One very good example might be the purchase of Warren Buffett; last year the latter bought First Solar, a Californian solar plant, by the means of his company, known as Berkshire Hathaway.

This transaction was turned even more alluring due to the profitable contracts which were made a reality through the government laws in California requiring a 0.33 percent of the government’s electricity to be provided by renewable sources by the year 2020. Nevertheless, this does not simply imply more wind, biofuels and solar. Renewable energy is obtainable from range of varied sources; several of which have not yet come into general consciousness.

Geothermal Power

People who do not have any particular interest in science matters are less prone to know about geothermal energy, however, global installed capacity has exceeded 10,000 MW, with the US which has taken the lead worldwide through the generation of geothermal power of capacity greater than 3000 MW.

This model is rather simple. The globe’s heat content varies from ten to thirty-one power joules; a big amount of energy. While the exploitation of that energy is rather hard due to the globe’s crust, there are still ways to make use of the naturally happening heat of the globe in order to produce electricity by the means of an array of different techniques.

The majority of these methods consist of drilling wells in regions that are volcanically active and subsequently empowering a turbine by the means of steam that is produced from the underground heat. The most familiar plant which is in use is what is commonly known as “a flash steam power plant”. The latter is powered through highly pressurized hot water obtainable from the underground.

Ocean Power

Also known like “Marine Power” or even “Marine Energy”, making use of the sea’s natural heat and movements to produce electricity can prove to be rather an alluring proposition (in case particularly less thrilling to any person staying in Kansas).

In accordance to the yearly report of International Energy Agency for the year 2007, the sea has the capability to generate upto 15,000 GW of electricity by the means of thermal power, currents, waves and tides. One of the greatest problems with solar and wind power is the fact that they are rather unpredictable in nature. Solar plants’ output and that of wind farms can easily be affected by weather patterns and consequently the solar plants will be unable to generate power at night.

On the contrary, sources that are related to the sea are much more stable as well as reliable, thus turning them much more attractive potential as power sources. Oceanic current energy is produced by exploiting kinetic energy of marine currents such the Gulf Stream. Power sources that come from the tide and wave are very familiar hypothesis, searching ways to empower turbines through the use of naturally happening kinetic releases of the sea.

Marine thermal energy makes use of the heat difference between cold profound waters and hotter shallow waters. Nonetheless, probably the most fascinating type of electricity drawn from the sea is salinity or osmotic gradient energy. This consists of using a technique that makes use of the salinity difference between the river and ocean water in order to power osmosis by ion specific membranes which produces energy.

Varied Solar Techniques

Solar remains probably the most familiar type of renewable energy. However, it is not so famous that there exist various different methods of collecting solar power farther than the photovoltaic cell. There are solar plants which are being constructed which utilize an array of novel techniques which are beyond the traditional range of panels. Methods, which comprise of lens and mirrors for focusing on solar power onto a tiny area and exploiting the thermal energy it carries, are the most common ones. Turbines are then empowered by the concentrated heat to produce electricity. The most advanced among these methods is known as the parabolic trough. The latter makes use of curved mirrors which concentrate the solar power towards a pipe found in the middle that consists of a working liquid which is heated and after that used to warm water to empower a turbine. Apart from these types of plants, the other plants comprise of focusing solar power onto a tower in the center of a range.

Source: Equities Editorial

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The key sources of alternative energy come either directly or indirectly from the sun. Directly, from the sun thermal energy (heating) or lighting energy can be harnessed to generate electricity. The typical water heating systems found on rooftops are examples of thermal energy.

The sun does also generate heat, which stimulates winds. The energy generated by winds is captured using wind turbines.

In addition, heat emitted by the sun and stimulated by winds cause water to evaporate. This water comes back to surface in the forms of snow or rain. The water currents in rivers depend on the amount of rain, and the speed of water flow can be used to generate hydro energy.

The contribution of the sun doesn’t end with only generating rain; the rain and sunlight are also required by plants to grow. The organic matters present in the growing of plants are called biomass. Biomass is another form of renewable energy, which can be used to generate electricity or converted into bio-energy.

In organic compounds, we can find Hydrogen. It is also present in water, not to mention that hydrogen is the most abundant chemical element present on Earth. It is a gas which is always mixed with other sources such as water and oxygen. It is only when hydrogen is separated from it’s combined element, that it can be burned to generate electricity.

However, a source of energy that isn’t really associated with the sun is geothermal energy. The heat of the earth can also be used to produce electricity and for purposes such as heating and cooling buildings. Also, ocean tides which operate on the gravitational pull of the
Earth, influenced by the moon and sun, is commonly exploited using underground ocean wave turbines.

The sea can provide an abundance or alternative energy sources such as tides, temperature difference in the sea, as well as osmosis (where sea water meets – river water) energy.

Source: Renewable Energy World

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Specification

1. The machine can provide 15,000 gallons of hygiene and drinking water from rivers, wells, lakes and other potential sources of fresh water.

4. In case energy is required during the night, the machine has 20KWh of battery.
A system is purely environmentally friendly; No noise pollution; No Fossil Fuel.

Haiti – Mobile MaxPure

In Haiti, WorldWater has been operating for several years, even before the earthquake that stroke the country in 2010. In total, there are actually 6 Mobile MaxPure Solar Power Water Purification Systems running in the Haiti Island.

In collaboration with Food For the Poor as well as other active NGOs, WorldWater managed to provide 2 Mobile MaxPure System to Haiti in 2008. It was intended to support the country after severe hurricanes leaving the island in-active for weeks with no grid electricity, flooding and debris on the streets. Due to natural calamities, water sources are left polluted and non-consumable. The self-powered system solved this drastic water shortage issue.

In January 2010, a devastating earthquake rendered normal water sources non-consumable. The two MaxPure System was immediately deployed as a life-saving tool. In addition other organization supported and provided a third Mobile MaxPure system.

Other NGOs have thereafter sponsored the deployment of additional Mobile MaxPure systems to Haiti in order to overcome cholera, agricultural issues, provide electricity and to provide consumable water to people whenever the need arose.

Japan –

Just, one month after that Japan had been rattled by the earthquake that hit Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear plant, Gamesa and WorldWater arranged for 2 Mobile MaxPure System to be airlifted to Japan to provide purified water to people living in a village situated close to the Nuclear Plant.

Iraq

The US Military Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) deployed several of the WorldWater solar powered water purification systems to sustain clean water and energy wherever required.

In the past, Iraqis consumed contaminated and unfiltered water. In 2008, May to July PRT provided 12 MMP to Fallujah, which are used to filter water from Euphrates River. At Iraq Water Treatment Facility the Chief Engineer, Abbas Hassan says that the machine help to solve the key issues such as providing clean water.

Hamid Hamid Ahmed Hashim Al-Alwani, who is the District Council Chairman for Fallujah says that providing clean drinking water by purifying water immediately from Euphrates River with solar power will help to reduce diseases like bilharzias and cholera.

The three years of service in Iraq have worked well.

In another district, Tigris, US Army provided 25 MMP in 2009. From the Tigris River, twenty MMP pumps are used to purify water while five are used as a reverse osmosis system to purify brackish water.

According to Fallujah District Council Spokesman, Sheikh Salam Halbusi says that many children fall sick due to the consumption of non-hygiene water, but now with the MMP the admittance to hospitals has gone down.

The Solar-Powered water filtration technology is a field where US Army has been very successful in helping Iraqis to have clean water and to survive on their own.

Source: World Water Solar

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Key points revealed at Abu Dhabi’s World Future Energy Summit 2012.

1. United Arab Emirates – Motivated To Promote Renewable Energy

In the Arab world, only a few countries are embracing renewable energy. UAE is steadily becoming a strong supporter of building eco-friendly-cities. An example is the Masdar City, which is an evident attempt to go for green cities.

According to the Chief Executive of Masdar, Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, says that UAE is constantly reinforcing their stance as a green energy exporter. He also mentioned at the summit, that green companies in Abu Dhabi are motivated to stand-out as a provider of clean energy solutions.

In other words, UAE isn’t a gas and oil exporter; they are an energy exporter.

2. Importance of Renewable Energy Growing Across the World

The Slogan ‘going green’ is a big business. However, in people’s mind, supporting green energy and economies, includes additional expenditures.

Large economies such as China, Japan and Germany as well as smaller countries such as Belgium, Sweden and Serbia are displaying their commitment towards green growth. At the summit, several Emirati leaders were present, not to forget, Chinese Premier, Wan Jiabao and South Korean PM Kim Hwang-sik Affluent people say that emerging economies need renewable energy.

In addition, UN Chief Ban Ki-moon was present and highly interested about Masdar, which was promoted by GE, Siemens, Vestas and Mitsubishi.

3. Great Britain Strong in Green Innovation

In Britain, there is strong innovation in renewable technology. The famous Solar Impulse (solar-powered plane) had Bertrand Piccard and PlanetSolar boat, and various cars with solar panels were displayed; just mention the machine and soon you will find solar panels sticked unto it.

‘Pauley, a UK designed company’ have created the Solar Cucumber. It is a floating de-salination device, that reverses osmosis in order to segregate salt from water, and the apparatus is powered by solar energy. The device has been designed to provide fresh consumable water to coastal communities. The Solar Cucumber provides fresh water at source.

Apple Green Home has provided a very effective home energy solution. A house strongly insulated and operating on energy produced on site. The running cost of such an energy system is not more than £400 a year. Countries’ social housing institutes such as in New Zealand and Brazil have all showed great interest.

4. Global Warming Stirring Investment Into Alternative Source of Energy

According to Birol, the global temperature has a predicted trajectory rise in temperature by six degrees. Fatih Birol is the chief economist of IEA. It is fundamental to invest in renewable to avoid the worse potential climate effects.

The 85 percent of emissions have already led to an increase in temperature by 2 degrees. According to Birol, if investors don’t gear towards clean energy systems, the temperature rise will become a global pandemic.

Yet, financial restriction might make the growth in the green sector rather gloomy. Still in this strive towards a cleaner and greener economy, innovation stands as the genuine solution to overcome hurdles such as cost and climate changes.

Source: business Green

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The above mentioned companies were the winners of an order offered by the Ministry of Environment. It consist of conducting a research to determine whether or not the Minamisoma city, located in Fukushima, is appropriate to generate twenty megawatts of solar energy, stated Toshiba in a shared statement. Minamisoma is found approximately 30 kilometers from the nuclear plant Dai- Ichi. The plant found in Fukushima was demolished during the recent catastrophe.

The project obtained by Toshiba is not the sole one that the Ministry is planning. According to the announcement made by the Ministry there are seven other such feasibility study projects. Three of these projects will be based on solar energy, one will focus on geothermal and the remaining will deal with wind energy.

The Ministry further stated that another study in solar power will be carried out in Kesennuma city by Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting Co.

Moreover the Ministry explained that the quick introduction of renewable energy in regions hit by disasters forms part of the government’s reconstruction efforts.

When contacted by phone, one of the officers from the government’s climate-change policy division, Yasuhiro Muroishi, said that a budget of $5 million has been allocated to these studies by the Ministry.

It is expected that Toshiba along with the two additional companies will bring together the end results of their studies by the end of March.

Source: business Week

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It was an over-promised goal, but renewable energy is an exception. The country produced more than twice of the forecast renewable-energy supply. Clean energy in India has been growing steadily since the slogan ‘Power for All’. In the first quarter of 2007, the country had a total installed renewable-energy capacity equivalent to 10.2 GW. AS at the last quarter of 2011, the amounts rouse to 22 GW. Renewable energy currently supplies 11 percent of the country’s total demand.

According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, it was found that India was the leader in 2011 in terms of growth in renewable-energy investments. They experienced a growth of 52 percent, to a total of $10.3 billion; mainly supported by the galloping growth in the solar and wind market.

Indian businessmen have since long been waved as strong players, by the western world, since they developed the Tulsi Tanti, a giant wind turbine by Suzlon. However, nowadays entrepreneurs are exploiting rural areas For instant, Selco is currently providing rural areas, where there was no access to electricity, power from solar lighting.

The winner of 2011’s Magsaysay Award, Harish Hande is driving this program. The prestigious Magsaysay award is given to people who are devoted to solve systemic poverty, lack of opportunity and poor health in Asia. Investors such as Draper Fisher Jurveston, Shell Foundation, International Finance Corporation, ReNew Wind Power, and Goldman Sachs are helping villages such as Gyanesh Pandey to operate Husk Power systems. It is a system which can generate electricity at a low rate, and can be sold to rural households.

The main buyer of this renewable energy is power distribution companies, and the financial helps are worsening over the years. It is essential that the grid is modernized, so that additional large-scale projected can be connected to the system. To support the slogan ‘Power for All’ it is essential that this modernization to the grid is effected, which can thereafter be concretized with renewable energy.

Currently, interest rates and inflations are alarming, yet, the $4.2 billion invested in India’s solar market in 2011, suggests that 2012 can be a sustainable year.

Source: Bloomberg

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1. Conventional Power Generation & T&D Infrastructure Development will be the strongest and largest source of revenue for power equipment industry.

6. Some major policies emerging from the Durban Climate Change Talks

According to Frost & Sullivan report, in Asia Pacific the strongest driver for renewable energy will be; Energy Security & fuel Diversity; Emphasis on Smart Energy; Growth in Energy Demand and Investment in new Infrastructure. These 4 drivers are going to support a 20 percent growth in renewable energy in the Asia Pacific markets in 2012.

Yet, there are some key restraints such as; economic uncertainty; project cost & currency fluctuation and delayed market liberalization, which is going to act as challenges for a constant growth. Efficient government support will, however, help to tackle a high degree of the restraints.

Source: Frost & Sullivan (Slide 5)

For the field of solar energy, China will act as powerful global manufacture of solar-energy solutions. She will also be one of the fastest growing solar markets in Asia, particularly for on-grid Solar PV. Other markets such as Malaysia have had Panasonic and Bosch investing heavily in PV manufacturing plants. Yet, Thailand is expected to have a weak progress in the solar market due to floods.

In Japan feed-in tariff is will help solar PV to be sustained, and experience a favorable growth. In other countries such as Australia, government policies such as imposition of ‘Carbon Tax’ will support the solar market to grow.

Forecast for Solar PV Installed Capacity in 2012

- Total Capacity installed 5,330 MW
- Market growth of 38.6 percent
- Japan represent 2,600 MW
- China Representing 1,360 MW
- India Representing 450 MW
- Australia representing 450 MW
- Korea representing 150 MW

In 2012, Asia Pacific will remain the world’s fastest growing market, in relation to its new installed capacity followed by North America and thereafter Europe. Besides, in Asia Pacific, china will be the largest consumer of renewable energy due to its strong demand of power. In the China, there will be drive to go towards offshore wind power.

Forecast for Solar PV Installed Capacity in 2012

- Total World Capacity Installed 21, 257 MW
- A Capacity growth of 26.7 percent
- China representing 15,000 MW

Nevertheless, coal fired power plants will maintain the strongest capacity creation. But, the emphasis will be on ultra supercritical boilers and other systems where pollution can be controlled and minimized. In countries like India, China, Indonesia, Vietnam and Mongolia there will be an attractive demand for coal power in 2012. In overall, conventional power can expect an anticipated investment of $130 to $140 billion which represents a growth of 4 to 5 percent, but as mentioned the focus will be on clean coal fired generation plants.

In the expansion of smart grids, companies such as Schneider, CISCO and Toshiba will start to invest more attention. They will foster strategic international partnership to deploy new smart grid technology into countries. The expected investment is US$ 10 billion, which represent a growth of 60 to 70 percent, since 2011. The key markets for smart grid in Asia Pacific will be China, Australia, Korea and Thailand. There are currently smart grid projects which are reaching its completion stage in Korea and Australia.

Source: Frost & Sullivan (Slide 15)

Source: Frost & Sullivan

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The report says that the solar market has experienced as strong growth in 2011; with falling cost and rising employment creation. Some facts of the Solar Market in 2011 have been recorded in this article:

1. Solyndra – was part of a Growing Industry

Unfortunately, Solyndra filed for bankruptcy in August 2011. However, this doesn’t mean that the market was weak. On the contrary, the market expanded by 140 percent and cost decreased by 40 percent. Solyndra failed to compete but the solar-energy market remains strong, as ‘90 percent of Americans believe that it is critical to progress towards the expansion of solar energy.

2. U.S Solar Industry Employees Above 100,000 Americans
In the recent years, the solar industry has become a growing employer. In America above 5,000 companies are employing more than 100,000 Americans in small, medium and large green solar companies. According to the solar Foundation’s national Job Census 2011, people were employed as engineers, administrative professionals, sales people, installers, electricians, plumbers, contractors and roofers. New job opportunity in the solar industry has been beneficial during the severe economic downturn.

3. Currently, the Solar Industry is one of American’s fastest growing sectors.

Most American companies support the growth of solar industry; This includes companies such as Google, Whole Foods, Target, Johnson & Johnson, Walgreens, Safeway and others, which have invested significantly.

4. Cost of Solar Panels has Decreased by 40 %

In U.S there are approximately 1.5 million houses having solar water heaters while solar energy is currently powering 730,000 households. Yet, with increasing research and development as well as bulk production solar panels are getting cheaper. Since 2010 to 2011, the price of solar cells has decreased by more than 40 percent while only 2011’s second to third quarter experienced a fall in price by 14.4 percent.

5. Cut-throat competition in a Growing solar Industry
United state have experienced a tremendous growth in the export of solar technology, which highly positive for the domestic industry with job creation. In 2010, the net export of solar products reached $2 billion.

Companies in the solar industry are operating in a very uncertain environment with high dependency on governmental support. These investment mechanisms are determining the market losers as well as winners. In 2011, more than 22,000 energy projects were completed across the 50 states, with a total private investment amounting to $23 billion. The Congress is pushing for additional support to promote the industry over 2012.

In America, Solar really works well, and 2011 was a great year for the solar industry. Yet, constant struggle and devotion are required to drive the industry in 2012 together with well devised energy policies.

Source: Clean Technica

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Recently, on Google’s Green Blog, they communicated their intent to invest 94 million in 4 solar projects. Some equity was also provided by SunTap Energy RE LLC as well as a venture with KKR for the investment.

Three of the project already have 20-year contracts with the utility district. In total, more than 13,000 households will be powered.

Three out of the 4 projects will be completed in early 2012 while the 4th one will be completed within the same year. For KKR, it is their first US renewable-energy investment. It has in the past invested in Spanish solar-energy company as well a French wind farm operator.

Google has now invested 915 million in renewable energy, while in 2011, they invested a total of 800 million. This included investment in wind farms in Oregon, California and North Dakota and solar projects in Germany and California, as well in US’s East coast in offshore wind farms.

Google has had a lucrative year in the growth of clean energy investments. This includes projects such as Brightsource Ivanpah Project – 450 MW Tall Solar Tower at Mojave Desert, which cost 168 million, and constitutes the company’s largest single investment in renewable energy.

For Google, investing in green energy is one of their continuous initiatives to reduce dependency on coal, and to be able to be entirely powered by clean energy 2030.

Axel Martinex who is Google Treasury Assistance says that they believe in the renewable energy sector, and that it will generate a new source of capital as well as reliable solution for a sustainable future.

In addition, Google has been donating a total 40 million in grant to various organisations during the holiday season.

Source: Zee News

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According to Zhu’s team, it was found that the efficiency of harnessing electrons from a single photon of sunlight could be doubled by the use of organic plastic semiconductor material.

Zhu says that plastic semiconductor solar cell has several advantages such as low cost, capability for synthesis thanks to molecular design and this makes it possible to exploit solar energy at far more efficient levels than currently.

This break-through was published by Zhu and his team in Science, 16th of December 2011.

Currently, conventional silicon solar cell can reach a maximum theoretical efficiency rate of 31 percent, and this is because most of the sunrays that struck the cell are too strong to be converted into electricity. The ‘hot electron’ is heat energy that is practically lost. Solar cells that could capture hot electrons could boost up the energy conversion rate of solar energy from 31 to 66 percent.

Recently, in 2010, Zhu and his team showed that it is possible to harness hot electrons by the use of semiconductor nano-crystals. However, Zhu admits that introducing such technology is extremely complex.

According to Zhu, an efficiency rate of 66 percent can only be captured when sunlight is focused on the solar panel not only raw sunlight. So there is a need to develop a new engineered device that ensures higher concentration of sunlight.

The team found a solution to this, when they found that a photon can make a dark quantum or so called ‘shadow state’ whereby two electrons can be captured via the use of a semi-conductor pentacene.

The use of this simple mechanism would practically increase converstion rate of solar cells by 44 percent. There would also be no need to develop a new device to have a concentrated solar beam. According to Zhu, it is a technology that could be pervasively used by the public.

Main Facts in the Findings:

1. When a photon is absorbed in a pentacene semi-conductor, it makes a so called excited electron-hole pair, which is known as an exciton.
2. An exciton is practically a pair of quantum forming a dark ‘shadow state’ which is known as multiexciton.
3. When an electron material is used like fullerene, the dark shadow state can very efficiently absorb two electrons.
4. The Dark Shadow state can increase the efficiency of solar cells by as much as 44 percent.

The National Science Foundation as well as the Department of energy sponsored this research that was spearheaded by Wai-lun Chan; One of Zhu’s postdoctoral fellows. In the team, other postdoctoral fellows were involved including Luis Miaja-Avila, Loren Kaake, Manuel Ligges and Askat Jailaubekov.

Source: Science Daily and Zeitnews

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