Energy

Green energy and renewable energy are too often used in the same breath. That is to say, if someone mentions the concept of green energy, they often refer to renewable sources like wind, solar and wave energy. It has created the false illusion that all green energy initiatives are renewable, and that all renewable energy sources are green. Long story short: not necessarily the case. Green Energy: Wind Turbines And Solar  In a similar sense, the term carbon-free is not exclusively reserved for renewables. There are several energy sources that are not-renewable, but definitely carbon-free. This makes them great - and not frequently talked about - alternatives for the famed wind turbines and solar panels. Obviously, the fact that they cannot be renewed means that they are not the all-inclusive solution to our current problem, nor can they be exclusively relied upon to power the growing demands of the world. What that means to say is that renewables should always be a part of the energy mix. Yet they hold downsides, including the large energy requirements for the build, maintenance and storage. Furthermore, the amount of square footage required to build enough windmills and solar panels is substantial, meaning that either ground will have to be acquired or people will have to be encouraged to build it on their land. Recommended:  Vortex Bladeless Wind Turbine - The Future of Wind Turbines? Nuclear Energy Has A Bad Rep For No Real Reason It is about time that we stop referring to renewables as the only green source. It is unlikely that they will ever be generating sufficient energy for all of us, so the search for other green energy sources should never cease. Some are staring us right in the face, like nuclear energy. Over the past century, this form of energy generation has saved the atmosphere from millions and millions of tonnes of CO2 being emitted into it. Yet it is still suffering from a pretty bad rep. Bumper cars, Chernobyl Most people will instantly mention ‘Chernobyl’ or ‘Fukushima’, making the dangers of a potential meltdown seem much larger than they actually are. With the proper precautions and warning mechanisms, I dare say that fears for a second Chernobyl have been reduced to mere figments of the mind. Yet the public opinion matters, and that opinion is pretty loud and clear - we do not want more nuclear waste, nor do we want to live next to a nuclear reactor. Recommended:  Nuclear Power: Will It Destroy Or Save The World? There might be a solution. Although it is not yet implemented anywhere in the world due to its priciness and complexity, there might be a way of splitting atoms without the waste, meltdowns and costs associated with building and maintaining the reactors. Green Energy Which Is Not Renewable: SMR Nuclear Is Ideal Yes, it does have nuclear in the name. This might already lose some interest of some, but try to bear with me, as it might be the nuclear implementation that we have been waiting for. SMRs, or Small Modular Reactors, could be the solution. In particular Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactors, or LFTRs, are showing great promise - in theory, that is. Thorium is an element on the periodic table of elements that is just two behind uranium. This makes it a weakly radioactive substance - with the upside that it is much more abundant than its radioactive brother. A golf ball-sized bit of thorium could, theoretically, power a small city for several decades. After that it cannot be re-used, hence the non-renewable part - but that really kind of pales in comparison to its upsides. Recommended:  Climate Change Halted By Nuclear Reactors: Fission, Fusion Green Energy: Technical Details Of Thorium Power {youtube}                                                               Thorium and the Future of Nuclear Energy The LFTR resembles an ‘ordinary’ reactor, although there are some technical differences. Thorium-232 and uranium-233 are mixed with fluoride salts in the reactor core. During the fission, the released heat and neutrons are absorbed by the salt surrounding it. This leads to the creation of a uranium-233 isotope, with thorium-232 taking on an additional neutron. Next, the salt melts and is used to heat gasses like helium, which power a turbine - and generate electricity. There is no waste. The uranium is separated from the salt after the process, and then re-used in the core. Another benefit is the lower costs for the commissioning of the thorium reactor: the salts are about $150/kg and the thorium some $30/kg. This price is likely to go down if thorium becomes popular, as it is abundantly available in the earth’s crust. The world’s supply of thorium can power a large number of LFTRs for thousands of years. Not quite renewable, but pretty close. More arguments for those who need convincing: thorium can be used in its natural state, so no expensive processing is required. And the fuel used in the LFTR will almost completely be re-consumed by the reactor, making it clean and low-waste. Not Renewable: Why SMR Nuclear Is Safer Than Traditional So, there is significantly less radioactive waste. Separated uranium can be re-used in the fission process, while the fluoride salts have a high boiling point, eliminating the need for high-pressure water coolants. This high boiling point, combined with the design of LFTRs to work as low-pressure systems, means that the reactors are much more stable and less susceptible to incidents. Combine this with the failsafe shutdown sequence, where an overheated core will trigger a gravity-enabled passive response. The radiated salt will be sent into an underground containment chamber while the reactor is powering down. This makes it extremely safe: you just can’t argue with gravity. Not Renewable: The Downsides No energy source comes without its flaws. While the concept of thorium-based energy sounds great in practice, opponents will argue that it is as of yet untested, not commercially viable, and - most importantly - still nuclear. The safety arguments for this technology seem valid, although they have not been tested in real life. This really forms the major concern, with much-needed research on the necessary materials missing and the processing facilities for the used salts still a rough concept drawn up in explorative papers but nowhere near viable construction. The argument of it still being nuclear should not be overlooked either. Nuclear means that, theoretically, waste could be stolen and used to create deadly nuclear weapons or wreak all other sorts of havoc on the world. Although it has not been proven that LFTR reactors will have waste that could be used for this purpose, proper safely and security measures will be a must if we are to go through with this. Recommended:  Nuclear Floating Power Plants: A Floating Chernobyl: Russia Green Energy Which Is Not Renewable: What’s Next? Once again, let me reiterate that I do not believe that thorium-based energy will solve all of our problems. As mentioned before, it is all about getting that energy mix right. We can and must invest in renewable sources, regardless of their intermittent nature - and fill up the gaps with clean and green non-renewable sources. All energy sources bring along their own set of problems, which makes the balancing of the mix even more complicated. Recommended:  The Artificial Sun Is Heating Up: Nuclear Fusion On Earth Yet the best we can do now is figure out how to make the most out of non-renewable green sources, even if that means diving in the deep with previously untested sources. Before you go! Recommended:  Gravitricity: Fast, Versatile Energy Storage Solution, UK Did you find this an interesting article or do you have a question or remark? Leave a comment below. We try to respond the same day. Like to write your own article about energy storage? Click on  'Register'  or push the button 'Write An Article' on the  'HomePage'

Hydropower Small Scale: Sustainable Way of Generating Energy. As we all know hydropower is capable of producing enormous amounts of electric energy. In some places it is less harmful than in others. Hydro Power Turbines: Large Scale From large scale hydro power the side effects are evident as stated in the contribution of Peter Sant: The harrowing consequences of 'sustainable' hydropower plants. The loss of habitat for various species is evident. Beside that fish get killed in the turbines. So why does hydropower have such an aura of sustainability? Recommended:  Sustainable Hydro-Power Plants Contribute To Climate Change First of all, water is always flowing. The hydropower plants don’t produce CO2 and the live span of hydroelectric installations is several decades. Besides that, hydropower is very effective: around 70-80% of the potential energy is converted in electricity. And they run at full power around 80% of the year. So, the materials used for fabricating the plant is more effective than any other energy resource. Martin Eillebrecht and Peter Vree working at a water mill With these advantages and the possible drawbacks in mind Gratia Hydro found the way to bring hydropower back to the people. As it was in the 19 th century and before. When inhabiting North America settlers would build water mills to saw lumber, grind corn or extract oil form linseed. These  are the installations that got abandoned when cheap electrical power came abundant in the 20 th century. But we can restore these old water mills and make them to use for our 21 st century life. Without destruction. Without losing habitat. Without killing fish and other water fauna. But in harmony with nature. With respect for historical heritage. Showing our children where energy comes from and what enormous forces are at work. Recommended:  Green Energy: The WaveRoller Sustainable Clean Ocean Power But restoring an old water mill is expensive. You should think of 1.000 $/€ per installed kW of power. Most time too expensive for a mill owner. And when you have the installation restored you would generate to much electricity for your own use. With that in mind there were two possibilities which are widespread. One: burn the electricity in electric heaters. Two: sell it 'on' the grid. Burning electricity in an electric heater is very efficient from a physical point of view, but a waste of a highly valuable energy carrier.  {youtube}                                                                             Water Mill Generator Selling it to the grid gives the mill owner a sort of income, but revenue is small since the naked price for green electricity is a few cents; way less that you would pay as a consumer due to grid costs, energy tax and VAT.  Recommended:  Solar Canopies Supply Shade Electricity And Filter Rainwater The solution is as simple as sustainable; both form CO2 perspective as for communities: restore old watermills together and make use of the electric energy in your car. When you would have a plug out car (like the Sion from Sono Motors) you can harvest your electricity at the mill and take it to your home. And not only you. You do that together with 10 other households, thus creating a sustainable community. Recommended:  Solar Sono Motors Car: Developed in Germany, Made In Sweden You might be connected to the grid for stability and a place to get rid of the excessive energy, but the majority of the electricity comes right to the participants without gird transport costs, energy tax and VAT. Like that restoring a small water mill is still expensive, but the return on investment is as high. Depending on local tax rules the payback time is between 6 and 12 years for a typical 5 kW mill. And after that you can still use it for the next 50 to 100 years. That is Sustainability as it should be. Contact: Gratia Hydro Micro Hydroelectricity Before you go! Recommended:  Energy Miracle Algae. 10.000 Barrels A Day, Less CO2: 2025 Did you find this an interesting article or do you have a question or remark? Leave a comment below. We try to respond the same day. Like to write your own article about water mills? Click on  'Register'  or push the button 'Write An Article' on the  'HomePage'

Is it possible to have a zero-carbon economy in the world? This is only possible if the government is bold enough to pursue a policy that accelerates the production of clean electricity. Can we limit climate change? Looking At The Prospects If we look at the prospects, in the year 2100, the world will enjoy cheap zero-carbon energy. Museums are the only ones that use coal, and the use of gas and oil has drastically reduced. We need a zero-carbon global economy to prevent the potentially catastrophic climate change. Therefore, we need a strategic view and strong policy support. Electricity will be dominating. At this moment, we only use 20 per cent of electricity as energy. Fossil Fuels are the main energy source for transport, for heating and heavy industry. However, all of above could be powered by electricity which would be way more effective. {youtube}                                                      How Close Are We to Zero-Emissions Electricity? Batteries Instead Of Fuel For example, electric engines are far more effective, like for 90 per cent more than internal-combustion engines. Electric motors are easier to produce, it is cheaper, because you need batteries instead of gas, and you will compensate that within five years. So, electric vehicles are less expensive than gasoline or diesel vehicles. Another example, electric heat pumps can deliver more residential heat than a gas boiler (3 kilowatt-hours for one kilowatt of energy input instead of 0,9 kWh for the same input with a gas boiler). Molten salt battery At this moment we cannot rely on batteries only for long-distance flights or intercontinental shipping. We have to wait a few decades because batteries are too heavy to power. It is supposed that ship engines could burn ammonia instead of fuel oil. Ammonia could be a zero-carbon fuel if it is produced from hydrogen. Something to wait for in the future... Recommended:  Solar And Wind Power Makes The Current Sail Cargo Ship The Role Of Hydrogen Hydrogen will have a crucial role in the future in the decarbonization process. You can use hydrogen as a fuel or as an essential chemical input. By 2050, we could create a global economy in which electricity supplies 65-70 per cent of final demand for energy and hydrogen, ammonia or synthetic fuel supplies another 12-15 per cent. By then, fossil fuels and bioenergy would only be about 20 per cent of the total energy use. Could we have a zero-carbon economy? Recommended:  Hydrogen Powered Car That Emits Water No CO2: The Rasa The Benefits Of Using Electricity It would have enormous environmental benefits when using electricity. We could reduce wasted heat, pollution, noise produced by burning fossil fuels. To build this kind of economy, we need about 90,000 TWh, compared to the 23,000 TWh right now. But it has to be produced in a zero-carbon way, and this is almost impossible. We could use solar energy; the costs have decreased, and the sun has enough power to cover humans' daily energy needs 8,000 times. Battery costs have dropped by more than 80 per cent since 2010 and are expected to reduce with a further 50% by 2030. All of this makes it inevitable that we will enough clean and cheap energy. We need to prevent catastrophic climate change. The use of fossil fuels still rises, and global warming is increasing. Recommended:  Fossil Fuel Will Dominate Energy Use Through 2050: Globally Strong Government Policies The macroeconomic cost of such an attempt is not at all discouraging: the total additional investment needed to build a decarbonised economy by 2050 is about 1-1.5 per cent of global GDP per year. But the necessary acceleration will not take place without strong government policies. We can only achieve the goals mentioned above if we acknowledge we need to purify electricity. We need to use hydrogen to have a zero-carbon economy.  It is challenging for governments to set some goals to use more renewable energy. The strategies for road transport should focus on the complete removal of internal combustion engines from our roads by 2050 at the latest. This requires a ban on the sale of new internal combustion engines. Moreover, a carbon price is crucial for industrial decarbonisation to take place economically. Lastly, governments should encourage new technologies with first-time application grants, which have quickly helped reduce the cost of photovoltaic solar technology, wind turbines and batteries. Recommended:  Tiny House With Solar Panels Is Off Grid: The Netherlands Policies like this should help the world to create a zero-carbon economy very quickly. We could limit climate change, but if we do not take the right measures soon enough, it could be too late... Before you go! Recommended:  Renewable Energy Turns CO2 Into Fuel For Hydrogen Batteries Did you find this an interesting article or do you have a question or remark? Leave a comment below. We try to respond the same day. Like to write your own article about clean energy? Click on  'Register'  or push the button 'Write An Article' on the  'HomePage'

Wave energy had many false starts. A Finnish company has been working on a 2MW prototype in Portugal. Can we finally use wave power to generate electricity? Green Energy: The WaveRoller: What Is Wave Energy? Wave energy is the energy that can be extracted from the rapidly changing water level at sea due to the presence of waves. Wave energy can be used to perform various tasks, including generating electricity, pumping water around or desalinating water. The bigger the ocean, the higher the possibilities for speed and fetching energy - and given that Portugal has the entire Atlantic Ocean between the coastline and America, obtaining power is pretty good. What is wave energy and how does it work? Wave power is produced by the up and down motion of floating devices placed on the surface of the ocean or or back and forth motion by devices under water. In other words, wind produces waves, and then waves and or current produce energy. As the waves and or current travels across the ocean, high-tech devices capture the natural movements of ocean currents and the flow of swells to generate power The Power of Wave Energy Chris Ridgewell, CEO of AW-Energy, the Finnish company behind the WaveRoller, explains that there are different types of wave technology. "There are floating objects, things on land that bring in the water and drain it away. Instead, the WaveRoller is attached and hinged to the seabed, only about 10 metres deep, using the back and forth motion of the wave. While a typical solar panel can capture about 150 watts per square meter on average," says Ridgewell. "With wave energy, it is about 40,000 watts per metre. That's a tremendous difference." Recommended:  Blue Energy: Marine Renewables Show Promise in the UK The WaveRoller: Is This The First Time? Ridgewell is not the first one that got excited by the idea for wave energy. From 1855 to 1973 there have been 340 patents requested for sea power in the UK alone. None of them really worked, but a man from Royan, France, M. Bochaux-Praceique, bored a hole in a cliff, to use a turbine for supplying his house from energy. {youtube}                                                                          WaveRoller deployment                                            Green Energy: The WaveRoller Sustainable Clean Ocean Power Since then, engineers have come up with the idea repeatedly. In the first years of 2000, we saw the first real breakthrough. For example, the Islay LIMPET in Scotland was the first commercial wave power device. The device was connected to the UK National Grid and should have a 500kw unit but was downgraded to 250kw. Eventually, it was finally shut down in 2018. Thereupon, Portugal came with the Pelamis Energy Converters, to transform the movement of ocean waves into electricity, with a much more promising 2.25MW of total installed power.  The WaveRoller From Finland The Finnish WaveRoller is different in scale of the units, the capacity and in the actions being taken towards commercialisation. Ridgewell says that there is a price reduction going on in offshore wind because the insurance costs decreased, and the financing is cheaper. What are the benefits of wave energy? Environment Friendly: Also - unlike fossil fuels - creating power from waves creates no harmful by-products such as gas, waste, and pollution. The energy from waves can be taken directly into electricity-producing machinery and used to power generators and power plants nearby. Recommended:  The Earth As An Inexhaustible Clean Geothermal Energy Source According to Ridgewell, there is another advantage. "We use existing, familiar technology." The back and forth movement of the water generated by the waves sets the WaveRoller panel in motion. The unit is installed below water at a depth of about 8 - 20 metres, where the wave action is at its most forceful. This way, it maximises the power the WaveRoller panel can capture from the waves. A-single panel absorbs 1.5-2 MW of energy from the wave. The panel basically covers the entire depth of the water stream from the seabed to the water surface. WaveRoller Technology While the WaveRoller panel is in motion and absorbs the energy of ocean waves, the hydraulic piston pumps connected to the panel pump the hydraulic fluids in a closed hydraulic circuit. All parts of the hydraulic circuit are not displayed to the marine environment. They are embedded in an airtight construction inside the unit. These are supplied in energy storage and smoothing system, which links to a hydraulic motor that drives an electricity generator. The electrical output of this renewable wave power plant is then connected to the electricity grid via a submarine wire. Each wave can produce 2MW about every ten seconds, but the digital flattening system feeds this into the grid at a constant, flat rate of 400kw. Is Wave Energy practical? Clean, renewable energy is one of world's top priorities. Wave energy in particular is a highly desirable resource. Its practical worldwide potential is projected to be between 2 and 4 trillion kilowatt hours per year. Recommended:  Geothermal Power Accessible As Wind And Solar Energy: Climeon We need flat, elemental energy as a continuous, and therefore fossil fuels and nuclear energy firms like to claim they are essential. Nevertheless, wave energy could produce the same, but then clean energy with zero emissions during use. A good example is California. In the summer you have a lot of sun and wind, but in the winter it reduces enormously. That is precisely the moment when wave energy is the highest when big storms are coming. The WaveRoller: What About Sea Life? The big concern about the panels splattering in the sea is about the animals living there. How do animals deal with the WaveRoller? Ridgewell says that the WaveRoller attracts sea life. The coastline in Peniche, Portugal is an EU Environment Protected Area, and until now the Finnish company have dealt with the conditions. Who Is AW-Energy? What are the characteristics of waves? Waves are disturbances that travel through a fluid medium. Several common wave characteristics include frequency, period, wavelength, and amplitude. There are two main type of waves, transverse waves and longitudinal waves. AW-Energy is a start-up company with a small team of 10-15 people. They have ambitious plans concerning renewable energy, especially sea energy. Big investors like Aura Capital, Fortum, John Nurminen Oy, Sitra and the European Investment Bank support them. AW-Energy has new plans with energy organisations and government departments. “Some countries do not have the energy price right now that would support it. But, some of those countries see the benefit of generating energy as the sun goes down. Other countries already have a high energy price, which means we can develop a profitable project.” Not every coastline is suitable. Where surfing is excellent, the wave energy is good. AW-Energy hopes to have a customer who needs '15 units array' to start with, and Ridgewell wants to expand from there. These 15 units can supply a constant 400kw; that is 6MW renewable energy. This is enough to provide electricity to 6000 houses. That would be great to start! The wave energy devices, built by AW-energy, are reliable, impressive and as big as a bus. They are ready to be used. AW-Energy needs an ambitious, innovative customer who's prepared to take the first step. A customer who needs new energy sources. Who is it going to be? Let's hope that there is a turnaround of energy prices, and renewable energy objectives are now moving in the right place. Before you go! Recommended:  Energy Miracle Algae. 10.000 Barrels A Day, Less CO2: 2025 Did you find this an interesting article or do you have a question or remark? Leave a comment below. We try to respond the same day. Like to write your own article about Green Hydrogen? Click on  'Register'  or push the button 'Write An Article' on the  'HomePage'

It works like a rechargeable battery, which is charged by the sun.  A major discovery in the field of solar fuel could make it possible to store solar energy for years to come. It is hard to believe that we are still using fossil fuels that contribute to climate change.  Solar Energy Turned Into Liquid Fuel: Sunlight In A Bottle? We have a sun bombing our planet daily with abundant, clean, renewable energy. However, fossil fuels do have an often overlooked advantage over solar energy, which has long prevented solar energy from really popping up: they are fuel.  Solar energy, for all its benefits, does not come in the form of fuel, which essentially means it cannot be stored easily. Solar energy? What is it exactly? Solar energy, radiation from the Sun capable of producing heat, causing chemical reactions, or generating electricity. The total amount of solar energy incident on Earth is vastly in excess of the world's current and anticipated energy requirements This could now all change, following a breakthrough in the development of a fuel that can capture and save the sun's energy. Scientists say that this fuel can store that energy for up to 18 years, reports NBC. Recommended:  Sun And Wind? Energy Generated From Temperature Fluctuations Call it 'sunlight in a bottle'. Researchers in Sweden have detected a specialised liquid that operates like a rechargeable battery. The sunlight shines on the device, and the fluid absorbs it. At a later stage, that energy can be released as heat by merely adding a catalyst. This remarkable discovery could be how we power our homes by 2030. {youtube}                                               Storing the Sun's Energy in Liquid Could Change Solar Forever                                               Solar Energy Turned Into Liquid Fuel Can Be Stored 18 Years Solar Energy: How To Get Sunlight In And Heat Out? "A solar thermal fuel is like a rechargeable battery, but instead of electricity, you put sunlight in and get heat out, triggered on demand," explained Jeffrey Grossman, who is in charge of the MIT lab working on the project.  It is incredibly easy. The liquid consists of a molecule of carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen that reacts to the presence of sunlight by shifting its atomic bonds. The particle, fundamentally, transforms the molecule into a cage that "captures" the energy of the sun. Surprisingly enough, this energy content is retained even after the liquid itself has cooled to room temperature. Recommended:  Solar And Battery-Based Generator: Electricity Anywhere To release the energy, pass the liquid over a cobalt-containing catalyst, returning the molecules to their original form. As a result: energy from sunlight comes from the cage as heat. "And when we come to extract the energy and use it, we get a warmth increase which is greater than we dared to hope for," says Kasper Moth-Poulsen, one of the team members. How does the sun interact with the earth? The sun, earth, and moon are held together by gravity, and they interact in lots of ways. The moon orbits the earth because of the pull of the earth. And the earth orbits the sun because of the pull of the sun. Because of the way they move relative to each other, we see phases and eclipses Fuel Can Be Stored 18 Years: A Rechargeable Device That Does Not Lose Capacity Early results have shown that once the liquid has passed by the catalyst, it heats up with 113 degrees Fahrenheit. But researchers believe that with the right mixes they can elevate the output to 230 degrees Fahrenheit or more. Noted today, the system can double the power capacity of Tesla's reputed Powerwall batteries. This has drawn the attention of countless investors.  Even better, researchers have tested the liquid through as many as 125 cycles. The particle has shown almost no degradation. In short, it is a rechargeable battery that continues to take charge without losing much capacity over many applications. Recommended:  Solar Powered Sea Slugs Shed Light On Perpetual Green Energy Solar Energy Turned Into Liquid Fuel: What Is It Being Used For? How much energy hits the earth from the sun? In a single hour, the amount of power from the sun that strikes the Earth is more than the entire world consumes in an year. To put that in numbers: Each hour 430 quintillion Joules of energy from the sun hits the Earth. That's 430 with 18 zeroes after it! The technology is intended to be applied for domestic heating systems, like powering a building's water heater, dishwasher, dryer, etc. Since the energy comes in the form of fuel, it can be stored and used even when the sun is not shining. It should also be possible to transport energy through pipes or trucks.  If everything goes as planned - and it seems to be going much better than expected so far - researchers estimate that the technology could be available for commercial use within ten years. Given the rapidly escalating climate change crisis, this could not happen fast enough. Before you go! Recommended:  Gravitricity: Fast, Versatile Energy Storage Solution, UK Did you find this an interesting article or do you have a question or remark? Leave a comment below. We try to respond the same day. Like to write your own article about energy storage? Click on  'Register'  or push the button 'Write An Article' on the  'HomePage'