Electricity From Renewables

[SapphireRyoko]

Tempest Stormwind mentioned in "Texas Oil Tycoon" that a major oil company is working on developing wind power. Well, the situation is actually even better than that: in Texas, we already have options for electricity from renewables! (I live in Houston). Two of our power companies, Reliant Energy and Ignite (from Steam Energy), currently offer electricity that is 100% from renewables (at least in Texas). Not only that, but they aren't a drain on your income either...the difference in cost with the fossil fuel derived options is only about 1 cent per kWh!

I do not know how widespread this practice is as of yet, so if you know of other areas that already do this as well, including your own, please let me know

Of course, this alone is not enough to accomplish our goal of getting into column A, but it is definitely a step in the right direction. It definitely helps me feel a little better knowing that I've cut out a significant part of my carbon contribution. Anyway, I hope this helps inject a little good news among all the worry about what could happen with climate destabilization

[776281]

http://www.suntech-power.com/en/index.php

As the global leader in solar modules, we¡¯re passionate about providing you the highest quality solar energy solutions. By partnering with you, we can create a future free from global warming and fossil fuels. Together we can build a greener, environmentally friendly tomorrow.

Yeah yeah sounds pretty
but have a look a the variety of installations available: see through, light through, semi shade, quick snap (Lego anyone) and so on, even a system that can be used as the roofing material.

Next http://www.fplenergy.com/

FPL Energy* is a leading clean-energy provider with natural gas, wind, solar, hydroelectric and nuclear power plants in operation in 25 states and Canada. More than 90 percent of FPL Energy's electricity is generated by clean fuels. In addition, we are the North American leader in wind-energy generation, and we operate the two largest solar fields in the world.

Corn Ethanol is not the answer http://www.globalwarmingisreal.com/b...08/11/25/1523/

Having expanded and geared up to the point where it was the nation's largest ethanol producer in less than seven short years VeraSun Energy in early November was forced to enter bankruptcy–thanks in large part to the Bush administration and Congress favoring corn ethanol subsidies over other alternatives.

Things are happening but we cannot afford to stop now

[gaiasdaughter]

Another new idea in the works --mini nuclear power plants that are buried underground and service c20,000 homes. I see a lot of cynicism from the green quarter, but methinks it has potential.

[gaiasdaughter]

Another source of renewable energy!

How the beat of our feet can generate power: Tiny generators turn the pulses of energy from all forms of human movement into electricity

The beating of a patient's heart, the shudder of a tube train and the pounding of thousands of commuters' feet on crowded platforms are being exploited as new sources of power.

Engineers and scientists are developing tiny generators that turn the kinetic energy of everyday movements into electricity which can then power sensors or provide electricity for remote installations.

The technology, known as power harvesting, is already being tested in helicopter frames, the floors of discos and in volunteers' knee joints in order to generate electricity. In the near future, harvesters could be used to recharge iPods and mobile phones, say researchers.
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The idea of using human energy to power electronic devices was originally developed by Trevor Baylis for his wind-up radio more than a decade ago. Modern versions are becoming more sophisticated, however. Even the gyrations of dancers are being used to generate power at the Bar Surya in London. Crystalline harvesters under its disco floor create tiny pulses of energy each time a dancer pushes down. The electricity created this way is used to offset the bar's utility bills.

Installed on a large scale, in tube and rail stations, these underfloor harvesters could provide a considerable output of electricity. UK and US military researchers are exploring the potential of energy-harvesters that could be built into soldiers' boots to provide precious power in remote and dangerous settings.P

[776281]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environmen...y-oil-abudhabi
The Arab royal who's going off oilOil-rich Abu Dhabi breaks ranks with its petro-giant neighbours and commits to a sustainable energy future at the World Future Energy Summit

Abu Dhabi announced at a summit of world leaders on renewable energy yesterday that it would become the first petro-driven economy to make a significant commitment to renewables – and it is partly thanks to Prince Charles. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi, has decreed that 7% of power will come from green energy sources by 2020. The Middle East nation holds around 8% of the world's oil reserves and derives the vast bulk of its national income from fossil fuels, but while other OPEC oil cartel members see renewables as a threat, it has taken a different view.

Prince Charles, who has close links to the Gulf royals, has been actively encouraging the green initiative behind the scenes, the source added, explaining that the Masdar executives had been invited to Buckingham Palace last year.

Masdar expects to mainly use solar energy to reach its 7% targets but is also looking at wind and even geothermal power, where heat from the ground is used as a power source. Masdar has already built links to Britain by investing with E.ON of Germany and DONG of Denmark in the London Array wind farm project of the coast of Kent which is tipped to be the biggest of its kind in the world.

Dutch solar firm Econcern claimed today at the summit that prices of solar panels would half in the next five to six years. It claimed the global industry had already met the International Energy Agency's target of 10GW of installed power by 2020.

[776281]

http://cleantechnica.com/2011/08/03/...on-wind-power/

I had intended to show that water shortages would make clean technologies look so much better. But the first article also shows the considerable water needs of CSP Concentrated Solar Power

Thermal power systems are based upon what is known as the Rankin cycle. Often, steam is used to power turbines, but then it must be cooled to become liquid. Coal, Nuclear, or even solar power could be used to heat the steam, but tremendous amounts of water are usually required for cooling. In many places, that water is in very short supply or essential for our domestic water needs and agriculture. A shortage of water would require such power stations operate at less than full capacity.
Source: Clean Technica (http://s.tt/12XBK)

The second article was water shortage delays hydro power plant and affects others in Vietnam
http://www.dztimes.net/post/social/w...wer-plant.aspx

The government in April had already forecast that lack of water in reservoirs could translate into a loss of nearly 1 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity at hydropower plants this year.

Nuclear then
Nope 2008 and it has not got better
http://planetsave.com/2008/01/23/wat...-in-southeast/

We’ve all read about the drought in America’s Southeast, and if it doesn’t let up very quickly, some nuclear power stations may have to either cut back operations or shut down temporarily because of a lack of water.

An Alabama reactor had to shutdown for a brief period in the summer, and officials in the Southeast now say it is becoming a crisis.
Water is essential for the operation of a nuclear facility, primarily to cool used steam generated by the nuclear reactors which run the electricity-generating turbines.

Is this the future?
http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2011...ntType=article
Prolonged outages continue, as usual

In Karachi, angry mobs burnt tires, blocking Pakistan Highway. Last week, the Karachi Electric supply Company (KESC) said the outages would be reduced to four hours but since then the Karachiites have been facing outages every two hours.

In Malakand division, power cuts exceeding 18 hours a day have been keeping the people on the tenterhooks. The plight of the people living in the rural areas is worse where people go without electricity at night. The worst hit areas including Agra, Kot, Heroshah, Palai, Thana, Batkhela, Totakan, Sakhakot and Dargai. People say outages have made there lives miserable. They lament that when they have electricity, they can’t use most of the appliances because of the low voltages. The situation has led to an acute water shortage.

Meanwhile, prolonged and unscheduled outages hit hard Pind Dadan Khan as well. The residents of Pind Dadan Khan and its surrounding areas faced massive blackouts. They complained that the outages in hot and muggy weather have made their lives miserable. The demanded that the government should improve the power supply system on priority basis.

Me a pessimist?