It is also the future of Canada, especially after Ontario government agency announced that, it has awarded long-term contracts worth about $8 billion to 184 wind, solar, hydro, and landfill gas projects. Now, the rush is for Green Jobs as well as Green education.

Nice Forum, thanks to the administrators for approving my membership. 

Guys after watching and hearing this discussion about climate change and global warming we are missing the fact that some day for sure oil reserves are going to be exhausted. So what we are going to do then? Wind energy definitely can’t replace the fossil fuels. Nuclear power is too dangerous and can fall into wrong hands.I feel that solar energy if fully tapped can be used. Moreover a lot of job opportunities can be created as well. Yesterday I did a little bit of research about the solar power potential on <a href="http://FreeCleanSolar.com"> FreeCleanSolar.com </a> and found out very nice info. I am fully convinced that solar is the future. Any comments??

Nuclear Power seems a very viable option to replace fossil fuels. But I think that Nuclear power poses a very real threat to our existence. What if the nuclear power plant falls into the hands of terrorists? Also how to dispose off the nuclear waste and what about proliferation secure and safe?Wind energy can not be used in the non-windy areas. The only other option seems to be solar which is abundant in almost every part of the world. If we can produce some really cheap solar cells that would solve the problem. Today solar power represents a small fraction of energy production in USA. Just imagine that installing solar panels and not having to pay energy bills . I am myself thinking about going the solar energy way.I visited a website www.freecleansolar.com to get some information. This is a pretty good site to get started. Comments are invited

Ocean has huge energy which needs to be harnessed properly for its usage. Tidal power is the most predictable and reliable source, that is based on tried & tested principles of hydrodynamics and electrical engineering. Tides occur reliably and predictably, irrespective of weather changes. Ocean power energy can be created using tides and ocean current.

Tides help in production of tidal energy through tidal dams and tidal turbines. In case of tidal dams, power is created using a barrage at a bay or estuary with large tidal range. Tidal turbines take advantage of fast-flowing ocean currents to create energy. The most prolific tidal turbines are horizontal axis turbines that in many ways are analogous to wind turbines. The main difference is size. Tidal turbines generating 1 MW of power can be up to one-third the size of a wind turbine with a similar generating capacity.

Ocean current also holds a great amount of strength and energy. The total power of waves breaking around the world's coastlines is estimated at 2-3 million megawatts, which can be captured directly from surface waves or from pressure fluctuations below the surface. 

Has anyone installed an off grid 320 watt system for a small cabin?  How has it worked out and would you have done anything different?  Does it run ceiling fans quietly?

Thanks,    Joe

PineMark is the first and only green lifestyle certification.
Get rewarded for choosing renewable power.
PineMark offers 50% off their certification for households that user solar power.
Email info@pinemark.com for your offer code.
www.pinemark.com

Hello,
I'm new to solar power systems and have a question.
 
Using the MrSolar brand BSP-20-12 panel as an example.

The specs are 20 Watt Solar Module, 17.3 Vmp, 1.2 Imp

When using a charge controller to convert the 17.3 Volts max power to 12 volts DC, does the amperage output increase?
 
I make this assumption because of the relationship between watts and volts.
 
Watts/Volts = Amps
 
Using the BSP-20-12 Vmp voltage I calculate
20 watts/17.3 volts = 1.2 amps (which is equal to the stated Imp current for the panel)
 
Using a charge controller to convert to 12 volts I calculate
20 watts/12 volts = 1.7 amps
 
Is this a valid assumption, or not?

Why do I ask? Because I trying to convert to (theoretical) amp hours to see if I have the proper size panel to re-charge a battery after a defined amp-hour draw.
 
Thank you very much for your assistance.
 
Jeff

Hello;

I would like to take a moment to write a summary of my patent. It's a national solar grid concept, which utilizes our existing infrastructure i.e., the trucking industry and the U.S. highway system, for generation, storage and management of energy, to supplement the national grid.

I would like to give you some numbers to illustrate the impact trucking industry has on the economy and the environment.

- Nearly 80% of U.S. communities receive their goods by a truck.

- Trucking moves nearly 70% of  all freight tonnage in U.S.

- Presently there are nearly 2 million tractor-trailers registered in U.S., generating combined revenue of over $650 billion.

- Trucking consumes 54 billion gallons of diesel and gasoline per year, and as fuel prices have risen and remained high, profit margins have sharply decreased.

- Truck idling amounts to 1 billion gallons of fuel burned, without advancing the cargo towards its destination.

- Single long haul truck has to take 10 hours off after driving for 11 hours. At 1 gallon of fuel per hour spent idling, that translates to 10 gallons of fuel wasted per day.

- Truck idling emits an estimated 11 million tons of CO2, 18,000 tons of NOx, and 5,000 tons of particulate matter annually.

In view of these circumstances, there is a pressing need to reduce fuel consumption, offset rising fuel costs, and reduce the carbon foot print of each truck on the road, and the carbon foot print of the nation as a whole.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile electricity distribution network that can accumulate, store and distribute electricity into existing power grid, in turn lowering the necessity of power plants to burn fossil fuels. Some of the "by products" of the invention are lowering of the fuel costs by eliminating idling which in turn will drive down the cost of the goods delivered, while reducing the carbon foot print of the trucking industry. This system could power up some of the charging stations for electric vehicles. Also, there is a pressing need to update the inefficient, and antiquated power grid, which will become prone to blackouts, as well as the possibility of homeland security issues. By implementing this idea we will be able to create a backup power distribution network, which in the time of need will be at the least a back up system for emergency systems.

The aim of my invention is to lease the roof space of the trailers and install solar panels on them which will be tied to a battery and inverter module, which will be built into the chassis of the trailer. The stored energy will transfer to the power grid where ever the truck stops, for rest, refueling or back at the hub of operation. There the stored trailers will continue to produce power which can be used to power up the facilities or be sold back to the power grid. All of the on-board electric needs will be supplied by the battery bank and eliminate idling. Back at the storage facilities the unused trailers will be able to interconnect and become a major power producing plant. This translates into trains and container shipping.

By utilizing thin film PV technology, we will be able to keep the weight down, and with the advancements in battery efficiency, I believe that innovation will catch up to the implementation of this solar grid backup.

This system will create many jobs which at the current state of economy is a very welcome sight. The power discharge stations will be manned by certified electricians, the racking of the panels and discharge stations will employ many people. There is a very limited impact on the infrastructure as well as landscape, which many are concerned about. It takes care of the space allocation problems as well as  the aesthetic  infrastructure required for installation of solar arrays. www.isuglobal.com

Thank you for your time,

Konrad Kwiatkowski

Managing Partner

Interstate Solar Utilities, LLC

11 Main Street

Old Mystic, CT 06355

Office 860-572-0089

Fax     860-572-0084

Solar Panel Savings Measurement Tool - The website www.mysolar2020.com  allows us to check how much will we actually save by installing solar panels on our rooftop. To calculate the savings, the website considers the square feet area currently available to install solar panels, available sunlight and its intensity in every state (of USA), in each month of the year, and the energy (kWh) we are currently consuming.

We were recently attacked by spammers. I try to keep an eye out for that but they snuck in anyway. I would really appreciate it if when you see spam being posted you could please contact me so that I can take care of it. Just send an email to the Webmaster. A link can be found on the homepage. Please do not use the Sales or Contact Form. Thank you.