News about Solar, Wind and alternative green power technologies

People consider coal to be an indispensable source of energy. The worse is that Americans are predicting coal to play a critical role in the future’s energy supply.

The coal equation can easily be eliminated from our energy supply. However, there need to be a will to do so.

Here is a brief overview how United State can eliminate coal-fired electricity by 2030 without deploying an Olympian effort. More intriguingly they would even be able to enhance the economy. It is time to kill two birds with one stone.

Currently roughly 45 percent of US electricity supply is generated from coal. This represents a huge proportion. It is also a heavy source of pollution: mercury and other types of greenhouse gases. We might be accustomed to slogans like clean coal but “clean coal” is akin to dry water.

But how is it possible to end the dependency on coal-fired electricity while simultaneously assuring that dependency on foreign energy sources do not increase, and the economy improves as well?

Coal Elimination Formula

The idea is to cease the era of coal by 2030 but equally earn a profit while going towards that end.

Energy Efficiency

In the United States, a huge amount of energy is wasted. Some of the major sources of energy-misuse come from inadequate building standards (Lacking insulation), energy-inefficient appliances, inefficient-automobiles as well as loss of energy in grid transmission. These are only a few to mention.

A reduction in 20 percent of current electricity demand could be achieved by simply improving actual system in use. In other words, if the United States would be committed towards conservation and energy efficiency then energy requirements could drop by more than a fifth of the current usage.

Altering Transport Mediums

A large shift towards Plug-in-Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) and complete electrification of rails would decrease the addiction to oil. However, this would practically augment electricity demands by 5 percent.

Combined-Heat-Power (CHP)

Changes in regulations could help industries to better provide electricity to the national grid. There is a dozen of industries that make us of a massive amount of heat. However, this heat is often wasted. It could be used to produce electricity. We know that industries have for long been selling electricity to the national grid but there are non-technological-barriers, including laws and regulations. In other words, CHP could provide as much as 5 percent of electricity needs if the legal framework would promote so. This would be achieved by using actual heat energy.

Renewable Energy

Renewable Power is no longer a holy grail. For instance, wind energy is expanding at a rate of more than 25 percent per annum. Biomass energy is growing in various regions, Brazil is a benchmark, but in the States ethanol is also being produced. Solar, ocean and geothermal sources of energy are gradually surfacing in the energy landscape. In other words, there is a multi-fold of renewable sources of energy.

If wind power reaches 35 percent of US’ energy needs, then coal dependency could be decreased by 70 percent.

Moreover, waste electricity or biomass could very easily provide 10 percent of electricity needs. This would together with wind energy represent the elimination of 90 percent of required coal-fired plants.

Additionally, concentrated solar power (CSP), solar PV, hot water heaters, ocean (wave or tidal power) and geothermal energy could provide more than 10 percent of US’s energy needs. This would mean that more than 110 percent of coal-fired electricity could be replaced by clean energy.

Now, adding John McCain’s suggested 45 new nuclear power plants, which would represent 15 percent of total energy requirements. A total of 140% percent of coal energy production is already substituted by carbon friendly solutions.

Spar Capacity of 40%

Coal energy could be eradicated with simply renewable energy. It would not be that hard to replace 140 percent of energy production of coal-fired plants by renewable energy.

Moreover, most of these figures can extensively be expanded. If we add energy efficiency, and more nuclear power in the coming decades figures could be multiplied. It is even possible to see wind energy representing roughly 50 percent of US electricity supply in 2030. Adding other renewable sources like solar, hydropower, geothermal, ocean power and biomass that are growing in use will raise the figure even more. – Coal energy would no longer be a primary source of energy -

The real point:

The challenge is hard with the absence of a silver Bullet solution. The outline mentioned requires huge investment. Is it possible to achieve with a weak economy?

A Blooming Economy without Coal Energy

People wonder whether coal can be substitute despite the weak economy. The answer lies in an in-depth cost and benefits analysis. The full implication of pursuing the use of coal energy can be colossal. Mercury is emitted from coal-fired electricity; this is referred to as an external cost, which does in real term affect health of people.

Energy efficiency is another topic to address. The fluorescent-bulb costs relatively more than an incandescent-bulb when we take to consideration the purchasing costs. However, the fluorescent bulb is cheaper as it uses less energy and has more lighting hours. This is how smart buildings are going to save energy.

An inevitable benefit of renewable energy is experienced as the law of return sets-in. Wind energy turbines might cost much more to erect than coal-fired plants but the wind doesn’t cost anything afterward. There is only operation, maintenance and construction cost associated with wind turbines. The long-term prospect of renewable energy brings not only cheaper energy but also decent employments.

Coal Eradicated & Renewable Energy Surfacing

It is highly feasible to formulate the elimination of coal energy, freeing US from immense pollution. The slogan of “less dirty coal” is a fallacy that should be unaccepted. The United States economy can be enforced with smarter, cleaner and greener energy solutions. The benefits will be unfolded in terms of addressing alarming issues such as global warming and pollution levels.

American’s Addiction to Coal Can Cease with birth of renewable energy.

Source: Get Energy Smart Now