Is Biomass A Valid Green Energy Source?

According to experts, yes it is. In fact, it is one of the three main sources of bioenergy.

But what is bioenergy? Bioenergy is a process by which organic material such as animal waste, plants and wood, etc. are used to generate electricity, produce heat and also aid in the production of biofuels.

Biomass Fuel Supply (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In the case of biomass, hot air or water is generated to produce electricity. This is done through direct combustion and is considered the simplest and most common method of generating energy from biomass.

Aside from generating electricity, biomass can be used for hot air production to warm a home or workspace. For this to work, biomass has to be combusted in a furnace where it heats either water or air. Speaking of water, this enables you to have warm water so you can take a shower. In short, biomass in itself can also be used in a small scale as a heating system.

Since you can generate electricity and heat, some people have been able to combine the two which is known as combined heat and power or CHP - which is a very efficient way to generate energy as you can use one energy source for two purposes.

If you are able to compare the amount of electricity generated between biomass and let’s say solar energy, you will notice that biomass produces more because the energy in plants is already captured and stored, and you don’t have to collect it first which is what happens with solar or even wind energy since this is manufactured technology. Biomass energy is readily available unlike the other two which are dependent on the weather.

Combined heat and power plant fired with biomass (woodchips from local forest and other) in Taufkirchen near Munich, Germany. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

You can even use organic waste to product electricity. No other green energy source can do that, and by using this fuel source properly, governments and municipalities can save money because you don’t have to spend money to dispose of the waste and you will no longer depend as much on foreign oil to power energy plants.

The downside to biomass is that because you have to burn waste and other organic materials to produce power, you add to the pollution which is already in the atmosphere. But this can be offset by planting more crops which help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

You will also have to shell out a lot of money initially for the costs of labor, and the transport and storage of these fuels.

Biomass uses renewable natural resources which is why it is considered a green energy source. This means that we theoretically can have an endless supply of it, just like the power of the sun or the wind which flows from the ocean. The challenge is to find suitable land that has a sufficient water supply so these biomass fuel sources will be able to grow. This means that in areas where water is not that abundant, you cannot rely on biomass technology to generate power. When that happens, you will need to use other means, such as solar, wind, or geothermal energy.

There are lots of ways to generate power without causing harm to the environment. Biomass is just one of many, and it can be a viable option to supplement our fuel needs in some areas.

Building A Solar-Powered Car?

If water as a green energy source can be used to power a car, as we discussed in Monday's post, why don’t we do the same for solar power which has been around much longer?

Almost all cars are still powered by gas. But with the volatility of crude oil prices and because it is not a renewable resource, something must be done before it is too late. Given that solar energy, a green energy source, can be used to power entire communities, why not do this on a small scale by using the same principles to build your own car?

A modern solar cell (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

To make this work, you'll need lot of things but the two most important are the solar array and the batteries.

The solar array is vital because this is what’s used to collect the sun’s rays and convert them into electrical energy. There are two types to choose from in the market - namely the prefabricated type and the individual kind which you set up yourself.

If you are looking for branded parts, check out either Siemens or ASE Americas that sell terrestrial grade cells and space grade cells. The lower end model, which can still produce a significant amount of power, is the terrestrial grade version.

Proper wiring must be done to make sure that if one of the panels is not working, your vehicle will still move. Even if the voltage of the solar array doesn't exactly match the system voltage of your motor, in most cases it should still run.

We mentioned earlier that the battery is also important because this is where the solar energy will be stored. Your options for this are lead acid, lithium-ion or nickel-cadmium. Just how many you need to buy will depend on your motor’s voltage. 

When you finally have these two components, these will now have to be connected to the motor. And so that you know how much juice is left in your batteries, you will also need to install instrumentation similar to the heads up display console on regular cars which tells you your speed, mileage and gas.

Australia hosts the World Solar Challenge where solar cars like the Nuna3 race through a km (0 mi) course from Darwin to Adelaide. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Interestingly enough, the only commercially available cars that use solar energy so far are the ones used in long distance races, for example, in Australia. To help people realize that renewable energy is really the key to the future, the big automakers should try tapping this technology instead of relying of still relying on gasoline.

Apart from solar energy as a green energy source to power your car, biodiesel is another alternative. This is a combination of alcohol like methanol and a chemical process that separates glycerine and methyl esters (biodiesel) from fats or vegetable oils. This can also be done using corn and sugarcane.

Not only are these renewable, but they don't release the same pollution into the atmosphere that a gasoline engine does. This means you do not release harmful chemicals such as carbon monoxide into the air which causes damage to the environment. So even if you can’t build a solar powered car, at least consider a different fuel alternative.

Can You Use A Green Energy Source Like Water to Power A Car?

For more than a century, we have relied on oil to fuel our cars. But did you know that the world’s oil production is now in permanent decline, and will eventually dry up completely? While that may not happen tomorrow or next year, or in the next decade, we are getting ever closer because of the increased demand in the world market, as well as the fact that fossil fuels are a non-renewable resource. Why wait for that day when we can rely on a green energy source like water to power our cars?

BMW Hydrogen 7 Engine From the TED Simulcast Lounge. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you think that’s impossible, you may be surprised to learn that this innovation is already in the works, but just not yet being made on a commercial scale.

The German automobile company BMW has recently produced the world’s first ever hydrogen powered car. While only 100 of these units were produced, it just goes to show the possibilities that can be achieved in this area.

The initial model, the BMW Hydrogen 7, uses the body of the 760i gasoline model. But once you pop the hood, you will notice that the engine is different since it uses both gas and hydrogen. Obviously we have not yet totally abandoned our dependence on gas. But given more time and money, the current 4.7 miles per gallon the car can travel using water alone could hit double digits in the near future.

The biggest challenge to using water as a green energy source as opposed to oil in vehicles is the engine. While there are cars around like the Prius, which runs on electricity and gas thanks to fuel cell technology, the hydrogen combustion engine is less than 10 years old so you could say we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg.

To prevent the water from evaporating in this type of engine, it has to be stored in a large, 30-gallon, bi-layered and highly insulated tank so this does not evaporate into compressed gas, which could pose a safety hazard. Another safety mechanism is the valves which are designed to open should the pressure within the tank exceed 5 bars.

With the success of the BMW H7, the company came out with a new car that is also partly powered by water known as the H2R. While we cannot yet put our garden hose into the fuselage to fill it up, this vehicle uses liquid nitrogen as a fuel.

Tests on this vehicle have shown it can achieve 285hp and reach a top cruising speed of 185.5 miles per hour. It can also accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour under 6 seconds.

Honda FCX (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

But why use water? The reason is that hydrogen combustion is clean, so it does not emit harmful gases into the atmosphere, unlike cars that run on petrol or diesel that emit carbon monoxide. Studies have shown that it also weighs less than hydrocarbon-based fuels and burns faster and more efficiently than conventional gasoline.

So when can you expect to buy a car that uses water as a green energy source? Hopefully in the next 15 to 20 years. It is really up to the automakers because all we can do is wait until a better and cleaner car hits the market.

Right now, the best option we have are electric cars. Since the electric car's introduction in 1999, more and more people are using them due to increased gasoline costs.  They provide a much cleaner and more efficient alternative to gasoline powered vehicles, and owners have been very satisfied with them. Until the hydro-powered car becomes a viable reality, remember, you may not be able to build your own hydrogen powered car, but you can vote with your wallet for cleaner and more eco-friendly choices!

Solar Energy Collection Improvements

Photovoltaic cells—those black squares an array of which comprises a solar panel—are getting more efficient, and gradually less expensive, all the time, thanks to ever-better designs which all them to focus the gathered sunlight on a more and more concentrated point. The size of the cells is decreasing as their efficiency rises, meaning that each cell becomes cheaper to produce and at once more productive. As far as the aforementioned cost, the price of producing solar-generated energy per watt hour has come down to $4.00 (or less) at the time of this writing. Just 17 years ago, it was nearly double that cost.

Photovoltaic cells produce electricity directly from sunlight (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Solar powered electricity generation is certainly good for the environment, as this alternative form of producing energy gives off absolutely zero emissions into the atmosphere and is merely utilizing one of the most naturally occurring of all things as its driver. Solar collection cells are becoming slowly but surely ever more practical for placing upon the rooftops of people's homes, and they are not a difficult system to use for heating one's home, creating hot water, or producing electricity. In the case of using the photovoltaic cells for hot water generation, the system works by having the water encased in the cells, where it is heated and then sent through your pipes.

Photovoltaic cells are becoming increasingly better at collecting sufficient radiation from the sun even on overcast or stormy days. One company in particular, Uni-Solar, has developed solar collection arrays for the home that work well on inclement days, by way of a technologically advanced system that stores more energy at one time during sunlit days than previous or other arrays.

There is also another solar power system available for use called the PV System. The PV System is connected to the nearest electrical grid; whenever there is an excess of solar energy being collected at a particular home, it is transferred to the grid for shared use and as a means of lowering the grid's dependence on the hydroelectrically-driven electricity production. Being connected to the PV System can keep your costs down as compared to full-fledged solar energy, while at once reducing pollution and taking pressure off the grid system. Some areas are designing centralized solar collection arrays for small towns or suburban communities.

(Photo credit: janie.hernandez55)

Some big-name corporations have made it clear that they are also getting into the act of using solar power (a further indication that solar generated energy is becoming an economically viable alternative energy source). Google is putting in a  1.6 megawatt solar power generation plant on the roof of its corporate headquarters, while Wal-Mart wants to put in an enormous 100 megawatt system of its own.

Nations such as Japan, Germany, the United States, and Switzerland have been furthering the cause of solar energy production by providing government subsidies or by giving tax breaks to companies and individuals who agree to utilize solar power for generating their heat or electrical power. As technology advances and a greater storage of solar collection materials is made available, more and more private investors will see the value of investing in this “green” technology and further its implementation much more in the years to come.


A Few Innovative New Solar Power Products:
   

New Uses for Solar Power

When you think of solar power you probably think of heating and light for your home. That is one of the many things that we use solar power for.  Solar power is everywhere and its use is growing every day. There are many different products that are made using solar power. Solar power means using the sun's natural heat to produce electricity, heat, and more.  When you use solar power you are using a natural and abundant resource that we cannot deplete, and which causes no pollution (other than the making of means of storing and processing this energy - which continues to become ever more efficient).

A basic, Sharp-brand solar calculator. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There are more products that use solar power than what we realize. A lot of today's electronics use some type of solar power in order to function accurately.  Calculators are a prime example of a useful solar power product.  These calculators may or may not have on and off switches.  Some rely on the solar panel completely in order to stay or turn off.  Solar power calculators need a certain amount of light inside the solar panel in order to turn the calculator on and perform what you want it to do; add, subtract, divide, multiply and more.  The solar panel in a calculator is obviously not as big as the one that you would to power your home.  The size needed for a calculator is adjusted before installation to provide the amount it needs. Solar power use can also be found in travel products, outdoor recreation, safety products, emergency products and more. 

Solar power radios are produced with a solar panel inside that transforms the sunlight into energy allowing you to listen to your radio while you are outside.  You may also find solar power in flashlights, battery chargers, mobile phone chargers, watches, lanterns, emergency products such as sirens and lights.  As you see there are a number of products that are already using solar power technology.  Portable solar chargers are great because they charge the product that you have using just the sunlight, and they are very easy to use.  Camping equipment and supplies also work well with solar power because sunlight during the day then helps to supply lanterns, flashlights and radios at night.

Solar powered tea (Photo credit: Nick . Brooks)

Cooking outdoors can also be done by using solar power to heat the element that will ignite and allow for even cooking.  Because more people are turning to solar power for their main energy source there are more and more companies that are marketing products that are produced using solar power.  Appliances are being made specially for solar power homes.  Many new appliances such as refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers, and more will work great in a home that is generated by solar power.  They are built to conserve energy and operate very efficiently.

As the demand for more efficient and clean energy grows, the availability of solar powered appliances and electronics will grow as well. We can look forward to seeing more interesting innovations in this field in the years to come.

Video - Biofuels: Good or Bad?

Here is a short but interesting video about the pros and cons of biofuels. Are they the answer, or do they cause more problems than they fix? Many people climbed on the Ethanol bandwagon a few years ago, but now there some unforeseen issues coming to light - from clearcutting of forests (which absorb carbon), to chemical-intensive production processes which actually increase pollution, to striking a balance between food and fuel, there are many considerations that need to be taken into account before we decide to make the switch to biofuels for our transportation needs.

Watch the short 6-minute video to learn more:

Biofuels - The Answer Or The Problem
The problem with biofuels

Biofuels As A Green Energy Source

Biofuels are a green energy source you may not be all that familiar with, but they have been around for a very long time.

Liquid biofuel, which is the one used in cars, is a natural and renewable domestic fuel that can only be used for diesel engines. This can be made from vegetable oils - mostly soy and corn. The nice thing about it is that it contains no petroleum, and is nontoxic and biodegradable.

By fueling up with biofuel, you decrease the pollutants in the air because it does not emit much of anything in the way of pollutants. Right now, it is the only fuel that is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has passed every Heath-Effects Test of the Clean Air Act, and meets the requirements of the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

Bus running on soybean biodiesel. U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (www.eere.energy.gov). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

One example of this type of fuel is biodiesel, which is made from alcohol like methanol and a chemical process that separates glycerine and methyl esters (biodiesel) from fats or vegetable oils. Aside from methanol, some countries have also experimented with corn and sugarcane to create their own version of biofuel.

Glycerine is a common product used in making toothpaste and soap. However, since the technology for this is fairly new, the process of converting it is quite expensive and right now, this is still much more expensive per gallon compared to petroleum (gasoline).

(Although if you look at what you pay for it, the returns are huge because you get to do your share to preserve a cleaner environment, an improvement in air quality and a reduction of cancer-causing agents.)

A cheaper and more primitive way to make bio-diesel is by collecting used cooking oil and then processing it. This may not be good your car’s engine so be careful if you decide to use it.

If you are skeptic about biodiesels, studies have shown that performance on the road is just as good as petroleum in terms of power to efficiency, hauling and climbing. You can use this in its pure form or blend with petroleum fuel. The most common mix in the market is 20/80 and is referred to as "B20." This means that 20% is biodiesel and the remainder is 80%. Another version is the E85 which is fuel composed of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline.

The best part about using biodiesel is that you only have to make a few changes in your engine to be able to use it. Aside from making the car run, it also helps clean the engine. If you are concerned that this will void the warranty of your vehicle should there be a problem, don’t worry because it doesn’t. In the US, B20 is the most common one available but there are only a few gas stations that carry it. (E85 is becoming more common, but there are some concerns coming to light regarding lack of efficiency, and environmental issues due to overuse of farmland for intensive farming of corn to make this product.)

Biofuels work at Argonne (Photo credit: Argonne National Laboratory)

When cars first rolled out in the beginning of the 20th century, Henry Ford planned to make these vehicles - especially the Model T’s - run using ethanol. Tests have even shown that these may also run using peanut oil.

This never materialized because huge oil deposits were discovered and diesel was cheap. It was only when our demand for oil increased in the 1970’s, 1980’s, 1990’s and in the last decade or so that people began to realize that to reduce our demand for foreign oil that we should try using biodiesels and other forms of alternative energy. Developments in processing and efficiency continue to occur at an increasing pace, and we can look forward to seeing better biofuels on the market and readily accessible in the years to come.

That said, although improvements continue, we must keep in mind that some of these solutions may cause more problems than they fix, so it is important to look at all sides, and find the proper balance before choosing a green energy source. Check back Friday for an interesting video on the pros and cons of biofuels.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Green Energy Sources

Today, almost everyone is now becoming aware of the effects of global warming. Fortunately, it’s not too late and we can still make positive changes, which is why many are pushing for more green energy sources.

The advantage of using green energy sources is that they are cleaner so they does not emit as many harmful pollutants into the air, which creates a lesser impact on the environment. Green energy sources are also renewable which means we will never run out of them, unlike fossil fuel types such as oil, which is expected to dry up in another decade or two.

Green Mountain Energy Wind Farm. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Although green energy facilities are expensive to build, many can require less maintenance so you don’t have to shell out a lot of money to operate them in the long-term.

They can also bring economic benefits to certain areas, and in come cases even boost tourism.

While these sound good, there are some who say that there are disadvantages to using such technology.

While green energy sources can produce electricity, how much they can generate is often not consistent. This is because we have no control of the weather, for example, so if a certain area relies on solar energy and there is an unexpected weather disturbance which reduces the sun's rays reaching the earth, the system will not be able to convert sunlight into electricity.

Building these facilities also requires a lot of land so we may have to encroach on farmland or wildlife areas, which is what many are concerned about if more wind turbines are to be put up.

Another disadvantage is the fact that some of the green energy sources cannot be installed in certain areas of the planet. For instance, wave energy can only be utilized if ocean waves reach at least 16 feet. The use geothermal energy can only be done in geologically unstable parts of the planet.

But if you look at such arguments, places that cannot use one form of green energy source can usually substitute another. And if wind turbines need more space, they can be installed near the coast instead of on land. In fact, several studies show that you can generate more electricity with wind turbines planted in the ocean anyway.

While the weather is something we cannot control, most weather disturbances don't last too long, and if energy is being properly stored from a solar panel system, it should have enough backup energy to make it through a period without sun. .

The point is that there are ways around many of the arguments which discourage the use of green energy sources. In fact, research is ongoing to try and harness other means to generate the power we need, and new technologies and resources are being developed on a regular basis.

A very good example of this is called ocean thermal energy. Power is generated by harnessing the different temperatures in the water. It is currently being used on a small scale both in Japan and Hawaii.

Generation mix of Spain's Electricity supply - Over 50% from renewables! (Photo credit: Tom Raftery)

In the US, only 7% of our energy comes from green energy sources currently - lagging far behind most other developed countries. We actually ranked much higher just 11 years ago and if we don’t want to have to worry about the cost of oil or even reduce our dependency on it, we really have to invest more in clean types of energy.

We can get it from green energy sources such as biomass, biodiesel, geothermal, solar, water and the wind. These are things we have all around us and all it takes is for someone to harness them instead of relying on traditional non-renewable means to produce energy. The future of our planet, and humanity, depends on us using our creativity and great brains to develop methods to utilize these resources in an efficient manner!

Video - Geothermal Energy in Iceland - Imagination At Work

Here is a very inspiring video about some of the advancements in technology that help Iceland provide 90% of its energy requirements from this renewable, non-polluting energy source. The video also discusses the impact that the change in environmental consciousness is having on the country, as well as the possibility of the use of geothermal energy sources within the US and other countries to achieve more clean and safe energy production.

Check it out - it's worth a watch to see what great innovations are happening in other parts of this great globe!

Geothermal Energy in Iceland
The most inventive, progressive and eco-friendly energy system in the world is the cornerstone of a national consciousness that is a blueprint for the world's future.

Geothermal as a Green Energy Source

We have the technology to do a lot of things and one of these is to tap the earth’s energy. This is exactly what we do when we use geothermal which happens to be a green energy source.

Image via WikipediaGeothermal energy is energy obtained by tapping heat from the earth itself. This comes from magma and the radioactive decay of uranium, thorium, and potassium.

The downside to geothermal energy is the fact that it can be expensive to harness. On the other hand, because the earth's crust continuously decays replenishing the heat, it is still a renewable source of energy.

There are three types of geothermal plants. These are namely dry steam, flash, and binary.

Dry steam plants take steam out of fractures in the ground and use it to directly drive a turbine that spins a generator.

Flash plants take on water at temperatures over 200 °C out of the ground, and allow it to boil as it rises to the surface, then separate the steam phase in steam/water separators which runs the steam through a turbine to generate electricity.

Last, you have binary plants. Here, hot water flows through heat exchangers and that boiling organic fluid is what spins the turbine.

Once power is generated, the condensed steam and remaining geothermal fluid from all three types of plants are injected back into the hot rock to pick up more heat.

Geothermal plants are operational in several different parts of the globe. These are usually located in geologically unstable parts of the planet. You can see some in Chile, Iceland, New Zealand, United States, the Philippines and Italy. At home, two most prominent areas for this are in the Yellowstone basin and in northern California.

Aside from digging deep into the earth, there are some who believe we can generate power from hot dry rocks. You have to dig 3 kilometers deep first to find these hot underground radiogenic granite rocks. Right now, some Australia companies are exploring this technology.

Image by lydurs via FlickrIf you were to compare the amount of energy collected from geothermal to solar, you still get more from the sun. Despite that, many people may still find a use for geothermal energy at times, since solar energy cannot be harnessed when the clouds block the sun’s rays from reaching the solar panels.

Geothermal energy is a green energy source just like wind, hydropower and biofuel because it is renewable. By maximizing its potential, we don’t have to worry as much about the price of oil spiking in the world market.

But that is not the only thing we should be concerned about. We should also do our best to protect the environment, given that coal fired and nuclear power plants produce harmful gases and radioactive waste that may cause harm to people and the surrounding areas.

Everyone knows that our planet has changed due to global warming. For us to do our share to protect the environment now and for generations to come, we have to learn to use alternative energy sources, and geothermal is another of the many green energy sources currently available.

The Benefits of Green Energy Sources

For a very long time, we have relied on fossil fuels to provide heat to our homes, gas for our cars and electricity. But since we are now using these more than ever, we are really starting to see the consequences. We are depleting our resources and slowly killing our planet. Fortunately, we can change our ways and shift our attention to green energy sources.

Image via WikipediaBut why green energy sources? Some will argue that the problem with green energy is that it is sometimes difficult to generate all the power we need. While that may be true, there are many green energy sources available and we just need to know which ones are viable given the geographic location we live in.

The various green energy sources such as solar, wind, wave, hydropower and geothermal do not produce nearly as many negative effects on the environment as operating with coal, oil, or even nuclear power.

Coal you have to remember releases carbon dioxide into the air. A single coal plant may not cause that much damage but there are currently 50,000 coal plants around the world and that number is expected to grow.

Nuclear plants may not release anything harmful into the air. The issue is how we dispose of the spend rods and if another nuclear accident should occur. We remember Chernobyl and Three Mile Island. We have probably learned better ways to prevent another incident from happening. Through the years, a few minor accidents have occurred and although the leak was contained, just imagine if it wasn’t?

Green energy sources may not be maintenance-free but at least it does not require that much to maintain them compared to conventional means. In the end, we save money because such facilities don’t cost that much to operate. 

The next advantage of using green energy sources is that we will never run out of them. For centuries, the sun’s rays have reached our planet - so has the wind which is blown from the sea. By using these freely available sources, we decrease our dependence on oil which is a nonrenewable resource.

Image via WikipediaIf you think about it, many of us have taken these green energy sources for granted. If we do the right thing now, future generations will not have to face the mess that we could have handled on our own years before. In short, the power is in our hands. We have the technology and we know what to do with it. The only thing we need is to do is to put our money where our mouth is, because despite the number of conferences on global warming and climate change over the past year, little substantial change has happened.

It is easy to talk about how concerned we are about the environment but you have to ask yourself when will more solar panels or wind turbines will be erected? When will the number of coal or nuclear power plants be reduced?

Green energy sources are a major part of the solution to the environmental, political and social problems of this century. By spending more on developing these technologies and making them more efficient, eventually no country will have to depend on another or even a corporation for their power needs, because they will be self-sufficient, and not limited by scarcity (e.g. another country can't very well take away your sunlight, or your wind).

Get involved, and find out how you can choose and support green energy sources in your area.

Check out these resources for more info on climate change, green energy, and how you can help:
http://www.terrapass.com/
http://www.nativeenergy.com/
http://www.ewg.org/