renewable energy

Solar Thermal Energy Systems

Solar thermal energy is a form of energy where the sun is used to produce heat, which can be utilized in a variety of ways. Solar thermal power systems convert wave, direct sunlight radiation into long wave of heat radiation or utilize heat radiation from the Earth’s surface. The modern solar thermal power plants can provide bulk power equivalent to the output and firm load characteristics of conventional power stations.

Wind Power Plants

The kinetic energy in the wind is a promising source of renewable energy with significant potential in many parts of the world. The energy that can be captured by wind turbines is highly dependent on the local average wind speed. Regions that normally present the most attractive potential are located near coasts, inland areas with open terrain or on the edge of bodies of water; some mountainous areas also have good potential.

Biomass Thermal and Electricity Production Systems

Biomass is biological material derived from living, or recently living organisms. In the context of biomass for energy, it is often used to mean plant based material, but biomass can equally apply to both animal and plant derived material.

The following links provide additional information:

Biogas Generation Systems

Biogas systems use bacteria to break down wet organic matter like animal dung, human sewage, or food waste. This produces biogas, is a mixture of methane, carbon dioxide, and a semi-solid residue. The biogas used as a fuel for cooking, lighting, or generating electricity. Using biogas can save the labor of gathering and using wood for cooking, minimize harmful smoke in homes, and cut deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions.

Geothermal Installations

Geothermal electricity generated from geothermal energy. Technologies in use include; dry steam power plants, flash steam power plants, and binary cycle power plants. Geothermal power plants do not burn fuel to generate electricity, therefore their emission levels are very low. They release less than 1% of the carbon dioxide emissions of a fossil fuel plant. Geothermal plants use scrubber systems to clean the air of hydrogen sulfide that is naturally found in the steam and hot water. Geothermal plants emit 97% less acid rain-causing sulfur compounds than are emitted by fossil fuel plants.

Run-of-River Hydro Power Plants

Run-Of-River Hydro Power Plant normally entails a small dam (or weir) and diversion of water via a canal or pipeline (headrace) to bring the water to the power station. The water is then fed into a high-pressure penstock (or pipeline) which delivers the water under high pressure to the powerhouse, where it drives an installed turbine connected to a generator. The amount of power a hydro station of this type can generate is dependent on the head and flow of the water.  At the outlet of the turbines, the water is discharged back to the river via a tailrace.

Photovoltaic Systems

Solar electricity systems capture the sun's energy using photovoltaic (PV) cells. The cells convert the sunlight into electricity, which can be used to run household appliances and lighting. Concentrated solar power systems use lenses or mirrors and tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam.  PV cells do not need direct sunlight to work - you can still generate some electricity on a cloudy day.

Syndicate content
© 2011-2014 Green Energy Portals