African Energy News - volume 2: African Energy News, #2

By Dr Paul Sagala

African Energy News is written by Dr Paul Sagala PhD, and focuses on energy inovations and developments with a focus on Africa.

http://www.energynewz.net 

• Language: English
• Publisher: African Publisher
• Release date: Apr 14, 2014
• ISBN: 9780992229238

Book preview

Introduction

African Energy News is written by Dr Paul Sagala PhD, and focuses on energy inovations and developments with a focus on Africa.

http://www.energynewz.net

Publisher Information

Published by African Publisher

All rights reserved

Copyright 2014

www.africanpublisher.com

contact: [e-mail]

E-Book ISBN: 978-0-9922292-3-8

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No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.

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ABOUT AFRICAN PUBLISHER

African Publisher was established in 2007 by Pieter van Vuuren. It was created to give authors an economical option to display their work. African Publisher converts authors’ manuscripts into e-books and traditional books, and makes them available to readers.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Publisher Information

Table of Contents

Solar Energy - Some Thoughts on How We Could Minimize Storage Needs

Huge Consumer Savings Planned - US  Automaker Leads Way

Water Pumped Uphill For Energy Storage - A Fore-runner to Time Based Tariffs

Time - Based Electricity Tariffs: Background to Brilliant Concept

Solar Energy A Growing hot cake

Renewable Energy: Time of Collection versus Time of Need The Case of Solar

Renewable Energies: Hydro-power

Renewable Energy Time of Collection versus Time of Need for Non-renewables

Renewable Energies: Offer Unlimited Opportunities!

Food Energy Factor In Obesity

Developing Countries Should Embrace Biogas Technology

Goldman Sachs: Affirmative Action on Clean Technology

US Utility dedicates-$2-2.5 billion to Solar Power Projects

Energy Goodies from Fiscal Cliff Deal!

Energy Requirements for Adult Women in Comparison to Men

Over 7000 Biogas Plants in Germany

Energy Requirements for Adults - Daily Energy Requirements for Men 30-59.9 Years

Primary Energy - Global Trends

Solar Cost Challenge - US Government Seeks Redress

Wind Effect on Emission Reduction

Solar Development - Non-Hardware Costs Still Prohibitive

Wind Power-282GW Achieved Global in 2012

Renewable Energies: Are They Cheaper Than Fossil Energy In a No-Subsidy Environment?

Shale Oil Production - Promises to Cut Oil Prices

Wind Energy - Record-5300 MW Installations in December-2012

Efficiency Is An Energy Saver Indeed!

Solar Cell Efficiency Up and Up!

Motivation for Energy Efficiency - Higher Gain Out of Every Unit Used - Case of Car Engines

Motivation for Energy Efficiency - Higher Gain Out of Every Unit Used - Case of Motors

The perspective of a child growing up in Uganda from the 50s - A Typical Classroom

Motivation for Energy Efficiency - Increasingly Mechanized Lifestyle

Life in the perspective of a child growing up in Uganda from the-50's - Setting The Context to The Educational System

Life in the perspective of a child growing up in Uganda from the-50's - A Typical School Day

Life in the perspective of a child growing up in Uganda from the 50's - Some of The Wonderful Water Endowments - Little Mentioned Potential 100MW Izimba Hydro-Power Site

Life in the perspective of a child growing up in Uganda from the 50's - Some Experiences of The Weather

Life Experiences From Childhood Across The Equator, In The Tropics Way Back In The Fifties

Motivation for Energy Efficiency - Cleaner Environment

Motivation for Energy Efficiency - Higher Gain Out of Every Unit Used - Case of Lighting

Bravo to US Winning War Against Emissions

Motivation for Energy Efficiency Market Price Trends

Research Mill Projects PV Growth in 2013

Unlocking Congo's Hydropower Potential

Investment in Energy By Africa Still Wanting

Energy Investments in Developing World Wanting - Background

Solar Statistics - A Mixed Bag of Interesting Developments

Solar News - Growth of 76% in 2012 in US, New Outlook for Middle East and Africa

Reducing Petroleum Use and Promoting a Cleaner Environment in US Focus

Solar Growth Proponent and Stifling Views

100 MW Solar Plant in Abu Dhabi

US Solar Growth - More Developments Projected

Solar Energy - Some Thoughts on How We Could Minimize Storage Needs

http://energynewz.net/solar-energy-some-thoughts-on-how-we-could-minimize-storage-needs/

When is solar accessible?

Broadly speaking, solar availability can be largely said to be dependent on times between sunrise and sunset. These times vary with location on the globe, whether in tropics or nearer to the poles. Their pattern also tends to change as you move away from the equator. Indeed, there are other considerations, such as radiation, rather than sunlight alone, but let us restrict ourselves to light alone for now.

Application background

Solar when selectively applied can avoid need for storage. These situations may be found in number of applications. These can include refrigeration, cooking, ironing, recharging phones and the like. Levels of demand vary across these applications, hence storage likewise varies to match the ones applicable.

Recharging

Of all the above, it seems that this is the best or most popular or frequent choice for that matter, in poor countries. As of now, many solar kiosks exist in upcoming countries. Communities go there to get phones charged, car batteries used for lighting, radios and TVs. These kiosks are doing brisk business in many least developed countries (LDCs). You can imagine the low energy needs for lighting a couple of direct current (DC) lights, often below a total of 20 watts for a couple of hours. This may amount to less than 100 watt-hours in total for the day. This is a discharge well within the capability of a 12 volt car battery, as is often the case. Some homes in fact use such batteries to power 2 lights and a small radio or TV.

Cooking

It may not be overstretched to imagine getting meals for the evening stored in a heated and well-insulated oven for up to couple of hours until they are consumed in early evening. The issue really is about minimizing time of storage so that the meal is consumed still warm. The same argument can be extended to bathing water, the focus being laid on not waiting too long to bathe after dark.

Refrigeration

These appliances can be kept on much of the day, and, kept closed most of the night. My own preference would be a top-door version as it reduces escape of cold air inside the chamber. I would also advocate for freezers to be cooled to as low temperatures as possible and avoiding unnecessary frequent opening.

Ironing

At the peak of the day, around midday, one could iron. As you can imagine, a 700W iron would require a sizeable pack, considering that such power demand could the order of 20 rural homes with very basic lighting needs! However, if undertaken at midday, the possibility of no battery bank is a very feasible

option!

Managing power needs

It is not overstretched to devise a scheme that can schedule use for solar power as it is generated. Big demands need not be drawing power concurrently. The iron in particular should not be used with other sizeable power needs on. That way, one’s panel configuration should be based on the maximum demand appliance. Fortunately, ironing can be done limited to twice weekly, and during such activities, other appliances could be kept off.

Many poor countries suffer greatly with economic activity interruptions due to power supply deficits. This arises out of several factors, including but not limited to inefficient use of energy applications in place, failure to store energy especially for peak demand times, and, a host of other reasons.

A few recommendations may be made as follows:

popularize use of energy savers. Bulk free replacement of incandescent bulbs with energy savers has shown a big saving, with cost of generating each saved megawatt falling short of installing new generation;

middle to higher income families can be encouraged to substitute grid with solar power especially in these countries suffering power deficits;

provision of subsidies for renewables such as solar can be cost effective in the long run, given escalating costs in the broader energy mix; and,

power supply issues can provide greater economic benefits if duly prioritized in both medium and no doubt long-term.

Huge Consumer Savings Planned - US  Automaker Leads Way

http://energynewz.net/huge-consumer-savings-planned-us-automaker-leads-way/

Following the quest for more effective utilization of energy available, we are beginning to see more and more cooperation of utility companies and other sector players to devise attractive consumer schemes. While it is the primary aim of utility companies to effectively use power at their disposal through schemes including ‘off-peak tariff incentives’, many big conglomerates are also seeking ways of cashing in on new technologies and coining better schemes to promote their company ‘footprint’ and guarantee survival.

These schemes are possible in large consumer markets, and US in one such potential market. Our citation for today attests to that, as follows.

Search for a more ‘Energy-Efficient Lifestyle’

Solar Daily of Jan 15th 2013 has reported a joint effort to reduce electricity bills and carbon footprint between Ford Motor Company, one of the leading car makers in US, with key players in the fields of home appliances, renewable energy and power management industries in the names of Eaton, SunPower and Whirlpool. The scheme involves home appliances along with ‘plug-in’ vehicles, in an effort to achieve what they have termed ‘a higher energy-efficient lifestyle’.

The hybrid vehicle

One Ford’s key contributions is a hybrid vehicle. This hybrid vehicle, using both grid recharged electric drive does offer a great opportunity to recharge its batteries when not in use – at night, when lowest off-peak tariffs are applicable. Its an ingenious solution, offering both utility providers with increased demand due conventionally low-demand times, and users, to be able to take advantage of the low-tariffs on offer! Bingo! Both key parties to the game benefiting!

Reducing the carbon footprint

At the same time, attraction to the scheme also reduces the carbon footprint! Electric power for a