PICogeneration Articles

Bringing you a selection of articles from all over the web. Unedited, they are brought to you with a snippet and then you can head to the original article.

Home power plants seen in renewable-energy scheme (Edmonton Journal, 2009 09 10)

German renewable-energy company LichtBlick said Wednesday it has teamed up with carmaker Volkswagen to bring miniature power stations for home use to the market in the spring of 2010.

A number of energy companies are experimenting with small scale power units, but so far this market has not posed any competition to large, integrated power suppliers.

China inks deal to build world’s largest solar farm (Edmonton Journal, 2009 09 09)

Chinese government officials signed an agreement on Tuesday with First Solar, an American solar developer, for a 2,000-megawatt photovoltaic farm to be built in the Mongolian desert.

Set for completion in 2019, the First Solar project represents the world’s biggest photovoltaic power plant project to date, and is part of an 11,950-megawatt renewable-energy park planned for Ordos City in Inner Mongolia.

Green jobs bloom for skilled workers (Edmonton Journal, 2009 09 09)

"Green jobs" are growing more than twice as fast as other jobs in Canada — 9.1 per cent over the last decade, compared with a 3.7per-cent average. And skilled trades stand to reap some of the biggest gains as new green initiatives in sustainable energy and construction get underway across North America.

Companies flee high power bills (Edmonton Journal, Front page banner 2009 08 20)

"Flawed" scheme costing jobs: former consumer official

Two companies that recently shut down their energy-intensive manufacturing operation s in Alberta say they cut their electricity costs in half by moving to other provinces.

Both Erco and Canexus, which operated sodium chlorate plants near Bruderheim, north of Edmonton, cited high electricity costs as a major factor in their decisions to relocate their operations.

Gary Kubera, president of Canexus, said electricity prices in Alberta are high and u npredictable, and that makes the production of sodium chlorate _ used to bleach pulp and treat water _ an expensive proposition in this province.

He said electricity costs are responsible for 80 per cent of the cost of producing s odium chlorate.

"Our main facility now for that product is in Brandon, Man., and the electricity rates in Manitoba are less than half of what they were even under normal circumstances in Alberta," he said.

Former Utilities Consumer Advocate official David Gray says more and more companies will pull out of Alberta, taking jobs with them, because of the volatility created by what he claims is a "flawed" electricity market.

Pakistan island puts wind power to work

by Hasan Mansoor

KHAROCHHAN, Pakistan (AFP) - A tiny island of fishermen is light years ahead of the rest of Pakistan , powering homes and businesses with wind turbines -- protecting the environment and improving the quality of life. . .View entire article

Rival designs race to harness ocean energy

The world's oceans and seas hold an awesome amount of power, but effective ways to harness it have proved elusive . . . until now. . . View article

Virtual power plants could tame coming grid chaos

National grids will struggle if power generation shifts from large generators to millions of renewable sources with variable output . . . but tying these together as a single entity could solve the problem. . . View article

Power-hungry gadgets must learn to diet

Greedy electronic devices could treble their energy consumption without more incentives to use energy-saving technology, according to a study. . . View artiicle

Breathing batteries could store 10 times the energy

Electric car performance is being held up by limits to the amount of power that can be stored on board, but a new battery that breathes air could provide a solution. . . View article

Sea 'snake' generates electricity with every wave

A flexible water-filled rubber tube that generates electricity from ocean waves, could be producing cheap, clean energy within five years. . . View article

Geothermal explosion rocks green energy hopes

A bid to produce green power on a commercial scale using heat from subterranean rocks suffers a major setback as the well ruptures. . . View article

Geoengineering could dim lights on solar power

Plans to cool the planet by creating a sunshade could cut the amount of electricity generated by solar power. . . View article

Green and mean: The downside of clean energy

How do you choose between a wilderness and a power station? The tough choices associated with large-scale renewable energy projects are dividing the green movement. . . View article

Batteries grown from 'armour-plated' viruses

Genetically engineered viruses that assemble into electrodes have been used to make miniature rechargeable batteries for the first time. . . View article

Time to Save the Environment? How About the One Minute Shower!

In many drought stricken parts of the world water restrictions could mean shorter shower times. An enjoyable hygienic one minute shower is possible, and getting into practice now will help the environment and reduce your water costs. . . View article

Making Your Home Water Wise - Reduce Water Wastage

By reducing water wastage around the home you can save on heating and water bills. Making your home water wise could save as much as 50% of water used, and with many local governments offering rebates to install water wise products, now is a good time to do your bit for the environment. . . View article

Inverter Technology Continues to Improve

Inverters change DC electricity produced by solar panels into AC electricity required by most household appliances. Advances in technology allow 85-90+ percent efficiency, and are continuing to improve efficiency and reliability. . . View article

Easy to Build Solar Water Heater Options

With a self built solar powered water heater you will significantly reduce the costs of your electricity bills. Not only that, but you can also build a mini water heater that can be taken camping or hiking. You need a few bits and pieces from the local hardware store, some project schematics, and a bit of time to cut and assemble. Obviously the bigger the project, the more time is required. This article gives you a general overview of the building process, and shows you where to download some easy to build solar water heater blueprints. . . View article

How Much Do Solar Panels Really Cost?

There are many people who want to know how much a solar panel costs. To be honest, they can cost you big time and it can literally be years before you start seeing a decent return on your investment. Unless you are completely sure you want to stay in the place for a long time, you probably want to consider building your own solar panel kit and quickly! . . . View article

Wind Power Generators For Home Use

Finding a wind generator can probably be one of the best things that you do when you are trying to save a great deal of cash with your home power bill! There are many people that have already saved a great deal of cash on a regular basis! You want to make sure that you do the same and start building your own Wind power generator! . . . View article

DIY Solar Panel Kits - The Information You Need to Succeed

When it comes to do it yourself solar panel kits, you are going to need all the information that you can get in order to start achieving incredible amounts of money saved with solar panels. Not only are you going to need positioning advice, but you also are going to want to know how to fix it. . . View article

The Importance of Good Solar Panel Plans

What is the importance of having an incredible solar panel plan? Well it can make or break you. The difference between a professional plan a regular free one put together by a random person is a risk that you probably do not want to take. You definitely deserve and want the best so it is important to find the best solar panel kit for you! . . . View article

Solar Cost of a DIY System

What about generating our own electricity? We can all do this ourselves very cheaply if we put our minds to it. All the materials we would need for the project are widely available at our local DIY stores at very little cost. . . View article

Going Green - Air Drying Your Laundry Lowers Energy Bills and Helps the Earth

Energy costs are going up, according to a recent news bulletin. The demand for energy is also increasing. No matter what the energy prices are, you still need clean clothes. How can you lower your power bills? Air-drying laundry is one solution. This article describes the types of air-dryers and gives you practical tips on hanging laundry. . . View article

The Benefits of Solar Power For the Homes

Many people around the globe are not aware that the technology for solar power for homes is now available for the weekend warrior types and more affordable to the home owner. With all the global warming hype and the rising cost of electricity DIY solar panels are becoming extremely popular to the home owner. . . View article

Adding Solar Panels to Your Home Will Slash Utility Bills and Help Save Our Planet

Convert to Solar Power Today! Solar Power has been developing since the late 1800's but now, in 2009, we are finally beginning to see its potential. While there are many renewable energy sources being explored, Solar Power is one of the few alternative energy plans that can be used at home. Solar power kits have been making it possible to make this sustainable, renewable resource available to those who don't know how to build a solar panel. . . View article

Drastically Reduce Your Utility Bills by Adding a Small Wind Turbine to Your Home

Saving money on your home utility bills is important in a recession and there's no better way to shrink your bills than by harnessing the power of alternative energy sources. It sounds complicated but by adding a small wind turbine to your home you can drastically reduce your utility bills. . . View article

Residential Solar Power Systems - Key Tips to Build Your Own Solar Panels

Save on monthly utilities bills, enhance the overall home appraisal value, being able to leave behind a green legacy. All these are key reasons to build your own solar panels for home. Be smart and build own residential solar power systems now. . . View article

Top Alternative Electricity Sources

Do you want to learn the top alternative electricity sources that can be used to run your home? It is now possible to easily build your own renewable energy system at home, such as your own solar or wind turbine power system. They are possible to build using very simple and cheap materials that can be found easily and for less than $200, possibly even for $100 only. Not only have I used them to reduce my reliance on commercial electricity and saving lots of money with it, I am also conserving the environment by reducing harmful greenhouse emissions into the air. . .View article

Designing Your Own Renewable Energy Generation System

The renewable energy system you install depends on a number of factors. The first specification we need to remember is that your renewable energy system will likely produce less than 25% of the electricity that is typically consumed in the average North American home. . . View article

Low-Cost Solar Energy For Your Outback Cabin

Do you have a backwoods bungalow or cabin which you have trouble acquiring access to power? Get affordable solar energy for your inaccessible cabin or cottage by capitalising inexhaustible energy and go independent. Discover how to construct your own personal do-it-yourself solar panel for under $200 or your own do-it-yourself wind generator for below $100 and live off-the-grid. . . View article

Reduce Electric Bill Tips - Easy Ways to Cut Your Electric Bill

These reduce electric bill tips should help you reduce your electricity bill once and for all. They are easy to implement and guaranteed to save you money. . . View article

Grid Interconnection of Your Home Renewable Energy System

Selling electricity back to the power company has become very popular, but with the initial cost of your equipment to set up your home renewable energy system is it really worth it? We don't recommend this option unless some very serious safety considerations are met and you use a licensed renewable energy installer. . . View article

It's Easy to Build a Homemade Energy Generator at Low Costs

The information to build a homemade solar electricity generator comes at a small cost but will give you all all the safe information needed to build your own solar power generator system. You can create a homemade energy solar system yourself for as pocket-sized as $200 in parts, stores, and gear. While just a solar panel is not enough for home purposes it is start to becoming more environmental friendly. . . View article

Lowering the Electric Bill Fast

Do you want to know the secrets of lowering the electric bill fast? Even though you cannot reduce the costs of energy and electricity, there is one great way to reduce your electricity bills by building your own renewable energy systems at home. To avoid rising bills every month, more and more people are looking into this alternative method seriously, and many have successfully been able to adopt it. I am personally enjoying the benefits of creating my own clean and green energy, saving more than 70% of my monthly bills nowadays. . . View article