creates the most destructive of all conceivable orientations. At social level, we speak of oil-based mentalities and their orders subduing, exploiting and driving into extinction all that is life-affirming at both natural and human level - controlling, expropriating and deceiving what can be controlled, deceived and expropriated; demonizing, abusing and destroying what cannot. At the political level, we speak of oil-funded Texas Fundamentalists claiming ridiculously to speak for America and then seeking to destroy, screw and enslave everybody who are not oil-funded Texas-Oklahoma Fundamentalists, both outside of America and within.

All that is life in nature, and all that is life in man, are targeted for contamination, discrediting and destruction with eye toward eternal damnation. This is true for all that is physical and emotional; it is also true for all that is of the mind. Science, business, politics, art, relationships, are there to be conquered, subdued, eviscerated, and made through force and deception to serve the agenda of artificial Armageddon. Anything that is life-affirming, is sabotaged, corrupted, contaminated, slandered, defunded, discredited, undermined, in order that people can be led to believe the explanations that want to portray life as sin and all its manifestations as evil. Which people then want to bring about an end to life as such.

To that end no lie, no cruelty, no violation, no atrocity, is unacceptable. This is the case among oil-funded states claiming to profess both Christianity and Islam. The puppet of oil-funded Texas Fundamentalist acquiring Republican nomination by spreading false rumors about his opponent, getting in office through corrupt dealings, putting the government trillions dollars in debt amid collapsing family incomes, silencing truth about global warming, deceiving America into a war, and doing what he can to destroy the true greatness of America - its constitutional democracy, its ingenuity, its scientific knowledge, its affirmation and preservation of rights and liberties, its foresight, its humanitarian orientation, its willingness to lead through true diplomacy rather than barbarism, and the freedom of speech, thought, and way of life, that has made possible its accomplishments - while claiming ridiculously to be making America stronger and greater - this, is only the political manifestation of the oil character. Its effect on the people within and on the world without, are even worse.

The oil character does not see man as a creator but only as a destroyer; thus it destroys man's capacity to create. Its hatred of nanotechnology, biotech, stem-cell research, genetics, is of the same mindset as its hatred of innovation, of ingenuity, of individuality and of art. By sabotaging and eviscerating man's capacity to create, is destroyed man's capacity to create a long-term and livable future. It is as such the worst possible way to relate both man and nature, destroying nature while also destroying man. And from this mentality, outgrows a toxic, necrophilic, destructive, totalitarian and apocalyptic character - which then becomes the character of the oil arrangement, and shapes their economics, their politics, their spiritual life, and their inter-relations. A character that feeds on life, poisons life, inhibits life, and seeks to make life uninhabitable - and uses man's intellect, emotion, physicality, spirit, everything, toward not merely abusive and totalitarian but in fact apocalyptic ends.

Driven by oil mentality man destroys nature; then he destroys the foundations of his own existence. And in the process man's mindset as well as man's activities mimic the worst practices of the oil industry - short-sightedness, expropriation, aggressive ignorance, violence against life at all levels, criminalization and demonization of all thoughts and characters that may see to the contrary, destruction of liberty, and apocalyptic totalitarianism. The past life that is fossil fuel is burned; so through poisoning and global warming is life present as well as life future. The inheritance of the past is squandered, the present is poisoned, and the world is set to slide toward an artificial end. The character that burns dead dinosaurs, also makes dinosaurs of the living while destroying anything that is not a dinosaur and anything in people that may lead to clarity as to the character of the dinosaur ways. And just as dinosaurs died out in a mass extinction, so has the order based on the burning of the dead dinosaurs created the fastest extinction in the history of the planet - the order that now threatens the existence also of humanity itself.

Clean energy, on the other hand, is not based on extraction or on combustion, nor does it work toward a planet-wide poisoning. Clean energy is based on transmutation, by high technology, of abundant energy into usable energy, while generating in the process no poisons or waste. This process fulfils the energy needs of the civilization, while being itself non-obtrusive to the planet and its inhabitants. The achievements, knowledge, prosperity, of civilization, are made possible through tapping into abundant energy of such sources as the sun and the oceans, without producing any toxic byproducts and without poisoning life present or sabotaging yet-to-come. The creative, constructive uses of human intelligence make it possible for both nature and civilization to exist - for nature to be accepted and left as nature, and for man to make the best of man and his world.

This makes the best of the given and the created. The world given that is nature is known, respected, and left as much alone as possible; the world created that is the civilization exists in all of what it capable and reaches, through maximization of intelligent creation and minimization of waste and destruction, to greater heights with no end in sight. The mind is not used to blindly destroy, but to intelligently build on the givens, to provide sustainable long-term existence for the civilization that man has created, while treading lightly upon the nature that man has not.

The sun and the ocean water are not at risk of running out for thousands of years; which means that, with clean energy, the world can be counted upon to be there for a long time. This allows the people to conceive and work toward a future that is indefinite rather than one that will end when the predatory oil-funded dinosaurs extinguish the life on the planet while telling people that it is punishment from God and using that to suffocate them still more. Life can go on, in both natural and human aspects, and people can plan and work towards a viable long-term future for themselves and for humanity. This builds in people the habits that are prudent, responsible, viable and conducive to life.

Clean energy recognizes, validates, and respects both nature and man, and makes most and not the least of life in both aspects. Nature is not just resources to be burned for consumption without regard for the future; it is something that is respected for its variety and richness and life-generative capacity - while man, rather than being merely a short-sighted destroyer, becomes an intelligent creator who builds on the knowledge of science and technology to create a livable future and livable world. Prosperity is not sacrificed; it is enhanced and extended. And so is livability of the planet, as well as of civilization itself.

The high levels of technology needed to put in place solar beams and similar devices encourage and validate the view of humanity as intelligent beings responsible for the destiny of both humanity and the planet, while also drawing on - making constructive use of - and fostering - in people inventive intelligence, long-term perspective, generative capacity, responsibility for the future, eye toward maximal benefit and minimal destruction, and greater understanding of, respect for, and caring for, the world - both in the given, natural aspect, and in the human, man-created, form. The mentality and character that is encouraged, both in people and in their social and economic and political activities, is therefore one that makes most of these virtues. It is the character that not only makes possible to indefinitely power the civilization while being minimally obtrusive to nature, but also fosters a nobler, more prudent, more responsible, more creative, more non-obtrusive, and more life-affirming and life-extending character in the people who would inhabit such a civilization - and, pursuant this, in the character of the orders that they stand to create.

Not only does clean energy therefore lead to a viable future, but it also fosters a more viable character in the people and consequently in the economic, political, and social orders that they create. From predatory destroyers eating alive the world and engorging themselves in the process, people become intelligent human beings who work toward a sustainable future in which the natural world can keep living, as civilization remains existing and achieves ever greater heights. The qualities of clean energy economy - responsibility toward the future, high levels knowledge, inventiveness and intelligence, use of mind to create, sustaining and growing the civilization while taking care to tread lightly upon the planet, life-affirming character that uses mind for constructive solutions that maximize creation and minimizes destruction, and respect found by intelligence for what man has not created as well as respect earned by intelligence for opting for and implementing this arrangement - will become more and more the substance of people's characters and percolate more and more to their social and political interactions to impart to them greater levels of these virtues. And that is a positive influence not only for the chance of the world to have a viable future, but also for the character of the people who stand to inherit the world.

Biomass

2010-09-29T19:50:00.004+01:00

Biomass Energy or Biopower
Biomass electrical generation or biopower is second only to hydropower as a renewable energy source.
Most electricity generated using biomass today is by direct combustion using conventional boilers. These boilers burn primarily waste wood products generated by the agriculture and wood-processing industries. When burned, the wood waste produces steam, which is used to spin a turbine. The spinning turbine activates a generator that produces electricity. Many coal-fired power plants also add biomass to their coal-burning process (i.e., co-firing) to reduce the emissions produced by burning the coal.

Advanced Pyrolytic System, waste to energy plant

A more viable and environmentally-friendly alternative to a covenantal biomass plant is a “waste-to-energy” system known as the Advanced Pyrolytic System (APS). Pyrolysis is a process that chemically decomposes organic materials by heat in the absence of oxygen and typically occurs under pressure and at operating temperatures above 430 degrees Celsius.

Instead of land filling or incinerating municipal solid waste (MSW) and other industrial waste streams, the Advanced Pyrolitic System utilizes household garbage, glass, yard waste, oil waste, sludge/bio-solids, plastics, paints, medical waste, contaminated, soils, and tires to produce clean, renewable energy.
Unlike incineration, which produces fly ash, the Advanced Pyrolitic System has very low emissions with no harmful substances remaining, either in the atmosphere or as a residue. Over 99% of the waste processed is converted to energy and other saleable by-products.
We offer these plants in two sizes, one that processes 125 TPD of MSW, producing 3 MW of electricity a larger 250 TPD plant the produces approximately 6 – 7 MW.

Hydro Electric

2010-09-29T19:50:00.000+01:00

How Hydropower Works

Hydropower is using water to power machinery or make electricity. Water constantly moves through a vast global cycle, evaporating from lakes and oceans, forming clouds, precipitating as rain or snow, then flowing back down to the ocean. The energy of this water cycle, which is driven by the sun, can be tapped to produce electricity or for mechanical tasks like grinding grain. Hydropower uses a fuel—water—that is not reduced or used up in the process. Because the water cycle is an endless, constantly recharging system, hydropower is considered a renewable energy.

The Water (Hydrologic) Cycle

When flowing water is captured and turned into electricity, it is called hydroelectric power or hydropower. There are several types of hydroelectric facilities; they are all powered by the kinetic energy of flowing water as it moves downstream. Turbines and generators convert the energy into electricity, which is then fed into the electrical grid to be used in homes, businesses, and by industry.

Types of Hydropower Plants

There are three types of hydropower facilities: impoundment, diversion, and pumped storage. Some hydropower plants use dams and some do not. The images below show both types of hydropower plants.

Many dams were built for other purposes and hydropower was added later. In the United States, there are about 80,000 dams of which only 2,400 produce power. The other dams are for recreation, stock/farm ponds, flood control, water supply, and irrigation.

Impoundment

The most common type of hydroelectric power plant is an impoundment facility. An impoundment facility, typically a large hydropower system, uses a dam to store river water in a reservoir. Water released from the reservoir flows through a turbine, spinning it, which in turn activates a generator to produce electricity. The water may be released either to meet changing electricity needs or to maintain a constant reservoir level.

An impoundment hydropower plant dams water in a reservoir.

Diversion

A diversion, sometimes called run-of-river, facility channels a portion of a river through a canal or penstock. It may not require the use of a dam.

The Tazimina project in Alaska is an example of a diversion hydropower plant. No dam was required.

Pumped Storage

When the demand for electricity is low, a pumped storage facility stores energy by pumping water from a lower reservoir to an upper reservoir. During periods of high electrical demand, the water is released back to the lower reservoir to generate electricity.(Source: U.S. Department of Energy)

Wind

2010-09-29T19:49:00.016+01:00

How Wind Turbines Work

Wind is a form of solar energy. Winds are caused by the uneven heating of the atmosphere by the sun, the irregularities of the earth's surface, and rotation of the earth. Wind flow patterns are modified by the earth's terrain, bodies of water, and vegetation. Humans use this wind flow, or motion energy, for many purposes: sailing, flying a kite, and even generating electricity.

The terms wind energy or wind power describes the process by which the wind is used to generate mechanical power or electricity. Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in the wind into mechanical power. This mechanical power can be used for specific tasks (such as grinding grain or pumping water) or a generator can convert this mechanical power into electricity.
GE Wind Energy's 3.6 megawatt wind turbine is one of the largest prototypes ever erected. Larger wind turbines are more efficient and cost effective.

Sizes of Wind Turbines
Utility-scale turbines range in size from 100 kilowatts to as large as several megawatts. Larger turbines are grouped together into wind farms, which provide bulk power to the electrical grid.Single small turbines, below 100 kilowatts, are used for homes, telecommunications dishes, or water pumping. Small turbines are sometimes used in connection with diesel generators, batteries, and photovoltaic systems. These systems are called hybrid wind systems and are typically used in remote, off-grid locations, where a connection to the utility grid is not available.

Types of Wind Turbines
Modern wind turbines fall into two basic groups: the horizontal-axis variety, as shown in the photo, and the vertical-axis design, like the eggbeater-style Darrieus model, named after its French inventor.
Horizontal-axis wind turbines typically either have two or three blades. These three-bladed wind turbines are operated "upwind," with the blades facing into the wind.

Geothermal

2010-09-29T19:49:00.005+01:00

Geothermal Power
In the United States, geothermal energy has been used to generate electricity on a large-scale since 1960. Through research and development, geothermal power is becoming more cost effective and competitive with fossil fuels.
Heat from the Earth—geothermal energy—heats water that has seeped into underground reservoirs. These reservoirs can be tapped for a variety of uses, depending on the temperature of the water. The energy from high temperature reservoirs (225º–600ºF) can be used to produce electricity. There are currently three types of geothermal power plants:
    Dry SteamDry steam plants use steam from underground wells to rotate a turbine, which activates a generator to produce electricity. There are only two known underground resources of steam in the United States: The Geysers in northern California and Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park. Since Yellowstone is protected from development, the power plants at The Geysers are the only dry steam plants in the country.

    Flash StreamThe most common type of geothermal power plant, flash steam plants use waters at temperatures greater than 360ºF. As this hot water flows up through wells in the ground, the decrease in pressure causes some of the water to boil into steam. The steam is then used to power a generator and any leftover water and condensed steam is returned to the reservoir.
    Binary CycleBinary cycle plants use the heat from lower-temperature reservoirs (225º–360ºF) to boil a working fluid, which is then vaporized in a heat exchanger and used to power a generator. The water, which never comes into direct contact with the working fluid, is then injected back into the ground to be reheated.

Geothermal energy originates from deep within the Earth and produces minimal emissions.
Photo credit: Pacific Gas & Electric(Source: U.S. Department of Energy)

Solar

2010-09-29T19:48:00.002+01:00

Solar Radiation Basics

Solar radiation is a general term for the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun. We can capture and convert solar radiation into useful forms of energy, such as heat and electricity, using a variety of technologies. The technical feasibility and economical operation of these technologies at a specific location depends on the available solar radiation or solar resource.

This solar thermal power plant located in the Mojave Desert in Kramer Junction, California, is one of nine such plants built in the 1980s. During operation, oil in the receiver tubes collects the concentrated solar energy as heat and is pumped to a power block (in background) for generating electricity.

Basic Principles

Every location on Earth receives sunlight at least part of the year. The amount of solar radiation that reaches any one "spot" on the Earth's surface varies according to these factors:

Geographic location
Time of day
Season
Local landscape
Local weather.

Because the Earth is round, the sun strikes the surface at different angles ranging from 0º (just above the horizon) to 90º (directly overhead). When the sun's rays are vertical, the Earth's surface gets all the energy possible. The more slanted the sun's rays are, the longer they travel through the atmosphere, becoming more scattered and diffuse. Because the Earth is round, the frigid polar regions never get a high sun, and because of the tilted axis of rotation, these areas receive no sun at all during part of the year.

The Earth revolves around the sun in an elliptical orbit and is closer to the sun during part of the year. When the sun is nearer the Earth, the Earth's surface receives a little more solar energy. The Earth is nearer the sun when it's summer in the southern hemisphere and winter in the northern hemisphere. However the presence of vast oceans moderates the hotter summers and colder winters one would expect to see in the southern hemisphere as a result of this difference.

The 23.5º tilt in the Earth's axis of rotation is a more significant factor in determining the amount of sunlight striking the Earth at a particular location. Tilting results in longer days in the northern hemisphere from the spring (vernal) equinox to the fall (autumnal) equinox and longer days in the southern hemisphere during the other six months. Days and nights are both exactly 12 hours long on the equinoxes, which occur each year on or around March 23 and September 22.

Countries like the United States, which lie in the middle latitudes, receive more solar energy in the summer not only because days are longer, but also because the sun is nearly overhead. The sun's rays are far more slanted during the shorter days of the winter months. Cities like Denver, Colorado, (near 40º latitude) receive nearly three times more solar energy in June than they do in December.

The rotation of the Earth is responsible for hourly variations in sunlight. In the early morning and late afternoon, the sun is low in the sky. Its rays travel further through the atmosphere than at noon when the sun is at its highest point. On a clear day, the greatest amount of solar energy reaches a solar collector around solar noon.

This solar dish-engine system is an electric generator that "burns" sunlight instead of gas or coal to produce electricity. The dish, a concentrator, is the primary solar component of the system, collecting the energy coming directly from the sun and concentrating it on a small area. A thermal receiver absorbs the concentrated beam of solar energy, converts it to heat, and transfers the heat to the engine/generator. (Credit: Sandia National Laboratories)

Diffuse and Direct Solar Radiation

As sunlight passes through the atmosphere, some of it is absorbed, scattered, and reflected by the following:

Air molecules
Water vapor
Clouds
Dust
Pollutants
Forest fires
Volcanoes.

This is called diffuse solar radiation. The solar radiation that reaches the Earth's surface without being diffused is called direct beam solar radiation. The sum of the diffuse and direct solar radiation is called global solar radiation. Atmospheric conditions can reduce direct beam radiation by 10% on clear, dry days and by 100% during thick, cloudy days.

Mariner 5 is shown in flight. Photovoltaic systems were an important power source for that mission. Solar cells have not only enabled America to explore space, the solar system, and the Earth in great detail, they also have enabled the emergence of the telecommunications industry. (Credit: NASA and NSSDC Photo Gallery)

Measurement

Scientists measure the amount of sunlight falling on specific locations at different times of the year. They then estimate the amount of sunlight falling on regions at the same latitude with similar climates. Measurements of solar energy are typically expressed as total radiation on a horizontal surface or as total radiation on a surface tracking the sun.

Radiation data for solar electric (photovoltaic) systems are often represented as kilowatt-hours per square meter (kWh/m²). Direct estimates of solar energy may also be expressed as watts per square meter (W/m²).

Radiation data for solar water heating and space heating systems are usually represented in British thermal units per square foot (Btu/ft²).
(Source: U.S. Department of Energy)

The burning question of renewable energy

2010-09-29T19:03:00.005+01:00

Labels: Biomass, Coal, Gas, Government, Grid, Opinion, RECs, Subsidies

Age
Saturday 19/6/2010 Page: 2

DESPERATE battle is being fought on the sidelines of the government debate about the new renewable energy target (RET) legislation and it is set to resume this week. The fight is about burning native forest timber and calling it renewable energy. The dollar figures involved megawatts of power generated - are small, but the environmental ramifications are huge, and emotions are running high. The federal government, urged on by the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, continues perversely to support logging our remaining native forests even though a sagging woodchip market puts no value on the resource.

At the moment, under renewable target rules introduced in 2001, wood waste from native forest can only be burnt for renewable electricity if the trees were logged for a higher-value purpose such as sawmilling. But there are negative public perceptions associated with the use of wood waste from forestry, "considered environmentally destructive," according to a biomass resource appraisal for the Clean Energy Council. 'A common misconception is that bioenergy production will become a lucrative primary end use for wood and trigger a land-clearing bonanza.

Unfortunately, the fact that all timber production in Australia is governed by a strict and comprehensive regulatory framework to ensure environmental sustainability is often overlooked. This framework ensures that forest resources cannot be exploited for any form of wood production and wood waste bioenergy targets could be achieved without harvesting a single extra tree from 'business as usual' production." It is true that, up to now, not many renewable energy certificates (REC) have been generated from wood waste. According to the official register, just 1.2 million RECs over the past decade, or 5% of a total 24 million. But with theRET target rising from 2% by 2010, to 20% by 2020, the market opportunity will be significantly bigger.

The Clean Energy Council expects 7% of the RET, or 3000GW hours of renewable electricity, could be generated from wood waste by 2020, of which 40MWs of electricity generation capacity could be fired by native forest resource. It estimates 2.2 million tonnes of native forest wood waste - roughly a quarter of the total native forest logged annually - could be used. On theABC's 7.30 Report on Thursday, Greens senator Christine Milne warned of this "massive loophole." Next week she will again move an amendment to remove native forest "furnaces" from the definition of renewable energy.

Depending what happens with the legislation, and if Milne's amendment fails, as expected, the final say may well lie with electricity retailers and other wholesale energy buyers (liable to buy a proportion of the power they use - rising to 20% by 2020 - from renewable sources). As of Thursday, conservation groups had written commitments from 11 electricity retailers, confirming they would not buy renewable energy certificates generated from burning native forest wood waste. They were: AGL Energy, Country Energy, EnergyAustralia, Origin Energy, TRUEnergy,Australian Power and Gas, Click Energy, Actew AGL Energy, Red Energy, Simply Energy andVictoria Electricity. That's a good chunk of the market.

Some have left themselves a little wiggle room: TRUEnergy states blankly that it will only use "commercially viable, environmentally responsible energy generation assets." And there are omissions: neither Integral Energy nor Tasmania's Aurora Energy have given commitments. TheEnergy Retailers Association of Australia is going to try to come up with an industry-wide policy. The fear is that, under present international carbon accounting rules, which allow Australia to ignore greenhouse gas emissions from forestry, generators burning heavily subsidised native timber generally supplied by state forestry agencies at a loss to the taxpayer-will sell power falsely designated as "carbon neutral" and "renewable," undercutting genuinely clean energy rivals. And they will get an extra subsidy to boot, in the form of a steady stream of RECs.

In Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales, proposals are being developed to tap in to this new income stream, which could transform the market for woodchips. The industry test case i s a proposal by South East Fibre Exports to build a 5.5MW biomass-fired power station at the huge woodchip mill at Eden in NSW. The plant would consume 57,700 tonnes of wood waste a year, drawn from its own forest operations and from nearby sawmills, to generate about 31GWhours of electricity, of which 9GW hours would power the mill and 22GW hours would be sold to the grid.

Majority owned by Japanese company Nippon Paper, SEFE hopes to spend $19 million on the power station, creating 30 jobs during construction and six permanently. SEFE chief executive Peter Mitchell says the proposal only stacks up because the mill has the waste at hand. "Even with the RECs, if you were to harvest waste in native forest for power generation, the returns aren't there."SEFE's proposal, currently with the NSW government, claims savings of 7508 tonnes of greenhouse gas a year under the current Kyoto Protocol carbon accounting rules, which do not count emissions from logging or burning the wood.

The Soutli-East Region Conservation Alliance submission counters that this claim is misleading and says wood-fired power is 6.4 times more greenhouse intensive than coal-fired power. It estimates that logging to supply the Eden mill is responsible for 18 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. The revenue from RECs could make a real difference to the viability of native forest logging operations. Australian National University economist Judith Ajani, author of The Forest Wars, says Australia has a historic opportunity to end native forest logging.

"We had the choice not to go into chip exporting in the 1960s... that's what's driven the forest conflict for four decades," she says. "We're now facing that same choice today, whether to facilitate native forest resources moving into the electricity and biomass feedstock markets, or not. "If they choose to stove into these new markets - they are big markets - then we are facing another lost opportunity to resolve Australia's forest conflict."

paddy.manning@fairfaxmedia.com.au