Renewable Energy Blog

Today I read the following article about renewable energy in the spanish paper "El sur".

Renewable energy 'made in Málaga' have ceased to be an anecdote to acquire a key role in the energy scenario of the province, to the point that three of every four households could supply much of the day during flow generated by wind farms, solar plants and hydroelectric plants that are operational.

The renewable installed capacity exceeds 800 megawatts Málaga, according to data provided by the Department of Electrical Engineering, School of Industrial AMU. José Antonio Aguado, director of the department, estimates that every megawatt can supply to 571 homes, which would result in over 450,000 households benefit directly.  Or, which is the same, the opportunity to stop broadcasting to the atmosphere at around 600,000 tonnes of CO2 per year (the equivalent of removing 350,000 road cars). It should be noted that in Malaga officially reside almost 1.6 million people in 533 000 homes.

Discover the wind

The highest percentage corresponds to the wind, with 412 megawatts spread over a dozen parks in the vicinity of Guadalteba and the Guadalhorce Valley. The province unveiled in just five years as one of the most wind-rich southern Spain. According to estimates of Endesa Cogeneration and Renewables, the conditions in points as Campillos, Teba, Sierra de Mares and Ardales are similar-to-energy effects to those of Tarifa, a town that has made this meteorological phenomenon their way of life (Mills have a range of production with minimum and maximum force, and disconnect the higher intensity). This is also a resource that is increasingly management capabilities, thanks to advances in meteorology.

It is followed by hydroelectric power plants where the system environment Guadalhorce and the Tajo de la Encantada exceed 360 megawatts and have lived an outstanding winter and spring, thanks to the many desembalses of dams. Photovoltaic solar energy is the least exploited resources in the province (despite being one of the most hours of sunshine is in Europe), with just over 40 megawatts in production. However, although not directly produce electricity, solar thermal, with installed 102,000 meters square, saving thousands of tonnes of CO2 to be no other fuel necessary to generate the hot water.

Despite this positive figure, which sets a radically different scenario of just a decade ago, when Malaga barely produce electricity, the expert makes several caveats: First, the green power resources necessarily coexist with manageable resources, ie sources generation that can be switched on and off depending on demand, and act as a support system (power plants, combined cycle, nuclear, etc).

Among the 'green', hydroelectric plants have this account: the water is pumped to the upper level at times of lower power and let it run at peak demand. Also plant biomass and, in some ways, the combined cycle, in which at least one of the turbines with the steam moves the result of the cooling of gas-powered.

So with that available in the capital, next to the PTA, which has not yet begun to operate (on evidence), and will play a power of 400 megawatts, which can supply a population of 500,000 people demand (when energy is actually needed).

In turn, called the 'pool' of electricity, the daily market where they compete all the producers assumed that the national electricity grid mixes produced by organic sources and pollutants (although the first priority), at one point or another the territory, without being able to disaggregate. Finally, Aguado said that the homes are only part of electricity consumption, so that these calculations do not include the services sector: companies, industries, hotels, etc..

Something has changed in the National Electrical scene, according to data from Spanish Red Electrica (REE), clean energy this year have broken several records, in which the generation from renewable sources has reached nearly 50% of national consumption thanks, first, a hydro generation (24.2%), followed by wind and solar (19.7% and 2% respectively).

Translated by Google.

How Would You Like To UNPLUG Your House From Your Electrical Company,Knowing That You Are 100% Powered By Nature" With Renewable Energy?

There are many solutions to produce renewable energy. However, most of the products are not designed to produce the electricity needed for home supply. They cost fortunes and are only usable in the corporate world. Some companies have developed products for generating home wind power or solar power, but they cost $1,000s for only one product. And this doesn't even include installation.

Create your own power system

HomeMadeEnergy.org has written this great manual on how to create your own solar or wind power system for $200 or even less. The methods they provide are tested to make sure that these are the most effective methods for producing heaps of energy. The manual is clear and professionally, with plain English words. Anyone can understand and use them.

Solar- or Wind-base Energy

You will be able to choose between two types of electricity generators, solar-based or wind-based. Inside the guide you'll get specific instructions on what is best to build, based on your geographical location and the size of your house. And this doesn't mean you need to build one or another. You can easily build both systems and generate even more energy. You will get the step-by-step diagrams on how to create each of the systems with very little effort. All the components can be purchased from your local hardware store.

Stop wasting money

If you have ever wished to stop wasting money on your electrical bill, help the global economy and save the Earth, then you're in the right hands with HomeMadeEnergy.org. With the ever increasing costs of living, there is no better time than right now to stop throwing money out the window and start generating your own electricity.

Click Here To Go To HomeMadeEnergy.org!

Simple explanations of common terms associated with solar lights can be found in the next article from Elena Lunt on eZibeArticles.com. Brief and short she describes the common terms around led light's, a solar panel and a battery. If you have an article you want to have published on this website, then  contact me. The contact link is in the footer of this page.

Most solar lights on the market today are outdoor lights. You may illuminate your gardens, yards, patios, ponds, decks, driveways, pathways, walkways, and camping spots with solar lamp posts, spotlights, ground lights, lanterns, flashlights, path lights, wall-mount lights, stepping stones, and even lights that float in water to name a few - all through solar power. Yet, there are some made for indoor use, such as, garage, shed, greenhouse, and houseboat solar lights as well as different flashlights and lanterns.

As if having to choose from such a great variety is not hard enough, you also find yourself reading the descriptions which include unfamiliar technical specifications. This can make an easy task of finding the right solar powered light more difficult than it should be. To help you make the choice less complicated, below are some simple explanations of common terms associated with solar lights.

A typical solar light is composed of LED or an incandescent lamp, a solar panel, and a rechargeable battery (either built-in or included.)

LED (light-emitting diode) is a tiny two-terminal device that emits light when an electrical current passes through it. LEDs themselves are usually very small in size, but integrated optical elements in lamps help to direct and reflect the light, thus aiding in brightness. Despite being more expensive, LEDs are preferred to incandescent lamps in solar lighting today because of their:

• Efficiency - LEDs generate more light per watt than incandescent bulbs.
• Natural color - LEDs can emit light of an intended color (through different wavelengths) without the use of color filters that are required in incandescent lighting approach.
• Cool light - LEDs radiate very little heat through infrared radiation that might damage sensitive objects or fabrics, unlike heat-driven incandescent lamps.
• Longevity - LEDs can have a relatively long useful life - typical lifetimes quoted are 25,000-100,000 hours (in comparison to 1,000-2,000 hours for incandescent lamps.)
• Gradual failure - LEDs generally fail by growing dimmer over time instead of suddenly burning out like incandescent light bulbs.
• Sturdiness - LEDs are solid state devices and are difficult to damage with external shock in contrast to fragile incandescent bulbs.

The incandescent lamp, in simplified terms, is a source of electric light that works by heat-driven light emissions. Incandescent lamps require no external regulating equipment and have a low manufacturing cost. For that reason you may find incandescent lamps in some less expensive solar lights though the majority of solar lights use LEDs.

Solar panel is an assembly of interconnected photovoltaic cells, more commonly known as solar cells. In simplified terms, a solar cell is a device that converts light into electric current through emitting electrons absorbed from electromagnetic radiation. Solar panels use sunlight energy to generate electricity. The majority of solar panels consist of wafer-looking mono crystalline or polycrystalline cells derived from silicon, a commonly used semi-conductor.

Mono crystalline silicon cell's structure is homogeneous because it is made of a single crystal. In single crystal silicon, the arrangement of crystal atoms is continuous and unbroken. It can be identified by an even external coloring.

Polycrystalline cells consist of a number of smaller silicon crystals. They can be recognized by a visible metal flake-type grain.

Both polycrystalline and mono crystalline silicon cells are widely used as a key component in solar panels. However, you will find that because of its properties mono crystalline silicon is more efficient and therefore higher priced.

Solar lights are able to function at night because of the built in or included rechargeable batteries. These batteries can be used up and then restored to full or partial charge through the application of electrical energy collected during the day through solar panels. Ni-Cd (Nickel-cadmium) and Ni-Mh (Nickel-metal hydride) are most commonly used rechargeable batteries.

A typical unit of measurement for rechargeable batteries is mAh (milliampere per hour) which measures the amount of electric charge per hour or, in plain terms, how much electrical charge a battery will hold. Batteries with higher mAh values will last longer without requiring a recharge.

Hopefully these simplified descriptions can help you make an educated decision when you are browsing through the large selection of solar lights.

Article Source:  http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elena_Lunt

In an news article on BusinessWire.com there was this exciting news that Oelikon Solar has produced a more efficient PV cell. Read the article below:

Oerlikon Solar Presents Record Cell Efficiency confirmed by NREL

Over 10 percent stabilized efficiency on amorphous silicon reconfirmed by US’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory

• Historic milestone for amorphous silicon PV technology
• Oerlikon Solar’s proprietary TCO front and back contact applied
• Next level of amorphous silicon thin film solar PV cells introduced

HAMBURG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oerlikon Solar, the world’s leading supplier of thin film silicon photovoltaic (PV) production equipment, today announced that it has achieved a new stabilized record efficiency level for amorphous silicon (a-Si) single junction PV cells. Recent test results reconfirmed and approved by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) show efficiencies of more than 10 percent power conversion. These results set a new world record for amorphous thin film silicon PV technology. The R&D group of Oerlikon Solar in Neuchâtel was able to consistently reproduce cells with similar record efficiencies, demonstrating a stable and repeatable process.

“This achievement impressively demonstrates Oerlikon Solar’s unique ability to rapidly drive thin film silicon PV technology towards grid parity,” said Jeannine Sargent, chief executive officer of Oerlikon Solar. High cell efficiencies on amorphous silicon are a key driver for both, amorphIHIGH PERFORMANCE and proprietary Micromorph^® PV technology.

The excellent performance of the record cells demonstrates the advantage of Oerlikon Solar’s thin film silicon PV technology, once more verifying the company’s comprehensive R&D roadmap. Oerlikon Solar’s advanced deposition equipment technology and its vast process know-how result in an optimized cell design that enables the achievement of higher conversion efficiencies. The recent success on a-Si cell efficiency serves as basis to achieve Micromorph^® production modules at stabilized efficiencies of 10% or more.

Leading R&D and fastest time to market

Oerlikon Solar is the clear technology and market leader in the field of thin film silicon PV technology, investing significantly in research and development efforts. This record is the latest result of Oerlikon Solar’s ongoing development program and reinforces its role as a technology and market leader.

“We successfully implemented several innovative modifications of key processes, leading to this new record in stabilized cell efficiency which presents a historic milestone for amorphous silicon technology,” said Dr. Johannes Meier, CTO Thin Film at Oerlikon Solar: “We are confident that our ability to repeatedly achieve record results can be transferred into mass production soon.”

Thin film silicon solar offers cost advantages over traditional crystalline silicon and is demonstrating increasingly impressive efficiency gains. Oerlikon Solar occupies a unique position in this rapidly growing market. To date, the company has supplied manufacturing facilities with a total capacity of over 450 megawatts, and has established a strong execution track record, with each of its customers achieving their technology and commercialization milestones on time. By the end of 2010 the company aims to launch the first PV module production lines that are price competitive compared to conventional energy sources in suitable regions.

“Just one more milestone in Oerlikon Solar’s mission to make solar power economically viable.”

About Oerlikon Solar

Oerlikon Solar offers field-proven equipment and end-to-end manufacturing lines for the mass production of thin film silicon solar modules. Engineered to reduce manufacturing cost and maximize productivity, its end-to-end solutions feature high yield production with high equipment uptime, and low maintenance requirements.

The production lines are complete systems, yet modular and upgradeable in both throughput and process technology. As a global leader in thin film PV technology, the company provides its customers with extensive experience in both amorphous and high-efficiency Micromorph^® tandem technology.

Oerlikon Solar is ranked “global number one solar turnkey line supplier” by VLSI and has been named winner of the 2009 CELL AWARD for the ”best technical product for thin film module manufacturing.”

Oerlikon Solar is headquartered in Switzerland, has over 750 employees in 13 locations world wide and maintains sales and service centers in the USA, Europe and China, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore and Japan.

For further information visit:

Source: BusinessWire.Com

Read on BusinessWire.com:

Iberdrola Renewables Awarded Nearly $251 Million in Treasury Grants to Generate More Jobs, More Clean Energy

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Iberdrola Renewables, Inc. today confirmed it has received US Treasury Department approval of three additional grants totaling $250,953,367. These grants represent investment by Iberdrola Renewables of approximately $860 million in US wind power in three states.

The grants for three additional wind farms put into service in 2009 result in a total of almost $550 million in Stimulus grants awarded to eight Iberdrola Renewables projects. To date, the company has submitted eight grant applications for new renewable energy projects totaling 980 megawatts (MW) of generation and more than $1.8 billion of investment by Iberdrola Renewables, and received grants for all eight.

The American Wind Energy Association estimates that 980 MW of new wind construction supports between 11,800 and 14,000 jobs in a single year, counting both direct and indirect jobs.

The grants were authorized under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in lieu of renewable energy production tax credits (PTCs) typically provided to wind generation facilities. Grants were awarded to the 160 MW Barton project (Iowa), 146 MW Farmers City project (Missouri), and the 120 MW Barton Chapel project (Texas). The financial crisis of last fall took away the ability of many renewables companies to use the PTC, jeopardizing investment in renewable projects.

Iberdrola Renewables immediately is putting the Stimulus funds into construction and development of additional renewable energy projects. Currently, the company has five wind projects under construction in Arizona, Illinois, North Dakota, Oregon, and Texas. Recently, Iberdrola Renewables announced plans to invest an additional $6 billion in renewable energy facilities through 2012.

�The Stimulus grant program allowed Iberdrola Renewables to resume its aggressive investment in wind farms all over the US -- projects that are creating new, family-wage jobs in communities under economic strain,� said Ralph Currey, President and Chief Executive Officer. �The company thanks the Obama Administration for implementing a grant program that is providing real economic benefits, and enables us and others to continue making renewable energy investments that otherwise would not happen.�

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Source: BusinessWire.com