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tuckeremi99

Is Current Wind Growth Sustainable? | Renewable Energy World Magazine Article - 0 views

www.renewableenergyworld.com/...the-big-question1

wind sustainable

shared by tuckeremi99 on 22 Oct 12 - No Cached
  • wind farms are not only capital intensive but also have a long gestation period – could prove to be prohibitive for many potential investors.
  • terms of global policy, governments need to boost investments in onshore and offshore wind generation through the right mix of supportive policies and incentives.
  • wind energy will become even more attractive as it serves as an insurance against future increases in fuel and carbon prices, while reducing our dependency on fossil fuels imported from volatile regions.
  • ...17 more annotations...
  • Both in Europe and in the US, some 40% of all new power generating capacity installed in the past two years was wind energy. If the economic crisis continues, however, the reduction in power demand will start to impact wind energy, simply because of lower demand for new power plants. Nevertheless, the medium and long-term outlook remains very healthy, as political momentum is building towards a low carbon economy, without which humankind will not overcome three of the biggest concerns of our time – climate protection, energy security and the provision of jobs.
  • Wind power’s credentials as a rapidly deployable clean technology have put it at the forefront in the fight against climate change. Neither new nuclear capacity or carbon capture and storage (CCS) will contribute to CO2 reductions within the timeframe that the climate scientists give us. As a no-fuel, no-carbon emissions source of electricity, wind energy will play a big part in reducing carbon emissions before 2020.
  • A key element for policy makers is to dramatically improve competition in power markets, to ensure that investors, rather than consumers, are exposed to
  • The growth in wind power capacity has shown no signs of slowing, even in these tough economic times. For two years running there has been more new wind power capacity installed than any other power generating technology in Europe – including coal, gas and nuclear. In 2009 the European market for wind turbines experienced a 23% growth rate, the same as the average growth rate over the last 15 years.
  • future carbon and fuel price risk.
  • Wind power is a leader now, and will remain so in the future, attracting big investments and creating jobs. There is a boom waiting to happen in offshore wind energy. But, Europe’s ageing electricity grids must be upgraded and extended, and the EU must also pursue a drive to build an offshore grid in the North and Baltic seas that will connect offshore wind farms to the shore, piping vast amounts of CO2-free energy to consumers at affordable prices.
  • cleaner energy
  • he fact that wind is the most cost effective and scalable renewable source of energy.
  • past several years.
  • dynamic growth rate of the
  • Because of the small size of the existing installed base, the offshore wind sector will see higher growth percentages while the number of onshore turbines will continue to outpace those installed offshore.
  • Continued investment in grid infrastructure is critical for growth as well as wind turbine technology investments that improve efficiency and reliability while driving down emissions. Countries with the most efficient and flexible permitting processes will benefit by realizing the installation of the most advanced technology.
  • but renewable sources, and in large part, wind energy, have an extremely important role to play.
  • A fundamental value of wind is that it lowers risk in the overall generation mix by bringing in a fixed electricity cost. You don’t have any fuel risk, so you don’t have these big price spikes that you see when you generate electricity from gas or oil.
  • The wind power market is still intact. Demand for ‘green’ power stations remains unabated and nearly all governments have adopted policies aimed at environmental sustainability.
  • As our industry is still very young, wind power currently contributes only around 1.5% to global electricity supplies.
  • this merely serves to highlight the enormous potential for the future, especially as wind power is not only clean but also inexpensive. This is something that more and more governments and energy companies are realizing.
  • tuckeremi99 on 22 Oct 12
     
    "The growth in wind power capacity has shown no signs of slowing, even in these tough economic times. For two years running there has been more new wind power capacity installed than any other power generating technology in Europe - including coal, gas and nuclear. In 2009 the European market for wind turbines experienced a 23% growth rate, the same as the average growth rate over the last 15 years."Both in Europe and in the US, some 40% of all new power generating capacity installed in the past two years was wind energy. If the economic crisis continues, however, the reduction in power demand will start to impact wind energy, simply because of lower demand for new power plants. Nevertheless, the medium and long-term outlook remains very healthy, as political momentum is building towards a low carbon economy, without which humankind will not overcome three of the biggest concerns of our time - climate protection, energy security and the provision of jobs." "Wind power is a leader now, and will remain so in the future, attracting big investments and creating jobs. There is a boom waiting to happen in offshore wind energy. But, Europe's ageing electricity grids must be upgraded and extended, and the EU must also pursue a drive to build an offshore grid in the North and Baltic seas that will connect offshore wind farms to the shore, piping vast amounts of CO2-free energy to consumers at affordable prices."
stewartlia99

Wind Energy - 0 views

biodiesel.environmentalactiongroup.org/wind.html

wind cost infrastructure

shared by stewartlia99 on 22 Oct 12 - No Cached
  • Cons:
  • The purchase and set-up of wind turbines can be expensive
  • Wind turbines require certain constant speeds to be productive (13 mph for large turbines, 9 mph for small turbines)
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • Wind farms can't sustain constant power due to daily and seasonal variance in wind
dpurdy

Renewable Energy, Other sources of Renewable Energy - 0 views

www.altenergy.org/...other.html

wave infrastructure

shared by dpurdy on 22 Oct 12 - No Cached
  • "Worldwide, approximately 3000 gigawatts (1 gigawatt = 1 GW = 1 billion watts) of energy is continuously available from the action of tides.
  • The best areas are on the eastern sides of the oceans (western side of the continents) between the 40 and 60 latitudes in both the northern and southern hemispheres.
  • While the "wave power at deep ocean sites is three to eight times the wave power at adjacent coastal sites," constructing and mooring the site and transmitting the electricity to shore would be prohibitively costly.
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  • There is a handful of wave energy demonstration plants operating worldwide, but none produces a significant amount of electricity.
  • dpurdy on 31 Oct 12
     
    While the "wave power at deep ocean sites is three to eight times the wave power at adjacent coastal sites," constructing and mooring the site and transmitting the electricity to shore would be prohibitively costly.
dpurdy

Photovoltaic power station - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - 0 views

en.wikipedia.org/...Photovoltaic_power_station

infrastructure transported grid solar

shared by dpurdy on 26 Oct 12 - No Cached
  • A photovoltaic power station, also known as a solar park, is a large-scale photovoltaic system designed for the supply of merchant power into the electricity grid. They are differentiated from most building-mounted and other decentralised solar power applications because they supply power at the utility level, rather than to a local user or users. They are sometimes also referred to as solar farms or solar ranches, especially when sited in agricultural areas.
  • Most stations are sited within a few kilometres of a suitable grid connection point. This network needs to be capable of absorbing the output of the solar park when operating at its maximum capacity. The project developer will normally have to absorb the cost of providing powerlines to this point and making the connection; in addition often to any costs associated with upgrading the grid, so it can accommodate the output from the plant.
  • Income is therefore affected not only by the reliability of equipment within the plant, but also by the availability of the grid network to which it is exporting
ballardeth99

HowStuffWorks "Underwater Turbine Electricity Production" - 0 views

science.howstuffworks.com/moon-generate-electricity1.htm

tidal infrastructure

shared by ballardeth99 on 24 Oct 12 - No Cached
  • This produces the electricity that is carried by cable to shore.
  • Once it's plugged into an electrical grid, the electricity can be distributed [
  • ballardeth99 on 24 Oct 12
     
    "cable to shore. "
ackleysam99

Why We Need Solar Power - 0 views

www.getmysolartoday.com/why-we-need-solar-power

infrastructure

shared by ackleysam99 on 23 Oct 12 - No Cached
  • When we look at what is available today in solar equipment it has come a long way  but still needs a long way to go.
  • ater they installed a solar hot air collector; this unit worked awesome during the winter months. It would raise the temperature of the home to the mid 80’s during the winter if you continued to let it run.
  • Yet each year we are becoming more energy efficient. The growing problem that really disturbs me is that while I consume less energy then I did in previous years my energy bills continue to climb at a record pace.
dpurdy

Wind Energy Basics - 1 views

windeis.anl.gov/basics

wind how what location cost pollution infrastructure

shared by dpurdy on 15 Apr 12 - No Cached
  • The major challenge to using wind as a source of power is that it is intermittent and does not always blow when electricity is needed. Wind cannot be stored (although wind-generated electricity can be stored, if batteries are used), and not all winds can be harnessed to meet the timing of electricity demands. Further, good wind sites are often located in remote locations far from areas of electric power demand (such as cities).
  • Although wind power plants have relatively little impact on the environment compared to fossil fuel power plants, there is some concern over the noise produced by the rotor blades, aesthetic (visual) impacts, and birds and bats having been killed (avian/bat mortality) by flying into the rotors. Most of these problems have been resolved or greatly reduced through technological development or by properly siting wind plants.
  • A Renewable Non-Polluting Resource Wind energy is a free, renewable resource, so no matter how much is used today, there will still be the same supply in the future. Wind energy is also a source of clean, non-polluting, electricity. Unlike conventional power plants, wind plants emit no air pollutants or greenhouse gases. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, in 1990, California's wind power plants offset the emission of more than 2.5 billion pounds of carbon dioxide, and 15 million pounds of other pollutants that would have otherwise been produced. It would take a forest of 90 million to 175 million trees to provide the same air quality.
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  • Cost Issues Even though the cost of wind power has decreased dramatically in the past 10 years, the technology requires a higher initial investment than fossil-fueled generators. Roughly 80% of the cost is the machinery, with the balance being site preparation and installation. If wind generating systems are compared with fossil-fueled systems on a "life-cycle" cost basis (counting fuel and operating expenses for the life of the generator), however, wind costs are much more competitive with other generating technologies because there is no fuel to purchase and minimal operating expenses.
    • dpurdy
      dpurdy on 03 Nov 12
       
      Good point for how we will need to change in future! To get more wind energy.
  • Wind energy is very abundant in many parts of the United States. Wind resources are characterized by wind-power density classes, ranging from class 1 (the lowest) to class 7 (the highest). Good wind resources (e.g., class 3 and above, which have an average annual wind speed of at least 13 miles per hour) are found in many locations
  • Wind speed is a critical feature of wind resources,
  • In other words, a stronger wind means a lot more power.
  • Horizontal turbine components include: blade or rotor, which converts the energy in the wind to rotational shaft energy; a drive train, usually including a gearbox and a generator; a tower that supports the rotor and drive train; and other equipment, including controls, electrical cables, ground support equipment, and interconnection equipment. Wind turbine diagram - click for enlarged image.
  • Wind is a form of solar energy. Winds are caused by the uneven heating of the atmosphere by the sun, the irregularities of the earth's surface, and rotation of the earth. Wind flow patterns are modified by the earth's terrain, bodies of water, and vegetative cover.
  • How Wind Power Is Generated The terms "wind energy" or "wind power" describe the process by which the wind is used to generate mechanical power or electricity. Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in the wind into mechanical power.
Connor Wiggins

HowStuffWorks "How Fuel Cells Work" - 0 views

auto.howstuffworks.com/...fuel-cell.htm

fuel cell sustainable

shared by Connor Wiggins on 15 Mar 12 - Cached
  • This initiative, supported by legislation in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT 2005) and the Advanced Energy Initiative of 2006, aims to develop hydrogen, fuel cell and infrastructure technologies to make fuel-cell vehicles practical and cost-effective by 2020
  • Why are governments, private businesses and academic institutions collaborating to develop and produce them? Fuel cells generate electrical power quietly and efficiently, without pollution. Unlike power
  • that use fossil fuels, the by-products from an operating fuel cell are heat and water
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  • With a fuel cell, chemicals constantly flow into the cell so it never goes dead -- as long as there is a flow of chemicals into the cell, the electricity flows out of the cell. Most fuel cells in use today use hydrogen and oxygen as the chemicals.
  • If you want to be technical about it, a fuel cell is an electrochemical energy conversion device. A fuel cell converts the chemicals hydrogen and oxygen into water, and in the process it produces electricity.
  • polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC)
  • United States has dedicated more than one billion dollars to fuel cell research and development so far.So what exactly is a fuel cell,
  • With a fuel cell, chemicals constantly flow into the cell so it never goes dead -- as long as there is a flow of chemicals into the cell, the electricity flows out of the cell. Most fuel cells in use today use hydrogen and oxygen as the chemicals.
  • ricciardellinick on 08 Mar 13
     
    "In 2003, President Bush announced a program called the Hydrogen Fuel Initiative (HFI) during his State of the Union Address."
  • Connor Wiggins on 11 Mar 13
     
    It shows how its sustainable 
smithree98

Fuel Cell Advantages and Disadvantages - 1 views

www.futurecars.com/...hydrogen_fuellcell_cars2.html

hydrogen fuel benefit advantages disadvantages cell

shared by smithree98 on 19 Mar 12 - No Cached
  • Conceptually, replacing the current oil-based infrastructure with hydrogen would cost billions, maybe trillions, of dollars. Although abundant in the universe, hydrogen is fairly rare in our atmosphere, meaning that it has to be extracted (for example through electrolysis, as explained above) and currently, the process is cost prohibitive and inefficient. Its production at energy plants creates excessive carbon dioxide. When it burns, a hydrogen flame is virtually invisible; coupled with the gas’s propensity for escaping, in small amounts, almost any tank, there are concerns about explosions. On the plus side, hydrogen is so light it typically is dispersed in the air very quickly. On-board storage is a major issue; a hydrogen tank would currently be too large for a car. It is a very flammable gas (think of the Hindenburg), which further adds to the on-board storage problems.
  • smithree98 on 24 Oct 12
     
    advantages and disadvantages of hydrogen fuel cells
conboyeri98

Fuel cell - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - 0 views

en.wikipedia.org/Fuel_cell

fuelcell fuel cell

shared by conboyeri98 on 21 Mar 12 - Cached
  • A fuel cell is a device that converts the chemical energy from a fuel into electricity through a chemical reaction with oxygen or another oxidizing agent.[1] Hydrogen is the most common fuel, but hydrocarbons such as natural gas and alcohols like methanol are sometimes used. Fuel cells are different from batteries in that they require a constant source of fuel and oxygen to run, but they can produce electricity continually for as long as these inputs are supplied
  • A fuel cell is a device that converts the chemical energy from a fuel into electricity through a chemical reaction with oxygen or another oxidizing agent.
  • A fuel cell is a device that converts the chemical energy from a fuel into electricity through a chemical reaction with oxygen or another oxidizing agent
  • ...8 more annotations...
  • A fuel cell is a device that converts the chemical energy from a fuel into electricity through a chemical reaction with oxygen or another oxidizing agent.[1] Hydrogen is the most common fuel, but hydrocarbons such as natural gas and alcohols like methanol are sometimes used. Fuel cells are different from batteries in that they require a constant source of fuel and oxygen to run, but they can produce electricity continually for as long as these inputs are supplied.
  • There are many types of fuel cells, but they all consist of an anode (negative side), a cathode (positive side) and an electrolyte that allows charges to move between the two sides of the fuel cell.
  • The principle of the fuel cell was discovered by German scientist Christian Friedrich Schönbein in 1838
  • Stationary fuel cells are used for commercial, industrial and residential primary and backup power generation. Fuel cells are very useful as power sources in remote locations, such as spacecraft, remote weather stations, large parks, communications centers, rural locations including research stations, and in certain military applications. A fuel cell system running on hydrogen can be compact and lightweight, and have no major moving parts. Because fuel cells have no moving parts and do not involve combustion, in ideal conditions they can achieve up to 99.9999% reliability.[49] This equates to less than one minute of downtime in a six-year period.
  • Although there are currently no Fuel cell vehicles available for commercial sale, over 20 FCEVs prototypes and demonstration cars have been released since 2009. Demonstration models include the Honda FCX Clarity, Toyota FCHV-adv, and Mercedes-Benz F-Cell.[64] As of June 2011 demonstration FCEVs had driven more than 4,800,000 km (3,000,000 mi), with more than 27,000 refuelings.[65]
  • A fuel cell is a device that converts the chemical energy from a fuel into electricity through a chemical reaction with oxygen or another oxidizing agent.[1] Hydrogen is the most common fuel, but hydrocarbons such as natural gas and alcohols like methanol are sometimes used.
  • The fuel cell he made used similar materials to today's phosphoric-acid fuel cell.
  • In 2003, U.S. President George W. Bush proposed the Hydrogen Fuel Initiative (HFI). This aimed at further developing hydrogen fuel cells and infrastructure technologies with the goal of producing commercial fuel cell vehicles. By 2008, the U.S. had contributed 1 billion dollars to this project
  • collignonaut99 on 08 Mar 13
     
    "A fuel cell is a device that converts the chemical energy from a fuel into electricity through a chemical reaction with oxygen or another oxidizing agent.[1] Hydrogen is the most common fuel, but hydrocarbons such as natural gas and alcohols like methanol are sometimes used. Fuel cells are different from batteries in that they require a constant source of fuel and oxygen to run, but they can produce electricity continually for as long as these inputs are supplied."
  • ...1 more comment...
  • conboyeri98 on 11 Mar 13
     
    Explains what a fuel cell is.
  • olearydev99 on 11 Mar 13
     
    "Individual fuel cells produce relatively small electrical potentials, about 0.7 volts, so cells are "stacked", or placed in series, to increase the voltage and meet an application's requirements.[2] In addition to electricity, fuel cells produce water, heat and, depending on the fuel source, very small amounts of nitrogen dioxide and other emissions. The energy efficiency of a fuel cell is generally between 40-60%, or up to 85% efficient if waste heat is captured for use."
  • ricciardellinick on 11 Mar 13
     
    "A fuel cell is a device that converts the chemical energy from a fuel into electricity through a chemical reaction with oxygen or another oxidizing agent.[1] Hydrogen is the most common fuel, but hydrocarbons such as natural gas and alcohols like methanol are sometimes used."
dpurdy

Fuel Cells 2000 : Hydrogen : Basics - 1 views

www.fuelcells.org/...basics.html

Hydrogen cost

shared by dpurdy on 03 Nov 11 - Cached
  • How much will Hydrogen fuel cost? The U.S. Department of Energy's Hydrogen, Fuel Cells & Infrastructure Technologies Program is working to achieve the following goals: By 2005, the technology will be available to produce hydrogen at the pump for $3.00 per gallon gasoline equivalent, and DOE wants to validate this technology by 2008.  By 2010, the price goal is $1.50 per gallon of gasoline equivalent (untaxed) at the station. Even $3 a gallon would save most of us money, since FCVs will be two to three times more efficient than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.  If all the goals are met, FCVs offer the promise of energy at $1 a gallon - or less! 
sokolkyl00

Towards a Just and Sustainable Solar Industry - Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition - 0 views

svtc.org/solar

solar sustainable

shared by sokolkyl00 on 24 Sep 13 - No Cached
  • Although solar panels provide clean energy while in use, a variety of factors during the manufacturing and disposal of these panels have the potential to greatly damage the environment.
  • The most commonly used solar panels are silicon-based panels that share many of the same materials and manufacturing processes as semiconductors. Solar panels have the potential to create an e-waste burden if the proper infrastructure is not developed before the first wave of panels begins to come down.
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