Wind turbines are one of the most promising sources of large-scale renewable power.  Wind power doesn’t produce any pollutants, and unlike water or fuel resources, wind is literally an endless source of energy.  However, wind farms do require a substantial amount of space, which is why a much more efficient design like the “Wind Lens” could make wind energy cheaper and more practical.

Developed by researchers at Kyushu University’s Research Institute for Applied Mechanics (RIAM), the wind lens design utilizes a curved housing that encircles the blades of a wind turbine.  The ring is comprised of an inlet shroud, diffuser, and brim that work together to create a low-pressure pocket behind the turbine when wind passes around the ring.  The resulting suction can triple the effective wind speed that drives the turbine blades.

The Aerodynamics Behind The Wind Lens (image: Kyushu University RIAM)

Increasing the energy generated from a single turbine has the potential to make wind power even cheaper than nuclear energy, and wind turbines carry none of the risks associated with nuclear power plants.  Their primary drawbacks are interference with wildlife (such as migrating flocks of birds) and noise; fortunately, the Wind Lens design makes turbines quieter as well as more efficient.

But could wind turbines really make a substantial contribution to US energy demand?  Absolutely.  A recent MNN article by Karl Burkart breaks down the numbers in more detail, but the bottom line is this:  if improved turbines like the Wind Lens were installed in just 20% of America’s “high wind potential” areas, they could provide all the power consumed in the US.

Rendering Of An Offshore Application For Wind Lens Turbines (image: Kyushu University RIAM)

Prototypes are already being tested at Kyushu University.  And the developers are already thinking ahead to the possibilities for large-scale implementation, including floating offshore wind farms far out to sea that could take advantage of uninterrupted air currents without competing for space on land.

(via CleanTechnica & MNN)

The small town of Mutriku in the Basque region of Spain is the first in the world to open a commercial wave power plant. The Basque government energy agency Ente Vasco de la Energía (EVE) debuted its €2.3 million ($3.1 million) project in July. The project is funded by taxes. It is estimated that the wave power plant will produce about 300 kilowatts, enough to provide 10% of Mutriku’s energy needs. Voith and Siemens provided the 16 columns as part of a joint venture.Wave energy technology has been produced on an experimental scale for years, and several methods have been tried. There have been underwater turbines that are driven by water like wind turbines are driven by wind, and there have been systems where a rising and falling buoy drives a piston. The power plant at Mutriku employs another approach: 16 oscillating water columns.

Here’s how the technology works. The 16 hollow columns are installed on a breakwater in the city’s bay. Each column is open to the water below sea level. As the waves rise, the air inside each column (above sea level) is compressed and forced out of a small opening at the top. This pressurized stream of air spins a turbine, which in turn drives an alternator to produce electricity. As the waves recede, the pressure inside the column drops, drawing a stream of air through the same upper opening and providing another impetus for spinning the turbine. No water comes into contact with the turbines during the process.

Oscillating Wave Column

Wells Tubine For Harnessing Wave Power

The bay at Mutriku should provide plenty of wave energy. The local harbor has been beset by rough waters for years, and plans to update the breakwater system were well underway when the idea of integrating a wave power station arose. The oscillating water column technology was a good fit with the established breakwater blueprint.

The wave of interest in solar power across Europe has now touched Greece, and in a big way. The Mediterranean country of over ten million inhabitants plans to construct Earth’s biggest solar farm. Estimated to cost €600 million ($822 million), the project will cover 1,285 acres of depleted coal mines in the northern city of Kozani.

Greece remains in the midst of financial crisis, with high unemployment and monumental debt. Hoping to spur economic growth and create jobs, Greece is seeking an outside investor for its state-run solar project. Investment in renewable energy is a key long-term strategy Greece is using to lift itself out of a years-long recession.

The solar project at Kozani will also lesson Greece’s dependence on lignite coal, a heavily-polluting energy source that accounts for about half of Greece’s generated electricity.

Total output of the completed solar installation is estimated to be 200 megawatts (MW). Germany is expressing interest in purchasing some of the new Greek solar power. The German government is actively trying to step away from nuclear power and is seeking alternatives to energy sources from politically unstable countries. Greek Prime Minister Georges Papandreou promised 10,000 to 15,000 MW of solar energy to Germany in a recent press conference. Papandreou will visit Germany later in the month to formally discuss the issue with German leadership.

There is also talk of a joint Greek-German project to build up to 49,400 acres of photovoltaic farms at a cost of €20 billion ($27.4 billion). This ambitious project would produce anywhere from 30,000 to 60,000 jobs in struggling Greece.

The world in 2010 added 16 gigawatts of new solar power, a number that is expected to be surpassed by the sum of 2011 projects.

New Zealand is one big step closer to accomplishing the ambitious goal of generating 90% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2025. The country already produces nearly 80% of its power from clean sources, including hydropower, geothermal, and wind farms. With hydropower approaching its natural limit, New Zealand is investing heavily in two huge new wind farms.

Currently, New Zealand’s wind farms produce 615 megawatts (MW), accounting for around 4% of the overall electricity generated in the country. The most ambitious goal aims for total wind power production of 3,000 MW, or 20% of the country’s total power needs. The two wind farms just approved will contribute 1,400 MW toward that target.

The larger of the two farms is being constructed by Genesis Energy. Its output will be 860 MW, generated by 286 turbines of up to 155 meters in height. The $1.46-billion project will be sited near Wellington in a remote part of Wairarapa. Twenty-seven rural land owners affected have signed land use agreements.

The second approved farm will spring up on the west coast between Port Waikato and Raglan, near Auckland. Here, 168 turbines will produce up to 540 MW. This farm is being developed by Contact Energy, which has agreed to limit the size of the turbines, minimize construction- and operation-related noise, and take measures to protect the local ecosystem.

The scope of these two projects is massive; the biggest New Zealand wind farm to date has only 62 turbines.

Can Nuclear Energy Be Green?

The recent events in Japan have sparked renewed debate over the risks of nuclear energy. Nuclear energy advocates defend uranium as a sustainable source of energy that is relatively safe, that is until something goes wrong. Opponents have long maintained the health and environmental risks associated with uranium mining and nuclear waste alongside the threat of nuclear power plant accidents due to equipment failure or acts of nature. Experts aside, the general public has no trust in nuclear power plants as evidenced by the current boundless consumption of iodine pills.

Enter thorium. Though not a new technology- thorium took a back seat to uranium plants in the 1950s when America’s primary concern was getting a nuclear program established quickly- thorium reactors are considered safe, cheap, and efficient. With more countries revisiting uranium alternatives, could thorium be the new nuclear? And could there be competition? Vying for a slice of the nuclear future pie is another energy source- the traveling wave reactor.

Thorium Reactors In A Nutshell

Thorium

• Thorium reactors are self-regulated and there is no need to worry about accidents or a meltdown. If anything should go wrong, the system shuts down without need for a coolant system. Being already in a molten state, a thorium reactor could not sustain a meltdown.
• There is an abundance of thorium available- 4 times as much as uranium.
• Until a thorium reactor could be seen in action in the U.S., cost is difficult to compare, but some reports claim that thorium can be up to 20 times cheaper than coal.
• Thorium can generate 90 times as much energy from the same amount of uranium, while putting out less waste with a shorter storage life. There is no plutonium generated from a thorium reactor. Thorium can even absorb existing waste and burn it to generate more energy.
• Less real estate is needed for thorium reactors than traditional reactors.
• Cons? According to the EPA, thorium has very low levels of naturally-occurring radiation that could pose risks to those who work with it. While the nuclear waste from thorium is reduced, it is still waste that needs to be stored for a few hundred years.
• India has several thorium reactors up and running with plans to build more. China and Japan are in the planning stages of adding thorium reactors.

Traveling Wave Reactor

TerraPower's Traveling Wave Reactor

TerraPower is a start-up company that has been working on a traveling wave reactor. In order to create a path to zero-emission, the TWR is designed to run for decades by burning already depleted uranium which is currently stored around the world. According to TerraPower,

an 8-metric-ton canister of depleted uranium could generate 25 million megawatt-hours of electricity – enough to power 2.5 million U.S. households for one year.

TerraPower also states that the likelihood of a safety issues is very small. By using liquid metal as a coolant, rather than water, emergencies are easier to control. The reactor head sits above ground and is designed to contain nuclear reactions. The traveling wave reactor currently exists only in TerraPower’s computers, but plans are underway to build a real world test version of the reactor. The company recently got a giant boost from an investor by the name of Bill Gates who is interested in climate change and energy alternatives and who was intrigued by the idea of turning waste into fuel. As Mr. Gates told the Wall Street Journal,

A cheaper reactor design that can burn waste and doesn’t run into fuel limitations would be a big thing.

TerraPower has approached France, Japan, China, Russian, and India to be the home for their test reactor. With the current regulatory process, building a test reactor on U.S. soil would be out of the question. Read the full WSJ report here.

Via: WSJ.

Hybrid Solar Energy Plant In Florida

The newest hybrid model isn’t a car, but the world’s first hybrid solar energy plant that went on the grid last week in Martin County Florida. The Martin Next Generation Solar Energy Center is Florida Power and Light’s (FPL) latest innovation to launch Florida as the clean energy state. Working in conjunction with an existing natural gas power plant, the 190,000 solar thermal mirrors track and harness the sun’s rays via hydraulic motors. That energy is then converted into electricity and offsets the use of the natural gas. The natural gas plant then becomes a stored energy plant serving as a back-up energy source.

FPL- Solar Thermal Mirrors

Sitting on 500 acres of FPL-owned land, the 75 megawatt facility will power 11,000 Florida homes and has already created over 1,000 jobs. According to FPL’s press release, the hybrid plant is expected to

reduce fossil fuel consumption by approximately 41 billion cubic feet of natural gas and more than 600,000 barrels of oil – which would prevent the release of more than 2.75 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions and save FPL customers approximately $178 million in fuel costs over the facility’s estimated 30-year lifetime.

Though many solar thermal plants function as hybrids by burning oil at times of low sunlight, the Martin Energy Center is the first to combine a natural gas plant with solar thermal energy. It’s the last of 3 solar facilities built by FPL in the past 2 years, yet plans are underway to add another 500 megawatts of solar power to the state.

While the 75 megawatt system may seem small in comparison to the 3,800 megawatt gas plant, the environmental benefits are still quite significant. Florida is setting itself up to be a leader in using innovative technology and finding economic solutions in the effort to diversify energy sources and harness that abundant Florida sunshine. Oh, and in the event of one of those Florida hurricanes, the solar mirrors turn upside down for protection.

Via: Palm Beach Post

Sunpower Solar Panels

Princeton University will soon be home to the largest solar field on a U.S. college campus. Scheduled for completion by summer 2012, the 5.3 megawatt system will be comprised of 16,500 photovoltaic solar panels, estimated to generate 5.5 % of electrical power to reduce campus energy costs by 8 %. The solar field will cover 27 acres on the university’s land. The panels will be designed and built by Sunpower, a leader in advanced solar energy systems. To maximize efficiency, 80% of the system will contain Sunpower Trackers that use a global positioning system to capture the sun at the highest intensity, while the remaining solar panels will be fixed at a 25 degree angle.

Atrium in Princeton's Frick Chemistry Laboratory Building

As part of a sustainability plan to reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by the year 2020 to the level it had in 1990, Princeton has also installed solar panels on the roofs of two campus buildings, including the stunning atrium located in the Frick Chemistry Laboratory. Partly funded by New Jersey’s Solar Renewable Energy Certificate program as well as environmental incentives under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Princeton is leading the way for renewable energy systems to be economically accessible.

Princeton University Halls

Their dedication to solar energy will also provide unique research and learning opportunities for both students and faculty. Perhaps the most important aspect of the project is the awareness it will generate about solar energy. As chemical and biological engineering professor, Ilhan Aksay says, “The fact that Princeton University took a lead in this sends out a signal that Princeton is serious about this. I expect that more students will now be interested in pursuing related research, and this will affect the faculty as well”.

Via: Daily Princetonian

SolaRoad Solar Bike Path

What could make bike riding even more efficient? How about a bike path embedded with solar panels to produce clean energy while encouraging people to get on their bikes? The town of Krommenie in the Netherlands, just north of Amsterdam, will be receiving the SolaRoad bike path, scheduled to open in 2012.

Developed by the Province of North Holland, the Ooms Avenhorn Group and Imtech, the solar bike path will be constructed with a concrete base, topped with a 1 cm thick layer of crystalline silicon solar cells. The solar cells will then be protected by a thick, heavy-duty glass surface strong enough to drive a truck over it. The SolaRoad is estimated to generate 50 kw hours of electricity per square meter per year which will be used to power street lights, traffic systems, and perhaps even households along the SolaRoad system.

SolaRoad Project In The Netherlands

The SolaRoad project is part of the Dutch government’s commitment to renewable energy. Their vision is to have an entire network of roads encapsulated with solar panels throughout the country. In the meantime, it will be interesting to learn what cyclists in North Holland think of riding on this glass-surfaced bike path.

Springwise via Inhabitat

World's Largest Solar Roof To Power High Speed Rail Station in China

Efficiency abounds in China as the world’s largest building integrated photovoltaic project prepares to power the railway station where some of the world’s fastest high speed trains pass through. China Sunergy, a solar cell and module manufacturer based in Nanjing, China, has recently signed a deal with CEEG (Nanjing) Solar Energy Research Institute to supply the 7MW solar modules for the Nanjing South Railway Station. When it’s finished, the Nanjing South Railway Station will be one of the most energy efficient public buildings in China.

Solar Powered Nanjing South Railway Station

Mr. Stephen Zhifang Cai, CEO of China Sunergy said of the BIPV project, “We are very happy to see our high-quality solar panels being used in this landmark project, which will certainly raise public awareness and appreciation of renewable energy. We look forward to playing an increasingly bigger role in building China’s eco-friendly projects.”

Solar Powered Shanghai Hongqiao Station

This isn’t the first evidence of China’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions and developing renewable energy. The Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station went on the grid in July 2010 with a 6.7 MW solar roof integrated into the building’s awnings. Yu Hailong, general manager of the China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group (CECEP), the project’s developer, said in July that the BIPV technology will “help stimulate the development of solar energy in China and promote the construction of more environmentally friendly railway stations”. Yes, his prediction is coming to fruition.

Meanwhile, here in the U.S., many of our railway stations have been destroyed or are wallowing in urban decay, such as the Michigan Central Station in Detroit.

Michigan Central Station in Detroit

Perhaps pictures such as this could inspire decision makers in Washington to take a few notes on China’s use of both renewable energy and efficient forms of transportation.

[Via: Clean Technica]

nPower PEG

The new nPower PEG (personal energy generator) by Tremont Electric wowed reviewers at the 2011 CES convention. This back-up hybrid charger allows you to keep your cell phone, iPod, or other hand-held device working while you’re on the go. By harnessing the kinetic energy that you produce through movement, then converting it into accessible power, the nPower PEG allows you to be the manufacturer of your own renewable energy. The nPower PEG is marketed for those with an active lifestyle: commuters, cyclists, college students, backpackers, emergency responders, and exercise enthusiasts.

nPower PEG On The Go

The nPower PEG uses an internal battery that you can charge at home using a USB port. Then, when you head out for the day, the PEG will continuously top off the battery with your movement. If you stop moving and the battery loses power, you can give it a shake to get it going in an emergency. Compatible with USB 2.0 devices, the charger comes with a cable and adapter tips. Made of recyclable materials, it weighs 11 oz, is 1 inch in diameter and 9 inches tall, and is encased in titanium.

Some may find the $159.99 price tag a bit hefty, but the ability to charge your phone or MP3 from anywhere is appealing. Currently, the nPower PEG is back-ordered, but you can get your order in now on the nPower PEG website. Soon to come is an nPower leg band which holds the charger on your leg for cycling or for use at the gym.

Tremont Electric is a green company with plans to take the technology of nPower even further with large scale kinetic energy generators and wave energy converters. They are committed to both the global environment as well as their own local economy. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, 90% of the components used to make the nPower PEG come from the state of Ohio.