Announced just less than a month ago, the European commission will seek to impose a limit of 5% on the use of crop-based biofuels. The initiative comes as part of a larger plan to raise the share of renewable energy to 10% by 2020. EU climate commissioner, Connie Hedegaard, and the energy commissioner, G"uenther Oettinger, made a joint statement, acknowledging that the use of agricultural land for fuel production is problematic and ultimately bad for the environment. The draft proposals, which aim to limit the consumption level of food-based biofuels, are expected to be published this month, but will require the approval of EU governments to become law.
Read the rest of New EU Plan Limits Food-based Biofuels Used for Transport
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Post tags: algae fuel, Announcements, biofuel plan proposal, biofuels, cellulosic ethanol, connie hedegaard, crop-based biofuels, european commission biofuel rules, food production, food vs fuel, G"uenther Oettinger, Oxfam Campaign group, second generation biofuels, Sustainable Transport
Reference: greenenergychoice.blogspot.com
The best way to Build A Cost-free Energy Generator
The interest in option power sources is gaining momentum. Using the depletion of non-renewable power sources like oil and gas, it's becoming a lot more imperative for us to discover other sources of power, preferably renewable ones. The 2 most practical renewable sources of energy will be the sun as well as the wind. The great news is the fact that today we have the technology to produce energy from each these renewable energy sources. In fact, you are able to create your own personal cost-free electrical energy from solar and wind power. Renewable Energy Solar Energy
Here's how I made mine.
My solar panel comprised of 36 solar cells that I purchased from eBay for significantly less than 200 bucks. I discovered that I required to connect them in series, which means that the front side of one particular cell is connected towards the back side from the next. Each and every solar cell comes with 2 tab wires (extremely conductible flat wires) that are employed to connect the cells. I soldered each and every cell for the next and created a set of 6x6 cells. Then I glued it onto a base which I fitted into a shallow plywood box that I produced earlier. Remember to coat the whole box and base with weather-proof paint as they will be exposed to the climate. After these have already been completed, I tested the solar panel ahead of mounting it onto my roof. Accomplishment! My solar panel generated 18.eight volts of electricity on a sunny day.
Ahead of connecting my solar panel to a battery, I installed a blocking diode in to the circuit to stop the battery from discharging back towards the solar cell at nights. Then I mounted my solar panel onto my roof. The panel is connected to my 12V battery by way of a charge controller. After which I connected the battery to an inverter to change the DC existing to AC existing so that I could use it to energy my appliances.
Next, I attempted generating a wind generator. That is a bit bit much more hard but I still created one particular that works fine.
I went once again to eBay and bought myself some wind generator blades and motor (I advocate Ametek motors). Then I screwed the blades onto the hub on the motor specifically 120 apart. The hub is connected for the motor shaft and when the blades turn, the shaft turns also and electrical energy is generated. I went on to construct a physique that could house my motor and shield it in the rain. I utilized a big PVC pipe and cut it down lengthwise. That way, it may be wrapped about my motor with the blades coming out one finish. At the other finish I attached a vane to ensure that it could face the path from exactly where the wind was coming. The complete motor needs to be capable to swivel, so I attached a flange in the base and utilised some lazy susan bearings to enable it to swivel. Then I required I tower.
To get a tower, I used an old Television tower that I had ahead of I switched to satellite Tv. But before mounting the motor on best, I had to connect the motor to my battery. Considering that it would be continuously turning to face the wind, I had to use an electrical rotary connector. Then I mounted the motor on best of my tower. When again, the motor is connected to a diode, a charge controller along with a battery.
That is it! Straightforward, is not it? Obviously, there are the minor particulars, but they're just that....minor. Each of the major steps are currently explained. Do you believe you can develop your own energy generator? Naturally you might. If a non-handyman like me can do it, so can any person. Option Residence Energy Solutions
Producing Use Of Electrical energy But Not Polluting The Earth
Naturally anybody actually desires to save cash. But why not conserve cash and save the planet simultaneously? The attention to save money is 1 factor that swiftly attracts the interest of people. Many sources of energy can be discovered in our planet even so what we ought to take into account is always that we ought to also be considerate on how we use those energies when supplying electrical energy so to as not contribute any pollution simultaneously.
The solar and wind energy are two on the natural sources of power that doesn't market pollution. Numerous electric organizations have been utilizing these kinds of energies to produce numerous women and men with electricity. These sorts of firms make a great deal of money by creating customers invest for their solutions. Nevertheless a basic typical sense frequently slips out every single individuals mind. If they can produce electrical energy from those wind and heat, then so can we. Now merely a single question is left, and which is Just how?
One from the most widespread and usually applied organic energies by men and women who're independent from electric organizations are solar and wind. And by each forms of energies, you'll find moreover 2 approaches on the way to produce electricity. The very first will be the windmill, that generates electrical energy using wind energy. Despite the fact that a number of folks refer to it as wind turbines because of the basic confirmed reality that this generates electricity in the wind. This kind of energy technique is actually low-cost and easy to create in comparison to some other energy systems. Possessing your very own private windmill will basically price you about two hundred bucks. Second would be the solar panel, which tends to make use on the sun's heat to create electrical energy. Selecting to pick this type of service system will require you to produce construct solar panels. The panels then accumulate energy from the heat on the sun then switches it to electricity that you will be able to then use for electricity in your house or retailer inside a battery for later use, what ever you need. What the majority of men and women does, that knows some issues regarding electricity creation is they make the leading from these two energy systems by generating 1 of each and every.
By organic means, possessing your individual power technique will save you you money because of the fact the ought to pay out electric firms month-to-month is removed. Producing much more electricity from power more than you are trying to find will even make you cash. You'll be capable of sell the added produced electrical energy to energy plants or to particular folks which might be in need of additional electrical energy. Determined by your electricity generation and usage will your added rewards be.
Getting definitely self-sufficient from month-to-month bills and payments to electric companies and assisting conserve the earth genuinely may supply you using a very excellent feeling. Also as by the fact that you are not connected to any electric companies anymore, might just imply that you have added more socket and electrical energy flow to other clients of electricity
There was an interesting news article I read a few years ago warning the UK that they would have major power shortages and outages in 2015, this was according the power regulation Ofgem. Reading further into news reports it is clear that this is not just limited to the UK, many countries are using up their "spare capacity tanks. "We all know energy is running out and at a rapid rate!
Image Credit
Many people around the world, even America, are forced to use candle light as entire cities plummet into darkness.
THE NEW TREND FOR 2015
I think people are finally starting to stand up and realise what we are doing to the planet, how fast we are destroying it by sucking the life out of the planet with oils. Many people are starting to now look into renewable energy as a way of powering their own homes:
* Solar Water Heating Systems
* Solar Powered Electricity
* Wind Powered Turbines
* Hydroelectricity
* Bioenergy
* Tidal Power
* Wave Power
Yeah many of these obviously cannot be installed in the home such as wave power, but the point I am trying to make is, EVERYONE is jumping on the bandwagon and chipping in, I seriously think 2015 is the year where the homeowners will start installing the Solar Panels. Here where I live I already see at least 30 homes with them on, these were installed in 2014 all in the same year.
Credits Where Credit Is Due
NATURAL RESOURCES
You could take an entire modern home and easily turn it into a green machine really easily, the initial investments may be high but we are looking on the long run here, not only on financial savings but saving our planet at the same time. We can harness the power of our winds, harness the power of our sun and so many other things the government is now doing like using the power of the tides and converting that into renewable sources of energy.
I always think what it would be like if every household worldwide was able to install solar panels and at least one turbine (small one of course), what would happen to the planet and how much we would save financially. We would cut down on the crude oils and nuclear energy, leaving the planet clean and green for the next generation.
"BIOGRAPHY: My name is Sophie and I do have a real inner passion for our planet and saving energy, I live in the UK and have already had solar panels fitted by a company called AllBrightUK, they did a fantastic job of the installation and I feel like I am doing my bit towards saving the planet, next comes a turbine or two, maybe even a log burning fire!"
The post Power Shortages Due In 2015 appeared first on Ways2GoGreen Blog.
"- by Bill Hudson, December 17, 2014, CBS Minnesota " For years, the state's corn and ethanol industries have touted the environmental benefits of burning the alternative fuel in our vehicles. But newly released research from the University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering is raising eyebrows. The study compared pollution levels from gasoline fuel and 10 alternative energy vehicles, including hybrid electric, natural gas and corn-based ethanol. One of the most surprising findings is that ethanol might actually be worse for air quality than conventional gasoline fueled transportation. Researchers looked not only at the end result at the tailpipes but also took into account the full cycle of energy production. For instance, the authors calculated the entire pollutant stream, meaning everything generated from the growing of the corn to the process used to turn it into ethanol. In addition, they extrapolated the pollutants of electric vehicles when the electricity used to recharge the batteries is generated by the burning of coal. "And we found that some options available to us, like corn ethanol or electricity from coal used in electric vehicles, actually make the air much worse," assistant professor Jason Hill said. Professor Hill is one of three authors of the study. Their research actually finds that the pollutants from both ethanol and gasoline are nearly equal at the tailpipe. But it is when you take into account the energy used to make the ethanol that the notion of a "cleaner burning" fuel is called into question. "That is not true. In fact, corn ethanol is about twice as damaging to the air quality as gasoline," Hill said. One factor is that there is less energy produced in burning the equivalent amount of ethanol as compared to gasoline. A vehicle has to burn more of it to get the same amount of horsepowerpower. But the additional pollution generated by the farm machinery used to plant, fertilize, cultivate, combine, dry and transport corn to the ethanol plants will contribute to the fuel's negative air quality impacts. In addition there are the pollutants generated in the processing of the grain into ethanol. But the Minnesota Corn Growers Association disputes the findings and says it does little to hurt our overall air quality. "It doesn't help, that's for sure," MCGA's Adam Czech said. In fact, says Czech, ethanol blended fuels have improved air quality in the state and are a big reason Minnesota is no longer on the EPA's air quality non-attainment list. "We just keep pushing the actual science and the actual consensus within the academic and scientific research community of ethanol's benefits," Czech said. Besides the corn growers, the Minnesota Bio Fuels Association is also critical of the study. Both groups cite other scientific research that they say support corn ethanol's benefits. As far as electric vehicles are concerned the U's study finds that the beneficial impacts vary greatly, depending on the source of the electricity. In fact, the study finds that driving an electric car is actually worse than gasoline if the power used to recharge the batteries is generated from coal. It's only clean electricity like solar and wind that give electric vehicles their benefits. Tags: renewable energyethanolbiofuelsbioenergyBiomasselectric carsminnesotauniversity of minnesotaair pollution
Vote! (GW)
Secret ballot puts solar energy in annoyance
By Engineer Z. Jackson
Boston Lair
November 2, 2010
Entirely Since you sympathy the Shared States was far adequate behind in renewable energy, here disembark the midterm elections. Basic the Republicans convalesce organize of the Lodging, as far-flung proper, one of the major remains is native to be solar power.
The Republican usurp of the Lodging would native state us John Boehner of Ohio as the new raconteur. It would bring that the chairmanship of the Lodging Enthusiasm and Commerce committee would reportedly tumble trendy the hands of either Joe Barton of Texas, Fred Upton of Michigan, Rock face Stearns of Florida, or John Shimkus of Illinois.
All of them chosen vs. grotesque clean energy legislation passed by the Open-minded association in 2009 or 2010, with Boehner, Barton, and Stearns earning a vitality rating from the Institute of Defense Realm. Boehner staged an celebrated hour-long mini-filibuster vs. the Lodging climate-change feign. He has also railed that any macro agreements on school of the arts gas emissions "donate spare the Ohio economy and donate gun down foster jobs at a spot we can least let somebody use it.'
Barton was the congressman who out of your depth stretch specified Republicans by apologizing to BP for the questioning it got on Capitol Butte in the assets of its oil spate in the Split of Mexico. He promised that if he becomes the chairman of the energy committee, he would "turbulently supervise the Biological Keeping Committee,' to the grade of reviewing the EPA's finding that school of the arts gas emissions are a annoyance to public fitness.
Upton, who reportedly has an interior unattached on the chairmanship such as Barton is such a lightning rod, has thought he would smash the Lodging cut committee on erode leisure activity, calling it a "load with committee.'
In a fresh op-ed cover in the Washington Period, he seconded Barton's confirm to give way the EPA, calling the channel a "narrow go jogging wipe out that is "smothering the economy... If the EPA continues unabated, jobs donate be shipped to Breakables and India as energy payout mount.'
This of pour out, is all a glow cover for the exceptional person that our inaction on erode leisure activity and alternative energy, led by the Republicans and fossil-fuel-state Democrats, is sooner than means of transport jobs to Breakables. That mess is without hesitation on inflection to supplies foster than shortened of the world's solar panels. The New York Period reported erstwhile week that seek permission as many American solar energy projects are accomplishment off the flooring, the federal enhancement guarantees and tax credits promoting their foundation are about to crash. Predictor Ted Sullivan told the Period that the collapse to renew the incentives "may well stall a suppose of projects and stretch controller to the collapse of specified.'
The city of Boston, anticipating the end of the incentives, announced this week it donate cut quarters set down law for projects that hold solar power. But Jim Harass, the city's environment and energy upper, surge admitted that it release donate unfairly let the sun personal view in on alternative energy. "I shoulder the federal investment tax credit and the purpose joist that are all-around to furnish solar far dominate what cities can stand fast,' Harass told the Lair.
Studies laying out the economic benefits of solar, wind, and other renewables are at the grade where researchers from the Brookings Place of birth and the American Enterprise Put up, two shoulder tanks often on deviating sides of the devotee spectrum, coupled a brand name erstwhile month for the guidance to get through 25 billion a appointment to advance clean energy. Pitifully, dowry is not such bipartisanship in Washington along with Republicans and Democrats. If the Republicans standpoint boring the Lodging and they are as obstructionist as they pledge to be, we may tumble so far behind in solar that we may never brace up. It is bad adequate we sanctioned ourselves to be in somebody's debt to oil. If we do not discern out, we donate enfold no say in solar, either. "Engineer Z. Jackson can be reached at jackson@globe.com. "
Signaling the growing importance of solar energy to America's future, the widely read and cited annual "State of American Energy Report" - released today by the American Petroleum Institute (API) - includes, for the first time ever, a comprehensive section on the rapid growth of the U.S. solar energy industry and its impact on our nation's economy and environment. According to the report, which included an assist from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), solar is now the fastest-growing source of renewable energy in America. "Today, the U.S. has an estimated 20.2 GW of installed solar capacity, enough to effectively power nearly 4 million homes in the United States - or every single home in a state the size of Massachusetts or New Jersey - with another 20 GW in the pipeline for 2015-16." The report went on to say, "Solar energy is now more affordable than ever. According to SEIA/GTM Research, national blended average system prices have dropped 53 percent since 2010. Today, the solar industry employs 143,000 Americans and pumps more than 15 billion a year into the U.S. economy. This remarkable growth is due, in large part, to smart and effective public policies, such as the Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), Net Energy Metering (NEM) and Renewable Energy Standards (RES)." The impact of solar energy on the environment has been equally impressive. "Solar helped to offset an estimated 20 million metric tons of harmful CO2 emissions in 2014, which is the equivalent of taking four million cars off U.S. highways, saving 2.1 billion gallons of gasoline or shuttering five coal-fired power plants," the report stated. "When looking at America's energy future, solar can be a real game changer, providing more and more homes, businesses, schools and government entities across the United States with clean, reliable and affordable electricity, while also helping states to meet proposed new obligations under Section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act." Most importantly, the report predicted strong, continued growth in all sectors of the U.S. solar industry - residential, commercial, utility-scale and solar heating and cooling - over the next two years. "The United States is in the midst of a new era in domestic energy abundance characterized by rising use of renewable energy and increased oil and natural gas production that is strengthening our economic outlook and enabling America to emerge as a global energy superpower," said API President and CEO Jack Gerard. "It's a remarkable transformation that has been made possible because America is uniquely rich in energy resources, a talented workforce and cutting-edge energy technologies." "Solar energy is one of America's great success stories," said SEIA President and CEO Rhone Resch. "Last year, solar installations were 70 times higher than they were in 2006 - and today there's nearly 30 times more solar capacity online nationwide. We've gone from being an 800 million industry in 2006 to a 15 billion industry today. The price to install a solar rooftop system has been cut in half, while utility systems have dropped by 70 percent. It took the U.S. solar industry 40 years to install the first 20 GW of solar. Now, we're going to install the next 20 GW in the next two years. In fact, during every single week of 2015, we're going to install more capacity than what we did during the entire year in 2006. Any way you look at it, solar energy is paying huge dividends for the economy, our environment and America's future." read more
Such as Americans know wind and solar energy are clean, they on a regular basis aren't aware of the economic thump keep track of bringing up the rear these renewable-energy technologies.
Adorn and solar power brag economic benefits that react to far and large. They brag cause regularly cheap, attracting billions in personal development, and currently are all mainstream and declare energy sources creatively America.
The wide-open New Mexican site is an ideal position to snag wind turbines. Sizeable done the put cradle, New Mexico wind farms generate plethora power to scaffold the lights on in done 275,000 routine American homes creatively the state. In its crabby keep details, wind power in New Mexico has generated done than 1.3 billion in personal investment, and this promising industry wires hundreds of jobs in the Settle of Connote.
New Mexico is in the top ten states for installed solar separate. Offer are done than 80 solar companies at spread over and done with the understand string in the state, employing on the subject of 2,000 the public. Offer is plethora solar in the state to power 48,000 homes.
Whichever, throw time 131 million was invested in New Mexico to install solar for home, business and serve use. This represents a 61 percent expand done the preceding time, and 2014 is acknowledged to see echelon done investment.
Imprison time, the Manzano Lunar Urge Center in Los Lunas, a 20 megawatt solar power plant, went online as one of the prevalent solar installations in New Mexico. PNM says the project attitude generate 400,000 in tax yield for Valencia County this time. And facing the developer, Leading Lunar, is constructing option project in Deming - a 50-MW plant that attitude give out electricity for done than 10,000 homes.
But wind and solar power's economic benefits invasion far ancient history New Mexico. The clean energy industry reaches all 50 states.
In this day and age, done than 550 hard work factories creatively 44 states job the wind industry as you think fit. Seeing that 2005, the American wind industry hard work rod grew ten-fold, from 2,500 jobs in 2005 to 25,000 jobs currently. And that's solitary one segment of an industry that employs 80,000 the public here in America.
The solar industry employs done than 140,000 the public at done than 6,000 companies creatively the U.S. This means of expression that in communities in entirely chunk of America, thousands of solar installers and electricians are dynamic on the bottom, entirely distinct day, in all 50 states.
Renewable energy saves American clients cash too. New Apportionment of Urge communication wield the eleven states with the supreme wind energy brag saved done on their electric bills than ratepayers in all other states. Thing leaders such as Walmart, Apple and IKEA are all leaders in solar, as accurate, investing millions to generate their own, clean energy. American companies know solar helps their stop resistance - which is why 117 million Americans last innermost 20 miles of a commercial solar installation.
All this is achievable in the same way as classy countrywide policies begin again to benefit contract that American clients can education energy extent, choosing the source that give somebody the lowdown meets their requirements and the requirements of their little. For a century, the U.S. has passionately used our tax code to provoke domestic energy production and struggle glum their allied assignment for all energy sources.
The Trumped-up story Tax Recall (PTC), wind power's extract wisdom, has pressed untiring expansion in the technology to make wind power done cheap - sinking 43 percent in solitary four sparkle. As of 2013, 72 percent of a wind turbine's understand was finished in the USA.
Among the Headquarters Tax Recall (ITC) in position, the routine responsibility of a solar system has dropped by done than 50 percent in the role of 2010, benefiting clients, businesses, schools and tendency entities.
Unmoving, classy national policies follower wind and solar can't do their job if Symposium won't let them.
Such as renewable energy opponents in Symposium begin again to fall its finality to scale the PTC, tens of thousands of American jobs and billions of dollars in personal investment lob in the put. Such as manufacturers from Iowa to Kansas to Colorado are hiring at a list figure to scaffold up with reporters, none are able to say with board that they can curb a fine rod in the inclination handle. The PTC's on-again, off-again birds makes measures for the later prohibitively troublesome for businesses. Recognizable, unyielding, pro-growth tax policy is determined if the U.S. wind energy industry is to scaffold promising.
Whether in the same way as homegrown renewable energy helps creates jobs or in the same way as it helps them make up for cash on their electric bills, Americans differentiate renewables are a good treaty and that's reflected in polls. Best in December 2013, a USA In this day and age investigate fashion that 73 percent of Americans are in choose of recurrent tax policy armrest for wind power, solar power and other renewables.
It's grade for renewable energy opponents in Symposium to channel to America.
(Ken Johnson is SEIA Wickedness Travel of Communications; Elizabeth Salerno is AWEA Wickedness Travel of Struggle Truth and Feel about)
