Green Technology

The University of Delaware is working on technology to enable EV owners use their cars batteries as storage / stabilizing capacity for the grid.

The University of Delaware is working with NRG Energy and eV2 on this project.  EVs may be able to provide power to the grid to cover peak needs and serve as significant storage capacity for smoothing out peak needs.

“ … resulting in cost savings to electric vehicle fleet operators and eventually other electric vehicle owners and consumers, … “  

The technology works while the EV is plugged in to the charging system … and instead of drawing power would send power to the grid.

“ … allow electric vehicle owners to sell battery storage back to the electric grid … at no risk or inconvenience to daily driving needs. “

Via:  University of Delaware  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 10:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Street sgns and utility power poles are almost everywhere.  A project at The University of Nebraska is looking into ways to use wind power and solar panels on signs to power roadway lights and traffic signals.  Any excess power will go into the local energy grid.

The units combine solar and wind generators and feature batteries for storage.  " ... Each unit consists of a wind turbine generator and one or more PV panels mounted on the top of the pole for electric power generation."

" ... overall system involves power generation, storage, distribution, grid operation, and demand-side management.

Via:  University of Nebraska - Lincoln  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 02:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

One problem with alternative energy sources like solar and wind are that the peak consumption times are often not the same as the peak generation times.  This issue plagues both commercial and residential generators.  If the power cannot be stored it is wasted ...

Ice Energy provides one solution.

" ...  can offset the need for peak generation, relieve summer transmission congestion, ... enable the reliable integration of renewable energy resources by reshaping the load on the system ..."

This solution can be combined with a/c units to significantly less energy than standard systems.

Via:  Ice Energy  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 05:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

There is a lot of wind energy off the northeast seaboard ... but no good way to move it to consumers.  Google is looking to change that with a new transmission line called the Atlantic Wind Connection (AWC).

" ... signed an agreement to invest in ... a backbone transmission project off the Mid-Atlantic coast  ...  helping to accelerate offshore wind development ..."

Expected to create thousands of jobs it will improve the reliability of the mid-Atlantic grid - so it’s both good business and good for the environment.

" ... will stretch 350 miles ... from New Jersey to Virginia ... able to connect 6,000MW of offshore wind turbines ..."

Via:  Google blog LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 03:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Duke Energy has leased part of the roof of a National Gypsum facility in Mt Holly NC to use for a solar array.  The output is 1.17 mW - equivalent to the power needs of 700 homes.

" ... 5096 panels ... Duke Energy will own, operate, and maintain all components of the system. The lease agreement is for 25 years."

" ... National Gypsum has contracts to purchase byproduct gypsum ... from four of the utility’s nearby coal-fired plants."

Posted by Green Dude at 03:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Supply and demand are always achieved on the grid.  One issue for renewable energy is how to store the power which may be generated during low demand for use during high demand rather than have it go to waste.

" ... hope is that bulk storage will allow solar and wind farm operators to provide electricity to the grid--regardless of wind and sun conditions--making the electricity they provide more valuable."

Storage devices include batteries, flywheels, ice, capacitors and water and vary in their storage capacity.

Check out this slide show of some novel grid energy storage devices.  SLIDE SHOW LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 06:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Beyond Low Energy homes are Zero Energy Homes (ZEH).  Using technology including geothermal heating and cooling, PV panels, heat recovery ventilation and super insulation and high efficiency windows the homes in Green Acres (New Paltz NY) may be the first ZEH in the world.

" ... first zero energy (ZEH) community in the United States and possibly the world..."

" ... each home has the capacity to generate enough renewable energy to offset its annual energy needs. ..."

Via:  Green Acres New Paltz (NY)  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 05:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Solar power for consumers has lots going for it ... renewable energy, clean power, being green ... and one near term stumbling block --- cost.  Most systems are EXPENSIVE for the initial capiital outlay.

Clarian Power Inc may be able to help lower the price with both affordable and easy to install (DIY type install) products.  Payback can be 3 - 4 years after factoring in rebates and credits.

"Sunfish™ is a plug-in solar power module that’s affordable and easy to install ... SmartBox™ technology allows homeowners to plug solar power into an existing outlet ..."

Via:  Clarian Power Inc.  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 05:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

SEPTA and Viridity Energy are working to reclaim and then reuse or resell the electricity generated by SEPTA subway and trolley cars. 

Much the same as a hybrid auto using regenerative braking to charge a battery - this system  sends the energy generated from braking subway cars back to the Subway power system for short term storage.  This turns the normally wasted energy into a resource.

Viridity Energy 's solution will " ... allow SEPTA to recycle the energy created from the regenerative braking ability of trains and trolleys ... ".  The braking energy will be stored in a large battery.

Benefits will include energy savings by storing the energy that can then be used to reduce SEPTA's draw from the GRID or even returned to the GRID for revenue during peaks use times.  It is projected that energy savings will result in over 1,200 tons of carbon emissions avoided per year and helping " ... balance electric generation and electric load on the PJM interconnection ..."

Via:  Viridity Energy  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 05:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Howard University, Washington, DC, has entered into a partnership with Parento Energy to create a microgrid for the university campus.

Mircogrid growth is being driven by concerns about the robustness of the national energy infrastructure as well as green jobs and green technology growth.  Along with the smart grid they are seen as the futur

e way power will be brought to users.

" ... Microgrids are decentralized power systems that often utilize renewable energy, ... "

" ... will support critical infrastructure ... while greatly reducing the carbon footprint ... will utilize highly efficient cogeneration technologies ..."

Via:  Howard University LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 06:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Can your car - or your hybrid - help power the grid?

" ... exploring plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) that not only use grid electricity to meet their power needs, but also the car's potential to store electricity from the wind or sun, or even feed electricity back into the grid, earning money for the owner."

" ... vehicle-to-grid (V2G) integration ... improve the sustainability and resilience of the transportation and electric power infrastructures ... new era in which vehicles and electric "fuel" infrastructure become a system."

" electric cars become "distributed" storage, doubling as mobile holding tanks for electricity, ready to serve in their down time."

Via:  University of Michigan LINK
 

Posted by Green Dude at 05:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "It hopes to start dissolving the first cavern within a year. Later, the company is looking to dig other caverns at the site for compressed air, which could store excess energy generated by a nearby wind farm ... " ..

Posted by Green Tech at 04:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Via: United Technologies Corp. LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 06:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

As both wind and solar power are intermittent - unlike gas, coal, oil or nuclear fired power plants - there is a need for an effective way to store these energy sources until they are needed.  The ability to smooth the supply with the demand is becoming more important as solar and wind start to power the grid.

Compressed Air Energy Storage - CAES " ... stores off-peak energy, in the form of compressed air in an underground reservoir, and releases this energy during peak hours. ... used for load management of intermittent renewable energy resources or as a stand-alone intermediate generation source for capturing energy arbitrage, capacity payments and ancillary services. ..."

"Renewable power sources are critical to addressing climate change. CAES greatly enhances the value of renewable power sources by (1) storing energy produced by renewables when demand is low and releasing it when it is needed, and by (2) rapidly providing power in the event of a sudden loss of renewables generation. ..."

Posted by Green Dude at 04:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Imaging a ZERO energy home.  Sound realistic? GE thinks so !

GE's “Net Zero Energy Home” ..." ... combines GE’s most efficient appliances and lighting, GE’s new energy management systems, and GE power generating and storing technologies. ... together, the system will enable a homeowner to achieve net zero energy costs by 2015."

" ... the Home Energy Manager, the central nervous system for the Net Zero Energy Home. ... smart thermostats will also be introduced ... to work in tandem with the energy manager. ... plans to develop residential power generation products like solar PV and residential wind products that will also contribute to the net zero concept."

" ... respondents in the U.S. and ... in the U.K. say they are willing to pay an increased monthly rate for smart grid technology if there is a corresponding reduction in overall energy costs by 15 percent."

Via:  GE  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 05:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "The project will reinforce the fundamental objectives of the SEGIS program to optimize interconnections across the full range of emerging PV module technologies through innovative systems integration. " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)