Why Your Electric Company Is So Important

© Guerito 2005

Image via Wikipedia

We all know that electricity is crucial to today’s world. Almost everything we do uses power. Because of this, we know that the electric companies are very important. Did you know that your electric company is working to make the world better for you?

Many electric companies throughout the world are now offering incentives for making the world a little greener. Each company is doing this in their own way. Using a directory like Canada 411, you can contact your local electric company to find out what they are doing for the green movement.

Some companies offer incentives for those that use energy efficient machines in their homes. This has helped the energy-efficient movement. In fact, this movement has become much more popular as people have realized that they may even get a discount on their electricity bill if they have Energy Star rated appliances.

Have you seen huge windmills in the middle of fields? These are also put up, many times, by the electric companies. They are a very efficient way to produce the energy that we each use on a daily basis. Wind and solar power are renewable sources of energy, whereas many previous forms, such as coal, are not.

The push that your electric company is making to “go green” is important to the world. The more we use renewable energy instead of non-renewable sources, the more likely we are to be able to continue have electricity. Every time you hear about something being green, or you hear about a movement to “go green,” find out if your electric company is behind it. It is very likely that they are.

Filed Under: Economy, Energy Tagged With: , ,

Current Alternative Energy Producers

Most countries would like to be able to switch all their energy use requirements from fossil based sources to renewable ones. They have set lofty goals and are attempting to meet them.  Many of the present day energy needs are being met by renewable energy sources. Most of this advancement is being accomplished by the developed nations of the world like the U.S., Brazil, China, Spain and Germany. Currently, the most utilized form of renewable energy is hydroelectric power. Wind and solar energy, however, are also on the move.

Hydroelectric power throughout the world is developed primarily where dams have been built to control and focus the use of moving water. China has capitalized on this form of renewable energy, particularly with its Three Gorges Dam. China is the world’s leader in the production of hydroelectric power, creating 171 gig watts (GW). The next contender is Canada with 90GW, followed by the U.S. with 79 GW, then Brazil, Russia, India, Norway and then Japan at 27 GW.  These numbers can be a bit confusing when you take into account total electricity usage. For example, Norway is 9th on the list of hydroelectric GW creation, but the amount it does produce in this manner covers 98% of its electricity needs. China, by comparison, who is number one in hydroelectric GW production only meets 18% of its electrical needs using this method.

Wind energy producers starts with the U.S. which produces an installed capacity of 25,369 megawatts (MW), followed by Germany with 23,902 MW,  Spain with 16,740 MW, China with 12,200 MW, Indea, Italy, France , the United Kingdom and so on.

As for Nuclear energy (essentially carbon free) the countries that have the highest installed capacity are first the U.S. with 106 GW followed by France with 63GW, Japan with 49 GW,  Russia with 22 GW then Germany, South Korea, down to Sweden with 9 GW.

Finally solar energy producers are ordered as follows: Germany first with 5,400 MW, Spain with 3,300 MW, Japan at 1,970 MW, the United States at 830 MW and finally South Korea at 350 MW. In the world at large the number of grid-connected solar PVs is 13,000 MW.

Filed Under: Energy, General Tagged With: , ,

Renewable Energy Production

Renewable energy refers to those forms of energy production which are obtained through renewable resources such as sunlight, moving water, wind, geothermal heat, rain and tides, etc. These forms of energy production are considered renewable since they replenish themselves naturally all the time. In a general sense these forms of energy production are considered alternatives to fossil fuels (petroleum products) and nuclear power which during the ‘70’s and ‘80’s were referred to as “alternative energy.”

By 2008 the world’s consumption of energy had shifted 19% over to renewable sources. Traditional forms of biomass, used primarily for heating made up 13% of this number while hydroelectricity made up 3.2% of it. The remaining 2.7% came from wind, bio-fuels, geothermal and solar sources. Approximately 18% of electricity generation now comes from renewable sources – 15% from hydroelectricity and the remaining 3% from newer forms of renewable energy.

The installed capacity of wind power throughout the world in 2009 was 158 gig-watts (GW). It is growing at a rate of 30% each year and is most widely used throughout Europe, the U.S. and Asia. Photovoltaic (PV) (electricity generated by solar energy) generated in excess of 21 GW by the end of 2009. Spain and Germany have PV power stations throughout their countries. The U.S. and Spain also have solar thermal power stations in operation, the largest of which is located in the Mojave Desert, called the SEGS power plant.  It is a 354 megawatt (MW) facility. Geothermal power is generated in the largest amounts at “The Geysers” in California. It is rated with a capacity of 750 MW. Ethanol fuel is another renewable source of energy. Brazil has a world class renewable energy program that includes a production of sugar-cane created ethanol that makes up 18% of the nation’s automotive fuels. The U.S. is another country that produces and utilizes large amounts of ethanol fuel.

Filed Under: Energy Tagged With: , ,

Wind Energy

Vestas wind turbine, Dithmarschen.
Image via Wikipedia

Those of us living in temperate climates look forward to the warmth the sun produces during the summer months. The sun is indeed powerful and can produce not just solar power but also wind energy. When looking at alternatives to fossils fuels such as coal, it would be a good idea to consider the benefits of wind energy. This is considered one of the healthy forms of energy and it is renewable. One of the first steps in protecting our energy resources is to look at ways of using renewable resources that are cleaner on the environment.

The Wind

Some people might think it strange to use the wind as a form of energy. The sun is usual the most common natural energy source. However, the speeds of the wind can be used to generate another energy source. We have all seen the damage the wind can do during a hurricane or a tornado. So just imagine being able to harness the energy contained within these wind systems to provide another energy source.

When most people think of harnessing the power of the wind, usually windmills are the first piece of equipment people would think about. However, the energy contained within the wind can be effective at a speed of at least 7 mph. The wind energy can be used for anything such as the grand scale windmill production seen in some countries, to a smaller scale of energy production just for a home.

Wind Energy at Home

It is possible to use wind energy at home. How effective this will be would depend on the speed of the wind in your area, especially around your home. By contacting a service provider with the correct equipment, homeowners can save on utility bills by using wind energy. The service provider will need you to measure the wind speed, along with any wind patterns to decide what is the best location for a wind turbine.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Energy, Mining Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Hydro Power: Using It Effectively

QIANJIANG, CHINA - DECEMBER 26: People atten...
Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Not to many countries would think of using water as an energy source. As an alternative source, many cities would wonder just how to make use of it within their state. Of course hydro power is not a strong form of energy as solar power. However, this does not mean it cannot be effective as an energy source. Some of the biggest produces of hydro power include countries such as Canada and France.

Harnessing Its Power

Harnessing the power of water does require that a dam be built or an obstruction be implemented to direct the flow of water to where it is needed to go. Around the wall, the obstructions built serve to create a waterfall in some areas, and as the water flows pass it the turbines located inside the hydro plant are turned, creating energy. The only problem with hydropower is in an area where the water can decrease with the tide, energy production can be affected.

The Advantages & Disadvantages

The advantages of using flowing water as a source of energy are vast. This resource is constantly available as long as the water flows. When the water is flowing, large amounts of energy and electricity can be produced. Therefore, hydro power is only effective in areas that have a constant flow of water. It is also a great alternative to using fuels derived from plants that can cause pollution.

Some of the disadvantages of hydro power is that it is limited in the amount of energy that can be produced per day. This is in regards to areas affected by tides. Another disadvantage is seen in the energy plants. The equipment and machinery needed to harness this type of energy is not only costly but large in size. Therefore, an area next to the water to produce the energy will also need to have a large space for the energy plant.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Energy, Mining Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
« Older Posts