Blog – Page 1515 – 2GreenEnergy.com

From 2GreenEnergy Intern Louis de Saint Phalle: The State of U.S. Solar in 2014 According to SEIA

craigshieldsPosted on October 12, 2014 Posted in Photovoltaics

We at 2GreenEnergy are lucky enough to have super-intern Louis de Saint Phalle working for us, vigorously researching and writing on important matters in the renewable energy arena. I was delighted that Louis actually moved out to Santa Barbara (from Paris) for several months, to facilitate interaction with me; we enjoyed many interesting conversations, and he even came up for dinner with my wife and some other friends. Best of all, he’s the “gift that keeps on giving,” in that he continues to produce excellent reports, like this one. -ed.

About a month ago, the Solar Energy Industries Association released its report for the second quarter of 2014, in collaboration with Green Tech Media Research. Although the full report comes at a price not affordable by many (probably best not to know how much exactly), the publicly available executive summary provides really interesting numbers that give an idea of where solar is at right now. Here are some main points if you haven’t checked it out. (more…)

Tagged with: Green Tech Media Research, SEIA, solar energy, Solar Energy Industries Association, solar power

Tactical Solutions Needed to Deal with Climate Disruption

craigshieldsPosted on October 11, 2014 Posted in Renewables - Politics

Apparently, United States Secretary of State John Kerry said recently that the U.S. is considering making a major contribution to a fund that would help developing countries deal with both the causes and the effects of climate disruption. Money would go to developing methods of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving methods of handling droughts and floods. (more…)

Tagged with: climate disruption, feedstock for waste-to-energy systems, microgrids based on distributed generation and storage, solar PV and batteries, third world, toxic fumes from the burning of kerosene lamps

Fraudulent Concepts in Renewable Energy

craigshieldsPosted on October 11, 2014 Posted in Renewables - Science

Here’s a conversation I have about once a month, this one with a fellow in Bulgaria, who writes:

We are a Bulgarian company, working on R&D projects for OxyHydrogen-based Power Plants.

Our plants use only Distilled Water as a “fuel” and produce low cost power and heat and also cheap Gases – Oxygen, Hydrogen, and OxyHydrogen mixture. The Energy produced is 100% carbon-free, clean and renewable. No sun, no wind needed – just water…….

We are looking for investors to help us develop this project in the range of USD 300,000 – 500,000.

I respond: Sorry. You need to pitch this to people who dropped out of school before they got to 7th or 8th grade science. Btw, I don’t know anything about the securities/fraud laws in Bulgaria, but if you come to the U.S. to raise money for this, there’s a very good chance you’ll wind up on the wrong side of the barbed wire shown above.

Tagged with: Bulgaria, Distilled Water as a "fuel"

Methane (Potent Greenhouse Gas) Levels Rising

craigshieldsPosted on October 10, 2014 Posted in Climate Change

Here’s an article that reports a startling rise in the concentration of methane in the atmosphere, due largely to the farming of cows and pigs.

My colleague Dr. Alex Cannara writes:

“Our penchant for raising animals to eat is our major U.S. source of CH4……The lack of a comprehensive energy/emissions plan will be this administration’s legacy – ‘all of the above’ meaning ‘we’re too lazy to figure out what to do.’ Not a proud legacy.”

Tagged with: all of the above, concentration of methane in the atmosphere, lack of a comprehensive energy/emissions plan, Methane Levels Rising, Potent Greenhouse Gas, raising animals to eat

Solar PV and Batteries Integrated into One Device

craigshieldsPosted on October 10, 2014 Posted in Energy Storage

Here’s an article describing an invention at the Ohio State University, which OSU professor Yiying Wu says will reduce the costs of renewable energy. “The state of the art is to use a solar panel to capture the light, and then use a cheap battery to store the energy,” Wu said. “We’ve integrated both functions into one device. Any time you can do that, you reduce cost.”

I’m excited by the concept, but unconvinced that this will truly make solar energy less expensive. In particular, Dr. Wu is incorrect that hybridizing functions necessarily brings down costs. I could build a hair drier that also makes toast, but I doubt I could reduce the cost of providing both those activities.

Tagged with: Ohio State University, reduce the costs of renewable energy, Solar PV and Batteries Integrated

Climate Disruption and Sea Level Rise

craigshieldsPosted on October 10, 2014 Posted in Climate Change

Those interested in global warming and the consequent rising of sea levels will want to check out this video on the calving of glaciers in Greenland. The footage is unique; it’s by far the largest such event ever recorded.

Tagged with: calving of glaciers in Greenland, Climate Disruption and Sea Level Rise, global warming

Comparing Various Energy Resources with Infographics

craigshieldsPosted on October 10, 2014 Posted in Renewables - Science

I’m one of these people who loves infographics, like those we created a few years back to explain some of the basics of renewable energy. Here’s one that I just came across that (accidentally) illustrates one of the most important issues associated with the energy industry: there are so many different parameters to be considered, that it’s hard, if not impossible, to compare apples to apples.

The creator of this piece starts with coal, and points out that 714 pounds of coal are required to produce the same electrical energy as 0.035 pounds of uranium. (more…)

Tagged with: basics of renewable energy, Comparing Various Energy Resources, energy infographics

From Guest Blogger Deepi: Briquette Press Project Helping Earth To Make It Clean

craigshieldsPosted on October 10, 2014 Posted in Biomass

Numerous industries and even individual don’t understand the importance of healthy and green environment around us. Therefore biomass briquette press project came into front with an oath of clean atmosphere creating sincere efforts to attain the target. Once you would verify the status, pollution ratio is extraordinary large in India because of industries. (more…)

Tagged with: biomass briquette press, biomass briquette press India, biomass briquetting press India

From Guest Blogger Savannah Coulsen: Have A Lot Of Junk? Ways To Recycle Those Items

craigshieldsPosted on October 10, 2014 Posted in Sustainability

A growing problem in today’s world is an accumulation of junk. This can come in many forms such as electronic gadgets, plastic materials, scrap metals, and children’s toy items. A major challenge is how appropriately recycle these materials. Some of the materials, if not disposed properly, could prove to be toxic to the environment, and hence utmost care needs to be taken when disposing items. (more…)

Tagged with: recycling, recycling junk

From a Guest Blogger: Five Tips for Making the Office More Green

craigshieldsPosted on October 10, 2014 Posted in Sustainability

Going green is about more than saving the environment. It also helps people lead more productive and healthy lives. This is also true in the office — your employees will work smarter and be happier when you go green. If this sounds appealing to you, take a look at these 5 tips for making your office environmentally friendly.

Set Up a Recycling Program

One of the easiest ways to go green in the office is to implement a recycling program. (more…)

Tagged with: office environmentally friendly, productive healthy lives, saving the environment, Tips for Making the Office More Green