Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural
resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal
heat, which are renewable (naturally
replenished). Approximately 16% of global final energy consumption comes from
renewable sources, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, and 3.4% from hydroelectricity. New renewable sources (small hydro, modern biomass, wind, solar,
geothermal, and bio-fuels) accounted for another 3% and are growing very rapidly.
Climate
change concerns, coupled with high oil prices, peak
oil, and increasing government support, are driving increasing renewable
energy legislation, incentives and commercialization. New government spending, regulation and policies helped the industry
weather the global financial crisis better than many other sectors.
Below is the list of top 10 technological advances made in renewable
energy in the last decade-
Solar
Energy
When we talk about the renewable
sources which have the potential to power the world, wind and sun are the
foremost options that strike the mind. To date we have not been able to develop
techniques that fully exploit these sources of unlimited energy, however, we have
fortunately found some amazing techniques that have changed the expensive and
non-efficient face of solar power to something which has the potential for
improvement.
June 24, 2009
Paint-on
Solar Cells
Thinner solar cells mean
that they can be embedded in places where no one ever thought of having them -
this is what researchers at the New Jersey Institute of Technology thought when they developed solar cells so thin that they can be
painted on flexible
plastic sheets, which can then take up
the place of your normal glossy paints. These cells are based on the
combination of carbon nanotubes and carbon Buckyball molecules to create a series of snake-like patterns which can conduct
electricity. Researchers also expect that the technique will be much cheaper
than what is being used today.
Learn more about
paint-on solar cells here
Spherical
Solar Cells
Spherical
Silicon Solar Arrays is the brainchild of
Japan's Clean Venture 21. The technology is up to five times cheaper, uses up to five
times less material, and consumes half the energy to reproduce. With good
optical properties these 1 millimeter (mm) silicon cells are put into little
reactors, measuring 2.2 to 2.7 mm in width. Since the cells are spherical and
not rectangular, the sunlight is absorbed from all possible angles for
generating power with better efficiency and flexibility.
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Domed rest house with solar power generation system at
Toyako Town
|
Learn more
about Spherical Solar Cells here
November 26, 2007 Reflective dishes
The demand of solar energy has increased the demand
for silicon, this has made researchers think of alternatives to silicon. A team
of researchers at Israel’s Ben Gurion University has found what they are calling
a better alternative to silicon. The team has used gallium arsenide instead of silicon in their solar cells, which
becomes more efficient when used with reflective dishes. This makes the system
expensive than silicon solar panels, but the cost per watt is made comparable
to that of a conventional power plant. The team has designed a reflector made of
mirrors that collects and intensifies the light a thousand times over. A solar
energy system built on 4.6 square miles in the Negev would produce 1,000 megawatts of
electricity.
Wind Energy
Wind energy is among the world’s fastest-growing sources of
energy. During the last decade, wind energy growth rates worldwide averaged
about 30 percent annually. In the last three years, the U.S. and Texas wind
energy markets also have experienced a rapid expansion of capacity. In 2007,
for example, U.S. wind power capacity grew by 43 percent, while Texas’ rose by
57 percent.
This growth has been driven by a variety of factors
including government subsidies and tax incentives, improved technology, higher
fossil fuel prices and investor concerns about potential federal action to
reduce carbon emissions, which could make electricity from fossil fuels more
expensive. Over the past decade, wind turbine use has increased at more than 25
percent a year. Still, it only provides a small fraction of the world's energy.
April 29, 2009
Leviathan Energy
Leviathan Energy is an ideal way to
increase the efficiency of a wind turbine. The best part is that there is no
need to increase the size of the turbine. This innovation is developed by
Daniel Farb, the CEO of Leviathan Energy. He has named this
innovation “Wind Energizer” which is capable of increasing wind energy output
by 30 percent. The idea was to modify the environment around the turbine to
ensure that highest velocity winds hits the blade rather than increasing the
blade size of the turbine. So a donut shape structure was formed in such shape
and dimensions such that highest velocity wind hits the blade. The break even
for erecting this structure has been estimated to be around four to five years,
thus, making it an irresistible deal.
Tower Height
Advance Turbine System (ATS) has come
up with an innovative technique to increase the output of a wind turbine by
increasing its height. Conventionally people used to increase the blade size to
increase the turbine efficiency which soon turned out to be an expensive option
with limited availability of space. However, with this technique one can boost
the efficiency of the turbine by 20 percent. This is surely a cost-effective
method that will continue to offer its benefits for a longer period of time
without incurring considerable amount of money.
May 18, 2010
Bladeless
Wind Turbine
A research company in
New Hampshire recently patented its bladeless wind turbine, which is based on a
patent issued to Nikola Tesla in 1913. This wind turbine is christened as the Fuller
Wind Turbine. This turbine is developed by Solar Aero. The specialty of Fuller Wind Turbine is it has only one rotating part,
known as the turbine-driveshaft. The entire machinery is assembled inside
housing. Wind turbines are often disliked
by environmentalists because they kill birds and bats and often generate noise
for the residents living nearby.
The wind industry is trying to find a solution to the
problem by working with environmental groups, federal regulators, and other
interested parties. They are trying to develop methods of measuring and
mitigating wind energy’s effect on birds. The Fuller Wind Turbine offers hope
to bird lovers and environmentalists.
Fuller Wind Turbine has several advantages over the
traditional ones having blades. Fuller Wind Turbine has a screened inlet and
outlet. If you try to get a closer look at this wind turbine you can see the
only movement visible is as it adjusts to track the wind. This wind turbine can
be utilized by the military surveillance and radar installations because there
are no moving blades to cause difficulties.
Another plus attached to this wind turbine is that it won’t
cost a heaven when you get its power. According to manufacturers this turbine is
expected to deliver power at a cost at par with the coal-fired power plants. If
you want to probe deeper, its good news that total operating costs over the
lifetime of the unit are expected to be about $0.12/kWh.
If we take the maintenance angle it won’t cause much
headache because it’s a bladeless turbine. The turbine maintenance requirements
are not colossal and it would result in lower lifetime operating costs. The
turbine is mainly supported on magnetic bearings. Another advantage is all of
the generating equipments are kept at ground level. This will lead towards easy
maintenance of equipments. The company comes out with encouraging figures and
proclaims “final costs will be about $1.50/watt rated output, or roughly 2/3
the cost of comparable bladed units.”
If we take a look at the Tesla turbine patented in 1913, it
operates using the viscous flow of a fluid to move the turbine and as a result
generates energy. The Tesla turbine has a set of smooth disks fitted with
nozzles that send out a moving gas to the edge of the disk. The gases drag on
the disk by following the principle of viscosity and the adhesion of the
surface layer of the gas. As the gas slows and adds force to the disks, it
twirls in to the center exhaust. Because the rotor has no projections, it is
very strong and sturdy. One has to be careful about the disk space because
disks in the turbine need to be closely spaced so that they can trap the
viscous flow. The Tesla turbine has extremely thin disks to reduce turbulence
at the edges and that makes them effective. In 1913, Tesla was unable to find
metals of adequate quality to make this work effectively. But now almost a
century later, those limitations have been surmounted.
Solar Aero’s current prototype is a modest trailer-mounted
unit. But inventor says that their other models “should be capable of 10kW
output with no problem.” If this technology takes off smoothly it would remove
many hurdles attached with conventional wind turbines and more environment-friendly.
Learn more about the Bladeless Wind Turbine at Solar Aero and Eco Geek
Biomass Power
July 31, 2008
Green crude
Perhaps one of the most
promising innovations in recent years is clean energy derived from algae. The
slimy green stuff that collects on surface water is filled with fuel potential:
Some kinds of algae are comprised of more than 50% oil and contribute zero
emissions to greenhouse gases.
According to the World
Watch Institute, an average acre of algae
grown today for pharmaceutical industries can produce 5,000 gallons (19,000
liters) of biodiesel each year. In contrast, an average acre of corn produces
420 gallons (1,600 liters) of ethanol per year, and an acre of soybeans yields
just 70 gallons (265 liters) of biodiesel per year.
With just water, carbon
dioxide and sunlight, algae can quadruple in mass in just one day.
Algae is encouraging not
only because it’s quickly renewable, but because it’s carbon-neutral. It’s a
living, single-celled organism that performs photosynthesis, so it takes the
same amount of carbon out of the atmosphere to create itself as it puts back in
when it’s burned. Additionally, it removes nitrogen from wastewater. Algae have
an application in water treatment facilities, as well.
The primary U.S Company cultivating
this green-colored fuel is Sapphire Energy in San Diego. According to the company, they have created green crude
that is identical to the light, sweet crude oil used to manufacture gasoline,
jet fuel, diesel, and heating oil.
Another benefit to
mass-production of green crude is that it is identical to fossil-based crude.
That means it can be used in the existing refining infrastructure. None of the
factories and refining facilities currently making oil products out of
fossil-based crude will have to replace any of their expensive equipment.
The only thing keeping us
from moving forward with “green crude” is the cost of production. Currently, it
is still cheaper to drill for crude than to put the proper algae-cultivating
infrastructure in place.
Biofuels
Biofuels (e.g. Jatropha oil, Switchgrass)
When corn and sugarcane
first popped up as viable alternative to fuels, hopefulness ensued. But we soon
learned that first generation biofuels came with too many setbacks, namely,
their interference with food crops and their inability to be cost-competitive
with traditional fuels.
Fortunately, second and
third generation biofuels are far more promising.
Though almost any crop
these days seems fair game as a biofuel material, there are some that are more
effective than others. Jatropha oil and switchgrass – both inedible crops – are
among them.
The jatropha plant has
emerged as one of the best options for airline biofuel because of its
resilience and low water needs. In December 2008, Air New
Zealand ran a test flight using a blend of kerosene
and oil from the jatropha plant. Its success led Air New
Zealand to set a goal of using 10% biofuels by 2013.
Today’s biofuels must be
sustainable and not compete with food crops for resources, and they must be
cost-competitive with fuel oil. Though biofuel made by switchgrass isn’t as
energy intensive as algae-based green crude, it is more energy intensive than
corn ethanol. In areas where there is plenty of room for these crops to grow,
the technology can support the surrounding community.
Because of the vast
improvements in utilizing these renewable resources, commercial viability of
second and third generation biofuels may be closer than we originally thought.
How close are these
technologies to reaching to US consumer market? And which has the most
potential to change our energy landscape?
According to research firm New Energy Finance, last year’s investment in alternative energy quadrupled the amount in
2004 and topped the record-breaking year of 2007 by 5 percent.
Clearly, this indicates
that there is a shift away from expensive oil fossil fuel excavation
technology, and toward the vast landscape of renewable energy.
The innovative methods
described above – in addition to the old standbys such as wind, solar, nuclear,
and geothermal power – are already in existence in pilot programs. It is only a
matter of investment and education before the public accepts them as mainstream
alternatives to crude oil. Each has its pros and cons, and none may be the
panacea for our country’s immense energy needs.
However, a smart
combination of renewable energy technologies will perhaps be the best bet in
moving forward. For example, power from poultry litter is perfect for any
community with a large poultry industry, and green crude will work well where
there is already access to algae-rich water.
The future of energy is
already here. As we refine these technologies, approach peak oil, and tweak our
lifestyle habits, we’ll most likely see wide-scale implementation of renewable
energy.
Geothermal Power
2006
Enhanced
Geothermal System (EGS)
Ten years ago, Marcellus, Barnett and Haynesville were merely considered
to be interesting rock formations that contained natural gas in very small
pockets.
But that changed when the natural-gas industry successfully commercialized the
technique of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing.
This simple process involves drilling a hole down to the shale rock, which
contains the natural gas. The drill bit then continues through the rock for as
much as several miles. The bit is then withdrawn when the hole is pressurized
enough, and the rock is hydraulically fractured. This process releases the gas,
which then flows to the surface.
This is what has created boom times for the natural gas industry.
Today, geothermal scientists are experimenting with a modified version of the
natural gas technique for geothermal energy - known as an Enhanced Geothermal
System (EGS).
Simply put, this technique involves pumping cold water down one well, which the
underground rock then heats as the water flows through. The water then returns
to the surface via a second well. The rest of the process is the same as
conventional geothermal.
So how much power could be generated using this technique?
According to a 2006 report from the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT) and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the amount of EGS resources in the United States could provide 140,000
times the total annual energy use in the country.
Using technology available today, MIT scientists further estimated that the
total recoverable power from EGS resources could be as much as 12,200
Gigawatts. That's 15 times higher than the largest peak summertime electrical
load in the United States.
Learn
more about EGS here
Ocean
Tidal Power
Some of the oldest ocean energy technologies use tidal
power. All coastal areas consistently experience two high and two low tides
over a period of slightly greater than 24 hours. For those tidal differences to
be harnessed into electricity, the difference between high and low tides must
be at least five meters, or more than 16 feet. There are only about 40 sites on
the Earth with tidal ranges of this magnitude.
Currently, there are no tidal power plants in the United
States. However, conditions are good for tidal power generation in both the
Pacific Northwest and the Atlantic Northeast regions of the country.
Learn
more about Tidal Power here
Direct
Energy Conversion Method
Trident Energy announces breakthrough in sea wave
renewable energy technology.
Milestone tests at UK’s New and Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC) demonstrate
viability of Direct Energy Conversion Method. London: Trident Energy Ltd announced
a further major step towards cost effective, flexible and uncomplicated production of energy from sea wave power.
Trident Energy Ltd, based in Southend on Sea, Essex, UK, reports that its
patented Direct Energy Conversion Method (DECM) has successfully completed
testing at the UK’s New and Renewable Energy Centre NaREC) at Blyth,
Northumberland. Trident Energy’s technology differs
fundamentally from that of all other existing wave energy devices.
Rather than using air or hydraulics as part of the conversion train, it
converts wave energy directly to electricity through a unique and patented form
of low cost linear generator.
Polystyrene,
commonly referred to as "Styrofoam", takes decades to hundreds of
years to dissolve and is one of the world's most considerable environmental
problems. Polystyrene is a thermoplastic material made from petroleum-derived
styrene and is non-biodegradable. It is difficult to estimate how much
polystyrene there is in the world, however, the Earth Resource
Foundation reports that Styrofoam
manufacturers were the fifth largest
producer of toxic waste in 1986. Unfortunately
Styrofoam is still widely used across the world, from cups and plates to
packaging and more, as it is typically less expensive than other products and
weighs significantly less which aids in reduced shipping costs. Thankfully
there are several companies around the world working on finding eco-friendly,
cost-effective substitutions to replace this harmful product.
Ecovative Design, a New York-based company, has created a
biodegradable alternative to conventional polystyrene (or Styrofoam) using inedible
by-products of agricultural crops like seed husks. The material is grown using these by-products
and mycelium which is a fungal network of threadlike cells, like the
"roots" of mushrooms. In 5 – 7 days, in the dark with no watering and
no petrochemical inputs, the mycelium digests the agricultural by-products
binding them into a structural material. The mycelium acts like a natural, self-assembling
glue. The material can then be grown into any shape needed. Every cubic inch of
material contains a matrix of 8 miles of tiny mycelial fibers, and at the end
of the process the materials are heat treated to stop the growth and ensure
there will never be any spores or allergen concerns. From beginning to end, the
mushroom material fits into nature’s recycling system. Composting,
mulching, or throwing away are all environmentally sound options of disposal
because the product is made of natural materials that belong in a healthy
ecosystem.
Naturpack, an Ontario-based
company, has created a loose fill packing product that is very similar to the
polystyrene pellets (or "peanuts" or "beans") found in many
shipments. Corn is the primary product used in creating their product, which
boasts anti-vibration and shock absorbing qualities. Naturpak is reusable and
recycled, is manufactured without chemicals, and is environmentally friendly
when disposed. To make the loose fill, first the corn must be crushed and the germ removed by
sifting. The corn is then ground to a powder so the pulverized corn
can then be put directly into the plant. The corn is heated in a pressure
chamber and released in a way that produces and creates uniform pieces of loose
fill. The process is based on unmodified starch in a pure mechanical production
process without additives. The process can be altered by the addition of
specific additives to achieve desired results. 
EnviroPak, a Missouri-based
company, has utilized recycled products to create their eco-friendly packaging.
Molded pulp is made from 100% recycled newspaper and is 100% recyclable and
100% biodegradable. It has been used to package delicate items such as eggs and
light bulbs for years, however, recently has become more prominent in the
shipping industry. Molded pulp can be shaped to fit any product and is highly
shock resistant. The stock preparation process is closely related to that of a
small paper mill. For full details on how the molded pulp is made please visit http://www.enviropak.com/Molded_Process.html
