Monday, July 25, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Geothermal Energy The Power From Below!
"Geothermal" is from two Greek words – "geo" meaning the earth and "therme" meaning heat.
"Energy" stems from the Greek word "ergon" - meaning work.
Literally translated, geothermal energy is "the work of earth's heat".
So what is geo-energy and how does it work? Follow the link for detailed information - simply stated however, geothermal power is derived from the earth's super-heated water and rock. We use this source of energy to produce practical power such as electricity.
It is an enormous, underused heat and power resource that is clean (emits little or no greenhouse gases) and reliable.
Geothermal resources range from shallow surface pools, to hot water and rock several miles below the Earth's surface, and even further down to the extremely hot molten rock called magma.
Mile-or-more-deep wells can be drilled into underground reservoirs and tap steam and very hot water that can then be brought to the surface for use in a variety of applications.
DIY Solar Power
DIY solar power is VERY achievable. You CAN build cheap solar panels - BUT - you must proceed with caution.
Homemade Energy is fast becoming the buzz word in environmental circles.
Consumers are becoming fed up with the problems associated with using conventional energy resources.
Tired of rising costs and, in some cases, being subjected to rationing, many home owners are turning to the newest trend in energy conservation - DIY Solar Power Kits.
Convert Your Car Into A Water Powered Car!
It's time to beat insane fuel prices by converting your car into a water powered car!
Stop wasting your hard earned money at the pump - and reduce your environmental impact at the same time.
Save up to 70% on fuel costs while cleaning up your engines deadly CO2 emissions. As an added benefit you may also get a small boost in torque (especially uphill).
Save up to 70% on fuel costs while cleaning up your engines deadly CO2 emissions. As an added benefit you may also get a small boost in torque (especially uphill).The big "secret" is that water can be turned into a POWERFUL fuel via an easy yet little known process...
It's so powerful that when it was first discovered, the government (influenced by big oil companies) banned it because it was too effective, and has the potential to significantly reduce the fuel taxes collected by government.
PLEASE NOTE - it is nearly impossible to run your car on water ALONE! There are systems out there claiming to be able to do this. Unfortunately this is not possible - yet!
Stanley Meyer is the only person who has claimed to be able to do this.
Stan had built what he called a "water fuel cell" which purportedly split hydrogen from water using less energy than is scientifically believed possible.
Unfortunately, Stan died (or was possibly poisoned) before he commercialized his work.
It currently takes too much energy to produce enough hydrogen from water to be able to run a car purely on water.
However, you can achieve amazing results by combining petroleum and water - in the form of HHO.
Solar Panels
Solar Panels - seems like a relatively simple topic Doesn't it? Sun hits a panel and converts to energy - end of topic... think again!
There are different types of panels, different materials, locations, mountings - and the list goes on.
We have sorted this complex area of alternative energy into easily digested sub-topics.
You can determine what depth of knowledge you wish to attain; read the overview here, and then follow the links that interest you which are
located at the bottom of the page.
located at the bottom of the page.
* Solar photovoltaic modules (most commonly referred to as a solar panel) use solar cells to convert light from the sun into electricity.
* Solar thermal collectors use the sun's energy to heat water or another fluid such as oil or antifreeze.
Solar panels are made up of arrays of photvoltaic cells arranged to make use of renewable energy from the sun. They and are a clean and environmentally sound means of collecting solar energy.
Photovoltaic modules can be used to charge your mobile phone or to power your entire house. Solar energy is a great way to reduce your environmental impact and save money as well.
The Photo-electric Or Photo-voltaic Effect
Light striking certain substances causes the surface of the material to emit electrons.
Light striking other substances causes the material to accept electrons.
It is the combination of these two substances that can be made use of to cause electrons to flow through a conductor.
This is process is referred to as the photo-electric or photo-voltaic effect.
How Photovoltaic Modules Work
The short video below explains how a solar panel works. More detailed text is provided below.
Photovoltaic refers to sunlight being converted into a flow of electrons (electricity).
Photovoltaic systems, or solar cells, are like generators that are fuelled by sunlight. They make electricity without waste, noise or pollution.
A solar cell is a solid state device in which there are no moving parts (except for photons and electrons) so there are no part that wear out.
The fuel is "photons". Photons can be thought of as "packets of sunlight" that carry a phenomenal amount of energy to earth at a very rapid rate.
The panels of today utilize the suns energy via silicon crystals with small amounts of impurity added.
This process of adding minute amounts of different elements into an otherwise pure crystal is called "doping".
By having two thin layers of doped silicon bonded against one another, an electric current can be induced when exposed to light.
How A Wind Turbine Works
Let's Take A Look At
How A Wind Turbine Works
The easiest way to understand how a wind turbine works is to think of a fan operating in reverse.So instead of electricity spinning the blades to generate wind, the wind spins the blades to generate electricity!
If the mechanical energy is used directly, such as to pump water, the machine is most commonly referred to as a windmill.
If the mechanical energy is converted to electricity, the machine is called a wind turbine, wind generator, wind power unit or a wind energy converter.
Basically, they operates as follows:
The wind turns the blades -> the blades spin a shaft -> the shaft connects to a generator -> the generator produces electricity!
For a detailed illustration with a breakdown of the working parts, go and take a look inside a wind turbine!
The turbines are designed to exploit the wind energy that exists at a location. Aerodynamic modeling is used to factor the best tower height, control systems, number of blades, and blade shape.
The turbines are designed to exploit the wind energy that exists at a location. Aerodynamic modeling is used to factor the best tower height, control systems, number of blades, and blade shape.
Modern turbines fall into two basic groups - the horizontal-axis and thevertical-axis "egg beater" design. The following image shows the difference between the two designs.
BBEnergy Awarded Bundle of Projects Using Solar for Mining
| Tuesday, July 19, 2011 | ||||
BBE Group’s independent business unit BBEnergy just began operating in March and has already secured four projects worth a total of R60 million with the company accrediting its deep-level mine refrigeration and ventilation capabilities and its “world-leading prototype solar irradiation, energy collector technologies.” The awards are for projects that include design and implementation of technologies such as guide vane control of main fans, pump scheduling and optimization systems, and refrigeration scheduling and optimization systems. BBEnergy also designed, developed and constructed the first linear Fresnel concentrated solar energy collector in South Africa. The collector has been optimized for local environment conditions and constraints using almost 100% local content. Chris Nell, MD of BBEnergy, says there is huge potential for energy projects in South Africa and beyond its borders. “Our vision is first to become South Africa’s leading Energy Services Company (ESCO) and then to become a leading local player in solar technologies. In the long-term, we intend to expand our services abroad,” he said. Alternative Energy Africa is trying to reduce its own carbon footprint in 2011. Ask about our electronic subscriptions and online marketing campaigns specially tailored for individual companies. | ||||
Abengoa Launches Algeria's Hybrid Solar Gas Plant
| Monday, July 18, 2011 | ||||
Abengoa launched the first hybrid solar-gas plant in Hassi R 'Mel, Algeria. The plant will generate electricity on a large scale using both natural gas and solar energy. The hybrid plant has a 150 MW capacity and consists of a natural gas combined cycle plant with a solar field of 224 parabolic trough collectors with the capacity to produce up to 25 MW of energy. The Hassi R 'Mel solar thermal plant is the first hybrid solar-gas plant in Algeria and the second that Abengoa has undertaken. The other facility, opened on May 13, is located in Ain-Beni-Mathar in Morocco. The Moroccan plant has a 470 MW capacity. Alternative Energy Africa is trying to reduce its own carbon footprint in 2011. Ask about our electronic subscriptions and online marketing campaigns specially tailored for individual companies. | ||||
Zimbabwe Close to Meeting Electricity Demands
Thursday, July 21, 2011 | ||||
Frost & Sullivan is confident that Zimbabwe, despite its energy and economic woes, is progressing towards meeting its required increases in electricity generating capacity. Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) called for “expressions of interest” to find financiers and contractors for the planned $1.3 billion expansion of two existing power plants. The country currently has an available capacity of 1,400 MW, including about 300 MW of electricity imports. “An increase in electricity generating capacity of 900 MW by 2013 will bring total available capacity to within 300 MW of projected demand.” explains Frost & Sullivan’s EPS Industry Analyst Vincent Maposa. The analyst added that it would be interesting to see how ZESA’s expansion of the Hwange and Kariba Power Stations will affect plans for private sector participation in power generation. It is possible that the government of Zimbabwe has concluded that large scale privately owned power plants will not be constructed in the short-to-medium term, due to a wide variety of constraints, and has decided to increase ZESA’s capacity,” Maposa said. Under the current system in Zimbabwe regarding pricing and regulatory environment, private sector penetration into the electricity generation market has been unfeasible. Maposa said that pricing wasn’t the only hurdle that the southern African country had to overcome. “The establishment of an Independent Systems and Markets Operator (ISMO), and legislative and regulatory amendments, are some of the basic fundamentals that need to be addressed in order to allow privately owned power generators to engage with development of large power plants.” Alternative Energy Africa is trying to reduce its own carbon footprint in 2011. Ask about our electronic subscriptions and online marketing campaigns specially tailored for individual companies. | ||||
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
In Kenya, Huts Far Off the Grid Harness the Sun - NYTimes.com
BEYOND FOSSIL FUELS
African Huts Far From the Grid Glow With Renewable Power
Ed Ou/The New York Times
Thanks to this solar panel, Sara Ruto no longer takes a three-hour taxi ride to a town with electricity to recharge her cellphone. More Photos »
By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL
Published: December 24, 2010
KIPTUSURI, Kenya — For Sara Ruto, the desperate yearning for electricity began last year with the purchase of her first cellphone, a lifeline for receiving small money transfers, contacting relatives in the city or checking chicken prices at the nearest mark
Fossil fuels: Africa’s increasingly important strategic value
Given the significance of its reserves in combustible fossil fuels and its geographic proximity, Africa is establishing itself as a key partner for a Europe looking to diversify its suppliers and reduce its dependence on Russia and the Persian Gulf.
Europe and Africa at night.
© BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2007
The explosion in petrol prices and the increasing tension in the Near East in recent years have redefined Africa’s status as an energy partner for Europe. According to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2007, at the end of 2006 Africa accounted for 12.1% of global petroleum production and possessed 9.7% of established global reserves – a little less than half of Saudi Arabia’s reserves.
According to the same source, Africa’s production of natural gas last year represented 6.3% of the world’s total and this share is set to grow because its established reserves located primarily in Nigeria (2.9%), Algeria (2.5%), Egypt (1.1%) and Libya (0.7%) will make up 7.8% of the world’s reserves. But from Europe’s perspective, the importance of Africa is even greater. In 2005, around 20% of EU-25 imports came from Africa – with the figure reaching 14% for natural gas mainly coming from Libya, Nigeria and Algeria. Africa, and in particular the Gulf of Guinea, holds two main attractions for Europe – geographical proximity and a means of diversifying energy supplies to be less reliant on its two main sources, Russia and the Persian Gulf. These factors have been taken into account by Europe’s military and help explain why NATO manoeuvres took place for the first time in sub-Saharan in Cape Verde Africa in June 2006. This operation involved a simulation of military intervention in an imaginary sovereign state rich in natural resources.
Africa - Renewable Energy Rising Rapidly
Global investment in renewable energy jumped 32% in 2010, to a record $211 billion. It was boosted in particular by wind farm development in China and small-scale solar PV installation on rooftops in Europe. ... Significant investment is also starting to be seen in Africa, which posted the highest percentage increase of all developing regions, if the emerging economies of Brazil, China and India are excluded. ... Total investment on the continent rose from $750 million [in 2009] to $3.6 billion [in 2010]." -- Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2011
http://allafrica.com/stories/201107150955.html
http://allafrica.com/stories/201107150955.html
Abu Dhabi hosts Africa meeting on renewable energy
Abu Dhabi hosts Africa meeting on renewable energy
African governments should consider investing in renewable energies like wind, solar and hydro power to help feed the continent’s growing energy demands and combat threats of climate change, the head of a new international energy agency said Friday.
Adnan Amin also told nearly 30 African energy and foreign affairs ministers at the start of a two-day meeting that the key to ramping up renewable energy deployment was for countries to develop regulatory framework needed to convince institutional investors it’s safe to put their money into these cutting edge technologies.
Monday, July 18, 2011
'Meteor' crashes at Kilimambogo-KENYA
Photo/FILE A military officer displays the mysterious object that fell from the sky.
By OLIVER MUSEMBI
Posted Saturday, July 16 2011 at 17:34
Posted Saturday, July 16 2011 at 17:34
An unknown mass believed to be from outer space on Saturday fell near Kilimambogo and Tala towns.
Initially, there were reports of an explosion in Kangundo, Tala, Yatta and Kakuzi before an extra-terrestrial rock fell at around 10 am.
Area residents say the loud sound was comparable to a bomb explosion or a crashing aircraft while others felt it was an earthquake.
Police and military officers from Thika rushed to the scene at Kiumwiri village, Murang’a county. The military later took away the object for expert analysis.
The black smooth rock weighing about five kilos fell at a maize plantation, 60 meters from a nearby homestead, but no one was harmed.
Lt Col J.N. Vungo, the commanding officer of the 12th Engineers Battalion, said initial assessment indicate that the object was not manmade and was believed to have come from outer space.
Africa's Renewable Energy Meeting Hosted In Abu Dhabi
In this photo taken Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010, wind turbines are seen been used to generate electricity near the small town of Darling situated on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa.
Renewable energy sector agrees on the way forward
| |
|
In an open letter to energy policy-makers in South Africa released here, the South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA), the South African Photovoltaic Association (SAPVIA) and the Southern Africa Solar Thermal and Electricity Association (SASTELA) ‒ said:”We confirm our support for a periodic review of the REFIT prices in order to ensure that the returns for investors stay at the determined benchmark given changing market conditions.”
The open letter added that the renewable energy industry confirmed its confidence in the National Energy Regulator as the custodian of the energy sector in South Africa.
“The renewable energy industry accepts and acknowledges the Department of Energy, as led by the Minister of Energy, as the policy leader and primary facilitator of execution plans on energy policy for the country,” it said.
“We confirm our commitment to the rapid deployment of renewable energy in South Africa as required by the National Climate Change Response Green Paper and the Integrated Resource Plan 2010, and support initiatives aimed at ensuring that other policy objectives like economic growth, job creation, local manufacturing, BBBEE and skills transfer are facilitated in the process,” the open letter continued.
“We also acknowledge the importance of South Africa presenting a united front at COP17, and of showcasing to the international community what progress has been made in South Africa to address climate change,” it said.
The open letter stressed the fact that the IRP required in excess of R350 billion in investment into renewable energy over the next 19 years, and that investor confidence should be fostered and strengthened.
Energy Security in Africa with Renewable Energy
 |  |
 Article published by Preben Maegaard, WCRE Chairman, Director Nordic Folkecenter for Renewable Energy, Denmark, July 2008Energy Security in Africa with Renewable Energy More than any other continent, Africa needs an energy revolution and independence from the international fossil fuel economy; a change to renewable energy and energy autonomy is paramount for survival. Africa depends largely on the import of fossil fuels to meet a significant and growing part of its modern energy needs, which has created perverse effects on the economy and lives of Africans. Renewable energy is the only viable alternative that has the potential, when properly managed, to improve quality of life on a national and continental scale. The current sky-high oil prices are disastrous for the fragile economies in most African countries. Already with the much lower oil prices of the past, several African countries were spending half of their foreign trade expenditure for the import of oil. With oil prices doubling and US$ 200 per barrel in a foreseeable future, the misery we already see in Darfur and other regions will spread and people will suffer and continue to bleed. Energy Rich Africa The end of the fossil oil era has the potential to foster energy innovation based on Africa’s tremendous renewable energy resources. The continent has an abundance of wind resources, biomass and not least, solar energy, all in sufficient quantities for satisfying future energy needs. Africa has all of the renewable resources. What it needs is access to know-how and practical technological solutions. Within this context I ask why the Africa Energy Forum, gathering July 2 to 4, 2008 in Nice, France, will focus almost entirely on the conventional energy system but not on renewable energy. The Africa Energy Forum brings together senior government officials and private-sector executives to discuss opportunities in expanding public and private power. I received an invitation for the conference and answered that I would not be able to attend. I also asked for a better representation of the renewable energies as most of the presentations of the Forum focus on conventional energy options that will not be affordable for the masses of the African continent. |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)