Archive for April, 2012

Global Industrial and Specialty Gases Market to Reach 11 Trillion Cubic Feet by 2017, According to New Report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Published by fnever on April 29th, 2012 - in Knowledge Base

San Jose, California () April 10, 2012

Follow us on – Despite the challenging economic environment amid the debt crisis in Europe, demand for continues to remain modest driven by increased investments in infrastructure and reserves in emerging markets. Traditionally, the is known to be surging ahead regardless of economic factors, owing to the evolving multiplicity of new applications both in conventional and novel domains. The long-term nature of the contracts and the diverse portfolio of end-user industries abate the hypersensitivity to market conditions for this industry. Consolidation, concentric diversification, strategic business alliances and divestitures are the key strategies being adopted worldwide to improve producer margins and market penetration. The industry is expected to gain momentum post 2012, following anticipated turn around in economic situation, increased production and inventory levels and greater demand as consumer confidence stabilizes. Over the long term, annual growth rate in the industrial gas market is expected to significantly exceed the rate of industrial production driven by multitude of factors including opening of new start ups, rapid industrialization of emerging economies, increasing demand for energy, environment regulations, improving healthcare , and advancements in industrial technology. In addition, intense R&D activity focused on new application areas, minimizing operating expenditure and reduction in cycle times will propel fast track growth in the global market.

As stated by the new market report on Industrial and Specialty Gases, the US continues to remain the largest regional market. Region-wise, Asia-Pacific is projected to witness maximum growth prospects for industrial gases, followed by Latin America and the Middle East. India and China offer high growth potential for industrial gases owing to rapid infrastructure developments and increasing concentration of the semiconductor, electronics and food processing industries in these regions. Leading industrial gas producers are investing in construction of projects, joint ventures and acquisition/ franchising of local firms in these economies lured by strong potential for growth. Growing environmental consciousness also presents an emerging avenue for the industrial gases in the industrializing economies.

Segment-wise, Hydrogen is projected to be the fastest growing product segment. In petroleum refining sector, the drive for low-sulfur and cleaner burning fuels is expected to fuel the demand for hydrogen. Demand for hydrogen is further expected to increase, with adoption of clean fuel norms in other countries. The drive towards energy diversity provides long-term opportunities for oxygen market. With gas-to-liquids, sands projects in the Middle East, as well as coal gasification projects requiring huge quantities of oxygen, the market for this segment is portended to witness significant growth. Metal fabrication and production sector is expected to remain the second-major sector for industrial gases, next to petroleum refining. Growth in this sector primarily stems from increased utilization of electric arc furnaces, enhanced demand for products manufactured using stainless steel and other advanced production methods requiring greater usage of industrial gases.

On the other hand, growth in electronics sector and rising demand for ICs and semiconductors is forecast to drive the consumption of bulk gases. In recent years there has been significant development in the high technology markets including semiconductor, flat panel display, and photovoltaic cells which continues to drive the demand for high purity industrial gases. Further demand is expected to emanate from development of other alternate energy sources such as hydrogen fuel cell technology which is being pursued to replace fossil fuels for automobiles and electricity generation. In addition, the increasing demand for homecare solutions amidst contraction of healthcare budgets is expected to augur well for consumption of gases such as oxygen which is used in respiratory therapies.

Leading players profiled in the report include Air Liquide, American Air Liquide Holdings, Inc., Air Products and Chemicals, Inc, Airgas, Inc, Praxair, Inc., Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation and The Linde Group.

The research report titled “Industrial and Specialty Gases: A Global Strategic Business Report” announced by Global Industry Analysts, Inc., provides a comprehensive review of trends, issues, strategic industry activities, and profiles of major companies worldwide. The report provides market estimates and projections by volume (Cubic Feet) for global and major geographic markets including the US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Latin America. Product segments analyzed include Acetylene, Argon, Carbon Dioxide, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, and Other Industrial and Specialty Gases.

For more details about this comprehensive market research report, please visit ?

http://www.strategyr.com/Industrial_and_Specialty_Gases_Market_Report.asp


About Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (GIA) is a leading publisher of off-the-shelf market research. Founded in 1987, the company currently employs over 800 people worldwide. Annually, GIA publishes more than 1300 full-scale research reports and analyzes 40,000+ market and technology trends while monitoring more than 126,000 Companies worldwide. Serving over 9500 clients in 27 countries, GIA is recognized today, as one of the world’s largest and reputed market research firms.

Follow us on LinkedIn

Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Telephone: 408-528-9966

Fax: 408-528-9977

Email: press(at)StrategyR(dot)com

Web Site: http://www.StrategyR.com/


####





More Solar Energy Franchise Press Releases

Tags: , , , , , , ,
No Comments »

A Look At Alternative Energy Funds

Published by fnever on April 26th, 2012 - in Knowledge Base

Article by Peter Bankss

Traditional energy sources such as , coal and , derived from fossil fuels are used to meet the energy needs of most of the world. Due to the rising cost of and heating prices, concerns as to how long the supply of fossil fuels can last, and a strong desire to be more self sufficient and less dependent on fossil fuels, the global community has been focusing more and more on sources.

Technology used to harness the power of such as , power, power and biomass has advanced considerably in recent years. All of these options for alternative energy are now more economically viable than every before. Due to the recent explosion in interest in alternative energy and the increased amount of time and money spent on and of alternative energy technology, it is an excellent time to invest in alternative energy funds.

There are many companies that focus primarily on investing in alternative energy funds. The Guinness Atkinson Alternative Fund is a long term fund that invests in equity securities of companies that work with alternative energy or alternative energy technologies. Alternative energy funds with Guinness Atkinson Alternative Fund invests in 40-60 stocks of global companies that use get than 50% of their revenue from alternative energy. This company which focuses on technologies that enable exploration of the potential of alternative energy has seen monumental gains in their alternative energy funds in recent periods.New Alternatives Fund, which is largely committed to alternative energy, is another alternative energy fund that is doing very well and has seen incredible gains in recent quarters. Many experts believe that we are experiencing an alternative energy revolution that will continue to gain in momentum with increasing technologies and advancement and feel that there could not be a better time to invest in alternative energy funds.

Firsthand Alternative Energy Fund also helps clients with investing in alternative energy funds and specializes in solar, wind, biomass, fuel cells, efficiency and technologies of alternative energy. They feel that alternative energy is an important and promising area to invest in.

Calvert Global Energy Fund is a company that introduced their Calvert Global Alternative Energy Fund in 2007. They focus on active management of all alternative energy funds and employ an active and diverse management approach with financial research analysts and portfolio managers.

The Calvert Global Energy Fund is handled by money managers with exceptional expertise and they also focus on sustainable research for long-term rewards for investors. They invest at least 80% of assets into alternative energy companies. Many companies also offer investment kits to make investing easy and help people get started with alternative energy funds .

Know more about Alternative energy and get a Free Special report on “How to Save Our Planet” at our site Sustainable Development

Peter BankssGet a Free Report on “How to Save Our Planet”










A new wave of technologies is on the verge of producing energy that’s clean, renewable, and most importantly, .
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Related Alternative Energy Articles

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
No Comments »

Earth Day 2012 ? 12 Tips to Green Your Home

Published by fnever on April 24th, 2012 - in Knowledge Base

, PA () April 21, 2012

In with the 42nd annual Day on April 22, ? North America?s leading brand of ? is encouraging homeowners to take steps to help protect the environment and make their more sustainable.

1. Monitor Your Thermostat. Keeping your thermostat turned down in the winter by as little as two degrees ? and up two degrees in the summer ? can result in significant savings on utility bills.

2. Increase comfort with insulation. The (EPA) estimates a homeowner can save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs by sealing and insulating around the home. Installing InsulSafe SP

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
No Comments »

Interesting Solar Energy Facts

Published by fnever on April 22nd, 2012 - in Knowledge Base

Article by William Bernard

It’s truly valuable for absolutely everyone to learn a few standard facts to ensure that they are able to truly appreciate the entire potential and numerous areas of applications for this plentiful energy resource. is truly the most green and most desirable of all of the methods. At the present time yearly worldwide energy usage is in the range of roughly 550 exajoules (523 Quadrillion BTUs) per year. Each year ’s atmosphere, oceans, and land masses absorb approximately 3,850,000 exajoules of energy produced by the sun. Once this is taken into account most people can begin to grasp exactly why the industry is earnestly trying to perfect techniques to collect . The Desertec foundation speculates that covering only 1% of desert areas throughout the planet with solar PV panels could power up the entire earth.

Listed below is a brief overview of historical solar energy facts:

- The human use of solar power isn’t new; many ancient civilizations have made use of it in one manner or another. – Leonardo da Vinci was one of the first modern pioneers to conceive usage of solar power to heat water.- The French scientist Edmond Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect while experimenting with electrolytic cells in 1839.- In 1894, Clarence Kemp, an inventor filed and attained a patent for the design of the world’s first water heater.- The world’s first solar thermal power plant was designed by Frank Shuman in 1913.The plant which was built in Egypt made use of parabolic trough-shaped mirrors to be able to heat water in boilers to power a 65 horsepower engine. The engine pumped about 6,000 gallons of water per minute from the Nile River to nearby cotton fields.- The 1st modern photovoltaic (PV) cell was made at Bell Laboratories in the year 1954.

The following are some additional technical solar energy facts:

- Solar devices are generally one of two kinds, active and passive. Active solar power devices use PV cells and passive techniques are thermal based.- Solar PV systems are presently the most widespread energy conversion systems, which use in modules to convert sunlight directly into electrical energy.- Thermal based solar systems sometimes incorporate molten salts to store solar energy at high temperature due to their high specific heat properties.- The International Energy Agency (IEA) has forecasted that by the year 2060 about one third of our planet’s electricity demands likely will be created using solar energy technologies such as solar photovoltaic panels, water heaters and also solar power stations.- The Nokia 1610 plus was the first commercial solar powered mobile phone released by the Finnish company in 1997.

The following list is of significant solar installations throughout the planet:

- Solar Energy Generating Systems (SEGS) is actually a group of nine solar power facilities situated within the Mojave Desert in California. SEGS maintains the classification of currently being the earth’s largest solar energy plant having a pooled generation potential of approximately 354 megawatts.- Typically big solar power plants rely upon photovoltaic panels for electric power generation, for the reason that they are currently a lot more cost effective when utilized on a larger scale. The world’s highest capacity photovoltaic power facility is found in Sarnia, Canada, which provides a generation potential of 97 megawatts.- The Andasol facility in Spain having an energy output of 250 megawatts is the 2nd biggest solar electrical power station in the entire world.- The world’s biggest Scheffler reflector system situated in Rajasthan, India is able to cook up to 35,000 meals a day.- The world’s biggest thin-film photovoltaic power system “Waldpolenz Solar Park” can be found in Germany.- Topaz Solar Farm, a 550-megawatt solar photovoltaic power plant that is currently being built, will be among the biggest facilities after completion.

Solar energy facts related to solar powered flight:

- The Astro Flight – Sunrise, an unmanned air vehicle engineered in 1975 was the 1st solar powered airplane.- The Gossamer Penguin, created in 1980, was the 1st airplane exclusively fueled by photovoltaic cells that was able to carry a human.- Helios, an unmanned air vehicle, powered in part by owns the record for achieving the highest altitude of 96,863 feet, and also a world record for continual horizontal flight by a winged aircraft.- Vanguard 1, an American satellite launched in 1958 was the world’s 1st solar powered satellite. Incredibly the satellite continues to orbit the earth today and it celebrated its 50th birthday in 2008.- IKAROS (Interplanetary Kite-craft Accelerated by Radiation Of the Sun) is the first spacecraft to successfully exhibit solar-sail technology in space. The Japanese launched the spacecraft in 2010 in an H-IIA rocket.

Because of the prolonged volatility of prices and the fact that the typical citizen has started to become more conscious of their natural environment, there has actually been a strong drive towards the of renewable energy. This increased push for non-fossil fuel energy definitely will aid to lower the cost of solar panels together with other types of alternative energy options. A need for businesses to appear eco-friendly has produced large scale ad strategies from energy giants like BP and General Electric, presenting their ventures in green sources of energy. These energy giants are certainly not the only ones investing in sustainable energy, the increasing cost for natural , coal, and oil have forced energy prices higher and made “eco-friendly” energy sources including solar power, an attainable financial choice for everyone. Demand for solar energy has increased at 30 percent yearly during the previous 15 years. In 2009, PV solar panel installations grew by 20%, compared to 2008, with more than 7.3GW of photovoltaic installations all over the world. Gains in 2009 generated by the photovoltaic industry additionally went up, getting to .5 billion.

The attraction for solar power is crystal clear. It’s a practically limitless resource. It is free of greenhouse gas emissions, generally considered to add to worldwide climate change. In industrialized countries which use a huge amount of air conditioning systems, it produces more electricity specifically whenever you need it– during instances of maximum electrical energy usage. Once put in, solar systems should be able to function for 30 or more years with a minimal amount of routine maintenance or management. Even so, solar comes with some restraints, specifically the low efficiency of PV modules, that is additionally decreased by the requirement to turn DC from solar cells into AC current. Furthermore, solar power relies on weather conditions and also is an intermittent energy source, which requires storage or additional systems to supplement during times of low power generation. Overall the positive solar energy facts significantly outweigh the negative. These positive facts are helpful to explain this vital change in the direction of more widespread use of solar energy, which will certainly offer a flourishing and more balanced environment for many generations to come.

It is important for everybody to know a few common solar energy facts so they can appreciate the full potential of solar power, our most abundant resource.










Related Helios Solar Energy Articles

Tags: , ,
No Comments »

An Introduction to Solar Energy for Children

Published by fnever on April 19th, 2012 - in Knowledge Base

Article by Teri Ferreira

When you look up at the sky in the morning – what do you see? The sun! The sun is a star that is full of gases that burn all the time. It gives off heat when it burns. The amount of that burns for the sun is very large indeed! These burning gases make the sun very, very hot. The that burns also causes the sun’s glow. And this is how we get light and heat from the sun, in the form of the sun’s rays. is a form of energy from the sun. Like electricity, can also be used as power. is found wherever you find sunshine. So what is energy? Energy is a force or power whose help we use to do things. We need physical energy when we need to move something like a heavy box. A jar of sweets contains lots of as there are many sweets in there or fire crackers that you use have energy in them. A bulb glows because of .The sun’s rays travel and hit the surface of the and they have a lot of heat and light in them and that is why we call it solar – sun – energy. Without sunlight there would be no life on . Plants depend on it to live and animals depend on plants for food. Sunlight and the atmosphere make sure that our has temperatures that we can survive and live in. Solar energy can be used to cook food, power cars and other vehicles, power homes, and is 100% free! Unlike other types of energy, the sun won’t ever run out. Solar energy is energy taken from the sun that changed into electrical energy. This electric energy is also known as thermal energy. The sun has been producing energy for billions of years. The sun is the richest energy source. Solar energy is clean and can be made into other energy forms. With the human help it can power inventions to provide pollution-free energy. It can used as electric energy in homes, theatres, hospitals, movie houses, schools, night soccer games, greenhouses, businesses and in so many other ways. It can also heat water in your and swimming pool too! It can make electricity. There are homes that get all their electric energy from solar energy.Because the sun sets and it’s not always sunny outside, solar batteries help store the energy from the sun. At night or on cloudy days these batteries can use the energy they have stored from the sun and in that way we benefit from solar energy too.Solar energy can save money and make a huge difference in pollution. So if we all start to use solar energy we will have a much cleaner planet to live in. We will actually be taking very good care of our planet! can power just about anything from calculators to large homes or business. How does it work? can directly turn sunshine into electricity. When light hits the on the , the collision (crashing) knocks electrons loose. The cells electric field forces the electrons to flow in a current. Metal contacts on the top and bottom of each cell create a circuit that draws of the current. To care for dust and wash the regularly and remove dirt and things such as bird droppings. To work, panels have to be pointed to the sun, at an angle of about 30°. Some panels are put flat against the roof but they do not do the job quite as well then.So if we are responsible citizens of Planet we should start to think about how we can use solar energy in our everyday lives so that we can make a difference to the well being of our planet.

More Solar Energy Games Articles

Tags: , , , ,
No Comments »

Larson Electronics? Magnalight.com Releases Portable Explosion Proof Transformer/LED Light System with Four Receptacles

Published by fnever on April 17th, 2012 - in Knowledge Base


Kemp, Texas () April 16, 2012

The EPL-TX-500-4-1MLED 500KVA power transformer converts 220V 50/60Hz electrical current to 120 VAC 50/60hz and distributes it via four 20 amp receptacles. To increase versatility and provide operators with a full power light source, .com has combined this system with a 150 watt LED light head that produces 10,000 lumens of bright white light capable of illuminating large work areas. This innovative explosion proof transformer and lighting combination means operators in can easily deploy both power distribution and illumination from a single source at the same time, allowing them to more safely speed up work operations. The 500 KVA rated transformer on this system comes standard in 120 VAC 50/60hz primary to 120 VAC secondary configuration and is also available in 12 VAC, 12 VDC and 24VDC configurations as well for low voltage applications. Power is distributed through four 20 amp twist lock explosion proof receptacles for secure connections and powering multiple lights or devices. The LED light head on this system is a round 150 watt fixture that produces 10,000 lumens of bright white light and is capable of effectively illuminating large work areas. The LED light is adjustable vertically, produces little heat, has a 60,000 hour operational life, and is designed specifically for with a Class 1 Division 1 and Class 2 Division 1 approval rating. This transformer/power distribution/lighting system provides added convenience and versatility through a dolly cart mounting configuration that allows operators to easily roll the entire unit into position and move it about the work area as needed. The cart is constructed of non sparking aluminum for safety and durability and has two solid wheels and one caster wheel for easy rolling. A built in hanging rack allows operators to neatly stow the included 25 feet of explosion proof cord. This entire transformer/lighting system provides operators with excellent value and convenience as well as high performance and is ideal for operations, plant turnarounds, construction, and anywhere Class 1 Div 1 and Class 2 Div 1 approved power distribution and lighting is required.

?The Magnalight EPL-TX-500-4-1MLED is a complete package for hazardous location areas with a 150 watt LED explosion proof light for temporary lighting and a 500KVA explosion proof transformer to step down high primary voltage to a safer 120 volt or 12/24 volt for hand lamps, grinders or other tools,? said Rob Bresnahan with ? Magnalight.com. ?Typically, if you need temporary power distribution, you will also likely need portable lighting as well within the hazardous area. The EPL-TX-500-4-1MLED has both in an explosion proof configuration for ease of portability and deployment.?

Larson Electronics? Magnalight.com manufactures and distributes a wide variety of power distribution substations, generators, inline transformers, hazardous location lights, intrinsically safe lights and a large line of explosion proof equipment and accessories. Visit Magnalight.com to learn more or call them at 1-800-369-6671 or 1-214-616-6180 for international orders and questions.





Tags: , , ,
No Comments »

South Texas Generator Systems Participates In Conference with T. Boone Pickens Highlighting Reduction of Long Term Fuel Costs

Published by fnever on April 15th, 2012 - in Knowledge Base

Houston, TX () April 13, 2012

T. Boone recently told STGS, ?If we don?t capitalize on [it], we?re going to go down in history as the dumbest crowd that ever came to town!?

This conversation was not about sound bites, it was ?s wisdom and insight … uncensored, uncut and filled with extremely useful revelations about the direction of the industry.

T. Boone?s Timeline for ? the last century was built on but the next few years the US will make the leap to natural first, at $ 2.35 for natural and $ 110 for at today?s prices the US has the cheapest in the world by a wide margin, especially since the price of natural gas has dropped 36% since January 2012.

The Surprising Truth About Hydraulic Fracturing ?from a man who?s been doing it for over fifty years … the cost are going up for this process due to only to regulations.

What T. Boone?s military connections are saying about the chaos in the Middle East ? and why oil has cost us $ 7 trillion in the last few years? With Middle East tension driving oil prices higher, everyone is looking at .

Americans are using less oil and gasoline all the time; prices at the pump are still going up. That?s because there is competition with China and Mexico for every gallon of gasoline.

America has a cheap fuel solution right here at in natural gas and with the current prices; the gallon-equivalent is about a dollar.

America?s municipalities and truckers are already shifting gears to run their buses and big rigs on cheap compressed natural gas (CNG). For big companies, the math is simple: Using natural gas will cut their fuel costs by more than $ 20,000 for a truck traveling a typical long-haul distance of 100,000 miles a year.

The problem for CNG-powered vehicles so far is that there have been few places to refuel. But that?s changing, too. Clean Energy Fuels, which builds CNG fueling stations for municipal fleets, plans to open 70 public CNG stations by the end of the year and another 80 in 2013. Other companies are stepping forward to build refueling stations, work on new fuel tank technology, and more.

Isaac Newton taught us that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. That is why every downside force in the energy creates upside opportunities elsewhere. It takes an understanding of the entire global energy machine to figure out what areas are benefiting from the changing landscape.

From this perspective, North America’s shale gas revolution truly earns its accolade as a ?game changer.? As many people now understand, the boom in natural gas reserves and production in the United States and Canada is changing the way North America will power itself in the future.

Switching to natural gas makes sense. Natural gas generators can produce power more reasonably than ever before. For the , commercial and residential user a natural gas standby power generator can produce the clean energy needed and meet environmental demands.

Natural gas prices are depressed and expected to remain so for the short to medium term, so utilizing the natural gas option for stand-by power or temporary power is makes sense.

Since natural gas generators run cleaner than any other type of fuel, they run smoother, with less wear and tear, quieter and without the heavy odorous exhaust produced other fuels.





Tags: , , ,
No Comments »

“The Viking House” Getting Ready for Show Time at the 2012 Street of Affordable Homes Show

Published by fnever on April 12th, 2012 - in Knowledge Base

Lake Oswego, OR () April 02, 2012

Of the six state-of-the-art homes being built for the 2012 Street of Homes at Pacific Crossing in , one speaks particularly well for the future of homebuilding in Oregon.

“The Viking House” ? a 2,230-square-foot, one-level single-family ? is being built by students from , where each year a select number of students participate in a homebuilding project designed to put the practical shop-class skills into action.

The program?s motto, Learn By Doing, is the principle that has guided “The Viking House” operation since its launch in 1975. This year’s project is the 38th in the program’s history.

?It?s very exciting for us to have them in our ,? said Kelly Ritz, president of Stone Bridge Homes NW, host of this year?s Street of Affordable Homes. ?We?re proud of our business and proud of what we do, and excited to work with a school program that promotes the business of .?

Chris , the 45-year-old teacher who has guided the program since 1995, said his students welcome the opportunity to display the results of their hard work in the spotlight of a summer show.

“It was an unexpected surprise to build for the show,? Higginbotham said. ?When someone makes the biggest investment they’ll ever make, you can expect them to want a high-quality product. It was decided that our focus would be on high-quality homes and to try to offer them at an affordable price.”

The first step in building a high-quality product, Higginbotham said, is assembling the best possible team of students. Each year, members of “The Viking House” construction crew are selected from a group of applicants enrolled in Forest Grove High School’s advanced shop classes.

Once selected, the students are expected to be unfailingly dedicated to the project. They work three hours every other school day on the home; construction begins at the start of each school year and is completed before school lets out in June.

“We try to assemble a little dream team every year,” said Higginbotham, who was a long-time construction superintendent before becoming a teacher. “They’re really young adults, and I like to think they’re the best this generation has to offer. We have several high academic achievers, and several who have displayed great talent for the building trades. What they all have in common is that they’re very dedicated.”

This year’s “Viking House” will be feature three bedrooms and two baths. In step with the other homes at this year’s Street of Affordable Homes, it will be built to Earth Advantage standards for energy efficiency, resource management and healthy living.

During construction, students serve as the finish carpenters and are guided in almost every phase of construction by professional volunteers who demonstrate good building practices and answer questions from the students.

“They’re getting great experience working side by side with professionals, which is a big help,” Higginbotham said.

Over the years, that type of experience has launched the careers of many “Viking House” alumni. Some have started construction companies. Others have gone on to become engineers. Many have specialized in other building trades.

“The Viking House” project is self-funded with proceeds from the sale of the previous project and receives special pricing and donations in materials from partnering companies. Past donations have included , granite, paint, roofing, floor joists, various plumbing and light fixtures, stone veneer, fireplaces and insulation.

This year?s home includes a high-efficiency furnace donated by Lennox and a water heater courtesy of NW Natural.

Forest Grove High’s shop program continues to thrive, going against a national trend of cutbacks which Higginbotham said “has been painful to watch.”

“Not everybody is cut out for the cubicle,” he said. “We still need to build houses. We still need to fix cars. Someone who has learned these trades is a valuable member of society.

“If you had a chance to work with these kids, you’d have a much more optimistic view of the future of this country.”

The Street of Affordable Homes will run July 5 through 29 at the Pacific Crossing neighborhood in Forest Grove.



Related Solar Energy Projects For Kids Press Releases

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
No Comments »

Emerging Geothermal Technology Company Expands Advisory Board

Published by fnever on April 10th, 2012 - in Knowledge Base


Midland, Texas () February 09, 2012

GeoTek Energy, LLC (GeoTek), a technology company focused on implementation of its (GHES), announces new additions to its board of advisors. GeoTek has made three additions as a proactive measure for sustained expansion on the heels of recent GHES engineering and funding successes, including a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Technologies Program(GTP) award in 2011 to advance GHES as an innovative technology.

“We are honored to have such knowledgeable individuals guiding our team,? said Dave Marshall, chief financial officer of GeoTek. ?GeoTek anticipates an expansion period in 2012-13 as we move from the pilot stage to production of our award-winning Gravity Head Energy System, and we want to continue this growth over the next several years. Our new advisory board members bring a wealth of achievements and expertise that will help us meet that objective.”

The new additions to the GeoTek Advisory Board are: Jill Robinson Haizlip, M.S, senior geochemist/principal for Geologica Inc.; Dr. Ronald DiPippo, chancellor professor emeritus of mechanical engineering at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (UMD); and Dr. Jefferson W. Tester, David Croll professor of sustainable energy systems in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at . Haizlip, DiPippo and Tester join Lou Capuano, Jr. and Hezy Ram on the GeoTek Board of Advisors.

Jill Robinson Haizlip, M.S., is currently the senior geochemist/principal for Geologica Inc., an environmental and geothermal resource consulting firm. As a GeoTek Advisory board member, Haizlip brings expertise in geology and hydrogeochemistry of geothermal systems, environmental geochemistry, and hydrogeology. Prior to Geologica Inc., Haizlip was a consultant for Dames & Moore and a geologist and geochemist for Geothermal Resources International. She has frequently applied her expertise to the integration of resource characterization to the design and operations for geothermal power generation to maximize the capacity of a wide range of geothermal resources throughout the world.

Haizlip earned a Bachelor?s degree in geology from Middlebury College and a Master?s degree in geology from Columbia University. She has over 30 years of professional experience in geothermal energy exploration, operation and , including extensive project experience and has authored numerous publications on geothermal geochemistry in The Geysers and Imperial Valley in California and in Turkey.

Dr. Ronald DiPippo is a world authority and consultant on geothermal power plants with over 35 years experience in the field. DiPippo is chancellor professor emeritus of mechanical engineering and former associate dean of engineering at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (UMD). He was a visiting professor and lecturer at Brown University in Providence, R.I. and at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In 2008 and 2009, he was a visiting lecturer at the School for Renewable Energy Science at the University of Akureyri, Iceland.

DiPippo is the author of four major books including, Geothermal Power Plants: Principles, Applications, Case Studies and Environmental Impact, now in its second edition. DiPippo conducted research in the area of thermodynamic and transport properties of gases at high temperatures and pressures. As part of this effort he was a U.S. delegate to the Seventh International Conference on the Properties of Steam, held in Tokyo in 1968. His work has taken him to Canada, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Kenya and Mexico in addition to the following geothermally active U.S. states: California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Dr. Jefferson W. Tester is the David Croll professor of sustainable energy systems in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at University. He also is the of the Energy Initiative in the College of Engineering at University and associate director of the Center for a Sustainable Future (CCSF), with special responsibility for the energy focus of CCSF. Until 2008, Tester was the H.P. Meissner professor of chemical engineering at MIT (1980-2008), director of MIT’s Energy Laboratory (1989-2001), director of MIT’s School of Chemical Engineering Practice (1980-1989) and a group leader in the Geothermal Engineering Group at Los Alamos National Laboratory (1974-1980).

Tester has authored or co-authored eight books and published numerous papers on topics ranging from renewable fuels, to the assessment of local, regional and global environmental effects caused by energy supply and use. Tester holds memberships on other advisory boards and has served as an advisor to the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Research Council in areas related to concentrating , geothermal energy and other renewable technologies. Tester received a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science with distinction in chemical engineering from Cornell University. He also earned a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from MIT.

About the GeoTek GHES

GeoTek, based in Midland, Texas, was formed in 2004 to advance geothermal power technology. GeoTek has spent several years and significant private resources to re-design the GHES, originally developed in the 1970s. GeoTek has used advanced computer modeling to engineer a more compact and efficient system and is working with a DOE award to complete and validate the design and renewable energy economic potential of the GHES and has scheduled a pilot-well installation for later this year.

GeoTek?s patent-pending GHES achieves increased net energy generation through higher cycle efficiency. GHES offers advantages beyond the additional clean power through reduced land use and accelerated production of electricity. This compact, well-based power system eliminates the large central power plants and associated hot-water piping currently used. GeoTek?s GHES produces electric power at each well-site which enables a distributed generation system for use in remote locations and developing countries.

Simply stated, the GeoTek GHES uses the natural force of gravity to produce and deliver more affordable electricity from the same -friendly resource, nature?s hot sub-surface water. GHES will provide an additional $ 200 million of clean electricity over the 30-year life of a typical geothermal binary power plant. This additional clean power could eliminate 1.9 million tons of CO2 emissions.

About GeoTek Energy, LLC

GeoTek Energy, LLC is an alternative energy/geothermal technology leader. Geothermal power is an affordable renewable resource that has no emissions?neither hydrocarbon nor carbon dioxide. GeoTek is developing its Gravity Head Energy System technology which produces significantly greater power compared to the present state-of-the-art binary cycle power plant technology. GeoTek has strong leadership and technology partners. For more information, go to: http://www.GeoTekEnergy.com.

###





More Advantages Of Geothermal Energy Press Releases

Tags: , , , , , , ,
No Comments »

Solar Cells Prices – DIY

Published by fnever on April 8th, 2012 - in Knowledge Base

Article by Kapil Ochani

Solar calculators, , solar generators and solar lights are well and good, but what about the solar cell cost, the basic unit which constitutes all solar products? In a day and age when fossil fuels are fast depleting, skyrocketing prices, not to mention the resulting environment fallout, countries are quickly turning to renewable energy. And one of the more popular sources of renewable energy is .

Moreover, the price constitutes over 60% of the total cost of installing a solar device. This immediately necessitates a discussion on costs. And for to be lucrative in any manner and form there has to be some kind of conceivable profit. This is the reason why it’s good news that prices are falling and bound to fall further.

PRICE IN TERMS OF TECHNOLOGY

A photovoltaic (PV) cell, is basically a device which converts energy from the sunlight in the form of photons into electricity. Since the first functional solar cell was created in 1954, the years since then have provided ample opportunity for much and technological advancement, leading to better quality and thus a decrease in cost.

Yet solar power technology and manufacturing is expensive, simply because the cost of silicon far outweighs any other cost. Therefore no matter the price fall, they are still high and therefore costs are a vital part of the equation.

Solar cell modules are primarily made from silicon, the best semi-conductor available presently. The silicon shortage in 2008 allowed greater inroads to be made in non-silicon technology. In addition, silicon has a relatively higher manufacturing cost. But for large-scale application and heavy-duty machinery, silicon remains the most effective choice due to its higher efficiencies.

Conversely for smaller products, there is a greater chance of solar cell price reduction. R&D using cheaper alternatives such as amorphous silicon and polycrystalline silicon, advances in production technology and electricity generation performances (for example faster deposition rates) are all helping reduce prices. Costs further decrease through use of silicon ribbon growth process instead of conventional ingot technology. DIY solar kits also allow customers to put together cheaper solar panels, balancing cell cost and efficiency.

The current drive in the solar market is for efficiency per watt, to lower cost. Complex manufacturing processes used in first and second generation result in greater costs. However, techniques such as concentrated photovoltaics (requires using optical elements to converge sunlight on a particular area) ultimately bring down total solar cell cost.

Third generation cells further diminish price, since they use a lower temperature process, yet they are currently not as efficient. But research continues.

Solar cells costs are also being reduced through use of cheaper raw materials (thus the use of polymers) to produce lightweight and flexible products. Current solar modules have led to a cost decrease as quality, proficiency and precision of the technology increases.

ACTUAL SOLAR CELLS PRICES

Coming to actual solar cell cost, solar cells can be found in the .30 – .00 range, depending on type, make and brand. Currently, the price in USA is .51 per watt, as opposed to .83 three years ago, for a 125 Watt and higher module. The costs are higher in Europe.

Solar cells prices vary in different countries. Germany, Spain, Japan, the US, Italy are among the top countries producing solar power. Japan and Germany, due in part to large government subsidies, are the top contenders for price competitiveness. Over the past year, there have been more companies that have lowered prices for a , meaning lowered solar cells costs.

SOLAR CELL PRICE TREND

Ultimately, are solar cells cost effective? General opinion varies; eventually technology leads the way. The more technology progresses, the greater cost effectiveness. For example, direct bright sunlight is no longer necessary for many modern solar cells. Earlier this year, a breakthrough was made in thin-film technology, which if used in mass-scale production, could considerably not only lower solar cell price but also reduce material waste.

While initially expensive to set up, a cell lasts for 20-30 years, with an output that should not fall below 80%. Add in costs, depleting resources, and the way is paved for greater demand and in turn greater large-scale production of solar energy equipment, leading to low prices.

Moreover, there is a significant part of the world that receives considerable sunlight, India being one of them. What’s more, far-off regions not linked to the power grid in developing nations would – and do – benefit greatly from solar power. Also, costs can be compared to the price of electricity. Countries where the latter is high, like in Japan and Italy, are much better off using technology in residential areas, even if cost recovery is not immediate.

Consequently, many areas can be looked into, apart from actual solar research, which would in the long-term help reduce price. And though solar cell technology has been present for a long time now, it is only currently that solar power has become economically feasible and a market-friendly product. That price is going down is accepted, and solar prices will continue this downward trend with increasing competitiveness and greater market contenders. For example, increased usage in European countries has led countries like China and Taiwan to jump in – and China, which produces 9 GW cells every year at present, is well known for lowering costs. So it wouldn’t be a stretch to assume costs are going to be coming down in the future.

Cells are a vital part of a solar module. Solar cell manufacturers are going to be looking at decreasing prices, to make them more attractive to consumers. Solar cost is going to continue on its way down, and there are no two ways about it.

Kapil has been a consultant in Solar Panels India domain and has been working on his own website to develop new ideas using solar panels in India.










Related Solar Cell Prices Articles

Tags: , ,
No Comments »
© eysistem