Eco Factor: Outdoor umbrella generates power for recharging portable devices.
Konarka Technologies, an innovator in development and commercialization of Power Plastic (a material that converts light to energy), is working to make sure that power for your portable devices is available anywhere. The firm entered into a technology partnership with SKYShades one year ago and lately, SKYShades received its first shipment of Konarka Power Plastic thin film. SKYShades is one of the global leaders in supplying shade and tension membrane structures. This lightweight thin film, which converts light to energy, will be used by SKYShades to create the Powerbrella, an innovative way to charge your laptop, cellphone or other portable devices outdoors.
Designed for use at outdoor venues such as cafés and restaurants, hotel and resort swimming pools and outdoor lounges, the Powerbrella incorporates the Power Plastic on the surface of SKYShades’ retractable and fixed architectural SKYbrella. Testing for the Powerbrella has been done in 2008 at Lake Highland Preparatory School in Orlando. Physics students at Lake Highland checked the effectiveness of the Powerbrella to withstand the elements, its ability to generate clean green energy and the amount of resulting power that could be stored in batteries for reuse.
Other than generating energy from the solar panels, the Powerbrella will also offer people coverage from the sun. The Powerbrella is expected to go on sale by Q3 of 2009.
Eco Factor: Cold storage facility powered by solar energy.
Perpetual Power has announced the completion of a 416KW DC solar installation on a Budweiser cold beer storage facility in Contra Costa County, California. The 2,240 panels, which cover about 60% of the 110K-aquare-foot building’s energy needs generate about 600,000KWh of energy which would result in an annual savings of approximately $100,000.
Eco Factor:Boat made from recycled materials runs on solar energy.
The design team of one of the most discussed green cars, the Aptera, is not just relaxing and enjoying the success their creation got but is working their way from the road to the open waters. The design team that includes Jason Hill of Design11 and Nathan Armstrong ofMotive Industries has designed a solar-powered boat known as the Loon.
The boat comes with a solar roof capable of generating 1000W of green power, enabling the pontoon-shaped boat to cruise at a speed of 7 knots for an estimated range of over 35 miles. The solar roof is foldable for you to enjoy the sun after shutting down its electric power house. Made from recycled materials, bamboo and natural fibers, the 22-foot-long boat can also transfer electricity to the grid if the boat is anchored to the dock for the day.
The Dark Side:
The boat is still in the concept stage and more details on the boat would only surface after a prototype has been developed. If it comes at an affordable price, it could definitely green some inland waterway boating trips.
Eco Factor:Solar-powered air conditioning systems.
The best way to get rid of blackouts during heat waves is to use the energy from the sun to cool your home. Researchers at the Australian National University have done just that by developing solar air-conditioning systems. The systems, which are currently in the testing phase, will be able to reduceenergy load, especially during the peak hours of the day.
Apart from the use in air conditioning during summers, the same solar modules can also be used to heat your home in winter and provide you with solar-heatedwater as well. The reduction of load on the grid during peak hours will enable the grids to perform better and provide uninterrupted power for more important processes that require less but a consistent supply of electricity.
The Dark Side:
The use of solar air conditioning will definitely be a boon for the masses and the grid as well. However, depending on just solar energy, which is highly inconsistent, won’t have that much of an impact. If solar energy is coupled with some other forms of renewable energy like the wind, it can cater to a broader market.
Eco Factor:Photo-bioreactor made from recycled water bottles.
Using algae to develop biofuel is not a new thing, and researchers have previously made some bioreactors in which the process takes place. However, a new demonstration at Instructables does show how one can make an algae bioreactor using nothing other than recycled plastic bottles. The photo-bioreactor uses algae to convert carbon dioxide and sunlight into energy, which is produced in the form of algae biomass. This biomass is extracted and used to develop carbon neutral biofuel. Head over to Instructables for the DIY details.
Solar energy is one of the most impressive and easily available sources of green energy that has the potential to power everything from the PMPs we carry to the cars we drive. Toyota has already started exploring the potential of solar energy by announcing that it will use solar panels in its next-generation Prius hybrid car. While this car would just use the energy to run the car’s AC, some designers have shown the way cars could completely be powered by the energy falling from the sun. Check out ten such concepts one of which might just be your ride into the future.
We are getting plenty of ‘World’s first’ since the past few days here. Only last weekend had we seen the plans for world’s largest solar power plant in Arizona be unveiled and also the world’s first Trans-Pacific Wave powered boat trip. Now we have the world’s first commercial flight on biofuel. I guess these are exciting days for those who have clamored for greener energy sources since long. The list is quite impressive indeed- Solar Energy, Wave Energy and now Biofuel. I suppose every industry and every economic sector is trying its best to move forward on the green path.
It may sound like science fiction, but Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) is an idea whose time has come. Energy Islands offer a sustainable ocean living, these islands are floating modular renewable energy platforms that incorporate photovoltaics, solar thermal towers, wave energy, ocean current energy turbines, wind turbines, and OTEC (ocean thermal energy conversion). Each island would be built on a floating platform and at its centre would be a plant that converts heat from the tropical sea into electricity and drinking water. Below deck would be marine turbines to harness energy from underwater currents and around the edge floating devices to provide wave power.
U.S. Ausra, Inc. is going to establish the first solar thermal manufacturing plant in Las Vegas, Nevada. It has been announced that the plant will be 130,000 sq. ft. in area. It is going to have highly automatic manufacturing and distribution center and will produce the key components of the company’s solar thermal power plants.
The headquarter of Ausra is in Palo Alta, CA and this company has signed agreements so as to provide solar thermal power plants to several places of utility. The latest one is for California where a plant of 177 MW is planned to be build for Pacific Gas & Electric. The best among other qualities of solar thermal power plants is that it will provide electricity at zero pollution level and that too at the market rate. Its capacity is to produce 700MW per year and is more than sufficient for 500,000 homes.
Thinking about making a low-cost, easy-to-install wind power device that provides a safe and attractive method for harnessing power from the wind? Virtually all modern wind turbines convert wind energy to electricity for energy distribution. So why not follow these steps and make your own Vertical Axis Wind Turbine or VAWT that stands on the ground and can accept wind from any direction, a unit that will potentially experience high winds, above 25MPH.
Vertical–axis wind machines have blades that go from top to bottom and look like a giant two-bladed egg beaters. The advantages of this arrangement are that generators and gearboxes can be placed close to the ground, and you need not worry about the wind direction. It is easier to maintain because most of their moving parts are located near the ground and there are no emissions or pollution produced by its operation. For those who live in areas with high winds and want to curb their electric bills, this option can be highly efficient and moreover an attractive energy source.
