What is Solar Energy?

Solar energy is energy provided by the sun. This energy is in the form of solar radiation can makes the production of solar electricity. Electricity can be produced from light, PV, and cells. Solar energy produces most electricity during the hot days. One megawatt hour of solar electricity offsets about 0.75 to 1 tonne of CO2. Australia is one of the sunniest countries in the world so it has a huge potential for solar PV  to make a  contribution for electricity generation. That is why so many countries today want to build a innovation solar energy project that develop electricity generation by using natural resources such as sunlight.

Solar Powered Projects around the World

1) Sanyo’s Solar Ark

Solar Ark is an ark-shaped solar photovoltaic power generation facility. It is solar-collecting building that boasts over 5,000 solar panels which kick off over 500,000 kWh of energy per year. Solar Ark is about 315-meter-wide and 37-meter-tall which is located in  Gifu Prefecture, Japan. Also, there are over 5,000 colored LEDs that can light up to create images and messages. Inside the Solar Ark is solar museum and laboratory where Sanyo employees are working for the next solar technology generation. Sanyo’s Solar Ark is one of the largest solar building in the world.

2) China’s Solar Powered Office Complex

China is an heavy user of fossil fuels and climate killer. This country met 70% of its need by exploiting coals. The pollution in China is at a dangerous level where people have to limit their outdoor activities. That is why China wants to make a change in its environment by building a largest solar-powered office building in the world. This building is located Dezhou, China. the 75,000 square meter structure building is used for scientific research, meeting, training facilities, and a hotel. All of these activities will be run on solar power. China is trying to use solar power to develop energy generation and reduce pollution. Also, this project can save 30% more energy than national standard. Chinese want to make their country as green as possible from now.

Sahara Forest Project

Sahara Forest Project is as a solution to provide fresh water, food, and energy in the world’s most arid regions. This project was created by Michael Pawlyn, Seawater Greenhouse designer Charlie Paton, and structural engineer Bill Watts. Norway and Jordan recently signed an agreement to allow Sahara Forest Project to build on a plot of land in Jordan. Also, there will be a group conduct the number of studies in Jordan. The test size will be 200,000 square meter plot in Aqaba which is close to the Red Sea. Sahara Forest Project combines Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) and Seawater Greenhouses which can provide a huge amount of energy and sustainable agricultural solutions. Also, Seawater Greenhouses uses solar power to convert salt water into fresh water which can use to grow fresh vegetables. This project is scheduled in 2015 and if it is successful, we will not be worried about the food supplies and water because they can be grew and produced even though in the desert.

Conclusion

I strongly believe that we will be safe in this technological environment because we are trying to make this planet as green as possible. People are trying to reduce pollution by their best. Following three examples about innovated solar energy powered projects, I believe that we can use solar to develop energy generation in every situation. I hope that those projects can do their best in saving energy and reduce pollution around the world. I hope to see Sahara Forest Project be successful in the future. It will be amazing when we can grow food in a hottest desert in the world. Someday, we might be able to live there instead of finding the living space on Mars.

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Reference:

http://www.greenoughsolarfarm.com.au/solar-energy/what-solar-energy

http://inhabitat.com/the-worlds-6-coolest-solar-powered-projects/

http://inhabitat.com/solar-ark-worlds-most-stunning-solar-building/

http://inhabitat.com/worlds-largest-solar-energy-office-building-opens-in-china/

http://inhabitat.com/norway-and-jordan-sign-agreement-to-make-sahara-forest-project-oasis-a-reality/

Background

Nikola Telsa was an Serbian American inventor and electrical engineer who used a coil to produce wireless energy in his innovative experiments such as electrical lighting, phosphorescence, or X-ray generation. Inventor Nikola Tesla was born in July of 1856 in in the village of Smiljan, Austrian Empire. He came to the United States in 1884 to work with Thomas Edison for the Continental Edison Company in France, designing and making improvements to electrical equipment. In 1886, Telsa opened his own company with the other two partners, Robert Lane and Benjamin Vail, and named for his company in Telsa’s name,  Tesla Electric Light & Manufacturing. In 1891, he invented “Telsa coil” which is an electrical resonant transformer circuit that still be used in radio technology today. He died on January 7, 1943 in New York. 

What is a “Telsa Coil”?

“Telsa coil” which is an electrical resonant transformer circuit. It was invented in 1891 which was before the conventional iron-core transformers. Telsa coil is set up with two part: primary coil and secondary coil. Those two coils and capacitors are connected by a gap of air. The spark gaps connect the coils to six pack capacitor and NST protection filter. From the filter, everything will connect to a Neon sign transformer. 

How does it work?

1. The transformer boosts the voltage 
2. The power source is hooked up to the primary coil. The primary coil’s capacitor will soak up to charge to develop the wireless energy.
3. The electric current will build up until the energy hit the the tipping point. 
4. A hug voltage current will flow from the gap to the secondary coil. 
5. The energy go back and forth between two point. On the secondary coil, there is a top-load which will shoot out the lightning when all the current is concentrated.

“Fix the World”

Fix the World S.A.R.L is an international business and humanitarian association which was established in 2012. Fix the World has released an energy generator which is inspired by by Tesla’s “Energy Generator” in 1894. They focus on any project dealing with energy access, economic hardship, and basic humanitarian aid. One of their project is Quantum Electric Generator (QEG) which uses the law of Tesla Coil to develop energy to make the light bulbs light. It is one example that people using Tesla Coil to produce energy today. The video below showing hos QED works and it surprising result. 

Conclusion

Even though Tesla was called “mad scientist”, we cannot reject that his idea about free energy is interesting and valuable. I hope that we can use this idea to solve the energy problems today. Fix the World is like a pioneer in this field by using a wonderful idea to solve electrical problems. Their effort will be accepted on someday .

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Reference

“Open Source Plans for Modern Tesla Free Energy Generator Released to Public.” Open Source Plans for Modern Tesla Free Energy Generator Released to Public. Web. 18 Feb. 2016.

“QEG Resonance in Morocco – OPC: Aouchtam 04/28/14.” YouTube. YouTube. Web. 18 Feb. 2016.

Dickerson, By Kelly. “Wireless Electricity? How the Tesla Coil Works.”LiveScience. TechMedia Network, 10 July 2014. Web. 18 Feb. 2016.

What is SpaceX?

Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, as known as SpaceX, is an American aerospace manufacturer and space transport service company in California. SpaceX was found by Elon Musk, an American business magnate, engineer and inventor. His main goals are reducing global warming through sustainable energy production, and reducing human extinction by search for a colony on Mars. That is why SpaceX was built.

Goals

The main goal of SpaceX is inventing a kind of rocket that can bring human into the space and come back with the intact rocket. Also, the “ultimate goal is enabling people to live in another planets.” (SpaceX).

What is the difference between NASA and SpaceX?

NASA: sending rocket into the space then breaking out itself. Only the satellite will stay in the universe after the rocket break out and explode in the space.

SpaceX: the rocket is designed with 2 stages. When it comes into the universe, the 2nd stage will break out and falling while the 1st stage still flying up. After that, the 1st stage will break out and the top of it is the satellite. However, when the 2nd stage is falling, it still have energy and power to launch. After finishing the process, the 2nd stage will returning to a landing zone (R) at the Cape Canaveral Air Force. The company said that exploding the rocket in the space is very expensive so they tried to invent a product that can launch into the space and return back to the Earth.

These two picture is showing how the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket works.

Also, there is a video that show from the beginning to the and of the flight. The SpaceX rocket launched into the universe, then broke out and return to the land zone. The video had been recorded by SpaceX even though the rocket was in the universe. All the members of company were happy for what they achieved.

Conclusion

SpaceX had done a wonderful project that help we having more hope about finding the living in universe. We still believe that there is someplace in the universe where the human can live on it, and SpaceX is doing what we want to do in some day.

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Reference

http://www.spacex.com/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/space/12062912/SpaceX-succeeds-in-historic-in-rocket-launch-and-landing-live.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANv5UfZsvZQ

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX

What is Smart Grid?

Smart grid is an electrical grid which is used to develop network communication. It is a combination between Information Technology, Communication Technology, and Electrical Power System. In contrast with the traditional grid, smart grid uses two-way dialogue to develop communication between utilities and consumers. Also, the information can be exchanged to each other. We can say that Smart Grid is as an new upgrade for the original one.

How does it work? 

In the past, the traditional grid uses one-way power flow to deliver the energy power from the power plant to household. First, the transmission lines will carry electricity in a long distance from power plant to the distribution line. Then, those line will carry the electricity to households.

However, everything has changed now. We have a “smarter” grid which can make everything works easily.  Using solar pin and wind to create energy power. Then it will deliver in two-way power flow from power plant to home than come back. It can help consumers manage the electricity usage easily and quickly.

Advantages

High quality: the state can manage how much electricity usage of each household by the information they get in two-way communication.

Consumer satisfy: they don’t worry much about how much they have been charge because they can manage them from now.

Disadvantages

Expensive to rebuild: “cost much more than the $4.5 billion in federal funds” to rebuild the grid

Risk of privacy: hackers can control thousand of meters and demand of power. Also, they can get you information that your house and power station exchange to each other such as what is your address? How much power usage did your house use?

Conclusion

It is a great idea to improve and develop. Also, we need to work more to figure out what we can do to protect customers’ privacy. I hope that we will have more project like this to keep our planet greener.

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References: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwRTpWZReJk

http://www.slideshare.net/nldhage/smart-grid-introduction

https://electrical-systems-lighting.knoji.com/pros-and-cons-of-the-smart-grid/