The Best Generator Finally Revealed Here

By James K Stewart

It’s commonplace in the energy efficiency markets to see a lot of hype about the great advantages of using wind and solar energy as alternative, free energy sources at home. This is with great justification as they are great providers of free, natural and clean energy.

However, a MagniWork magnetic electricity generator is rapidly emerging as one of the hottest new renewable home energy products available today and it’s easy to see why.

The sheer quality of these generators sets them apart from the rest and the thought processes which have gone into the development of them are shockingly simple, yet so unbelievably effective. The design has certainly been modified over the last few years since its beginning but what has emerged is a high quality magnetic electricity generator which is sheer mastery.

More and more people are now turning to this exceptional yet simple homemade DIY generator to power all or part of their home electricity as they are cheap, easy and great fun to build.

These generators will last a considerably long time and many thousands of people have taken the initiative to begin their magnetic energy project right from their own home or workshop. The single biggest issue is that it is highly unlikely that you will find these pre built. Second to this is that you will require the necessary parts and tools and of course, you will require a high quality guide to help you through your project.

MagniWork Magnetic Energy Generator really stands out and sets the standard for building a homemade electricity generator. The simplicity and general layout is second to none and regardless of DIY experience, anyone can easily and quickly build a generator for their home. The guide is designed to walk you through the entire build project from start to finish whilst avoiding annoyance and frustration along the way.

These generators are also very cheap to build and all of the materials and tools required can easily be picked up at your local hardware store.

A homemade DIY electrical energy generator truly is a masterful creation and the incredible surge in their popularity is not difficult to understand. If you would like to easily create your own free, clean and sustainable home electricity then you really should consider a MagniWork magnetic energy creator for your home.

Article Source: http://www.affsphere.com/Environment/Green-Lifestyles/Magniwork-Magnetic-Energy-Generator-The-Best-Generator-Finally-Revealed-Here-1.html

This post was originally published on Alternative Energy at Magniwork Magnetic Energy Generator.

We have all heard of the Green Energy Initiatives of our new President Obama. But did you also know it has sparked a gold rush of sorts? Grant money is available by the truckloads to inspire would be inventors and entrepreneurs to enter the green fuels industry. With all the focus on the next generation feedstock for fuel Algae is a front runner.

1. Algae Oil Prices are rising

The Algae race is on, DARPA has been doling out cash for algae oil and the price is on the rise. Exxon just invested 600 million dollars in their own algae project. Currently commercial production of algae oil is minimal at best, but the oil is still needed for further research purposes. So if you have it, you can sell it.

2. Algae Cake is Being Used for Bio-Ethanol

The Algae cake is now being looked at for own worth as it applies to bio-ethanol. The process of fermentation is used to produce this bio-ethanol. With the price of fuel on the rise again this process offers investors robust returns. Algae grow fast. Algae can be grown especially well in desert states and the fermentation process is already well documented in the beer industry.

3. Companies are Investing

Green companies that want to diversify their holdings and create solutions for the next generation of renewable transportation fuels are investing heavily. Countries from all over the world are calling our office to look for advice on the best photo-bioreactors to buy. Our best advice is to make one, start tinkering at home or at the shop and come up with a simple design which will please investors, grow algae and stand up to harsh weather conditions hot or cold. These are certainly great reasons to start making algae photobioreactors at home.

Soon this technology will be in high demand, especially designs that will be easy to implement, low cost, and offer decent return on investment. Algae Biofuel will play a very important part in meeting the worlds growing energy need, Algae has a place in not only our past, but in our future as well.

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Vic G. has been a long proponent of bio-fuels from algae and produces bio-fuel for his own vehicles. He is currently helping others discover algae based fuels as a solution to high fuel prices. He can be contacted at info@algae-book.com: http://algae-book.com/ This is a “Shareware” Article

This post was originally published on Alternative Energy at Best Reasons To Learn How Build Algae Photo-Bioreactors at Home?.

By Bruno Turtle

Diesel fuel is made from crude oil, a nonrenewable resource. Biodiesel fuels are characterized as substitutes for diesel, but not all biodiesel fuels are clean and renewable. Renewable biodiesel can be made relatively easily from used vegetable oil.

Other possible sources include locally grown cellulosic materials such as switchgrass, straw, hemp, and algae. The B number indicates how much biodiesel is in the mixture. For example, B2 is 2 percent biodiesel, 98 percent petroleum; B100 is 100 percent pure biodiesel with no petroleum. Diesel trucks, cars, and farm equipment can run entirely on vegetable oil properly filtered in small, makeshift settings without petroleum sources of energy. There is also the potential for heating buildings with biodiesel fuels.

The Politics of Ethanol

Ethanol is defined as an alcohol obtained from the fermentation of certain carbohydrates such as grains, molasses, starches, or sugars. American ethanol, whether it is made from corn or soy, depends on the continued use of petroleum and reportedly uses more petroleum than is saved by the end product itself. In addition, conventional corn and soy are likely to be genetically modified and dependent on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which are also petroleum products. The source of the energy that creates, refines, and distributes biodiesel fuels needs to also be clean and renewable.

In 2004, Congress passed the American Jobs Creation Act, which included a subsidy to oil companies and agribusinesses (such as Archer Daniels Midland and Cargill) of 51 cents per gallon of ethanol. In 2005, oil companies received direct deductions from their taxes-more than two billion dollars-to blend around four billion gallons of ethanol.

Clean and Renewable Options

There are claims that Brazil has achieved clean energy self-sufficiency with homegrown sugar cane biodiesel fuel. However, Ecologist and Geneticist Dr. David Suzuki is skeptical of those characterizations. He maintains that Brazil does use petroleum to produce its biodiesel, even though the petroleum may not be imported. He also cautions that Brazil might be destroying rain forests to plant more sugar cane. So sugar cane biodiesel does not currently appear to be clean and renewable.

A history of renewable energy in the United States includes windmills, widespread use of passive solar in Pasadena (California) at the turn of the twentieth century, development of the electric car around 1913, extensive and efficient electric train and streetcar systems throughout the country (which could have been modified to run on more renewable energy sources), and methane captured from septic systems to create electricity. Details of the dismantling of these technological innovations by competing corporate interests are disheartening.

Government Has a Role

Congress continues to ignore the savings from conservation while subsidizing nonrenewable and dirty energy sources, such as oil and coal. Coal often relies on mining processes that destroy ecosystems, and coal-powered plants emit toxins such as mercury. Supporters of nuclear energy characterize it as clean and defend huge government subsidies for nuclear plants. But opponents argue than any energy source that cannot be safely placed in someone’s backyard, such as nuclear waste, is unacceptable.

Although the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sponsor competitions and presentations that highlight renewable energy, green buildings, and sustainable communities, these innovations receive few direct incentives from the federal government.

Significant economic benefits from clean and renewable energy include lower energy bills in homes, schools, and businesses; white- and blue-collar jobs; reduced health care and environmental clean-up costs; and increased revenues to local and state governments from these additional jobs and savings.

Technological alternatives that merit government subsidies include clean mass transit systems, plug-in electric vehicles (parts of New York are using plug-in trash trucks), passive solar, photovoltaic cells, geothermal heating and cooling, small-scale windmills and solid waste management systems, green roofs, and food and biomass fuels locally raised on small ecological farms (such as organically grown sorghum and corn for human consumption where only the discarded stalks are used for biodiesel fuels).

The challenge is to educate the public about technologically and economically feasible choices. Only an honest debate that circumvents special interest politics will compel environmentally, scientifically, and economically sound political choices.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bruno_Turtle
 http://EzineArticles.com/?Alternative-Energy,-Biofuel-Issues&id=1088325

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This post was originally published on Alternative Energy at Alternative Energy, Biofuel Issues.

- by Bianca Lauren

We all know horses can emit power hence scientists coined the term “horse power”. Who would ever thought that your pet hamster can generate energy? That is what Zhong Li Wang and his team are making. They are manufacturing generators out of piezoelectric nanowires. The latest model in fact consists of zinc-oxide nanowires connected to one another and mounted on a flexible plastic surface. This nanogenerator aims to collect different kinds of biomechanical energy. They did an experiment by placing a small jacket on the hamster’s body. As the hamster runs in the treadmill and scratches itself, an energy produced and harvested by the generator.

At this point, the energy produced by hamster is to small (about a nanowatt) that’s why the power it emits can only be used by nanoscale devices. This little of power can do things like detect cancer proteins or pathogens. What’s in store for this technology is to this power source be used by large-scale electronic device.

Researchers preferably Wang’s group considering the idea to increase the power of this device by adding piezoelectric wires arranged in series. They also consider the theory of making an implantable nanogenerator in the future. This invention can help us generate more power in the future.

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Bianca Lauren writes more on inventions and innovations. She also writes with regards to patent laws and information on how to acquire one. This article “Hamster-Powered Generator? Why Not” along with other invention articles can be found at Invention Madness, her blog that tackles nothing about patent invention and innovation.

This post was originally published on Alternative Energy at Hamster-Powered Generator? Why Not.

Greener Dawn Research believes that the planet is at the verge of moving toward a more energy-efficient global economy with much lower levels of polluting emissions. The group recently released their report on algae-based biofuels.

The research looks at the opportunities and challenges that this emerging industry faces. It tackled whether or not algae-based biofuels could compete as substitutes for conventional fossil fuels. It profiled eight companies: Aurora, Algenol, Livefuels, PetroAlgae, Seambiotic, Sapphire, Solazyme and Solix.

The problem with crop-based biofuels is that a large area is required to grow the crops. This can use valuable farmland which could be utilized for food production. Algae are aquatic organisms that grow faster than most plants. And, best of all, they grow on unfertile land, thus potentially solving the food-versus-fuel debate.

Algaculture, or the farming of algae, would not affect the fresh water resources of a given locale. It can be produced by using wastewater, or sea water.

Algae could become a very valuable item in the future. At present, it costs more than most crops, yet it generates more energy per acre than other biofuel crops.

According to the research, algae biofuel would require a land area equal to the size of Wisconsin, in order to fully substitute petroleum. Compare this to the amount of land which would be needed to grow enough corn to supply ethanol-based fuels to replace petroleum. Based on the same research, this requires an entire third of the United States! And soy would require much bigger land area.

Another thing that makes algae the likely fuel substitute is that it consumes 2.2 times its weight in carbon dioxide. That makes it a feasible agent for reducing the quantity of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Algae can generate 15 to 300 times more oil per acre than the average crop, such as soybeans, rapeseed, jatropha, and palms. Algae also has a harvesting cycle of one to ten days. That means more harvests, in a very short time span.

The current administration has expressed that it is open to methods which can help solve the global climate change crisis, such as cap-and-trade, and carbon taxes. In December of 2009, a World Climate Summit will take place in Copenhagen. Various green industries are adamant that they are the best solution for the problem at hand. Algae-based biofuels might be a newcomer in the field, but it looks like they might prove to be one of the viable solutions.

This post was originally published on Alternative Energy at Greener Dawn Research Commences Algae Based Biofuel.

A study conducted at the Michigan Technological University claims that the seeds of a weed can be used to fuel airplanes in the future. Carmelina sativa is an oilseed crop that can be utilized to decrease the carbon emissions made by aircrafts, by as much as 84 percent.

What’s unique about carmelina is that it requires low amounts of fertilizers while giving a high amount of oil yield, and the availability of by-products such as biomass and meal. The study took into consideration the whole process, from planting of the carmelina up to the resulting emission from an airplane’s tailpipe.

Until today, I was not familiar with carmelina sativa, so I did some research. It turns out that it belongs to the mustard family. It is also known as “gold of pleasure,” and “false flax.” It is native to Europe, requires low maintenance, and can be grown in rotation with wheat. It also strengthens the soil in which it is planted.

Another good thing about carmelina is that it only takes around 85 to 100 days before one can harvest it. The plant is also frost tolerant so it can be planted early. Excess carmelina can be used for animal feedstock.

At present, North Dakota, South Dakota, Eastern Washington, and Montana are cultivating carmelina. But once the demand for it increases, then other dry areas across the country can be used to cultivate the crop.

Carmelina oil may be an ideal substitute for jet fuel. It meets, and at times even exceeds, petroleum jet-fuel specifications. Engines don’t need to be converted to use it. Ethanol is already off the list, because jets can’t use oxygenated fuels.

The Boeing Company tested carmelina oil in cooperation with Japan Airlines earlier this year. The test results were reportedly astounding. Billy Grover, Boeing’s managing director of environmental strategy, stated that it performed better than traditional jet fuel and that it supports the company’s goal of looking for sustainable and renewable fuel sources which can help the aviation industry reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Although carmelina is seen as the best replacement for fossil jet fuel, there are some obstacles in the way. There are questions about availability of commercial-sized quantities of the crop, as well as its price. Most farmers are unaware of carmelina’s viability, and there are few refineries that process it. But if these factors are taken care of, this crop can bring in more jobs and opportunities, especially for those in the rural areas.

This post was originally published on Alternative Energy at Biofuel as Substitute for Jet Fuel.

While solar and wind power are already established alternative energy sources, biomass power is not used as much. But things will be changing in favor of biomass, what with the various biomass power plants rising up in different parts of the nation.

If the bill concerning the fight on climate change is passed by the House of Representatives, electric utilities will be required to generate 20 percent of their power from sustainable sources by 2020. While the obvious choice is solar and wind powers, some locations might just not have enough sunshine or wind.

This is the reason why electric utilities in the Midwest and Southeast are now building large biomass plants that will use wood and other plant materials. The utilities would receive federal tax credits for producing renewable energy.

One such building is the $135 million biomass power plant that Atlanta-based Southern Co. will be erecting in the Atlanta suburbs. Another Atlanta power cooperative, Oglethorpe Power Corp, has bought land to build two 100-megawatt biomass power plants that costs $400 million each. Progress Energy Inc., has also announced that it will be buying power from a biomass power plant in Hartsville, South Carolina.

Forecasters predict that by 2030, biomass power will comprise 4.5% of the total energy consumed in the United States. Wind will count for only 2.5%, while solar will come in third place. The three renewable sources will still lag behind the more established power sources, such as nuclear, hydroelectric, natural gas, and coal.

The proposed legislation that would penalize greenhouse-gas emissions and at the same time get tax credits and loan guarantees for renewable energy sources, is giving the needed boost to plant-based fuels. One advantage biomass has over other renewable energy sources is its dependability. As long as there’s biomass that will be fed into the furnace, the plant will continuously provide energy.

Some might say that greenhouse gas is still released when biomass is burned in the furnace.  But the process is considered to be carbon-neutral. The biomass only emits only the carbon that the plants absorbed while growing. This is the same amount of carbon the plants will naturally emit when they die and decompose. In contrast, burning coal releases carbon that should not have been released to the atmosphere at all.

Biomass power plants can use scrap wood from their region’s timber industry, while other utility companies are pondering on planting crops such as energy-rich grasses that are designed to be burned in power plants.

This post was originally published on Alternative Energy at Biomass Power Gains Ground.

The three D’s that can describe fossil fuel are Dangerous, Dirty, and Dwindling. They are bad for the environment, but yet are still the number one source of energy. The good news is that there are cleaner, sustainable energies knocking on our doors. It is high time we welcome them into the picture with open arms. Here’s a quick look at geothermal and wind energy, and how people can harness them for their homes.

Geothermal Energy

The earth’s core is where geothermal power comes from. The deeper you go, the hotter it gets. Scientists believe that humans have utilized this energy type ever since the cavemen era. In the United States, only one percent of the nation’s energy comes from geothermal sources.

For residences, people can use a ground-source heat pump to generate energy. These work by drilling and installing water-filled pipes into the ground. The pipes must travel below the frost line, and will be used to transfer the Earth’s heat to a pump. The pump will then divert the heat to the home via air-ducts. There are ground-source heat pumps that can run in reverse, to lower temperatures during summer time. They can also be used to heat the water supply of your home.

The efficiency of your geothermal system depends on the water usage. It gains and loses heat far more efficiently than air does. Another factor you must take into consideration is the nature of ground water temperatures.

Wind Energy

Wind has also been a source of energy for men. Windmills were used in ancient Persia, for irrigation and milling. Today we have wind turbines to harness energy and convert it into electricity. Wind’s major disadvantage is that it depends on the weather. Power will not generate when the wind ceases to blow.

Constructing a wind turbine in your home will depend on many factors. First you need to look at your local zoning regulations to see if they allow the construction of a wind turbine one your property. You will also need to check whether the structure will fit on your property. A ten-kilowatt model features a 23-foot turbine, and requires an 80-100 foot tower. You might also have to confer with your neighborhood association regarding your plan.

These two clean energy sources can be harnessed to power your home. A cleaner environment will be beneficial for everyone. Wind and Geothermal energy can bring in more jobs, and decrease our dependence on foreign oil.

This post was originally published on Alternative Energy at Wind and Fire Energy for Your Home.

Chinese company ZTE has announced that they have developed a low-cost solar powered mobile phone that they hope can bridge the gap between the rich and the poor. This will be the first of its kind to be made available in the market. They plan to sell it in June for $40 or less.

ZTE, in partnership with network operator Digicel, will be launching the product in Samoa, Haiti and Papua New Guinea. They estimate that their sales will reach up to several hundred thousand. For the many people who have limited or no access to electricity at all, ZTE’s mobile phone will connected them to the rest of the world.

ZTE’s phone is called Coral 200 Solar. It utilizes Dutch technology that boosts the current from a single solar panel located at the back of the mobile. The solar panel measures 3 cm by 7 cm. An hour’s worth of charge is equal to 15 minutes of talk time. The phone can be charged by conventional power supply as well.

Digicel has stated that power interruptions are common in the places where they conduct their business. This is the reason why a solar-powered phone will be a hot commodity in those areas. The company is active in the Central American, Caribbean and Pacific regions. At present, they offer solar-powered chargers for their clients.

Solar-powered phones might also be a hit in some African countries. Charging stations, or booths, exist in that part of the world where people pay to plug in their phones because they don’t have electricity in their homes. ZTE is already talking with other network operators aside from Digicel that are interested in carrying the new phone.

Samsung unveiled their Blue Earth, another solar-powered mobile phone that features a small solar panel in the back. It is a high-end phone that’s targeting the green market in developed countries. The phone has already created a buzz during the Mobile World Congress which was held this week.

LG has also unveiled their solar-powered phone but it is yet to be named and is not yet ready for the market.

Mobile phones are just the start. The improvements in solar energy technology can lead to more consumer products powered by the sun. Gone are the days where solar power is used for calculators alone. Expect other electronic devices to feature mini solar panels in the future. You’ll never know when you’ll need a solar flashlight.

This post was originally published on Alternative Energy at Solar Powered Mobile Phone Revealed.

Something is brewing in Mexico, and it’s not just the dreaded Swine Flu. Sustainable energy will be harnessed to harvest a conventional energy source. Thanks to a new innovation, solar energy will be used to pump petroleum from a Mexican oil well.

A solar electric system will be connected to an existing oil pump. This will be implemented by Caledonia-based oil company, Unico. Once implemented, it will be the first ever solar powered pumping station on Mexican soil.

Most of oil wells are far from power grids. Most pumps are powered by generators running on diesel, gasoline, or propane. That means high maintenance costs for fuel supply.

Joseph Glover, Unico’s Vice President on Alternative Energy Division, branded this company’s oil as the “Green Oil” because their process produces less greenhouse gas emissions. If only their final product produced less greenhouse gases, when in use, as well.

In was last December when Glover presented to the Unico board with the idea of using solar energy for their oil pumps. This May, the prototype will be ready to be installed. The solar power station will use 27 solar panels to run the 240-volt motor that will be used to pump oil. The system will also power up the computer-monitoring system of the well.

Glover states that cloudy days should not hamper operations. The only time the solar system will be hampered will be during heavy rainstorms. Their backup plan is to use a gasoline generator, or a fuel cell, so that the oil will keep on flowing.

The solar power system was made with data according to December solar radiation. During the summer months, Unico will have excess energy. They still don’t have any plans as to what they’ll do with it. They can’t sell it back to the local utility company because the wells are off the grid.

The solar power station will cost approximately $75,000 and will have a service life of 20 years. Unico estimates that the payback time will be five to seven years. They point out that, the worse the location, the faster the payback will be.

The costs of fuel and transportation will increase in the future, but the costs of solar panels and batteries will go down as improvements are made in technology. 

Isn’t it ironic that fossil fuel companies are already using solar power and other forms of alternative energy in their operations? Green oil might not be the future, but at least it’s a good start.

This post was originally published on Alternative Energy at Green Oil Anyone?.

It’s a fortunate thing that the Obama administration has made it their mission to promote the use of alternative energy. This opens the doors for more extensive research and development in the area. It also helps that the federal government is offering tax breaks and rebates to companies and individuals that are using alternative energy.

This is a big step for the United States to convert from a fossil-fuel-dependent country into a green one. There are several reasons why this is a good move – going green will lessen the greenhouse gas emission, and further, it will make the country less dependent on oil producing nations.

In the long run, alternative energy sources will be less expensive than the continuous exploration for fossil fuel resources. The country will also not be effected by the erratic oil prices. A green economy will not be at the mercy of the oil barrel.

But everyone must do their part to make it work. It’s not just the federal, state and local governments that must get their acts together. The citizens must do their part in promoting the use of alternative energy. The car industry can help by mass producing hybrid cars. Building designers must incorporate green designs in their future projects. That way people will consume lesser energy.

The government should offer more financial incentives for companies who wish to finance on the development of viable alternative energy. Consumers should not suffer because of the expansion the utility companies are doing, in upgrading their system to run on green energy. In this way, more and more companies will turn to utilizing green energy. This can also stimulate economic growth that can provide jobs for people.

Alternative energy can come from solar, hydroelectric, biofuel, wind, and geothermal sources. Some people argue that atomic energy is green energy – but there are many risks involved with its use, and an accident could cause a catastrophe to the surrounding area.

What needs to be done is to improve on the generation of alternative energy and its storage systems. We need more efficient batteries, to store the produced energy, when it is not needed yet. These sources should be connected to the main power grids, and hopefully they will run on 100% clean energy in the future.

The government will have a big impact on keeping the Earth clean for future generations. President Obama’s plan might look like impossible, to some, but with everyone’s help it can become a reality.

This post was originally published on Alternative Energy at A Call for More Alternative Energy Research.

Wind is a powerful source of energy which, for centuries, has been harnessed for different uses. More and more scientists and researchers consider that wind can be used effectively as a clean renewable energy source.  But this can only be done when power within the moving air is harnessed properly.

The Wind Energy Industry has grown rapidly since the 1990’s and is considered to be one of the fastest growing sectors in the power generation industry. Some European countries have installed wind turbines that have now been in operation for almost 20 years now, and this entire operation has been quite successful as well. Using wind turbines to create energy has brought down energy production costs, and is a viable option for the replacement of coal-fired power stations.

According to one study, the UK has the largest potential wind energy resource in the entirety of Europe.  Wind is therefore regarded as their most promising future source of renewable energy. Currently, wind turbines in the UK are producing electricity which is delivered to almost 390,000 households, and is reaching around 1 million people. Furthermore, the use of wind energy has reportedly reduced carbon dioxide emissions by almost 1.46 million tones per annum.

How is wind converted into energy? With a wind turbine. The wind turbine is basically a rotating device, like a huge fan, whose blades turn when the wind passes through them.  They convert the wind’s kinetic energy into mechanical energy.

When this mechanical energy is used by any type of machinery (such as a pump) then the machine is known as a windmill. If the same mechanical energy is converted to electricity, then the machine which does the conversion is called a wind generator or a wind turbine. It is also sometimes known as a wind energy converter (WEC) or a wind power unit (WPU).

The first use of the wind in machines was actually for grinding grains, as early as 200 B.C, in Persia. It was later introduced into the prosperous Roman Empire in 250 A.D. The year 1900 saw the maximum number of windmills in use in the country of Denmark. Almost 2500 windmills were installed at that time, to provide the much needed mechanical load to pumps.  They gave a peak power supply of 30MW.

Why Should Wind Turbines be Used?

Wind turbines can effectively help to create mechanical energy, which can then be used for multiple purposes, such as the generation of power and electricity.

Some of the other uses include the following:

• There is only a one-time installation cost for setting up a wind generator, after which the electricity produced by the wind turbine will be free.
• It is a source of clean and renewable energy which will not generate any greenhouse gases, nor emit pollution or even produce any dangerous waste material.
• Each unit of electricity produced by a wind turbine replaces a similar unit of energy from a conventional power station. Wind turbines have highly successful where they have been commissioned in the UK, preventing the emission of almost 1 3/4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.
• Wind is an abundant and reliable source of energy. The UK, possibly being the windiest country in Europe, has abundance of wind energy which is used for making electricity. As do other windy areas such as Denmark and other parts of Scandinavia.
• Wind power contributes significantly to the overall energy production of any country. Denmark is one country which gets almost 20% of its electricity from wind power.
• Wind turbines use an extremely robust technology, which is designed for both local operation as well as for remote operation, and requires only periodic maintenance.

This post was originally published on Alternative Energy at Uses of Wind Turbines.

Every day, households around the world use the planet’s energy resourcesConventional energy sources will be depleted quickly, unless more renewable sources are utilized.  One source of clean and renewable energy is solar power.

Advantages of Solar Power

Since solar energy comes directly from the sun, it is not only renewable, but also accessible in any part of the world.  As long as the proper equipment is utilized, unlimited amounts of solar power can be collected and put to good use.

Solar power is also one of the cleanest forms of energy, since it creates no pollution, and produces no greenhouse gases or waste products. 

For residential uses, the use of solar power minimizes negative impacts on the surrounding environment, making it a safer alternative to wind or hydro power.

Not only is solar energy non-pollutant, in terms of gases, but it also causes zero noise pollution – since there are no moving parts in any of the devices which are used to capture the sunlight.

Because no moving parts are used, maintenance costs are low as well – only occasional cleaning and periodic battery replacements are needed.  Most manufacturers of solar panels provide twenty-year warranties for their equipment, guaranteeing long-life operation.

Solar panels placed on rooftops also double as a heat absorbers, slightly cooling the top area of the house which is directly below the roof.

Disadvantages of Solar Power

The most obvious drawback of solar energy is its sole dependence on the sun.  Once the weather becomes cloudy, or nighttime strikes, energy collection comes to a halt.  However, recent advancements of technology now allow the generated power to be stored in special batteries which provide roughly enough electricity to last a night.  This is why solar-powered devices, including flashlights, are gaining in popularity and are proving to be efficient energy savers.

Solar panels can also be expensive, because of the materials that are used to create them.  And even when these materials are taken out of the equation, the entire process, considering the other devices involved, can be a bit costly.  This includes portable devices that utilize solar energy.  But most of the cost involved is in the initial purchase and installation of a solar power system – not running costs.

Fortunately, there are some people who sell damaged solar cells, which are much cheaper.  These damaged solar cells can be used to build fully functional solar panels, using the application of simple do-it-yourself techniques.

Although in every part of the world, there is at least some point in time when the sun shines, it is also true that direct sunlight is needed in order to make the most of the sun’s energy – and to generate the highest amounts of power.  This significantly restricts the placement of solar panels.  And some areas in the world may receive little benefit, due to lesser sunlight.

What’s the Bottom Line?

More research and development continues to be invested into this growing technology, and that’s a good sign for the future of our households – as solar power may one day be used more frequently than other energy sources.  Of course, solar energy isn’t perfect, but it makes a great complimentary addition to other energy forms.

To learn more about solar power, please visit Solar Power Information.

This post was originally published on Alternative Energy at Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Power.

In many countries today, quite a lot is being said about harnessing renewable energy technologies – particularly in light of the rising oil prices. But some people might still be wondering exactly what renewable energy is.

Renewable energy is power which has been generated from renewable resources – in other words, it does not “run out” or eventually become depleted.  It can be continuously re-created.

It’s not just the prices of oil that has people searching for clean and renewable energy sources.  Global warming concerns, and international pollution problems, have triggered this concern as well.  Governments around the world have begun to support research on improving the renewable energy technologies.

Currently, the five common renewable energy sources are biomass, hydropower, geothermal heat, wind, and solar power.

Biomass

Biomass consists of organic material which has been produced by animals and plants.  Biomass energy uses  stored energy from the sun.  This is a result of the natural process which any plant uses to survive – photosynthesis.

Because we can always grow new crops and trees, biomass is considered a form of renewable energy.  Furthermore, organic waste can be used to create biomass as well.

Some commonly used biomass fuels include crops, wood, garbage, and manure.  When these materials are burned, they emit heat which produces steam, that can in turn be used to create electricity.  Some biomasses are converted into other usable energy forms, such as methane gas or biodiesel.

Hydropower

Hydropower is one of the oldest forms of renewable energy.  It  was used in ancient times to grind grain.  Coal was once the only source of power in the United States.  But in 1880, the first Hydropower plant was built, and since then, more of these have been erected in order to provide the people with electricity.

Geothermal Energy

Geothermal Energy comes from within the Earth itself.  The steam or heat which comes from the center of the earth can be used to regulate the temperatures of buildings, and to generate electricity as well.
This is considered one form of renewable energy because water can always be replenished by rain, and because the earth’s core maintains its temperature.

Wind Power

Even the ever-present wind can provide a renewable energy source.  Wind is created because the uneven heating on the earth’s surface causes the air to move.  Thus, wind power is essentially a bi-product of solar power.  Wind propellers are used to collect the wind’s kinetic energy, which turns turbines that are in turn used to create electricity.

Solar Power

This form of renewable energy will be available as long as the sun shines.  Solar energy can either be used as thermal energy, or it can be converted into electricity.

As a thermal energy, it can be used to heat water or spaces.  Through the use of solar cells or similar photovoltaic devices, it can be used to create electricity.  The heat of the sun can also be used to create steam, which turns turbines and thus produces electricity.

Learn more about Renewable Energy Technologies.

This post was originally published on Alternative Energy at Renewable Energy Technologies.

The use of the sun to create energy, whether in the form of heat or electricity, is not new. Solar energy has been in use for many centuries. The following is a brief overview of the history of solar power.

History of Solar Power in the Ancient World

The Assyrians may have been the first to implement the use of solar energy by using magnifying lenses. The Nimrud lens, a 3000-year-old crystalline-rock, may have been used as part of an ancient telescope (which could explain why they were good astronomers) but it’s also been proposed that this could have been used to burn objects by focusing sunlight on them.

It’s almost unrealistic to assume that no one in that era would have looked through the glass and discovered its magnifying properties, as well as accidentally discovering that sunlight could easily be focused to heat or burn things. The Greeks certainly marveled at these lenses. The wrote, in amazement “… that beautiful, transparent stone with which they kindle flames …” around the 4th century BC.

The Greco-Roman era eventually developed a design, using shield-mirrors, to light torches for various purposes. Archimedes is said to have used bronze shields and lenses to focus sunlight and set fire to the invading Roman fleet at Syracuse. Half a world away, and later in that era, the Chinese used the same principles.

The Greco-Roman world then developed architectural designs that used sunlight to warm bathhouses and other buildings, by strategically placing openings or windows which faced southwards. Some designs also incorporated the use of glass, to bounce light to other parts of the building. The Romans also used these concepts to build greenhouses. These designs paved the way for the Romans to establish humanity’s Right to Light (or Right to the Sun). In the Seventh Century BC, during the Byzantine Era, they incorporated this fully into the legal system.

History of Solar Power in the Modern Era

The first solar collector was invented by Horace-Bénédict de Saussure, in the year 1767. The original concept, of trapping heat by using glass, was then improved upon further, and it became possible to implement new methods of utilizing and storing solar power. One example of this was the use of the sun to boil water inside a glass-box. Thus, the world’s first solar water heating systems were devised.

The discovery of Selenium, in 1817, propelled an early study of Photovoltaics, and with it began a new phase of development in solar-collector technology. Sunlight was found to amplify the conductivity of Selenium, which produced an electrical current. This opened the door to new designs, which were created and used for the manufacture of other devices, as the years passed on.

Solar Power in the Twentieth Century

In the early 20th century, Albert Einstein and a number of other scientists studied the behavior of light. A process they called “the photoelectric effect” became an important factor which inventors used to improve upon solar-collector technology, and to create more efficient ways of using solar energy.

With the study of the photoelectric effect and the increasing use of silicon, came the rise of photovoltaic technology in the 1950’s.

The first true photovoltaic solar cells exploded onto the scene as industries all over the world jumped at the technology and developed them for efficient use. Solar panels began being utilized to power satellites and other large systems, and modern solar technology gradually replaced all earlier devices, such as glass hotboxes. Solar energy also became known as an alternative to fossil fuels, and was incorporated into power plants.

Solar Power and The Future

The need to use clean forms of energy is becoming rapidly more apparent, as mankind becomes increasingly aware of the consequences global irresponsibility. Fuels are becoming more costly, and we begin to realize that our sources of fossil fuels are finite and not endless. We have a duty to protect ourselves and our home planet. We must start to look ahead and realize that the answer comes from above. The sun is free, and it is well within our rights to use it.

This post was originally published on Alternative Energy at The History of Solar Power.