Renewable Energy - Power

Author: Teri Kruger- juwi Renewable Energies (Pty) Ltd

( Article Type: Explanation )

Clean security of supply
Within a few decades, all of the world’s power supply can be generated using renewable energies. It is a realistic and viable possibility. In order to reach this goal, however, we need to break down the negative assumptions people hold about renewable energy projects, and, we need decisive action in order to prevent further climate changes and avert other environmental disasters. However in many places around the world, decades-old monopolistic structures in the power industry and in politics still favour large, centralised power plants. We need informed and enlightened members of the community who are ready and willing to make decisions to reduce our growing carbon footprint.
 On a more holistic level, combining the power sector with the transportation industry would allow for the use of electric vehicles – especially if the power comes from renewable energies. Currently, there are several initiatives to convert daily transport needs into less polluting electric modes of transport with the necessary charging stations conveniently located. The best argument for a decentralised supply of renewable energy is the independence it offers from limited delivery quotas, price cartels and power generation practices that currently dominate and damage the environment.
An investment in renewable energies allows the opportunity to take control and manage sustainable energy generation; immediately, decentralised and secure for the future.




Reduction of carbon footprint
The combustion of fossil fuels is one of the main causes of climate change which causes a substantial drain on our economy and that will only continue to worsen over time. Even nuclear power has dangers that must be managed for centuries to come, which means escalating long-term costs. Every company, community and landowner that makes use of renewable energies is making an important contribution to protecting our environment, which provides the very basis of what we need to live.

Increased efficiencies of technology
Wind energy is the leading technology within the available renewable energy sources. Compared with solar and bio energy, wind turbines generate the largest energy yield but require the smallest amount of space. In many countries, wind is already competitive when compared with conventional power sources whereas power generated by fossil fuels or nuclear sources is becoming increasingly expensive. The power of wind is endless. Using modern technology, we are now capable of using wind energy far more economically and cost-efficiently than ever before to produce power. The technological development of wind turbines over the past few decades is astounding. For example: in 1995, a 500 kW turbine with a rotor diameter of 40 metres could produce an annual yield of 1 million kilowatt hours (kWh). Today, a 2 MW turbine with an 80 metre rotor diameter can produce four or six times that yield. The Enercon E-126 i – with a 7.5 MW capacity – is a giant among wind turbines that can produce an annual yield of up to 20 million kWh. With a diameter of 126 metres, the rotor is larger than the distance between two goals on a football field. The power yield generated by just one of these turbines is enough to supply 7,000 households (according to German standards) with power for one year. When large systems with large rotors are installed in areas with strong winds, yields can be increased to many times the capacity of other systems. Doubling the wind speed increases the yield by eight times. Repowering represents another opportunity which involves replacing old wind turbines with new, more powerful systems in order to benefit from advancing modern technology. By repowering one can achieve higher power yields on the existing footprint.
 Solar power is also cheaper and more effective than ever before. Photo voltaic (PV) systems with a nominal capacity of around 20,000 MW were installed all over the world by the end of 2009. New products, such as thin-film modules, are now taking the market by storm. Efficiency continues to increase while prices drop. New application opportunities make solar energy an all-around winner, from a single module on a building exterior to large solar power plants capable of producing megawatts of energy – nothing is impossible with the next generation of PV modules. The major advantage of solar power generation is that it is safe and environmentally sensitive. The energy of the sun is directly transformed into electrical power or hot water, which is used to operate our machines and household devices.

 

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