Archive for January, 2010

In Europe, especially in Germany, it has become very popular ordering "clean energy", e.g. electrical energy that was created without using coal, oil, gas or nuclear power but using wind, solar or water energy instead.

Yesterday, I switched to clean energy, it will cost me about 10$ more per month for a household of 3 people, but I will probably more than compensate for that using some simple methods to save energy.

Do you have that choice in the USA?

Would you buy clean energy if it costs you 10$ or 20$ more per month?

California deregulated for a brief period of time allowing people to pick and choose their energ source/supplier etc. It turned into a complete disaster. People’s bills went from $100/mo to over a thousand. As a result the power purchase system was switched back to the utilities.
California is making a goal of having 20% of their power come from green sources (nuclear, hydro, wind, solar, geo).
I have heard rumors that the European accounting for power is somewhat of a shell game. For example a nation may brag that it is 40% wind. That is great but what happens when the wind suddenly stops? It is now 40% deficient. The neighboring country has to make up the 40% difference. That means they have to have more units in reserve. Now who do they use for reserve? The French nuclear plants. So one country brags that it is 40% wind but it is actually getting backup from its neighbors who are then getting back up from the nukes and coal plants. I am all for reliable 24/7 green power like geothermal and hydro. And I believe there is a place for unreliable green like solar and wind. But I think there has to be a limit put on unreliable sources because it becomes a shell game otherwise. For every unreliable MW there has to be a reliable MW in backup.

Won’t those in old energy be losing theirs at the same time? It’s not like we need more energy, just a different kind right? Your thoughts?

you don’t count those that lose jobs only those that got a job… The numbers sound much better and puts a happy tone on things…

How expensive is solar energy to produce?

What does a solar energy power plant look like and how do they work?

What are the hidden costs to society and the world? ( pollution, etc)

You do not produce solar energy; it is free from the sun. However it can be converted to electricity using solar panels. If you check a picture of a satellite or the space station in orbit, you will see large solar panels to produce electricity to run the machines.
One environmental problem could be the disposal of old and derelict panels.

I came accross a new, proven and tested home made wind power system and solar power system which eliminates our electricity bills. It was written by a Renewable energy enthusiasts Michael Harvey the diy called Earth4energy. You can get your copy to save energy and help environment while eliminating your power bills. Get it from here:

http://how-to-build-cheap-solar-energy.blogspot.com/

I’m doing a research on renewable sources of energy and I need some specific facts regarding : the countries which are most affected by this topic, what is currently being done to resolve the issue, where would the money for the solution come from. I need some of these facts because I will be participating in a debate and any of your answers/links/suggestions are most welcomed.

I was in debate in college. It was fun.

For the Gov i would focus on heavy metals from coal. For the Opp would focus on the fact that most people want to feel "green" and focus on non-economical production rather than conservation.

If you would like a quote to cite; I have talked to customers that want solar panels to be placed on the north side of their homes where the sun wont hit them. Their stubborn rational is that the neighbors can see them better on that side…

http://www.aurorapower.net/alternative-energy.aspx

http://www.aurorapower.net/alternative-energy/geothermal.aspx

http://www.aurorapower.net/alternative-energy/hydro.aspx

http://www.aurorapower.net/alternative-energy/solar-electric.aspx

http://www.aurorapower.net/alternative-energy/solar-hot-water.aspx

http://www.aurorapower.net/alternative-energy/wind.aspx

Hope that helps, have fun in your debate!

Why is important for ‘business’ to use renewable energy? What are the advantages and disadvantages? Do you know a company that uses renewable energy and has reduced its carbon footprint? And one that doesn’t and is considerably contributing to global warming etc

It’s important because fossil fuels are a finite resource. Global oil production is beginning to decline as old oil fields reach their peak, (the Gwhar and Cantrell giant oil fields for example,) and their production curves begin the inevitable slide downwards. Although new oil fields are being discovered, they are not very large, and for every new barrel of oil found, eight are being used at the same time.

A report from the UK Energy Research Centre published in August said that there was a ‘significant risk’ that the peak of conventional oil production would happen before 2020, and that means we will soon be staring down the barrel of the ultimate oil crisis.

Some governments and corporations are waking up to this and beginning to develop alternatives to keep the worlds transport systems moving when cheap oil runs out, such as more energy efficient – or electric cars, bio fuels (which put the world’s food supply under pressure,) and hydrogen (which is too dangerous for public use at present,) but none of these is likely to make up the shortfall in time.

Many point to the tar sands and oil shales and the trillions of barrels of oil that are locked up in them, but even if investment in them poured in and everything went well:

‘oil sands might produce 6 million barrels of oil per day in 20 years’ time, but by then we’ll need to add at least 10 times that much capacity – without allowing for any growth in demand. It’s very hard to see non-conventional (oil sources) riding to the rescue.’ (Steven Sorrel, lead author of the UKERC report.)

There is also the problem that extracting non conventional oil supplies is very environmentally destructive, and if they were fully exploited, would hugely increase CO2 emissions, before they were even burned as fuel.

We must also remember that many of the rare earth metals that are needed to develop fuel efficient technologies are only found in China, and they have decided to limit or even ban the export of these metals, leaving all the other countries that wish to expand their use of such technologies at a disadvantage.

So the only businesses that can secure energy supplies are those that invest in renewable energies now, before the oil price rises, (due to demand outstripping supply,) and before the costs of making such renewables rises too as a result of resource depletion and the constrained supply of raw materials.