The debate on utilizing renewable energy sources is an ongoing one. Finding sustainable energy that’s affordable yet environmentally friendly has drawn much attention from industry experts and media alike. Several possibilities exist that would meet our existing needs without mortgaging future energy concerns. As we continue to hear about these opportunities, we must break down the basics of how green energy can benefit consumers, business, and most importantly our nation’s energy independence.

The most common green energy sources we hear about today are wind, solar, geothermal, hydro, and to some extent nuclear. All of which have inherent benefits. However, an argument can be made for each alternative as to why it would be most cost effective, environmentally sound, and scalable. We’ll take a look at the very basics of each in the following sections…

Wind Energy

Without getting into the science of atmospheric pressure and how wind is created, wind energy is created by turbines that use wind to generate electricity. Wind speed is incredibly important when using wind turbines. Even the slightest increase in wind speed can generously increase the production of a turbine. Hence, turbines must be operating at optimal capacity. In the right geographical areas, wind farms can have a tremendous positive impact on local economies. Farmers and landowners can benefit from leasing several acres to wind energy companies. It is estimated that wind energy provided 2% of the world’s energy in 2009.

Solar Energy

Solar energy has been harnessed by humans since ancient times. Creating solar power is the generation of electricity from sunlight. Sunlight is converted into electricity using photovoltaics in which cells of photovoltaic material convert solar radiation into electricity. You can see simplistic uses of this technology in everyday life, like on a solar powered calculator. Perhaps the greatest attraction of solar energy is the relative low cost and the fact that it is pollution free during use. It is estimated that solar power provided.02% of the world’s energy in 2008.

Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy refers to power generated by extracting heat stored in the earth. This heat exists from the radioactive decay of minerals. One detractor from geothermal energy is that it has been limited to geography near tectonic plate boundaries where high temperature resources are abundant. Several gases and pollutants are associated with geothermal energy as well. Most notably, carbon dioxide. However, the levels of these pollutants are much smaller than those of conventional plants. The main cost of geothermal energy is the capital needed to drill and explore potential sources.

Hydro Energy

Hydroelectricity is the generation of electricity by harnessing the force of falling or flowing water. Naturally, the greater the potential energy of a water source, the higher the production of energy. Hydroelectricity emits no carbon dioxide and is not dependent on fossil fuels. One danger associated with the use of hydro energy is dam failure. Past dam failures have resulted in some of the worst man made disasters every recorded. Hydroelectricity accounted for 5.74% of all electricity in the US in 2009, while it accounted for 61.12% in Canada and an impressive 98.25% in Norway.

Obviously, this is a fundamental review of green energy alternatives for those trying to grasp the basics. The more we can do to aid the progress of renewable energy the better. Please visit us for an extended look on Green Renewable Energy

When it comes to renewable energy, wind and solar are the media darlings. Every time I hear renewable energy mentioned on TV or radio, it’s always wind and solar.  If geothermal is mentioned, it’s an afterthought, and said almost under the announcer’s breath.  Why?  Given the immense importance of the United States’ (and the world’s) energy future, this is not the time to complacent.  The stakes are too high as global warming looms large over our collective heads and the era of easily-accessible fossil fuels winds down.  Our transition away from hydrocarbons to renewable energy is way too critical for any of us not to be informed about all available viable options.

Why you ask?  Because informed and motivated citizens equates to political action which in turn starts the flow of money for development.  We are all influenced by the media and public opinion. This is especially true of politicians.  Why do you think they spend so much money doing polling.  It is their way of determining what we, the public, want from them.  We should also be wanting geothermal energy.

Solar and wind are viable alternatives but they have their detractions.  So does geothermal.  But given the facts, geothermal, at the very least, deserves equal billing.  Actually, the US is already the world’s largest producer of electricity from geothermal. A fact that few, outside of the geothermal industry, know.   According to the Geothermal Energy Association, “geothermal power makes up a total of 3.15 gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity in the United States, its largest producer, and more than 10 GW worldwide.” So, while geothermal gets fewer headlines and media attention it actually supplies more mega-watt hours of electricity than either wind or solar.

Geothermal power plants provide what is known as base load power i.e., they produce power at a constant rate, just like coal-fired, natural gas, hydroelectricity or nuclear power plants.  Wind and solar energy are generally considered intermittent power sources.   That doesn’t mean that wind and solar are unimportant, we need all three – four if you add in hydropower.  Geothermal resources are not available everywhere, at least not for power plants.  Home geothermal heat exchangers are used almost anywhere.   

Fortunately, in the US, geothermal development is, albeit quietly, on the rise.  According to the Geothermal Energy Association, “geothermal power projects grew 46 percent last year.  That’s up from about 30 percent growth in 2008.” Furthermore, “If all of the planned projects were to go forwards as planned, an unlikely scenario, the total U.S. geothermal capacity would reach today’s worldwide capacity of 10 GW — enough to meet the power needs of an average 10 million people or supply 25 percent of California’s 2008 power consumption. But advocates believe the ultimate potential to be much larger still.”

As mentioned, not all of these planned geothermal projects will go forward.  Nonetheless, there’s a quite a ground-swell of geothermal exploration and development happening in America and it’s happening right beneath our feet, literally and metaphorically. 

The bottom line is, it is time geothermal energy started getting it’s due.  When, and if, you ever talk about renewable energy keep this article in mind.  Tell your local politicians you care about funding geothermal exploration.  When you see a news report about green energy, send them an email to mention geothermal next time.  Start a groundswell.  It’s our future and the stakes are high. – David Brooks

Renewable Energy Certificates
 
 Supply and Demand Dynamics, Policy Factors, Industry Issues and Challenges, and Key Players: Market Analysis and Forecasts
 
 Growth of the renewable energy sector is supported by various mechanisms that subsidize product development, and a key tool for the industry is the Renewable Energy Certificate (REC), which has emerged as a market-based subsidy to support the production of electricity sourced from renewables. The REC is the environmental attribute associated with the generation of 1 megawatt hour of green energy. It is considered to have value in the market because the generation of energy using wind, hydropower, solar, geothermal and biomass displace energy that would otherwise be sourced from fossil fuels. Two distinct markets exist for RECs. The voluntary market is made up of companies, institutions, organizations and individuals who purchase certificates to demonstrate environmental stewardship. The compliance market is mandated by state level policies called Renewable Portfolio Standards that require load serving entities to source a percentage of their electricity load from renewable energy sources. ( http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=134466&rt=Renewable-Energy-Certificates.html )
 
 A growing awareness of climate change and the numerous benefits of renewable energy have resulted in increased interest in renewable energy by policy makers, companies, organizations and individuals. As a result of the growing demand for renewable energy, market trends such as lower prices, increasingly aggressive Renewable Portfolio Standards and demand preferences for certain resources have emerged in the past five years. Even with the current economic recession, both markets continue to grow.
 
 This report analyzes supply and demand dynamics for the REC market, regulatory and policy factors, key industry issues and challenges, and the key players who are shaping this fast-growing category. Based on extensive primary research and in-depth examination of market trends, the report includes comprehensive market data and forecasts for the growth of RECs as renewable energy is adopted on a larger scale in the coming years.
 
 Key questions addressed:
 
 * What is a Renewable Energy Certificate (REC)?
 * How does the market for RECs function?
 * Who purchases RECs and why?
 * What are some of the issues and challenges of RECs?
 * What will the REC market look like in five years?
 
 Who needs this report?
 
 * Companies interested in purchasing RECs in the voluntary market
 * Environmental Brokers & Traders
 * Renewable Energy Certificate Marketers
 * Load Serving Entities / Utilities
 * Energy Facility Developers
 * Energy Facility Investors
 * Tracking Registries
 * Government and Policy Making Agencies and Individuals
 * Investors
 
 To know more and to buy a copy of your report feel free to visit : http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=134466&rt=Renewable-Energy-Certificates.html
 
 Or
 
 Contact us at :
 
 Bharat Book Bureau
 Tel: +91 22 27578668
 Fax: +91 22 27579131
 Email: info@bharatbook.com 
 Website: www.bharatbook.com 
 Blog: http://bharatbookresearch.blogspot.com
 Follow us on twitter: http://twitter.com/3bbharatbook
 

The heat of the Earth makes up what is known as geothermal energy. When dust and gasses from Earth mixed together 4 billion years ago, geothermal energy resulted.

Inside the Earth at its core, some 4, 000 miles deep, the temperature is estimated at about 9,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Geothermal energy has been used throughout history for bathing, relaxing, cooking and heating. It was thought by some to have healing effects and was used to treat eye and skin diseases. The first geothermal generator that produced energy was built in Lardarello, Italy in 1904. The United States followed with their first attempt at geothermal power in 1912 at The Geysers in California. Today it is produced in twenty-one countries around the world.

Geothermal energy is located deep in the ground. The heat at the core of the Earth has an outward flow. As it moves, it is transferred to surrounding rock layers called the mantle. As temperatures and pressure increase, the rock melts and becomes magma. The magma moves toward the surface of the earth carrying the heat with it. If the magma reaches the Earth’s surface, it becomes lava. However, most of it stays below the Earth’s crust and heats rocks and water that surround it. These temperatures can reach up to 700 degrees Fahrenheit. When the water travels to the Earth’s surface, it becomes hot springs or geysers. Mostly it stays trapped in fractured, porous rocks called geothermal reservoirs. This heat near the Earth’s surface becomes a form of energy.

Hot water or steam from the reservoir exerts a force that can spin a turbine connected to a generator and produces electricity. The cooled water is then returned to the reservoir in order for it to reheat. Much exploration and testing needs to be done to determine where the geothermal underground waters are. When ideal spots are located, drilling is done to create production wells that bring the water to the Earth’s surface for power generation in geothermal power plants.

Although the costs to construct geothermal plants and geothermal wells are high, the cost of producing electricity is lower over time. The fuel is reliable, stable and does not need to be transported. The white smoke you will see over geothermal power plants is not smoke but rather steam. During the process of operations it may, however, bring some hazardous gases from underground.

The United States stands as the biggest producer of geothermal energy. Unfortunately, interest in it is low and it only accounts for about 1% of this country’s energy supply. Through research and experience new methods and technologies for accessing geothermal energy will improve. Tapping into the heat under the Earth’s surface can produce much more of the nations energy. We are at a point where renewable energy sources must make their way to the forefront of the energy picture. Not only are fossil fuels being depleted, but also they are ruining our air quality. In time, geothermal energy may become an appealing alternative. Competitive pricing and minimal environmental impact could produce a hot future for this renewable energy source.

With people looking for more and more ways to find renewable energy sources, many don’t realize they are standing on top of one of the greatest energy resources on the planet. The Earth’s core is at an unbearable temperature, hotter than anyone could possibly even fathom. This heat builds up so much pressure in the Earth’s core that it has to be released in some way. These releases are known as geothermal energy. The hot water and steam from the Earth can be used in a number of ways to create energy. This is a renewable energy because the heat in the Earth’s core is constant and the water replenishes from rainfall.

There are different ways to use geothermal energy that include direct and indirect uses.

- The heat from the Earth could be used as a direct source for heating systems. The hot water close to the Earth’s system is directly pumped into heating systems.

- Generators in power plants require steam at very high temperatures to work. Geothermal power plants are built near reservoirs to tap the natural resource. The power plants use steam or water close to the surface to operate its generator.

- Geothermal heat pumps use water near the Earth’s surface to control building temperatures. This renewable energy source can regulate entire towns and villages.

Using geothermal energy isn’t a new concept. History has shown that people in ancient times have used hot springs for cooking, bathing and heating purposes. Even today many believe that natural hot springs have healing powers. There are many people who still bathe in hot springs. In Reykjavik, Iceland 95 percent of the buildings are heated with geothermal district heating systems. Hot water near the Earth’s surface is pumped directly into the buildings.

The Unites States is one of the leaders in geothermal power. The country has more geothermal power plants than any other, however, it only accounts for one percent of the electricity produced in the U.S. California (33), Nevada (15), Hawaii (1) and Utah (1) are the only states with geothermal power plants.

There are opponents of geothermal energy. While there are uses for it, criticisms have been raised. Some believe this is not a long term solution nor could it be used in huge environments. There are others who think creating geothermal power plants would cost too much money and drain money from researching other valuable energy resources. People are also concerned that if magma is tapped, it could bring up dangerous and harmful particles.

One thing is certain, more research is needed to make an educated conclusion about geothermal energy. There is too much guessing going on and not enough doing. There are results of natural geothermal reactions. These happen everywhere and come in the form of volcanoes, hot springs and geysers. With geothermal reactions occurring naturally, humans should find a safe way to tap into it.

The green movement has created a plethora of buzzwords. One of the more popular phrases is renewable energy. And for good reason. Businesses, traditional and emerging, will soon be affected by how they will respond to the reality of renewable energy depending on where they fall in the supply chain.

Renewable energy is a term that refers to those potential sources of energy that are naturally replenished, which means that using them does not decrease the amount available in the future. This contrasts with nonrenewable sources (fossil-based fuels) that have a limited supply and will eventually be used up. Renewable energy sources include sunlight, hydrosphere/water cycle, geothermal and some types of biomass and biofuels. Think of energy as a source and electricity as an application.

The mechanisms used to generate electricity from these sources vary considerably. For sunlight, there are photovoltaic technologies that generate electricity directly from sunlight. But there are also systems that use the sunlight to heat an intermediate fluid, which is used to turn turbines to generate electricity. There are multiple ways that water can be used to provide electricity, of which the most commonly used is the hydroelectric dam.

Other systems that produce electricity from water include wave power systems that convert the kinetic energy of waves into electricity, tidal power systems that use the kinetic energy of tidal flows in a similar fashion, and systems that take advantage of the temperature differences between surface waters and deeper waters in the ocean to generate electricity. Geothermal systems rely on the heat of the earth’s interior to generate electricity in various ways, depending on the specific nature of the site. Biomass and biofuels consist of fuels derived from plant and other organic matter, which are renewable depending on the sustainability of the agricultural practices that provide the biomass. Examples include ethanol and biodiesel liquid fuels for transportation, and solid biomass from unused portions of other crops for electricity generation.

Presently, renewable energy sources provide only a small fraction of global energy production, and the majority of this is from biomass burning such a wood (which while renewable in the strictest sense is not environmentally friendly) in undeveloped regions of the world. Renewable energy provides less than 1% of the world’s energy production even though its use is expected to grow rapidly amid rising concerns about global warming and the rising price of oil.

The biggest impediment to the widespread use of renewable energy sources in the past has been its price compared to the price of coal, natural gas, and petroleum. At present, wind energy costs $0.04-$0.08 per kWh, while coal costs $0.04 per kWh. Other renewable energy sources are even more expensive, such as solar thermal at $0.12-$0.34 per kWh and solar photovoltaic at $0.25-$1.60 per kWh. Water sources vary in cost from being cheaper than coal to costing three times as much. This cost differential, however, is narrowing as the price of oil rises and new technological innovations are bringing down the prices of renewables.

Looking forward, the increasing likelihood of carbon taxes or emissions trading schemes being implemented in much of the developed world means that the cost of generating electricity from coal, natural gas, and petroleum will rise even more precipitously, which will make renewable energy even more attractive for future development.

The future of renewable energy depends on how government energy policy will develop over the course of the next presidential administration and congress. Will carbon taxes or emissions trading schemes be enacted to limit greenhouse gas emissions? Will green grid technologies become widespread? Will the development of new oil supplies be allowed? All of these possible scenarios will affect the future deployment of renewable energy technologies.

As an example, consider the application of rooftop solar photovoltaic systems. Not only will these systems provide electricity to homes and businesses, but they can even be used to sell energy back to the power utility. Farmers and ranchers can plant wind turbines on land unsuitable for growing crops. The widespread use of smart grid technologies can become a major method of decentralizing power generation.

Similarly, if emissions trading schemes are enacted, then the rising cost of carbon-producing energy sources will force a shift to renewable energy technologies for large portions of our energy needs. This is deemed so likely that many believe that renewable energy technologies will be the next major industrial boom, similar to the computer technology revolution of the 1980s and the internet revolution of the late 1990s. Increasingly, large quantities of venture capital are pouring into renewable energy companies in expectation of just such an outcome.

How you position your firm to take advantage of the probable boom in renewable energy depends on your business’s energy needs and usage. If green grid technology becomes widespread, the opportunity presents itself to businesses to become both an electricity consumer and a supplier. If carbon taxes or emissions trading systems drive the move away from petroleum transport fuels to biomass transport fuels, it is important to be prepared for that as well.

As the renewable energy debate gains momentum, NOW is the time to prepare for its eventual inevitability to help protect your business from rising energy and transportation costs.