Solar Artificial Leaf produces electricity
September 28, 2010
Mimicking nature
Researchers at North Carolina State University, United States, have shown that water-gel-based solar devices, or “artificial leaves”, can act like solar cells to produce electricity. These leaves are bendable devices composed of a water-based gel infused with light-sensitive molecules, which are then coupled with electrodes coated in carbon nanotubes or graphite. The team’s findings prove the concept for making solar cells that more closely mimic nature. These devices also have the potential to be less expensive and more environmentally friendly than the standard silicon-based solar cells.
According to Orlin Velev, a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, “[W]e do not want to overpromise at this stage, as the devices are still of relatively low efficiency and there is a long way to go before this can become a practical technology. However, we believe that the concept of biologically inspired ‘soft’ devices for generating electricity may in the future provide an alternative for the present-day solid-state technologies.” Velev says the team now plans to fine-tune the photovoltaic devices to make them even more like real leaves.
Source:NCSUnewsroom
Top 19 Solutions to the Global Freshwater Crisis
September 6, 2010
Virtually every industry in the world anticipates sweeping systemic transformation over the next decade in their strategic planning, production practices, and business models, according to the Sustainability Survey Poll on Water.
1. Educate to change consumption and lifestyles
In the end, changing the face of this crisis involves education to motivate new behaviors. Coping with the coming era of water scarcity will require major overhaul of all forms of consumption, from individual use to corporates. Some regions led by India, Australia and the Southwest U.S., are already facing the freshwater crisis. The most critical task is making sure the problem is much better understood worldwide.
2. Invent new water conservation technologies
In areas where aquifers are drying up and rainwater is increasingly unpredictable, innovation is needed. But as we attempt to cope with freshwater scarcity and develop conservation technologies, energy consumption is an important consideration.
3. Recycle wastewater (Greywater recycling)
In March, World Water Day panelists urged a new mindset for wastewater treatment. Some countries, like Singapore, are trying to recycle to cut water imports and become more self-sufficient. The rich East Asian republic is a leader in developing advanced technology that cleanses wastewater for other uses, including drinking.
4. Improve irrigation and agricultural practices
Some 70 percent of the world’s freshwater is used for agriculture. Improving irrigation can help close supply and demand gaps. In certain cases profligate irrigation practices meant for an earlier era has weakened the ability of farmers to provide food and fiber to a growing world.
5. Appropriately price water
Water pricing and rights go hand in hand, with consumers questioning the benefit of higher prices. According to experts from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), an international economic forum of 31 of the world’s richest countries, raising prices will help lower waste and pollution.
To date, desalination has been an energy-intensive solution to water scarcity. Typically the Middle East has capitalized on its large energy reserves to build desalination plants. But Saudi Arabia could be fostering a new kind of desalination with its recent announcement to use solar-powered plants.Britain has taken a different approach with small-scale facilities for agriculture. But these innovations bring to light another needed resource—the capital for technological experimentation.
7. Improve water catchment and harvesting
Water catchment systems are essential for areas with no other reliable water sources. Pakistan and India—two countries that contend with some of the worst effects of climate change—are overhauling rainwater harvesting systems. These efforts provide independent control of water resources.
8. Look to community-based governance and partnerships
Community organizations elevate the experiences of those whose voices merit more influence. In April, for instance, indigenous groups met at the alternative climate change conference in Bolivia, a gathering meant to foster international partnerships among underrepresented groups. Ensuring more effective governance at the grassroots-level gives communities stature, and can lead to effective policy changes on a national scale.
9. Develop and enact better policies and regulations
As water scarcity complicates food security and pollution, governments need to redefine their role. The U.S. government is considering expanding the Clean Water Act to ensure more protections. In Russia, meanwhile, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has approved waste discharges in Lake Baikal, one of the world’s largest bodies of freshwater. Regardless of what path elected leaders take–the Circle of Blue/GlobeScan WaterViews survey indicates they are considering multiple approaches–the survey also found that most people say it is up to the government to ensure communities have access to clean water.
Simply put, holistic management applies to a practical, common-sense approach to overseeing natural resources that takes into account economic, cultural, and ecological goals. In essence, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and each facet is related to and influences the others. Good examples of holistic management are communities that operate sewage treatment plants while pursuing partnerships with clean energy producers to use wastewater to fertilize algae and other biofuel crops. The crops, in turn, soak up nutrients and purify wastewater, significantly reducing pumping and treatment costs.
Poor infrastructure is devastating to health and the economy. It wastes resources, adds costs, diminishes the quality of life, and allows preventable water-borne diseases to spread among vulnerable populations, especially children. The problem is not confined to the developing world. Pipes burst on a regular basis in the U.S., prompting boil alerts. Sewage treatment systems regularly overflow and malfunction, causing beach closures.
Industrial water use accounts for approximately 22 percent of global consumption. The corporate footprint includes water that is directly and indirectly consumed when goods are produced. As sustainable manufacturing becomes more important, given the increasing severity of water scarcity, Peter Gleick and other experts question the costs of one industry sector in particular: bottled water.
Binding international accords for natural resource issues are hard to achieve. The 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen is evidence of that point. And that’s not just because the freshwater crisis, arguably the most visible and dire of the climate change risks, was ignored. Regional agreements regarding transboundary or shared water bodies such as the Great Lakes Compact in the U.S., and Nile River basin agreement in Africa are just as difficult to ratify. But policymakers and advocates need to keep trying. Humanitarian-oriented treaties, such as the U.N.’s drinking water Millennium Development Goals, indicate that comprehensive global strategies are possible.
Measuring and monitoring water quality is essential to human health and biodiversity. This monumental issue rears its head in many forms and can be addressed in just as many ways, whether it’s David de Rothschild’s eco-adventure in a plastic ship or Joe Berlinger’s documentary on oil contaminating the Ecuadorian Amazon. While securing the quality of drinking water and at the local level, it’s essential to build international bridges to solutions.
One of the key United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is ensuring access to drinking water. While the steps to achieve this goal are debated, the thesis that water is a basic right comes into play. As countries such as Chile attempt to reform water rights, U.S. politicians are considering how access rights translate into federal protection of Lake Michigan, one of the world’s largest reserves of freshwater.
Access to water in a water-scarce world will become a much higher priority in business decisions. Communities are likely to pursue public-private partnerships that draw on the innovative capacities of companies. One example— cities that operate sewage treatment plants are likely to pursue partnerships with clean energy producers to fertilize algae and other biofuel crops with wastewater.
Climate change and water scarcity are producing the most dramatic consequences in developing regions, such as northwest India and Sub-Saharan Africa. One proposed solution is to transfer water conservation technologies to these dry areas. Doing so is tricky because economies are weak and there are gaps in skills that often compel government and business authorities to impose these changes on local citizens.
Climate change and water scarcity go hand-in-hand to cause some of the biggest contemporary challenges to the human race. These issues have a reciprocal relationship, identified by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), in which, “water management policies and measures can have an influence on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.” As renewable energy options are pursued, the water consumption of these mitigation tactics must be considered in producing alternatives ranging from bio-energy crops to hydropower and solar power plants.
Because of the accelerating growth in global population, parts of the world could see a supply-demand gap of up to 65 percent in water resources by 2030. Currently, more than one billion people don’t have access to clean water. And with 70 percent of the world’s freshwater used for agriculture, water’s critical role in food production must be considered as climate and resource conditions change.
Solar Energy Cheaper Than Nuclear Energy
August 2, 2010
"Solar Energy is Now the Better Buy" after reaching a "Historic Crossover"
The costs for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems have fallen steadily while construction costs for new nuclear power plants have been rising over the past decade, which now makes electricity generated from new solar installations cheaper than electricity from proposed new nuclear power plants, according to a new report out of Duke University.
Moreover, the report continues, solar costs are expected to decline further over the coming decade while nuclear costs are expected to rise further.
Electricity generated from solar PV now costs 14-to-19 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), while nuclear plants in the planning stages will not be cheaper than 14-to-18 cents per kWh, according to the report. (US)
Down load and read the yourself “Solar and Nuclear Costs — The Historic Crossover: Solar Energy is Now the Better Buy,”
Google preen future plan unveiled
July 26, 2010
As the leading internet search engine Google is now proving it’s commitment to going green by investing in renewable energy to power it’s data centers. The following story by PC World
G
oogle plans to become carbon neutral at the same time promote green energy by entering into a 20-year agreement to buy power from an Iowa wind farm. The farm, part of NextEra Energy Resources in Story and Hardin counties, will sell Google 114 megawatts of renewable power. Google says that the energy it will buy is enough to power several of its data centers.
Google reported on its blog that it has long been trying to promote green energy and has pledged to become carbon neutral. In reality, Google will not directly power its server farms with NextEra Energy. The move is a bid to boost renewable energy and secure NextEra Energy’s future by helping it grow, Google says. The wind energy Google buys, it explains, will be sold back to the regional grid. That in turn reduces — by 114 megawatts — the amount of non-renewable energy created to maintain the regional power grid.
NextEra Energy Resources has about 700 wind turbines in use in Iowa capable of serving an average of 250,000 homes. It has 9000 turbines in 17 states and Canada.
But a wind farm is only one of many of Google’s unusual investments. Read on:
Geothermal Technology – Google has spent more than $10 million on three projects to advance Enhanced Geothermal Systems and harness energy beneath the earth’s surface: $4 million to Potter Drilling, $6.25 to Alta Rock Energy, Inc. and another $489,521 to Southern Methodist University Geothermal Lab for improving geothermal resource assessment techniques and updating geothermal mapping in North America.
Venture Capital – Google has spent tens of millions of dollars investing in fledgling businesses like OpenCandy, Pixazza, SCVNGR, Adimab and Corduro.
Electric Cars – Google has a fleet of electric cars in its RechargeIT project, to promote electric vehicles and educate the public on the performance of the vehicles which can get 93 miles to the gallon.
The first to kick the Carbon habit.
July 8, 2010
There are still many countries that are hesitant to rely on wind and solar energy as a replacement for their dirt carbon habits. This is not the case for Germany which predicts that it could kick its carbon habit by 2050 using today’s technology.
If one of the world best industrialised nations is able to beat it’s carbon habit and source all it’s energy requirements from renewable sources, should there be any doubt that other countries would not be able to do this too.
This extract from Reuters
Germany could derive all of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2050 and become the world’s first major industrial nation to kick the fossil fuel habit, the Federal Environment Agency said on Wednesday.
Germany is already a global leader in renewable energy and exports green technology around the world.
It gets 16 percent of its electricity from wind, solar and other renewable sources — triple the five percent level it had 15 years ago.
“A complete conversion to renewable energy by 2050 is possible from a technical and ecological point of view,” said Jochen Flasbarth, president of the Federal Environment Agency as he presented a new study to journalists on Wednesday.
“It’s a very realistic target based on technology that already exists — it’s not a pie-in-the-sky prediction,” he added, saying the timetable could even be accelerated with new technology breakthroughs and a greater public acceptance. Thanks to its Renewable Energy Act, Germany is the world leader in photovoltaics with half of the installed capacity. It expects to add more than 5,000 megawatts of photovoltaic capacity this year to a total of 14,000 megawatts.
5 ways to use rainwater from your water tank
June 24, 2010
Many urban communities have become concerned about sustainability as the threat of water shortages becomes apparent. This has prompted many home owners to invest in water tanks as a sustainability measure. If a real difference is to be made in water conservation to prevent water outages, whole communities should invest in a rainwater tank. For now, homes that already have their own water tanks are assured of an emergency water supply even in the face of water scarcity. Water tanks are available in various sizes, colours, and shapes to suit your homes need. If you select the best water tank, you can preserve the precious resource as well as minimize the water bill.
Water tank used for irrigation
Water tank used for irrigation
Drinking water.
Dependent on the area your home is in, rainwater can be purer than municipal water and it does not have the chlorine taste or smell to it. The purity of rainwater can be affected by industry and traffic emissions as these can settle on the roof, however these pollutants can be eliminated with a water filtering system.
Showering in rainwater.
Many of our clients already enjoy the luxury of showering and washing their hair with rain water. As harvested rain water can contain essential minerals for soft and strong hair the benefits of showering in rainwater far out way the dehydrating effects that municipal water can have. Showering in rainwater by no means implies that you will be standing under a cold shower at all as this water can easily be pumped to your hot water cylinder or solar heater to be enjoyed in a relaxing hot shower or bath.
Watering the garden.
Gardens demands around 25 to 50% of the total household’s water. A water tank should be large enough to preserve and capture all the rain that should fall on the roof over the summer months when the rainfall is low.
In our experience for a typical home a 5000 liter of tank is recommended at minimum, however we will be happy to supply you with which ever tank would suit your needs. If you have less space, you can install two small-sized tanks instead.
Toilet Flushing
Generally, a toilet uses around 9 to 16 liters with every flush. Therefore, you can install a tank for your toilet system that will help in saving water. According to statistics, an average individual uses approximately 30 liters of water everyday in the toilet. This amount quickly adds up.
Save Water in the Laundry
You can connect your washing machine to your rainwater tank. This helps in saving a large amount of water. It is not unheard of for certain washing machines to use as much as 250 litres of water per wash. Using harvested rainwater can help you to save water efficiently.
Rechargeable solar light bulb
June 14, 2010
Here’s a bright idea for the planet. A Hong Kong-based company has introduced what it bills as the world’s only solar-powered light bulb with the hope of reaching millions of people with little or no access to electricity.
Solar light bulb
The Nokero N100 solar LED light bulb is meant to replace kerosene lamps as a lighting source in the developing world. The company says 1.6 billion people still lack sufficient access to electricity, and many burn fossil fuels for light, which can be dangerous and expensive.
The N100 solar bulb is about the size of a standard incandescent bulb and has four small solar panels in its rainproof plastic housing. Five LEDs and a replaceable NiMH battery inside provide up to four hours of light when the device is fully charged. People hang it outside during the day and then turn it on at night.
Weather, seasons, and latitude can affect charging times. Nokero asserts that one day of charging in the sun can provide about two hours of light, though charging near the equator can provide more. So on a cloudy winter day in northern latitudes, the bulb would probably not be able to replace a kerosene lamp, but on a clear summer day near the equator it would.
The LEDs are meant to last 50,000 to 100,000 hours, and the solar panels are rated to last 10 years. The life of the N100 is basically 5 to 10 years, according to Nokero representative Tom Boyd.
The cost? A single bulb is $15; a case of 48 costs $480. The company offers a “significant” discount when buying a thousand or more. It adds that the bulb pays for itself within months when used in place of a kerosene lantern. NGOs are considered to likely be the main buyers.
In addition to eliminating indoor air pollution and burn risks, consumers can cut 550 pounds of CO2 emissions over one year when lighting with the N100 instead of kerosene, Nokero says. Though the device’s lumen rating is unclear, the company says the N100 is five times brighter than kerosene lamps and uses only 1/200th the energy.
Source: CNET
To supply only 25% of South Africa’s electrical needs with renewable energy is an exceptionally reasonable task. South Africa has ample capacity for both large scale solar plants and wind-power plants. The challenge lies in impressing this fact in the minds of the policy makers that seems to be stuck in the old ways of thinking. In the same way that apartheid is over, it is time to move on and embrace the future of clean renewable energy.
The South African Wind Energy Association (Sawea) has called on the government to set an ambitious 25% renewable energy contribution to electricity consumption by 2025.
The industry’s call for a bigger contribution of renewable energy is an indication of the lobbying likely to characterise the IRP2 process, with representatives of the various energy technologies vying for a bigger share of the energy industry. The process will cover 25 years. SA’s current target is for a 10000Gwh contribution of renewable energy by 2013.
Sawea said its research showed renewable energy could provide 100TWh of electricity, or 25% of SA’s consumption, by 2025. The bulk of this would be delivered by wind energy. The association said wind energy could contribute 80% of the 100TWh. The development of this renewable resource would create up to 40000 jobs, it said.
The industry has also moved to counter criticism that renewable energy is unreliable. “Not in our view,” said Davin Chown, director of Mainstream Renewable Power. The association said wind was a predictable resource. Modern international forecasting methods enable system operators to predict the available wind and solar resources between 24 hours and 72 hours ahead.
If a nuclear power station brought down by a stray bolt doesn’t meet the definition of base-load power. By comparison, the outage of one wind turbine due to a technical fault will barely dent overall supply.
“One 1000MW coal station competes with 125000 homes annually for access to running water. Wind power does not need water. Without this investment in renewable energy, SA will not meet its commitment to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 34% by 2020,” Tanton said.( Mark Tanton – deputy chairman of SAWEA)
Source: All Africa.com; Business report.
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