Alternative sources of energy
Energy from renewable sources, such as the sun, wind and water, emit little or no carbon and could play a role in addressing climate change. In an ideal world, energy would be limitless, affordable, and clean. Of course, the real world isn’t always ideal. Today, most of the world’s population gets its energy from carbon-based fuels […]
Sourse: Alternative sources of energy
Solar Photovoltaic Electricity to hit the Power Grid?
The generation of electricity from solar energy could not have been possible without the discovery of the photoelectric effect in 1839 by Becquerel (described by Einstein in his 1905 paper for which he later received the Nobel price). In 1954 the first silicon based solar cell was invented at Bell Labs and subsequently applied in the Vanguard I space satellite in 1958 where solar cells generated 1Watt of electrical power to drive the radios of the satellite. Since the Bell solar cell, that achieved 4% efficiency, the photovoltaic (PV) research focus has been on improving the efficiency of the conversion as well as lowering the costs of the device.Recently Stephen O’Rourke, a research analyst from Deutsche Bank,[1] as well as others[2]have put statements forward such as in what year electricity generated by solar panels would achieve “grid parity”. Grid parity is reached when the cost price of PV generated electricity starts to compete with the local retail price of the centrally generated grid electricity. Of course this would be without any (government) incentives. Important economic parameters solar systems are:
- - cost per Watt at module level (depends very strongly on the technology used and on the efficiency)
- - cost per Watt at system level (depends on the cost at module level and the costs of the downstream equipment, can be as high as $7/Watt for a residential system)
- - cost per kWh produced (depends on the two line items above and in addition on the lifetime of the entire system, i.e. how many kWh will be cumulatively be produced)
Sourse: Solar Photovoltaic Electricity to hit the Power Grid?
Renewable Energy Awareness Day this Saturday in Sedona.
If you’re not in downtown celebrating Phoenix Public Market’s 3rd year, then you should be heading down to Sedona for their Renewable Energy Awareness Day at the Sedona Public Library. There will be much to see there covering:
o Solar power
o Geo-exchange
o Recycling
o Interior Design and Renovations
o Electric Vehicles
o Energizing your home and much more
Check out this article about it over at Sedona.biz. Click here.
Los Alamos scientists propose turning CO2 into gasoline
Apparently it’s not rocket science to do this but it would require a lot of power so they are proposing creating a nuclear-powered gasoline generation plant that would convert carbon dioxide into gas.
Just one more technology solution to throw into the mix. This one becomes viable when gas at the pump hits $4.60/gallon. The national average cost a year ago was $2.26, today its around $3.20 but oil closed above $100/barrel yesterday for the first time so that $4+ number could happen this year.
The economics of alternative energy sources get a lot more compelling as prices rise, just as do those of public transportation.
Sourse: Los Alamos scientists propose turning CO2 into gasoline
New Hydrogen
Washington, DC - The National Hydrogen Association’s Hydrogen Education Foundation has launched a nationwide educational campaign to increase understanding about hydrogen. The initiative includes targeted public relations and the new, informative website: www.H2andYou.org. The website has been designed to act as a destination for those wanting to learn more about hydrogen while highlighting, in laymen’s terms, new ways hydrogen is being used today and how these uses relate to things people really care about. The site will answer common questions; present examples of market-ready hydrogen products that provide real energy solutions today; and offer video, podcasts and links to hydrogen news stories.
“While many people identify hydrogen as a universal alternative fuel, in general, the public doesn’t yet understand how hydrogen can relate to them,” says Jeffrey A. Serfass, President of the National Hydrogen Association and the Hydrogen Education Foundation. “The H2 and You program is designed to help anyone grasp how hydrogen can be made and how its adoption is already having a positive impact on our lives.”
Hydrogen, a universal, highly adaptable fuel, is present in water, plants, minerals and all living things. Thanks to modern technologies, the energy from virtually any natural resource can be converted to hydrogen and then put to work for things we use every day, helping them operate more cleanly and efficiently. Just how clean hydrogen is, over its entire lifecycle, depends mainly on how it is produced. H2 and You will explain the full range of options for producing hydrogen and putting it to work.
H2 and You also highlights hydrogen’s current applications. For example:
- Cell phone towers are currently using hydrogen fuel cells, made by NHA members like Ballard Power, to supply back-up power in the event of electrical outages. Fuel cells using hydrogen for back-up power are being used in hospitals, credit card processing facilities and other critcal sectors that need to run 24-hours a day.
- Some of the heavy-duty trucks on America’s roads today are partially fueled by hydrogen. The hydrogen systems reduce pollution from the trucks by 15 to 75%.
- Companies like Wal-Mart have adopted hydrogen-fueled forklifts indoors to increase productivity and reduce greenhouse gases.
- Auto manufacturers like Toyota, General Motors, Daimler, Honda and BMW have been testing pre-commercial hydrogen vehicles — many of which are already in the hands of consumers.
- For more examples visit www.h2andyou.org.
“One of the things we would like people to take away from our H2 and You campaign is the significance of hydrogen energy and how its long-term adoption can benefit us all,” said Serfass. “Hydrogen will play a substantial role in the areas of greater energy security, a cleaner environment and stronger economic growth.”
To see new hydrogen products in person, come to the NHA Annual Hydrogen Conference and Hydrogen Expo US in Sacramento, CA March 30-April 3, 2008. You will have opportunities to see working hydrogen fuel cells, drive hydrogen cars and take rides in hydrogen buses. For more information, visit www.HydrogenAssociation.org or Google “hydrogen conference.”
Sourse: NHA Press Release: New Hydrogen Website
Crude oil hits $100 a barrel for the third time this year
Crude-oil futures hit $100 a barrel for the third time this year on Tuesday, as concerns that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries may cut production boosted prices. Crude for March delivery soared nearly 5% to $100.10 a barrel in late afternoon trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Crude touched $100 a barrel in the first session of January and topped the historic mark in the second session.
Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.
Sourse: Crude oil hits $100 a barrel for the third time this year
What Do The Presidential Candidates Think of Solar Energy? Mike Huckabee
Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee is hanging in there. So what’s his position on solar energy?
Mike Huckabee’s stance on environmental policy centers solely on energy independence. From his point of view, energy independence is a vehicle toward national security. He supports activities that promote energy independence: solar power, nuclear power, “clean coal,” natural gas, and biofuels.
Unlike McCain, Huckabee does not necessarily believe global warming is the result of human activity. Instead Huckabee is motivated to protect the earth for religious reasons. In a MSNBC hosted Republican debate in 2007, Huckabee expressed his view on how the environment relates to global warming, “our responsibility to God means to be good stewards of this earth, be good caretakers of the natural resources that don’t belong to us we just get to use them, we have no right to abuse them.” (Check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep0DGbrwdzw if you’re interested in hearing Huckabee’s view firsthand.)
Huckabee’s campaign website is light on specifics on how he will achieve his plans toward energy independence. He does, however, set forth a bold plan: “The first thing I will do as President is send Congress my comprehensive plan for energy independence. I’ll use the bully pulpit to inform you about the plan and ask for your support . . . The plan will get underway during my first term, and we will achieve energy independence by the end of my second term.”
Sourse: What Do The Presidential Candidates Think of Solar Energy? Mike Huckabee
WY State CBM Study: Sometimes, Water is More Precious than Gas
Coal bed methane production in Wyoming sometimes doesn’t produce any gas, but does produce plenty of controversy because of the large volumes of water that come from the projects. A new scientific review from the Wyoming State Geological Survey shows some of that controversy could be avoided because the water/gas ratios can be predicted.
The agency also recommends production be banned in some areas, because there is so little gas. Jill Morrison, with the Powder River Basin Resource Council, agrees. She’s hopeful the science can help manage development to avoid legal wrangling and politically-charged skirmishes.
Read the entire story here:
http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/4368-1
Sourse: WY State CBM Study: Sometimes, Water is More Precious than Gas
Solar cell directly splits water for hydrogen
Plants trees and algae do it. Even some bacteria and moss do it, but scientists have had a difficult time developing methods to turn sunlight into useful fuel. Now, Penn State researchers have a proof-of-concept device that can split water and produce recoverable hydrogen.
“This is a proof-of-concept system that is very inefficient. But ultimately, catalytic systems with 10 to 15 percent solar conversion efficiency might be achievable,” says Thomas E. Mallouk, the DuPont Professor of Materials Chemistry and Physics. “If this could be realized, water photolysis would provide a clean source of hydrogen fuel from water and sunlight.”
It’s not a silver bullet for all of mankind’s energy problems, but it had to happen, right? Use this link for the full press release
Correction Regarding Water4Gas Alternative Gas Solution
The clarification having to do with Water4Gas alternative fuel solution, it is that we are not actually an alternative fuel solution. We are a BOOSTER. Now, factually, in the information package that you can buy from one of my links there are blueprints they do show you various methods that some folks have discovered which allow you to substitute hydrogen for gas altogether. And you are welcome to try them on your own responsibility.
But this is not our focus. Our focus is to get you improving fuel economy If we can bring about improving fuel economy by at least twelve percent that will save you more cash in a few months then what you spent on our information. And the for the rest of forever you will continue saving, meanwhile your automobile should run better and you will have cleaner emissions which is better for the environment. If we can get you 50% or greater fuel economy then I am sure you would be satisfied with that. Results vary significantly from one automobile to the next and we are not making any promises. You might say that our motto is “no promises/no secrets”
We are NOT attempting to make cars run on Hydrogen energy. We just take EXCESS energy from the automobile’s battery or alternator (in other words very low current that the engine does not feel) and employ this electricity to generate a tiny amount of Hydrogen per minute. The hydrogen helps split the gas/air mixture droplets intosmaller particles – thus helping it burn more efficiently and less wastefully.
Now HOW do we do it? This is explained in the information in the ebooks. Water is getting split into Oxygen and Hydrogen with an uncomplicated home-made device, and fed into the UNCONVERTED engine (same gas system, same computer, etc.) It’s just an ENHANCER. The automobile isn’t running on Hydrogen. The automobile runs on gas!!!
Water4Gas is NOT about hydrogen as a source of energy. It is about consuming gas a little bit better by reducing its droplet size in the gas/air mixture from the use of a TINY amount of Hydrogen+Oxygen.
Sourse: Correction Regarding Water4Gas Alternative Gas Solution
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