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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

My Next Book, In Which I Plan to Wax Euphoric on Renewable EnergyI thought you might be interested in a conversation I’m having with a friend about my new book project.  I began:

I’m thinking of writing another book—this one rather exuberant in its tone.  I believe that we’re poised at the edge of an amazing turnaround in the energy industry, based on:

• The steady rise of worldwide eco-consciousness, and our response to the rising number of eco-related disasters that are happening all around us

• Huge money’s licking its chops at the fact that the cost of renewable energy has fallen to the point that it’s super-competitive with fossil fuels

• The recent development of key elements of the other parts of the puzzle: smart grid, energy storage, electric transportation, efficiency, etc. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Biomass

Torrefaction in the UkraineSay what?

You weren’t expecting that headline, were you?

For lack of a technical explanation, torrefaction is the roasting of biomass in the presence of a minimal amount of oxygen, with the aim of improving its energy-related properties. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Nuclear

Liquid Fluoride Thorium ReactorThe first atomic bomb was exploded in the deserts in central New Mexico 69 years ago today.  Now, the radiation levels there are still 10 times greater than those occurring in nature.

Had the U.S. government not been interested in the military aspect of nuclear energy, it’s very likely that it would have chosen a different reaction than U238/Pu239, perhaps thorium (Th232/U233), and Albert Einstein wouldn’t have had to lament, “If I had only known, I would have been a locksmith.”

Here’s a video on thorium-based nuclear energy in which we come to learn that it’s not too late to develop this safe (low pressure), efficient (high temperature), non-threatening (very low weapons potential) solution with very little nuclear waste.

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Wind Energy

WindStream – Unique Approach to MicrowindMy colleague Dan Bates is CEO of publicly traded WindStream, one of the few players in microwind that offers its customers a reasonable value proposition in terms of payback period.  Here’s a really well-made video that speaks to their new installation in Kingston, Jamaica, that will pay for itself in 3 – 4 years.   I like the “Ken Burns effect.” (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

Five Eco Tourism Destinations You Will LoveWith ecotourism already gone ‘mainstream,’ both domestic and international tourists from almost every country have changed their taste for tourist destinations. One can frequently find visitors enquiring about green locations rather than routine sites and spots, regardless of which country or region they are in. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Science

A “Watt” Is a Measure of Power, the Rate at Which Energy Is Being Converted From One Form To AnotherBecause the climate here in Santa Ynez, CA is temperate, we don’t have air conditioning in our house – but we do have ceiling fans, which apparently require about 75 watts, according to this energy calculator.

But yikes!  The calculator talks about watts per hour.  That doesn’t inspire too much confidence, as “watts per hour” is meaningless; watts are a rate, like miles per hour.  If I told you I was driving 60 miles per hour per hour, you’d think I didn’t know what I was talking about.

 

 

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

“No Love, No Fish” – A Message on Passion and SustainabilityHere’s a quick post to thank Robert Stang, an extremely senior player in sustainable real estate development, for his longstanding support of 2GreenEnergy.  I think readers will particularly resonate with his story “No Love, No Fish,” which speaks to the very heart of Robert’s approach to his craft, which I would paraphrase as follows: “If you treat the world around you with fondness and respect, you’re very likely to receive the same in return.”

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Photovoltaics

Shifting Toward a More Sustainable FutureClean Energy Collective (CEC) was honored as one of the 2014 SHIFT Sustainability Award Winners for its contribution to a healthier ecosystem, healthier communities and reduced resource consumption. More than 600 organizations were evaluated, and the top 50 were chosen for their “effective, innovative conservation and sustainability initiatives.”

Dedication to Sustainability

From its inception, CEC has striven to make solar energy more accessible and affordable for everyone, and developed the nation’s first community-owned solar arrays. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

Best Green Tourist Attractions in the World

With ecotourism already gone ‘mainstream,’ both domestic and international tourists from almost every country have changed their taste for tourist destinations. One can frequently find visitors enquiring about green locations rather than routine sites and spots, regardless of which country or region they are in.

(more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Science

When we hear rhetoric about meeting our nation’s energy needs in a sustainable way, most of us don’t often hear about water. Personally, I think it’s a shame that given the time I have spent in renewable energy circles, I can almost count on one hand the times I have gotten to talk about the role that water plays in energy.

The Department of Energy released a new report on the Water-Energy Nexus this week, which is the official term when one refers to the relationship between water and electricity generation or transmission .In light of this very comprehensive overview by the DOE and drawing from my research, I thought I’d take the time to share some basic points. Hopefully you will enjoy them. (more…)