Mobile Solar Power

Can you take it with you?

This article from the Australian describes the use of Solar Power on the move. It's an interesting idea whose time has come.

How to travel with sun power

• BY:BY SCOTT PODMORE 
• From:escape 
• July 29, 2012 12:00AM

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TRAVEL-FOCUSED solar power is enjoying its moment in the sunshine, and its future is bright.

Just ask solar products expert Jack Wilde of NomadNRG in Byron Bay, a global company that sources mobile power accessories for road-trippers, campers, hikers and business travellers. "Solar products are going off," Wilde says.

"Green has become the new black, and modern solar products are proving as popular with backpackers on a budget as for business travellers wanting to charge their smartphones or laptops."

Wilde believes travellers are more environmentally conscious of the way they "power up" on holiday or business trips. The sight of a solar panel leaning on a tree outside a tent or on top of a caravan is becoming more common. And now it's built into our travel gear.

"I think over the past 20 years we have witnessed great changes  - the explosion of eco-tourism as a billion-dollar industry being a good example of that," Wilde says.

"We know all too well the freak-out everyone faces each day just trying to keep their mobile device powered up to keep their communications flowing; not to mention when travelling or being on the road all day, in and out of meetings, when it can be embarrassing to walk in and ask to use a power point."Having a natural power solution with you is the only way to go, whether for business or leisure."

Wilde says the most important consideration when buying solar products is that "if it's not quality, it may well be useless".

With new technology comes solar panels that pack a bigger punch than ever.

NomadNRG (nomadnrg.com) has a range of products using UVA technology developed in Europe for low-light environments, so it continues charging in dim conditions and rain.

I test-drove a solar-power case for my iPad and, even in a cafe in average light conditions, the unit was charging on the table.

The regular sunshine in Australia means solar products become even more efficient, with "about 20 minutes of recharging in direct sunlight generating up to 15 minutes' talk time", Wilde says.

Learn more at:http://www.theaustralian.com.au/archive/travel-old/how-to-travel-with-sun-power/story-fn30263y-1226436886957

As we become more electronically mobile it might be a good idea to consider mobile solar power. You can find mobile solar here:  Portable Solar

Fell free to comment: Do you need a portable solar charger?

Is Green An illusion?

The Book Green Illusions talks about Alternative Energy

The new book by Ozzie Zehner has set off a heated discussion about the use of Alternative Energy sources and whether or not they are the Green solutions that people think they are. Join in the debate! Here's some news from the Huffington Post:

Tom Zeller Jr.

GET UPDATES FROM TOM ZELLER JR.

Ozzie Zehner's 'Green Illusions' Ruffles Feathers

Posted: 07/27/2012 1:29 pm

If his goal was to capture attention by tweaking the nose of clean-energy enthusiasts everywhere, Ozzie Zehner might well have succeeded. His new book, published last month and provocatively titled "Green Illusions: The Dirty Secrets of Clean Energy and the Future of Environmentalism," takes on what Zehner considers the sacred cows of the green movement: solar power, wind power and electric vehicles, among others.

Of course, the book is much more than just this, and Zehner, a visiting professor at the University of California, Berkeley's Science, Technology & Society Center, describes himself as being neither for nor against any particular energy source. Indeed, his core objection appears to be with technology fixes in general, or the conviction that any bit of technological derring-do -- be it a high-efficiency photovoltaic cell or a low-emissions vehicle -- will be sufficient to nudge the planet from unpleasant trajectories like global warming.

Such beliefs, Zehner argues, can blind policymakers and other stakeholders to the attending downsides of any new innovation (there always are downsides); to other, arguably less expensive solutions; and to other pressing global problems.

As the basis for thoughtful discussion, all of this is perfectly reasonable. But Zehner is also clearly playing the provocateur here, and it appears to have been a wise gambit, given the sonorous harrumphing the book has generated in green circles.

In a review of the book, Chris Meehan, a contributing writer at CleanEnergyAuthority.com, a solar energy news and information resource, used the terms "alarmist" and "misleading" to describe Zehner's take on solar photovoltaics. Jim Motovalli, an environmental writer and frequent contributor to The New York Times, described Zehner's book as being "out to reach a conclusion -- green energy is bad."

There's much more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-zeller-jr/ozzie-zehner-green-illusions_b_1710382.html

Ozzie Zehner just wants to put a realistic view of the actual impact of Alternative Energy and show some of the information that's being left out of the story. In the article he makes it plain that he is neither for or against the technologies and simply want to put the real effects of the industry before the people. 

Share this with your friends. Feel free to comment about Alternative Energy. 

Do you think that going Green is the answer to our energy needs?

Home Energy Solutions

Solar energy and wind power are the most often touted alternative sources of power for the home. In certain places you can add what is known as microhydro, a water powered system. Here's an article from Home Power magazine.

Making electricity from falling water can seem like magic, and that’s led to lots of misconceptions. Here, we’ll separate fact from fiction when it comes to what microhydro systems can and cannot do.

Residential-scale microhydro-electric systems have the reputation of being the holy grail of home renewable-energy (RE) systems. While they lack some of the hype, magic, and bling of solar-electric (photovoltaic) systems, microhydro systems are a simple technology that most people can understand…at least in general. In this article, we’ll look at some common microhydro system misconceptions, most of which come from folks looking for shortcuts to the reward of cheap electricity. 

Modern microhydro equipment comes from proven technology based on designs that have changed very little over the decades. Pelton and turgo wheels, the typical spinning water-wheel component, were invented in 1870 and 1919, respectively. The point is, this technology has proven its reliability and functionality with more than a century of performance.

The cost of these systems, and thus the cost of the resulting electricity, also has the reputation for being very reasonable when compared to other renewable or home-generated sources. While PV module prices have recently dropped, they are still a high-tech and expensive commodity. Microhydro systems can arguably be considered low-tech, with civil works and pipelines often being the majority of the system cost. Of course, the actual cost varies significantly from site to site, and from system to system.

 Courtesy of DOE (Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy)

Another element that keeps microhydro-generated electricity low in cost, and thus high in desirability, is the system’s continuous duty cycle. While PV systems only produce electricity when the sun is shining (and wind-electric systems when the wind is blowing), microhydro systems aren’t affected by nightfall or weather blocking the sun. Even a small hydro resource can provide electricity 24 hours a day, and often 365 days a year (if the water source is year-round). The bottom line for any renewable energy system is the amount of energy it can produce annually. A low power source working all of the time can often produce a lot more energy than a more powerful source that only works intermittently.

So, why doesn’t everyone have a microhydro system? Herein lies the challenge. A viable hydro resource is dependent on the availability of falling water at, or near, the site of the electrical loads. It is the weight or pressure of that flowing water that spins the turbine to produce electrical energy. Not everyone has access to a stream or spring of adequate volume on their property, nor does everyone have the topography to create the vertical drop needed to pressurize that water with gravity. See the “Microhydro Rules” sidebar for a formula about how water flow and vertical pressure (head) combine to determine the power available from a potential hydro site. That site-assessment formula will help debunk some of the myths that follow.

More at: https://homepower.com/articles/microhydro-myths-misconceptions

People who live near water sources can check to see if the area is good for adding a hydro-electric system to produce Alternative Energy for their homes. Home Power can come from many sources and this is one to think about if you have the resources nearby.

Get more info about microhydro here.

Solar Energy Pays Off

Solar Energy in the News

As the price of solar cells continues to fall more people are adding solar panels to their homes. The state of California reports a huge amount of Solar Energy production and is a leader in the U.S. in the amount of power produced by homeowner solar installation.

Check out this report by Hydrogen Fuel News

A DAILY CHRONICLE OF THE ADVANCEMENTS IN HYDROGEN FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY

State’s support for solar energy seems to be paying off

California has long been a hotbed for alternative energy. Solar energy, in particular, has been a favorite for the state, which receives a large amount of solar radiation each year. The state serves as home to numerous solar energy projects of varying types and success and has become one of the most attractive places for such projects to take root. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has announced that the state has reached a significant milestone in its generation of solar energy, detailing this milestone in the 2012 California Solar Initiative Annual Program Assessment.

Report shows more than 1.255 GW of solar energy generated in the state

The report shows that more than 1.255 gigawatts of solar electricity is generated from 122,000 rooftop solar panels spread throughout the state. The majority of these solar panels can be found on low and middle-income housing. The popularity of solar energy amongst this particular demographic is driven by the state’s ambitious solar energy feed-in tariffs as well as the initiatives launched by companies promoting the adoption of alternative energy.

Solar energy program may be able to meet its goals ahead of schedule

According to the CPUC, California’s successes in solar energy are unmatched throughout the entirety of the U.S. The agency notes that more than 97 megawatts of solar energy systems was installed in the first quarter of 2012. This suggests that the California Solar Initiative is poised to facilitate the installation of more than 1,000 megawatts of solar energy systems by the end of the year. The program currently has an overarching goal of installing 1,940 megawatts of solar capacity in the state by the end of 2016.

Price of residential solar energy systems continues to drop

The report indicates that the cost of residential solar energy systems has dropped by 28% since 2007. This is partly due to state government policies and the saturation being seen in the solar panel market. The state is expected to continue its support of solar energy for the foreseeable future.

More at: http://www.hydrogenfuelnews.com/solar-energy-reaches-milestone-in-california/854739/

In these times of uncertainty it's a good idea to think about a self-sufficient plan for energy. With the low cost of solar cells and new technology in converting power it's a good time to start planning for your own Solar Power system. 

Comments are welcome. Please like this site if you are interested!

Solar Energy's Dramatic Rise

Solar Power Continues to Dominate the News

As the need for power soars the solar industry is in the midst of putting up mind-boggling numbers when it comes to energy output. This article from Smart Planet shows how far the Solar Power companies have come even in the wake of American solar companies going bankrupt!

smartplanet

Graphic of the day: solar’s dramatic rise

By Kirsten Korosec | July 9, 2012, 10:53 AM PDT

The increase in solar photovoltaic capacity has been well documented in reports here and elsewhere over the years. But nothing quite captures solar PV’s dramatic rise in capacity like a good graphic. Or three graphics, for that matter.

Solar power generating capacity grew by 73.3 percent in 2011, according to the 2012 BP Statistical Review of World Energy. That’s the fastest growth since BP started tracking that data in 1996. Total capacity grew by 29.3 gigawatts to reach 63.4 GW. Capacity has grown almost ten-fold over the past five years, according to BP’s annual report.

BP released its annual statistical review last month and at the time, the graphic, which is pictured below, stood out to me.  I proceeded to promptly forget the visually striking data until today, when I spotted a series of renewable energy graphics based on BP’s stats created by Robert Rapier of R-Squared blog at  ConsumerEnergyReport.com. Rapier’s renewable energy graphics are part of a larger graphical series on energy.

Here’s BP’s graphic, which accompanied the report.

You can check out the rest of the article which shows the dramatic rise in the use of Solar Power worldwide and how the drop in prices of solar cells is changing the way we think about using energy! Check out more graphics at :

http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/intelligent-energy/graphic-of-the-day-solars-dramatic-rise/17454?tag=nl.e660

Solar Power Suitcase

As we move into the future of energy Solar Power ideas continue to adapt and change with the needs of people all over the planet. Often it's the efforts of the few that make great strides in the lives of the many. In this post from Smart Planet , Dr. Laurel Stachel has brought the world an idea bourne from the necessity of her profession, a solar powered energy source in a suitcase.


smartplanet

Solar suitcase supplies electricity to developing-world hospitals

July 5, 2012  |  Length: 00:03:02

Check out more at:
http://www.smartplanet.com/video/solar-suitcase-supplies-electricity-to-developing-world-hospitals/6360731?tag=nl.e660

The idea of a suitcase Solar Power system has all kinds of possibilities. It could be scaled up or down and used in emergency situations in many parts of the world. It could be used by anyone at a time where emergency power is needed. Dr. Stachel developed a simple model for widespread use, you could develop your own portable system for personal use when an extra power source is needed. Learn more from Amazon.

Solar Power Helps Veterans

The U.S. military is expanding it's use of Solar Power and has begun a program to train unemployed verterans in the installation of solar panels. It's a great idea and shows the nation's resolve in moving towards a sustainable energy future. This article from Florida's Sun Sentinel tells the story.




The U.S. Solar Institute, a Fort Lauderdale school, has been chosen by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to train former military service members without jobs in how to install solar-panel systems.

An initial 15 to 20 veterans a month from across the country are expected at the school starting in August for classes that can be completed in several weeks and on-the-job training that can last weeks longer, said Ray Johnson, the institute's founder and president.

The Institute plans to expand from its current 6,700-square-foot building serving about 30 students a month to meet demand from the Veterans Administration program aimed to help jobless veterans.

"We're almost all sold out in August and haven't even started advertising yet," Johnson said.

The approval comes as theU.S. militaryplans to expand its use of renewable energy to 25 percent of its energy needs by 2025, part of a policy to slash U.S. dependence on imported fuel and boost national security. Veterans could help install solar panels at military bases as part of that plan, Johnson said.

The move highlights the need for qualified solar-panel installers as solar industry expands. In the first quarter, more than 506 megawatts of solar energy came on-line, up 85 percent from a year earlier and the second highest amount ever installed in a single quarter, according to the latest quarterly report from GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association, a Washington-based trade group.

Installations are growing, partly because the price for solar panels has plunged.

http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2012-07-04/business/fl-solar-institute-20120704_1_solar-panels-gtm-research-jobless-veterans

The nation needs more options for sustainable energy and Solar Power is leading the way. This program solves two problems at once and is a great idea for the many veterans's who are having a difficult time with jobs. Thumbs up for the Veteran's Administration!

Wind Energy News

Wind Energy is in the News!

Here's an article from Bloomberg news about the recent approval by the U.S. Department of the Interior to build a massive wind farm in Wyoming. 

Bloomberg

U.S. Completes Environmental Review For Largest Wind Farm

The U.S. completed environmental reviews for the nation’s largest wind farm, a 3,000-megawatt project in Wyoming that may generate enough power for 1 million homes.

The Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Farm proposed by Power Co. of Wyoming would contain as many as 1,000 turbines on public and private land in Carbon County, according to a statement today.

The U.S. Interior Department is promoting wider use of renewable energy on public land to reduce consumption of foreign oil and create clean-energy jobs, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said today on a conference call with reporters. The agency has approved 31 utility-scale wind, solar and geothermal projects since 2009 with more than 7,200 megawatts of capacity.

“Renewable energy is very much a part of our energy future,” Salazar said. “Our expectation is that we’ll have accomplished placing roots down in the energy portfolio of America.”

The Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management completed its final environmental impact statement, which will now be available for public comment. Power Co. of Wyoming, a unit of Anschutz Corp., first submitted an application to BLM for the wind farm in 2008.

The power company hasn’t selected a turbine supplier and is seeking a utility to buy the electricity, Kara Choquette, a spokeswoman, said by e-mail today.

Interior also completed environmental assessments for a wind energy area with almost 165,000 acres of water off the coasts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The agency will host public sessions July 16 and 17 to hear public comments on the site.
More at:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-02/u-s-completes-environmental-review-for-largest-wind-farm.html

Wind Energy will have an important role in the future of America's energy needs and this is another step towards diminishing our reliance on fossil fuels.

Battery Power

Battery Power by Women in the News

The way we use energy in the future will be ruled by our ability to store it. Batteries are an old technology with a lot of room for growth. Here's an article about a very unique way to look at energy storage:

TXCHNOLOGIST

SPONSORED BY GE

New Spray-On Battery Could Power Houses, Vehicles

• JULY 2ND, 2012
• BY RACHEL NUWER
• NO COMMENTS

Lithium-ion batteries are so 1991. Sure they can be recharged and sport impressive energy densities, but who wants to be shackled to their cumbersome rectangular or cylindrical design? Rather than constraining a device’s form because of battery size limitations, wouldn’t it be liberating to turn virtually any surface into an instant battery with the wave of a spray gun? This was the thinking of the research team who developed just such a trick—the world’s first paintable battery.

“Spray-painting allows us to convert any object you see in your home or any outside surface and build a battery on that,” says Neelam Singh, a mechanical engineering and material science graduate student at Rice University.

Singh and her colleagues mimicked a traditional Li-ion battery’s composition, which includes individual layers of thin metal coated with different active chemicals. In a normal battery, those layers are wrapped around one another and put in a canister. Singh figured the same principle should apply if the layers were painted onto a surface, so she got to work developing and testing spray paint versions of a normal battery’s cathode, anode, current collectors and polymer separator.

After tweaking the various formulas to make sure they would stick to whatever surface they were sprayed on, Singh and her colleagues got creative. They airbrushed batteries onto ceramic bathroom tiles, flexible pieces of plastic, glass, stainless steel and a beer stein.

In one experiment, they connected nine spray-battery-coated bathroom tiles and topped the arrangement with a small solar cell. After the solar panel had fully charged the battery tiles, they powered a set of lights that spelled “RICE” for six hours at a steady output of 2.4 volts. All of the various painted-battery devices performed consistently within 10 percent of the target capacity. They also withstood 60 charge-discharge cycles with only a small drop in capacity.

More at: http://www.txchnologist.com/2012/new-spray-on-battery-could-power-houses-vehicles

As we move into the future of energy we need to embrace all aspects of power usage and storage. This is a great way to think about Battery Power and how to use it.