SolarGizmo

One question that puzzles me the most is the fact that renewable energy is in the hands of people who have nothing to gain from it. For example have you ever wondered why power companies are controlling renewable energy and how to be energy efficient when it is these companies who make money from selling electricity. The question therefore is – why would a company who sells electricity tell you to use less?

Power companies gain millions in investment money for renewable energy and spend it on what? the UK renewable market is still less then 15% of total resources yet many companies show renewable energy options on advertising campaigns when they are unable to provide for current demands. They seem to be taking millions of pounds of tax payers money and spending it as free advertising for themselves rather than providing renewable energy as the money was intended.

I would like to see the investment money removed from power companies and invested in projects that will actually generate renewable energy or develop products that will enable others to develop renewable energy sources. I just cant understand why the government keeps giving money to dominant companies who provide us with nothing. Please leave your comments on this question and enable the community to discuss further as i believe there are some interesting issues which need to be addressed.

Bloom energy is based in California (USA) and is making a big name for themselves in the world of fuel cells. Not only do they boast a product that is capable of providing electricity on a renewable basis 24/7 but the list of clients is just as impressive with Google, Staples and Ebay to name just a few.

The fuel cell is a means of providing clean and cheap energy by combining oxygen and natural gas to create electricity without the need for burning fuel of any sort. This means the fuel cell is possibly the most renewable and environmentally friendly source of electricity available today. The bloom box takes up no more space than the average car parking spot and can provide enough electricity for both domestic and business purposes. The Bloom box has seen a lot of publicity and represents many hours and millions of dollars in research, this time and costing/investments involved has produced something which could possibly rival the current mains supply which is the source of much debate (and pollution). The Bloom box is currently supplying companies like Ebay and google with there total electric requirements in America which proves the Bloombox  to be both practical affordable and delivering on its promises. For more information please visit the official company website on the following web link.

http://www.bloomenergy.com/

Goggle has developed a FREE nifty little gadget for windows XP and vista, simply download the application to your computer and it will save energy and therefore money for each user.

The application enables the computer to automatically optimize the computers settings to be more efficient with the electricity it consumes and conforms to EPA standards. Not only does it show you how much electricity/energy your computer have saved but it also shows how much energy has been saved by all the users collectively. This is one free gadget capable of saving energy one computer at a time but collectively is achieving some good results in helping world wide users save energy and money. Please download and install this gadget using the below web address.

http://desktop.google.com/plugins/i/energysaver.html?hl=en

Sony have developed and released some prototype Bio-Batteries which uses glucose as the power source like nature itself. The power comes from breaking down glucose into electrical energy. The battery is a completely new technology and is very environmentally friendly due its nature but is a long way from mainstream release. The information available is sketchy and basic but Sony is hoping to develop this technology to enable users to change the way that devices are powered in the future.

Information taken from official sony website: http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press/200708/07-074E/index.html

Key achievements of this bio battery research and development

1) Technology to enhance immobilization of enzymes and mediator on the electrode

For effective glucose digestion to occur, the anode must contain a high concentration of enzymes and mediator, with their activity retained. This technology uses two polymers to attach these components to the anode. Each polymer has opposite charge so the electrostatic interaction between the two polymers effectively secures the enzymes and mediator. The ionic balance and immobilization process have been optimized for efficient electron extraction from the glucose.

2) Cathode structure for efficient oxygen absorption

Water content within the cathode is vital to ensuring optimum conditions for the efficient enzymatic reduction of oxygen. The bio battery employs porous carbon electrodes bearing the immobilized enzyme and mediator, which are partitioned using a cellophane separator. The optimization of this electrode structure and process ensures the appropriate water levels are maintained, enhancing the reactivity of the cathode.

3) Optimization of electrolytes to meet the bio battery cell structure

A phosphate buffer of approximately 0.1 M is generally used within enzymology research, however an unusually high 1.0 M concentration buffer is used in this bio battery. This is based on the discovery that such high concentration levels are effective for maintaining the activity of enzymes immobilized on the electrodes.

4) Test cell combining high-power output and compact size

The test cells of these high-power, compact bio batteries have been fabricated using these three technologies. The bio battery does not require mixing, or the convection of glucose solution or air; as it is a passive-type battery, it works simply by supplying sugar solution into the battery unit. The cubic (39 mm along each edge) cell produces 50 mW, representing the world’s highest power output among passive-type bio batteries of comparable volume. By connecting four cubic cells, it is possible to power a memory-type Walkman (NW-E407) together with a pair of passive-type speakers (no external power source). The bio battery casing is made of vegetable-based plastic (polylactate), and designed in the image of a biological cell.

Bio battery test cell specifications

·         Reference

1. Bio battery
An electricity generation device that utilizes energy sources such as carbohydrates, protein, amino acids, fat by digesting enzymes. Since 2001, Sony’s research has been supported by Professor Kenji Kano’s laboratory (formerly professor Tokuji Ikeda’s laboratory) at the Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduated School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan, which specializes in bioelectrochemistry. The results presented here are based on Sony’s original technological developments, inspired by the lab’s advanced research activities.

2. 50 mW: World’s highest power output as of August 23, 2007, based on Sony research.

3. Passive-type battery
A system in which reactive substances such as glucose and oxygen are absorbed into electrodes through a process of natural diffusion. In contrast, systems in which reactive substances are supplied by force (stirring, convection) are referred to as “active-type”. In general, passive-type systems have a more simple structure suitable for miniaturization, whereas active type systems have a more complicated structure and are suited to higher power devices.

Daizi Zheng has designed a phone for Nokia which runs on liquid not the standard internal rechargeable battery as used in current phone models. The designer has constructed this unit as a client project for Nokia and it is boasting some impressive results,  it runs on most sugary drinks available in most retailers up and down the country and are more readily available to customers than plugging into the mains electricity when you need to recharge. The phone unit generates water and oxygen as the sugary liquid is turned into energy/electricity for the unit to function, this creates a sustainable and pollution free mobile phone which can be completely recycled very easily when the unit has reached the end of its life. Not only does the phone run on liquid but the designer claims that during the research its been discovered that the liquid power can make the phone function 3-4 times linger than the standard phone charge when using mains electricity. This is looking to be a major breakthrough for eco friendly mobile phones and has opened the doors for many other everyday items to be converted onto liquid fuel rather than battery.

For more information please visit the designer’s website www.daizizheng.com

WWW.solargizmo.co.uk

Google the internet giant have developed a FREE piece of software called Goole Smartmeter, this software can be linked with your domestic smart meter to help increase your ability to monitor your homes energy usage to save you even more money and carbon emitions. The problem with most smart meters and energy management systems is that they don’t display information to the user or allow the user to create historical records and data collection without endless amount of writing in notepads and spreadsheets. Google programmers have developed a masterpiece of computer software and they are providing this FREE OF CHARGE to anyone who has a smart meter or energy management system.

The Google powermeter lets you monitor your homes energy usage and enables you to control the information in a very simple and intelligent way giving highly detailed information that enables the home owner to control the energy used within the home. Goolge has obviously spent a lot of time and money perfecting this program and the end results are staggering. If you have a smart meter in your home or are planning to get one installed this is a must have application to install. As this program is provided by Google it is very simple to add to your igoole page, just follow the link shown on the google homepage in the top right hand corner. As usual just follow the links provided below to red more information about this application and what help Goole can offer in reducing your homes energy requirements.

http://www.google.com/powermeter

On November 22^nd 2009 Ecotricity announced on its website that it will provide environmentally friendly gas to its customers. The gas doesn’t come from the usual North Sea deposits or imported from abroad, instead it will be generated here in the UK which they are claiming to be “The real British Gas”. The gas will be made from food waste usually dumped in landfill sites, however not all the gas they will supply comes from this source and they will still rely upon normal brown gas supplies from Transco and they hope to increase the supply of green gas as demand grows. Dale Vince the founder of Ecotricity aims to increase his supplies of green electricity and gas to achieve 100% totally renewable sources and he is already out performing the other big power companies with Ecotricity achieving 46% green energy to its customer already compared to the UK average 5% from the other providers.

Some green gas facts (source Ecotricity website)

• ‘Green gas’ is produced in a process known as Anaerobic Digestion (AD), in which micro-organisms break down biodegreadable material without oxygen. The process has been used for many years to treat waste water, and as early as 1895 in Exeter to power gas street lamps.

• Anaerobic Digestion also creates a nutrient-rich by-product that can be used instead of harsh chemical fertilisers in agriculture.

• The waste from just six cows can produce enough energy to heat and light a house for a year.

This venture will mean that not only can UK customers source green electricity but now they can have eco friendly gas as well. Ecotricity claim the prices are matching British gas standard rates which therefore means unlike other UK utility companies the product they sell doesn’t cost a premium and is therefore affordable by everyone. For more information please visit Ecotricity on the website link below and even sign yourself up free online. As Ecotricity are investing the money they make into the construction of wind turbines and other sources of green energy you can relax in the thought that your money is being invested in the planets future rather than private company profits and shareholder bonuses.

http://www.ecotricity.co.uk

A new advert by planestupid.com shows in detail computer generated polar bears dropping from the sky to their death. The advert is designed to shock people into understanding that taking a simple flight has massive environmental impacts to both the planet and its inhabitants. Shocking videos are nothing new when it comes to advertising climate change as UK residents will be aware of the government’s advert regarding a children’s bedtime story.  Watch the videos below and cast your own judgment as to if the method of shock tactics is educational or going one step to far to promote current events.

UK company Knowaste has announced its intention to recycle nappies and incontinence products which will aid in the reduction of unusable items going to landfill. Until now used nappies and incontinence products have been useless to everyone and sent by the thousands on a daily basis to landfill sites all over the UK and take years to biodegrade because of the materials used in there construction. The process is relatively simple and according to the website it takes 6 steps to complete.

1 – Used disposable nappies and/or adult incontinence products begin the recycling process by entering a shredder that starts to break them apart. From here, the nappies are sent on to a pulper to begin processing

2 – The next step washes the material and exposes it to a special chemical treatment to deactivate the super absorbent polymers. At the completion of this washing process, the plastic materials are removed and sent to a separate device for processing.
Plastic components are again filtered and cleaned in a final washing cycle.

3 – The plastic is then compressed into small pellets that can be sold for easy reuse.

4 – Remaining parts of the nappy and/or adult incontinence product enter a screening process that captures any remaining traces of plastic and other organic material.

5 – To conserve resources throughout the recycling process, water is recaptured from each wash cycle and sent to an internal treatment device for clarification. The water is then reused in the Knowaste system.

6 – The remaining organic waste is dried and used to create Green Energy.

Knowaste claim that this system of recycling nappies and incontinence materials can be applied either in small local projects (i.e. hospitals) or up scaled to cater for larger council/landfill requirements. For more information please visit the company website www.knowaste.com

Nokia have released details of a prototype phone which uses ambient energy harvesting as a means to charge the internal battery. Ambient energy is emitted by mobile phone signals and towers, radio signals and many other forms of communication devises which use wireless technology. This energy is gathered by the phone and turned into electricity to charge the battery. In order t achieve the ability to permanently charge the battery the phone must gather 50mw of energy from the various signals available. Ambient energy is nothing new and has been available for many years; a prime example of this would be the crystal radio available via our online shop for £19.99.  If Nokia succeed in the creation of this phone which achieves the ability to self charge itself the world could see a new breed of mobile which would never need an external power supply saving energy and CO2 the world over.