Aug
4
Impossible But Done
August 4, 2010 | 3 Comments
This writer thinks with others that the “laws” of science and other notions have useful purposes when they work to our advantage. But the laws need challenged now and one must suppose forever. So when the impossible, flaunts the law, or whatever gets crashed, there’s cause for some celebration – not for the breaking, but [...]
Jun
21
They Say The Wind Can Provide Reliable Power
June 21, 2010 | 1 Comment
The Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) asserts in a study released last month that the power grid for five western states – Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Wyoming – the WestConnect territory – could operate on as much as 30 percent wind and 5 percent solar without the construction of extensive [...]
Apr
1
Saving the Wind
April 1, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Integrated Compressed Air Renewable Energy Systems (ICARES) research in development since early in 2006 is a technology centered on a simple premise – using giant wind turbines to compress and pump air into huge undersea Energy Bags™ anchored to the seabed – or geological formations where deep water is not available. The high-pressure air would [...]
Jun
18
Ready to Catch Some High Winds?
June 18, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Several technologies have been proposed that hope to harnessing wind power from high altitudes. Two basic approaches have been proposed. The mechanical energy can be transmitted from high altitude to the Earth’s surface, where generators would produce the electricity at the ground or electricity could be generated aloft and transmitted to the surface using the [...]
Mar
25
More Power From Slower Wind
March 25, 2009 | 3 Comments
As Keith Johnson put it in the blog entry at the Wall Street Journal, “Plenty of clean tech’s advances are all about glitz. But sometimes the real advances come when companies start looking down market,” he meant that developing into the less than prime locations can pay off with better technology that works both in [...]
Sep
5
Home Sized Wind Turbines May Get Affordable
September 5, 2008 | 1 Comment
Wind turbines at home and small business size could be major markets in the coming years. The Wall Street Journal reports that some people like celebrities, politicians and well to do early adopters are buying what are today quite expensive wind turbines for personal satisfaction or to send a public message. Jay Leno has one [...]
Sep
2
Geothermal Reality Check
September 2, 2008 | 1 Comment
The MIT report that discusses and maps the U.S. geothermal potential (a large pdf file) may be a seminal work that still needs attention. The problem might be the scenario, pumping water down multiple wells to deep hot rocks and bringing it back heated for conversion to power. Most people expect that the water coming [...]
Aug
18
Renewables Grow Up From Being a Carrot to Carrying a Whip
August 18, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Congress can’t get the alternative energy credits renewed and on the books for the (I’ve lost count) time. By itself the missing tax credits will be a problem. But the price of coal, oil and natural gas will still be their own undoing as primary fuel sources. It’s about the money. Alternatives such as solar [...]
