Is Solar Energy Water-Bound?

  Solar power is a competitive industry and the race is on to see which company or research team can devise the most efficient and cost-effective technology. Israel's Solaris Energy and France's EDF Group have joined forces to come up with a system that solves many of the issues that continue to plague most traditional applications of solar technology, including space and cost.

Science Daily reports that the collaboration has resulted in floating solar power plants. The joint project has been running for some time and is now nearing the end of its second phase, namely construction of the prototype. It's hoped that by September 2011 they will be able to launch phase three, which is implementation of the technology accompanied by analysis and testing.

Testing will take place over a period of nine months at Cadarache, in the South East of France, during which researchers will gain insight into how seasons and water levels affect productivity and performance. Come June 2012 and the team of collaborators hopes that they'll be able to let their products loose on the market.

Dr Kassel, one of the lead researchers on the project, says that a lot of thought went into which bodies of water would be most suitable for the project. They needed a large body of water but obviously didn't want to interfere in natural water systems or impinge on tourist resorts or chance the waves at sea. In the end it was decided to use industrial water basins that are already being used for other purposes. Consideration was also given to the preservation of aquatic life in the water basins. As a result, the system has been designed to be breathable, that is, oxygen is still able to get through to the water.

Science Daily cites Dr Kassel: "One of the implementation phase's goals is to closely monitor the possible effects of this new technology on the environment with the help of specialists and a preliminary check shows no detrimental environmental impact on water quality, flora or fauna. Our choices of materials were always made with this concern in mind."

As groundbreaking as the idea sounds, it isn't new.

In May 2008, Peter Richardson won the International Design Awards Land and Sea competition with an idea for Solar Lily Pads. Richardson envisioned a series of lily pad-shaped platforms covered with solar panels floating down the River Clyde in Glasgow.

A month later Inhabitat revealed a winery in Napa Valley, California, that generated energy by using a solar power system that floated on pontoons on its irrigation pond. The winery reported that they found that the floating solar panels not only generated electricity but also significantly reduced evaporation.

Also in 2008, Thomas Hinderling, a researcher and CEO of Swiss R&D company Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique, landed a lucrative funding deal to build solar islands in the United Arab Emirates. The islands would be designed to float on the ocean and the panels would rotate to get full exposure to the sun.

In 2010, American Recycler ran an article on a solar integration company called SPG Solar, which focuses on using solar energy systems to address other environmental concerns, such as water conservation. The company's CEO, Tom Rooney, says that "floatovoltaics" play an important role in conserving water sources by preventing or slowing down evaporation. This, he says, is significant in regions where water supply is dwindling.

Solar power is a competitive industry and the race is on to see which company or research team can devise the most efficient and cost-effective technology. Israel's Solaris Energy and France's EDF Group have joined forces to come up with a system that solves many of the issues that continue to plague most traditional applications of solar technology, including space and cost.

Science Daily reports that the collaboration has resulted in floating solar power plants. The joint project has been running for some time and is now nearing the end of its second phase, namely construction of the prototype. It's hoped that by September 2011 they will be able to launch phase three, which is implementation of the technology accompanied by analysis and testing.

Testing will take place over a period of nine months at Cadarache, in the South East of France, during which researchers will gain insight into how seasons and water levels affect productivity and performance. Come June 2012 and the team of collaborators hopes that they'll be able to let their products loose on the market.

Dr Kassel, one of the lead researchers on the project, says that a lot of thought went into which bodies of water would be most suitable for the project. They needed a large body of water but obviously didn't want to interfere in natural water systems or impinge on tourist resorts or chance the waves at sea. In the end it was decided to use industrial water basins that are already being used for other purposes. Consideration was also given to the preservation of aquatic life in the water basins. As a result, the system has been designed to be breathable, that is, oxygen is still able to get through to the water.

Science Daily cites Dr Kassel: "One of the implementation phase's goals is to closely monitor the possible effects of this new technology on the environment with the help of specialists and a preliminary check shows no detrimental environmental impact on water quality, flora or fauna. Our choices of materials were always made with this concern in mind."

As groundbreaking as the idea sounds, it isn't new.

In May 2008, Peter Richardson won the International Design Awards Land and Sea competition with an idea for Solar Lily Pads. Richardson envisioned a series of lily pad-shaped platforms covered with solar panels floating down the River Clyde in Glasgow.

A month later Inhabitat revealed a winery in Napa Valley, California, that generated energy by using a solar power system that floated on pontoons on its irrigation pond. The winery reported that they found that the floating solar panels not only generated electricity but also significantly reduced evaporation.

Also in 2008, Thomas Hinderling, a researcher and CEO of Swiss R&D company Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique, landed a lucrative funding deal to build solar islands in the United Arab Emirates. The islands would be designed to float on the ocean and the panels would rotate to get full exposure to the sun.

In 2010, American Recycler ran an article on a solar integration company called SPG Solar, which focuses on using solar energy systems to address other environmental concerns, such as water conservation. The company's CEO, Tom Rooney, says that "floatovoltaics" play an important role in conserving water sources by preventing or slowing down evaporation. This, he says, is significant in regions where water supply is dwindling.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6220819Residential solar energy systems do not need to be isolated systems providing power for one individual home. They are most effective when grouped to service a complete land development or sub-division. A prime example of this can be seen in a new eco-village development at Witchcliffe, near Margaret River, Western Australia.

Sustainable Green Building Design

If most Australians were aware of what was going to happen to planet earth this century, they would be lining up to buy a house and land package in an environmentally sustainable eco-village.

Shaping such a development is not a simple task. A developer needs to be fully aware of how to design a sustainable residential subdivision and set guidelines that will work. Correct green building design must be incorporated into every unit. It is imperative that solid guidelines are attached to property developments to deliver outcomes that are a win for the residents, the community and the environment, by reducing energy and water and conserving the natural world.

For a small developer, joining forces with a major real estate development company with high ethics is a smart move for all involved. In this case it gave the smaller developer of the project the financial clout it needed to succeed. Whilst so many dream, very few successfully act and deliver.

Affordable Housing

A developer needs to start by considering the needs and best interests of the community. In Margaret River, not everyone is a retired real estate agent or doctor, or has a large bank account. They may not be rich in financial resources but they are good, down-to-earth people who greatly appreciate nature and want to help co-exist with it.

Unfortunately the huge explosion in the demand for large expensive houses by those mainly benefiting from the mining boom in Western Australia, has pushed up consumption, energy use and the sizes of houses.

With building costs skyrocketing over the last few years, many people have had the dream of owning their own home all but destroyed. This particular developer in Margaret River decided from the beginning when buying the land, to not only to do something for the environment, but to also tackle the issue of affordability. By producing correctly designed, small blocks as part of a wider community, he has combined economies of scale and collective action, to reduce the costs of a house and land to within the reach of the average person in the region. At the same time it makes it attractive for similar people in the city to opt for an alternative style of living.

His timing is impeccable. Energy use is set to increase by 50% world-wide thus compounding the greenhouse effect. It will also produce huge increases in energy prices in the next couple of decades, as all known sources of energy are depleted. The cost-effective residential solar energy systems used provide power for a groups of homes, not just single units.

Alternative Lifestyle

What we now call an 'alternative' lifestyle may not be described this way for much longer. If the world keeps going the way it is, then we are going to need more of this style of living. The growth of energy use and the depletion of the world's energy resources will ensure that conventional lifestyles will not be afforded by anyone except the wealthy and those lacking public consciousness.

Healthy food and fresh clean water is the key to a healthy life and through cutting-edge water technology and productive landscaping, a well designed development such as this will deliver these precious commodities to all residents. Food and water bills will be kept to a minimum. This will be a great environment to bring up children and create a generation of socially and scientifically, sustainable people.

Green by Design

The developers also had the good sense to enlist an environmentalist and expert sustainable landscape designer and gardener, to ensure that the gardens and landscape are designed in detail to complement their vision for the estate.

The vision for this eco-village is to create a world leading sustainable community in Witchcliffe. The village will comprise 180 strata titled home sites with an extensive range of on-site infrastructure and services to create a world-leading example of sustainable development that achieves:

100% net power generation on site with solar PV and wind turbines,

100% self-sufficiency in water through on-site rainwater harvesting,

100% production of seasonal fresh produce on site,

Class A recycled water for household garden and toilets,

all homes to face expansive open space and community gardens,

high-efficiency, solar passive homes,

affordable house and land packages,

on-site wind turbines to provide free charging for up to 100 electric vehicles,

a local energy grid that employs smart grid technology

Micro Solar Economy

As a solar energy specialist deeply concerned with the problems of climate change and the contribution that our built environment makes to pollution, I am pleased with this initiative and wish the developer every success for the project.

Solar energy in the forms of passive solar, green building design of the individual houses, photovoltaic panels and solar water heating, all will form a lynch pin to make this development a truly 'micro solar' economy. When combined with the organic approaches to water collection, grey water and waste recycling and the generation of bio fuels (courtesy of the greatest energy gift - the sun), the beneficial consequences from this development will be far-reaching.

Most people are aware of the potential of solar energy technology, but many homeowners are not precisely sure what the process entails. We are going to assume that you get adequate sun exposure where you live. This is important in order to justify the investment necessary for solar energy technology.

If you live where frequent clouds affect the intensity of the direct rays of the sun, then any possible payoff could take longer. When getting enough sun is going to be a challenge, you might consider an alternative like wind energy.

After you test to ensure your location receives enough sunlight, the next step is to determine which types of solar panels will work best for your home. The two most popular types of solar panels are tilted panels or flush panels. In order to install these panels, you must ensure alignment of the panels with the roof slant.

Installation varies depending on the particular shape of your roof. If your home's roof is flat, it is wiser to install the panels with a slight tilt. It is also important to note that a completely flat solar panel installation will likely collect debris like dust, rainwater,dirt, dead insects, and other types of build-up. It goes without saying that these things can affect the efficiency of your installation.

Solar energy installation

There's no need to worry if your particular roof is well-suited to solar energy technology. Efficient solar power for homes does not depend on the roof type. Solar energy technology can accommodate any type of roof. The right solar panel to suit your needs can easily be found.

In most cases, with solar panels, you simply attach the necessary posts or brackets using stainless steel bolts or screws. It needs to be strong and sturdy enough to fasten to the joists or rafters. Most handy homeowners can usually follow the directions for safe and effective installation.

To err on the side of caution, you can employ solar specialists for the installation to ensure the utmost of safety and professionalism. However, if you are fairly handy around the house, you can also learn solar panel installation. First, you attach a long rail on the brackets, then gently slide the panels into place. If your roof has an unusual tilt or a steep pitch angle, this could prove challenging.

You also need to be careful in case the initial construction on your roof utilized non-traditional building methods. However, solutions to most problems can usually be found.

Some homeowners opt to start small and scale up. One can evaluate the total cost of the investment and measure it against the potential future savings. Solar energy technology shouldn't be seen as an expense. It is more of an investment that pays off, not only in your bank balance, but with the environment too. Renewable energy awareness is important for the future of the planet.

Some homeowners delay utilizing solar energy technology because they simply don't understand it. We will explain and clarify in greater detail in the next section below.

Understanding solar energy technology

An individual photovoltaic module (PV) produces a small amount of power. Accordingly, installation of home solar power requires several panels to generate sufficient power. Several panels used in conjunction, make up a photovoltaic array. The solar panels are arranged in a grid structure and using the aforementioned rails makes the process easier. During the installation process, you should try attaching the panels to one another, in addition to the brackets or rail. It is important in order to ensure enough strength and stability to withstand any harsh wind or weather.

Solar collector panels need supplementary connections to facilitate the return and supply feeds accordingly https://solarcellzusa.com/. The collector panels absorb the sun's energy for the PV modules to convert the solar radiation into the electricity that powers your home. After the panels are attached, you can then affix a trunk or conduit. This will connect the panels to a component called an inverter. This allows the PV panels direct current (DC) to be converted into the alternating current (AC) required for home use.

As with most installations, double-check everything and properly go over the home installation kit. Additional weather proofing is also highly recommended. Implementing solar energy technology may change the entire way you see electricity. This can be a very enlightening experience.