DEVELOPMENTS IN RENEWABLE

TECHNOLOGYMichael G BoyceJuly 4th 2012

Melksham Climate Friendly Group

Solar Cement• The global cement industry is currently one of

the largest single emitter of carbon dioxide, generating on average about 830 kg of this greenhouse gas for each 1000 kg of cement produced (source: International Energy Agency 2007, Tracking Industrial Energy Efficiency and CO2

Emissions; pdf). Considering that the worldwide annual production of cement is a whopping 3.8 trillion kg (source), the cement industry alone accounts for approximately 5-6% of man-made CO2 emissions.

Read more: http://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=24883.php#ixzz1yWXrqvSo

• "In cement production, the majority of CO2 emissions occurs during the decarbonation of limestone (CaCO3) to lime (CaO) and the remainder (30 to 40%) from burning fossil fuels, such as coal, to heat the kiln reactors to 900°C," Licht explains to ∼Nanowerk. " Our study presents a low-energy, entirely new synthetic route to form CaO without any carbon dioxide emission, and is based on unexpected solubility behavior in molten salts. This synthesis can be accomplished without solar energy, and without our new STEP process, but is particularly attractive when combined with this new solar process." "Alternatively" he adds, "the new synthesis could be used by industry to produce cement using any non-solar, renewable or nuclear energy without any CO2 release, or greatly decrease CO2 if fossil fuels were used to drive the new cement production – in the latter, worst case scenario, the products are lime, graphite and oxygen; there is still no CO2 product, but CO2 would be used in the energy to drive the process." In STEP cement limestone undergoes low energy electrolysis to produce lime, O2 and reduced carbonate without carbon dioxide emission.

• Read more: http://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=24883.php#ixzz1yWYDFXaJ

Company Logo

Thin Film Solar• Organic Cell is Lean and Limber• Adhering to the adage that one can never be too thin, Austrian and

Japanese researchers developed a 1.9 μm-thick solar cell. The polymer-based ultrathin device features electrodes on plastic foil and the flexibility required for inclusion in textiles and conformable electronics. The organic PV cells, 10x lighter and thinner than others available, post a power conversion efficiency of 4.2%.

No Reflectance Solar Cell• Silicon in Basic Black• The virtual absence of reflectance from silicon cells fabricated

by Natcore Technology, NJ, and U.S. National Renewable Energy Lab translates into 99.7% incident light absorption. Anti-reflection black cell technology increases energy conversion efficiency at reduced manufacturing costs. Production entails liquid phase deposition to coat and passivate nanoporous Si wafers, reports Solar Novus Today.

Technical Challenges: Solar- Inverter• DC LV to AC 20V• Power loses• Reliability

Tech Challenges- Wind Power• Wind availability. Velocity > 6m/s for smaller

WTGs• Gearbox (power losses, noise, reliability.

Lubrication)• Long blades >45M- transport issues• Long towers: 30-40 same issues• Road access and surfaces• Environmental Impact

Thinking big: The 2.5xl turbine has a rotor diameter of 100 meters — or about the length of a football field. By comparison, its widely used 1.5-megawatt cousin has a rotor diameter of 70 to 77 meters. The 2.5xl turbine isn’t currently sold in the U.S., but GE will begin offering it to North American customers next year — with those units to be assembled in Pensacola, Fla

How Wind Power Works• http://

www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=g0WSqqLRsQE

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=ny04UDEnJ6Q

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNXTm7aHvWc&feature=player_detailpage

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyehD1j0kUU&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLA1D1EBDE1CDC833A

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHVG-ZhuwzM&feature=player_detailpage

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELXSceFpS_w&feature=player_detailpage

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0DZUDQyw_0&feature=player_detailpage

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06D4LvU-CG8&feature=player_detailpage

Storing Wind Power Wind Energy is in the Bag Video documents progress in the maturation of inflatable energy bags developed at University of Nottingham, UK, to provide wind energy storage. Tethered to the sea floor, these compressed air energy storage balloons offer a means to address the intermittent nature of wind power systems. Watch preliminary field tests off Orkney, Scotland, and assembly of steel ballast structures.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktup6CAvfGo&feature=player_embedded

High Altitude Wind• Turbine Meets Blimp• More height equals more wind, so it was just a matter

of time before someone married a turbine to a blimp. A Massachusetts company recently completed testing of a 35 ft airborne wind turbine (AWT) at an altitude of 350 ft. Constructed in a sail-making loft, the donut-shaped blimp surrounds a Southwest Skystream turbine, using fins and guy wires to adjust direction and output. The ultimate goal is harnessing strong and steady winds found above 1,000 ft.

Wave/Tidal

Geothermal• Hot Water from Old Mines• Heat collects in abandoned underground mines, presenting a

geothermal resource already tapped in some areas of Europe and Canada. A general model developed at McGill University, Canada, could help predict how much energy can be produced from mine sites. Heat extracted from hot water pumped to the surface could yield 150 kW heat/km of a typical underground flooded mine.

Conclusions• Economy of scale has size

implications• Investment is critical• ROC or FIT is essential• Offshore is not the ‘’gold

rush’’ we thought it would be

• Nothing beats saving energy. Population issues have to be considered (not popular)

• Payback of energy used in manufacture of wind equip is about 1-2 months

• Wind turbines are not toys: 2.5 MW may cost 1-2 million GBP installed. Best is isolated rural areas. Need wind. Taller= more wind capture, but need grid connections..

• Tidal/wave not new, just not scaled up

• Geothermal unexploited in UK