FORUM: Alternative Energy — Converting to clean, renewable energy sources
To get things started, here are some links regarding the work of Stanford professor Dr. Mark Z. Jacobson
- A path to sustainable energy by 2030 (Scientific American, November 2009) (pdf).
- Providing all global energy with wind, water and solar power, Part I: Technologies, energy resources, quantities and areas of infrastructure, and materials (Energy Policy, 2011) (pdf-Part I)
- Providing all global energy with wind, water and solar power, Part II: Reliability, system and transmission costs, and policies (Energy Policy, 2011) (pdf-Part II)
- Spreadsheet accompanying Parts I and II (xls-Spreadsheet)
- Energy and Environmental Science article ranking energy solutions to global warming, air pollution, and energy security (link)
- Studies on matching hourly and peak demand by combining renewables (link)
- Studies on wind energy resources and transmission (link)
- April 20, 2012 Tri-Agency (NSF-NOAA-NASA) PI Meeting Presentation (pptx)
- November 14, 2011 HEAL Utah Presentation (pptx) (video)
- May 16, 2011 Seminar, Woods Institute for the Environment (video)
- February 4, 2011 Seminar, Cornell University (video)
- January 13, 2011 Stanford Grid Integration Workshop Presentation (pptx)
- TED/CNN debates on renewables versus nuclear (link)
- April 1, 2008 U.S. House of Representatives hearing. Rep. Jay Inslee tells Exxon-Mobil executive that the vision in the “Renewable Energy Solution to Global Warming” by the Atmosphere/Energy Program at Stanford University is “one that the United States really needs” (starting at 1:35:00 in hearing video) (video) (transcript)
- February 7, 2012 op-ed (invited), “Securing public health forever with clean energy” (link)
h/t chemfood, MaidenHeaven
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- FORUM: Post Your Radiation Monitoring Data Here December 4, 2012
- FORUM: Petitions, Ballot Initiatives, Other Signature Drives (VIDEO) September 1, 2012
- FORUM: Possible Fukushima-related Anomalies — Deformations, Yellow Rain, Metallic Taste in Mouth, etc. September 1, 2012
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The good news is that renewables are taking hold. The ball is rolling and it is preparing itself to roll right on over nuclear and squash the life out of it forever…
Wind power surpasses hydro for the first time ever in Northwest region
File this one under symbolically significant events, or things that sometimes work the way they're supposed to.
Last Tuesday morning, wind farms plugged into the Bonneville Power Administration's transmission network hit a new generation record of 4,289 megawatts. In fact, earlier the same morning, wind farms exceeded the output of the federal hydroelectric system — the first time that wind energy surpassed water energy in the region.
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2012/10/wind_power_surpasses_hydro_for.html
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Renewables, the other energy future, get used to it…
Solar, Wind Account For All New US Electricity in September
n September, all new electricity generating capacity added in the US came from solar and wind.
Five wind projects totalling 300 megawatts (MW) and 18 solar projects for 133 MW were added, according to the latest "Energy Infrastructure Update" from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's Office of Energy Projects.
http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/24212?utmsource=feedburnerutmmedium=feedutmcampaign=Feed3ASBGeneralNews28SustainableBusiness.comGeneralNews29
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Jebus, i find the newer wind turbine models, i think they are called vertical axis turbines, even more promising. They are much more bird and bat friendly and the over vibrating from spinning too fast because they can take on a lot of wind more efficiently is being worked out. They can also install on roof tops or be built large and located together for long overland transmission. There is another new concept that i need to take a closer look into about the transmission power lines, local generation of power, etc. It's kind of a different approach to the current grid. Are you familiar with this? I live not too far from the Gorge and have driven by some of the wind turbines that achieved the surpassing of hydro.
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Admin! Check in please. See satellite map
http://fukushima-diary.com/2012/10/express-cloud-is-lined-above-the-border-of-crustal-plate/#comment-424076
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Any fool can make something more complex but it takes real genius to make things simple again, says Robin Wood, traditional bowlturner.
Take a look into his wonderful workshop and admire real craftsmanship:
http://greenwood-carving.blogspot.com.es/2012/10/any-fool-can-make-something-more.html
*inspired, BnB
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Nice post BnB….Yes..sometimes less is more.
A concept that might prove helpful in the future.
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Hi HotR, I'll treat myself to one of his bowls for Christmas, I just decided….
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@ BnB.. Great idea..sweet…
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The Saltire Prize
A challenge to the world.
Win 10 Million British Pound prize (~$16 Million U.S.)
National Geographic video:
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/news/environment-news/saltire-prize-vin/
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Solar Industry Grows 13.2 Percent, Adds 13K Jobs
According to TSF’s National Solar Jobs Census 2012, the U.S. solar industry added 13,872 jobs between September 2011 and September 2012. Bringing the total of employed solar industry workers to 119,016, this leap represents a 13.2 growth in employment. In comparison, the overall economy poked along at a sluggish 2.3 percent during the same time period, according to information obtained from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In a press release issued by TSF, Executive Director Andrea Luecke said, “The solar industry has grown at significantly higher rates than most other industries in the past several years, making it one of the foremost creators of new jobs in the United States. These new solar industry jobs are sustainable, cannot be outsourced and play a critical role in our country’s economic recovery.”
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2012/11/solar-industry-grows-13-2-percent-adds-13k-jobs
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Wind Farm Operating Costs Fall 38% in Four Years, BNEF Says
The average price of operation and maintenance contracts for onshore farms this year slid to 19,200 euros ($25,000) a megawatt from 30,900 euros in 2008, Bloomberg New Energy Finance said today. It took data from 38 developers and service providers in more than 24 markets for its first O&M Price Index.
“Wind power has done much to improve its competitiveness against gas-fired and coal-fired generation in recent years via lower-cost, more technically advanced turbines and more sophisticated siting and management,” Michael Liebreich, chief executive officer of London-based BNEF, said in the statement.
Declining costs for servicing wind farms are positive for developers of projects, which are suffering from subsidy cuts across Europe and the U.S. Service agreements are also an important additional revenue stream for turbine makers such as Vestas, the world’s largest turbine-maker.
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2012/11/wind-farm-operating-costs-fall-38-in-four-years-bnef-says
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Not a self plug – the non-commercial blog has no ads or profit….some US folks, especially need to get off the Energy Company's escalator to hell… They're my actual bills, a 10th of the previous renter here…..how to quit smoking too…
http://my.opera.com/Horncastle/blog/2012/08/08/improving-your-health
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FYI, Pike Research released a report on Nov 1, saying that they were projecting North America to add 400 GW of renewable capacity between 2012 and 2015. If you take the capacity factor of renewable at 0.3, that comes to 120 GW of production at any given time.
Since nuclear has a capacity factor of 0.9, the renewable power added during this period is equivalent to 133 GW of nuclear. That means the new renewable projected to be added in 2012 to 2015 would be about 108% of what nuclear produces on the continent.
Pike Research is a division of Navigant, a company on the NY stock exchange, which specializes in market projections to minimize risk for large companies. The axe it grinds is accuracy. An article is here:
http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/11/01/north-america-will-lead-the-world-in-new-smart-ene/
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I love my State. Wave energy to happen off Oregon Coast. Yeah!!!
http://earthfix.opb.org/energy/article/next-wave-in-energy-planned-off-oregon-coast/
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The untold facts and the trend of the future…
Media Fails to Report Solar, Wind Successes from Obama's Policies
In the second presidential debate, President Barack Obama mentioned that electricity generation from wind and solar have doubled during his administration.
This was a bold claim but may also be an understatement. Wind power capacity in the United States has slightly more than doubled to 51.6 gigawatts (GW) in the last three years and nine months; however the electricity generation capacity of solar technologies is nearly four times as great as when the president took office, reaching 5.7 GW by July 2012.
This is roughly the same capacity as five or six average-sized nuclear reactors from solar output, and 50 reactors worth of wind power. Another 4.6 GW of large-scale solar is under construction, as well as another 8.4 GW of wind power, which, when complete, will bring us to 10 GW of solar and 60GW of wind.
http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/12528-media-failures-on-solar-and-wind-successes-and-president-obamas-policies
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Great article on the 5% to 10% human impacts to big storms, making them even bigger by burning so many hydrocarbons. One more case for changing our energy footprint on this precious planet we depend on so much more than we depend upon fossil fuels or nuclear power generation.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-zeller-jr/hurricane-sandy-link-to-climate-change_b_2059179.html
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I just posted this after the latest sinkhole article http://enenews.com/state-rep-sinkhole-disaster-could-many-many-years-need-understand-could-happen-further-video I am posting here also because it touches upon why we need to work humbly with Nature and develop "alternative" energies: "Great video. 14:14–If this kind of disclosure becomes usual it would put a lot of pressure on the practice of approving unsafe technologies. That in turn would direct energy onto researching safe technologies. I do not say "alternative" technologies. There should be no "alternative". The choice (in my Utopia) needs to be "safe" and "safe only". Stop messing with Nature. It's bigger than Man. Man is only a tiny part of it although his ego says he is most of it. Second Law of Thermodynamics (Entropy Law) teaches us to make as small a ripple in the system as we can, because the results of our actions upon nature will always return more problems than the initial situation presented."
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I can't remember which thread where we were talking about Geothermal today…so I'll post it here.
Geothermal conference 2013 in Iceland
http://geothermalconference.is
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Massive public response to stop coal exports through PNW
http://crosscut.com/2012/11/12/coal-ports/111355/coal-ports-hearings-environmental-scoping/
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http://seattletimes.com/html/fieldnotes/
Yeah, another damn removed from PNW rivers! Wind farms making this possible.
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The other river freed and returning to health seeking volunteers to help replant native vegetation along the newly exposed banks. Again, the wind farms, and also energy conservation, has made the removal of the 4 dams possible. So 2 out of 4 completely removed. It was an uphill struggle, but, nature won!
http://www.nps.gov/olym/naturescience/elwha-ecosystem-restoration.htm
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Greenpeace brought solar to mama Obama:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19IVrm_Ku-o
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"Scientists Convert Algae To Crude Oil In 60 Seconds"
http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2012/11/20/scientists-convert-algae-to-crude-oil-in-60-seconds/
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How much fossil fuel energy was used to convert the algae. Burning this crude oil would cause the same problems as other crude oil.
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like I said…writing's on the wall…
Saudi Arabia: Ray of light in climate fight?
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2012/12/201212681143678361.html
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this is for real…
Tiny structure gives big boost to solar power
http://www.princeton.edu/engineering/news/archive/?id=9141
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Great find, AFTERSHOCK.
Keep your eye on developments in "graphene" also, which ironically may be an offshoot of the coal industry.
Nuke power is over – we just have to wait for governments everywhere to notice.
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this might be relevant aigeezer…
Grid Parity In Sight For New Low-Cost Solar Cell
http://cleantechnica.com/2012/12/08/grid-parity-in-sight-for-cheap-new-solar-cell/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+IM-cleantechnica+%28CleanTechnica%29
followup info:
Organic Photovoltaics
http://www.globalphotonic.com/Technology.aspx
Small-Molecule Organic Photovoltaics
http://www.globalphotonic.com/Technology/SM-OPV.aspx
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Thanks, AFTERSHOCK – I get mixed feelings from those kinds of articles. On the one hand, I love that renewables are coming into their own, and that the specter of nuke meltdowns might fade. On the other hand, I twitch at energy articles written by industry spin-people saying matter-of-factly that military applications are a priority. Tina's bio:
http://cleantechnica.com/author/seawolf/
When "Big Solar" is an everyday reality, someone out there will be trying to use it to maintain their social/economic power, rather than provide "us" with electrical power. These new technologies always seem to need high-tech factories, for example, owned by the same old gangs. We won't be making nano-anything in our backyards, alas.
I don't mean this to sound as though I'm bashing renewables (and certainly not your posts). I'm just reflecting that the corporate interests will seek ways to hang on to control, no matter how the technology changes. Still better than nuke, of course – bring 'em on.
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as usual aigeezer, you bring real issues to the table. There are a couple of things that must be considered, when addressing these issues. The performance and convenience of a technology is realized in direct proportion to that which is needed to develop such technology. Without incentives, none will be spurred to invest in technologies that we really need. Network connected communication terminals is an one example. Smart phones are another. There are obviously many other examples that show how profit is a motivator that enhances socialization.
This principle can be applied to the realization of decentralized energy production; more commonly referred to as renewable energy. The more complex our lifestyles, the more complex intellectual property (thoughtfulness) needed to realize such. And as we see technology proliferate, we also witness the loss of control over the dissemination of that technology. This works for and against us; for us as cost effective solution, and against us, when applied to the loss of control of dangerous technology.
So, we should welcome the development of (what may now be interpreted as) exotic technology, as it will eventually yield to cost competitive and efficient systems throughout the technology's life-cycle…
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AFTERSHOCK, I wouldn't dispute any of that. I do reflect on the ever-narrowing path it commits us to though. Whether it's a good or bad thing, time will tell.
I love technology – I made my pre-geezer living from it. However, technology begets more technology. When/if the system collapses, we'll find it all becomes unusable at the same time (cars, phones, Net, food supplies… all of it) – and there's no Plan B for most of us.
In my everyday dirtspace decision-making I wallow in available technology but keep a lot of side-options open too. There are people living near me who farm with oxen – I'm not that committed to Plan B yet. On the other hand, I sure wouldn't want to be living in an urban condo when/if the supply chain breaks.
In that vein, Panasonic and Sony bonds got reduced to junk status last week. Change (good or bad) has a way of sneaking up on us. Let's hope it's mainly the low-cost solar kind. I'd certainly prefer solar power controlled by the bad guys to nuke power controlled by the bad guys, if that's the way the choices pan out.
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aigeezer, speaks to a quandary that'll forever plagued technology. I think about the common hand-axe; that given certain conditions, how difficult it'd be obtaining what most take for granted. There once was a time when gathering and chipping away the edges of certain types of rock (flint) was the challenge of the age. It's been determined that distant routes were developed around the trade of these 'rocks'.
Will we, as a result of advancing technology, find ourselves at a lose someday? Doubtless yes; the same kind of lose that's been experienced throughout human evolution. Loses that have come as a result of war, extreme environmental shifts, as well as cultural changes in where we want to go.
I, too, love technology; was put here to help guide it's responsible deployment. My major concern is that I contribute (in any way possible) towards its constructive use. The technical developments that prompted this discussion will likely get us closer towards a harmonious mix of environmental equilibrium and humanity's desire to advantage themselves within that environment. I won't rest until that goal's well established within our current age…
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This is the first I've heard of organic solar. From what I've just read from this link and wikipedia, this will bring organic solar a little closer to reality? Funny name for plastic solar cells, "organic" photovoltaic
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this should blow you away…
Power a City with Tornados?
http://cleantechnica.com/2012/12/18/using-tornadoes-for-good-not-evil-green-energy/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+IM-cleantechnica+%28CleanTechnica%29
https://www.breakoutlabs.org/news-events/news-event-item/article/power-a-city-with-tornados-latest-grants-announced-by-thiel-foundations-breakout-labs-includes-an.html
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That is very cool! and basically solar power, if the water is heated by the sun. Also, you could store heated water in insulated tanks to drive the vortex when the sun don't shine. Just imaging the sound of a few of those running with vortex and turbines going full tilt, or even one that takes up several acres. STAND BACK!
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Join us this Wednesday at 4pm ET on energy.gov/live for a conversation with E Secretary StevenChu and Senator Mark Udall (D-CO) on the future of the U.S. w industry. During the event, Secretary Chu and Senator Udall will discuss the progress of energy and the importance of robust policy support to ensure continued Amer leadership in the sector. The event will be livestreamed on energy.gov/live, and be taking questions from both in-person and online audiences.
http://energy.gov/articles/join-us-wednesday-askenergy-secretary-chu-senator-mark-udall
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Thank you Kez! I certainly hope to catch this and will check the link re possible participation. !!
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(It happens earlier today I sent Udall a 'firm' note on earth care.)
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(and emphasized alternative energy benefits to economy as well as absolute necessity for earth's sake)
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kez, does this mean that the US might decide to start catching up with China and Europe in using alternative energy?
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Now here's really a BRIGHT idea.
A Gravity Light!
This could be big.
I can see MANY applications for this invention.
Charge devices, etc…
Maybe several big ones in the garage that charge your electric car. (?)
Fill the back yard with weights and power your house…?
Use pulleys to lift the weights. That's easy.
You could tell the kids, "If you want to play that video game you have to go out back and lift some weights." That would be fun in itself.
The GravityLight.
(coming soon, 2013)
article & video
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/architecture-design-blog/2012/dec/14/gravity-light-sand-powered-lamp
video
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/this-could-be-big-abc-news/lantern-powered-gravity-071039684.html
_
[boink in the head sound effect]
"Gee, why didn't I think of that?" – ChasAha
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Nice chas. I'd been thinking that gyms could be power stations. Someone here suggested a school full of kids could maybe power itself
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My mind has been working on this one all day.
The number of small items this could be applied to really could make a dent.
You could build giant wind turbines that could use part of it's energy to lift a big weight far up the windmill tower. Then when the windmill was non operational or just for additional power let the weight down using the gear pulley system to generate more power.
Expand the use of the sun, wind, hydro and now even gravity.
Not Nuclear, that's just nuts.
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Wind, solar could provide 99.9% of ALL POWER by 2030
Even better: It could do so at the same cost as fossil fuels
A group of researchers has released a study that claims to shoot down the common perception that clean, renewable energy from wind and solar sources is all well and good, eco-wise, but that it's too uncertain, sporadic, and pricey for widespread use.
"These results break the conventional wisdom that renewable energy is too unreliable and expensive," said professor Willett Kempton of the University of Delaware in a statement. "The key is to get the right combination of electricity sources and storage – which we did by an exhaustive search – and to calculate costs correctly.”
When Kempton referred to an exhaustive effort, he wasn't merely whistling the proverbial Dixie. The six authors of the paper used computer modeling to study 28 billion – that's with a "B" – combinations of energy sources and storage techniques. Each of those 28 beeeelion combos were tested against four years of actual hourly weather data, along with electricity-demand data from PJM Interconnection, a power grid that serve 13 states from New Jersey to South Carolina to Illinois – about one-fifth of the US grid.
Big enough sample for ya?
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/12/15/renewables_study/
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Renewable Energy is the only energy that will give a country true energy independence.
On the contrary, Nuclear energy guarantees total dependence on nuclear fuel… which is expensive.
It costs $40-$50 MILLION dollars to re-fuel a reactor, and it's re-fueled approx. every 18 months.
With nuclear energy a country is dependent on uranium and its high market prices.
With Renewable Energy…independence.
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"Duke Energy Corp. (DUK), the largest U.S. utility owner, said the world’s biggest battery power storage system has begun operating at the company’s 153-megawatt wind farm in west Texas.
The 36-megawatt Xtreme Power Inc. system can release stored power from the Notrees Wind project when needed and absorb it during times of low demand,,,"
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-23/duke-completes-biggest-power-storage-system-at-wind-farm.html
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Thanks for the link.
Two quick thoughts emerged.
Batteries? That was the best they could come up with? If your goal is renewable energy (maybe I'm just a purist) why use batteries? I thought they were not so great for the environment, not fuku bad but why settle for second or third best choice. Better: hydrogen, also better; pumped water storage W/hydroelectric generator.
Also, what is the actual percentage of loss for this kind of storage? Not knowing the type of battery I am not going to guess. I know heat is created during charging and releasing the energy so there is loss in the storage and then the usual transmission loss.
How effective is this? I can understand the utility of balancing load and demand. Definitely a plus. This project should be studied and the knowledge applied to future efforts to develop smart grid ability for using the batteries of electric vehicles in a similar but decentralized way.
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"Breakthrough in Solar Cell Technology"
http://www.stanforddaily.com/2012/11/29/breakthrough-in-solar-cell-technology/
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"Windfarms break energy record in Spain"
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/feb/04/windfarms-break-energy-record-spain
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This is great news, Mack. Thank you! The article makes Spain sound inspired, and also includes details on Germany's successes. It's so discouraging to tune into US happenings and find such slow – if any – waking. I've not been active at ENE these days; it's hard anymore to know what to say as details of insanity accumulate in news items. The article you share is encouraging, is not one I had caught, and I do so thank you!
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Corps of Engineers completes Army's largest solar array installation
http://www.army.mil/article/94468/Corps_of_Engineers_completes_Army_s_largest_solar_array_installation/
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Why isn't the good news, a front page topic starter?
Global solar PV capacity exceeds 100GW mark
The world’s cumulative solar PV exceeded 100GW in 2012 with a total of 101GW according to figures recently released by the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA). The figure is equivalent to 16 coal plants or nuclear reactors with 53 million tons of CO2 emissions reduced each year by the world’s PV installations.
The year also saw an important shift towards a more global PV market with 13GW occurring outside Europe, compared to just under 8GW in 2011. Nearly 17GW was installed in Europe compared to nearly 23GW in 2011. In 2012 the three most important PV markets were Germany (7.6GW), Italy (3.3GW) and France (1.2GW). The top three non-European PV markets were China (at least 3.5GW and possibly as much as 4.5GW), the US (3.2GW) and Japan (2.5GW).
http://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/article/global-solar-pv-capacity-exceeds-100gw-mark-20130211
Isn't this energy news too?
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Photovoltaic cell efficiency is getting better as Baja Mexico climbs on board the use of the use.
"…The planned 450-MW solar power plant, Mexico’s first large-scale solar PV project and the largest by far in the country to date, is to be constructed near Tecate, Mexico in 50-MW stages. The first stage is to start late this year and start producing clean, renewable solar power before year-end 2013…
…The energy conversion efficiency of SolFocus’s CPV solar cells approach 40%, as compared to less than 20% for the highest efficiency crystalline silicon (c-SI) solar PV out on the market today. Durable and able to perform at high efficiency in high-temperature environments, they’re also well suited to site conditions in Baja, according to the company…"
Read more at http://cleantechnica.com/2012/03/30/huge-cpv-solar-power-project-to-bring-low-cost-electricity-green-jobs-growth-to-baja-mexico/#d64uHwCY60lH7fta.99
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I found this article about long distance high voltage transmission of DC current which was Edison's pet project that lost out to Tesla and Westinghouse for their AC current technology:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2012/12/121206-high-voltage-dc-breakthrough/
SP: This could do wonders for green energy if the electricity produced can be fed great distances along these new transmission systems with less loss.
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"Japanese breakthrough will make wind power cheaper than nuclear"
http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/research-innovations/blogs/japanese-breakthrough-will-make-wind-power-cheaper-than-nuclea
Hot Dry Rock Geothermal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Szdx8F_g3Z0
"Hot dry rock has an almost unlimited potential to supply all the energy needs of the United States and, indeed, all the world."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/karl-grossman/renewables-are-more-than-_b_842160.html
"Renewables Electricity Capacity in US Now Greater than Nuclear and Oil Combined"
http://www.energymanagertoday.com/renewables-in-us-now-generate-more-electricity-than-nuclear-and-oil-combined-087484/
"Renewable Energy Now Provides More US Power Than Nuclear"
http://www.treehugger.com/renewable-energy/renewable-energy-now-provides-u-s-more-power-than-nuclear.html
"Americans use more efficient and renewable energy technologies"
https://www.llnl.gov/news/newsreleases/2012/Oct/NR-12-10-08.html
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From Paper To Pixels: Solar Power World Goes Digital
http://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2013/02/from-paper-to-pixels-solar-power-world-goes-digital/
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Crowdfunding Clean Energy
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/06/crowd-funding-clean-energy/
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New process enables energy harvesting from the sun
http://www.electronicproducts.com/Analog_Mixed_Signal_ICs/Power_Management/New_process_enables_energy_harvesting_from_the_sun.aspx
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Protecting the Latest Solar Energy Systems from Lightning – A Growing Challenge
http://www.civicsolar.com/resource/protecting-current-generation-solar-energy-systems-lightning
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U.S. Solar Market Grows 76% in 2012
http://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2013/03/u-s-solar-market-grows-76-in-2012/
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Just had to say Thanks for sharing this link. We need to be reminded that Green energy is actually moving forward at a faster pace than we are aware of. TPTB will hope that we do not learn this.
I wish you could see how my face lite up when I saw this article.
It is very easy to forget that there are positive things happening around us, we just need to look for it or pay attention when someone shares it.
A friend asked how I could possibly still find hope in this world…and this is one example of why I do.
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appreciate your kind words MaidenHeaven. I always remind people that it's taking a turn for the better. We just have to be positive and stick with what we know to be right. We can't undo the past but our efforts (both personal and collective) can make for a much brighter future! Stay in the light…
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It seems that dumping nuclear can be profitable…
German utility Eon posts FY profit of $3.4 billion
But they just cant kick the subsidy habit…
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — German utility Eon bounced back to profit in 2012 but warned that it may have to start closing gas-fired power plants if government doesn't take steps to ensure they can make a profit.
CEO Johannes Teyssen said that the company's generating plants using natural gas are "barely profitable," threatening important generating capacity needed for the stability of the power system.
"Politicians need to act swiftly on this issue," he said in a statement. "Otherwise we're going to have to shut down power plants."
http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/index.ssf/story/german-utility-eon-posts-fy-profit-of/6f2fe5c2fa874c3580b9e05ff4b0c2d7
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Iowa and South Dakota Approach 25 Percent Electricity from Wind in 2012: Unprecedented Contribution of Wind Power in U.S. Midwest
The United States now has 60,000 megawatts of wind online, enough to meet the electricity needs of more than 14 million homes. A record 13,000 megawatts of wind generating capacity was added to the country’s energy portfolio in 2012, more than any other electricity-generating technology.
http://www.treehugger.com/renewable-energy/iowa-and-south-dakota-approach-25-percent-electricity-wind-2012-unprecedented-contribution-wind-power-us-midwest.html
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Germany will take the lead in realizing a global energy revolution by creating new industries linked with renewable energy sources, indicating that Germany's nuclear phase-out policy will never be shaken.
http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2013/03/213742.html
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Windfarm sickness spreads by word of mouth, Australian study finds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/mar/15/windfarm-sickness-spread-word-australia
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the Windfarm sickness study is found here:
http://ses.library.usyd.edu.au/bitstream/2123/8977/4/Complaints%20FINAL.pdf
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The U.S. can be 100% Renewable Energy
A good book to read that shows how
"Carbon-free, Nuclear-free: Roadmap for U.S. Energy Policy"
Author: Dr. Arjun Makhijani.
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Greenland and Renewable Energy
http://www.folkecenter.net/gb/news/fc/greenland_re/
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Extremely Important New Gallup Poll!
"Americans Want More Emphasis on Solar, Wind, Natural Gas"
"No fewer than two in three Americans want the U.S. to put more emphasis on producing domestic energy using solar power (76%), wind (71%), and natural gas (65%). Far fewer want to emphasize the production of oil (46%) and the use of nuclear power (37%)."
http://www.gallup.com/poll/161519/americans-emphasis-solar-wind-natural-gas.aspx
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Cheap, efficient way for homeowners and energy companies to store and reuse intermittently generated electricity such as solar and wind power
The University of Calgary researchers are the first group in the world to utilize their scalable photochemical process to make heterogeneous mix-metal amorphous electrocatalysts for clean hydrogen production.
Having cheap and efficient electrocatalysts would enable homeowners and energy companies to store and reuse, whenever needed, intermittently generated electricity such as solar and wind power.
There is currently no inexpensive way of storing such renewable energy. So electricity generated by the sun or the wind is available only when the sun is shining or the wind is blowing.
Electrocatalysts are used in devices called electrolyzers, which convert electricity into chemical energy by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen fuels. These fuels can then be stored and reconverted to electricity for use whenever wanted. The only byproduct of such a ‘green’ energy system is water, which can be recycled through the system.
“People could actually start storing renewable energy when it’s available and keep that in their house all day and take advantage of it at night,” Trudel says.
Electrolyzers with cheap, efficient catalysts could be sized to a homeowner’s furnace room, or scaled up to a tractor trailer-sized unit that would store renewable power as hydrogen for reuse by a community, in a ‘green’ district energy system.
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http://www.ucalgary.ca/news/utoday/april1-2013/discovery-renewable-energy/backgrounder
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well, there's the new buffer for energy produced by solar or wind. Nucleocrats, you can stop wondering if a safe way to dispose of your deadly crap will ever materialize, pack up your toys and go home. Wind and solar are looking better every day. This hydrogen technology could start putting a dent in oil in the next few decades. I got to drive a few models of hydrogen cars and they are very cool. The only thing I missed was the sound of the engine/exhaust when I accelerated but I can find a ringtone or something to replace that.
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EWICON – wind-'mill' – without moving parts
[extract]
This pioneering wind energy converter can convert wind energy into electricity without the use of moving parts. This means there is far less wear and tear, maintenance costs are lower and there is no nuisance due to noise or shadows. This means that the turbine is ideally suited for installation offshore or in urban areas, for example on the roof of a high-rise building.
http://www.ewi.tudelft.nl/en/current/ewicon/
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