Geothermal plants are going to get a new addition to the family of energy assistants. This is because Siemens Energy is releasing a steam turbine that is going to extremely useful to the current state of how these plants are offered powered. This turbine will assist the power range up to 120 megawatts.

A New Addition to Steam Turbines

The SST-500 GEO is being released after the SST-400 GEO turbine, which came out during the season of Autumn 2011. This steam turbine features a single-casing, double-flow condensing turbine. It is taken from the SST-500 and SST-600 families that many people are already familiar with. It combines the well-established casing and auxiliaries of the SST-500 and SST-600 models with the geothermal attributes and steam path technological aspects that have been so brilliant developed by Siemens Energy. This means it can be sent into a geothermal power plant under an impressive wide assortment of potential steam conditions.

The beauty of geothermal energy is that it can work at any time, and it can work under a variety of conditions. Weather and climactic possibilities can do nothing to stop geothermal energy from working, and this makes it one of the most durable renewable energy sources available. Further developments and growth in this field is expected. The SST-500 GEO steam turbine is an excellent example of the constant developments that are occurring in this endlessly fascinating scientific arena.

Each SST-500 GEO steam turbine that is released promises to have the ability to adapt to whatever the surrounding conditions demand of it. The blade path in the standardized casing can be altered to make this steam machine capable of performing optimally in any situation.

Siemens has been an active member of the geothermal community for over 20 years. They have used that time to make incredible strides in the technology that allows geothermal plants to thrive. The SST-500 GEO will be able to function in live steam temperatures that can rise as high as 250 degrees Celsius. It will also be able to endure steam pressures up to 15 bar absolute. There will be high-grade resources for stage-particular turbines, as well as additional features that will allow for moisture to be removed at any potential stage.

When going green it is important to remember the steam.

External References

http://www.pennenergy.com/articles/pennenergy/2013/06/siemens-develops-steam-turbine-for-geothermal-renewable-energy-p.html

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By Guest Blogger Jeremie Brenton

You may think that modern technologies created energy efficient solutions for houses and buildings. It does not appear to be the case in modern world. People buy and use a lot of gadgets at home and at work, thus increasing the levels of energy use. It is not surprising that cities like New York have to address this problem, as power stations cannot handle the load levels of energy consumption.

NYC is one of the greatest energy consumers in the US. All the major city’s skyscrapers, malls and apartment blocks have incredible levels of energy use. Heating and cooling systems also produce about 80% of city’s greenhouse gas emissions. The city plans to cut this number in half by 2030. Energy consumption is one of the crucial factors of climate change. Five months ago hurricane Sandy highlighted inefficiency of city’s energy policy. Both authorities and residents were completely unprepared for the after effects of this natural disaster.

Old buildings vs. new ones

All the skyscrapers and big buildings in NYC are required to present their energy use report on the yearly basis. This measure was first introduced in 2010. Reports were able to draw a picture for better understanding of consumption trends. Surprisingly older buildings cause less damage to the environment than the new ones due to less ventilation and thicker walls that prevent energy loss.

The city is trying to identify buildings with highest levels of energy consumption in order to implement energy saving solutions. Simple motion sensor technologies and LED lights could lower the energy use by 30 percent. Property owners just need to upgrade their systems and negotiate the lease agreements with tenants.

Irresponsible tenants?

Equitable Building, 120 Wall Street and 570 Seventh Avenue have the highest energy efficiency scores in the city. These buildings are rather exceptions among the large number of energy inefficient properties.

Building owners normally tend to disregard the energy use requirements. That’s why a lot of tenants simply consume electricity without any limits. Some office workers leave the lights or ACs on at night when no one needs them. This irresponsible behavior is extremely inefficient and wasteful. At the same time, no one can tell tenants what to do and how to run their businesses. If they need to work late at night, they will do it no matter what.

The new energy plan

If the municipality and local authorities want to reduce energy consumption, they need to get a clear understanding of people’s needs. First of all, it is important to learn more about specific areas that consume electricity the most. Why do they consume this amount of electricity? Are there any ‘greener’ alternatives? Some reports show there are.

Decentralized energy plan can solve certain problems as well. It would specifically prevent massive power blackouts during any natural disaster. Energy audits and efficiency requirements will most likely have a significant impact on energy policy of the city. At the same time, the government needs to invest more time into developing alternative energy sources.

The city currently gets most of its electric power from natural gas or coal power plants: most of it has to be replaced with renewable or at least, less polluting sources. Authorities should also support various ‘green’ energy start-ups and entrepreneurs and any possible ways of energy conservation. This is not an easy task but it has to be done for a better future of NYC – and it can also be inspiring for other densely populated urban areas of the world.

About the Author

This is a guest post by freelance writer and guest poster Jeremie Brenton. Jeremie often covers sustainability and urban development topics and currently writes for NY Energy Rates. Check out their homepage for information on energy companies in New York.

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By Guest Blogger Brit Peacock

The issue of waste plastic is a big concern globally, and nowhere more so than here in the UK. It’s estimated that in the UK five million tonnes of plastic are consumed annually, with most of it – 4.5 million tonnes – entering the waste stream. The European Commission recently released a Green Paper drawing attention to the fact that nearly half of all plastic in the European Union is sent to landfill, which has been calculated as the equivalent in energy terms of burying 12 million tonnes of crude oil every year. Even many ‘green’ plastics use oil-based chemicals to make them stronger and more durable. This is clearly a huge waste of a non-sustainable fossil fuel.

Of course, a great deal of waste plastic does not even make it to landfill but ends up polluting the natural environment. A recent documentary narrated by the actor Jeremy Irons, Trashed, highlighted the landscapes that have been massively polluted by waste, and particularly plastic waste. The ‘Great Pacific Garbage Patch’, a huge concentration of ocean waste, was one disturbing example. Such seaborne plastic particles attract chlorinated dioxins, which are then eaten by marine life, and can then enter the human food chain with potentially serious health consequences.

Recent news from the UK will be of great interest to those concerned about plastic production, particularly in terms of the amount of oil being consumed in their manufacture. A Southampton-based company, Biome Bioplastics, is currently trying to produce a 100% naturally-sourced and biodegradable plastic, and their production method is intriguing.

The company is hoping to replace the remaining oil-based chemicals used in its bioplastics with a chemical derived from lignin. Lignin is a complex hydrocarbon that comes from wood, and which is widely available because it’s a waste product from the pulp and paper industry. When lignin is broken down – rather bizarrely by enzymes found in the bacteria in termites’ stomachs – a chemical is produced that can be used as a viable replacement for oil-based chemicals.

It is hoped that the process of extracting the required chemical can be achieved on an industrial scale, in a cost-effective manner. Producing bioplastics is currently two to four times more expensive than producing oil-based plastics, but the lignin-derived chemical could potentially replace the oil-based aromatic chemicals, the most expensive component of oil-based plastics. The plastic would therefore not only be more environmentally friendly, but production costs would be significantly lower – an important factor during a time of economic recession.

Biome BioPlastics has just been awarded £150,000 by the government-backed Technology Strategy Board to continue its research into producing the plastic on a commercial scale – so it might not be long until we have a cheaper and eco-friendly plastic alternative.

About the author

Brit Peacock is a writer with a keen interest in green issues, who’s currently blogging about sustainability for UK biodegradable and recycled packaging manufacturer Rajapack.

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(And Save On Energy Without Spending a Fortune)

By Guest Blogger Jay Harris

It’s a whole new world out there in terms of household appliances. Whereas our grandmothers might have been lucky to have an electric washing machine, we now have the option to purchase washers that steam clean, analyze loads for optimal cleaning and link with our smartphones so we can monitor and adjust them remotely. They can even connect to a grid system that wirelessly monitors their energy output along with all the other appliances in the house; a system which owners can also manage from their phones.

Although many of us hope to integrate these new smart machines into our homes one day, it might not be feasible to purchase all new home appliances immediately. However, we may not have to, especially if our main goal is to utilize the smart grid system to save on energy.

What is a Smart Grid?

The term “smart grid” can refer to any system that monitors devices linked together through an electric grid, analyzes their data outputs and potentially communicates with them. According to the United States Department of Energy, “A key feature of the smart grid is automation technology that lets the utility adjust and control each individual device or millions of devices from a central location.”
Essentially, then, smart grid appliances are ones that can hook up to the same monitoring system so you can check on their energy efficiency and even control them remotely. The results are lower carbon emissions, improved energy efficiency and overall energy savings for the owner.

Going Wireless with Your Appliances

If you’re looking to save on your household energy expenditures without jumping into purchasing all new appliances, consider installing an energy monitoring system in your home. Grid setup is typically as easy as plugging in your appliance and logging in to your remote monitoring site or phone app. Following are a few types of energy monitors, from a simple desktop device that monitors overall energy expenditures to a monitor that can tell you exactly what device is hogging all that energy:

The Energy Detective: Otherwise known as TED, The Energy Detective is an energy monitoring system that works simply by plugging an MTU, or Measuring Transmitting Unit, into your home’s breaker box. Two clamps attached to the box’s incoming power conductors monitor the amount of energy being used in real time, allowing the user to view the exact cost of running different appliances. Users can view their present energy expenditures and history, as well as how much they can save with small adjustments on the TED Footprints Software, and view energy reports via a third party smartphone app. Additionally, the program comes with a text/email alert that lets you know when you’re about to go over your energy bill budget for the month. Total price for the monitor, wireless monitor and Footprints Software starts around $240.

EcoDog: EcoDog’s Energy Watchdog includes many of the same features as TED, as well as the ability to monitor the cost of charging an electric vehicle, plus In-Home Net Metering which allows homeowners with a solar or wind generator to see how much they’re saving both net and hourly. EcoDog also offers a parental control that shows parents how much energy their kids are expending. Real time monitoring, a software interface, email and text message alerts on energy expenditures and the ability to adjust the energy rates to your local rates are all included. In terms of installation, the EcoDog monitor, called FIDO, is installed by clamping sensors on each circuit in your breaker box as opposed to just the incoming power conductors, which allows the homeowner to more accurately monitor where energy drains are originating. The complete home system starts around $1,000.

The Wattson: If you’re simply looking for a way to cut down on overall household energy expenditures without the hassle of installing a breaker box monitor, energy monitors such as The Wattson allow you to see how much total energy you’re expending in your home at any given time. The arched, art deco-inspired monitor is about the size of an average paperback book and glows different colors as energy expenditures increase or decrease in your home. A retro LED-font display across the top of the device shows exactly how many watts are being expended per hour via the use of external sensors. It’s an ambient way of quickly seeing how much or how little energy you’re using throughout the day. Wattson energy meters start around $220.

Whether you’re looking to pinpoint the energy vampires in your home or just want to watch your overall energy expenditures, energy monitors are a great and affordable alternative to purchasing brand new appliances.
What are some other energy monitors that you’ve found to be useful? What appliances have you found to be the biggest energy drains in your house?
About the Author

Jay Harris is a Home Depot “on the floor” sales associate and a regular contributor to Home Depot’s blog. His interests include home automation and home security systems.

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By Guest Blogger Ryan McNeill

For decades, solar energy has been an industry shaped by revolutionary, new technology, growing by leaps and bounds in the most unpredictable ways. The boundaries of solar technology are always expanding, and as we make our way deeper into 2013, it’s clear that this year is shaping up to be perhaps the most exciting one yet. While there are a number of advancements being made, there are three that stand out as particularly promising:

Record-Setting Efficiency for Cadmium-Telluride

With a natural advantage over other materials, cadmium-telluride (CdTe) responds differently to sunlight thanks to its superior temperature coefficient, giving it the ability to produce more energy than systems with the same power rating. Following extensive R&D investments, Ohio solar company First Solar has achieved record-setting efficiency for CdTe photovoltaic solar cell conversion. Up from their 2011 record of 17.3% efficiency, First Solar has pushed the envelope even further and reached 18.7% in tests that were confirmed by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). While it will be a few years until this level of efficiency is available to consumers, there’s no doubt that it will affect the future of the industry.

Pushing Multi-Junction Technology

Another advancement in efficiency lies in multi-junction technology, which currently boasts a record of 44% efficiency. That may sound impressive, especially when compared to traditional silicon solar cells’ current limit of 25% efficiency, but the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory has their eye on an even more ambitious prize: 50% efficiency. The key to this success lies in the scientists’ identifying “InAlAsSb quaternary alloys.” This high gap band material can be grown lattice-matched to an indium phosphide (InP) substrate, which together achieve a direct band gap of 1.8 electron volts (eV). As with CdTe solar cells, this new technology isn’t ready for commercial production, but thanks to funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) and the Advanced Research projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), scientists at the Naval Research Lab will partner with MicroLink and the Rochester Institute of Technology to develop the technology over the next three years.

Stick-On Solar

This advancement has to do with another kind of efficiency: materials. Publishing their findings in December’s Scientific Reports magazine, Stanford University scientists have developed a peel-and-stick solar panel, called thin-film solar cell (TFSC) stickers, that can be installed directly over virtually any material, no matter how uneven or curved. The benefits of this technology are obvious: installation costs would plummet, opening up the market to many new buyers who previously couldn’t afford the technology. Not only that, but solar could be applied to virtually any device, from coffee mugs to cell phones and even to business cards; the possibilities are endless.

The key to this achievement isn’t the fact that it’s flexible, though. It’s the fact that these TFSCs have the same level of efficiency as traditional solar cells, AND they aren’t cost-prohibitively expensive to produce like similar designs. So, how is this possible? Stanford’s design involves applying a layer of nickel over the rigid silicon wafer, and then using a revolutionary water bath technique to transfer the TFSC from its original Si wafer to the target. The Si wafer can then be reused for other stickers.
What’s Next?

These three advancements in solar technology hint at the promise of great things to come. From increasing energy efficiency to reducing production materials and expanding applications, today’s achievements are clearly leading the way to a brighter tomorrow for the solar industry.

About the author

Ryan McNeill is the President of Renewable Energy Corporation, a solar panel installation company based in Maryland. Ryan has collaborated with the American Solar Energy Society, Sustainablog, Energy ViewPoints, Total Electricity and other solar industry experts.

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