A reader asked if supercapacitors are a good solution for storing solar energy.
The short answer to the question is no.
Capacitors have cost-effectiveness only in high power-density applications, i.e., those in which a large amount of energy needs to be transferred in a short period of time. (more…)
My friend and frequent 2GreenEnergy commenter Cameron Atwood just sent me this quote from Lawrence Wilkerson, former aide to Colin Powell, in which he (Wilkerson) talks about Royal Dutch Shell’s two main scenarios for the world in 2075:
What I’m talking about, ladies and gentlemen, is the end of the American Empire. Empires have idiosyncrasies, nuances, complexities. Go back to the Assyrian, move forward to the British, go back to the Roman, move forward to the Third Reich, which lasted not 1,000 years but quite a few less. (more…)
As solar power becomes cheaper, photovoltaic solar panels become more advanced. Today, scientists are looking for ways to efficiently harness the power of the sun, since the current heat to electricity conversion ratio of solar panels is very low. The highest conversion rate that photovoltaic panels can do, with the help of new-found technology is only at 40%.
Iron pyrite — a compound built from iron and sulfur atoms – is a suitable candidate for the creation of solar cells. It’s cheap, and able to convert sun power into electricity. The problem, however, is that iron pyrite converts very little energy from the sun. (more…)
Senior energy analyst Glenn Doty shares my euphoria about the recent advancements in solar energy and suspects that the levelized cost of energy (“LCOE” — one of the most important metrics of the value of an energy source) of the record-breaking solar array (pictured) in the western part of the US will be “close to ~$130-$140/MWh.” He continues, “If so, that’s pretty good. This is looking more and more promising by the year.” (more…)
It’s time to go green! Being energy conscious is something more and more homeowners are focusing on when it comes time to renovate. Even if you are doing major renovations in Surrey, Port McNeill or even in the southwestern United States, the aim remains the same when it comes to energy conservation. Keep these tips in mind when you’re looking over your home and preparing the list you’ll discuss with your renovator. (more…)
More people every day are becoming aware of the environmental problems our planet is facing. From conserving resources to recycling, millions of people have changed their lifestyle to become eco-friendly. However, it is possible for you to be more eco-friendly with simple changes. This is because many things you dispose of can actually be recycled. We all know glass, plastic, aluminum, paper, cardboard and tin can be recycled. However, the items listed below will probably surprise you. The next time you need to dispose of one of the following items, try your best to recycle it instead. (more…)
Amidst all the world’s woes, renewable energy continues to make progress—even in the good ol’ USA. In fact, this report covers a record-breaking event out here in California: the coming online of the world’s largest solar PV plant, consisting of nine million solar panels.
For many years now, frequent commenter and senior energy analyst Glenn Doty has been offering readers a level-headed, no-nonsense understanding of the basic economics facing the energy industry. I recommend checking out the remark he made to my recent post: What Will It Take to Mitigate Climate Change?, in which he discusses the invariable result of developing an alternative to an existing (especially large) supply chain, in this case, energy. (more…)
Should we be optimistic about the overall future of humankind vis-à-vis energy and the environment? True, not too many people walk around pondering this question. Of course, stock market, weight loss, professional football, and our other present-day fascinations won’t mean much if our scientists’ theories turn out to be correct, but we happily overlook that.
When we hunker down and concentrate on this larger subject, however, we see that there are two basic and contradictory concepts (actually three if you count: “do nothing and see what happens”). I’ll summarize the two main contenders that exist among leading economists:
• Idea “A”: (more…)
Introduced by a mutual friend, I had a good talk earlier today with one of the East Coast’s top players in clean energy merchant/investment banking. Like us at 2GreenEnergy, her firm works hard to unite investors with the world’s top business concepts/models in this space.
It’s always interesting to compare notes with other people who are trying to keep their fingers on the pulse of investor appetite in this space. My new-found friend makes two observations I thought merited comment here: (more…)
