Alternative Energy Solutions

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THE world has just ten years to stop global warming from running out of control, according to climate scientists. Carbon levels in the atmosphere were building up so fast, they said, that they would be self-sustaining by about 2026.

Peter Smith, an emeritus professor at Nottingham University, said yesterday that politicians would need to replace fossil fuels with greener energy within ten years. While the tipping point for rampant global warming would take longer to reach, he said, green technology would need at least ten years to bring carbon levels under control.



He said that by investing in green energy, especially tidal energy, Britain could, by the end of the century, meet its power needs without using nuclear or fossil fuel.

Professor Smith said that it would probably take a natural disaster in Britain to get politicians to act. "Tragically, there needs a catastrophic event to motivate politicians to take action. Only then will they feel the public will go with them," he said, singling out Gordon Brown, the Chancellor, as the biggest block to progress.

Scientists predict that by about 2026 carbon dioxide emissions will reach 440 parts per million in volume, the point at which global warming becomes self-sustaining and rises exponentially. Dr Eric Wolff, of the British Antarctic Survey, said that until 200 years ago carbon dioxide levels varied between 180 and 300 parts per million. They are now more than 380 parts per million.

In what states is there significant wind power development? Are there any utility-scale wind turbines in my state?

California is the state in which most wind power development has occurred up to now. As of the end of 2004, the Golden State had a total of 2,096 MW of wind generating capacity, with Texas ranking second at 1,293 MW.

Other states with sizable wind plants include Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

FYI (One megawatt of wind capacity is enough to supply 240 to 300 average American homes. Thus, the 2,096 MW installed in California is enough to supply 500,000 to 620,000 average households.)

The U.S. Department of Energy has announced a goal of obtaining 6% of U.S. electricity from wind by 2020--a goal that is consistent with the current rate of growth of wind energy nationwide. As public demand for clean energy grows, and as the cost of producing energy from the wind continues to decline, it is likely that wind energy will provide a growing portion of the nation's energy supply.

Well, according to a 'Marketbuzz' report, with 2,826 megawatts of PV installed worldwide in 2007, that's an increase of 62% globally, compared to 2006.
The United States saw a growth rate of a respectable 57%.I would think that with the many benefits of living in the United States, that Americans would enjoy a greater growth rate of solar power useage. Even if we aren't leading, at least we're all making a substantial move in the right direction.

There has been an unforeseen surge in PV (photovoltaic) module manufacturers entering the marketplace, and existing producers are building new plants. The increased competition is obviously good for everyone, especially the consumer. There are new modules being introduced, and there will undoubtedly be breakthroughs in design and manufacturing techniques.

Hopefully, we'll start seeing lower prices due to the increased number of PV module producers.