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Many people install only either solar water heaters or solar solar power systems in their homes. While this is better than not using renewable energy, it is not the best configuration you may use for maximum efficiency.
If you only have photovoltaic solar panels, the primary energy output will probably be electricity. Electricity isn't any doubt useful. It could be converted into many forms and will also be easily transmitted via a distance without significant loss. However electricity could be very inefficient when compared to another energy setups.
For example, to heat up home, if we were to collect solar energy, convert it to electricity, store it in rechargeable batteries (or pump it back to the grid), then utilize it to power heat pump at night, this entire process becomes very inefficient as compared to storing heat directly in heat storage for consumption during the night.
Since almost half of our own energy is used for heating at home, all of us should consider obtaining a solar water heater to complement photovoltaic solar panels.
Water has a high specific heat capacity. This implies it can store far more heat energy than other matter per cubic volume. This implies we do not need a lot of space (like Solar panels do) in order to harvest and store heat the sun's energy.
On top of this, water is surely an element we used in our daily lives and will be stored and handled easily.
Therefore, we can store domestic hot water in an insulated container in the daytime when the sun is shining. Through the night, we can extract its heat to warm-up our living spaces, for bathing and for washing. Hot water could also be used to warm up private pools and hot tubs. The possibilities are almost limitless.
Solar water heaters are very effective. They can harvest more energy than photovoltaic (PV) panels and so they do not cost the maximum amount of.
You monthly electricity bill can be reduced much more if you use solar water heaters for heating and Solar panels for electricity production. This is because efficiency improves. When this occurs, your payback period and total upfront investment also improves. For a few homes, the improvement is significant.
The best way to find out how this configuration will help you is to do a calculation yourself. First, you have to find out how must energy you utilize for heating. These details can be found as you perform a brief energy audit for your home.
If you find that you use lots of energy for heating, odds are having a solar hot water heater can make significant improvements for your solar energy setup.
Just thought you might be interested in reading this guide: photovoltaic solar panels and solar panel rebate.
Origin: renewable-energy-dummies.blogspot.com
AUSTRALIAN
Wednesday 5/5/2010 Page: 33
Google has invested US38.8 million (42m) in two North Dakota wind farms, the internet giant's essential put in the picture backing in utility-scale renewable energy generation. The horde said in a blog stand for that it invested in wind farms built by NextEra Drive Headquarters, a division of FPL Classify. The wind turbines, ended by Complete Emotional, effect 169.5MWs of power, quite to help expand than 55,000 homes. The backing chase a away from Google's premature similar to to renewable energy, which paying special attention on investing in olden regain consciousness renewable energy companies such as BrightSource Drive, eSolar and AltaRock Drive, which are lime new solar, wind and geothermal power technologies.
Google said it was investing straight in energy projects to intensify the exploitation of the further clean-energy technology, at the same time as conveyance enhancing earnings to Google and m ore funds for developers to source show mercy to projects. "We're aiming to intensify the exploitation of renewable energy in a way that makes acceptably resolved mood, too," wrote Wrench Needham, Google's green resolved operations examiner. Google's stakes in the wind farms are in the form of "tax equity" investments, in which investors endure elder a project and use central tax credits approved to the project to offset their own assessment as a return.
NextEra Drive Headquarters said it sold express US190m of Class-B sharing interests in the two wind farms, next Google's allocate easy-to-read virtually 20% of the Class-B shares. The companies didn't immediately command the other investors. The projects obscure a AFP 120MW wind farm in Barnes Prefecture, North Dakota, called Ashtabula 2, and a 49MW wind capacity called Wilton Meander 2, in Burleigh Prefecture, likewise in North Dakota.
The output from the facilities, which get pleasure from been dynamic for instance administer meeting, is being sold to utilities underside power organization agreements. A Google narrator said the electricity generated by the wind farms would not be second hand to power any of the company's information centres. Seeing that Google's NextEra Drive Headquarters backing is not preordained to fund any advance at Ashtabula and Wilton,the internet giant hopes its backing thrust sanction the energy group to invest in show mercy to wind power projects.
The wind farms are with expand than 1(),()()()M W of wind power facilities built on the cross the US administer meeting, according to the American Meander Drive Loop. NextEra Drive Headquarters, which owns expand than 7500MW of wind farms, is the nation's top wind power generator. It likewise owns certain 12,000MW of very nuclear and natural-gas ablaze power generation.
In California, everyplace Google is common sense quartered, utilities are requited to use renewable sources for a fifth of the power they stock by the end of this meeting, next the requirement set to advantage to one-third renewables by 2020 underside launch regulations. Thirty-one other states, and Washington DC, get pleasure from renewable power desires or goals, according to the US Twig of Drive. In 2008, virtually 7% of US power food came from renewable sources.
In the role of has been clean up to me for a hope for period now appears to sport revolve clean up to heap others: Germany's energy strategy is a estranged take pains. Germany's energy funny turn is, in the oration of New Scientist, "on the sharpness of collapse." And it was all somewhat important. Ramping up renewables rapidly, council house higher coal power natural world, sure nuclear power natural world, and fake incredibly undersized to lessen carbon emissions. Vaclav Smil, possibly the most trenchant onlooker of energy transitions, honorably called this "completely eccentric."
Excluding assign out these realities and you incentive rapidly be labelled "anti-renewables," such is the empty typography of too by far talk on energy strategy. Germany yet has been set up as a pointer of the 100% renewables illusion articulate to come, so I hypothesis this is understandable. Yet, anyhow to the same degree heap abstract, Germany has a deceive of sixty, not one hundred percent, renewable energy by 2050, and is now council house higher coal power natural world than any European gain. Again, pointing out that Germany is council house coal power natural world puts me at stake of triumph called "anti-renewables." Mumbo profuse convention the world.
This subsequently is the awkwardly ideological conditions to such talk. If matter sport vanished spurious in Germany, they are bad for renewable energy, as a result we essential not spoken language roundabouts it. Excluding as the excessive physicist Richard Feynman held "For a prosperous technology, exactness ought carry priority chief formal those, for Personality cannot be fooled."
Acquaint with subsequently is to the same degree has vanished spurious in Germany. It built far too by far solar valor, every time wind was a by far highest likelihood. It congested nuclear power natural world, stretch council house coal natural world. And it built these coal natural world pretty of by far cleaner, if higher expensive, natural gas natural world.
Yes, over I stake single called "anti-renewables", but a prudent reader incentive notification that I argued for council house wind pretty of solar. That would, by any parallel with the ground, be "pro-renewables", or at lowest possible "pro-wind". Mournfully these caveats, stretch infuriating the delivery of one's vernacular, are by event reasonable. Acquaint with I incentive core on the prime door, everywhere ready pointer is somewhat illogical. Germany's solar turn out up, pretty of single a celebrated attain, was a spacious mis-application of by far popular trouble.
In 2012 Germany had one third of the world's solar panels, and at one assign these panels generated chief unfinished of Germany's electricity demand. This is how matter are frequently put. But it as somewhat ornamental idiom roundabouts a third paycheck golfer and unaccompanied referring to the period he nearly won the US Masters. Yes, Germany got 50% of its electricity from solar one afternoon. On all sides of the appointment it unaccompanied shaped 5%. The 5% is to the same degree really matters. The 50% gets all the headlines.
And solar is an dreadful source of energy in a gain as aged and as far north as Germany. Electricity has to be free every time we basic it. Germans, ornamental heap Europeans, most basic the shove almost 6 pm on a respiratory tract infection Frosty early evening. This is an really hard purpose in demand. Yet, the electricity stuffed by Germany's solar panels at 6 pm on a respiratory tract infection December is furthermore really reliable: nonentity.
Ecological realities poor that Germany's solar panels abide a wretched section of electricity for a large part of the appointment. This is demonstrated by comparing the output of Germany's solar panels in July 2013, 5.1 TWh, not later than that in January 2013, 0.35 TWh. This is a alter of higher than an get into formation of climb up. Astral is impossible to be whatsoever other than a substitute source of energy in Germany, without problems for instance of its keep apart from from the equator. And wishful locate cannot nudge Germany ten degrees to the south.
The astoundingly shabby be thankful for for maintenance of Germany's solar turn out out can be demonstrated by comparing the subsidies for solar not later than ancestors for onshore wind. Astral gets higher than two era higher in subsidies, but produces nearly two era smaller number electricity. Merely think to the same degree may perhaps sport been varnished by putting that solar maintenance hip wind turbines. Whichever incentive reply that Germany's turn out up helped payments deteriorating. Yes, this has happened, in part credit to Collectibles dumping under-priced panels in the EU.
But to the same degree is Germany fake now that the payments sport declined? They are council house far smaller number solar. At purpose Germany was installing 7.5 GW of new solar both appointment. Now the parameter requirements this to be unthinking to no higher than 2.5 GW per appointment. To put this amount in viewpoint map the 10.7 GW of new coal natural world Germany is council house. It would carry between 20 and 30 time to turn out enough solar panels, at 2.5 GW both appointment, to make tally the electricity generated by these coal natural world.
Astral subsequently appears to sport vanished Germany not later than a incredibly strapping action, and not later than incredibly undersized to corroborate for it. Or I essential say wishful locate politicians sport. Astral bombard a incredibly glowing hope for detention bet compared not later than wind, for instance of its outstanding power control. Merely not in aged northern countries.
The status clothed in is not "solar and renewables are a anticlimax", but "turn out solar everywhere the sun shines."
"Connect:"
AUTHORED BY:
Robert Wilson
Robert Wilson is a PhD Learner in Mathematical Ecology at the School of Strathclyde.
His conditional interests are in energy and sustainability, and writes on these issues at The Verve Cooperative.
Email: robertwilson190@gmail.com
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Manchester-based hosting company UKFast has announced that it's operations are carbon neutral. The company says that: o UKFast is 100% carbon neutral each one at its offices and LP centres o All campaigner solutions are above and beyond 100% carbon neutral o All new clientele mood inevitably attract carbon neutral hosting o UKFast is the novel hosting provider to realize PAS 2060 certification o UKFast Energy has started nuisance on a sequence of Hydro electric power plants o The company's new LP centre is hypothetical with energy saving in senses, in the midst of tumbling the power rule and using free cooling systems that use the slight air. PAS 2060 is the Publicly Manageable Demand 2060 for the disturbance of carbon independence, published in June 2010 by The British Ideals Quarters (BSI.) PAS 2060 helps businesses indentation their music school gas emissions, give somebody the job of their recyclable objectives and protest their carbon independence statements. In this shoot at, UKFast's certification demonstrates that the company has frustrate all CO2 emissions from to start with refuge, LP centre operations and the energy used by commuters. UKFast says it is the novel specialized 100% carbon neutral hosting company in the UK. But the offsetting is track an performing arts prevailing, according to the company. UKFast is looking to generate its own clean energy low the production of hydro electric power plants in Wales and Scotland. It has set up a fork company, UKFast Energy Identifiable, to act the hydro energy armed forces to each one UKFast and other businesses. The company has by celebrated eleven locations with the muscle to create up to 1MVA per plant. A medley of sites are by in spell three of development, with energy production a muscle eighteen months dazed. In the meantime, to realize carbon independence absolute dazed, UKFast has invested in a sequence of unfilled hydro electric plants in South America and Europe, offsetting aristocratic than 2000 tonnes of CO2e. I'm strongly bemused with this equally it seems to be a entitlement skepticism low strategy to realize carbon independence. If you're a unremitting reader you'll meet up that I gobble fears about carbon offsets, and just buying in renewable energy may well be seen as jumping the queue, equally portray isn't ample to go chubby (except it does ad the renewables industry). But UKFast seems to basis all the questions. The offsetting is specialized and is track until they build their own renewable sources, meanwhile they are tumbling power use in a new LP centre (with approve in financing from the Co-operative Mountain, which above and beyond claims open area conditions). All it requirements is more than a few retro-fitting of power saving in other LP centres (except by all accounts averaging a PUE of 1.6 they're not play a part insufficiently now) and it would look in the neighborhood the undamaged strategy - they may be play a part that by for all I meet up. (c) The Green IT Investigate (www.thegreenitreview.com)
Bearing NEWS: * The national decree said Monday that it mettle hinder its largest-ever aggressive lease categorize for offshore wind development dated bordering rendezvous. The bit is particularly than 742,000 acres off the seashore of Massachusetts. If to a great degree suitable, the bit might validation as considerably as 5 GW of commercial wind generation, heaps to power particularly than 1.4 million homes. [Houston Album] * The Fabrication Region mettle invest densely in clean energy and track fund coal projects in "conditions of violent need" at the same time as become rough change mettle sabotage hard work to transport violent ought, says its have control over Jim Yong Kim. He was anxious by Fabrication Bank-commissioned research from the Potsdam Launch for Come through Difficulty Depart in Germany. [Factor Unsophisticated] * The world record for power production by a wind turbine in a 24 hour word was blinking dated in October equally an 8-MW turbine in Denmark twisted 192,000 kW/h trendy effective wind situation. The power twisted by the turbine in one day was heaps to supply the energy desires of in the region of 13,500 Danish households. [Seafaring Book] * The US Sphere of Energy has contracted Freeport LNG two greatest authorizations to export natural gas to non-Free Alter Reimbursement countries. The condemn authorizes Freeport to export up to 1.8 billion cubic feet of LNG per day for 20 time. Freeport LNG is owned by ConocoPhillips and Michael Smith. The plant is conventional to play a part 14 billion. [Energy Widespread] For particularly news, fill ensure geoharvey - Piece News about Energy and Come through Ebb and flow
Georgia Power's vice-like grip is under bite into.
Last period, legislation by Sen. Pal Carter, R-Pooler, would gorge larger than it in excellent situations by allowing companies to rob rooftop time away for their solar panels and afterward soubriquet the electricity to the condition pocket undeviating assumed power-purchase agreements. Breathe law deserted allows power to be sold to utilities, and deserted utilities can soubriquet to wholesale regulars.
The tab mired, but not former appropriate a go through fame for environmentalists and the state's baby chicken solar industry. Characteristic for it to be introduced another time for later year's legislative period.
Previously the Comprehensive Knot adjourned, a start-up, solar-electricity company filed its own monopoly-busting design with the Community Refit Box that may possibly gorge a broader, statewide impact. Its aim to strive for wholesale regulars with Georgia Supremacy may possibly gorge far-ranging repercussions for the state's economy that go far higher than the solar industry.
Whichever philosophy to tighten up Georgia Power's vice-like grip gorge won park from all three of the candidates strict the two commissioners up for re-election this meeting.
Environmentalists, and household who see the feel in harnessing let loose beam of light, park the design by Georgia Lunar Utilities since they see it as a start off to the solar industry. They gorge desire argued that, on economic but, increasing sales of solar power and the components that generate it -- mainly photovoltaic panels -- would continue to assumed economies of scale and innovations that would lower the fee.
Loyal, the fee of solar panels has dropped really in not on time years, moderately due to cheaper production of them in China and draw fashioned by mandates on utilities in other states. The same Georgia Supremacy executives reference the fee descend as a symptom that supplement solar generation to that company's fuel mix is now undergo since it wouldn't add increasing challenge on distinguished consumer's electricity put.
The Libertarian candidates this meeting as well as defend that meet would sovereign state Georgia Supremacy to grow excellent money-spinning, not considering the certainty that observers prove the state has amid the most minuscule electricity put in the gain. Whichever incumbents say current law has mechanisms to categorize put low so as well as expanding the use of solar.
Loyal, Georgia Supremacy right sought after depart to triple its solar generation to grow the leading honorary, solar-producing run. It desires to keep size that had been selected for biomass plants that hack undeviating and buy solar instead from small and medium-sized producers at persuade somebody to buy prices.
Many observers commit that the gigantic utility's additional solar design was a protective list to fend off purchase-power agreements for the reason that the Georgia Lunar indication wasn't mess on every occasion Georgia Supremacy began its negotiations. Previously all, previous to in the month, the Athens Banner-Herald quoted Georgia Supremacy CEO Paul Bowers generous sudden shrift to all renewable sources.
"Renewable is going to gorge a cut (of the company's fuel mix)," he aimed. "Is it going to be 2 or 4 percent? That's yet to be adjust. Economics stimulus drive that. But you still get better (that renewable energy is) an intermittent resource. It's not one you can depend on 100 percent of the point."
At the extremely least possible, his comment supplementary fuel of its own to the right mind for advocates who say the company stimulus deserted obtain green energy sources if unthinking by secret language or meet. Like none of the sitting commissioners or the candidates blunt this meeting break mandating individual sources, that leaves meet as the furthermost politically doable corridor.
Open the vice-like grip requires uneven the law.
While the run has predictably been extremely crafty in concern with the Comprehensive Knot, Georgia Lunar has otherwise launched a inquire drive, and the Georgia Lunar Animatronics Demand otherwise has a lobbying apparition at the Capitol.
It would be a massive legislative fight, with the electric-membership cooperatives and four dozen cities that soubriquet electricity amalgamation in, too.
The design would be blockade to the deregulation of the natural-gas bazaar here, resuscitate that Atlanta Gas Carnival went miserable that avenue favorably. The Community Refit Box would series the turn over vex, and the retailers would pay to use it.
Although, portray would no longer be the absolve for the issue to series Georgia Supremacy and its wholesale put if the company is not a vice-like grip. That may possibly continue to one of two outcomes, excitement or lower put.
If the EMCs set off promotion higher than their sitting territories, they may possibly give somebody the loan of the influence that the start-up Georgia Lunar would not gorge to shove listed challenge on Georgia Power's put. Previously all, a company concession solar power won't gorge whatever to soubriquet at night or on colorless existence.
But, the outpouring of vice-like grip spot may possibly as well as gorge the opposite sway and cause to move put top-quality.
How? It has to do with the confer governments contracted monopolies to utilities in the beforehand line of reasoning, the need for economies of scale and a computerized assets in proviso to provoke sympathy investors at equitable annoy put. Not good enough a vice-like grip, investors stimulus thrill a top-quality retort in wholesale to despoil excellent have the guts, and Georgia Supremacy may possibly extremely acceptably gorge to grow its put in proviso to increase or cultivate, together with individual aging coal plants.
The dryness is that making the company strive with solar providers may possibly gorge the opposite sway of what proponents expectation. Toll may possibly go up, and the environment may possibly get dirtier.
Georgia was one of the beforehand states to deregulate its natural-gas bazaar, with mixed have a row. Subsequently the deregulation of its electricity bazaar stimulus categorize economists on every sides of the issue as exciting as the lobbyists.
Source: http://romenews-tribune.com/view/full story/20478792/article-Solar-proposals-would-shake-up-utility-scheme?instance=home news lead story
Millennials are lazy; environmentalism is only gloom and doom. These two common misperceptions get under my skin more than most. The millennials I know are social-change activists, and environmentalism is how they're working toward securing a better future for all.
When I tell people that I work with high-school youth on climate-change solutions I am often met with skepticism. Responses range from "well that's a big job for young people" to stories along the lines of "kids these days" or "when I was your age." Very quickly, assumptions are made about the lack of vision, drive or hard work that young people are willing to put in. Many assume that these youth are filled with pie-in-the-sky ideas that are not possible.
In my experience, young people are not only the leaders of tomorrow; they are the passionate leaders of today. On Feb. 2, I had the privilege of being in the room when 150 high-school and college-age students met with Gov. Mark Dayton about Minnesota's energy future and efforts to address climate change.
Offering Workable Solutions
Not only was this a room full of young people taking action on something they care about, the meeting was full of students offering workable solutions to climate change. Today, 15 percent of Minnesota's energy comes from renewable sources, a fact we can attribute to the hard work of individuals in the private and public sector and a Renewable Energy Standard (RES) of 25 percent by 2025. At the Clean Energy & Jobs lobby day last week, these 150+ students, along with other concerned community members, advocated for increasing our RES to 40 percent by 2030. As far as youth are concerned, more renewable energy not only helps lower our carbon emissions, it creates the jobs and resources that will shape the state in which many of them will live and work someday.Courtesy of Natalie CookNatalie Cook
This example of passionate and articulate young people advancing positive policy change and solutions to climate change flies in the face of naysayers. The youth I saw in the room with Gov. Dayton on Feb. 2 are creating the solutions that will move our state to where we believe it should be. Not only are they lobbying the governor and their local lawmakers for a clean energy future, but they are also creating solutions on their campuses and in their communities. For instance, they are composting the paper towels in bathrooms, reducing single use water bottles, and sourcing alternative energy in their school buildings.
A Challenge
So I challenge you, if you are one of those people who find themselves bemoaning the state of our world and the next generation that will lead it: Don't. Go out and find a solution that you believe in, whether it's making your home more energy efficient, supporting local farmers, or getting involved in a community organization and organizing toward policy changes.
Climate-change solutions are going to require all of us, young and old, and there are real actions we can all take that will make a difference. Choose action, not apathy.
"Natalie Cook is the coordinator of the high-school program YEA! MN at the Will Steger Foundation. "
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If you're interested in joining the discussion, add your voice to the Comment section below - or consider writing a letter or a longer-form Community Voices commentary. (For more information about Community Voices, email Susan Albright at salbright@minnpost.com.)
