Renewable Energy

Coal’s Future

Q. AB. — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:36:42 +0000

America is having large coal resources but not like as before. In 2007 the National Academy of Sciences reported that the country likely has at least a 100-year supply at today’s consumption levels, but that could not confirm the often quoted assertion that the nation has a 250 year supply of coal.

Since then, the U.S. Geologic Survey substantially reduced its estimate about the amount of coal, which is economically recoverable in the nation’s most important coal field, the Powder River Basin. Anyhow even if the United States coal reserves remain abundant. There are other factors that may limit the coal use. As there are options to limit carbon dioxide emissions in future, which will very likely reduce the production of the coal, in the absence of the success of carbon capture and confiscation on a large scale.

The world is beginning to signs already of the effect of expected future carbon dioxide regulations, and other policy and market changes, on the expansion of coal burning electricity. Power companies had started to integrate the future price of the carbon into their cost estimates for new plants, that’s the reason that is seriously impacting their decisions over whether to build new coal plants or not.

There are so many coal plant proposals in the pipeline and more than 100 coal plant proposals were rejected by regulators in the last few years.

Coal plants are getting increasing attention due to of greenhouse emissions, and also for reduction of CO2 contribution from coal plants. Carbon capture and storage technology can play a major role in reducing plant emissions in the future.

Aside from those above-mentioned reforms there are other available alternatives to coal power that can meet our energy needs and reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants. UCS analysis in 2009 shows that policies that promote aggressive investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy will allow United States to reduce vividly its dependence on coal power about 85% till 2030.

Technorati Tags: Coal,Power,plants,greenhouse,Carbon,energy,emissions,dioxide

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The Wind Power Revolutionaries!

Jessy — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 16:58:30 +0000

You’d be forgiven for casting your mind to the lethargic Texan plains of the west at the mention of wind turbines. But check this out, there are far more ways to capture renewable wind energy, and I think you might even agree that you’ll be tempted to try some of these just for their unorthodox nature! Oh and just to give credit where credit is due, Texas does come out on top as far as wind power in the U.S is concerned.

Urban Chic

Rotating Skyscrapers

Nope, you didn’t misread that, that’s what it say’s, Rotating Skyscrapers. And it probably won’t come as a surprise when I tell you Dubai’s the place to find it! Every single floor of this building will be able to move to the current of the wind. Imagine that? Never having to stare at the same view instead of instead of actually working anymore?

Wind Turbine Nano Skins

This system uses millions of small turbines strategically placed behind little openings in the skin of the design. Because the size of the turbines is dramatically reduced, so is the amount of wind it relies on. The product allows wind energy to be retrofitted to buildings and therefore assists in the generation of electricity already being produced by other renewable means.

Mobile Wind Power

These whisk-looking devices are portable genius! They can be hung vertically or propped up on your roof. The fact that they are portable simply means you have them when and where you need them!

The Wind Turbine Powered Skyscraper

Another Dubai contender. Featured in the World Trade Centre in Bahrain, the towers have 3 turbines hung between them. Each approximately 100Feet wide, they are a spectacular sight and generate air currents to optimize electricity.

Home Sweet Home!

Stylish Turbines

Turbines needn’t be ugly! I guess the fact that these are of Japanese design will not be of any surprise either? Not only do they work with a low wind speed, but the fluid turbine adds a touch of artistic flair to the home.

Helix Wind Generators

This helix designed pattern channels wind into the catch and centered across the turbine. Great for 2 reasons, firstly it works in multi directions, and secondly, it is quiet!

Commercial Applications

The Floating Turbine

Stripped down, this is pretty much a blimp attached to a cable holding turbines and propellers over the length of the tether with auto-adjust propellers added. The air in this wonder moves at a faster rate higher up in the atmosphere.

The Magnetic Suspended Turbine

These turbines need less land than the usual wind turbine due to its friction reducing deign. This will use magnets instead to suspend the turbine resulting in less moving parts in wind generation. An interesting approach, much so in its appearance.

Make no mistake, there is far more to come from this technology- we have already seen the Mercedes Electric/ Wind hybrid prototype, wind powered bikes and kinetic sculptures. Just think, there is no telling where we will be in 20 years!

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What Factors Affect the Output of Wind Turbines?

Maya — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:54:30 +0000

What is the purest form of power generation? The unanimous answer is Wind Energy. As Wind Energy has numerous benefits like no pollution, no burning of fossils and a clean setup. Although, it should not be perceived that it’s a facile setup unit. Various factors combine to make an impact on the amount of energy you can generate out of wind.

Power in the Wind

It’s vital to understand the relation of wind speed data with power production. Therefore, the power is proportional to the wind speed cubed. It is important to know the wind speed precisely, because any error is magnified when calculating power.

Aerodynamics of Blades

Shape of blades should be accurately selected for getting the maximum efficiency. The amount of lift for a given airfoil depends heavily on the angle that it makes with the direction of the relative wind, known as the angle of attack. When the angle of attack gets too large, turbulence develops and drag increases significantly, while lift is lost. The angle of attack on wind turbine blades can be changed either by creating a specific geometry for the blades.

Loads, Stress, and Fatigue

Strong blades play a pivotal role to withstand all the loads and stresses from gravity, wind, and dynamic interactions. Blades are carefully manufactured and then extensively tested to make sure they can achieve the desired lifespan. As opposed to a car engine and other mechanical devices, an efficient wind turbine runs about 90% of the time for twenty or more years. Types of loads are static, steady, cyclic, transient, impulsive, stochastic, and resonance induced. Static loads are constant and occur even with a non-moving turbine. Resonance-induced loads, which are to be avoided as much as possible, occur when parts of the wind turbine are excited at their natural frequencies and then vibrate and can induce other parts to vibrate also, putting considerable stress on the turbine.

Power control and aerodynamic braking system

As the angle of attack is one of the most important variables in determining the performance of a wind turbine. Both in terms of power output and over-speed induced stress protection, it is important to understand the rotor pitch behavior. An increasing number of larger wind turbines are being developed with an active stall power control mechanism. In fact the aerodynamic braking system is the primary braking system for most modern wind turbines. This essentially consists of turning the rotor blades about 90 degrees along their longitudinal axis.

The upfront costs of installing a wind power system on your property can be high that’s why it should be efficient enough to produce maximum energy. By adopting few of these best resources and believing the technical aspects an efficient wind power system can be erected.

Technorati Tags: Wind,Turbines,generation,Energy,pollution,Power,Aerodynamics,fossils,turbine

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How Biomass Energy Works

Q. AB. — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:55:37 +0000

Wind and sun are the most familiar forms of renewable energy. While biomass (plant material and animal waste) provides 15 times more energy in United States than wind and solar power combined and still have potential to supply more.

There is a vast range of biomass energy resources, that includes tree, grass, crops, forestry, agricultural, and urban wastes. Biomass is the oldest source of renewable energy used by humans when they known how to burn fire.

Biomass energy is used as renewable energy source because the energy it contains comes from sun through the process of photosynthesis. Chlorophyll in plant’s leaves absorbs the sunlight and extracts carbon dioxide from air and water from ground, then plant process that into carbohydrates, complex compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. So when these carbohydrates burns they turn back into carbon dioxide and water and the sun energy, which was, absorbed releases. This mentioned biomass functions makes it clear that it works as a sort of natural battery for storing solar energy. If the biomass energy is produced as much as needed and used in same proportion also then the battery will last indefinitely.

From past to present most common way to gain energy from biomass was to burn it for making heat and steam and now in present from that electricity is generated. Recent developments show that there are more effective and cleaner ways to use biomass.

Through new advancements its possible now to convert biomass energy into liquid fuels, such as a cooking process is called “gasification” to produce combustible gases. Specific crops like switch grass and willow trees are known as “ energy crops” because these plants are specially grown for energy generation.

Technorati Tags: Biomass,Energy,Wind,battery,renewable,carbon,dioxide

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Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle Vs Pulverized Coal

Q. AB. — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:15:42 +0000

Today almost all coal plants are using “pulverized coal” (PC) technology, this technology involves grinding the coal, burning it to make steam, and running the steam through a turbine to generate electricity. There is a latest technology known as Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC). It converts coal into gas and that gas runs through a combustion turbine to generate electricity. This process uses the excess heat.

Pulverized coal burning emits enormous quantities of carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, mercury and microscopic particulate matter. Some existing plants and all new plants are having pollution control technology for reducing emissions of some of these pollutants, specifically sulfur dioxide and particulates. Most common methods to control the pollution is using of scrubbers and filters. Scrubbers are having wet limestone slurry for absorbing sulfur when it pass through while filters are collections of large cloth bags that catch particulates as they pass through the cloth. But even then some smaller particulates can pass out the smoke stack into the air.

The latest IGCC technology is more expensive than pulverized coal technology but this technology is friendlier to environment. Though modern pollution controls for nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter can dramatically reduce emissions for pulverized coal plants which is 90 to 99 percent. But IGCC plants are capable of even greater reductions. Disposing of mercury from IGCC plants is lot more easier than a pulverized coal plant and that will be increasingly important as mercury restrictions will come into effect in the coming years.

Currently there is no commercially available control technology that can be added to plants in order to reduce their CO2 emissions. In the same way scrubbers and filters can be installed to capture sulfur dioxide and particulate emissions, respectively. Anyhow there is an emerging technology that capture carbon and store it. This technology will allow plant operators to capture CO2 and transport it to a (“geologic sequestration”) site. There it will be pumped into the ground where it would ideally remain safely stored over the long term.

IGCC is having an advantage over pulverized coal technology because of capturing carbon. Though this gasification process allows separation and capture of CO2 before combustion but the gas is still in a relatively concentrated and pressurized form. While pulverized coal plant only can capture the CO2 after combustion, when it is more diluted and harder to separate, because of that project cost increases. The IGCC and pulverized coal varieties of CCS are called “pre-combustion” and “post-combustion” technology, respectively.

Capturing and compressing of CO2 is a much energy consuming process and it cause large reductions in the amount of net energy the plant is able to produce for grid.

While in reality a standard method for capturing CO2 from pulverized coal plants is expected to reduce the plant’s energy output by a quarter or more. Anyhow this output loss for IGCC plants will be smaller. Reductions in output of greater than 15% are still expected. Extra fuel will be used just to power the CO2 removal process and the actual amount of CO2 removal per unit of electricity will fall to the 80 or 90 percent range.

Technorati Tags: Coal,technology,combustion,pollution,environment,energy,emissions,

pollutants,turbine,carbon,dioxide,nitrogen,particulate,sulfur

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What Are Solar Power Plants?

Farhan — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:48:21 +0000

Human’s curiosity leads towards invention, like utilizing energy from sun and generating electricity. This is a renewable form of energy and is an unlimited resource unlike other resources to generate electricity. This discovery further leads to invention of appliances and instruments that uses sun rays to generate electricity and when applied to a large scale it results in creation of solar power plants.

What is a solar power plant?

A solar power plant captures the sun rays and convert photons into electricity. A solar semi-conductor possess electrons and the sun ray contains photons. As a photons enter this semi-conductor, these photons are captured and the electrons are transformed into electricity. This mechanism depends on the nature of material being used as semi-conductor.

A solar power plant contains large number of solar panels, that are connected to each other. Basically these panels are electricity generator and generate electric pulses. The electricity produced is then used domestically or for commercial purposes depending on the demand.One can construct a mini power plant by arranging number of solar panels and connecting them.

Efficiency of solar power plant

Its efficiency depends on the intensity of sun rays touching the panels. If more rays are touching the panel, you need few panels to generate electricity and vice verse. Many countries located near equator, have constructed their own solar power plant. These countries avail maximum sunshine by taking advantage of their location and thus make it more efficient. But this doesn’t mean that you are restricted by your location.

You can also build solar power plant in other parts of the world. Since this technology is in its initial stage, new inventions are in process to make this task easier for other parts of the globe.

Disadvantages of solar power plant

One of the issue related to solar power plant is its space. These solar power plant requires huge space and areas because of their huge size. This size goes on increasing as you are installing more and more panels to enhance its capacity. But, in many countries this issue is resolved by installing mini solar plants. Another issue is its initial development cost. There are huge costs associated with this technology, which makes it unaffordable.

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The Solar Power Battery Chargers

Farhan — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:46:39 +0000

As we are living in a world of scarce resources and unlimited wants, our motive is to maximize our needs within limited resources. Energy is the main requirement of human beings for survival. Since we are living in industrial age and we need power and energy to fulfill our needs. Therefore, human is finding an alternate renewable form of energy and ultimately discovering solar energy to produce electricity.

Solar Power Charger

Thus this finding lead man to invent appliances that uses this form of energy and ultimately discovering solar power charger. A solar power charger stores the electricity that is produced using solar energy. Main idea behind this creation was that the electricity produced due to solar energy was usable during day time only. As the sun sets, you are left with no electricity at night. Therefore, the order of the day was to invent such device that can make the electricity available even when there are no sun rays.

Have you used solar powered calculators? You have probably noticed that these calculators are usable during light time only. If there is no light, these calculators are useless. So it was necessary to design such a thing that can store the significance of this renewable source of power. Therefore, the solar power chargers came into play.

Advantages

With the invention of this device, you can use electricity round the clock. You must be wondering that this is useful invention but its benefits are offset by its huge costs. So, don’t worry about its costs. With just as low as £200 you can enjoy the delight of this invention. Moreover, you can store any form of electricity in these chargers. This invention is being used in i-pods and cell phones as well.

As the time will progress advancement in product design will take place. Most of the companies are using this technology to design their new products, thus making them more efficient. This would be great step towards technological innovation, just like the solar powered calculator was. These charges are available easily in almost all areas nearby you. These are available on retail outlets and you can also purchase them online through different websites.

Technorati Tags: Solar,Power,Battery,Chargers,Energy,cell,technology,renewable

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Wind Turbine Goes Portable

Maya — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:39:54 +0000

Renewable energy that is the hottest of the focal point in current times cannot be used up and it does not generate pollution. Sustainability means that we make sure we meet our energy needs and ensure the health of the planet for future generations. Eventually, we will run out of nonrenewable energy supplies and the pollution caused by using these energy sources is already becoming a serious problem. The sooner we switch to using renewable energy, the cleaner the air we breathe and water we drink will be. Among these renewable energy resources the foldable wind generator is also one of the innovations but there is still a question mark on its development.

Eolic design has been introduced in foldable wind generator class but it is uncertain as to whether it’s capable or not. The Eolic looks great and is an incredible idea, but can it actually create enough energy to power anything and is it durable enough to actually hold its ground in a wind strong enough to create electricity? Still it’s an ambitious idea and we have to sit back and see its viability.

The light weight material which has been used in designing Eolic does not seem to withstand the high winds to generate the power. The designers’ concepts behind the foldable wind generator are to be able to supply power on the go in areas that do not have access to electricity. Whether it was the beginning of a construction project or a community that lacked electricity, these portable units could be put up to supply the necessary power to that specific area. However, this being a portable unit, that luxury is not possible. While the overall ambitions of the designers may be a bit unrealistic, the Eolic foldable wind generator can still serve a purpose.

Off and on, we experience watching some portable solar devices advertized which provide lighting and or used for other small household purposes, this device should come up in parity. If it actually works in these scenarios, it could truly bring wind power into the picture as a primary renewable energy. The device would surely give an added advantage over the solar power as it could work 24/7. On the other hand, they could also be sold as a package to ensure constant renewable energy on the go.

Technorati Tags: Wind,Turbine,Power,Generator,Renewable,energy,pollution,devices

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Most Common Solar Energy Misconceptions

Jessy — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 14:15:53 +0000

Changing your energy source is a commitment. Going solar is trigger enough to set off you commit-o-phoebes, especially with the wide range of myths out there to chose from? Well then, here’s to separating the milk from the myth!

Solar is far too expensive!

Ok, paying up to $32,000 up front to purchase your own solar electricity system might leave a noticeable dent, but why not opt for a different way to pay? By financing yourself through a PPA (power purchase agreement) or a solar lease offered by state governments you can switch over to clean solar energy without the cost. And remember, electricity rates are not much more of a picnic either and not set to get any tastier. Switching to solar electricity could minimize the expense increase from your utility services.

It’s too cold for solar

This one really is a far spread one, and admittedly it almost makes sense. A popular belief that solar panels only produce electricity in warm climates of eternal sunshine is in fact untrue. The truth is whether you’re in California or Trenton New Jersey, solar panels will produce electricity wherever the sun shines. Yes sunny climates will produce more power, but cloudy areas still reap the environmental and financial benefits of solar energy. It may interest you to know that Germany is one of the highest players in the global solar market and is not the sunniest place in the world now is it?

What about my pretty roof?

Before telling your anything else let me make this perfectly clear right now, ALWAYS get any installation done by an experienced highly reputable professional team / firm. As with any type of home renovation, a second hand “professional” will get you a second hand job. Other than that, the panels themselves once installed properly which ensure both quality and security of the roof, they will prove a benefit as they add protection from wear and tear over time.

Going solar will keep me tied down to this house!

Many people are under the misconception that they will lose out on their investment should they decide to move at some point in the future. Well, they couldn’t be more wrong! On the contrary, according to ICF research, for every dollar you save on electricity, $20 is added to the overall value of your home. Thus, considering you could be saving thousands, for each thousand you save you would add $20,000 to the value of your house! Guess that unties those invisible strings?

Solar restricts me to batteries and no grid privilege’s

There is no reason why you can’t have your cake and eat it too. Plenty of people using solar power are still linked to their utility grids, and draw on power overnight that’s been saved throughout the day by the panels. Very few people opt to come off the grid and consequently save electricity in batteries for when it’s needed, but that’s entirely your choice. Snow is no deterrent either considering that not only do solar panels work better in colder temperatures but due to their dark color they will absorb more sunlight helping snow melt and slip off the slanted slides. Of course tackling snow with a good broom wouldn’t be a bad thing either! Reflection off snow will only increase the amount of sunlight to your roof.

I don’t have a roof big enough to keep my house running on solar?

Although a larger system will give you an increased output, dependent on the size of your roof, even a small system will counteract your utility rates. In actual fact a roof as small as 200square feet would be enough to make a system economically and environmentally practical for you.

Best to wait for the new model with advancing technology?

And you wouldn’t be blamed for thinking so either! Last months P.C is already at sale price and the charger to last years Smartphone wont fit any others, but solar panels don’t work this way. There really hasn’t been that much change over the years and there isn’t much more change to come. You see, they are pretty much at maturity design wise and any recent news you may have seen regarding thin-film panels is a commercial large scale concept that is not as efficient for residential homes. This solar power technology has its seal of approval from years of testing and use by innumerable people world wide. By waiting for “something better” the gamble is too high due to the fact that state and federal tax rebates are going fast and so is the pace of utility rate increase. Either way really, the wait will have you pay more one way or the other, whether its for increased utility prices or the loss of rebate schemes. So why not act now and lock in a fixed electricity rate?

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Global Warming Prevention

Maya — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 17:14:09 +0000

Global warming can be described as an average increase in the Earth’s temperature, which is ultimately causing changes in world’s climate. These warming effects are heading towards the change in rainfall patterns, rise in sea level and serious repercussions on plants, wildlife and human beings. Basically the scientists relate this alteration with the mal activities of humans.

The effects of global warming and climate change are of a serious concern to both the human life and the environment as well. It is predicted that due this global warming climatic changes can turn to extreme weather events. In order to reduce this concern, many countries have implemented various policies and the rest are in the process of focusing on this. It is imperative on every individual’s part to play his apt role in overcoming these global changes. You can be a part of the solution by adopting some easy ways in fighting against global warming.

Plant Trees

There are several countless benefits of planting trees; you can play a vital role in getting these trees planted in your vicinity. Trees help stop global warming, reduce erosion and water pollution. They ameliorate human health by producing oxygen and purifying air quality. On top of a research shows that trees provide the equivalent cooling effect of ten room-size air conditioners operating 20 hours a day.

Use Fluorescent Light Bulbs

A standard compact fluorescent bulb will save around one third of greenhouse gas, along with the cost of six or more incandescent globes. Please don’t forget that these bulbs contain small amounts of toxic mercury so proper disposal is necessary to prevent any additional landfill contamination. You should be in the habit of unplugging your unused devices as even turned off, they use energy. You can save over 1,000 lbs of carbon dioxide per year by unplugging them or switching them off at the wall using a power surge-protector.

Vegetarian Meal

Opt for vegetarian meals often. Animals are responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than transportation is. This is due to the large amounts of petroleum used in creating ammonium nitrate fertilizer, plus the cost of shipping that corn to the cattle and then shipping the cattle to slaughter and grocery. Choosing vegetarian foods also drastically reduces agricultural water consumption and land use.

Use Recycle Paper

Ensure that the paper you are using should be 100 % post consumer recycled paper. It saves 5 lbs. of carbon dioxide per ream of paper. Develop a habit of making your environment paper free; use it when you have no other option. You should aware your colleagues for relying on emails rather than printing them.

Most of all, this concern can be eradicated through enhancing the awareness amongst your colleagues, neighbors, familiars and especially the government representatives. You can access your closest government representative through telephone calls, emails, and letters and through other appropriate means. Learn as much as possible about the policies that you advocate before doing so; solving one problem often creates others.