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As all other energy sources solar energy also has its own pros and cons.
The various pros of solar energy are as given below:
• Pollution free – The most important advantage is that it does not produce any harmful gases or effluents during power production. This is important in current context of growing importance of ozone layer depletion and global warming etc.
• Renewable source of energy – solar energy is the harnessing of energy received from the sun, thus it is renewable, and does not get over when used, unlike other fossil fuels which become lesser and lesser over time and becomes extinct completely.
• Energy can be harnessed in remote areas – The best feature of solar energy is that it can be harnessed in very remote areas, where every other form of energy production is risky or not possible at all. An example of this is the production of electricity in satellites.
• Does not require special area/place to install – Installation of solar panels does not require special or large areas, the panels can be installed in the roof tops of buildings.
• Free source to produce energy – Solar energy need not be bought, it is free of cost. The installation process is the only stage where money is spent.
• Dependence on fossil fuel is reduced – the emergence of solar energy has reduced the high dependence on the fossil fuels which is becoming very costly.
• Reduces health costs – increased use of solar energy reduces the cost spent on health indirectly because there is no emissions like carbon, sulphur di oxide, etc and also acid rains.
• Independent working – once installed the solar panels work on their own and do not require any manual operation.
• Low to no maintenance – maintenance cost of solar panels is meagre. Sometimes no maintenance is required.
The cons of solar energy are given below
• Initial cost – the cost of installing solar panels on houses is very high. It is sometimes of the tune of $10000 or above for good efficient cells. This makes it to be looked upon in a disadvantageous position when compared to coal and other conventional power production methods.
• Time of production – energy is produced only when suns heat is available i.e., during the day, also during cloudy days the production of power is very low on nil during nights.
• Weather dependent – during rainy and winter seasons the production of power is very less. This creates problem in areas where the seasonal changes are pronounced, making the cost of installation a waste.
• Effect of pollution – in locations where the air is polluted power production is seen to be reduced because the efficiency of solar cell becomes less.
1) Build wind / solar power systems for people
Make solar power and wind power at home. You can offer this service to other people, and help them reduce their electricity bill. The earth4energy guide teaches you how to make a power producing solar panels and reduce your electricity bill. Here's the guide.
2) Weatherize Homes and Businesses
You Can Make $1000 a week providing a very helpful and necessary service by weatherizing people's homes. Here is the 'how-to' guide, and here is a green product supplier for you.
3) Broker carbon credits and help individuals/companies reduce their carbon footprint
This is the fastest-growing financial specialties market in the world according to the New York Times. You can learn how to do it here.
4) Install geothermal heat pumps
Geothermal heating and cooling technology provides exceptional performance. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) agrees that a geothermal heat pump is the most energy-efficient, clean, and cost-effective space conditioning available. Learn how to install geothermal heat pumps here.
5) Recondition batteries
Start a business reconditioning Ni-Cd and NiMh batteries. Learn how here.
6) Build solar power water heaters
Solar hot water systems produce clean, non-polluting energy. A single hot water system can offset the equivalent of approximately 40% of the carbon dioxide emissions of a modern passenger car. They are safe for our environment, safe for plants, safe for animals and safe for all of us. Learn how to do this here.
7) Eco-Friendly house cleaning
Start a house cleaning service where you use eco-friendly cleaning products, and non-toxic housecleaning supplies.Here's a good article on some great eco-friendly house cleaning tips.
8) Brew biodiesel fuel
Watch this video how this process works.
9) Start a cell phone / PDA recycling business
Learn how to start a cell phone / pda recycling business here.
10) Start a paper recycling business
Some paper recyclers earn over $100,000 / year. Here's an article that explains more about this business opportunity.
11) Start a "Wet-Clean" Dry Cleaning Service
People are used to sending their clothes to dry cleaners, but most dry cleaning facilities are very harmful to the environment. People will drive out of their way to find an eco-friendly dry cleaning service. Here is an interesting study on this service.
12) Start an online business selling a green products
You can start an online business selling green products. By using a company like Doba, you don't need to carry your own inventory or ship out the products. Doba carries over 1 million brand name products from different wholesalers, who will drop ship for you. Doba has a 10 day free trial where you can check out their available products. You can learn more about here.
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Create a Website for your Green Business
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Yes really, more than and beyond the definition of the word ‘serious’. Used cooking oil from your everyday frying of chicken, fries and pork can now be used as fuel for your cars through recycling. These are called Biodiesel and it has started a revolution as an alternative to expensive fossil or mineral oil.
The first known and recorded use of vegetable oil as fuel in an engine was a demonstration of a diesel engine built by the Otto Company and was designed to burn mineral oil, which was then run on pure peanut oil at the 1900 World's Fair. After several years of research, Rudolf Diesel, inventor of the diesel engine, investigated using vegetable oil to fuel the engines he designed.
He presented this idea in 1912 to the British Institute of Mechanical Engineers and successfully cited a number of efforts in this area and he envisioned that though regular cooking oil or vegetable oil sources may seem insignificant back then, the fact that such oils would perhaps have the same importance as natural mineral oils and the tar products in due course of time.
From then on, numerous groups had started an obsession on the research into cooking oil as a diesel substitute. The use of vegetable oil in the mainstream had enjoyed its success during the early 1980s at the height of the spiraling prices and shortages of petroleum and other mineral oil.
How is it made to work with automobiles? Inventors and developers would say it simply as recycling the oil and applying the same concept in refining petroleum oil. They commonly joke as if it’s just like making coffee. The mixture is just simple: a used cooking oil of typically vegetable or coconut sources, a methanol and a catalyst which is composed of potassium and sodium.
The said mixture of three (cooking oil, methanol and catalyst) doesn’t require heating from expensive pumping stations and can be made easily, even at home provided one has the proper knowledge, tools and storage. A generally accepted mixture of 100 liters of cooking oil (costs around $0.50 per liter) plus 20 liters of methanol (usually at $1) plus one kilo of catalyst (costs around $3.5) can create 100 liters of biodiesel as well as an excess of 20 liters of glycerin (which can be used as main ingredient for everyday bath and laundry soap).
What’s more surprising is that it was tested in an unmodified older Mercedes Benz and ran for hundreds of miles during a 2006 University of Idaho invention exhibit.
Today, countries like Russia, Azerbaizan, India, Bulgaria, Paraguay and the Philippines have implemented extensive development of used cooking oil or vegetable oil to power up vehicles as well as other machineries. Major automobile manufacturers like Honda, Toyota, Ford and General Motors have slowly introduced newly designed automobile engines that support the use of Biodiesel fuel especially with the rising prices of petroleum and the collapse of the US and other European economy.
Instead of filling up your car, truck or heavy machinery like tractors with regular diesel, consider a more “green” alternative that will also be nicer on your wallet. Biodiesel is an alternative to regular, fossil fuel based diesel and there are many advantages to using it. There are 4 main reasons that you should use biodiesel and if you know and understand them, then there is no chance that you will opt to use something else ever again unless it is absolutely necessary or no other choice is available.
The best reason to use biodiesel is that it is a renewable source of energy, unlike fossil fuels. Biodiesel is made with organic bases and therefore can be grown is the amounts necessary to supply the diesel vehicles on the road. The best crops for the production of biodiesel include rapeseed or coleseed, peanuts, soybeans, sunflowers and or oil palms. Other plants that have high natural vegetable oil content can also be used and the possibilities are practically endless since research is constantly developing better biodiesel from resources that are readily available in abundance.
Another good reason to use biodiesel is that also burns cleaner in a combustion engine than fossil fuel based diesel. This has immense advantages both for now and in the long term. Cleaner burning means less destructive emissions coming from diesel engines and that in turn leads to a reduction in greenhouse gases. There is also a reduction in pollution and if all diesel powered vehicles run on biodiesel there will be a noticeable improvement in the air you breathe. A little known fact is that biodiesel is the only alternative fuel source that has ever passed all the requirements of the American Clean Air Act.
Using biodiesel instead of fossil fuel based diesel will also probably leave you with more money in your wallet after a trip to the gas station. This is because as a general rule, biodiesel costs less than regular diesel. This is not only a real alternative for your car, truck or tractor, but it can also be used for home heating. People that heat their homes with oil burners will know that the “oil” in the tank is just diesel and that can be replaced with biodiesel without many problems. The savings can be great and who doesn’t want to save money.
Last but not least, biodiesel also has a better biodegradation rate than regular diesel and that means that it is less toxic and more quickly and completely be degraded. Since it is also more easily burned a car’s engine and all the parts will suffer less wear and tear than if regular fossil fuel based diesel was used. This means for the driver that the vehicle will need less maintenance, repairs and can be driven longer.
The idea of an alternative method of a renewable energy source is the constant debate of world leaders to date. Facing damaging consequences to the earth’s normal atmospheric status, the drive to develop a cleaner more infinite form of energy is the most widely discussed issue.
While understanding the mechanisms of wave power technology, this discussion toys with the question of if wave power is cost effective. Some world economist believe no cost should be spared to preserve the earth’s vitality while others feel a more economical approached should be measured when determining the method of renewable power.
So at what cost should the world spare to make this energy concept a reality? Energy conservationists ponder this hindering question on a daily basis and the world’s economy is the deciding factor to technological advancements and keeps the development of certain renewable energy projects at bay.
There are 4 main components to which decide the economies ability to withstand a large cost for the betterment of a greater good. In other words will the cost to reproduce water power generators out weigh the overall good that will come from its production?
World economist work on financial structures to help calculate this formula and weigh in the four components to reach an overall cost efficiency for a specific project; such as the global cost for wave generator construction, the overhead for operation, the cost to perform routine maintenance and repair on faulty or damaged generators and the ability to provide wave generated power at a low enough rate to the consumer which is competitive but will not under seed the cost to operate.
The cost to construct wave generators can reach well in the hundreds of billions of dollars; from the cost of materials to the architectural designing as well as the man power to build these operational facilities thus generating an even greater strain on an already over drawn economy.
Furthermore the cost to effectively operate these wave generators with the appropriate man power and/or automated systems to monitor the daily functions, can also reach astronomical figures. These two factors combined with an agreeable rate of service, makes the determination of whether wave power will be cost effective.
Because the development of this new age renewable power source is still evolving at a slow rate, placing its potential for public consumption years behind solar and wind powered devices, it may take years before wave power energy resources will become fully developed and operational for use by the entire world.
Until technology can catch up the concept of wave powered energy, the question of “Is wave power cost effective still remains the on going topic for renewable energy sources and currently unanswered.
Tidal power generation is not as famous as the other conventional methods of power generation like thermal power or hydroelectric power. But it does not imply that they are not useful. In future we will be dependent on tidal power, solar power and wind power for our energy consumptions. Amongst them, tidal power is going to play a strong role as tides are more predictable than the other sources. But to use tidal power to produce electricity is not that easy and is also very expensive. But with the progress of the science, we are sure to find a cheaper and more effective way to generate electricity using tidal power.
The benefits of the tidal power generation are as follows:
1. Resource:
The first most important benefit of the tidal power generation is that the resource which is required for its generation i.e. tidal water is available quite easily and is free of cost. Tidal water which is used to rotate the turbines is available during the tides and both high and low tide water are used for the purpose. The speed of rotation of the turbines depends on the height of the water level and the tidal current velocities. Greater height and stronger velocities helps in more tidal power generation. This helps the tidal power plant to save the expenses which are incurred by the other power plants like nuclear or thermal or hydroelectric for procuring radioactive materials or coals etc.
2. Renewable form of energy
Tidal energy is a renewable form of energy as it is inexhaustible because it is produced from the tides which are caused due to the relative motion of the Sun and the Earth and the Earth and the Moon.
3. Cost effective:
Tidal power plants can be maintained easily and that too without spending much. Moreover, the vertical axis turbines and the offshore turbines are not that much expensive to build.
4. Eco friendly
Tidal power plants are eco friendly. No greenhouse gases or other poisonous gases or other wastes are produced.
5. Tourism
Construction of structures like barrages, turbines and lagoons which are commonly not found becomes a craze for the general public. Hence, a tidal power plant can make a place popular. It can also help to encourage tourism in the neighboring areas. In this way, local people can be helped so that they can improve their economic condition.
Though, there are lots of advantages to tidal power generation there are disadvantages too. So to use the tidal power more effectively for the generation of electricity, it is necessary to overcome some of the major disadvantages. Moreover, care should be taken so that the marine environment does not get badly affected.
It is seen that the construction of power production stations of most of renewable sources of energy are quite costly. Hydro electric power station installations are also very costly.
For hydroelectric power, the initial costs of building are high and the period of construction of dams is long due to the time taken to relocate all the living things originally placed in the site. It also is quite difficult to channelize required amount of water into the dam. But, in the long run it is seen that the cost of production of power is quite cheap, hen calculated on an overall long term basis.
Once the basic structures are built the process becomes quite simple because, water is free and is also a renewable resource.
When compared to the cost of production of other power production is very low, it is almost half when compared to that of power production using coal. Also there are no techno- barriers in hydro power production, because all technologies are quite established.
When the construction of hydroelectric power plant is properly handled a lot of water can be conserved and used up for irrigation and other household uses. This makes the construction of dams multipurpose. It is used as a flood control mechanism also and a reservoir for the associated wetland flora and fauna.
For the multiplication of fishes a ladder system can be provided, thereby making the water stored restore the natural environment of the fishes and other organisms. Thus with one establishment cost many purposes can be solved, along with the conservation of the ecosystem.
The clean energy generated every year offers a valuable alternate for the very polluting and carbon and sulphur di oxide emitting other non renewable sources of energy, and reducing the amount of acid rains.
The viability of hydro electricity can be understood from the fact that more and more countries are increasing the production of electicity from water. 82% of power generated in the US is from hydroelectricity, Japan produces 84% of its energy from water followed by more than 80% in France and 73% in Germany. China, which primarily depends on its large coal deposits, has also started to turn its attention towards hydropower.
Generally the pay back period of hydropower is after 5-8 years, this period onwards the returns are very stable and the maintenance becomes simple. Having a power project in hilly terrains also reduces the cost of construction because, here we can use adjoining hills as a natural barrier for water and construct a structure to control the flow of water alone.
This kind of structure is helpful to restore the agricultural landscape of the area, it broadens the recreational quality and also makes the environment more healthy and picturesque.
Use of renewable energy has started gaining more importance in context of green house gas emission, global warming and ozone layer depletion. Also it is seen that the future has to depend on non conventional energy resources because conventional resources are depleting fast and may be extinct soon, so development of alternative resources has become a must.
In future the geothermal energy can be used for the following:
Community heating systems- the heating system can be used to keep a large group of houses hot during winters and hot water can also be passed through pipes to many houses using single connection thus bringing down the cost of establishment.
Production of small and large scale power- hot dry rock system, where water is passed onto dry rock in the deep layers of earth and heating the water for production of electricity. Since cleaner electricity can be produced it can be used in large scale. Small scale and large scale power production for various domestic and industrial use, can be done in the future.
Heating greenhouses- In agriculture greenhouses can be kept warm during cool climate and cool during hot climate using geothermal energy, so that productivity of the plants can be increased and pest and disease attack can be minimised. It is seen that 80% of fuel cost is reduced when geothermal energy is used and also 5-8% of operating cost is reduced.
In aquaculture – the water can be maintained at a constant temperature thus bringing in more productivity and healthier fishes. It also provides cleaner air and water for the fishes.
Industrial uses- In industries such as dehydration of vegetables like garlic and onion and fruits can be done using geothermal energy. In laundry industry hot water can be used, in pasteurisation of milk, gold and other metal mining.
Geothermal energy can also be used in swimming pools and in spas.
It is already seen that commercial use of heating geothermal systems are being used to heat the roads during snow. Pipes, carrying hot water is passed under the roads, which removes the condensed snow on the surface of the road.
More research can be done in context of improving conducting fluids and can be improved so that heat is retained for more time and the quality of energy is improved.
Air coolers and refrigeration- Methods to condense air and cool the air has also been developed. This can be used to bring about cooling systems for larger areas and also to refrigerate food items. Agricultural produce which require large areas under refrigeration can also be brought about.
With so many perspective uses of geothermal energy, the future is quite bright.
Hydropower is the power generated from the force of water. When water is stored in a dam or a pool, it has a large amount of potential energy, this potential energy is converted into kinetic energy when the water is made to flow from a higher altitude to a lower altitude. This kinetic energy can be harnessed by letting them to rotate large turbines and producing electricity. It is the oldest known power that is produced. Man has been using water and its many forms in all the different ways possible. He has harnessed the power of water and its various forms as below
Waterwheels
The natural flow of water in rivers, streams etc, can be used to rotated the wheels of power houses. This was the first form in which the energy of water was used. The power produced from this was used to run power mills in older days.
Hydroelectricity
Electricity is produced by allowing water stored in higher altitude to flow from a height to a lower area. Turbines are kept in its path. The water turns the turbine owing to the high kinetic energy which is converted from the potential energy possessed by it during its stance in a higher altitude. The turning of turbine produces electricity. This is one of oldest renewable source of electricity and is still in use. The production of electricity is cheaper than that of other renewable and non renewable electricity production. It is also possible to take water from one dam to different power stations thereby using water at different levels of altitude to produce electricity.
Electricity produced from running water
Water running in rivers, streams and oceans, which are not stored, is used to turn turbine to produce electricity. This is similar to that of water wheels only difference is that the turbine is more equipped to take more water in pockets in the turbine that can hold water in it during rotation. This increases the weight of the turbine thereby requiring more force to turn it, thus generating higher amount of power in the process.
Tidal power
Due to the moon’s gravity the water in oceans tend to rise once in 15 days, a large amount of energy is produced during this movement of such a large mass of water both horizontally and vertically. This energy is tapped as in hydroelectricity and electricity is produced. This is called the tidal energy.
When energy is produced from the horizontal movement of tide it is called tidal power and when energy is produced during the vertical movement, it is called the tidal stream power.
Vortex power
V shaped vortices are produced at rocky surfaces of water, the energy at these points the very high because water passes through the narrow mouth of the vortex into the broader are. The electricity produced from these places are called vortex power.
Wave power
Waves, which move due to force of wind, have a lot of inherent energy in them. This is tapped and is used to produce electricity. The power is used to turn the turbine which in turn produces electricity.
The earth absorbs more than 30% of the sun’s heat radiation incident in it in the form of infra red rays. This heat is captured and stored by it in its various components like the surface and underground water, rocks and other minerals and elements present in its different layers. This energy can be tapped and used for various purposes in our homes. Some of the common usage of geothermal energy in our homes, are given below.
We can use the heat generated from the earth’s surface for keeping our homes warm and cosy. This is very useful during extreme heat or extreme cold weather which is a commonly endured by many countries. We can use the geothermal energy of the earth, by tapping the heat using various different techniques.
The basic technique includes passing a geothermal fluid through a pipe into the crust of the earth, and absorbing the heat tapped there, this heated fluid is then passed through the pipe into the house thus conducting the heat into the house. The pipe used can be of metal or non metal, depending on the heat conducting fluid that we are using inside the pipe.
The fluid in the pipe is circulated through the pipe in cycles, bringing in cooler fluid and taking out warm fluid to transfer it on to the required place. Such pipes can be used in two different methods – geothermal heat pumps and geoexchange energy wells.
When the earth is used as source of heat the pipe brings heat into the house and when the earth is used as sink heat is taken from the house making it cool. The cycle can continue until we require and the energy required for running this cycle is also very low. Thus pollution free heaters as well non carbon emitting coolers can be obtained.
It is also observed that the cost of operation for such system is meagre compared to the electric room heaters and air conditioners used at present.
Another use of geothermal energy is by using dry steam in the pipes that are circulated in the house. The heated steam can be used to heat and cool the house. This heated steam can also be used to turn turbines to produce electricity to run electrical appliances of the house and also light the house. It can also be used to keep any greenhouse of the house warm. Dry steam can be used for cooking also. We can use dry steam to dry washed clothes during winter and rainy seasons.
When we use water in the pipes the heated water can be used directly to take bath, as we use solar water heaters, cook and also run turbines to produce electricity. The hot water also can be used directly to wash clothes, and in dishwasher.
Cooling systems can be used in refrigeration of different food items also. They can also be used during summer to keep the house cool.
It has been observed that the energy thus produced does not emit unwanted gases and is renewable.
The connection can be kept online 97% of the time without thinking of wastage as the wastage is minimal.
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