- GHG-greenhouse gas emissions decrease that leads to global warming, slowdown of thermohaline circulation - large-scale ocean circulation or global dimming - reduction of direct irradiance at the Earth's surface;
- land preservation that covers urban sprawl, habitat destruction and fragmentation, desertification, soil erosion and contamination;
- ocean protection against acidification, deoxygenation, dead zones, and sea level rise;
- energy efficiency and conservation;
- resources preservation (energy resources, such oil and other fossil fuels, but also fishing: overfishing, cyanide fishing, shark finning, whaling; logging: clear-cutting & deforestation; and mining);
- renewables;
- ecotechnology;
- toxins production elimination (dioxin, toxic heavy metals,toxic waste, herbicides, pesticides, CFCs-chlorofluorocarbons, DDT-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane pesticide, PCBs-polychlorinated biphenyls);
- waste management (landfill, litter, marine debris, medical waste, leachate, incineration, e-waste, including computers, phones &TVs, hazardous waste, such batteries, paints, motor oils, pesticides, aerosols, refrigerants, thermometers and fluorescent lighting);
- recycling and reusing;
- environmental health that involve airborne diseases, like asthma, chemical poisoning, radiation, sick building syndrome, and all kind of medical conditions;
- other human activities that encompass genetic engineering, nuclear issues, nanotechnology - nanopollution & nanotoxicology, and overpopulation.
The list can go on and on with more details.
Let's not forget also about our consumerism, over-consumption and obsolescence.
With all the green trends nowadays I am sure we'll throw most of the non-green products right away, instead of trying to utilize it as far as possible, since we already have it. One of the eye-opening, simply said, and informative stories can be watched at http://www.storyofstuff.com
It took us years and years to get to the point we are now and we are unable to fix everything at once. That's why we all need to be cautious, aware, act with common sense and see a big (or even bigger) picture in order to sustain and survive.
Illinois Governor Patrick Quinn announced over $4 million stimulus grant award for 62 MW Rockford Solar Project, the largest photovoltaic (PV) solar development in the Midwest and one of the largest in the United States at the ribbon-cutting ceremony of Wanxiang America Corporation's newly built solar panel manufacturing plant in Rockford, IL on August 17, 2010.
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has cut the ribbon to officially open the largest in the Midwest and one of the largest in the USA solar developments, 62MW Rockford Solar Project
62 MW PV system operating an average of 5hrs a day for 365 days will produce approximately 113,150,000 kWh of electricity and reduce the impact on the environment in comparison to traditional power plants burning fossil fuels.
62 MW Rockford Solar Project will generate enough electricity to power over 10,000 homes and reduce carbon dioxide emissions at a rate of 113,000 tons annually, equivalent to the emissions from nearly 12,000,000 gallons of gasoline consumed and the sequestration of 24,000 acres of established forest per year. The Project will decrease ultra-fine particulate emissions, such as Nitrous Oxides (NOx), Sulfurous Oxides (SOx), Mercury and Soot that cause adverse health effects and acid rain in the amount of 51 tons per year. Rockford Solar Project will also contribute to the fresh water conservation in the amount of about 113 million gallons annually. Moreover the project will significantly help utilities achieve the required 0.5% solar target by 2012.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of the Green House Gases (GHG), main contributors to the global warming. GHG’s form in the atmosphere, trap the heat and the infrared radiation and cause warming the earth like in a greenhouse. The majority of the GHG soar is from human activity, like burning fossil fuels, industrial production, transportation, deforestation, etc. The GHG emissions has to be seriously reduced to protect our environment, our health and economic well-being.
The reduction of 113,000 tons of carbon dioxide CO2 is an equivalent to an annual greenhouse gas emissions from circa 20,000 passenger vehicles, or carbon sequestered by around 3,000,000 tree seedlings grown for 10 years, or greenhouse gas emissions avoided by recycling nearly 35,000 tons of waste instead of sending it to the landfill.
More equivalents of the 113,000 tons of CO2 reduction:
CO2 emissions from 238,400 barrels of oil consumed
CO2 emissions from 1,369 tanker trucks’ worth of gasoline
CO2 emissions from 12,441 the electricity use of homes for one year
CO2 emissions from 8,724 the energy use of homes for one year
Carbon sequestered annually by 21,858 acres of pine or fir forests
Carbon sequestered annually by 973 acres of forest preserved from deforestation
CO2 emissions from 4,271,328 propane cylinders used for home barbecues
CO2 emissions from burning 535 railcars’ worth of coal
Annual CO2 emissions of 0.027 coal fired power plants
The Project is an effort of Rockford Solar Partners, LLC, a joint venture between Wanxiang America, the U.S. subsidiary of one of the largest non-state owned companies in China with $8 billion in revenues worldwide, and Chicago-based renewable energy developer, New Generation Power to develop and operate an up to 62 MW photovoltaic solar generation facility in Rockford, Illinois.
“The state’s investment will help ensure Illinois remains a leader in renewable energy development, while continuing to build on the state’s energy independence goals,” said Governor Quinn. “With partnerships with companies like Wanxiang and New Generation Power, we’re creating hundreds of sustainable, green-collar jobs and providing an economic boost to the entire state.”
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn with Pin Ni, President of Wanxiang America and Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria, President of New Generation Power
Earlier that day, Governor Quinn has signed House Bill 6202 into law, which establishes interim solar targets to help Illinois successfully scale up to reach the state’s solar renewable portfolio standard of 6% by 2015. The new law marks a landmark achievement for solar energy in Illinois and will create over 5,000 solar panel installation, manufacturing, and maintenance jobs and significantly reduce Illinois’ carbon footprint.
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn announces Solar Ramp-Up Law and $4 million federal grant awarded to our 62MW Rockford Solar Project
“We thank Wanxiang for their investment in its North American solar panel manufacturing facility,” said City of Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey. “We are equally enthusiastic about New Generation Power’s potential Solar Farm at Chicago Rockford International Airport. Investments in green technology such as these will help reinvent Rockford’s economy.”
“Thank you to Wanxiang and New Generation Power for its investment in our region. This is the perfect example of how the city and county came together to create jobs and promote the renewable energy industry. Currently we have locally made Wanxiang solar panels, purchased by Winnebago County, producing energy at Freedom Field,” said Winnebago County Board Chairman Scott Christiansen.
The Rockford Solar Project not only creates jobs in construction, installation and servicing but also countless additional jobs are generated in the sale and marketing of green power. The Project will also source PV solar panels locally from the Wanxiang solar panel plant.
“We are helping to establish Illinois as one of the largest producers of solar energy in the country and generating much-needed jobs for the Rockford area” said Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria, President of New Generation Power.
Production has already started on Wanxiang’s solar panels in the flagship manufacturing facility located in the Rockford Global Trade Park adjacent to the Rockford International Airport. Rockford officials have indicated the facility is designed for expansion on the 10-acre Wanxiang campus.
“Solar energy is becoming more and more popular in America, and in the world as well. We believe the market is poised for rapid growth,” said Pin Ni, President of Wanxiang America. “We appreciate the State and City governments to support the solar business. Our goal is to expand the plant threefold to meet the demand of Illinois’s new solar energy mandate.”
In March 2010, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) awarded a grant of $4,025,000 to Rockford Solar Partners, equivalent to 1.26% of the Project’s total cost. 68% will be financed by nongovernmental sources. The federal funding was awarded pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Community Renewable Energy Program to create and retain jobs.
ILLINOIS SOLAR RAMP-UP LAW
House Bill 6202, the Solar Ramp-Up Bill, passed the Illinois General Assembly on May 27, 2010 and established interim solar targets to help Illinois successfully scale up the solar portion of Illinois’ Renewable Portfolio Standard: 0.5% in 2012, 1.5% in 2013, 3% in 2014 to reach 6% in 2015.
WANXIANG AMERICA
Wanxiang America Corporation, headquartered in Elgin, IL, is the U.S. subsidiary of Wanxiang Group Companies, one of the largest companies in China with $8 billion in revenues. Wanxiang currently has 4,100 employees in the U.S. and over 45,000 worldwide. Wanxiang Solar is a major player in renewable energy production, including wind and solar, and is the largest manufacturer of medium/large size silicon ingot and wafer cutting in China. http://www.wanxiang.com/
NEW GENERATION POWER
New Generation Power is a renewable energy company that develops and manages projects across the USA. Headquartered in Chicago, New Generation Power was founded by renewable energy experts and experienced entrepreneurs to expand clean energy generation in the United States and increase access to alternative power in response to the growing need for green energy solutions. Committed to meeting our country’s energy needs, New Generation Power supplies affordable green energy to commercial, utility and REIT customers with an abiding sense of our environmental responsibility for future generations. http://www.newgenerationpower.org/
The sun is able to produce electricity. Solar electric panels are made of photovoltaics cells--PV for short. PV stands for photo (light) and voltaic (electricity). PV technology enables to create electricity using sunlight.
Like 70 years ago Poland again lost the most important people!
Polish President Lech Kaczynski, The First Lady Maria Kaczynska, and number of top Polish officials, 96 people in total were killed after the plane crash in Smolensk, Russia.
Those killed included also the Army Chief and several Army Generals, former President of Poland, President of Council of Advocates, the Head of the National Bank, Chancellor of the University, Poland's Deputy Foreign Minister, Senators, Members of Parliament, Presidential Aides, the Polish ambassador to Moscow, Polish Ombudsman, President of AK (Home Army)--Polish resistance during WWII, Veterans of WWII, President of Institute of National Remembrance, President of Polish Katyn Foundation, Leader of Katyn Committee, Chief of the Polish Olympic Committee, Presidents and Chiefs of other Polish institutions and organizations, Bishops and Priests, Doctors, Polish film and theatrical Actor, translators, representatives of Katyn families, and associates, crew members.
Polish officials were going to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Katyn massacre, where 22,000 Polish officers (military officers, police officers, doctors, engineers, scientists, lawyers, priests, businessmen and officials) were brutally mass murdered in 1940 by Soviet secret police and buried in mass grave in Katyn Forest. Katyn is located ca. 12 mi west of Smolensk, where the Saturday tragedy happened.
In a tragic twist, family members of the Katyn victims were on board the president's plane.
Wind turbines and windmills uses wind energy to produce electricity. They are mounted on a high tower--100 feet (30 meters) or more, to to have a good exposure to the wind and to harvest the bulk of energy. At height they can benefit from the faster and less turbulent wind.
The heart of a wind turbine is the rotor. The rotor is aligned into the wind by the tail manually or via a computer-controlled tail-fan tail.
Source U.S. Department of Energy at http://www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/wind_how.html
The wind's energy is captured with the blades, that look like propellers, but narrow. Typically there are 2 or 3 blades mounted on a shaft to form a rotor. A blade acts almost like an airplane wing. Wind is caused by differences in pressure. When the wind blows on a blade a low-pressure air forms a pocket on the downwind side of the blade. Since the wind always blow from high to low pressure, air from downwind side of the blade rush in to equal the air pressure. The blade is pulled toward the low pressure starting the rotor to turn. The process is called a lift. The lift force is much stronger than the wind force acting on the front side of the blade, called the drag that exerts a force which increases as the square of the wind velocity.
The combination of lift and drag causes the rotor to spin like a propeller and then the spinning of the turbine’s shaft. The rotary force produced by the turning shaft subsequently drives an electrical generator that converts the force into electricity.
Blades, like wings of an airplane, are called airfoils, because with their curved surfaces their shapes--designed to give the most favorable ratio of lift to drag, are very efficient in converting the wind energy into rotational energy. In wind turbine design, the objective is to have a high lift-to-drag ratio. This is accomplished by twisting the blades. The blades are twisted so that the wind hits them at the correct angle of attack. This twist is known a pitch.
The blades rotate at 10-22 revolutions per minute. At 22 rotations per minute the tip speed exceeds 300 ft per second. A gear box is commonly used to step up the speed of the generator, although designs may also use direct drive of an annular generator. Some models operate at constant speed, but more energy can be collected by variable-speed turbines which use a solid-state power converter to interface to the transmission system. All turbines are equipped with shut-down features to avoid damage at high wind speeds. Tip speeds of over 200 miles per hour (320 km/h), high efficiency, and low torque ripple contribute to good reliability. The ratio between the speed of the wind and the speed of the blade tips is called tip speed ratio. High efficiency 3-blade-turbines have tip speed/wind speed ratios of 6 to 7.
According to the Albert Betz' law and the hypothetical ideal wind-energy extraction machine, no more than 16/27 (59.3%) of the kinetic energy of the wind can be captured. Modern turbines may reach 70 to 80% of this theoretical limit.
Wind turbines come in various sizes. Normally for the commercial production the rotor diameters range from 130 to 300 ft (40 to 90 meters). Offshore turbine have larger rotors up to 370 ft (110 meter) diameter. Small wind turbines intended for residential or small business have rotor diameters of 27 ft (8 meters) or less and would be mounted on towers of 130 ft (40 meters) in height or less. The blade length range from 65 to 130 ft (20 to 40 meters) or more. Tower heights for horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWT), as the balance of costs versus efficiency, are approximately 2 to 3 times the blade length and range from 200 to 300 ft (60 to 90 meters).
The towers are mostly tubular and made of steel. The blades are made of fiberglass-reinforced polyester or wood-epoxy. The blades are usually colored light gray to blend in with the clouds.
There are 2 types of wind towers: floating towers and land-based towers. Floating towers are mounted on a floating structure that allows the turbine to generate electricity on the water. The electricity generated is sent to shore through undersea cables. The initial capital cost of floating turbines is competitive with bottom-mounted, near-shore wind turbines while the rate of energy generation is higher out in the sea as the wind flow is often stronger, steadier and unobstructed by topographic features.
Source http://www.windaction.org/pictures/2942
The output of a wind turbine depends on the turbine's size and the wind's speed through the rotor. Wind turbines now have power ratings ranging from 250 watts to 5 megawatts (MW). Utility-scale turbines come typically in the range of 700 kW to 2.5 MW. As of 2010 the most powerful turbine is rated at 7 MW.
Wind turbines can be used as stand-alone, or they can be connected to a utility power grid or even combined with a photovoltaic (solar cell) system.
Utility-scale (megawatt-sized) turbines are usually installed in groups called windfarms. Several electricity providers today use wind plants to supply power to their customers. Stand-alone wind turbines are typically used for water pumping or communications. However, homeowners, farmers, and ranchers in windy areas can also use wind turbines to cut their electric bills. Small wind systems have potential as distributed energy resources. It refers to variety of small, modular power-generating technologies that can be combined to improve the operation of the electricity delivery system.
An average U.S. household uses about 10,655 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity each year. 1MW wind energy can generate from 2.4 to more than 3 million kWh annually. Therefore, a megawatt of wind generates about as much electricity as 225 to 300 households use. Wind energy cannot be, however, the only power source, since the wind does not blow all the time. The other energy sources are required. No power plant is 100% reliable.
Wind turbines produce some noise. The turbine blades produce a whooshing sound as they hit turbulence in the air, but most of this noise tends to be masked by the background noise of the blowing wind. An operating modern wind farm at a distance of 750 feet - 1000 feet is no more noisy than a kitchen refrigerator.
At the end of 2009, worldwide nominal capacity of wind-powered generators was 159.2 GW. Energy production was 340 TWh, which is about 2% of worldwide electricity usage; and is growing rapidly, having doubled in the past few years.
While fossil fuels continue to diminish and negatively effect out environment, as their burning process produces around 21.3 billion tones of carbon dioxide per year, scientists around the world are searching for new and more efficient methods of generating energy.
Wind energy is an attractive alternative to fossil fuels. It's plentiful, clean, renewable, widely distributed, and produces no greenhouse gas emissions. Wind power is produced by harnessing the kinetic energy of wind and converting it into a useful form of energy by
- wind turbines to make electricity,
- wind mills for mechanical power,
- wind pumps for pumping water and drainage, or
- sails to propel ships.
Wind power don't consume fuel and don't produce pollution, such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, mercury or particulates, including aerosols, during normal operation, but still may be hazardous to the environment. Wind farms have an impact on wildlife. The main complaint against the wind turbines is danger to birds and bats. They may be injured by direct impact with turbine blades, towers, or transmission lines. Bats may also be killed when suddenly passing through a low air pressure region surrounding the turbine blade tips. Even so the number of birds killed by wind turbines is insignificant compared to the number that die as a result of exploitation of fossil fuels or other human activities. More research is needed in relation to the bats. The construction of wind farms is not commonly appreciated also due to their visual effects.
Wind power is non-dispatchable, that means that all of the available output must be taken when it's available. It's becoming more popular worldwide as a large scale energy source, although it still provides only less than 1% of global energy consumption.
