Photo-Electrochemical Energy Conversion Device

The basic processes that occur in such a system are well understood. The semiconductor electrode efficiently absorbs light, producing an excited electronic state. In this excited state, the electron and the electron vacancy (the ‘‘hole’’) are both more energetic than they were in their respective ground states. The photo-excited electrons and holes are generally not tightly bound to an individual atom or set of atoms in the solid. (more…)

Commercial Development of Geothermal Power Projects: Private Sector & Independent Power Producers

In most countries, geothermal resources are classified as natural resources belonging to the government. Since the 1980s, there has been a worldwide trend to corporatize and/or privatize government commercial activities. Whereas the geothermal resources in the United States have been commercially developed by the private sector since the 1960s at The Geysers, other countries, notably The Philippines, Indonesia, and New Zealand, did not started private commercial geothermal projects until the 1980s. These private power developers are known as independent power producers (IPPs). There is a perception that the private sector is more efficient than the public sector. The efficiency arises from the increased flexibility of the private sector and its accessibility to commercial funding. (more…)

Electricity Production and Conversion

Electric and gas utilities’ Research & Development activities deal nearly exclusively with energy conversion, distribution, and energy usage (at least to the extent that these firms still focus on these core businesses). Although detailed data on utility Research & Development are not collected systematically, it seems that Energy R&D spending by many utilities has declined during the past decade or so. For example, a 1996 survey by the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) found that the combined Research & Development spending of the 112 largest operating utilities in the United States dropped from $708 million in 1993 to $476 million in 1996. (more…)

Bioenergy from Dedicated Resources (Crops, Biomass Feedstock, Woody Biomass)

The future development of energy crops, to the level at which they would replace residues as the major bioenergy fuel source, will be largely dependent on regional factors such as climate change and local energy requirements and emission factors, which will determine their environmental and financial viability. (more…)

Ocean Energy Systems

ocean energy systems
Like solar radiation, the ocean is another widely available and distributed energy source. The energy in the ocean is in part kinetic energy in the form of tides, currents, and waves, and part thermal energy from the sun stored as heat. The quantity of energy stored in the ocean is enormous but can be quite diffuse; in some cases, it is about the same as from solar radiation and, as a result, it is difficult to harness. Marine energy systems can be classified into four main groups: (more…)

Hydrogen Conversion Kit Gasoline – Hydrogen Fuel Conversion

hydrogen conversion kit gasolineHydrogen has many applications when it comes to fuel. It can be used both in internal combustion engines and hydrogen fuel cells. Hydrogen engines are using the same principle the same way as gasoline fuels or hydrogen natural gas burned combustion, while the chemical energy of hydrogen used to generate electricity and heat transmission. Since the electrochemical reactions produced more efficient energy compare to the combustion energy, fuel cells are created more efficient fuel compare to internal combustion engines. In the long term it will benefit to the more efficient hydrogen conversion process. (more…)

Public Acceptance Clusters of Energy Technologies

energy technologies public
Public acceptance (PA) clusters are defined by a number of rather intangible commonalties dealing with social values and public preferences. Societal values influencing the public acceptance of energy technologies include the following:

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The internalization of environmental external costs. In this respect, all energy technologies with high SO2 emission intensities form the acidification cluster; (more…)