Investing in Renewable Technologies: Wind, Solar, Geotherm, Hydro, Biomass
Eventually renewable energies will dominate the world's energy supply system. There is no real alternative. Mankind cannot indefinitely continue to base its life on the consumption of finite energy resources. Today, the world's energy supply is largely based on fossil fuels and nuclear power. These sources of energy will not last forever and have proven to be contributors to our environmental problems. The environmental impacts of energy use are not new but they are increasingly well known; they range from deforestation to local and global pollution. In less than three centuries since the industrial revolution, mankind has already burned roughly half of the fossil fuels that accumulated under the earth's surface over hundreds of millions of years. Nuclear power is also based on a limited resource (uranium) and the use of nuclear power creates such incalculable risks that nuclear power plants cannot be insured. Renewable sources of energy are an essential part of an overall strategy of sustainable development. They help reduce dependence of energy imports, thereby ensuring a sustainable supply. Furthermore renewable energy sources can help improve the competitiveness of industries over the long run and have a positive impact on regional development and employment. Renewable energy technologies are suitable for off-grid services, serving those in remote areas of the world without requiring expensive and complicated grid infrastructure. In his 2007 State of the Union address, President George W. Bush outlined plans to ease the United States out of its foreign oil dependence through the use of renewable energy resources, and reduce gas usage by a full 20% in ten years through alternative fuels. “Extending hope and opportunity depends on a stable supply of energy that keeps America's economy running and America's environment clean. For too long our nation has been dependent on foreign oil, and this dependence leaves us more vulnerable to hostile regimes and to terrorists who could cause huge disruptions of oil shipments and raise the price of oil, and do great harm to our economy. It's in our vital interest to diversify America's energy supply -- the way forward is through technology. We must continue changing the way America generates electric power by even greater use of clean coal technology, solar and wind energy, and clean, safe nuclear power. To reach this goal, we must increase the supply of alternative fuels by setting a mandatory fuel standards to require 35 billion gallons of renewable and alternative fuels in 2017 - and that is nearly five times the current target.” His speech emphasized the many benefits of developing and investing in renewable energy technologies. This report on Investing in Renewable Technologies expands further on this speech and offers an in-depth analysis of all the renewable energies available today, from biofuels to geothermal. The report explores the benefits of each energy source, the growth drivers, challenges and barriers, economics of that energy, and much more. A complete analysis of all the renewable energies in use today, along with a section devoted to country analysis is also provided in the report.
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Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Do Biofuels Really Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions?
Biofuel is any fuel that is derived from biomass - recently living organisms or their metabolic byproducts, such as manure from cows. It is a renewable energy source, unlike other natural resources such as petroleum, coal, and nuclear fuels. Agricultural products specifically grown for use as biofuels include corn and soybeans, primarily in the United States; as well as flaxseed and rapeseed, primarily in Europe; sugar cane in Brazil and palm oil in South-East Asia. Biodegradable outputs from industry, agriculture, forestry, and households can also be used to produce bioenergy; examples include straw, timber, manure, rice husks, sewage, biodegradable waste, and food leftovers. These feedstocks are converted into biogas through anaerobic digestion. Biomass used as fuel often consists of underutilized types, like chaff and animal waste. The idea of using biofuels from renewable sources is attractive as biofuels could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and our dependency on fossil fuels. However, a new study, which looked at the full life cycle of biofuels, shows that, depending on the type and source of biofuel, the benefits and environmental impacts can vary considerably. The results highlight differences that could help inform policymakers considering tax-breaks for renewable fuels. Biofuels are currently the most important form of renewable energy in road transportation, but the debate over their environmental impact is ongoing. Some argue that when cultivation, including deforestation and soil acidification, is taken into account, biofuels consume more energy than they produce. Today, biofuels provide about 1% of global transport fuel. Already, they are causing serious harm to the climate, to communities, food sovereignty and food security and to biodiversity. Most biofuels are agrofuels – made from crops and trees grown specifically for that purpose, such as sugar cane, palm oil, soya, jatropha or maize. Agrofuel expansion means more intensive agriculture and thus more agro-chemicals (including synthetic fertilizers). It also means more destruction of natural ecosystems, which play a vital role in regulating the climate, and the displacement of millions of small farmers, pastoralists and indigenous peoples. This report takes a look at whether biofuels are causing global warming or not. The report analyzes the greenhouse gas emissions from biofuels, and what the impact of this will be on the global energy market.
From www.energybusinessreport.com.
From www.energybusinessreport.com.
Fossil Fuels + Solar Energy = The Future of Electricity Generation
Dave Ugolini and Dr. Justin Zachary, Bechtel Power Corp., and Hyung Joon Park, Bechtel Enterprises
Renewable energy, though still accounting for a comparatively small portion of overall supply, generates a larger portion of the world’s electricity each year. Combining many of the available solar energy conversion technologies with conventional fossil-fueled technologies could reduce fuel costs while simultaneously helping utilities that are struggling to meet their renewable portfolio goals.Renewable energy technologies face two near-term deployment hurdles when compared to traditional forms of power generation. First, their initial capital cost typically is much higher on a dollars per installed kilowatt basis, and that first cost is only partially compensated for by lower operation and maintenance (O&M) and fuel costs. This is especially true when today’s higher project costs are compared to those of conventionally fueled projects installed a decade or more ago.
The other important issue is dispatchability. There are few renewable options available to a dispatcher on a still, overcast day when the public demands electricity. Fast-acting gas turbines will have the advantage over renewable energy supplies when instantaneous matching of supply with demand is required — at least until some form of energy storage mitigates the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources. However, progress to commercialize large-scale energy storage technologies has been evolutionary, rather than revolutionary, and many technical and cost issues are yet to be resolved.
So why not take the best of both power generation technologies and integrate renewable power sources, such as concentrating solar thermal power (CSP), with existing or new combined cycles or conventional steam plants? The resulting hybrid plant will increase power or reduce fossil fuel consumption (justifying the high capital costs), mitigate the intermittent nature of most renewable technologies, remain dispatchable, and help many utilities with large fossil plant investments meet their renewable energy mandates.
The Best of Both Worlds
Conventional gas-fired combined-cycle plants represent perhaps 40% of the installed power generation resources in the U.S., yet they produce much less than half of the electricity sold. These plants uniformly have very high thermal efficiency and the smallest carbon footprint of any fossil-fueled generation technology, but the steeply rising cost of natural gas has pushed these plants into unfamiliar territory, where they operate as cycling rather than baseload plants. In other words, a typical combined-cycle plant is suitable for including in an integrated solar combined cycle (ISCC) configuration, where the solar energy portion of the plant can provide additional power at peak demand. We explore the solar power options for conventional steam plants later in this article.
The conversion of a combined-cycle plant to an ISCC begins with adding an additional source of heat, such as solar energy, to reduce natural gas consumption and thereby improve overall plant efficiency.
There are other advantages of an ISCC, even when compared with standalone CSP-inspired plant designs. (See POWER, December 2007 for a review of the Nevada Solar One CSP plant.) For example, the ISCC uses existing components (such as steam generators, steam turbine, and condensing system) that reduce the installation cost of a typical CSP system. Also, the potential for generation is increased because the steam turbine would be already synchronized to the grid when the solar energy contribution is added, thus avoiding lost generation during start-up. Another key advantage is gained during rising ambient temperatures, when gas turbine performance steadily drops. Operation of the solar energy portion of the ISCC compensates for that loss in efficiency and electricity production and improves the plant’s part-load performance.
Combining solar energy with conventional coal-fired plants is also possible in regions with reasonably good solar conditions. For these plants, where the steam pressures and temperatures are higher than for ISCC, the type of solar conversion technology used (Fresnel, parabolic trough, or tower) will dictate how solar is integrated into the plant.
Finally, don’t discount the possibility of hybridizing conventional plants with other, even multiple, forms of renewable energy such as biomass and wind. Our discussion of ISCC illustrates a single development path electric utilities could follow to efficiently and inexpensively bring multiple forms of renewable energy online in short order. Many other options are available, depending on the design of existing plants and their location particulars.
Taken from Powermag. to view the full page here.
Renewable energy, though still accounting for a comparatively small portion of overall supply, generates a larger portion of the world’s electricity each year. Combining many of the available solar energy conversion technologies with conventional fossil-fueled technologies could reduce fuel costs while simultaneously helping utilities that are struggling to meet their renewable portfolio goals.Renewable energy technologies face two near-term deployment hurdles when compared to traditional forms of power generation. First, their initial capital cost typically is much higher on a dollars per installed kilowatt basis, and that first cost is only partially compensated for by lower operation and maintenance (O&M) and fuel costs. This is especially true when today’s higher project costs are compared to those of conventionally fueled projects installed a decade or more ago.
The other important issue is dispatchability. There are few renewable options available to a dispatcher on a still, overcast day when the public demands electricity. Fast-acting gas turbines will have the advantage over renewable energy supplies when instantaneous matching of supply with demand is required — at least until some form of energy storage mitigates the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources. However, progress to commercialize large-scale energy storage technologies has been evolutionary, rather than revolutionary, and many technical and cost issues are yet to be resolved.
So why not take the best of both power generation technologies and integrate renewable power sources, such as concentrating solar thermal power (CSP), with existing or new combined cycles or conventional steam plants? The resulting hybrid plant will increase power or reduce fossil fuel consumption (justifying the high capital costs), mitigate the intermittent nature of most renewable technologies, remain dispatchable, and help many utilities with large fossil plant investments meet their renewable energy mandates.
The Best of Both Worlds
Conventional gas-fired combined-cycle plants represent perhaps 40% of the installed power generation resources in the U.S., yet they produce much less than half of the electricity sold. These plants uniformly have very high thermal efficiency and the smallest carbon footprint of any fossil-fueled generation technology, but the steeply rising cost of natural gas has pushed these plants into unfamiliar territory, where they operate as cycling rather than baseload plants. In other words, a typical combined-cycle plant is suitable for including in an integrated solar combined cycle (ISCC) configuration, where the solar energy portion of the plant can provide additional power at peak demand. We explore the solar power options for conventional steam plants later in this article.
The conversion of a combined-cycle plant to an ISCC begins with adding an additional source of heat, such as solar energy, to reduce natural gas consumption and thereby improve overall plant efficiency.
There are other advantages of an ISCC, even when compared with standalone CSP-inspired plant designs. (See POWER, December 2007 for a review of the Nevada Solar One CSP plant.) For example, the ISCC uses existing components (such as steam generators, steam turbine, and condensing system) that reduce the installation cost of a typical CSP system. Also, the potential for generation is increased because the steam turbine would be already synchronized to the grid when the solar energy contribution is added, thus avoiding lost generation during start-up. Another key advantage is gained during rising ambient temperatures, when gas turbine performance steadily drops. Operation of the solar energy portion of the ISCC compensates for that loss in efficiency and electricity production and improves the plant’s part-load performance.
Combining solar energy with conventional coal-fired plants is also possible in regions with reasonably good solar conditions. For these plants, where the steam pressures and temperatures are higher than for ISCC, the type of solar conversion technology used (Fresnel, parabolic trough, or tower) will dictate how solar is integrated into the plant.
Finally, don’t discount the possibility of hybridizing conventional plants with other, even multiple, forms of renewable energy such as biomass and wind. Our discussion of ISCC illustrates a single development path electric utilities could follow to efficiently and inexpensively bring multiple forms of renewable energy online in short order. Many other options are available, depending on the design of existing plants and their location particulars.
Taken from Powermag. to view the full page here.
In Search of Perfect Power
James M. Hylko
What do you do when your research institution is losing roughly half a million dollars annually as a result of multiple electricity outages — and electricity demand keeps rising? If you’re the Illinois Institute of Technology, you turn the challenge into a campuswide learning experience by teaming with the Galvin Electricity Initiative and other experts to design and construct a prototype Perfect Power System (PPS). Even during its implementation, the PPS promises to provide more reliable and sustainable electricity to the university at a lower cost than it had been paying.Between 2004 and 2006, the 120-acre campus of the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in Chicago (see cover photo and Figure 1) experienced an average of three unplanned electricity outages per year. Those outages ranged from partial to complete loss of load on the main campus and cost the university an estimated $500,000 annually in destroyed experiments, damaged equipment, lost productivity, cancelled classes, and other consequential damages.
to view the full paper here
Detroit Hydrograte® Stokers
The spreader firing principle is the most widely accepted, proven and user friendly means of burning biomass fuels. Sized fuel is metered to a series of distribution devices which spread it uniformly over the stoker grate surface.
Fine particles of fuel are rapidly burned in suspension assisted by carefully designed overfire air turbulence systems. Coarser, heavier fuel particles are spread evenly on the grate forming a thin, fast-burning fuel bed. The combination of suspension and the fast-burning bed makes this method of firing extremely responsive to load demand.
Minimum fuel supply on the grate and automatic ash discharge reduce furnace upsets and provide better control of emissions. The high burning rates permissible with the spreader stoker concept minimize the grate area required--a prime consideration in retrofit applications.
Detroit Hydrograte Stoker Features:
Reliability Under Varying Load Conditions:
The Detroit Hydrograte stoker combines advanced spreader stoker technology with automatic ash discharge and water-cooled grates. This stoker handles a variety of high moisture, low ash fuels over a broad range of steaming capacities with high reliability. Ideal for High Moisture Biomass Fuels Because the Hydrograte stoker is water-cooled, it can be fired based on combustion conditions without regard to cooling air requirements. This unique design makes it ideal for burning biomass fuels which are high in moisture and low in ash. The higher combustion air temperature needed to burn high moisture fuel can be maintained without damaging the grates.
Ideal for Low Ash Fuels:
No ash cover is needed to protect the grate. This makes the Hydrograte stoker ideal for burning low ash waste fuels. Higher Efficiency Water-cooling also means that no cooling air is required during periods of auxiliary fuel firing. This increases efficiency and reduces emissions.
Lower Emissions:
The ability to minimize undergrate airflow reduces excess air. This ensures the most effective use of overfire air which optimizes emission control and combustion efficiency. Higher percentages of overfire air are utilized for effective staged combustion--an important factor in controlling nitrous oxide emissions.
Lower Maintenance Costs:
Simple design with a minimum of moving parts reduces down time and maintenance costs.
Continuous Operation:
Because positive automatic ash discharge eliminates shutdowns to clean grates, the cost of auxiliary fuel to maintain load during grate cleaning is eliminated.
Horizontal Spreader Stoker Retrofit Applications:
The Detroit Hydrograte® stoker can be arranged with a horizontal grate surface. In addition to the benefits of this advanced water-cooled design, the need for boiler modification is minimized in retrofit applications where space limitations exist. Compatibility with auxiliary or alternate fuels is the same as with the inclined grate. Additionally, it is compatible with conventional power boiler designs in terms of grate heat releases making this grate very attractive for retrofitting in existing power boilers.
Reduced Installation Time:
This water-cooled vibrating grate offers significant advantages in installation time when compared with other stokers. The Detroit Hydrograte® stoker is shop-assembled in large modules which are limited in size only by shipping considerations. This means shorter installation schedules on new units and quicker turnaround times on retrofits. In many cases, portions of the existing overfire air system can be incorporated into an upgrade as well.
Other Benefits:
Automatic ash discharge permits continuous operation without shutdowns to clean grates.
Few moving parts means reduced down time and maintenance costs.
No lubrication problems since the vibrating has neither bearings nor shafting in the undergrate environment.
Ability to minimize undergrate air lowers excess air and permits maximum use of overfire air for emission control and optimum combustion.
Effective air seals between stationary and moving surfaces allow greater air control.
Fine particles of fuel are rapidly burned in suspension assisted by carefully designed overfire air turbulence systems. Coarser, heavier fuel particles are spread evenly on the grate forming a thin, fast-burning fuel bed. The combination of suspension and the fast-burning bed makes this method of firing extremely responsive to load demand.
Minimum fuel supply on the grate and automatic ash discharge reduce furnace upsets and provide better control of emissions. The high burning rates permissible with the spreader stoker concept minimize the grate area required--a prime consideration in retrofit applications.
Detroit Hydrograte Stoker Features:
Reliability Under Varying Load Conditions:
The Detroit Hydrograte stoker combines advanced spreader stoker technology with automatic ash discharge and water-cooled grates. This stoker handles a variety of high moisture, low ash fuels over a broad range of steaming capacities with high reliability. Ideal for High Moisture Biomass Fuels Because the Hydrograte stoker is water-cooled, it can be fired based on combustion conditions without regard to cooling air requirements. This unique design makes it ideal for burning biomass fuels which are high in moisture and low in ash. The higher combustion air temperature needed to burn high moisture fuel can be maintained without damaging the grates.
Ideal for Low Ash Fuels:
No ash cover is needed to protect the grate. This makes the Hydrograte stoker ideal for burning low ash waste fuels. Higher Efficiency Water-cooling also means that no cooling air is required during periods of auxiliary fuel firing. This increases efficiency and reduces emissions.
Lower Emissions:
The ability to minimize undergrate airflow reduces excess air. This ensures the most effective use of overfire air which optimizes emission control and combustion efficiency. Higher percentages of overfire air are utilized for effective staged combustion--an important factor in controlling nitrous oxide emissions.
Lower Maintenance Costs:
Simple design with a minimum of moving parts reduces down time and maintenance costs.
Continuous Operation:
Because positive automatic ash discharge eliminates shutdowns to clean grates, the cost of auxiliary fuel to maintain load during grate cleaning is eliminated.
Horizontal Spreader Stoker Retrofit Applications:
The Detroit Hydrograte® stoker can be arranged with a horizontal grate surface. In addition to the benefits of this advanced water-cooled design, the need for boiler modification is minimized in retrofit applications where space limitations exist. Compatibility with auxiliary or alternate fuels is the same as with the inclined grate. Additionally, it is compatible with conventional power boiler designs in terms of grate heat releases making this grate very attractive for retrofitting in existing power boilers.
Reduced Installation Time:
This water-cooled vibrating grate offers significant advantages in installation time when compared with other stokers. The Detroit Hydrograte® stoker is shop-assembled in large modules which are limited in size only by shipping considerations. This means shorter installation schedules on new units and quicker turnaround times on retrofits. In many cases, portions of the existing overfire air system can be incorporated into an upgrade as well.
Other Benefits:
Automatic ash discharge permits continuous operation without shutdowns to clean grates.
Few moving parts means reduced down time and maintenance costs.
No lubrication problems since the vibrating has neither bearings nor shafting in the undergrate environment.
Ability to minimize undergrate air lowers excess air and permits maximum use of overfire air for emission control and optimum combustion.
Effective air seals between stationary and moving surfaces allow greater air control.
Portable generation
From the official website of Aksa.com.tr
Natural Gas Combined-Cycle Power Plant first leg opened in Antalya
Aksa Energy has opened its first Natural Gas Combined-Cycle Power Plant in Antalya. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Minister of Power Hilmi Güler and Minister of State Mehmet Ali Şahin were in opening ceremony. At the end of the construction totaly 1.150 MW power will be given to Antalya and the nearest region. Aksa gives 450 unemployment to employment opportunity. Aksa Antalya Natural Gas Combined-Cycle Power Plant is the one of biggest energy project in Turkey. Aksa Energy spent 1.1 billion $ for realize an investment.
AKSA exhibits all over the World at 2008.
Aksa participated 14 exhibitions all over the world at 2008. From Iran to Spain, Russia to China. Aksa goes on the exhibitions with its power. Every where and every time when the power depend on Aksa gets the best power supplier. Aksa is one of the leading power gen-sets manufacturer in the world. Aksa is “Power Your Future”...
F1 GRAND PRIX, ISTANBUL PARK TAKES ALL POWER FROM AKSA RENTAL
F1 Grand Prix has been realized on 25-26 August 2008 in Istanbul Park-Turkey. During the organization, Aksa Rental supplied totaly 7.355 kVA power from 21 pieces gen-set.
AKSA POWER GENERATION SPONSORED EUROPEAN FIAT RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP
European Fiat Rally Championship has been realized on 11-13 May in Istanbul-Turkey. During the organization, Aksa Power Generation supplied electricity needed. The sponsorship which is a new proof of Aksa Power Generation's sensitivity to sportive activities, organized in cooperation with Aksa Rental.
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