Global energy consumption in the last half century has increased very rapidly and is expected to continue to grow over the next 50 years. However, we expect to see significant differences between the last 50 years and the next. The past increase was stimulated by relatively “cheap” fossil fuels and increased rates of industrialization in North America, Europe, and Japan; yet while energy consumption in these countries continues to increase, additional factors are making the picture for the next 50 years more complex. These additional complicating factors include the very rapid increase fuel economy in energy use in China and India (countries representing about a third of the world’s population); the expected depletion of oil resources in the not-too-distant future; and the effect of human activities on global climate change. (more…)
The relationship of gross national product per capita to energy consumption per capita for most countries of the world correlat ...
The long-term prospects for the U.K. economy are inevitably uncertain, and the most recent Department of Energy long-term proje ...
Transportation is another sector that has increased its relative share of primary energy use. This sector has serious concerns ...
The development of the ‘‘new’’ wind and solar technologies is of great importance for the future contribution of RESs to energy sup ...
To determine the effects of past climate trends on global energy consumption, the econometric equations providing the degree day el ...
Certain materials, generally metal oxides, can sustain the unassisted photo-electrolysis of water into H2 and O2. The energy contained in the photons that are absorbed by these materials can in many cases be efficiently converted into energy stored into the chemical fuels produced by the photo-electrolysis system. However, these materials have optical absorption thresholds (band gaps) that are too large to permit effective absorption of the visible and infrared portions of the solar spectrum, thereby wasting a large fraction of the incident solar energy and yielding overall energy conversion efficiencies of o 1%. Modification of metal oxide materials has been claimed to be much more promising, with a modified TiO 2 photo-anode yielding 8% efficiency in the photo-assisted splitting of water into H2 and O2 . (more…)
Several molecular systems have been constructed that mimic various aspects of photosynthesis. Two of these utilize molecular system ...
The basic processes that occur in such a system are well understood. The semiconductor electrode efficiently absorbs light, produci ...
The issues of hydrogen storage run through the hydrogen production, hydrogen transport, supply and demand for end use of hydrog ...
Hydrogen has many applications when it comes to fuel. It can be used both in internal combustion engines and hydrogen fuel cells. ...
All of today’s hydrogen conversion products, demonstration models, and prototypes possess some deficiencies; they cannot yet pr ...
Various provisions in the federal income tax treat energy producers more or less favorably than other businesses. By changing the after-tax rate of return on investments in the energy sector, the Tax Code may alter the long-run supply of specific types of energy.
In general, the income of all participants in the energy sector is subject to income tax of one form or another. Two notable exceptions arise in the generation and sale of electricity. Governmental agencies (such as the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Bonneville Power Administration, and municipally owned power companies) account for approximately 14 percent of the electricity sold in the United States. (more…)
Taxation of energy in the United States, the federal government does not impose an energy tax or a general sales tax that is br ...
A number of countries have vehicle tax incentives programs designed to reward purchasers and owners of alternative fuel-efficient v ...
The primary purpose of all forms of taxation, whether on energy or on non-energy items, is to raise money for the government to fin ...
Economists have overwhelmingly favored fuel taxes over fuel economy standards as a means to reduce fuel or gasoline consumption ...
Federal Excise Taxes placed on specific energy sources tend to reduce energy demand for these energy sources in both the short ...
The characteristics and components of a hybrid system depend greatly on the application. The most important consideration is whether the system is isolated or connected to a central utility grid.
Central Grid Connected Hybrid Systems
If the hybrid system is connected to a central utility grid, as in a DG application, then the design is simplified to a certain degree and the number of components may be reduced. This is because the voltage and frequency are set by the utility system and need not be controlled by the hybrid system. (more…)
The term hybrid energy system refers to those applications in which multiple energy unit conversion devices are used together t ...
There are numerous possible applications for hybrid power systems. The most common examples are (1) remote AC network, (2) dist ...
Renewable energy generators are devices that convert energy from its original form in the renewable energy source into electric ...
In many countries of the world wind power expands and covers a steadily increasing part of these countries’ power demand. Growi ...
Don't pay for your energy anymore use solar panels and a residential wid generator and have the electric company paying you. You pl ...
There are numerous possible applications for hybrid power systems. The most common examples are (1) remote AC network, (2) distributed generation applications in a conventional utility network, and (3) isolated or special purpose electrical loads.
The classic example of the hybrid energy systems is the remote, diesel-powered AC network. The basic goal is to decrease the amount of fuel consumed by diesel generators and to decrease the number of hours that they operate. The first addition to ‘‘hybridize’’ the system is to add another type of generator, normally using a renewable source. (more…)
The term hybrid energy system refers to those applications in which multiple energy unit conversion devices are used together t ...
The characteristics and components of a hybrid system depend greatly on the application. The most important consideration is wh ...
Renewable energy generators are devices that convert energy from its original form in the renewable energy source into electric ...
The primary electric drivetrain components for fuel cell vehicles are the same as those for any electric vehicle: traction motors, ...
The term cryogenics derives from the Greek kryos, for icy cold. The upper limit that characterizes the cryogenic region of the temperature scale is subjective. If the delimitation criterion takes into consideration practical reasons, then this upper limit can be established at a higher than usually declared value (120 K) in order to include natural gas fuel liquefaction. The cryogenics region of the temperature scale 0–120 K can be divided into sub regions according to the criteria of the cryogenic method and refrigerant (known as crycoolers) as follows: (more…)
The idea of using an absorption fluid as a refrigerant carrier derived from the drawback of VCR (vapor–compression refrigeration) s ...
Micro technology can be employed to produce miniaturized refrigeration and cryocooling systems. Although process intensificat ...
The issues of hydrogen storage run through the hydrogen production, hydrogen transport, supply and demand for end use of hydrog ...
n fabricating microscale energy systems, a number of operating conditions must first be taken into account. Foremost are the op ...
Many small-scale energy systems require effective miniaturized pumps and expanders. These devices are responsible for conveying ...
Solar dryers are special structures that enhance the drying power of the sun and protect the agricultural product from dust, dirt, and insects. Table below shows a block diagram of an active solar drying system, consisting of solar air collectors, a drying unit or chamber, and an air handling unit. An active solar drying system can accommodate the use of a backup heat source when there in not enough solar heat available. (more…)
Drying is one of the most important post harvest steps. It enhances the storage life of the crop products, minimizes losses during ...
Solar distillation is the process in which solar heat is used to purify water from an impure water source by evaporation and conden ...
Since the 1980s, no large-capacity solar distillation plants have been built, mainly for the following reasons: Large installation ...
Active solar hot water systems water are usable with air, liquid, vapor or liquid collector fluid or gas to liquid process. Hot ...
The U.S. Department of Energy has determined that about 80% of residential energy use is consumed in single-family homes, while 15% ...
Drying is one of the most important post harvest steps. It enhances the storage life of the crop products, minimizes losses during storage, and saves shipping costs. The drying process is the removal of water from the wet surface of the food. In this process, heat is transferred by convection and radiation to the surface of the produce. This heat raises the temperatures heat and evaporates the moisture from the exterior of the agricultural products, diffusing the interior moisture to the surface and replenishing the evaporated surface moisture. (more…)
Solar dryers are special structures that enhance the drying power of the sun and protect the agricultural product from dust, dirt, ...
The moisture content of the feedstock affects the gas composition and the energy balance of the process since gasification is an en ...
Biomass Storage Biomass storage is required to ensure the continuous operation of the facility. To limit the space required for ...
As a result of high and rising costs of fossil fuels and fossil fuels affect global environment concern , and by the reduction ...
Solar distillation is the process in which solar heat is used to purify water from an impure water source by evaporation and conden ...
It is easier and less costly to fit insulation in a new home than to retrofit. However, many existing houses have little or no insulation, and they will benefit from any improvements that can be made to the levels of insulation. In most houses, insulation can be reasonably easily added to roof spaces and under timber framed floors. It is more difficult to retrofit insulation to walls. It is advisable to add insulation during any renovation, and it can also be cost effective – especially in colder parts of the country – to remove internal linings in order to add wall insulation. (more…)
You must perform some sort of tour and visit of your home and property to find out exactly where it may need in applying insulation ...
Imprinted on every batt or blanket of insulation or on every bag of loose insulation is its R-Value. The higher Insulation R-Value, ...
If your house has no attic (most flat-roof houses don’t), chances are there’s a cockloft, a space between roof and ceiling, at ...
You know where to insulate, but there’s still one more thing you need to know about—vapor barriers. Well-insulated attics, craw ...
There are many efforts to make building more comfortable and to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions from buildings. For many years ...
In this new century, there is considerable pressure on the top six automakers to reduce their environmental and ecological footprint calculation. The automaker that wins the race to build and sell the superior car will shape consumer preferences, thereby boosting sales and profits. The winning firm will fashion a corporate strategy that drives automobile emissions to near zero while simultaneously providing high levels of performance, safety, and comfort. (more…)
Corporate environmental strategy (CES) involves the tools, management programs, processes, and product development choices that all ...
In the pursuit of superior cars, electronic products, and computing, several leading multinational corporations began in the last q ...
Although it is significant that many of the above four imperatives are qualitative, not quantitative, such new efforts have begun t ...
This latter form of new car taxes can actually serve as an impediment to higher fuel economy to the extent that increased energ ...
There are several options that, ultimately, must be integrated when attempting to realize a change in corporate culture: the legal ...