Modern day energy conservation is imperative. Everyday we read warnings in the news of our rapid consumption of non-renewable resources and the constantly increasing demand on our power supply.
So, what can we do? For starters, how about living off the grid? If I have startled you with that proposition, let me tell you that living off the grid not only helps the environment and helps save power; it also cuts down or eliminates your electricity bill. Now, those are tangible benefits that will make you feel good about your role on this earth as well as the savings to the family budget.
Home solar power systems are increasing in fame across the US and around the globe. The reason for this trend towards do-it-yourself home solar power systems is easy to see, you stand to save a lot of money while saving the environment.
Another proactive step you can take today to make use of renewable energy is to begin your own wind powered energy project and build wind power turbines to produce electricity yourself. There are kits for building wind power turbines available, which can be costly, but with the right wind energy information it's possible to make your own wind powered electricity. Clearly how handy you are will be the deciding factor for buying vs. building but also keep in mind the cost. Homemade wind power turbines can be built easily and cheaply.
Taking into consideration these advantages, it seems only reasonable that we would all take on a DIY wind and/or home solar power systems project.
Renewable energy resources are obtainable annually, unlike non-renewable resources which are ultimately exhausted. A easy comparison is a coal mine and a forest. Whereas the forest could be used up, if it is managed appropriately it represents a continuous source of energy, vs the coal mine which once it has been exhausted is gone. Most of earth's accessible energy resources are renewable energy resources. Renewable energy resources total greater than 93 percent of total U.S. energy reserves. Annual renewable resources were multiplied times thirty years for comparison with non-renewable energy resources. In other words, if all non-renewable resources were fully used up in 30 years, they would barely account for 7 percent of accessible resources every year, if all accessible renewable energy resources were developed.
In 2004, renewable energy provided about 7% of the world's energy utilization. The renewables sector has been growing significantly since the last years of the 20th century, and in 2005 the complete new investment was projected to have been 38 billion US dollars. Germany and China lead with investments of about 7 billion US dollars each, followed by the United States, Spain, Japan, and India. This resulted in an additional 35 GW (gigawatt is equal to one billion watts) of power during the year.
Solar Power Information:
Renewable energy sources are even larger than the traditional fossil fuels and in concept can with no trouble supply the world's energy requirements. 89 PW (petawatt is equal to one quadrillion watts) of solar power falls on the planet's surface. While it is not possible to capture all, or even the largest part, of this energy, using less than 0.02% would be enough to satisfy the present energy requirements. Barriers to expand photovoltaic generation include the high price of manufacturing photovoltaic cells and dependence on weather conditions to make electricity. Also, solar generation does not make electricity at night, which is a specific problem in high northern and southern latitude countries; energy need is highest in winter, while availability of solar energy is lowest. This could be conquered by purchasing power from countries nearer to the equator throughout winter months. Globally, solar generation is the greatest growing supply of energy, seeing a yearly average expansion of 35% over the preceding few years. Japan, Europe, China, U.S. and India are the major growing investors in photovoltaic energy. Advances in know-how and economies of scale, along with demand for solutions to global warming, have led solar energy to become the most probable candidate to take the place of nuclear and fossil fuels.
The obtainable solar energy resources are 120,000 TW (terawatt is equal to one trillion watts). Less than 0.02% of these obtainable resources are sufficient to completely take the place of fossil fuels and nuclear power as our source of energy. Assuming that our rate of usage in 2005 remains stable, we will deplete conventional oil in 40 years, and coal in 154 yrs. In practice neither will actually be depleted, as natural constraints will compel production to decrease as the remaining reserves dwindle.
In 2007 grid-connected solar electricity was the fastest developing energy source, with installations of all photovoltaics rising by 83% in 2009 to bring the total installed capability to 15 GW. Practically half of the rise was in Germany, now the world's largest consumer of solar electricity (followed by Japan). Solar cell production improved by 50% in 2007, to 3,800 MW (megawatt is equal to one million watts), and has been doubling every two years.
The world's most powerful solar power plant is the 20 MW Beneixama solar power plant in Spain, although a 116 MW plant is being built in southern Portugal, one of the sunniest places in Europe. The biggest solar installation in North America is the 18 MW Nellis Solar Power Plant.
Wind Energy Information:
The obtainable wind energy estimates range from 300 TW to 870 TW. Using the lower estimate, just 5% of the accessible wind power would supply the existing global power needs. Nearly all of this wind energy is available over the open ocean. The oceans cover 71% of the earth and wind tends to blow stronger over open water because there are fewer obstructions.
According to the Global Wind Energy Council, the installed capability of wind power improved by 27% from the end of 2006 to the end of 2007 to total 94.1 GW, with over half the increase in the United States, Spain and China. Doubling of capacity took about three years. The total installed power is just about three times that of the real average power produced as the estimated capacity represents maximum output; actual capacity is generally from 25-40% of the nominal capability.
Information for taking steps to go off the grid:
Photovoltaic energy is not available at night, making energy storage an important issue in order to give the continuous availability of energy. Both wind power and solar power are intermittent energy sources, meaning that all obtainable output must be taken when it is available and either stored for when it can be used, or transported, over transmission lines, to where it is needed. Wind power and solar energy can be paired, in regions that encounter more wind in the winter and greater sun in the summer, but on days with no sun and no wind the difference needs to be made up in some manner.
Off-grid PV systems have customarily used rechargeable batteries to store excess electricity. With systems that are still connected to the electrical grid, excess electricity can be sent to the transmission grid. Net monitoring programs give these systems a credit for the electricity they deliver to the grid. This credit offsets electricity provided from the grid when the alternative energy system cannot meet demand, efficiently using the grid as a storage system. Credits are as a rule rolled over month to month and any outstanding surplus is paid out yearly.
Eliminate your usage of non-renewable energy and help give the future generations a greener, healthier place.
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