The Use of Solar Power in Food Preparation

Saturday, January 2nd, 2010

Solar power has been utilised for food preparation throughout history and can be used for cooking, drying and pasteurization. The simplest way of using solar power is to ‘sun dry’ fresh fruits, vegetables and even meat. The UV-A radiation in the sun destroys pathogenic microorganisms that grow on food and cause decomposition and decay, which means that the food can then be stored for a long period of time without the need for any additional preserving chemicals or equipment.Solar energy can also be used for heating and cooking food. A basic solar cooker consists of an insulated container with a transparent lid, into which the food is placed. In strong sunlight these cookers can reach temperatures of up to 150°C, which is more than adequate to cook most foods thoroughly. Another type of simple variation on the solar cooker is a panel design, which uses a reflective panel to concentrate sunlight and direct it into an insulated chamber. Reflector cookers are a much more powerful version of this panel design, and use concentrating equipment such as dishes and mirrors to focus sunlight into the cooking container. Basic devices can reach up to 315°C, but this is only possible in strong sunlight, so it must be regularily reposition to track the sun’s progress across the sky. The most popular type of reflector device was designed by Wolfgang Scheffler in 1986, and uses flexible open plane dishes that concentrate sunlight into a powerful, fixed focal beam that can reach temperatures of over 650°C. The system also has a solar tracker, which can reposition the reflectors automatically to ensure maximum exposure to direct sunlight. The world’s largest solar kitchen is powered by Scheffler’s reflector technology, and is situated in Rajasthan, India. The Scheffler system is so effective that this kitchen is capable of cooking up to 35,000 meals a day.

Advantages Of Solar And Wind Power

Saturday, January 2nd, 2010

Due to the rising costs of electricity now, solar and wind power systems are becoming more popular. A large amount of our earnings these days goes towards our electricity bills and this is why alot more people are choosing to use solar or wind power to power their homes.  Solar and Wind Power is very cost efficient and also generally easy to maintain, and even better environmentally friendly.

Imagine if you could construct your very own solar energy system or wind turbine to generate power to your home, this is not as hard as you might envisage it to be.

Lots of homes are using solar and wind power to save huge amounts of money off their electricity bills.  Global warming is also an issue for our future, choosing renewable sources of energy is going to have a way more positive effect on our environment.

If you were to install a solar panel or a wind generator and you produced more power than you need, which is possible, not only will you save on your electricity bill but there is a extremely good chance that you could sell the surplus energy to your local utility and earn additional money.

Both methods can be used to produce power, depending on your location and finances.  Obviously if you are residing where the wind is blowing most of the time then the best option for your home would be to install a wind generator, same goes with solar panels, if you are living where the sun is shining the majority of the year then choosing solar power is your best option.

If a solar energy method is your choice, positioning the solar panels at a 45 degree angle to the ground is recommended, For the greatest outcome also face half east and half west. The early morning sunrise will capture the rays of the sun and ofcourse the afternoon sunset will capture the west facing solar panels.

The speed of the wind is also greater the further from the ground a wind turbine is, so being positioned high will also work best too.  A windmill obviously requires wind to function, it also acts as the fuel, this system can produce considerable amounts of electricity.

Solar panels and windmills can be purchased, but this can be very costly.  Choosing to install them yourself can save you a fortune.  There are some great diy solar and wind power guides out there with fantastic step by step manuals that will illustrate to you how to construct either of these systems.

Renewable Solar Power:

Saturday, January 2nd, 2010

Solar power is the new technology which is natural and cost effective at the same time. Solar panel plays the major role in capturing this energy from the sun. in most regions, there are days that are overcast or rainy which decreases the amount of collectable energy striking the panels. To compensate for this lack you can tie into local energy grids or add a bank of batteries to store energy and provide a consistent supply. It always helps in the long run. Solar power has a great deal of potential as a major source of energy but cost and efficiency issues are preventing it from merging into the mainstream. Beside, solar generators are way expensive. These issues are currently being addressed and researches are working on economical alternatives. But still its importance and potential cannot be denied. We are sure that in future it would become accessible and economic to produce.

Various industries can benefit from the sun as well. Solar panels have become more efficient over the years and are also available in various sizes that can be placed on rooftops and other structures easily. You can pare costs dramatically by making your home as energy efficient as possible before converting to solar.

Solar power has immense advantages; it is free of cost after the system is installed. Sun is the source of energy so it is totally renewable, because it never runs out of energy. It is very much environment friendly and there is no fuss of greenhouse gases as a matter of fact it cuts cost of fuel. Beside, it’s a heavily gift for the residence of remote areas where electricity has not reached and no grids are available. And when you can get ample solar power without any further cost why should you pay for limited electricity. It’s definitely a wise choice especially in this world of competition where every resource is precious.

Solar Wind Power – Exclusive Benefits of Solar Wind Power At Home

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

It’s commonly known that solar wind power is rapidly becoming one of the most popular ways of generating free, renewable energy at home and it’s easy to understand why. Breaking free of the electric companies with their over inflated energy prices is just one reason and having more cash is another. However, with the ever increasing popularity of the solar wind power market, here’s why you should be on board right now.

The demand for home made, renewable energy has never been higher. Energy costs are simply soaring and we, the consumers, are the ones who are ultimately paying for it.

Global leaders have agreed to make a determined effort across the world to cut down on the harmful toxic emissions produced during conventional electricity production. These toxins and emissions are quite literally killing our planet and it’s nearly all for one thing – the production of electricity!

It is therefore easy to see why the solar wind power market is becoming a rapidly expanding one. More and more people are understanding and realizing the huge benefit of turning to alternative, green energy sources to provide power to their homes.

It is strongly believed that many house builders in countries all over the world will increasingly turn to green energy methods for ways to provide electricity in newly built homes and offices. Many countries already utilize green energy sources as common practice. You only have to look at homes and businesses in countries like Spain, Greece, Turkey and Cyprus that have lots of sunshine all year round. Almost always, new homes are fitted with solar panel arrays which provide hot water and generate endless hours of electricity.

Let’s be clear on this – you do not need to live in hot sunny countries such as these to benefit from solar wind power. Solar power for the home can be utilized almost anywhere in the world – provided that you live in a habitual environment of course! However, the increasing popularity of solar wind power will eventually lead to one thing – expense. How much is an unknown quantity but you can be sure that it won’t come cheap, nothing ever does!

For this reason, you should be one step ahead and start to think about building your own solar wind power for your home right now. If you enlist the help of the professionals, you could easily be looking at 1000’s of dollars to have solar panels made and installed for you. However, what if I told you that you can easily make a solar roof panel right from the comfort of your home which will generate hundreds of hour’s worth of electricity for your home or office for under $250! This is actually possible and many people across the world are doing this right now.

Homemade Solar Wind Power is easy to make and costs a fraction of the price that professional builders and installers would charge you. You do not need these guys – they really are easy to make and will provide hundreds of hours worth of free, renewable, clean energy for your home.

There has never been a better time to get ahead and build your own solar wind power generator so why not get started today and reap the benefits from solar wind power energy.

Times Square Goes Green With Solar Powered Billboard

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

Ricoh Company Ltd., of Tyoko, has announced plans for a billboard to be powered by wind and solar power.
The billboard, which will stand on 7th Avenue, 42nd Street, is expected to be operational in December of this year. It will be powered by 45 solar panels and 4 wind turbines, and Ricoh Company Ltd. expect the change to reduce carbon emissions in the area by 18 tons each year.
The sign’s predecessors can be found in San Francisco – the first of its type in the U.S – plus two in Canada, and two in South Africa.
In 2006, Johannesburg was home to the first solar powered billboard, developed by Nedbank. It supplies power to a nearby school, and displayed the phrase ‘This Isn’t a Billboard. It’s a Power Plant’.
A second followed a year later, when Nedbank erected a new billboard in Cape Town in December 2007. It currently provides power for a local youth centre.
It was in January of this year that Pacific Gas and Electric Company installed the billboard in San Francisco. It can be found at 1000 Brannon Street, and generates a maximum of 3.4KW of power, through 20 solar panels. It was developed as part of the company’s ‘We Can Do This’ campaign, which centres on the company’s commitment to the environment.
Unlike its American and South African counterparts, the two Canadian solar powered boards are not connected to the public power grids. But they represent the same cause.
One, developed by the finance company Vancity, commissioned the sign as a symbol of their commitment to tan active environmental policy. The company claims to want to develop a carbon neutral policy, and used the billboard as a promotion of that fact.
With billboards like these springing up in some of the world’s major cities, it marks a new partnership between cosmopolitan tradition and sustainability initiatives; where before sustainable energy was perhaps viewed as a rural luxury, it is now being pioneered as having a legitimate place in the city.
Now that companies such as Ricoh Company Ltd., Vancity and Nedbank are ‘going green’, corporations are becoming more and more aware of their environmental responsibilities.
Whilst solar powered billboards are more symbolic than practical – powering only limited areas – they can be tied to the theme of a growing environmental consciousness. With major companies investing in such installations in major cities, it shows that corporations are looking to develop an environmentally ethical image.
Indeed, many companies are bucking the trend. Waitrose – owned by the John Lewis Partnership – trialled a rapeseed oil fuel for their lorries in 2007, and most of the major supermarket chains are now encouraging the precedence of reusable bags.
It is hard to tell whether these commitments are out of genuine environmental concern or out of concern for pubic image and profits, but it marks a step, nonetheless; the more the general public demands an environmentally motivated business sector, the more the business sector will feel the pressure to concede to these demands.
With a rise in political concern for the environment, perhaps also coming out of public demand, businesses could feel the strain of legislature, too.

make home solar power panels – solar energy power wind power turbines

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

Bret Parker, leader in solar power and wind power generation systems for generating solar electricity and wind power for domestic home and small commercial industrial applications workshops.

Installation of a complete solar power system is a significant investment and one you want to trust to someone with a proven track record.

Bret has been active in renewable energy, solar power, and solar panels since 2000 with a comprehensive knowledge of all solar power installations solutions for the domestic and business applications.

Bret’s proven expertise in the renewable energy sector on a global scale with access to some of the most experienced installers and system designers ready to help and give advice on all solar power applications.

Solar Energy to Generate Solar Electricity

In a world where fossil fuel energy demands are becoming unsustainable Bret took the decision to offer customers a choice of do it yourself solar power panels and do it yourself wind power generator turbines in a package that contains comprehensive step by step guides on how to make your own solar electricity using solar power panels and wind generator turbines.

Bret gives advice on energy efficient equipment to use in a complete home solar system.

 Energy costs are rising

Home owners are starting to look at alternative energy sources for their homes and are becoming aware of the negative impact traditional fossil fuel energy have on the environment.

Simply, there are alternative energy sources that the home owner can use to power their home such as do it yourself solar power panel systems and wind generators that are much cheaper than the traditional sources.

Residential Home solar power panels can provide energy for a home that will dramatically reduce costs on the traditional monthly electric bill.

Of course, there are those that may be wondering if they could make or build solar panels or a wind generator turbine.

A complete novice or someone that has a background in home improvement or do it yourself experience could make or build solar panels by simply reading Bret’s instructional guides on how to and watching Bret’s several video presentations.

Bret Parker’s reliable and quality solar power package is all that is needed for success. The package guides will explain in detail how solar energy, solar electricity, home solar panels, wind generator turbine are make and how to use them in a complete home solar energy system.

Bret’s package is more than just lecture material, it includes hands on approach that will clearly help the skills you need to work as a do it yourselfer in solar power energy installations.

This package is designed by Bret and has a very professional approach but still understanding enough for the solar novice.  

Once again, the world is changing and people are becoming more and more independent and looking for cost effective ways to save money. This means they are looking for alternate energy sources.

MAKE Solar Power

Residential, Domestic, Home, DIY or Do It Yourself Solar Panels.

BUILD Wind Power

Wind Power Generator Turbine

Is Solar Power Finally Going to Take Off?

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

Solar power has been hyped for decades now as one of the best solutions to our energy problems. But in simple truth it hasn’t progressed the way many have hoped it would. Has that changed yet?
Installing solar power for your home is still incredibly expensive, even with government rebates, and earning your money back takes more years than most can stand to wait. So you can’t really say things have turned around quite yet.
But things are looking promising.
The technology is finally showing signs of improvement. There are companies such as Nanosolar which are changing the way solar panels are made. They’ve developed a printable solar panel technology which will be much faster to create. They hope to drive down the costs of producing solar panels tremendously.
Scientists have also developed solar panels that are more 3-D than the traditional ones. These capture more of the light that reaches them and are much more efficient than the standard flat panels. These are not yet fully developed, but it’s another step in the right direction.
Then there’s Citizenre, a company that is taking the direct sales approach to solar panel installation. While they haven’t launched as of this writing, their plan is to install solar panels onto home free of charge, and then homeowners pay them for the electricity they use, rather than the electric company.
The price customers pay for electricity generated by these systems stays fixed, no matter what other electricity costs may be doing. The idea here is that electricity prices are likely to keep going up, so customers can save a lot of money by fixing their rates at current levels. Add in the benefits of net metering for those who qualify, and it has the potential of being a great deal.
Then again, since the company hasn’t launched yet, no one knows how well it will all work.
So no, solar power hasn’t quite taken off yet, but it looks to be getting very, very close to it. There’s a lot more promise there than there has been for quite some time.
The question then comes, will anything come of it all? That’s much harder to say. The next year or so may well see some big changes in solar power generation, as these companies gear up and as the technology improves. But all that means little until proven. Still, these are very hopeful signs that the promise of cheap solar power is much closer to being fulfilled.

The Future of Electricity Made With Renewable Energy Sources

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

Will electricity disappear with the extinction of our non-renewable energy sources? No, not very likely considering the renewable energy sources that we have available to us. When we think about the future of electricity, a few things come to mind.
The first thing that comes to mind is that eventually all things will be electric due to the fact that our non-renewable energy sources are nearing depletion rapidly. Without gasoline we won’t be able to drive our cars, cut our grass or use any of the things that run on gasoline unless they are electric. Today most of our electric power is produced by using our non-renewable energy sources so by making ever thing electric it will help to prolong the life of fossil fuels but sooner or later we will have to start using renewable sources of energy to produce our electricity.
Then what comes to mind knowing that eventually ever thing will be electric will be perceived as clean power because it is going to be produced with strictly renewable energy sources like solar and wind power.
Will electricity ever be wireless? Yes, Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have already conducted successful wireless electricity experiments. This brings even more things to mind when thinking about the future of electricity. Think about this, if electricity is wireless you won’t have to worry about power outages, no wires or poles for storms to topple. Consumers will have more control on how and when they want their power delivered and for those who take advantage of renewable energy sources like solar power will be totally independent of the power companies.
How long will it be before we see these advancements with electricity? Nobody can be sure when, but what is sure is that when they do start to happen consumers will gain more and more control over their power needs. The people who begin now, to use the renewable energy sources that are available will find themselves independent of the power companies much sooner than those of us that don’t act and continue to rely on the electric companies for our power needs.

Original article posted at Go Articles

Solar Power Electricity:

Monday, December 28th, 2009

Solar power electricity can also be called as solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. It strikes into the same abundant and free energy resource as solar thermal technology. PV cells consist of semiconductor materials that convert sunlight into electrical energy thorough the photovoltaic process. On their own, the voltage and current level produced by individual cells are not particularly useful, but when many cells are connected together to form modules (panels), more practical energy can be produced. We call this energy as Solar Power electricity.

Various materials and technologies exist for solar power electricity, all have their own specific characteristics, advantages and disadvantages, and lot of it varies from consumer to consumer based on their preference and requirement. Despite the fact that they cost more than the other renewable energy sources, they actually offset the most expensive energy bought and used in home electricity. Beside the rise up of electricity prices solar power electricity has become more attractive more domestic consumers.

Solar power electricity lacks any mechanical components, it is silent in operation and highly reliable. It has no moving parts so it works perfectly well without any need for maintenance. The modular nature of PV allows for system design and rating to be amended at any time easily. Additionally, PV can be integrated into the fabric of the building as well as being mounted on the roof, or into a specially design frame. PV produces on-site electricity, bypass all the losses associated with electrical transmission over the national grid and saves hundreds of kilograms of carbon emissions per year in the process.

A well designed system in a suitable location should produce between 700 and 850 kWh of electricity per year. Solar power electricity system of 1.5 and 2.5kWp could generate fifty percent of the electricity requirements for an average home. This adds to its attraction because this is the world of less expenditure and more production, and merely Solar Power Electricity totally satisfies the need of the day.

Solar Power is Getting Cheaper

Sunday, December 27th, 2009

I read an article from the LA Times by Marla Dickerson that a utilities company called Sempra Generation is using a 10-megawatt solar farm in Nevada that can power 6,400 homes. If you do the math, Sempra is using renewable energy that can meet or beat the price performance of carbon-based fuels, creating milestone grid parity, electricity from the sun, wind or other green sources matching or surpassing the price operation of traditional methods. The company can produce power at a cost of 7.5 cents a kilowatt-hour, less than the 9-cent standard for normal electricity.The article further states that El Dorado Energy Sola, owned by Sempra, is producing electricity at costs below anything comparable to date. The company has inked a 20-year deal to sell the electricity to Pacific Gas & Electric, whose service territory covers much of central and Northern California. I am excited to see proactive growth in renewable energy sources. Apparently, First Solar, a company that supplies Sempra with solar modules, stock went up 20 percent based on this information.Dickerson explains that Sempra constructed the project on 80 acres next to its El Dorado Energy gas-fired power plant, located about 40 miles southeast of Las Vegas in Boulder City, Nevada. The solar facility uses photovoltaic panels similar to those mounted on homeowners’ roofs, except the panels are anchored to the desert floor in long rows and there are lots of them – 167,000, to be exact.The original method of converting sunlight into electricity by using a semiconductor, polycrystalline silicon (used in computer chips) had been pricey and in short supply. Now, a lower cost method by using a semiconductor known as cadmium telluride, thin-film cells, is a cheaper product to manufacture.Both consumers and greenies should applaud at the decrease in cost to generate electricity through renewable energy.Sempra is so optimistic about the cost-effective methods, the company plans to install an extra 50 megawatts of First Solar panels at the El Dorado site. Additionally, the company is planning another project near Phoenix of about 500 megawatts adjacent to its Mesquite Power Generating Station, a gas-fired plant.Being a Californian I am proud to say that most of this expansion of renewable energy is based on a California law requiring state’s investor-owned utilities to generate 20 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2010, a figure that’s set to increase to 33 percent come 2020. I am sure we will see more companies like Sempra to commit cutting its greenhouse gases dramatically. Clearly with the solar power costs dropping significantly throughout the industry, as consumers we’ll benefit. The technology is becoming much easier to adapt while producers are becoming more proficient as they place a strong foot hold in the market to expand, grow out and service other areas as well.