Solar power electricity can also be called as solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. It strikes into the same abundant and free energy resource as solar thermal technology. PV cells consist of semiconductor materials that convert sunlight into electrical energy thorough the photovoltaic process. On their own, the voltage and current level produced by individual cells are not particularly useful, but when many cells are connected together to form modules (panels), more practical energy can be produced. We call this energy as Solar Power electricity.

Various materials and technologies exist for solar power electricity, all have their own specific characteristics, advantages and disadvantages, and lot of it varies from consumer to consumer based on their preference and requirement. Despite the fact that they cost more than the other renewable energy sources, they actually offset the most expensive energy bought and used in home electricity. Beside the rise up of electricity prices solar power electricity has become more attractive more domestic consumers.

Solar power electricity lacks any mechanical components, it is silent in operation and highly reliable. It has no moving parts so it works perfectly well without any need for maintenance. The modular nature of PV allows for system design and rating to be amended at any time easily. Additionally, PV can be integrated into the fabric of the building as well as being mounted on the roof, or into a specially design frame. PV produces on-site electricity, bypass all the losses associated with electrical transmission over the national grid and saves hundreds of kilograms of carbon emissions per year in the process.

A well designed system in a suitable location should produce between 700 and 850 kWh of electricity per year. Solar power electricity system of 1.5 and 2.5kWp could generate fifty percent of the electricity requirements for an average home. This adds to its attraction because this is the world of less expenditure and more production, and merely Solar Power Electricity totally satisfies the need of the day.

pratibha
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/solar-power-electricity-678184.html

The small solar-power generator for homes is waiting to be built as of today, 2008. Parts and components for a solar power generator have been invented, developed, and are in operation for many years, but the full electrical equipment that powers up a home, has not been integrated and is not ready for the market place.

The home power generator (HPG) based on sun heat requires a small solar dish to collect the heat, a small Stirling engine capable of moving a 3 KWh electrical generator, the power generator and a battery system to store one or two days generated electricity. The battery bank would then supply 24/7 electricity to any outlet upon demand. An additional gas heater installation can be included to backup the lack of sun light, making the system a reliable alternative. Components for this home power generator have yet to be integrated into an appliance homeowners can buy at Sears, Home Depot or other stores, and have it installed.  Larger Power Generators using Stirling Engine are a reality and have been developed by Infinia Corporation for the California Solar Plant.

CENTRALIZED POWER GENERATION
Large power generation and distribution companies, are staying away from the home markets. There are 44 companies in the United States that generate and distribute electricity, with 403 billion in revenues, making profits of 36 billion p/year, who wish to continue charging each consumer forever. Developing technology for homes can hurt their central power generation business. Although their plans may include the diversification of their power source, such as: nuclear, hydro, solar, thermal power, as well as, continuing the use of coal, natural gas, oil, it does not include the home power generation market.

Sunlight is the only energy available to all homes, free of charge, provided by God and nature. If sunlight was harness by each consumer to power up their home, central power generators and distributors may not be needed. Other power generating technologies coming from thermal power, hydro or nuclear power, are innocuous to these utility companies, because home owners will never use these energy sources to generate their own power. Thus we can expect that current power utility companies will continue to use these traditional sources of energy extensively, and will defer and try to derail home solar technology as much as they can, as long as they can.

When no other alternative existed for obtaining electricity as we have had in the past, electricity supplied from these large plants was welcomed. But today, with so many more technologies available, large power generation plants and centralized business model is highly inefficient because: 1. consumers pay more and forever, to these virtual monopolies; 2. homes need to be within the reach of the electrical grids, remote country homes not tied to the grid need to find other ways to power up their home; 3. flying electrical cables through the streets provide for visual contamination and make streets and neighborhoods look bad; 4. the land used for laying down the high tension cables is about 3%; 99% of the power generated comes from contaminating fuels, either fossil fuels or radioactive materials; and lastly the expensive investment plant model inhibits poor countries from obtaining electricity. In essence the centralized power plants have American paying electricity forever, and are the direct cause for poverty and starvation in the world.  Please read on Poverty generation:  http://www.articlesbase.com/politics-articles/poverty-and-the-new-world-order-809385.html

We need to understand that insisting in generating electricity via very large plants, without the development of the Home Power Generator, creates world poverty, inhibits poor countries from obtaining electricity, inhibits people in those countries to produce food and make products to generate an income which can sustain themselves, and comes back to the USA in terms of the help we need to provide but always as charity. 

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
Since FPL, Duque Energy, Constellation Energy and the other 39 companies are incapable of developing the HPG, other investors are need to develop this light weight Solar power generation industry. , similar to the Air conditioning manufacturing plants. Development and fabrication of the HPG would be the integration of the 4 components, which can be produced or outsourced by the investor, making the investment accessible to smaller investors. The HPG appliance will be maintenance free, operating cost free, can be sold all over the world, to power up homes and eliminating the electricity cost of those using it.

Juan Trevino
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-opportunities-articles/compact-electric-power-generator-for-the-home-based-on-solar-energy-725300.html

A home solar dish that activates a Stirling engine and moves a 3 kilowatt/hour power generator would make most electrical power generation and distribution grids, obsolete. This small, apparently insignificant Solar Generator installed at each of the 124 million households in America would deliver the energy that is needed to power up homes for heating, lights, cooking, water heater, TV sets and all the electrical amenities required to provide modern human comfort, now and years to come. A small equipment or appliance could solve a problem of gigantic proportions and would surely provide a more sustainable and new world order.

A series of articles along these topics will explore the solar power generation equipment, the centralized power generation and distribution system, demand for electricity and world growth, international energy agency position, sustainability of the electric industry and more related issues. These articles wish to make a modest contribution toward world sustainability and fairness in energy distribution. Finding investors that can contribute in developing the home solar power generator would be the largest plus for these articles.

Solar Equipment.- The Appliance

Homes in the US require an average of 25 to 35 kilowatts per day, or about one megawatt per month. Average homes need about 12 megawatts per year which may cost about 1,800 USD, every years. On the other hand, a home solar generator with an electrical storage system should cost less than $1,800 for the equipment and free sun power from then on. The solar generator receives about 10 hours of sun light per day, and can produce the temperature change needed to activate a Stirling engine. The Stirling engine in turn would drive a 3 KW hour power generator during sun light hours and deliver a direct current that is stored in a battery bank. Then the battery bank would provide on demand, 24 hour electricity to the home outlet.

Centralized Power Generation

Our current electrical power grids are the product of big business, big lobbyist and big government because they require large investments. An electrical power grid can be integrated using Nuclear, Coal, Gas, hydro power, or thermal turbines, to generate the steam which drives the power generator. The electrical energy is then sent though cables thousands of miles and delivered to homes, offices, and industrial buildings. Consumers need to be tied to electrical grids to have power. Having large number of consumers in a location maintains the electrical delivery systems within cost. This central power generation and distribution system, needs a large institutional infrastructure, including institutions such as the Department of Energy, a Nuclear Commission, an International Energy Agency, agencies to handle clean coal, liquid Natural gas to say the least. This complex power development model established in the past century and current today, increases entry cost to all societies and furthers development and underdevelopment of nations, in favor of countries that created the model and can afford the energy.

Power Plants require either carbon base fuels, uranium, thermal or hydo power as the energy source. Powerful special interests exists for the carbon based fuels, such as coal, natural gas and petroleum, to continue its usage and its proliferation. American foreign policy has been shaped to protects fuel supplies, and inhibit US participation in Green House Gas emission treaties. The centralized power generation model is so strong that it has elevated the initial investment for these plants, and position them at the Billion dollar marks. This situation has further contributed to the need for a World Bank, and an International Monetary Fund, who would fund those countries that need to buy Power Plants.

Freeing homes from electrical power grids implies that any home, anywhere, can power up if they have installed their $1,800 home solar generator, having the same human comfort that city dwellers now enjoy. . Governments or Power Companies would no longer need to invest 5 billion USD per Nuclear reactor to provide 1.5 Gigawatt capacity. Land used for the electrical transmission cable, would be recovered once the electrical power grids were dismantled.

 

 

Juan Trevino
http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/solar-power-generation-for-a-new-world-order-673242.html

Installing a solar power system isn’t as hard as many people may think, however we have made a few solar panels so far and this article is an overview of how to do it properly at the lowest cost. Below are some of the things you need to focus on if you’re looking to make your own solar panel all by yourself.

If you’re a novice in this field you might end up being overwhelmed by all the information that lays everywhere on the Internet. You will need a solid manual that teaches you step-by-step how to put a solar system together without failing, in fact some guides will give you the information you need but aren’t as detailed as they should be. Look for one that contains illustrated diagrams that are easy to comprehend. Some proven records are essential as well as they only reflect the fact that even a DIY novice is able to build their own solar panel with ease without having to get any headaches or even worse give up.

Long story short — lets have a look at what you need to know even before deciding to install a fully functional solar power system that will suit your needs:

1. Understanding how a solar power system works. Even before you go about purchasing all the required parts for your DIY project you need to have a clear overall picture of how a solar power system works and what each part is supposed to do. That is why a solid DIY guide will be necessary, that you can read through to get the main idea before going to your local power parts supplier.

2. Where to buy all the necessary components. Most people might think that building a solar panel is quite costly however not anymore since all the necessary parts don’t cost you more than two hundred dollars. There’s nothing to worry about because a proper guide will not only teach you how to properly install the power system but where to get the best components you’ll need at the lowest price.

3. Installing the power system. This part can only be achieved by following a blueprint. (A guide that has proven to work for others). You need to look for one that has a tech support as well just in case of any troubleshooting. Seriously we were a bit skeptical when we’ve built our first solar panels but it can be done with ease even by a novice and it doesn’t take weeks either.

4. Additional components. Lastly when your system is put in place you’ll need a charge controller to check the amount of electricity that your system is generating and not only but a few storage batteries for the electricity that is not consumed. Everyone should know that a system is incomplete without these two elements (they don’t cost much either)

Now you have an overview of how to install a proper power system that can drastically reduce your energy bills. You might want to find a guide that explains every step in detail including how to generate electricity using wind turbines in the cloudy days right in your own backyard.

Installing a solar power system isn’t as hard as many people may think, however we have made a few solar panels so far and this article is an overview of how to do it properly at the lowest cost. Below are some of the things you need to focus on if you’re looking to make your own solar panel all by yourself.

If you’re a novice in this field you might end up being overwhelmed by all the information that lays everywhere on the Internet. You will need a solid manual that teaches you step-by-step how to put a solar system together without failing, in fact some guides will give you the information you need but aren’t as detailed as they should be. Look for one that contains illustrated diagrams that are easy to comprehend. Some proven records are essential as well as they only reflect the fact that even a DIY novice is able to build their own solar panel with ease without having to get any headaches or even worse give up.

Long story short — lets have a look at what you need to know even before deciding to install a fully functional solar power system that will suit your needs:

1. Understanding how a solar power system works. Even before you go about purchasing all the required parts for your DIY project you need to have a clear overall picture of how a solar power system works and what each part is supposed to do. That is why a solid DIY guide will be necessary, that you can read through to get the main idea before going to your local power parts supplier.

2. Where to buy all the necessary components. Most people might think that building a solar panel is quite costly however not anymore since all the necessary parts don’t cost you more than two hundred dollars. There’s nothing to worry about because a proper guide will not only teach you how to properly install the power system but where to get the best components you’ll need at the lowest price.

3. Installing the power system. This part can only be achieved by following a blueprint. (A guide that has proven to work for others). You need to look for one that has a tech support as well just in case of any troubleshooting. Seriously we were a bit skeptical when we’ve built our first solar panels but it can be done with ease even by a novice and it doesn’t take weeks either.

4. Additional components. Lastly when your system is put in place you’ll need a charge controller to check the amount of electricity that your system is generating and not only but a few storage batteries for the electricity that is not consumed. Everyone should know that a system is incomplete without these two elements (they don’t cost much either)

Now you have an overview of how to install a proper power system that can drastically reduce your energy bills. You might want to find a guide that explains every step in detail including how to generate electricity using wind turbines in the cloudy days right in your own backyard.

Alex

1. INTRODUCTION: FUTURE ENERGY NEEDS

Mankind has recently enhanced its living standard and its population in an explosive way. In fact, the human population quadrupled and primary power consumption increased 16-fold during the 20th century [1]. The consumption of energy, food, and material resources is predicted to increase 2.5 fold in the coming 50 years. As a result of our efforts for better life, we have come to face, in this 21st century, serious global issues threatening our safe life or even our existence itself on our mother planet earth. These are issues such as global warming, environmental degradation, declining nutrition on land and sea from rising CO2, and rapid decrease of fossil reservoir. Since the living standard and the population of developing countries are increasing continuously, the demand of energy will be several times larger than that of today’s requirement by the time of the half way of this century.

In 2000, the world had 6.1 billion human inhabitants. This number could rise to more

than 9 billions in the next 50 years as shown in Fig.-1. This future population increase is mostly due to very rapid increase in less developed countries although the number in more developed countries will be almost constant (about 1 billion) or rather decrease [2].

Fig.-1 World Population Prospects [2]

The explosive increase in the human population inevitably requires an exponential increase in the consumption of energy, food, and material resources. One primary power source at present comes from fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas. However, the fossil fuels have two serious factors which prevent them from being used for a long term as primary power source. One is their limited amount that does not last long if used with the same or higher pace than that of today (Fig.-2). The other is their negative feature of emitting carbon dioxide, one of the green house gases, which causes the global warming.

Fig.- 2 Pattern of Global Energy Dependence [3]

Fig.-3 Atmospheric carbon dioxide monthly mean mixing ratios. Data prior to May 1974 are from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO, blue), date since May 1974 are from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA, red). A long term trend curve is fitted to the monthly mean values [4]

Atmospheric CO2 has increased from 275 parts per million (ppm) before the industrial era begun to 379 ppm in March 2004 as shown in Fig.-3. Some scientists suggest that it will pass 550 ppm this century. Climate models and paleoclimate data indicate that 550 ppm, if sustained, could eventually produce global warming comparable in magnitude but opposite in sign to the global cooling of the last Ice Age [5].

Global energy demand continues to grow along with worldwide concerns over fossil fuel pollution, the safety of nuclear power and waste, and the impact of carbon-burning fuels on global warming. As a result sustainable energy sources like solar, wind, hydropower, biomass, geothermal, hydrogen, ocean thermal, tidal power etc are drawing prime attention, out of which solar power is the most promising one. Terrestrial solar power has too many limitations like atmospheric attenuation, daily and seasonal variation, and affects by climate conditions etc. To overcome these limitations concept of Solar Power from Space is getting momentum, which was first proposed by Czech-American engineer Peter Glaser as a solution to the oil crises of the 1970s [6]. Solar Power from Space is a proposed concept to place a gigantic solar power station in space orbiting around the earth that uses microwave power transmission to beam solar power to a very large antenna on earth where it can be used in place of conventional power sources.

2. SPACE SOLAR POWER (SSP) vs TERRESTRIAL SOLAR POWER (TSP)                   

The SSP concept arose because space has several major advantages over earth for the collection of solar power. Space is free from day-night cycle, atmosphere, clouds, dust, rain, fog and other climatic changes, so it would receive 30% more intense and at least eight times more sunlight than that of at ground constantly and continuously unaffected by the weather. In geosynchronous orbit it would receive sunlight almost 24 hours a day hence avoiding the expensive storage facilities necessary for earth-based solar power systems.  Since earth’s axis is tilted, it would be in earth’s shadow only for 70 minutes maximum at late night when power demands are at their lowest, during 42 days near the equinoxes [7] as shown in Fig.-5.

Fig.-5 Daily duration of eclipses as a function of the date [7]

3. SSP: SYSTEM DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGIES

The SSP system is composed of a space segment and a ground power receiving site (Fig.-6). Space segment consists of mainly three parts; solar energy collector to convert the solar energy into DC (Direct Current) electricity, DC-to-microwave converter, and large antenna array to beam down the microwave power to the ground. Ground power receiving site uses a device called rectenna (rectifying antenna) to receive and rectify the microwave power beam. The rectenna system converts the microwave power back to DC power which is then converted to conventional AC (Alternating Current), and is connected to existing electric power networks.

Assuming typical values for efficiencies like 15% for solar panels to convert solar energy into DC, 70% conversion rate in the space segment from DC to microwave, 90% beam (power) collection efficiency, and 80% conversion rate for rectenna from microwave to DC in ground segment, the estimated over-all efficiency is approximately 7.5 %. With such efficiency a SSP space segment would be of size of about 50 km2 (5 km x 10 km) to generate 5 GW DC power on earth (Fig.-6).

Fig.-6 : Reference Model: 5 GW GEO based Space Solar Power Station Designed by US Department of Energy (DOE) and NASA in 1979 [8]

3.1 -SOLAR CELL: EFFICIENT STRUCTURES

In the very near future, breakthroughs in nanotechnologies promise significant increase in solar cell efficiencies from current 15% values to over 50% levels. That might decrease required size of space segment by about 3 fold. Author proposes Metal-Metal junction cavity solar cell which theoretically promises to increase solar-electric conversion efficiency many folds.

A cavity of metal m2 (work function W2) with thin polish of metal m1 (work function W1, W1 <W2 , Fig.-7) on inner surface, with a pin hole is kept at the focus of the solar concentrator coinciding the pinhole and focus. Pinhole is covered with transparent glass to protect inner polish of cavity from atmospheric reaction. Such cavity behaves as metal-metal junction solar cell (termed as M-M cavity solar cell) with various features (described below) leading to enhancement of solar-electric conversion efficiency.

·  The major loss in usual structures is the reflection loss (about 30%) but in M-M cavity solar cell once ray enters in cavity, undergoes multiple inner reflecti

s.sankar
http://www.articlesbase.com/cell-phones-articles/energy-compensation-using-solar-power-stations-in-space-685742.html

Two solar power technologies exist, the passive and the active technology. The passive technology are the photocell panels or the photovoltaic film that receives sunlight and generates electricity more apt for a space station or a home. The active technology is a solar thermal that uses a dish to concentrate sunlight that produces steam, which in turn powers a turbine that generates electricity. Another active technology, which is not being promoted, hidden form public view, is using the Stirling Engine to move a power generator.

The passive technology is ready to go, and there are a few homes that have already installed the system. This system is totally clean, backed by the USDOE Solar American Initiative, it requires sufficient space on the roof to position the panels or film, and uses an inverter to turn direct current into alternate current homes can use. The Utility companies have also developed the Net Metering system to buy electricity on their terms, from homes that have generate a surplus of electricity. The new federal tax law “Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008″ effective January 2009 provides a 30% tax credit of the cost of a solar system. Some States are also providing large incentives to install solar systems, although with the current economic crisis these paybacks can be curtailed or delayed. The rest of the payback has to come from real savings generated over time by the system from the Utility company. This passive solar system is expensive as of today, and payback is obtained in 8 years of savings. Photovoltaic film or photocell panels are low efficiency and voltage, and compare badly with the option of buying electricity from the utility company. Currently you require from 13 to 15 photocell panels to generate the 2.5 to 3.0 Kilowatt hours generating capacity.

Walmart has established a pilot plan to install photovoltaic panels in several of their stores. If the system produces a return, they will massively implement it in all their stores, since they have sufficient roof space currently not utilized.

The Solar-thermal system is not adequate for homes and mainly will be used for large Utility companies. However, the active system based on a Stirling engine to power a generator which could be applicable for homes, is not available for massive distribution. Although all of its components have been developed, no one has yet integrated the solar power generating kit, or a home appliance. This home system or appliance should be very low cost because it requires: a solar collector or dish which could cost around $200 USD, a stiriling engine with a cost of $350, the 3 KW per hour power generator with a cost of $350, and the battery bank which is the expensive ticket item and could run several thousand dollars, to store electricity if the system is a stand alone not tied to the power grid. If the home is currently supplied by a utility company, then the battery bank is not needed and the Net Metering system with the public utility company can be used. In addition to the sun collector dish the rest of the system can be packaged in two boxes. One which has the stiriling engine and power generator, and the other with the battery if you are a location not tied to the grid. It can also have a gas heater installation as a backup to when there is a lack of sunlight making this a very reliable alternative.

Apparently, there are companies in America, New Zealand, India, Sweden, and other countries trying to develop the stiriling engine . A few companies are receiving funding from investment funds to develop the stiriling engine for this home appliance. Infinia Corporation, a US company has a head start, because they are currently producing a big sterling engine to power up 10 homes at a time and installing many of them in a centralized solar farm in California. Other companies should not be discouraged because markets are so huge, there will be enough room for all suppliers. Just in United States alone there is a potential of 124 million homes that could use the solar power appliance, plus commercial and industrial sites.

Having the home powering appliance, can be the initial steps for returning to sustainable systems. Today, the sun is light and warmth, provided to us from God and Nature, free for all of us to use and enjoy. A home solar powered generator would provide clean energy, and allow equal footing to all nations rich and poor, to devote their funding into other worthwhile social services such as health and education. Rich nations which have electrical grids and power generation capacity would suddenly feel there would be no need to continue increasing Power generation capacities and hopefully they would discontinue all those plants that contaminate. Please see Poverty generation:  http://www.articlesbase.com/politics-articles/poverty-and-the-new-world-order-809385.html

Juan Trevino
http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/solar-power-technologies-on-hold-673269.html

You can convert your home into solar power. By using solar system to generate electricity does make your home stand out. Solar energy or renewable energy can help you to save your electricity cost by 60% annually. A single house with 2 solar systems is sufficient for daily power usage. But the problem is a solar power system cost more than $1000. In this article I will show you the way of how you can get a home-made solar system for less than $200.

Earth 4 Energy is a website which offers a web-based program teaches how to build a home-made renewable energy generator. A solar power is enough to produce electricity for 3 heaters. It is also depend on the size of the solar plate. Each house should need at least a 2 kilowatt solar power system. The exceeding of electricity which isn’t use can be sold to a local power utility company.

2 meters are required to record the solar power which being used and another to record how much electricity did the solar system generated. As a result the electricity cost is less than $10 per month which reduces the utility expense by 60%. So you won’t have to worry about how much you have to pay for the bill. A solar system not only helps to keep the environment green but save a lot of money for you. As mentioned earlier, a solar system is costly. Earth 4 Energy is a D.I.Y. home-made solar system the program show you how to build a solar power device for less than $200. In fact you can buy parts from your local store or on the internet.

The program offers an instruction manual and videos show you how to build the system in detail. The process is explained in basic steps. The program is designed for people who have no basic knowledge about renewable power system and does not based on technical content. An experienced person can use the program for new ideas and tweak their skills. Earth 4 Energy offers a cost-effective way to build home-made renewable energy system for every household.

Let me show you how to successfully create a solar system for less than $200

Jonathan Valentine
http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/earth-4-energy-review-can-earth-for-energy-really-convert-your-home-to-solar-power-692579.html

You can convert your home into solar power. By using solar system to generate electricity does make your home stand out. Solar energy or renewable energy can help you to save your electricity cost by 60% annually. A single house with 2 solar systems is sufficient for daily power usage. But the problem is a solar power system cost more than $1000. In this article I will show you the way of how you can get a home-made solar system for less than $200.

Earth 4 Energy is a website which offers a web-based program teaches how to build a home-made renewable energy generator. A solar power is enough to produce electricity for 3 heaters. It is also depend on the size of the solar plate. Each house should need at least a 2 kilowatt solar power system. The exceeding of electricity which isn’t use can be sold to a local power utility company.

2 meters are required to record the solar power which being used and another to record how much electricity did the solar system generated. As a result the electricity cost is less than $10 per month which reduces the utility expense by 60%. So you won’t have to worry about how much you have to pay for the bill. A solar system not only helps to keep the environment green but save a lot of money for you. As mentioned earlier, a solar system is costly. Earth 4 Energy is a D.I.Y. home-made solar system the program show you how to build a solar power device for less than $200. In fact you can buy parts from your local store or on the internet.

The program offers an instruction manual and videos show you how to build the system in detail. The process is explained in basic steps. The program is designed for people who have no basic knowledge about renewable power system and does not based on technical content. An experienced person can use the program for new ideas and tweak their skills. Earth 4 Energy offers a cost-effective way to build home-made renewable energy system for every household.

Let me show you how to successfully create a solar system for less than $200

Jonathan Valentine
http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/earth-4-energy-review-can-earth-for-energy-really-convert-your-home-to-solar-power-692579.html

Many people today are unaware of why and when you should use renewable energy sources in today’s world. The main reason for using natural energy is mainly down to the environment, and if you care to improve the quality of it. But with many viable energy sources out there, which one you choose can be a nightmare to decide upon.

Before you set off to purchase lets say, a couple of solar panels, you should take a look at the other technologies available to decide which is most appropriate for your environment. For example, solar panels may not be of much use near the poles, put a hefty, durable wind turbine would love to sit up there and spin round and round all day.

You don’t have to be a genius to discover that solar panels work best near the equator and reduce in efficiency, the further away you travel from the equator. So, if you live nearer the poles than the equator, you should choose a wind turbine right? Wrong!!!!

Wind turbines could be placed anywhere on our globe (where the land can support them) and still generate hardly any power whatsoever. It all depends on the surrounding environment, for instance, if you build a home wind turbine in your backyard, you could be very disappointed, unless you were the only house in the most common wind direction. What we mean by this is, if there are many houses surrounding your house, they will block most of the winds power and your turbine will probably just spin round at a very slow speed (assuming its windy), and this doesn’t generate the power you require.

However, if you live in the country and place a turbine in your backyard, you are more likely to generate a larger output of electricity. So the answer is buy one if you live in the countryside? Wrong again!!!

If there are large hills, forests or mountains nearby, these too can greatly reduce the winds power. Before purchasing a wind turbine you should definitely either do research yourself into the surrounding are, or hire a professional to do a survey. If your house is surrounded by other houses, dense tree plantations, hills, or mountains, (presuming they are blocking the path of the average wind direction), you should consider looking into solar cells or even a geothermal system to heat your home.

For more information on wind turbines, why not take a look here: http://www.clean-energy-ideas.com/wind_turbines.html

James Bratley
http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/when-you-should-choose-wind-turbines-over-solar-panels-106306.html

Thanks to the advent of alternative power, no longer must we rely on depleting the planet of its natural resources, burning fossil fuels that cause pollution of the atmosphere, depletion of the ozone layer, can potentially be unstable (as in nuclear energy), and continues to increase in cost year after year. The main sources of alternative power are the following:

• energy producing crops: synthetic biofuels and direct combustion;
• wind power and power from waves and tides;
• hydroelectric (water) power;
• solar power: heat and electricity;
• heat power: from man-made and natural waste products and from the making of synthetic bio-fuels;

By definition, an energy resource is renewable if it is replaced at a rate equal to or faster than the rate at which it is consumed. Renewable energy is therefore also considered sustainable energy, since it will continue to be available in unending supply even as it’s being utilized. Renewable energy has also been given the moniker alternative energy in reference to the alternative it offers to conventional, non-renewable sources.

Renewable energy can be utilized in one of two ways:

• directly: as in water mills, windmills, solar ovens, geothermal heating;
• indirectly: using the renewable resources to create other sources of power, either as fuels (biodiesel, bioethanol, biogas) or by generating electricity (wind turbines, solar panels).

Before renewable energy replaces the conventional sources of power that we’re used to (ie. public utility grid power), it will take years of research and development, continually studying, experimenting, improving, and innovating. The study of renewable energy, its applications and repercussions is concerned with environmental, economical, social, and political factors.

The reasons for switching from conventional, non-renewable energy to renewable energy are vast and varied, and the list grows larger every day. Among them are:

• it has a small to nil environmental impact with little to no harmful emissions, as a result supporting and protecting our natural ecosystem for future generations to enjoy;

• supplementing utility power with renewable power allows you a precious and invaluable backup system in the case of emergencies such as power outages and shortages;

• once a renewable energy system is installed, the energy costs a consistent amount to use year-round - as opposed to utilities that fluctuate in price throughout the year based on seasonal as well as socio-political factors;

• it is “distributed” energy, or energy that is used in the same location where it is produced - this cuts down considerably on transportation and distribution costs;

• many local and state governments as well as the federal government offer incentives in the form of tax breaks for the production and use of renewable energies;

• if you produce more power using renewable resources than you need for your own personal use, you can actually sell that power back to the utility companies in a program called “net metering”.

To complete a truly well-rounded discussion on renewable energy, there must be equal time given to its drawbacks as to its benefits. The most prevalent concerns about the long-term viability of renewable energies are that it is extremely dependent on numerous climactic factors and that it is considered “diluted” energy in that much more is needed to generate much less power. These so-called drawbacks, however, are no reason not to continue a fervent pursuit of incorporating renewable energy usage into more and more parts of our everyday lives. They are only to keep us present to the issues we must address in order to make a widespread switch to renewable energies a viable reality.

Michelle Bery
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/a-primer-on-alternative-power-139018.html