world’s largest solar project

World’s largest solar power plant to be constructed in Sahara.

Taking advantage of the dryness of Sahara Desert, renewable energy giants are prepping up the installation of the world’s largest solar power plant that collectively will generate a whopping 100GW of concentrating solar power. Promoted by Desertec Foundation, the plant will be built by 20 blue chip German companies, who would be gathering together to discuss plans and investments to create the massive project.

The companies involved in the planning state that similar installations have to be constructed to end the gripping energy crisis. The €400bn project would take 10-15 years to go online, but once constructed it will help other countries of the world to aim towards renewable energy generating plants to end their dependence on fossil fuels.

Unlike other solar power plants, which are usually built on a single location, this massive plant would be scattered throughout politically stable countries in northern Africa. The collective output of the plant would be 80 times larger than a similar plant being planned for the Mojave Desert. The power output would be transported across the Mediterranean Sea to Europe on high-voltage DC lines that will finally supply 15% of the energy demand.

Energy starved New York

High-flying kites could generate enough wind energy to power New York.

The energy starved world of today is looking for possible ways using which the maximum amount of renewable energy could be generated that could not just power a city block or a small town but the largest cities in the world and probably the entire world as well. Scientists at the Carnegie Institution and California State University have identified New York as one of the prime locations where high-flying kites can be used to convert high-altitude winds into energy.

Unlike winds close to the surface of earth, winds in the upper regions of the atmosphere preferably those which make the jet streams can be harnessed to produce tens of times of output than conventional wind turbines that are used on the surface. Ideally, the turbines, which would be high-altitude flying kites tethered to the surface, would have be placed at a height of around 30,000 feet.

Jet stream winds are generally 10 times faster than winds near the ground and most importantly they’re steady as well. More wind speed means more energy, which made scientists at these universities believe that they can power entire cities by flying these kites, a process which looks simple on paper but might get complicated if actually planned. These scientists predict up to 40MW of electricity can be generated by the current designs and transmitted to the ground via the tether, which is about four times the output of current designs used on the surface.

Ride a bicycle for producing electricity.

Motivation for fitness and environment friendliness with a different approach, now ride a bicycle and charge your cell phone, or a battery that can power your laptop. Motorola and another group of individuals developed the technology, and made it public during the Coachella Music & arts Festival energy factory, a three-day event visited by almost 60000 people every day. Some 24 bikes were setup at the festival and visitors were provoked to paddle the bicycles for generating electricity directly using human power input.
The design at the Festival included a bike, trainer stand, an alternator and a 12V battery.Human energy is directly being harnessed on bicycles, from the early age of cycling, inform of the mini dynamo motor attached to the rare wheel of the cycles, that powered the torch placed on the handle of the bicycle. Who knows some day we might as well start using the good old flour and water mills.

Read more: http://www.scienceshareware.com/articles/diy-byo-bike-generator-coachella/human-powered-bike-generator-cell-phone-charger-alternator.htm#News_Links