sustainable energy technologies

Your Questions About Sustainable Energy Technologies

Mary asks…

What are the significant roles of energy in the economic and social progress of a country?

what i mean in the “energy” is the energy like electricity… not the one that is the ability to do work..

thanks.. ^_^

admin answers:

The historical role of energy use in the social and economic progress of mankind is reviewed and related to current energy policy issues.

The conflicting aims of energy conservation and of economic growth are analyzed in some detail with particular reference to the developments following the 1973-74 oil embargo and precipitous increase in world oil prices.

The growing importance of natural gas in the world energy balance is considered in the light of difficulties encountered when supply can no longer meet growing demand and decisions have to be made on alternate means of supplementation.

In this regard, the issue of the relative economics of electric energy supply and the direct use of hydrocarbon fuels from either petroleum or synthetic sources will be considered

Energy is essential to economic and social development and improved quality of life. However, sustainable patterns of production, distribution and use of energy are crucial. Fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) will continue to dominate the energy supply situation for many years to come in most developed and developing countries. What is required then is to reduce the environmental impact of their continued development, and to reduce local health hazards and environmental pollution through enhanced international cooperation notably in the provision of concessional finance for capacity development and transfer of the relevant technology, and through appropriatenational action.

In developing countries sharp increases in energy services are required to improve the standard of living of their growing populations. The increase in the level of energy services would have a beneficial impact on poverty eradication by increasing employment opportunities and improving transportation, health and education. Many developing countries, inparticular the least developed, face the urgent need to provide adequate modern energy services, especially to billions of people in rural areas. This requires significant financial, human and technical resources and a broad-based mix of energy sources.

The objectives envisaged in this section should reflect the need for equity, adequate energy supplies and increasing energy consumption in developing countries and should take into account the situation of countries that are highly dependent on income generated from the production, processing and export, and/or consumption of fossil fuels and that have serious difficulties in switching to alternative sources of energy, and the situation of countries highly vulnerable to adverse effects of climate change.

Advances towards sustainable energy use are taking place and all partiescan benefit from progress made in other countries. It is also necessary to ensure international cooperation for promoting energy conservation and improvement of energy efficiency, the use of renewable energy and research,and the development and dissemination of innovative energy-related technology.

David asks…

I WANTED TO KNOW WHICH UNIVERSITY IS BETTER TU DELFT NETHERLANDS OR KTH SWEDEN?

I HAVE RECEIVED ADMISSION TO SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGY AT TU DELFT AND SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGY AT KTH.

I WANNA KNOW WHICH IS BETTER.

admin answers:

Havotf Univerdity

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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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Your Questions About Sustainable Energy Technologies

Michael asks…

What are some sustainable living options? – and some extended details please?

I am doing some homework on designing a poster for Technology Class. I just need some help on what I should choose, they all seem good. I need this ready for the 31st of March. Thanks! And if you cannot answer this question, then you could probably try to answer my other question about using sustainable or renewable energy in our lives 🙂 Thanks!

admin answers:

1. Make compost from all vege waste.
2. Install a composting toilet
3. Grow your own food using the compost.
4. Fully insulate your house
5. Add solar gain to your house like a conservatory
6. Re-use as much as possible
7. Recycle what you don’t re-use.
8. Turn your car into a glass-house to grow tomatoes etc.
9. Ride a bicycle
10. Collect rain water
11. Use water sparingly
12. Go to bed at sunset and get up just before sunrise

Helen asks…

What role should the fed gov’t play in developing alternative energy?

Energy‘s like nuclear, biomass, hydro, hydrogen, solar, wind and others need to be developed to supplement traditional sources. Should and how should the government play a role?

admin answers:

In the US, the federal government should foster research through grants to universities and not-for-profit research organizations. To be feasible on a large scale, there needs to be significant advances in a variety of technologies. Corporate and consumer tax credits will foster consumer momentum to jump-start adoption of new technologies. Currently, many industries are already “going green” due to reduced long-term energy and environmental costs. Additional hydrocarbon taxes can increase this incentive to use sustainable energy. Fostering technology development and innovation utilization is the best role for the federal government.

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Your Questions About Sustainable Energy Technologies

Linda asks…

Who is down for using permaculture and new sustainable energy technology to put corporations out of business?

Come on, now. We can do better than following the destructive plans of corporations and governments.
I’m doing it, and I think you should too.

admin answers:

You are not about to put large corporations out of business. I am just being a realist. They are not ignoring the new technologies, they are using warfare tactics to maintain their place in the market.

Permaculture in itself is not a bad idea, and something you really adopt for other reasons, but don’t expect to put any corporations out of business. More than likely they will be able to push for legislation to outlaw home gardening- and if you read the new “food safety” law- your home gardening days are numbered.

Books you should read:
“Seeds of Deception”
“Seeds of Destruction”

Videos you should watch:
“Sweet Misery” (a history of Aspartame and how it managed to get FDA approval via political leverage.
“The World According to Monsanto”
“Monsanto: Patent for a Pig”
“Food Inc”

And there are many more. Do not expect to see them on US television, the influence of Monsanto is too great for that.

I can hear Granny now- “…Ya aint gettin ma seeds! Ya can try pry my tomato seeds out of my cold dead hands!….”

Lizzie asks…

can anyone give me a Research on a new found sustainable energy? easy 10 points?

I just need to report it tomorrow, i had research this “Technology Harvests Energy from Railroad Train Vibrations” but it is short. Any ideas?

admin answers:

Look into the fairweather field…it is an electric field that is around us all the time. A very long looped wire simply placed in this electric field experiences a current.

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Your Questions About Sustainable Energy Technologies

Mandy asks…

who are the recruiters in TU delft?

I am planning to do masters in Sustainable Energy Technology in TU Delft in Netherlands. Does anyone know who are recruiters for this major and wat is the probability of getting a job.

admin answers:

Try this http://www.tudelft.nl/live/pagina.jsp?id=bc51ddac-9f4f-441a-a32b-1ad738a2f317&lang=en

John asks…

What is the importance of entropy to the study of energy technology?

what is the relationship of entropy to the energy technology

admin answers:

The 2nd Law of thermodynamic: since entropy never decreases there are always heat losses in energy systems. The importance of technology that minimizes that loss to sustainable life-style, and eventually to mankind’s survival, is seen as a simple equation.

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Your Questions About Sustainable Energy Technologies

Chris asks…

Is nuclear energy resource is a clean,cold and sustainable energy technology to fueling the future?

How would u challenge to innovate alternative energy technology to renewable energy resources at cheap price?

admin answers:

Nuclear energy is not “cold”, I am not sure what you meant by that. The whole principle of how muclear energy is used to generate electrcity relies on the fact that it gives off a lot of heat.

It is also not too clean either. The depleted nuclear waste posses a problem of where to dispose of it. It will stay radio active for hundreds of thousands of years, so whereever you put it it needs to be out of the way and secure. Right now, the government is planning to store the stock piles of nuclear waste deep underground under Yucca Mountain (in Nevada I think), but there is a lot of debate over this.

As for sustainable, perhaps not in the long run. There is only so much fissionable material on Earth, it will run out eventually just like fossil fuels. A more long term nuclear energy sourse would rely on fusion, not fission, but this has yet to be practical.

Donald asks…

Is our gasoline dependence a matter of national security?

I think we should demand energy independence from our politicians — including a defined commitment toward sustainable, renewable energy technologies. Do you think that this should be part of any candidate’s platform?

admin answers:

How about like Drilling at Anwr and other US points and Build more Refineries ( the real Bottle neck in this Oil rich world) The problem with renewable (soundbite name) is it is not well though out. Like the Corn Idea! A gallon of Corn ethonol gives you Worse Milage meaning More Pollution and less efficiancy. Hydrogen is a decade away at best and here is the Big Problem. Like in the 70’s ( according to Dad) solar and other sources were Moving along due to High gas prices and as soon as they started to make in roads Oil went down enough to make them too expensive. SO here we go again we come up with a trillion dollar Hyrdogen answer and OPEC reduces oil to 10 cents a gallon and everybody runs! We need to let the Market drive it or we will play this game forever LAWS ( and Politico’s) cannot do it.

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