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The Brazilian government still awaits a reduction in solar prices to create a specific auction by the end of 2013 or the beginning of 2014. However, the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) does not demonstrate any signs of this happening.

In 2013, however, revenue and capacity installed are expected to double: projects will be delivered, the resolution 482/2012 will have a major impact, and X% of the National Association of Electric Energy’s (ANEEL’s) research and development (R&D) will conclude. Capacity installed expectations in 2013 will near X megawatts (MW); in 2014, X MW; in 2015, X MW; and beyond, faster expansion is expected. Currently, capacity installed for the solar market is X MW, but it is expected to reach X MW by 2017. The total possible capacity installed for Brazil is close to X gigawatts (GW). This market revenue will have a X% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) during the forecast period (2012–2017) due to ANEEL´s R&D, international events, and the resolution 482/2012 cost reductions. Now, market revenue is close to $X million and can reach $X million by 2017.

Distributed generation could grow faster with financial support, better service from energy concessionaries, and cost reductions; nonetheless, it will grow considerably.

One of the most important is that wind power is the least expensive of all other forms of alternative energy.  Wind turbines generate electricity at around 5 cents per kWh (Kilowatt Hour), which is comparable to the new coal and/or oil burning power plants.  The costs are projected to decline even more as technology improves, and this is very important because most of the cost with wind power is in manufacturing.  Once the wind turbines are in place there is little cost to maintain and wind power is free.

ofuels can be derived from almost any type of "biomass," a broad term that refers to living or recently alive biological material. Because biomass is produced on a short time scale, it is considered a renewable resource. I will describe types of biofuels—ethanol, biodiesel, syngas, bio-hydrogen, biogas, and solid biofuel—and their use. I'll also identify the crops and wastes being used to produce biofuels, and some issues surrounding biofuel production. How are biofuels being used? Biofuels are already used to supply a small fraction of our energy needs, with significant opportunities to expand their use as infrastructure is developed. In addition to ethanol and biodiesel for transportation, biofuels are currently used for power production, heating and cooling of buildings, and the thermal needs of industry. Biomass is today the largest non-hydroelectric renewable source for electricity produced in the U.S. Most of this is produced in pulp and paper mills, which often generate electricity by burning wood chips, bark, or the sludges and "liquors" that are byproducts of the paper-making process. At the same time, they recover waste heat from electricity generation to meet the thermal needs of the mill. This highly efficient combination is referred to as combined heat and power (CHP) or cogeneration. The electricity generated may be used onsite and/or supplied to the local utility for distribution to the public.

Wind Energy, like Solar Energy is fully sustainable, being generated by natural wind flows, which in the U.K. are reliable enough to guarantee a stable, near constant supply of energy. Wind Power can be easily set up, either at home (see related article) or on a larger scale, by energy suppliers keen to meet government targets to reduce carbon emissions that are produced by conventional power stations.

As with installing your own solar energy, installing wind energy will help to reduce carbon emissions, which damage the environment and will save money.

It's only downfall is possibly the visual impact it makes on the landscape: A tall 'small scale' generator could attract wide rebuttal from neighbours, and this is worth considering before embarking on a wind generation project. However, if you live in a remote area, which benefits from exposure to the wind, or have neighbours that are happy for you to go ahead with the project, installing wind power can be an economically viable way to capitalise on natural, renewable resources

A wind generator will cost in the region of £3'000 - £15'000, at about £3'000 per kilowatt.

First generation biofuel are those fuel derived from vegetable or animal fats/oils, starch or sugar with the use of modern technology.

The U.S. consumes a little more than 20 million barrels of oil a day. The largest end uses are motor gasoline (9 million barrels) and diesel (4 million barrels). That works out to about 140 billion gallons of gasoline and 60 billion gallons of diesel a year. In 2006, the U.S. consumed nearly 5.4 billion gallons of ethanol, 12 percent of which was imported. Adjusting for its lower energy content, that amounted to about 2.5% of the total U.S. demand for gasoline. Biodiesel consumption was much lower, about 250 million gallons in 2006.

The U.S. consumes a little more than 20 million barrels of oil a day. The largest end uses are motor gasoline (9 million barrels) and diesel (4 million barrels). That works out to about 140 billion gallons of gasoline and 60 billion gallons of diesel a year. In 2006, the U.S. consumed nearly 5.4 billion gallons of ethanol, 12 percent of which was imported. Adjusting for its lower energy content, that amounted to about 2.5% of the total U.S. demand for gasoline. Biodiesel consumption was much lower, about 250 million gallons in 2006. In the Energy

The U.S. consumes a little more than 20 million barrels of oil a day. The largest end uses are motor gasoline (9 million barrels) and diesel (4 million barrels). That works out to about 140 billion gallons of gasoline and 60 billion gallons of diesel a year. In 2006, the U.S. consumed nearly 5.4 billion gallons of ethanol, 12 percent of which was imported. Adjusting for its lower energy content, that amounted to about 2.5% of the total U.S. demand for gasoline. Biodiesel consumption was much lower, about 250 million gallons in 2006. In the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Congress enacted the Renewable Fuels Standard, which requires an annual increase in biofuels use to 7.5 billion gallons by 2012. The chart above details past levels of U.S. ethanol production and the minimum levels set by the Renewable Fuels Standard. In the 2006 State of the Union address, President Bush announced a goal of replacing “more than 75% of our oil imports from the Middle East by 2025.” According to the Department of Energy, meeting that goal will require 60 billion gallons of biofuels a year. A year later, the President accelerated the timetable and called for “20 in 10.”

As of October 2009, Fortune magazine estimated the cost of producing the Honda Clarity at $300,000 per car

by 2010, the Department of Energy estimated that the cost had fallen 80% and that such fuel cells could be manufactured for $51/kW,

When compared to ICE vehicles using gasoline, however, fuel cell vehicles using hydrogen produced from natural gas reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60%

The coal powder mixes with hot air, which helps the coal burn more efficiently, and the mixture moves to the furnace. The burning coal heats water in a boiler, creating steam. Steam released from the boiler powers an engine called a turbine, transforming heat energy from burning coal into mechanical energy that spins the turbine engine. The spinning turbine is used to power a generator, a machine that turns mechanical energy into electric energy. This happens when magnets inside a copper coil in the generator spin.

Electricity-generating plants send out electricity using a transformer, which increases the voltage of the electricity based on the amount required and the distance it must travel. Voltages are often as high as 500,000 volts at this point.  Electricity flows along transmission lines to substation transformers. These transformers reduce the voltage for use in the local areas to be served.  From the substation transformers, electricity travels along distribution lines, which can be either above or below the ground, to cities and towns. Transformers once again reduce the voltage—this time to about 120 to 140 volts—for safe use inside homes and businesses. The delivery process is instantaneous. By the time you have flipped a switch to turn on a light, electricity has been delivered.

In the hydrogen economy, there is no storehouse to tap into. We have to actually create the e­nergy in real-time.

There are two possible sources for the hydrogen: Electrolysis of water - Using electricity, it is easy to split water molecules to create pure hydrogen and oxygen. One big advantage of this process is that you can do it anywhere. For example, you could have a box in your garage producing hydrogen from tap water, and you could fuel your car with that hydrogen. Reforming fossil fuels - Oil and natural gas contain hydrocarbons -- molecules consisting of hydrogen and carbon. Using a device called a fuel processor or a reformer, you can split the hydrogen off the carbon in a hydrocarbon relatively easily and then use the hydrogen. You discard the leftover carbon to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.

To have a pure hydrogen economy, the hydrogen must be derived from renewable sources rather than fossil fuels so that we stop releasing carbon into the atmosphere. Having enough electricity to separate hydrogen from water, and generating that electricity without using fossil fuels, will be the biggest change that we see in creating the hydrogen economy.

Using the sun's power has been around as early as the 7th century B.C. when people were using it to build fires. It is hypothesized that in 2nd century B.C. Archimedes used the reflective surfaces of bronze shields to burn ships invading Syracuse. However, it was not until 1973 when the Greek navy actually experimented with the notion and successfully burned a wooden ship at 50 meters. Sunrooms were common in houses and public buildings in the 6th century A.D. These were so common that "sun rights" were given to individuals. Swiss scientist Horace de Saussure was credited with building the world’s first solar collector in 1767. For a more descriptive timeline, this timeline lists the milestones in the historical development of solar technology from the 7th century B.C. up to today.

Using the sun's power has been around as early as the 7th century B.C. when people were using it to build fires. It is hypothesized that in 2nd century B.C. Archimedes used the reflective surfaces of bronze shields to burn ships invading Syracuse. However, it was not until 1973 when the Greek navy actually experimented with the notion and successfully burned a wooden ship at 50 meters. Sunrooms were common in houses and public buildings in the 6th century A.D. These were so common that "sun rights" were given to individuals. Swiss scientist Horace de Saussure was credited with building the world’s first solar collector in 1767. For a more descriptive timeline, this timeline lists the milestones in the historical development of solar technology from the 7th century B.C. up to today.

Every hour the sun beams onto Earth more than enough energy to satisfy global energy needs for an entire year. Solar energy is the technology used to harness the sun's energy and make it useable. Today, the technology produces less than one tenth of one percent of global energy demand.

they generate electricity with very little pollution—much of the hydrogen and oxygen used in generating electricity ultimately combine to form a harmless byproduct, namely water.

Scientists and inventors have designed many different types and sizes of fuel cells in the search for greater efficiency, and the technical details of each kind vary

in general terms, hydrogen atoms enter a fuel cell at the anode where a chemical reaction strips them of their electrons. The hydrogen atoms are now “ionized,” and carry a positive electrical charge. The negatively charged electrons provide the current through wires to do work. If alternating current (AC) is needed, the DC output of the fuel cell must be routed through a conversion device called an inverter.