Renewable Clean Energy Info

Archive for September, 2009

Here comes the Sun…with all the energy for free. You can take care of all your energy needs simply by tapping into “solar power”. All day, and if you can store it, all night. All you need is a device that saves and converts solar energy. There are different ways of going about it, depending on your particular needs.

How does it work?
A Home Solar System uses what are called solar arrays. Solar arrays, as the name suggest, are nothing but a number of solar cells that trap and convert the energy given by the sun. A solar cell, thus, is the smallest unit of any energy-using device. Numbers of such cells are placed side by side, in rows and columns, to form the arrays. These arrays are then exposed to the sun, mostly by placing them on rooftops.

Now, Solar Cells themselves are made of semiconductor material or “PhotoVoltaic” (PV). When exposed to the sun, these cells create current. The array, through a process of connection with a charge controller, sends electric current to the “battery bank”. An inverter is also needed – this is because the battery bank stores current in DC (Direct Current) form, and most of our appliances use AC (Alternate Current). Hence, the need for conversion.

Here’s a quick look at some of the uses to which we could put solar energy:-
1. Solar Cooker – This is a small box like thing that cooks your food, WITHOUT using fuel. How about that? You can boil or roast, only slowly. And actually, that is good. As health experts keep warning us, food cooked in a jiffy in a micro causes serious health issues, as much of the nutrient value is lost. So, here’s your chance to have healthy food, and also save up on power bills in the process.

2. Solar Lighting for the Home – A solar lighting system is very simple to install, and use. It simply converts the energy from the rays of the sun, to generate electric current for the household. And, also, because it has storage capacity, you can have power supply even at night, when the sun is no longer in the sky. Again, no power bills for you, ‘coz it’s all for free.

3. Solar Home Heating – The best possible solution to your biggest possible worry. How do you cut down on costs of heating the house?
The answer is simple – solar heating. It might be expensive to install, but the fact is, you recover your money at the end of 3 sessions (because of the bills you save). After that, you have heating for free!!!! You also need to keep in mind that installation costs depend on how big your house is, its design, and how much of heating you want.
These are facilities that HOME SOLAR SYSTEMS give to you. When most families are worried about rising costs and power bills, here you have the chance to get rid of that problem just by ordering a home solar system. You save money, and you contribute to a pollution free environment.

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Facts about Solar Energy and Solar Power Plants

The earth receives more than enough energy from the sun in an hour to supply the world’s energy requirement for the whole year.

Unfortunately, only a tiny portion of it is harnessed and the world still relies on power plants that burn fossil fuels. The good thing, though, is that there is a constant increase in demand for solar energy; and over the years of continuous development, solar panels are much cheaper today.

During peak hours, the maximum power density that the sun can give is about 1kW per square meter. In other words, one square meter of solar panel can produce as much as 100 GWh (gigawatt hours) of electricity in one year. That is enough to power 50,000 houses.

If a solar power plant is build on 1% of the total land area of the Sahara desert, it will satisfy the world’s energy requirement.

The efficiency of solar panels depends on several factors such as pollution, clouds, temperature and atmospheric humidity.

Solar power plants are very similar to other conventional power plants – with one significant difference: The majority of power plants draw their power from fossil fuels like oil, coal and gas.

When power plants burn fossil fuels, they produce greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. Solar power plants or solar thermal power plants (or Concentrating Solar Power plants) utilize the power of the sun’s rays to generate electricity.

The process could not be any simpler. The solar panels receive heat from the sun, which will be reflected to the receiver. The receiver converts into steam the concentrated solar energy. The steam is stored on tanks which will be used to turn the turbines and generate electricity.

The whole process does not involve any burning of any fossil fuels. Thus, solar power plants do not contribute to global warming.

The increase in the use of solar energy will bring down the demand for oil.

Today, there are more than 10,000 households with solar energy systems and the number is constantly increasing. If the demand for solar energy as well as other forms of alternative energy, the demand for oil will drop and the cost fuel will likely to follow.

Residential solar energy system can turn your electric meter backwards. Given that you are connected on a power-grid, the excess energy that your solar energy system produces will go to the electric lines to be used by other homes. As a result, any excess energy you give will be reflected on your bills. Your electric supplier will even pay for the electricity you supplied.

Residential solar energy system can save you money.

While the initial cash out for installing solar energy system at home is big, the device will pay for itself in the long run. Not only you will save money on solar energy system, you also help the environment by not contributing to carbon emissions.

Solar energy systems are reliable and can last for a very long time.

PV cells are last from 25 to 40 years. Many manufacturers of solar panels give 25 years product warranty. This is the assurance that solar panels are very dependable.

In addition, solar panels require little or no maintenance and the can be installed on most places where there is sunlight throughout the year.

Solar energy is a great resource that scientists have long explored as a means of providing energy to meet human needs. Thanks to advances in technology, there are now prototypes of various machines that run on solar power. These include solar powered cars, solar-heated homes, and solar-powered water heaters. In fact, many of these machines have gone beyond the prototype stage and are being used in many green homes throughout the world, where their owners are determined to help save the environment by decreasing their reliance on fossil fuels.

There are many ways to harness the power of the sun to allow our turbines to run, our water to be heated, and our homes to be conditioned at just the right temperature. One such method is the use of the solar panel, which you can often glimpse as a black platform filled with shining grids that glisten in the sun. This array of thermal collectors is connected to an appliance that can run on solar power.

The ability of appliances to run on solar power rests in the power of the individual grids on a solar panel. Each grid, called a photovoltaic cell or photovoltaic module, is arranged in a strategic array that is meant to collect the most sunlight and use the consequent energy most efficiently. Such photovoltaic arrays are in wide use nowadays, and have enjoyed an upsurge in production as their manufacturing costs have since diminished.

Photovoltaic cells use semiconductors to utilize sunlight and turn it into electricity. You can see such cells in your solar-powered calculator, emergency telephones on the roadside, and even in some large industrial complexes. With the lower cost of maintaining and manufacturing solar panels, you can use solar energy to heat your water and provide insulation for your home.

If you are interested in using solar energy to heat your water and your home, then you might want to take note of the following tips. Remember, that even if using solar energy has decreased in price, it is still relatively expensive compared with other energy providing and utilizing technologies.

- Always inquire in as many solar energy panels providers as you can. Look for a solar panel and heating package that can fit your needs and budget. Look for machinery that can allow you to heat water, your home, and even power your cooking apparatus. If you can use solar energy widely in your home, then you can save on your electric bills.

- Solar hot water systems can use sunlight in various ways to heat different sources of water in your home. You can have hot water through your faucet, or even route lines to heat your swimming pool. Inquire at your solar energy panels providers on what packages they have for water heating, and if their apparatus can heat swimming pools. Swimming pool water contains different minerals, so it may require various modifications in conventional heating apparatus in order to keep the minerals from precipitating out of the water.

There are many advantages of using solar energy to heat your house and water. Using solar power to power your heating apparatus also entails that you emit less pollution compared with the use of other energy-generating methods. Because electric grids and gallons of fuel are difficult to transport to remote areas, such as deserts and islands, solar panels can be economical and practical, especially since deserts and islands will often have sun all year round. Solar panels are also more practical for transports such as boats or airline carriers, which need energy without having to transport gallons of fuel or carry heavy electronic grids.

Despite these advantages, solar power is still expensive compared with grid-based electricity. Current technology for photovoltaic cells is also limited: you will need a greater number of photovoltaic cells in order to gather enough solar energy to drive larger applications. This can entail higher purchases and maintenance costs. More photovoltaic cells also require a greater land area, which can be difficult if you live in a suburban area, where lands and lots are limited. Solar cells, moreover, produce a direct electric current, which must first be converted to alternate current, or AC, a change that results in an energy loss of about four to twelve percent.

Solar energy can still help save the environment, so if you are thinking about using it for your home and water heating, do as much research as you can. Make inquiries and compare prices. If you find a package that fits your needs and budget, then you can go right ahead and help save Mother Earth.

Using solar energy is a good option for people who want to save money. Using this kind of energy will definitely ensure that you get to lower your monthly utility bills. You get to have more money in your savings. This is also your opportunity to conserve the limited energy we have in this world. Thus, it pays to make use of solar electricity in your household.

Using Solar Electricity to Save Money

Installing solar power in your house can be quite expensive. The price of a solar panel can range from $300 to $600. Each solar panel may be able to support your energy needs by 200 watts. Thus, calculating your energy consumption with the number of solar panels needed may end up very costly.

As such, depending completely on the solar panels to supply the electrical energy needed by the household may not be the most practical move for every household. However, it pays to balance the long term benefits that your solar electricity can bring you. Also, you can still use the solar energy to effectively lower the electrical bills you receive every month. All you need to do is to make the right choices.

You can get a home solar panel to at least supplement the energy use in your household. This will significantly decrease the electricity costs. You simply have to make an audit of the electrical items in your household and evaluate the wattage.

This can help you estimate the energy consumption in a day. You can use this aspect in determining the solar panels that you need. If you will limit yourself to a certain number of panels, you can use your energy audit to determine at what time of day or week you’ll most likely utilize the solar electricity.

Aside from the long term benefits of solar electricity to your savings, this can also be your way of contributing to the environment. Using solar electricity helps in decreasing pollution in the environment. This is also a renewable energy that avoids the immediate depletion of exhaustible resources.

Using solar electricity can also save you money by giving you an item that will entitle you to a tax credit. In the United States, the costs of the solar panel systems installed can be used as a tax credit. Now that will really mean big savings.

Conclusion

Using solar electricity is definitely a way to save money. More than that, you will also feel better knowing that your money-saving venture also benefits the environment and the community.

I was first introduced to solar energy in the movie, Race the Sun with James Belushi and Halley Berry in the lead. It was a story about low- income and under achieving Hawaiian students encouraged by their teacher to join the Solar Car race. In the movie, a car shaped like a cockroach and covered with solar panels used the sun’s rays as an alternative energy source to run the car.

Solar energy is the light and the heat from the sun. Solar energy is free and its supplies are unlimited. There are n air and water pollution caused about by using solar energy. But there is still some impacts on the environment although indirect.

Photovoltaic cells used to convert sunlight into electricity uses silicon and also produce some waste materials. There are also large solar thermal farms and these farms can also be harmful to the environment and desert ecosystems if not properly managed.

Solar energy can be used on different aspects. Solar energy can be used in agriculture. Greenhouses (which is entirely different from greenhouse gas) convert solar light to heat to be maximized in enhancing the growth of plants and crops. Greenhouses has been around since the Roman times and modern greenhouses were built in Europe in 16th century. Greenhouses are still an important part of horticulture nowadays,

Daylight systems are also being used to maximize the energy released by the sun. It is used to provide interior illumination replacing the artificial lighting. Daylight systems include sawtooth roofs, light shelf, skylights, and light tube. Daylight systems when they are properly implemented can reduce lighting-related energy consumption by 25 percent.

Solar energy can also be developed into solar thermal technologies which can be used for water heating, space heating, space cooling and process heat generation. Solar energy can also be used to distil water and make saline or brackish water potable or drinkable.

The solar water disinfection or SODIS involves exposing water-filled plastic polyethylene terephthalate or PET bottles. This process takes a long time, since the exposure time varies on the weather conditions. It requires a minimum of six hours to two days during days with overcast conditions. Currently, there are two million people in developing centuries use SODIS for their daily drinking water needs.

Also sunlight can be converted into electricity using photovoltaics or PV. PV has been mainly used to power small and medium-sized things like a calculator powered by a single solar cell. There are homes powered by photovoltaics. Using solar energy for water and space heating is the most widely use application of solar energy. While ventilation and solar air heating is also growing in popularity.

There are three main ways in using solar energy. The main way of using and converting solar energy is by using the solar cells. Solar cells convert light directly into electricity. Solar cells are also called photovoltaic or photoelectric cells.

Meanwhile, solar furnaces use a huge array of mirrors to concentrate on the Sun’s energy into a small space and produced very high temperatures. Solar furnaces are also called “solar cookers”. A solar cooker can be used in hot countries to cook food.

With all the benefits if using solar energy, there is still a downside for this alternative energy source. It does not work during night time. The cost of setting up solar stations is expensive, but the benefit of using solar energy when accumulated is so much more.

With energy sources depleting at a rate faster than they are being built, it is only wise that we use the abundant energy available for free – the solar energy. Apart from the easy availability, solar energy helps control environmental pollution. Most of us shy away from installing solar power solutions at home thinking them to be expensive and cumbersome. You will, however, be surprised to know how easy it is to employ these power solutions. Moreover, these will help cut down your power bills. Finally, you will be delighted to know tat you are doing your bit to save power for the future generations.

This article will explore the various solar power options available for home use.

Solar cooker: A solar cooker is a cooking utensil that uses absolutely no fuel for cooking. You can cook food for up to five people in the small box. If you are thinking that using a solar cooker will reduce your chances of spreading up a varied platter on the dining table, you will be surprised to know that you can not only boil food items in the cooker but also roast and bake! The only limitation with the solar cooker is the time it takes to cook. However, given the free source of energy it uses, this is a great option for cutting down those sky-rocketing bills and saving some power.

Solar home lighting: A solar home lighting system converts solar energy into electrical energy for your home. This is done via cells that are charged with solar energy. So, in the night, if you wonder how the lights are on in the house, it is because of the solar energy stored in the solar cells. You can install the solar home lighting system in your house and not worry about the electricity bills anymore.

Solar heating system: Installing a solar heating system in your home helps cutting down your electricity bill along with saving the world’s quickly-exhausting power. If you are worried that a solar heating system will turn your sweet home into a gadget house or that it will be an expensive investment, your concerns are misplaced. Companies providing solar power solutions for homes make it a point to install aesthetically-pleasing heating systems in your house. As per as expenditure is concerned, investing in a solar heating system is wise because you get a return on your investment within 3-4 years, giving you absolutely free service after that.

Before we start talking about energy crises in the world today, let us define an energy crisis. This is any large drop in energy supply or a huge price hike in energy sources in an economy. Most often, it refers to a shortage in petroleum and electricity, as well as other natural sources of energy. There are various names for energy crisis- oil crisis, petroleum crisis, energy shortage, electricity shortage or electricity crisis.

Our present oil reserves will last 40 years at most, so it’s time to think up fresh sources of energy. All the world over, experts are working to find out how renewable sources of energy can be used better to conserve more energy, but this process is time consuming. If we work at it sincerely, we can bring about a vast change in some time.

Renewable energy sources will never be exhausted. Today, renewable energy means solar energy, wind energy and water energy. Atomic energy has been proved to be very useful too.

The great thing about solar energy is that there is an unlimited supply, and it costs nothing. It doesn’t pollute the environment and is so potent, that the amount that hits the earth every hour is enough to meet the needs of the world for a whole year. At present, solar energy is not much utilized, but hopefully, the situation will change for the better.

Hydroelectric energy is effectual to a large extent. Turbines convert running water into electricity through turbines. Everywhere, dams are being erected to generate hydroelectric power. Most of today’s renewable energy resources come from water power; nearly 90% of it.
Things are looking up gradually. There is one problem with hydroelectric power, the problem of location. There are certain binding geographical factors that are indispensable for building dams. Without these, water power cannot be generated.

Huge amounts of electricity can be generated from running water. However, even if geographical conditions favor the building of a dam, social, human and economic factors may not always allow it.

Wind power is the final source of clean, renewable energy. This has been a traditional source of renewable energy, but only recently have scientists looked at it as a source of electrical energy. This can work wonders in ameliorating the energy shortage that is troubling the world so.

Some people oppose the idea of creating windmill farms to generate electrical energy. Most people who belong to this group have a problem with the way windmills look, or have objections to the noise they make, polluting the environment. They do have a point, but since we are not spoilt for choice in the matter of renewable energy sources, we have to make do with what options are open to us.

The world’s energy crisis has hit us hard. Now is the time to act. World governments and business leaders should get together and effect changes in the scenario while there is still time to repair the damage and make a new beginning.

Back in the pioneer days, the families who settled the American west by homesteading in covered wagons were able to carve out a decent living without the need for electricity, but they were not addicted to televisions, computers and labor saving devices the way we are here in the 21st century. But that does not mean that you have to give up all your modern conveniences if you want to become more self reliant and unplug yourself from the utility company in order to live off the grid. On the contrary, it is modern advances in technology that are making it easier and less costly for homeowners to generate their own power using alternative means.

Let us take a moment to consider the benefits of making your own electricity instead of simply buying it from your local electric company. First of all, the costs of purchasing power are becoming increasingly expensive for two reasons. In the case of electricity that is generated by burning fossil fuels such as diesel or coal, all of these precious natural resources are reaching their limit of availability, and it is a common principle of economics that when the supply goes down and the demand goes up, prices naturally rise.

There is the second cost of burning fossil fuels which is the effect that has on our environment. You only have to pick up a newspaper or turn on the television news to see reports of damage and disaster happening somewhere in the world because of climate change. It is getting increasingly more difficult to deny that the burning of fossil fuels is contributing to the greenhouse effect that leads to global warming and climate change. So if we can depend less on these old fashioned ways of making electricity and turn to new, alternative techniques, we can have a positive effect on the ecology of the earth as well as saving money.

There are those who will argue that it is very costly to convert a home to solar power or making use of the wind to generate electricity, but as more and more consumers are taking advantage of these alternative energy sources, the price of the bits and pieces used to harness them continues to go down. Not only do solar panels and wind turbines cost less than they used to, but more information is becoming available about how to do-it-yourself and build homemade solar panels and windmills.

The internet is an excellent place to start looking for sources of new, alternative energy information to help consumers become more self reliant and more environmentally responsible as they unplug themselves from the grid and start enjoying a better lifestyle with their own home made energy.

There are already several alternative sources of energy. One of these alternative sources was originally intended for space programs but now, some studies are already considering it for car use. Hydrogen fuel cells are indeed gaining much attention in today’s times when there is a great need for another energy source.

The hydrogen fuel cells are just like traditional batteries. A chemical reaction produces electricity and electrical charge. However, there is still a difference. You see, with batteries, power is produced if the cell is continuously supplied with hydrogen. To understand how the fuel cells work, read on.

The cell’s size and hydrogen flow determines the electricity produced. When a chemical reaction occurs between air and hydrogen, three things are produced namely – heat, water, and electricity. Fuel cells lower heat output as compared to other sources of energy like the fossil fuels. But still, there are advantages in using hydrogen fuel cells.

One obvious advantage is that fuel cells are clean since the byproducts are heat and water. These byproducts can’t harm the environment. Fuel cells have efficiency rates ranging from 45-53% as compared to gasoline with only 20% efficiency rate.

Whenever electricity is required, you can use fuel cells. The size of fuel cells is scalable. Fuel cells can therefore be created small to power an MP3 player or even large enough to give a town its needed electrical power. Aside from providing electrical power to certain things, it can also supply the needed rotary power by cars.

At present, car manufacturers worldwide are looking at hydrogen fuel cells are an alternative to the combustion engines. There are already pictures of hydrogen powered vehicles online; if you want, you can check them out if you have the time. If ever the hydrogen powered vehicles will become a reality in the near future, the dependency of many countries to petroleum will be reduced and not only that, pollution will be cut down.

Currently, fuel cells are installed in some neighborhoods and industrial buildings to provide electrical power. Within the next 50-100 years, hydrogen fuel cells will completely replace petroleum since they have broad social and commercial applications. Remote settlements can now depend on fuel cells for power. Portable devices can also be provided with renewable power through the fuel cells.

Countries from all over the world are looking for a clean and dependable energy source. With the continued support from the government and commercial establishments, the use of fuel cells will soon be a guaranteed success.

Hydrogen fuel cells are truly great but there’s one consideration. In order to produce fuel cells, energy is needed and at present, fossil fuels serve as the source of energy. Scientists and experts are still conducting studies and researches to find other ways to produce fuel cells safely. At the moment, fossil fuels are being used to produce the hydrogen fuel cells but hopefully, new sources of energy will be discovered to further improve its production.

Now you know what hydrogen fuel cells are all about. The fuel cells are not mainly used for providing electricity because currently the automakers are trying to manufacturer cars that are fueled by hydrogen.

If you want to keep abreast with the developments of hydrogen fuel cells, log on to the internet and you will always be kept up to date. It is always good to be well-informed.