In the context of growing awareness of the different components of sustainable development, renewable energy sources are having a major boost. With this article we highlight the current trend, starting from a framework of context, and then drill out the views of industry leaders and application examples.
Everyone knows that renewables are the next big thing of today and tomorrow, but we often forget is that the management is always key and there are some companies that truly excel at this.
The sources include most forms of renewable energy production provided by non-fossil fuels, as examples, geothermal energy, biomass and biogas, wind energy, solar energy (both solar thermal and photovoltaics), energy from waves and tides. In essence, all renewables (renewed by natural processes) resulting in a form rather than another direct radiation from the Sun as the Earth's surface, the values are about 600-1500W/m2, although obviously there's no uniform energy distrinution and climatic conditions, the index of radiation (mean energy from the sun in one day) ranges from 2.26 (northern Europe) to 6.39 (African region) Kwatt/day/m2.
To convert this energy into electricity, exemplifying photovoltaics, photovoltaic modules are used as the basis of silicon, whose technology (from light energy to the photovoltaic effect) is now well established for nearly 40 years, with a conversion efficiency continues to grow. Normal commercial modules provide an efficiency of 10-16%, ie only 10-16% of the energy that comes from the sun is converted into electrical energy, although in laboratory environments controlled percentages have been reached even higher than 40%.
Friday, 16 March 2012
Monday, 12 March 2012
Turkey going green
It was once considered the door that opened to Europeans the boundless spaces of Asia. Today, Turkey is a country that is growing before our eyes, and represents one of the most interesting of the global landscape.
A nation that has almost 75 million inhabitants, growing at an average rate of 4-5% per annum and that, consequently, has a huge appetite for energy.
Not surprisingly, the turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has adopted a policy to have the best guarantee of security of supply of raw materials, which are mainly oil and gas.
Meanwhile, the country that has good resources in terms of hydropower, is developing a very demanding program to exploit renewable energy. In short, the government in Ankara has moved forward in the politics of the energy mix for some time that we also hope to our house. And as well think big so does "green" so that Erdogan has announced plans to install by 2015 about 600 MW of new geothermal capacity only.
Ankara has long been an area of primary interest for giant oil and gas such as Eni and Gazprom. The six-legged dog, along with the turkish Çalik Enerji Group, has planned the construction of the Samsun-Ceyhan pipeline and, with Gazprom as majority shareholder, is grappling with the long gestation of the ambitious South Stream.
But today the Turkish case history goes green enough to stimulate the interest of major European power utilities, including Enel. And the Enel CEO Fulvio Conti, on the sidelines of a conference organized in Istanbul Italy dall'Aspen Institute, said that "Turkey for us, potentially, is a very important country" that promises a "full development potential especially from the side of renewables. "
The group led by Conti short pricked up antennas on the market "green" in Ankara so much so that through its renewable arm, Enel Green Power, is already working with the group Uzon to exploit the geothermal potential offered by Turkey.
After the gas then Turkey is preparing to become a strategic partner for Europe also in terms of renewables. The race is open, the Bosphorus is increasingly becoming a gateway between Europe and Asia.
A nation that has almost 75 million inhabitants, growing at an average rate of 4-5% per annum and that, consequently, has a huge appetite for energy.
Not surprisingly, the turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has adopted a policy to have the best guarantee of security of supply of raw materials, which are mainly oil and gas.
Meanwhile, the country that has good resources in terms of hydropower, is developing a very demanding program to exploit renewable energy. In short, the government in Ankara has moved forward in the politics of the energy mix for some time that we also hope to our house. And as well think big so does "green" so that Erdogan has announced plans to install by 2015 about 600 MW of new geothermal capacity only.
Ankara has long been an area of primary interest for giant oil and gas such as Eni and Gazprom. The six-legged dog, along with the turkish Çalik Enerji Group, has planned the construction of the Samsun-Ceyhan pipeline and, with Gazprom as majority shareholder, is grappling with the long gestation of the ambitious South Stream.
But today the Turkish case history goes green enough to stimulate the interest of major European power utilities, including Enel. And the Enel CEO Fulvio Conti, on the sidelines of a conference organized in Istanbul Italy dall'Aspen Institute, said that "Turkey for us, potentially, is a very important country" that promises a "full development potential especially from the side of renewables. "
The group led by Conti short pricked up antennas on the market "green" in Ankara so much so that through its renewable arm, Enel Green Power, is already working with the group Uzon to exploit the geothermal potential offered by Turkey.
After the gas then Turkey is preparing to become a strategic partner for Europe also in terms of renewables. The race is open, the Bosphorus is increasingly becoming a gateway between Europe and Asia.
Monday, 27 February 2012
Access to electricity to the entire world population
Ensuring access to electricity to the entire world population is one of the biggest challenges, and not coincidentally the year 2012 has been declared by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon "the year of sustainable energy for all."
Even today, over 1.3 billion people lack access to electricity, while 2.7 billion can cook or simply heat with wood, charcoal and animal waste.
There is a lack of energy but not lacking in waste, some say. Because more and more often, initiatives arise when the energy comes from waste.
The most recent comes from Kenya, where Access: Energy, Energy Division of the Association Access: collective, is promoting the use of mini wind turbines, called Night Heron Turbines, providing people with the technical knowledge to achieve their wind turbine from scrap metal, car parts and electronic waste.
But, as we said, the combination of garbage and sustainable energy is not new. From Africa we move to Latin America, specifically in Brazil, where since 2007 Coelce has initiated the project Ecoelce, which provides discounts on the energy bill to customers who return the material to be sent for recycling at the collection points.
In other words: to promote sustainable energy, every idea is good. Garbage seems to give plenty.
Even today, over 1.3 billion people lack access to electricity, while 2.7 billion can cook or simply heat with wood, charcoal and animal waste.
There is a lack of energy but not lacking in waste, some say. Because more and more often, initiatives arise when the energy comes from waste.
The most recent comes from Kenya, where Access: Energy, Energy Division of the Association Access: collective, is promoting the use of mini wind turbines, called Night Heron Turbines, providing people with the technical knowledge to achieve their wind turbine from scrap metal, car parts and electronic waste.
But, as we said, the combination of garbage and sustainable energy is not new. From Africa we move to Latin America, specifically in Brazil, where since 2007 Coelce has initiated the project Ecoelce, which provides discounts on the energy bill to customers who return the material to be sent for recycling at the collection points.
In other words: to promote sustainable energy, every idea is good. Garbage seems to give plenty.
Thursday, 16 February 2012
Yet another post about global warming
Is almost a fact that on Mars we are not going to find crowded cities and suffocated by smog. And is gonna be pretty difficult to find oil refineries when we will go to explore the icy Pluto and Triton, icy moon of Neptune. Nor it is conceivable to expect to see on Jupiter highways crowded with cars wrapped in the fumes of the exhaust pipes. Yet these planets, like Earth, are heating up!
But if man, at least in this case, is not to blame, who is resposinble for the interplanetary warming?
The biggest culprit seems to be the Sun. In fact often mistakenly we are led to believe that the activities of our star are constant in time, or at least undergo changes only on a very long time, when in fact the energy it emits into the space in all directions over the years and decades undergoes periodic variations very small percentage, but still be able to influence the Earth's climate. The winds and all major weather phenomena thrive on the heat in the form of electromagnetic radiation coming from the Sun: the amount of energy in the amount that reaches our atmosphere is on average estimated at approximately 1367 watts per square meter.
Global warming would have serious consequences for all ecosystems, in particular, could cause the melting of polar ice caps and cause a sharp rise in average sea level.
The chief executive of RWE npower andrew duff talks global warming and nuclear power about this important and very actual topic of interest.
But if man, at least in this case, is not to blame, who is resposinble for the interplanetary warming?
The biggest culprit seems to be the Sun. In fact often mistakenly we are led to believe that the activities of our star are constant in time, or at least undergo changes only on a very long time, when in fact the energy it emits into the space in all directions over the years and decades undergoes periodic variations very small percentage, but still be able to influence the Earth's climate. The winds and all major weather phenomena thrive on the heat in the form of electromagnetic radiation coming from the Sun: the amount of energy in the amount that reaches our atmosphere is on average estimated at approximately 1367 watts per square meter.
Global warming would have serious consequences for all ecosystems, in particular, could cause the melting of polar ice caps and cause a sharp rise in average sea level.
The chief executive of RWE npower andrew duff talks global warming and nuclear power about this important and very actual topic of interest.
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
How To Install Photovoltaic Systems
Within the scope of the following guide, the system voltage direct current (DC) should not exceed 1500V.
Technical Requirements
For the purposes of fire prevention in PV systems must be designed, constructed and maintained to perfection.
If the plants are run at the technical documents issued by the IEC (rules and guidelines) and / or intemational standardization bodies, they are made of the art.ln addition, all components must be in accordance with Community or national regulations. ln particular, the PV module must be in accordance with CEI EN 61730-1 and IEC 61730-2.
The installation must be executed so as to avoid the spread of a fire by the photovoltaic generator to the building in which it is embedded. This condition is considered fulfilled when the photovoltaic system, built-in construction, to be installed on structures and elements of coverage and / or façade incombustible (Class 0 or Class according to DM 26/06/1984 A1 according to the DM 10/03/2005).
Is also equivalent interposed between the photovoltaic modules and the support surface, a layer of material resistance to fire at least 30 and El incombustible (Class 0 according to DM 26/06/1984 or class A1 according to the MD 10 / 03/2005).
As an alternative may be a specific assessment of the risk of fire spread, taking into account the class of fire resistance of roofs and exteriors of the roof covering (according EN 13501-5:2009 UNl fire classification of products and building elements construction - Part 5: Classification according to the results of exposure of roofs to external fire a second ENV 1187:2 OO7) and the reaction to fire of the photovoltaic module certified in accordance with the procedures described in the decree of 10 March all'2 2005 on "reaction to fire classes for building products" to be used in the works for which this requirement of safety in case of fire.
The location of the modules and electrical conduit should also always ensure proper operation and maintenance of eventuari smoke and heat (EFC), and amendments take into account, based on the analysis of fire risk, the existence of possible routes of delivery of fire (skylights, chimneys, etc..).
At any rate modules, piping, drives, pictures and any other equipment must not be installed within 1 m from the EFC.Also, in the presence of vertical partitioning, fire places in the underlying asset to the support surface of the photovoltaic system, the same shall be at least 1 m from the projection thimbles element.
The PV system must also have the following characteristics:
• Be equipped with a control device for an emergency, located in and accessible position signaled that determines the disconnection of the electrical system, withincompartment / Building towards power sources, including the photovoltaic system.
• in the presence of gases, vapors, mists or dusts, in order to avoid electrical hazards determined from the start, you must install the part of the current system, including inverter, outside of areas classified according to D. Decree 81/2008 - Appendix XLIX;
• in areas with danger of explosion due to the presence of explosive material, the photovoltaic generator and all components in the atria current constituentspotential sources of ignition must be installed at distances of safety established by the applicable technical standards;
• The components must not be installed in areas known as "safe places" to DM 30/11/1983 sensidel, or be a hindrance to the escape routes;
• supporting structures, in order to meet the performance levels against the fire under MD 09/03/2007, must be verified and documented takingaccount the changed conditions of the structural loads on the roof, due to the presence of the photovoltaic generator, also with reference to DM 14/01/2008 "Technical standards for construction".Please note that for non-combustible canopies of service stations is no requirement for fire resistance.
Documentation
Will be acquired pursuant to the declaration of the whole photovoltaic system and not the individual parts, according to DM 37/2008. For systems with nominal power above 20 kW should be acquired documentation required by Circular Letter Ml Prot. P515/4101 subt. 72/E.6 of April 24, 2008 and subsequent amendments and additions.
Checks
Periodically and any change, extension or change in operation will be performed and documented inspections for fire risk of the photovoltaic system, with particular attention to joints and fastening systems.
Safety signs
The area where is located the generator and its accessories, if available, must be marked with appropriate signs conforming to D. Decree 81/2008. The aforementionedsignage must be marked:
WARNING: LIVE PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER DURING THE DAYTIME HOURS (XX Volts).
• The above-mentioned signs, resistant to ultraviolet rays, must be installed every 10 meters from the pipeline.
• In the case of photovoltaics on the roof of these buildings, such signs shall be installed at all access gates to thebuilding.
• The disconnecting the emergency will be identified with the provision of safety under Title V of D.Lgs.81/08.
Protection of operators
In regards the protection of operators Fire Department refer to what is stated in the note PROTEM 622/867 of 18/02/2011, regarding "Procedures in case of intervention in the presence of photovoltaic panels and operator safety fire."We note that has been taken into account the installation of devices for isolating groups of modules, operated from a distance, but to date it requires mandatory as it is not known reliability over time, or was issued a specific legislation that regulates the construction, operation and certification.
Existing systems
The photovoltaic systems, places in operation before the entry into force of this guide and service activity subject to fire prevention inspections, require,only, the obligations imposed by paragraph 6 of article. 4 of the DPR No 151 of August 1, 2011.ln general, such installations shall be provided for among other things:
• the presence and capabilities of the device of the emergency control;
• the application of safety signs and inspections referred to in the preceding paragraph.
Technical Requirements
For the purposes of fire prevention in PV systems must be designed, constructed and maintained to perfection.
If the plants are run at the technical documents issued by the IEC (rules and guidelines) and / or intemational standardization bodies, they are made of the art.ln addition, all components must be in accordance with Community or national regulations. ln particular, the PV module must be in accordance with CEI EN 61730-1 and IEC 61730-2.
The installation must be executed so as to avoid the spread of a fire by the photovoltaic generator to the building in which it is embedded. This condition is considered fulfilled when the photovoltaic system, built-in construction, to be installed on structures and elements of coverage and / or façade incombustible (Class 0 or Class according to DM 26/06/1984 A1 according to the DM 10/03/2005).
Is also equivalent interposed between the photovoltaic modules and the support surface, a layer of material resistance to fire at least 30 and El incombustible (Class 0 according to DM 26/06/1984 or class A1 according to the MD 10 / 03/2005).
As an alternative may be a specific assessment of the risk of fire spread, taking into account the class of fire resistance of roofs and exteriors of the roof covering (according EN 13501-5:2009 UNl fire classification of products and building elements construction - Part 5: Classification according to the results of exposure of roofs to external fire a second ENV 1187:2 OO7) and the reaction to fire of the photovoltaic module certified in accordance with the procedures described in the decree of 10 March all'2 2005 on "reaction to fire classes for building products" to be used in the works for which this requirement of safety in case of fire.
The location of the modules and electrical conduit should also always ensure proper operation and maintenance of eventuari smoke and heat (EFC), and amendments take into account, based on the analysis of fire risk, the existence of possible routes of delivery of fire (skylights, chimneys, etc..).
At any rate modules, piping, drives, pictures and any other equipment must not be installed within 1 m from the EFC.Also, in the presence of vertical partitioning, fire places in the underlying asset to the support surface of the photovoltaic system, the same shall be at least 1 m from the projection thimbles element.
The PV system must also have the following characteristics:
• Be equipped with a control device for an emergency, located in and accessible position signaled that determines the disconnection of the electrical system, withincompartment / Building towards power sources, including the photovoltaic system.
• in the presence of gases, vapors, mists or dusts, in order to avoid electrical hazards determined from the start, you must install the part of the current system, including inverter, outside of areas classified according to D. Decree 81/2008 - Appendix XLIX;
• in areas with danger of explosion due to the presence of explosive material, the photovoltaic generator and all components in the atria current constituentspotential sources of ignition must be installed at distances of safety established by the applicable technical standards;
• The components must not be installed in areas known as "safe places" to DM 30/11/1983 sensidel, or be a hindrance to the escape routes;
• supporting structures, in order to meet the performance levels against the fire under MD 09/03/2007, must be verified and documented takingaccount the changed conditions of the structural loads on the roof, due to the presence of the photovoltaic generator, also with reference to DM 14/01/2008 "Technical standards for construction".Please note that for non-combustible canopies of service stations is no requirement for fire resistance.
Documentation
Will be acquired pursuant to the declaration of the whole photovoltaic system and not the individual parts, according to DM 37/2008. For systems with nominal power above 20 kW should be acquired documentation required by Circular Letter Ml Prot. P515/4101 subt. 72/E.6 of April 24, 2008 and subsequent amendments and additions.
Checks
Periodically and any change, extension or change in operation will be performed and documented inspections for fire risk of the photovoltaic system, with particular attention to joints and fastening systems.
Safety signs
The area where is located the generator and its accessories, if available, must be marked with appropriate signs conforming to D. Decree 81/2008. The aforementionedsignage must be marked:
WARNING: LIVE PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER DURING THE DAYTIME HOURS (XX Volts).
• The above-mentioned signs, resistant to ultraviolet rays, must be installed every 10 meters from the pipeline.
• In the case of photovoltaics on the roof of these buildings, such signs shall be installed at all access gates to thebuilding.
• The disconnecting the emergency will be identified with the provision of safety under Title V of D.Lgs.81/08.
Protection of operators
In regards the protection of operators Fire Department refer to what is stated in the note PROTEM 622/867 of 18/02/2011, regarding "Procedures in case of intervention in the presence of photovoltaic panels and operator safety fire."We note that has been taken into account the installation of devices for isolating groups of modules, operated from a distance, but to date it requires mandatory as it is not known reliability over time, or was issued a specific legislation that regulates the construction, operation and certification.
Existing systems
The photovoltaic systems, places in operation before the entry into force of this guide and service activity subject to fire prevention inspections, require,only, the obligations imposed by paragraph 6 of article. 4 of the DPR No 151 of August 1, 2011.ln general, such installations shall be provided for among other things:
• the presence and capabilities of the device of the emergency control;
• the application of safety signs and inspections referred to in the preceding paragraph.
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
Green forests let our planet breathe
Ever since you are little you have being told that the rainforests are the lungs and heart of our planet and that is nothing but the truth. In fact without those essential spaces we would not have anything to breathe. With the developments of our cities or so called megalopolis, we need more and more living space and with green areas, let's think about it. The vital space in major cities is so small that is ridiculous, try to go take a look at an apartment in one of the major cities and you will see what i mean!
Look at this beautiful rain forest, is still untouched and we must be more active in keeping these spaces intact, with a respectful development of new factories for producing energy, we all know that the demand of energy is growing but at the same time we must be conscious that we cannot cannibalize our planet to the root! I found this article about rainforests very interesting and thought to share it. See you soon with another update guys!!
Look at this beautiful rain forest, is still untouched and we must be more active in keeping these spaces intact, with a respectful development of new factories for producing energy, we all know that the demand of energy is growing but at the same time we must be conscious that we cannot cannibalize our planet to the root! I found this article about rainforests very interesting and thought to share it. See you soon with another update guys!!
Tuesday, 24 January 2012
Water is still the greatest resource
In our day and age sometimes we forget that the most simple things are still the best and on of them is water, seems to be a simplicistic thing to say but without water there is no agriculture, without agriculture there is no life, To keep our water resources we need to do more recycling to keep a better environment and be responsible
Many major companies are responsible in regards to water management and recently my attention came at Severn Trent Water, whose non-executive director is Andrew Duff, the firm serves over 8 million customers across the heart of the UK, stretching from the Bristol Channel to the Humber, and from mid-Wales to the East Midlands. This company is really active and is doing a very good effort in keeping our environment clean.
Water, when i think about that we need it, you cannot stop thinking about the energy of the sun as well, is just like ice and fire, they go hand in hand together and they existed since the beginning of times.
Many major companies are responsible in regards to water management and recently my attention came at Severn Trent Water, whose non-executive director is Andrew Duff, the firm serves over 8 million customers across the heart of the UK, stretching from the Bristol Channel to the Humber, and from mid-Wales to the East Midlands. This company is really active and is doing a very good effort in keeping our environment clean.
Water, when i think about that we need it, you cannot stop thinking about the energy of the sun as well, is just like ice and fire, they go hand in hand together and they existed since the beginning of times.
Monday, 16 January 2012
Personal Solar Panels Is An Efficient Solution
Since the other day we discussed about the massive project which involved the "theory" of building a very large solar panel square in the desert, we can point out the importance of using solar panels to personal houses. I have noticed that in the countryside this is a very well adopted solution and the great fact is that when a house becomes independent in creating energy per se, then it can put back into the system the excess of energy and sell it to the electrical comopany present in that area. Probably this does not happen in all countries but we have several examples of that and is probably the future. True there is a start up investment for the solar panels at the beginning but in the medium long term it will be totally paid off itself.
Friday, 13 January 2012
Project to build solar panels in the desert?
One of the most interesting aspects of energy is that it can be generated from various sources and such sources imply different interests, always related with money and politics most of the time. A couple of years ago there was a big project under consideration and development that wanted to join together hands from several countries (in Europe) with the common goal to provide energy to Europe by using a massive solar panels installment in the desert of north africa and middle east and this would largely cover the need of electricity of Europe if i am not mistaken.
Now i am not too sure but i have never heard anything else about this and in relation with power i think that is a good debate and yet again another occasion where we can clearly see that there are big interests behind it, so with that in mind they do not want to develop it. Agreed, is a large project that requires a substantial investment but in the long term it would provide energy and most importantly, CLEAN energy.
Now i am not too sure but i have never heard anything else about this and in relation with power i think that is a good debate and yet again another occasion where we can clearly see that there are big interests behind it, so with that in mind they do not want to develop it. Agreed, is a large project that requires a substantial investment but in the long term it would provide energy and most importantly, CLEAN energy.
Tuesday, 10 January 2012
To green or not to green?
I guess that the topic is always current because more and more people want to be green, save the planet and also save some money in our everydays bills, but is it worth it if the majority of people still don't care? There should be more awareness of environmental problems, such as chemical and nuclear companies doing the right thing, if they choose to go down that road, they should do it right and minimize risks of accidents.
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