Solar Energy

 
Understanding Solar

                  Solar as we know it

                                    Solar being developed

                                                       New forms of Solar

Available Energy - the world currently uses 15 TW annually


 

 

POTENTIAL OF SOLAR ENERGY


Solar Energy available each year from the SUN

- orange circle is current available energy  e.g. photovoltaic, solar thermal, CSP etc

- yellow circle the potential Solar Energy will require new technologies e.g. solar heated compressed air engines - this dwarfs supplies of any other source of power, including total reserves of all the fossil fuels on Earth (see small circle, above)

Available Energy
 

Today, we use a whole range of solar powered household devices as well as specially designed homes to capture solar energy for both lighting and heating purposes and there is little doubt that certainly in countries where the sun shines a lot, USA, Australia, South Africa, South America, Far East and Middle East, the use of solar power will increase by an enormous amount.
 

New ways are being discovered to harvest more of this energy. There are companies looking to make their businesses 100% Solar and Sustainable.

 
 

Capturing more SOLAR ENERGY

 

The earth receives over 10,000 times more solar energy than we can use everyday i.e. the
equivalent of 1.3 GW power station at top of the troposphere for every square kilometre.

Micro Generation of Energy in the form of Distributed Power Generation  integrated into  power grids (Intelligent Power Grids) by use of IndraNet Minders has enormous potential as the way of the future and the survival of our planet

 
  Solar includes thermal solar, photovoltaic, wind, hydro, waves, and biomass

Photovoltaic Panels

Solar Tower

Solar produced at point of use


Hydro Energy, Geothermal Energy Wind Energy Waves Energy
Biomass Energy

Bio-Diesel From Algae

In New Zealand a Marlborough Company produces world’s first sample of Bio-Diesel from algae extracted from region’s sewerage ponds.
Algae are the simplest plant organisms that convert sunlight and carbon dioxide in the air around us, into stored energy through the well understood process of photosynthesis Source
 

Above -Types of biomass that can be changed into energy sources.
Forms of Solar Energy
Solar thermal energy (STE) is a technology for harnessing solar energy for thermal energy (heat). Solar thermal collectors are defined by the USA Energy Information Administration as low-, medium-, or high-temperature collectors. Low temperature collectors are flat plates generally used to heat swimming pools. Medium-temperature collectors are also usually flat plates but are used for creating hot water for residential and commercial use. High temperature collectors concentrate sunlight using mirrors or lenses and are generally used for electric power production. STE is different from photovoltaics, which convert solar energy directly into electricity.
Photovoltaics are best known as a method for generating electric power by using solar cells packaged in photovoltaic modules, often electrically connected in multiples as solar photovoltaic arrays to convert energy from the sun into electricity. To explain the photovoltaic solar panel more simply, photons from sunlight knock electrons into a higher state of energy, thereby creating electricity. The term photovoltaic denotes the unbiased operating mode of a photodiode in which current through the device is entirely due to the transduced light energy. Virtually all photovoltaic devices are some type of photodiode.

Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form, such as electricity, using wind turbines. Large scale wind farms are typically connected to the local electric power transmission network, with smaller turbines being used to provide electricity to isolated locations. Wind (and solar) energy as a power source is favoured by environmentalists as an alternative to fossil fuels, as they are plentiful, renewable, widely distributed, clean, and produces no greenhouse gas emissions.
Hydroelectricity is electricity generated by hydropower, i.e., the production of power through use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy. Once a hydroelectric complex is constructed, the project produces no direct waste, and has a considerably lower output level of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) than fossil fuel powered energy plants. Worldwide, hydroelectricity supplied an estimated 816 GWe in 2005. This was approximately 20% of the world's electricity, and accounted for about 88% of electricity from renewable sources.

Geothermal power is cost effective, reliable, and environmentally friendly, but has previously been geographically limited to areas near tectonic plate boundaries. Recent technological advances have dramatically expanded the range and size of viable resources, especially for direct applications such as home heating. Geothermal power has the potential to help mitigate global warming if widely deployed instead of fossil fuels

Wave power is the transport of energy by ocean surface waves, and the capture of that energy to do useful work — for example for electricity generation, water desalination, or the pumping of water (into reservoirs). Wave power is a renewable energy source.
A wave farm or wave power farm is a collection of machines in the same location and used for the generation of wave power electricity.


Home   Energy Crisis   Financial Crisis   Recession   Change    Energy   Green Energy   Energy is Key  Energy Efficiency  Energy Crisis  
Alternative Energy   Solar Energy   Thermal Solar    nGens Systems   nGen advantages   nGen Progress     nGen Solar Farms  
Distributed Power Generation  Electricity   Intelligent Power Networks    Communications   IndraNet Minders   FraMe Networks  
Transport  Resources   Media Comments    Developments   Opinions   Profiles    About Us   News   Links   Site Map