Saudis Confused About Solar Power

In this issue of the Climate Column, we find out why Saudi Arabia’s oil minister seems to be confused as to what he thinks about solar power, and investigate whether the world can replace dirty Saudi Arabian oil with clean solar power as the world’s primary energy source. One thing is for certain, in the future we will be seeing more and more progressive companies investing in major solar power projects and the future is certainly looking bright for solar.

Ernst & Young CleanTech Trends Report

New Energy World Network (Newnet) reports on Ernst & Young’s second annual global cleantech insights and trends report which shows CleanTech is expected to boom, and as a result climate change and CleanTech are rising up the corporate priority lists.

Forbes Recommends Clean Energy Stocks

Renewable energy stocks take a battering, but Forbes.com still recommends them for long-term portfolios and we outline why we think there will be a big green boom once this downturn is over.

India And China Among World’s Largest Wind Markets

Who’s got wind? In this edition of the Climate Column, we look at the world’s largest wind markets by capacity and percentage of supply, discuss the IEA’s far too pessimistic outlook for renewable energy, and announce the birth of a new international agency: IRENA, the International Renewable Energy Agency, will come into being at a signing ceremony scheduled for 26 January 2009 in Bonn, Germany.

The 10 Big Energy Myths

Chris Goodall provides a concise and informed summary of the 10 big energy myths regarding solar, wind, marine and nuclear energy, biofuels, electric cars and green buildings on the Guardians environmental section.

Geodynamics Hails Geothermal Industry Development Framework (GIDF)

Geothermal Industry Development Framework (GIDF)
Geodynamics, December 1, 2008

Australian governments have placed a great deal of confidence in the Australian
geothermal energy industry and acknowledged the important role it will play in Australia’s future energy supply through the collaborative development of the GIDF and the Geothermal Technology Road Map according to the national geothermal industry body, the Australian Geothermal Energy Association (AGEA).

Read more..

Solar From The Sahara To Power Europe

Solar power from Saharan sun could provide Europe’s electricity, says EU
The Guardian, Wednesday July 23, 2008

A tiny rectangle superimposed on the vast expanse of the Sahara captures the seductive appeal of the audacious plan to cut Europe’s carbon emissions by harnessing the fierce power of the desert sun.

A concentrating solar power (CSP) plant in Spain that uses panels to reflect light on to a central tower to produce electricity. Similar plants are proposed for north Africa. Photograph: AP

Dwarfed by any of the north African nations, it represents an area slightly smaller than Wales but scientists claimed yesterday it could one day generate enough solar energy to supply all of Europe with clean electricity.

Speaking at the Euroscience Open Forum in Barcelona, Arnulf Jaeger-Walden of the European commission’s Institute for Energy, said it would require the capture of just 0.3% of the light falling on the Sahara and Middle East deserts to meet all of Europe’s energy needs.

The scientists are calling for the creation of a series of huge solar farms – producing electricity either through photovoltaic cells, or by concentrating the sun’s heat to boil water and drive turbines – as part of a plan to share Europe’s renewable energy resources across the continent.

A new supergrid, transmitting electricity along high voltage direct current cables would allow countries such as the UK and Denmark ultimately to export wind energy at times of surplus supply, as well as import from other green sources such as geothermal power in Iceland.

Energy losses on DC lines are far lower than on the traditional AC ones, which make transmission of energy over long distances uneconomic.

The grid proposal, which has won political support from both Nicholas Sarkozy and Gordon Brown, answers the perennial criticism that renewable power will never be economic because the weather is not sufficiently predictable. Its supporters argue that even if the wind is not blowing hard enough in the North Sea, it will be blowing somewhere else in Europe, or the sun will be shining on a solar farm somewhere.

Scientists argue that harnessing the Sahara would be particularly effective because the sunlight in this area is more intense: solar photovoltaic (PV) panels in northern Africa could generate up to three times the electricity compared with similar panels in northern Europe.

Much of the cost would come in developing the public grid networks of connecting countries in the southern Mediterranean, which do not currently have the spare capacity to carry the electricity that the north African solar farms could generate. Even if high voltage cables between North Africa and Italy would be built or the existing cable between Morocco and Spain would be used, the infrastructure of the transfer countries such as Italy and Spain or Greece or Turkey also needs a major re-structuring, according to Jaeger-Walden.

Southern Mediterranean countries including Portugal and Spain have already invested heavily in solar energy and Algeria has begun work on a vast combined solar and natural gas plant which will begin producing energy in 2010. Algeria aims to export 6,000 megawatts of solar-generated power to Europe by 2020.

Scientists working on the project admit that it would take many years and huge investment to generate enough solar energy from north Africa to power Europe but envisage that by 2050 it could produce 100 GW, more than the combined electricity output from all sources in the UK, with an investment of around €450bn.

Doug Parr, Greenpeace UK’s chief scientist, welcomed the proposals: “Assuming it’s cost-effective, a largescale renewable energy grid is just the kind of innovation we need if we’re going to beat climate change.”

Jaeger-Walden also believes that scaling up solar PV by having large solar farms could help bring its cost down for consumers. “The biggest PV system at the moment is installed in Leipzig and the price of the installation is €3.25 per watt,” he said. “If we could realise that in the Mediterranean, for example in southern Italy, this would correspond to electricity prices in the range of 15 cents per kWh, something below what the average consumer is paying.”

The vision for the renewable energy grid comes as the commission’s joint research centre (JRC) published its strategic energy technology plan, highlighting solar PV as one of eight technologies that need to be championed for the short- to medium-term future.

“It recognises something extraordinary – if we don’t put together resources and findings across Europe and we let go the several sectors of energy, we will never reach these targets,” said Giovanni de Santi, director of the JRC, also speaking in Barcelona.

The JRC plan includes fuel cells and hydrogen, clean coal, second generation biofuels, nuclear fusion, wind, nuclear fission and smart grids. De Santi said it was designed to help Europe to meet its commitments to reduce overall energy consumption by 20% by 2020, while reducing CO² emissions by 20% in the same time and increasing to 20% the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources.

Pedal-A-Watt Stationary Bike Power Generator

The Pedal-A-Watt Stationary Bike Power Generator
econvergence.net

Pedal-A-Watt Stationary Bike Power Generator

The Pedal-A-Watt bicycle stand keeps the user aerobically fit while creating power that may be used to power lights and/or other small appliances. The Pedal-A-Watt may also be used to charge a battery so that the power may be used at a later time (see the PowerPak under the Accessories page). The battery may then be tapped at a later time, after dark for example, when the energy is needed to power lights or appliances.

The Pedal-A-Watt bicycle stand is an excellent addition to an existing battery system that may already be charged from the photovoltaic panels, 120 VAC grid power or wind power. The concept behind the Pedal-A-Watt bicycle is that electricity can be created from human effort and then stored in batteries.

The Cycle Charger

Charge a Cell Phone, iPod, Blackberry, Garmin GPS, any GPS or any other device that you can plug into your car’s cigarette lighter plug
* Easily clips onto any bicycle
* Has a female cigarette lighter plug just like a car
* As you ride your bicycle your device will charge!
* Has a voltage regulator to ensure that the voltage never exceeds 12 vdc just like you car’s cigarette lighter socket
* $89.95 with free shipping within the US ($19.95 shipping outside the US)

The PowerPak for The Pedal-A-Watt

A small, portable combination of a 400 watt (300 watt for 220 volt European version) inverter and battery. The PowerPak plugs into the Pedal-A-Watt and stores the electricity created in a battery. The PowerPak also has a two, typical household outlet, allowing you to plug appliances in (up to 400 watts) and power them! Cigarette lighter plug for powering small appliances. Meter shows battery state of charge. Unit has overvoltage protection. Includes a charging cable that terminates with a male cigarette lighter plug with blocking diode. PLEASE NOTE that this product is available for 120 volts AC, 60 Hz (United States) or 220 volts AC, 50 Hz (for Europe). PLEASE SPECIFY in the dropdown menu when ordering!

Power Meter for The Pedal-A-Watt

See exactly how much power your Pedal-A-Watt creating with this power meter. It connects easily inline in series with your Pedal-A-Watt and displays volts, amps, watts (power), watt hours and amp hours. A great way to demonstrate how much power the Pedal-A-Watt is creating. Needs no battery. Measures voltage from 0 to 60 v and current from 0 to 100 amps. The meter measures 2.8 inches long by 1.7 inches wide and is .83 inches thick.