Skip to main content

Home/ qmstech2/ Group items tagged much

Rss Feed Group items tagged

waiteric00

How much greenhouse gas does a solar power system replace? | Solar Powered in Toronto - 1 views

  • kilowatt system will replace around 2.5 tonnes of greenhouse gases, possibly more. It depends on what your annual output is, and what the local mix of power sources is in your province/state/country.
  •  
    So a 3 kilowatt system will replace around 2.5 tonnes of greenhouse gases, possibly more. It depends on what your annual output is, and what the local mix of power sources is in your province/state/country.
brownale99

How much more expensive is solar energy than fossil fuels - 0 views

  •  
    "Fossil fuel power stations typically cost about $2.1 dollars per watt to build solar stations around $7 at present. The efficiency is increasing and costs are falling. This of course does not represent the cost to the consumer. In addition it does not take into account all the various other costs and the advantages and disadvantages of each. Fuel (fossil stations), poor sunlight (solar stations). Maintenance costs are similar for single plants but solar stations do not have the capacity of fossil fuel stations."
schmettererdav00

How Much Does Biodiesel Reduce Air Pollutants? - 0 views

  • Biodiesel fuel almost eliminates the air pollution caused by petroleum based fuels. Toxins that can cause cancer are virtually cut to zero by the use of biodiesel fuel instead of regular diesel fuel.
hardingmar00

Electricity from Geothermal Energy - 1 views

  • The heat from the earth's own molten core can be converted into electricity. This core consists primarily of extremely high temperature liquid rock known as magma. This "geothermal" heat circulates within the rock or is transferred to underground reservoirs of water, which also circulate under the earth's crust. Because of the near limitless ability of the earth to produce magma, and the continuous transfer of heat between subsurface rock and water, geothermal energy is considered a renewable resource.
  •  
    "The heat from the earth's own molten core can be converted into electricity. This core consists primarily of extremely high temperature liquid rock known as magma. This "geothermal" heat circulates within the rock or is transferred to underground reservoirs of water, which also circulate under the earth's crust. Because of the near limitless ability of the earth to produce magma, and the continuous transfer of heat between subsurface rock and water, geothermal energy is considered a renewable resource. Geothermal resources have been harnessed as an energy source since the dawn of civilization, when natural hot springs were first used for cooking and bathing. The geothermal resources tapped to generate electricity are far more intense than those used for space heating and can reside as deep as 10,000 feet below the earth's surface. Capital costs for the construction of geothermal power plants are much higher than for large coal-fired plants or new natural gas turbine technologies. But geothermal plants have reasonable operation and maintenance costs and no fuel costs. Though more expensive than wind power in most cases, new geothermal electricity generation facilities are increasingly competitive with fossil options."
sokolkyl00

Solar power - Sustainable green energy to protect our economy and environment | PARTHA ... - 2 views

  • A Solar Energy system can operate entirely independently, not requiring a connection to a power or gas grid at all. Systems can therefore be installed in remote locations, making it more practical and cost-effective than the supply of utility electricity to a new site.
  • A Solar Energy system can operate entirely independently, not requiring a connection to a power or gas grid at all. Systems can therefore be installed in remote locations, making it more practical and cost-effective than the supply of utility electricity to a new site.
  •  
    "It offers much more self-reliance than depending upon a power utility for all electricity."
mcgarrdan98

Geothermal Energy: Construction Impacts - 0 views

  • Emissions generated during the construction phase include exhaust from vehicular traffic and construction equipment, fugitive dust from traffic on paved and unpaved roads, and the release of geothermal fluid vapors (especially hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, mercury, arsenic, and boron, if present in the reservoir). Activities such as site clearing and grading, power plant and pipeline system construction, and transmission line construction would have more intense exhaust-related emissions over a period of 2 to 10 years. Impacts would depend upon the amount, duration, location, and characteristics of the emissions and the meteorological conditions (e.g., wind speed and direction, precipitation, and relative humidity).
  • Most impacts to ecological resources (vegetation, wildlife, aquatic biota, special status species, and their habitats) would be low to moderate and localized during the construction phase (although impacts due to noise could be high). Activities such as site clearing and grading, road construction, power plant construction, ancillary facility construction, and vehicle traffic have the potential to affect ecological resources by disturbing habitat, increasing erosion and runoff, and creating noise at the project site. Impacts to vegetation include loss of native species and species diversity; increased risk of invasive species; increased risk of topsoil erosion and seed bank depletion; increased risk of fire; and alteration of water and seed dispersal.
  • Solid and industrial waste would be generated during construction activities. Much of the solid waste would be nonhazardous, consisting of containers and packaging materials, miscellaneous wastes from equipment assembly and presence of construction crews (food wrappers and scraps), and woody vegetation. Industrial wastes would include minor amounts of paints, coatings, and spent solvents. Most of these materials would likely be transported off-site for disposal.
mcdermottaar99

Wind Turbine Syndrome | Wind energy: The "least sustainable energy option" - 0 views

  • Wind turbine installations impact vast amounts of land, far more than traditional power plants.
  • Raptors, bats and other beautiful flying creatures continue to be sliced and diced by wind turbines.
  • Principal health issues are associated with noise – not just annoying audible noise, but inaudible, low-frequency “infrasound” that causes headache, dizziness, “deep nervous fatigue” and symptoms akin to seasickness. “Wind turbine syndrome” also includes irritability, depression, and concentration and sleep problems. Others include “shadow flicker” or “strobe effect” from whirling blades, which can trigger seizures in epileptics, “vibroacoustic” effects on the heart and lungs, and non-lethal harm to animals. Serious lung, heart, cancer and other problems have been documented from rare earth mining, smelting and manufacturing in China, under its less rigorous health, workplace and environmental regulations.
  • ...3 more annotations...
  • Wind turbine installations require vast amounts of steel, copper, rare earth metals, fiberglass, concrete, rebar and other materials for the turbines, towers and bases.
  • Wind turbines are supposed to reduce pollution and carbon dioxide emissions. But because backup generators must repeatedly surge to full power and back to standby, as wind speed rises and falls, they operate inefficiently, use more fuel and emit more – much like cars forced to stop repeatedly on freeways.
  • Even huge subsidies cannot cure wind power’s biggest defects: its electricity costs far more than coal, gas or nuclear alternatives – and its intermittent nature wreaks havoc on power grids and consumers.
    • dpurdy
       
      Be cautious as this site is obviously anti wind power. The points might be valid though.
  •  
    wind turbine impacts 
whalenkil98

Photovoltaics - Timeline of the History of Photovoltaics - 0 views

  • 1839: Nineteen-year-old Edmund Becquerel, a French experimental physicist, discovered the photovoltaic effect while experimenting with an electrolytic cell made up of two metal electrodes. 1873: Willoughby Smith discovered the photoconductivity of selenium.
  •  
    "Today's photovoltaic systems are used to generate electricity to pump water, light up the night, activate switches, charge batteries, supply power to the utility grid, and much more. 1839: Nineteen-year-old Edmund Becquerel, a French experimental physicist, discovered the photovoltaic effect while experimenting with an electrolytic cell made up of two metal electrodes. 1873: Willoughby Smith discovered the photoconductivity of selenium. 1876: Adams and Day observed the photovoltaic effect in solid selenium. 1883: Charles Fritts, an American inventor, described the first solar cells made from selenium wafers. 1887: Heinrich Hertz discovered that ultraviolet light altered the lowest voltage capable of causing a spark to jump between two metal electrodes. 1904: Hallwachs discovered that a combination of copper and cuprous oxide was photosensitive. Einstein published his paper on the photoelectric effect. 1914: The existence of a barrier layer in PV devices was reported. 1916: Millikan provided experimental proof of the photoelectric effect. 1918: Polish scientist Czochralski developed a way to grow single-crystal silicon. 1923: Albert Einstein received the Nobel Prize for his theories explaining the photoelectric effect. 1951: A grown p-n junction enabled the production of a single-crystal cell of germanium. 1954: The PV effect in Cd was reported; primary work was performed by Rappaport, Loferski and Jenny at RCA. Bell Labs researchers Pearson, Chapin, and Fuller reported their discovery of 4.5% efficient silicon solar cells; this was raised to 6% only a few months later (by a work team including Mort Prince). Chapin, Fuller, Pearson (AT&T) submitted their results to the Journal of Applied Physics. AT&T demonstrated solar cells in Murray Hill, New Jersey, then at the National Academy of Science Meeting in Washington, DC. 1955: Western Electric began to sell commercial licenses for silicon PV technologies; early successful products included PV-powered dolla
tavarreskat99

What are the advantages and disadvantages of alternative tidal power as an energy source - 1 views

  • Advantages: Tidal energy is an alternative energy. The energy produced is clean and non polluting. There is no carbon dioxide or any other by-products released. It produces no greenhouse gases or other waste.It is a renewable energy that will help reduce our reliance on the burning of fossil fuels. There are two tides every day and they can be relied on. The energy is there for the taking.So the electricity supply is constant and efficient.Once you've built it, the energy is free because it comes from the ocean's powerIt needs no fuel.It produces electricity reliably.Not expensive to maintain.Tides are definitely predictable. There are two tides every day and they can be relied on. So the electricity supply is constant. Offshore turbines and vertical-axis turbines are not ruinously expensive to build and do not have a large environmental impact.A plant is expected to be in production for 75 to 100 yearsUses an abundant, inexpensive fuel source (water) to generate powerMay protect coastline against damage from high storm tides and provide a ready-made road bridge
  • Holding back the tide allows silt to build up on the river bed.The dams and barrages sometimes interfere with shipping. You will need to find a way to connect the electricity to the grid.Pose same threats as large dams, altering the flow of saltwater in and out of estuaries, which changes the hydrology and salinity and possibly negatively affects the marine mammals that use the estuaries as their habitatTurbidity decreases as a result of smaller volume of water being exchanged between the basin and the sea.The average salinity inside the basin decreases, also affecting the ecosystemA barrage across an estuary is very expensive to build, and affects a very wide area - the environment is changed for many miles upstream and downstream. Many birds rely on the tide uncovering the mud flats so that they can feed.There are few suitable sites for tidal barrages.Only provides power for around 10 hours each day, when the tide is actually moving in or out.
  • It only provides about 7% of the power needed for England and Wales that means that some people get their energy close to free and some pay a lot of moneyWater is not replenished, it cannot flow away so any dirt or pollution lingers around the coast much longerNeeds a very big piece of sea to be cost effectiveCannot be used inlandBarrage systems require salt resistant parts and lots of maintenanceAffects the lives of the people who rely on fishing for a means of livingLimited because the tide never speeds up or slows down, and occurs on 6 hour cycles. It is also dependent on the fetch distance. The fetch is the distance the tide rises and falls, so some beaches have a very small fetch, and others have a big fetch but hardly any have a large enough fetch to support tidal energy
Xin Wang

Mapping US Tidal Power Potential | Climate Central - 0 views

  • It’s estimated that tidal power in Alaska could generate as much as 16 TWh/yr of energy (about four times more than what Hoover Dam generates in an average year). In the Lower 48, the potential energy from tidal power is just a fraction of that (just 0.6 TWh/year from Puget Sound, for example). Considering that no tidal power plants in these areas have even been approved yet, it’s going to be several years, or even decades, before Americans can rely on tidal power for their electricity. But for some regions, DOE says the energy from tidal currents will help meet the goal of generating 80 percent of America's electricity from clean sources by 2035.
greenhan99

How is Biofuel Made - 0 views

  • Where does the first phase for biofuel production begin? The sun takes credit for the very first step in this process. The sun helps to grow crops and plants, which are then eventually used to produce biofuel. Biofuel is actually derived from biomass, which can come from gas, solid and liquid states.
  • These crops that are specifically grown to be used to produce biofuels are referred to as feedstocks. These feedstocks are the raw and unprocessed form that the bio fuel is derived from. Among the more common types of feedstocks and crops that are used for the production of biofuels are corn, sugar crops, and forests. In addition, even some of the byproducts of materials such as those that come from wood can be used in this process. These special byproducts are often converted to the liquid forms of biofuels, which include methanol and ethanol. With the ability to use these byproducts, production methods have gotten a lot less expensive since there is much less waste involved.
  • In addition, there are also certain natural oils that are also used to help produce this special type of fuel. For example, oil palm, soybean and algae are surprisingly capable of being burned directly in certain types of furnaces and engines and can also be blended with certain types of fuels or petroleum based fuels for a more powerful blended mixture.
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • Where does the first phase for biofuel production begin? The sun takes credit for the very first step in this process. The sun helps to grow crops and plants, which are then eventually used to produce biofuel. Biofuel is actually derived from biomass, which can come from gas, solid and liquid states.
  • Another means of producing biofuel that has proven to be especially efficient and cost effective is the conversion of vegetable oil to a burnable fuel that can be used with most types of engines.
parkergar99

A Quiet Breakthrough in Geothermal Energy - Businessweek - 1 views

  • Geothermal power has massive potential in many areas of the U.S. but it has long remained a niche technology.
  •  
    Talks about how much potential there is
  •  
    "While traditional geothermal can be cheaper than coal power, enhanced geothermal systems are generally more expensive than traditional ones. But being able to create multiple geothermal zones from one well brings down the overall cost of enhanced geothermal by 50 percent, Petty said."
greenhan99

Spotlight: How Biofuel Is Made - 0 views

  • Alcohol-based biofuels are produced in much the same way as liquor, though, of course with different emphasis. In fact, ethyl alcohol, or ethanol, which is the most commonly used bio-alcohol, is the same type of alcohol that is found in whiskey, vodka, gin, etc.  All of these are based on the fermentation of starches and sugars. The ingredients are gathered, ground up, mixed with water and left to ferment with the help of yeast or other organisms for some period of time (three years for Scotch whiskey!) before it is finally distilled into the final product.
greenhan99

The Biofuels FAQs: The Facts About Biofuels: Ethanol - 0 views

  • Biodiesel consumption was much lower, about 250 million gallons in 2006
  • which requires an annual increase in biofuels use to 7.5 billion gallons by 2012.
tvedepai00

Devices that Harness Wave Energy | Wave Energy Cost - 2 views

  • Wave energy is an irregular and oscillating low-frequency energy source that can be converted to a 60-Hertz frequency
  • Kinetic energy, the energy of motion, in waves is tremendous. An average 4-foot, 10-second wave striking a coast puts out more than 35,000 horsepower per mile of coast.
  • Because wave energy needs only 1/200 the land area of wind and requires no access roads, infrastructure costs are less;
  • ...9 more annotations...
  • It varies in intensity, but it is available twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.
  • or now, the best wave generator technology in place in the United Kingdom is producing energy at an average projected/assessed cost of 7.5 cents kWh. In comparison, electricity generated by large scale coal burning power plants costs about 2.6 cents per kilowatt-hour.
  • As long as
  • the sun shines, wave energy will never be depleted
  • produce energy at about 4.5 cents kWh.
  • 7.5 cents kWh
  • In comparison, electricity generated by large scale coal burning power plants costs about 2.6 cents per kilowatt-hour.
  • about 3 cents per kilowatt hour
  • Wave energy devices are quieter and much less visually obtrusive than wind devices
dpurdy

The Biofuels FAQs: The Facts About Biofuels: Biodiesel - 0 views

  • Biodiesel from soybeans costs an estimated $2 to $2.50 per gallon to produce. Biodiesel from yellow grease is about $1 a gallon cheaper, but the available supply in the U.S. is much smaller – enough to make 100 million gallons per year. Producers of biodiesel from pure vegetable oil are eligible for a federal excise tax credit of $1 for every gallon blended with conventional diesel. Biodiesel from used cooking oil earns a credit of 50 cents per gallon.
  • Another promising technology captures smokestack emissions of carbon dioxide for use in an “algae farm,” where the gas stimulates the rapid growth of algae that can be converted into biodiesel and ethanol.
dpurdy

MIT's artificial leaf is ten times more efficient than the real thing (Wired UK) - 0 views

  • The device is an advanced solar cell, no bigger than a typical playing card, which is left floating in a pool of water. Then, much like a natural leaf, it uses sunlight to split the water into its two core components, oxygen and hydrogen, which are stored in a fuel cell to be used when producing electricity.
  •  
    This is an amazing breakthrough in developing hydrogen.
egglestonjoc98

How much energy can a wind farm produce? - Curiosity - 0 views

  • At 1.8 megawatts, that turbine produces 5.2 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, enough power for 600 households. As more turbines are grouped together, they collect more energy from the available wind.
« First ‹ Previous 41 - 60 of 91 Next › Last »
Showing 20 items per page