Energy & Power
Various forms of energy, how it is measured, units of measurement and rate of
energy transfer (Power). By Richard Muller, physics professor at UC Berkeley
and Senior Scientist at LBL.
The DOE's lab for renewable energy R&D, develops energy efficiency and
renewable energy technologies and practices. Advances related science and
engineering, transfers knowledge and innovations to address the nation's energy
and environmental goals. See educational resources for a mix of lessons,
projects and learning guides for teachers and students.
From the DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, hundreds of
Web sites and thousands of online documents on energy efficiency and renewable
energy. Check out the fact sheets: Caulk and Seal for Air Movement
Control, Cooling Your Home Naturally, Community Solar Access
Commercial/Industrial, Community, and Household energy efficiency.
Electric-Industry innovations (including distributed resources). Fuel Cells and
Hydrogen, Renewable Energy (Solar, Wind, Micro-Hydro), Nuclear Power, General
Energy Policy.
"Assessment of current and potential future energy systems, covering
extraction, conversion, and end-use, with emphasis on meeting regional and
global energy needs in the 21st century in a more sustainable manner."
How much Petroleum was consumed in the US in 1951? Coal in 1965? How many
metric tons of Carbon dioxide were emitted in 1997? How about an Excel
spreadsheet of vehicular Alternative Fuel consumption broken down by fuel and
year? This data and more available here from the EIA. This organization was
formed to provide "policy-independent data, forecasts, and analyses to promote
sound policy making, efficient markets, and public understanding regarding
energy and its interaction with the economy and the environment".
A project by the U. S. Geological Survey, conducts geologic studies providing
an understanding of the quantity, quality, and geologic distribution of world
oil and gas resources.
To harness the energy of nuclear fusion, this collaboration between China,
Europe, Japan, Korea, Russia, and the United States was formed. For details
on the core physics of this type of fusion process, see the [suggested
resources][] for collaborators on the JET (Joint European Torus) website. JET
was the first fusion facility in the world to achieve a significant production
of controlled fusion power.
"TERI-NA ... centred around conducting research and organizing
workshops/conferences to sensitize the decision-makers in North America
to developing countries' concern about energy and environment." Affiliate
institution of The Energy and Resources Institute, New Delhi, India.
"...the science which connects Thermodynamics with Economics....explains the
physical bases of the cost...unites the cost with the physical processes in
which the sacrifice of physical resources is located, causalised and quantified
in terms of thermodynamic irreversibility."
Micropower, distributed generation, and the 'intelligent grid', or
'energy web'. (Wired magazine)
Solar
The ultimate community access nuclear fusion reactor — our Sun! In operation
4.6 billion years and still going strong. Conveniently located in the sky,
circling the Earth to the benefit of all. This usenet discussion forum on solar
energy is searchable, with about 16,600 threads.
Plans, discussions, and links to resources for using the heat of the Sun to
cook food. Also, here's a Fresnel Solar Cooker.
(these seem to be off-line...anyone know where they went?)
"...solar concentrators for thermal and photovoltaic applications...includes
discussions about dishes, troughs, and heliostats or any other kind of solar
concentrator."
"For those who dream of giant solar collectors which can generate temperatures
high enough to melt steel...a method for building your own Solar Furnace of any
size you desire."
Water treatment and chemical waste management using solar energy;
photooxidation processes, photocatalytic reaction and high-temperature
photochemistry induced by concentrated solar radiation.
From the National Renewable Energy Laboratory
This paper will use existing data to compare the energy required to
manufacture, install and operate a flat plate solar hot water heater and a
RAPSS (Remote Area Power Supply System) with their fossil fuel counterparts.
Bio Fuel
"A metabolic switch that triggers algae to turn sunlight into large quantities
of hydrogen gas, a valuable fuel..."
What is Biodiesel? How do it's emissions compare to petroleum diesel's?
Can it help mitigate global warming? National Biodiesel Board's website.
Wind Power
Tutorial produced by the American Wind Energy Association in cooperation with
the DOE and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. "...statistically, a
single house cat is a much greater threat to birds than a small wind turbine"
(regarding hazards posed to birds)
Evolution of wind power systems, principal components of a power-generating
wind turbine, description of the relationship between the power in the wind and
the power flow through the turbine drive train, characteristics of the wind
environment that impact both the short- and the long-term structural integrity
of wind turbines, exploring and defining the need for improved materials
properties.
History and development of windmills, including modern windmills and turbines
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