Category: Energy Matters
The twentieth century way of life has been made available, largely due to the miracle of cheap energy. The price of energy has been at record lows for the past century and a half.As oil becomes increasingly scarce, it is becoming obvious to everyone, that the rapid economic and industrial growth we have enjoyed for that time is not sustainable.Now, the hunt is on. For renewable sources of energy, for alternative sources of energy, for a way of life that is less dependent on cheap energy.Â
admin /23 April, 2009
Over 5,000 new wind turbines were installed in the United States, last year, generating almost 8,500Megawatts of electricity and directly employing about 35,000 people. In addition 100 companies began manufacturing components for wind generators. This represents a growth of 70 percent for the year, the fastest growing sector of the US economy. The economic benefits have extended to education with more than 100 new courses being offered to train workers for the rapidly growing industry.
admin /23 April, 2009
Power companies are facing challenges in setting up solar thermal power generation plants in California’s Mojave desert. The limited supply of water and the delicate ecosystem of the region have both contributed to a scaling back of plans to build more than 150 solar powered electricity generators across the region. Solar thermal power generation which Continue Reading →
admin /22 April, 2009
US power company to tap solar energy in space Orbiting solar farms will be commercially viable within next seven years, says group Digg it Suzanne Goldenberg, US environment correspondent guardian.co.uk, Thursday 16 April 2009 14.26 BST Article history Ground-based solar installations require huge tracts of land, and cannot produce a constant supply of Continue Reading →
admin /5 April, 2009
European photovoltaic manufacturers are beginning to plan for the recycling of components from panels that have rolled out over the last fifteen years. Because volumes have risen dramatically from a very small base in 1990 and the lifespan of the cells is about 25 years, the issue is set to become a serious business in about one decade and deliver significant returns another decade after that. Early cells used thick wafers of silicon which can be simply re-etched, making a significant saving in energy. Modern technology uses thin cells or thin film technology which cannot be re-used but must be re-cycled as raw materials.
admin /28 March, 2009
The US coal industry has spent almost $US10 million lobbying federal politicians on top of a $US38million advertising campaign extolling the virtues of clean coal Congress Quarterly reported last week. “We are fighting for our survival,” explained Steve Miller, CEO of the The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, which spent the money. He claims that the $US3.5 billion set aside in the financial rescue package to research carbon capture and storage, makes the expenditure worthwhile, despite the view of many scientists that the notion is unrealistic and agreement by all parties that it unacheivable in the next two decades. The group currently seeks to prevent the emissions control bill currently before Congress from reducing the competitive advantage that coal has over other sources of energy.
admin /21 March, 2009
The photovoltaic electricity sector in the United Kingdom is in disarray this week after the government there closed its grant program for solar energy under the low-carbon buildings program. The program had led to such a large take-up of solar panels that the government’s allocated money has run out and it has ended the program early. Importers, resellers and installers are angry that the investment they have made in building their businesses could be lost. UK Green Building Council cheif, Paul King, said, “it seems absurd that government has suspended grant applications for solar PV when it is claiming that green jobs can kick start the economy.” He said that without confidence in the givernment’s commitment the emerging industry could be stopped dead in its tracks.
