Monthly Archives: August 2014
Renewable Energy: Sustainable Energy Concepts for the Energy Change
 | In the years since the publication of the first edition of this book, the world has undergone drastic changes in terms of energy sources. This is reflected in the expansion of this second edition from 20 to 26 chapters. The most dramatic occurrence was the Tsunami which struck Japan in March of 2011 and set off a reactor catastrophe at the nuclear power plants in Fukushima. On the other hand fossil fuel technology drives the climate change to a threatening level. So, renewable energy sources are | |
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Your Questions About Sustainable Energy Technologies
Ruth asks…
How solar energy can be generated at competitive cost?
How solar energy can be produced at competitive cost for the welfare of people at large?Presently what is the status of its use in india?
admin answers:
Professor Andrew Blakers from The Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems at the Australian National University will today report to the Greenhouse 2000 Conference in Melbourne that photovoltaic (PV) solar energy conversion can be cost-competitive with any low-emission electricity generation technology by 2030.
His paper describes how extrapolation of the huge economic and technical gains made by photovoltaics over the last 15 years gives confidence that a dramatic shift in electricity generation technology over the next quarter-century is possible.
Worldwide photovoltaic sales are growing at 40 to 50% per year. Government research & market support for photovoltaics of around $400 billion spread over the next 25 years can deliver the technology required to eliminate electricity production as a contributor to climate change. This is a large sum of money – similar to the cost of the Iraq war – but it is dwarfed by the $23 trillion expected investment in oil exploration out to 2030 or the $24 trillion investment in PV systems required to generate half of the world’s electricity by 2040.
Professor Blakers will also describe Sliver solar cell technology, which was invented at Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh, Scotland, by Dr Klaus Weber and Professor Blakers in 2000 while attending a conference. Origin Energy, one of the sponsors of the Greenhouse 2000 Conference, is commercialising Sliver technology in Adelaide.
Work at ANU shows that Sliver solar cell technology can achieve electricity costs below retail electricity costs within five years, with the right investment. Explosive growth in sales in the commercial and residential sector will then follow.
Professor Blakers said that Sliver solar cell technology “can go all the way.”
“It’s not difficult to envisage Sliver based technology delivering electricity at a cost that matches wind energy, zero-emission coal and other clean energy technologies. No leap of faith is required; just careful engineering and adaptation of existing techniques from other industries,” he said.
Dr Weber added that it is essential to eliminate carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel based electricity generation in order to limit climate change. The cost of doing this with advanced solar technology will be far lower than the pessimistic forecasts advanced by some analysts.
“The key to a clean energy future is the setting of clear and challenging targets and the provision of reliable, long-term support to the solar industry. The industry will respond and deliver the required technology,” Dr Weber said. Recent solar and fuel cell articles
Organic solar cells will help spur viability of alternative energy October 10, 2005
Imagine being able to “paint” your roof with enough alternative energy to heat and cool your home. What if soldiers in the field could carry an energy source in a roll of plastic wrap in their backpacks?
Harvesting tornadoes as power plants; renewable wind vortex energy October 9, 2005
Engineers are working to use artificial tornadoes as a renewable energy source according to an article in last week’s issue of The Economist. Storms release a tremendous amount of energy. Hurricane Katrina, a category 4 hurricane, released enough energy to supply the world’s power needs for a year, while the typical tornado produces as much power as a large power station.
Danish researchers develop hydrogen tablet; stores hydrogen in inexpensive and safe material September 21, 2005
Scientists at the Technical University of Denmark have invented a technology which may be an important step towards the hydrogen economy: a hydrogen tablet that effectively stores hydrogen in an inexpensive and safe material. With the new hydrogen tablet, it becomes much simpler to use the environmentally-friendly energy of hydrogen. Hydrogen is a non-polluting fuel, but since it is a light gas it occupies too much volume, and it is flammable. Consequently, effective and safe storage of hydrogen has challenged researchers world-wide for almost three decades. At the Technical University of Denmark, DTU, an interdisciplinary team has developed a hydrogen tablet which enables storage and transport of hydrogen in solid form.
High oil prices make Asia pursue green energy September 9, 2005
For energy-hungry Asian governments, the answer could literally be blowing in the wind. Across the region, renewable energy such as solar, wind and geothermal power is gaining ever greater credence as a way to curb the region’s appetite for oil and cut runaway import bills. With oil prices near $70, and expected by many analysts to stay over $50 through the end of 2006, governments believe alternative energy will help keep their economies growing.
Cockroaches and rats used as batteries? August 24, 2005
An article in today’s Manilla Times highlights some local research into using common household pests as energy sources. A group of scientists from Feati University recently devised a biological fue
Ken asks…
How do you feel about Nuclear power plants as a source of energy?
I have yet to make up my mind on Nuclear Energy, I would just like to see how you feel about it. I know some facts, but I would like to gain more knowlege. Also what are your ideas on Cold Fission?
Also if you could give you age that would be helpful, by all means you do not have to. -Thank you for your time.
admin answers:
The greatest technological challenge of the 21st century is to meet energy demand in an environmentally sustainable way. Nuclear energy is a carbon free energy; however, current fission technology leaves a deadly legacy – radioactive waste that is toxic for tens of thousands of years. To put the energy demands of humans in perspective with nuclear energy, please see the lecture by Nate Lewis (California Institute of Technology). In 2006, humans are consuming energy at a rate of about 14TW (14 trillion watts). Using current technology, in order to generate 10TW of energy, we would have to build a new reactor every single day for the next 50 years. This would be a monumental effort in stupidity and futility. Furthermore, this would not meet growing energy demand, which is predicted to be ~28TW in the year 2050. The clearest alternatives are wind energy and solar energy. Practically, wind energy used globally can potentially provide ~2TW energy, meaning that solar energy is going to be our primary energy source. The energy that strikes the Earth in 1 hour as sunlight is enough to provide humanity’s energy needs for 1 year (~14TW). However, this energy is diffuse, and we still need to develop low cost, efficient methods to convert solar energy to fuels and electricity. Research is progressing rapidly in this topic. The world needs to committ massive resources to this right now.
The second part of your question relates to cold fusion. Interestingly, fusion is the source of sunlight, so using solar energy, is in a way, using fusion energy (we don’t have to worry about the problems of containment and generating fusion pressures and temperatures). There are a few research projects around the world that are working on finding useful methods for controlling fusion reactions for energy. Perhaps the most well known involves a giant room with thousands of high energy lasers that are focused at a pelletized source of fusionable material. In this scheme, the energy input from the lasers initiates fusion. This technology is promising, but is far from being economical. Research efforts should continue.
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Sustainable Energy – Without the Hot Air
 | Addressing the sustainable energy crisis in an objective manner, this enlightening book analyzes the relevant numbers and organizes a plan for change on both a personal level and an international scale—for Europe, the United States, and the world. In case study format, this informative reference answers questions surrounding nuclear energy, the potential of sustainable fossil fuels, and the possibilities of sharing renewable power with foreign countries. While underlining the difficulty of mi | |
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Your Questions About Renewable Energy For Kids
Laura asks…
What is a good industry to invest in or start a business in?
My goal is to be a multi-billionaire by the time I die. I want to have that much money so I can provide for my kids, grandkids, great-grandkids, etc, and so they have millions or billions of dollars, can get a good education, and so on.
I am thinking going into the oil business or shipping business and possibly starting new businesses in those sectors is not such a bad idea.
admin answers:
Do clean renewable energy start a research company that only researches and/or funds those kinds of projects. Screw the oil assholes they are the problem anyways they have screwed up our world already see the weather changes
James asks…
How familiar are you with using solar electricity to power a residential house?
I was wondering how much the average person knows about using the suns energy to power the average residential home…
Do you know of any countries that already use the sun to power homes?
please tell me where you are from as well please…
thankyou!
admin answers:
Hey 0077, to answer your primary question, I am quite familiar with solar power. We’ve been powering our home from the wind and sun for 11 years now, and for the last 5 or 6 years, we’ve been going into the local schools and doing seminars on the subject. In some cases, the schools have loaded a bus with kids and brought them out to our home to see it first hand. As for your second question, the average homeowner knows about as much about solar power as they do about the furnace in their basement. Unfortunately, this is where the technology has fallen down. Lots of people want to build a new home, and talk to the builder about solar power. Frequently they are told, “Solar doesn’t work,” or, “Solar is prohibitively expensive.” Generally this is all they need to hear, and the panels are taken off the house plan.
Solar is not for everyone, or everyplace. Just because a home has solar panels does not mean they don’t have an electric bill, and that says nothing to the fact that a stand alone solar home that does not have access to utility power has to live with a finite amount of electricity. What do they do on a cloudy week? Most stand alone homes, like ours was, use both wind and solar. The reason for this is that the two compliment each other quite well. In the summer, we have long sunny days, but little wind. In the fall and winter, we have short cloudy days, and high winds. When you have a shortage of one, there is generally a surplus of the other. Trying to decide between the two technologies is like trying to decide between a 3 passenger pickup truck and an 8 passenger van as your sole family car. Each has its advantages, but it probably makes sense for a two car family to have one of each.
There is also the fact that lots of people like to grow their own tomatoes, even if it is cheaper to buy them at the market. They have to learn all about watering, bugs, soil ph and weeding. People who live in a solar powered home have a similar curse, they can tell you just how much sun shined last November, and how much power the stereo uses down to the last watthour. Any self respecting homeowner wouldn’t bother with the solar power, or the tomatoes, they would simply buy vegetables at the store, and electricity from the power company, and then sit home and complain about the price and quality of each. That used to be me, now I’m the other guy.
So no, the average homeowner does not know much about solar power, or furnaces. Most homes have furnaces, not many have solar panels. I wish they had both. In the 11 years we have had both, I can tell you that once solar power is installed, it is generally care free. We are on our third wind turbine here, and even though the last one is working better than the first two, it has had its moments. It has shut down 3 times, and had to be repaired twice. In all that time, my first solar panel has continued to make electricity, and I’ve never turned a screw on it or added a drop of oil. Yet, everyone I talk to about renewable energy wants to learn more about wind turbines it seems. They are neat, they move, they seem to have their own personality. They just require tall towers and routine maintenance. So does a car, and almost everyone has one of those too.
Many countries use solar power, almost all of them in fact, you just never hear about it, or see the panels in service. In the US alone there are over 100,000 homes and businesses using some level of solar power right now to operate at least some of their loads. That number is getting bigger as you read this by the way. I’ll list some sources you can check out below if you want to learn more. Take care 0077, Rudydoo
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Aveda Aveda by Aveda Control Force Hair Spray for Unisex, 9 Ounce
 | Our firmest hold hair spray offers long-lasting hold and humidity defense for all hair types-and has a net-zero climate impact.* All-day firm hold and 24-hour humidity defense Fast-drying, non-flaking formula UV filters and anti-oxidants Organic essential oils of Bulgarian lavender, bergamot, palmarosa, and vetiver-calming aroma *Through Aveda's funding of renewable energy to offset the CO2 associated with the manufacturing, transportation and use of Aveda aerosol hair sprays. 9.1 oz | |
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solar cable 100′ bulk PV wire
 | solar cable 100' bulk PV wire #10 AWG 600/ 1000 V rated Double insulated.
High Quality USA made Cable. | |
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Renewable Energy Systems, Second Edition: A Smart Energy Systems Approach to the Choice and Modeling of 100% Renewable Solutions
 | In this new edition of Renewable Energy Systems, globally recognized renewable energy researcher and professor, Henrik Lund, sets forth a straightforward, comprehensive methodology for comparing different energy systems' abilities to integrate fluctuating and intermittent renewable energy sources. The book does this by presenting an energy system analysis methodology and offering a freely available accompanying software tool, EnergyPLAN, which automates and simplifies the calculations supportin | |
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Sunforce 50012 1.8-Watt Solar Battery Maintainer
 | The Sunforce 50012 1.8-Watt Solar Battery Maintainer is the perfect solution for charging the batteries of motorcycles, automobiles, snowmobiles, tractors and more. Made of durable ABS plastic and amorphous solar cells, this unit charges in all daylight conditions, even on cloudy days. Constructed with a built-in blocking diode to prevent reverse discharge, this solar panel is easy to install and completely maintenance-free. Just plug this solar charger into your vehicle's 12-volt lighter socke | |
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Your Questions About Sustainable Energy Fund
Mark asks…
What is predicted to happen to the gas prices in california? will it ever drop?
What is predicted to happen to the gas prices in california? will it ever drop?
right now its like 5 bucks a gallon. is the price predicted to rise? when will the price start dropping again? which president do you think will help us stabilize our economy again and have decent prices for gas in california? it is outrageous.
maybe something bout US owning Antarctica? will that help the gas prices become more stable?
admin answers:
Sorry but high gas prices are here to stay until such a time exists that demand significantly decreases due to other options. The US produces about 3% of the oil on the market and we use about 25% of what is consumed worldwide. Today, China and India have a growing demand for cars and gas. Gas prices are about $9 a gallon in Europe so we really don’t have much room to complain. Both McCain and Obama will have their work cut out for them. Drilling off-shore will have no effect on gas prices for a long, long time other than some sort of immediate feel good sensation that our leaders are doing something. It will take 10 years before off-shore drilling will yield a drop. The best solution is for you and I to reduce our individual consumption and then support policies through your voting habits that fund alternative energy, conservation and sustainable living. The way I do that is to consolidate my car trips and my husband and I ride our bicycles to work. We thought about mileage when we purchased our vehicle 2 years ago, knowing that gas prices would go up (how could you not know???? I’ve known since I the oil embargo of 1973 and I was only 11!!!!) We live in the mountain southwest where it snows heavily in winter so we need an SUV and got a Honda Element, which is very fuel efficient. We voted to increase our sales tax locally to expand city bus service. The initiative passed and we hope to take the bus to work by next summer. The bottom line is that American lifestyles are going to have to change. Some people might tell you that such changes will set us down the road to a socialist way of life similar to Europe. Well I have traveled in Europe extensively and I don’t see them complaining about riding bicycles on municipally maintained bike paths and lanes or using public transit, which is fantastic. My travels suggest to me that middle class Europeans manage pretty well, despite having to pay $9 a gallon and use buses and trains to get to work and school. This is not outrageous, this is the real world.
William asks…
What are the benefits and limitations of the current method if nuclear waste disposal?
It is a long question.
If possible, please add details. If possible, because beggars can’t be choosers. I’d be thankful if you just wrote a sentence as long as it answers my question. Hell, I’d be thankful if you wrote a word.
This might be redundant, but thank you in advance for the people who answer.
admin answers:
A very important question due to the fact that the current method of dealing with high level radioactive waste is to safely contain it or isolate it from the human environment.
In fact to date, there is still no long term solution on how to safely dispose of radioactive nuclear waste.
What the governments don’t want us to know is:
1) Nuclear power is not as clean as they portray it to be.
2) Governments spend ten of millions of our tax dollars annually to promote nuclear energy as “clean”.
3) Tritium a by-product from nuclear power plants is routinely released into the air and water as a gas,; no filtering is economically feasible.
(Tritium is a carcinogen, causes radiogenic cancers, birth defects and genetic mutations)
4) Nuclear power is not sustainable technology.
5) Greenhouse gas emissions and environmental degradation due to uranium mining, milling and enrichment, transportation to power plants and storage facilities and storage maintenance is poisoning life on earth.
6) In the United States alone, geological data confirms that there are over 4,000 open pit and underground uranium mines, generating approximately 3 billion metric tons of toxic waste.
7) There is no safe storage or disposal solutions for the radioactive nuclear waste we produce on a daily basis.
8) Nuclear waste from spent fuel rods will remain radioactive for hundreds of thousands if not millions of years!
9) Nuclear power facilities worldwide are at risk of being attacked and or sabotaged as they make the perfect deadly weapon.
10) The term “Isolation” from the environment is relative due to the fact that radiation from the spent fuel will eventually be released into the biosphere over time.
The extreme longevity of nuclear waste is the one reason why we should not be producing it at all.
Until we discover a way to dispose of it safely or illiminate the waste completely a moratorium on the building of any more nuclear power facilities should be enforced.
Much research and funding has gone into the finding a viable solution to the nuclear waste problem.
Some of the proposals which have been very controversial and opposed have been;
Disposal of the radioactive waste deep below the earths surface in mined repositories deemed geologically sound.
This is the actual legal designated form of disposal to date, though it has not been demonstrated to be technically safe or infallable.
There have been other proposals in the past such as, shooting it up into space and burying it up underneath the polar ice caps.
One of the most troubling and insane ideas has been to bury it underneath the bedrock on the oceans floor. It would be almost impossible to monitor and it would take only one mistake to release and poison the earths oceans for millions of years.
Nuclear waste has been kept out of the publics mind and out of sight for the most part. This is done intentionally to avoid any opposition or public “watchdog” reviews.
It is the future of the planet that we are choosing to ignore when we let government and corporations take control of such an important issue. The nuclear power industry has only one objective, to make money! To promote their industry.
The more nuclear power plants built, the more radioactive waste the earth is going to be contaminated with.
Our future generations will be burdened with monitoring the millions of storage facilities littering the face of the earth.
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Sunforce 50013 1-Watt Motorcycle and Powersports Solar Battery Charger
 | The Sunforce 50013 1-Watt Power Sports Charger is the perfect solution for charging the batteries of motorcycles, personal water crafts, ATVs, snowmobiles and more. Constructed with amorphous solar cells, this solar panel is maintenance-free and extremely easy to install. With its built-in overcharge / discharge protection, this top of the line solar panel works in all daylight conditions to keep your batteries charged. The complete kit includes: 8 ft. of wire connected to the solar panel, 8 ft. | |
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Enphase-ECWP-01-20
 | Enphase AC Interconnect Cable with One Plug 20' ECWP-01-20 ECWP-G2-20-Enphase-ECWP-01-20 | |
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Renewable Energy Integration: Practical Management of Variability, Uncertainty and Flexibility in Power Grids
 | Renewable Energy Integration is a ground-breaking new resource - the first to offer a distilled examination of the intricacies of integrating renewables into the power grid and electricity markets. It offers informed perspectives from internationally renowned experts on the challenges to be met and solutions based on demonstrated best practices developed by operators around the world. The book's focus on practical implementation of strategies provides real-world context for theoretical underpi | |
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Your Questions About Renewable Energy
Betty asks…
why is it important to have renewable energy?
Which types of renewable energy are being utilized in the US and which are in the “design” phase?
admin answers:
One type of renewable energy for cars is the hydrogen fuel cell. Hydrogen is all around us making it easy to get, plus as an added bonus it doesn’t emit any CO2 emissions. The only thing that comes out of the exhaust is water. Honda has released a hydrogen fuel cell car for lease. It’s called the Honda FCX Clarity. There are four problems that need to be overcome with this source of energy. One is to make hydrogen fuel pumps easily available. Two is to make the car travel more than two hundred miles before refueling. Third is to make the Hydrogen more safe to transport. Hydrogen is more combustional than gasoline. And forth is to make the hydrogen cost a less.
Chris asks…
I am looking for renewable energy companies that trade on the stock market?
Does any one know any renewable Energy companies that trade on the stock market. I am having a hard time finding them.
Do you have any idea how I can find any more names?
admin answers:
Yahoo Finance or MSN Money are good and free tools you can use. Just search for ‘renewable energy’ or ‘green’ companies. Good example of one start up that is getting lots of attention is Beacon Corp (BCON).
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K’NEX Education – Renewable Energy Set
 | Go green and bring STEM concepts to life with the K'NEX Education Renewable Energy Set! Designed to address critical science, technology and engineering concepts in the middle school classroom, this set provides instructional models that will enhance students' understanding of real-world issues. Students will work together to learn about alternatives to fossil fuel energies as they construct and evaluate several models powered by wind, water, and solar power. Using K'NEX pieces, a solar panel, m | |
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qs_95201_10 Danita Delimont – Energy – USA, Washington, Wind turbines energy – US48 CCR0118 – Charles Crust – Quilt Squares – 25×25 inch quilt square
 | USA, Washington, Wind turbines energy - US48 CCR0118 - Charles Crust Quilt Square is a great way to create, showcase and remember a meaningful moment. Overall size is 10" x 10" with 7.5" x 7.5" image. Made of 100% poloyester that will not fade with washing. | |
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Sunforce 37180 180W Grid Tied Solar Panel
 | Create your own power and save on electricity bills. The Sunforce 180 Watt Grid Tied Solar Panel is completely maintenance free and easy to install. The panel is UL listed and qualifies for all government and state incentives and rebates. It has high efficiency Monocrystalline solar cells, and 3.2 mm low Iron tempered glass. The frame is anodized aluminum alloy, and can withstand rigorous weather conditions. High quality junction box with MC4 connectors. Max Power (Pmax) 180 watt. | |
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