Energy Information

Wood Gas – Wood Gasifier – Biomass Energy

processing wood chips in a home built wood gasifier

Utilizing Solar Energy – How We Can Make The Future Bright

It is believed by many experts that sun is the most powerful source of energy. It can do anything right from heating the rivers, pools, lakes and ponds. It is as simple as leaving the clothes outside for drying. Despite all this known fact we have not been able to harness the sun’s energy to the fullest and use it efficiently.

Scientist thinks that this is best source of renewable energy. It is in abundance and has been with us for many years. Most importantly it is safe and can be used world wide. When the sun’s light strikes the earth it generates heat and this energy can be utilized for the benefit of human kind.

The sun’s energy is being used all over the world. Sun as such provides a heat source which is natural. It can be used to control temperature without converting it. For using it as electricity it first needs to be collected and then converted. Thus we see that the sun energy can be used in different forms

Solar panels have been used for heating the houses. Scientists have tried to replicate the success by designing the solar powered car. They have not been successful as yet and the future for solar car doesn’t look bright also. It may take a while when we will be seeing the solar powered car.

Solar power can be captured and used for source of heat or ventilation. A thrombi wall is such an example. It utilizes the sun’s heat with the channels of air that are built between a wall and a window. When the sun heats the area and circulates through the vents it stores the heat. The same stored heat is utilizes during the night.

Thus we see that solar power is not only efficient but also dense. It can be replicate across the earth and it does not require any maintenance. So operating cost is minimal.

Australia is among few countries which have used solar power to generate the electricity. It has around 40,000 locations in the town of Victoria where clean solar energy is being generated without any emission.

PV system is other area where solar energy can be used. PV systems are the system where it is connected to an electrical grid and when the energy becomes excess in one grid it gets transferred to the next grid. Thus it is both effective and cost efficient.

So its our duty that whenever possible we should use the sun’s energy. As it does not pollute the atmosphere so we will be doing ourselves world of good by harnessing this wonderful energy source and using it. Thus we will be helping ourselves and the mankind.

Bio-gas: Renewable Energy In The Himalaya

NGO Grassroots India works with a team of Barefoot Engineers known as the Kumaon Artisans Guild to build Deenbandhu bio-gas units across the Himalaya. Over 1400 families have benefited from reduce…

Solar Renewable Energy – Sun Power

It is no secret that the sun can be harnessed to provide a source of energy for homes and businesses.
The sun is a powerful star. It supplies us with energy, through a process called nuclear fusion, and sustains life on our planet Earth. Solar energy, or energy from the sun, has existed since prehistoric times when men would magnify the sun’s energy in efforts to start fires.
The sun is a valuable resource that radiates enough energy on the United States in one day to meet the nation’s needs for one and a half years. Since it is a free, clean and renewable source of energy, it is an energy source that will play a vital role in our future.
Using the sun’s energy for our energy source seems like an easy solution to having an energy supply forever. Harnessing the suns energy is where the problem lies. The sun’s rays shine all over the world and not in just one spot. Although it takes only 8 minutes for sunlight to travel to the earth, trying to catch the rays over such a wide area can prove to be tricky. Also, the energy in any one given place will vary due to factors, such as, clouds and weather conditions.
The history of using solar energy began in 1890’s when solar water heaters were used in the United States. Solar water heating requires a storage collector and a storage tank. Flat plate solar collectors are mounted on rooftops. Pipes carrying water are pumped through these collectors. The tubes are painted black so they will get hot quicker. As the heat is collected the fluid in the tubes get heated. A storage tank holds the hot liquid. This helps with central heating and cutting fuel costs. Solar heaters became popular when natural gas was expensive and burning wood and coals were burdensome. It’s popularity diminished with the discovery of an abundance of natural gas and oil deposits. Now they are making a comeback to replace the depleting fossil fuels that had taken its place.
Solar energy can be in the form of heat energy or light energy. The technology of photovoltaic, or PV as it is commonly called, converts the suns energy into electric currents through the use of solar cells. These electric currents can be used instantaneously or stored for later use. The PV cells consist of pieces of silicon under a thin piece of glass. They have both a positive and negative charge. Simple examples of this are the solar powered calculators that are common today. More complex examples are solar panels placed on roofs. This consists of using thin film solar cells as rooftop shingles, roof tiles, and even glazing for skylights. Unfortunately, the cells generate only about one sixth of the sun’s energy into electricity. This means bigger arrays are needed and along with this come larger costs.
Solar thermal power plants use the sun to heat fluid, which in turn, is transferred into steam similar to fossil fuel burning plants. The steam is transformed into mechanical energy in a turbine and electrical energy from a generator. The downfall is solar plants cannot produce energy on cloudy days.
It is expected the next few years will see millions of households using solar energy. As research continues and processes improve, using our sun as a renewable energy source will produce efficiency and cost savings. So, let the sun shine in and take full advantage of this warm energy source where you live.