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Water Based Battery Safer than Lithium

Posted on by dishanth
Water Based Battery Safer than Lithium

A novel water based battery is said to be safer than lithium at half the cost.
A Boston-area startup called Alsym Energy has introduced a rechargeable water based battery that could match lithium-ion batteries’ performance at a fraction of the price.

In addition to using inexpensive, easily accessible materials like manganese and metal oxide, the novel battery is based on water, according to an initial report from Fast Company.

Being a water based battery means it avoids some of the main drawbacks of current batteries, such as the potential for lithium-ion battery fires and the negative impact of mining on the environment. And thanks to the use of non-toxic materials, the water based battery design is simpler to recycle, which is always a bonus.

Electric vehicles are becoming more important as the world’s nations step up their efforts to decarbonize the grid. That’s because they can aid in decarbonizing both transportation and supply of electricity through reduced tailpipe emissions and offer flexibility. Naturally, many automakers are tapping into the market by producing luxurious EVs; however, the expensive price tag remains to be a problem to this day. The costs are partly due to the lithium-ion batteries that are used in electric vehicles, which are too costly to make EVs that can compete in price tag with cars that run on fossil fuels.

This is where Alsym Energy, which recently emerged from stealth and secured $32 million from investors, comes in. According to a press release, with its first partner being an automaker in India, the startup wants to make it possible for manufacturers to produce cheaper electric vehicles.

“Our motivation was to make it affordable so that it could be widely deployed as opposed to niche,” Mukesh Chatter, CEO and co-founder of the startup, told Fast Company.

The Alsym Energy water based battery is inexpensive enough that it might be used in developing countries to store off-grid solar power. This is especially crucial for individuals who do not currently have access to energy.

 

What Makes the Water Based Battery Special?
The water based zinc battery makes use of other affordable, easily accessible components like manganese and metal oxide. Crucially, it does not contain cobalt, an expensive critical component of lithium batteries that also contributes to supply-chain health and environmental issues due to unethical mining practices. It also doesn’t use lithium at all, which requires resource-intensive salar brine extraction methods, mainly concentrated in conflict-prone regions of South America. Avoiding lithium and cobalt reliance is incredibly important as both metals have seen extreme price increases recently amid surging EV demand.

Lithium carbonate prices have skyrocketed over 750% in the last two years. And cobalt more than doubled in cost since 2020. These unstable dynamics will likely drive up prices of lithium-ion batteries for the foreseeable future. By swapping water for expensive, ethically fraught raw materials, the aqueous zinc batter stands to radically transform the energy storage calculus in terms of affordability, local manufacturing potential, and stability of supply chains.

According to the team behind Alsym Energy, the new design has “lithium-like performance.” But unlike the latter, Alsym Energy’s batteries are not flammable. This saves money as it doesn’t require special protection to avoid fires and gives the batteries additional applications, such as use in ships, where the industry is particularly concerned about fire risk.

If all goes to plan, Alsym Energy will start beta testing with its first customers in early 2023, with high-volume production beginning as early as 2025. The novel battery design will surely make waves globally; however, the company’s priority is to first make it affordable in low-income regions.

 

 

 

 

Source  Happy Eco News

Windcatcher the Huge Wooden Wind Generator

Posted on by dishanth
Windcatcher the Huge Wooden Wind Generator

Engineers have designed a new type of gigantic wooden wind generator dubbed the “Windcatcher” that could rise higher than the Eiffel Tower to tap into more powerful winds and generate huge amounts of renewable electricity far offshore.

At 1,066 feet (325 meters) from anchoring base to propeller tip, the proposed Windcatcher wooden wind generator system would surpass the iconic Parisian landmark’s height of 1,063 feet when fully built. But rather than offering tours of city views, this would allow the colossal tower to leverage faster wind speeds at higher altitudes than conventional wind turbines mounted closer to shore. Architects envision groups of these wooden wind generator megastructures with spinning wind turbines dotted along their central shafts, powering entire regions with clean energy.

Winds Tend to Blow Stronger Higher Up

Wind flow is enhanced the higher you go because ground obstacles like hills and buildings cause slowing friction. By elevating up into less disrupted airflow, the Windcatcher’s turbines could rotate 50% faster than ones constructed only 300 feet up. More spin velocity means manyfold more power generation. Modeling shows electricity output from a single Windcatcher could equal several traditional wind towers running in parallel. This boosted productivity per tower could make building fewer giants more efficient than patching seascape views with ever more waves of smaller mills.

Engineering a Gigantic Wooden Wind Generator

However, efficiently scaling turbines to Eiffel defining heights poses profound infrastructure challenges around stability, longevity, and safe maintenance access throughout the multiyear operation. The proposed Windcatcher design incorporates a sturdy yet flexible solid timber tower base tapering into an open skeletal wood frame swirling up to its peak generation capacity. The entire structure can gently sway to dampen extreme gust loads without catastrophic failure risk. Metal vibration dampeners also help absorb wind energy to limit motion.

Ringing the tower’s exterior, helical rampways, and grated platforms circle up to turbine machinery requiring routine inspection or emergency repairs. Cargo lifts and even tilting gondolas mean specialized crews can access any point from base to pinnacle in most conditions while remaining secure. But whatsoever precautions, embarking 1,000 feet into the North Sea gusts to bolt down wayward equipment is no task for the faint of heart.

The wooden wind generator concept has grabbed attention across renewable energy circles, yet experts debate feasibility obstacles around truly enormous timber joinery, massive construction logistics, operating equipment endurance, and connection infrastructure. Building numerous near Eiffel-topping wooden wind generators certainly nudges current offshore wind realism boundaries. However, proponents argue that visionary, clean power goals require expansive thinking, including wooden wind generators. However, intimidating initial steps appear. Our energy appetites will only expand, and every field bears longshot innovations that will later prove pivotal.

The proposal’s futuristic allure is clear. Windcatcher wooden wind generators evoke images of natural organisms gently swaying amid the waves, smoothly converting the wind’s energy into electricity, helping human life flourish onshore. Their sheer epic scale captivates the imagination much akin to Parisian Gustave Eiffel’s original wrought iron icon that long-held records as the world’s tallest manmade structure. Perhaps someday, rows of these block-long towers may claim their own position as ultimate wind energy titans built to sustainably power nations using renewable materials and ingenuity.

 

 

 

 

Source  Happy Eco News

How manufacturers can transition to 100% renewable electricity

Posted on by dishanth
How manufacturers can transition to 100% renewable electricity

Manufacturing and other industrial users account for around a third of the world’s energy consumption, according to the International Energy Agency(1). Electricity is a central element of that. If all the power consumed by factories and industrial plants came from renewable sources, it would make a sizeable contribution to tackling climate change.

It is a tough target, but one that companies are increasingly signing up to. The RE100 initiative, for example, has seen more than 400 corporations commit to 100% renewable electricity use across their operations. How they reach that goal will depend on many factors, including what they are making and where.

 

Switching to renewable electricity

“Organisations with lighter electricity needs and stable finances will be best positioned to transition to renewables. Companies with high electricity demand, like furnaces for glass, smelting or other large-scale heating applications and companies with very large footprints – such as expansive warehouses and assembly operations – may have more difficulty,” says Paul Holdredge, Director for Industrials and Transport at consultancy Business for Social Responsibility (BSR).

COP28 president-designate Dr Sultan Al-Jaber told the Adipec conference in Abu Dhabi in early October(2) that heavy industries may be hard to decarbonise but added “We know that solutions exist, and all industries can and must respond.”

The prospect of switching to renewable electricity has become far easier due to recent dramatic cost reductions. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the price of solar photovoltaic power in 2010 was typically 710% higher than the cheapest fossil fuel, but by 2022 it was 29% cheaper(3). Currently electricity accounts for around 20% of final energy use in manufacturing, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency, and this is only expected to increase.

 

The manufacturing challenge

But it is not just the price of renewable energy, low as it is, that dictates a manufacturer’s ability to move to 100% renewable energy. Both the required initial capital investment and first-mover disadvantage—where it costs pioneers more than those that follow them to deploy new technologies—can significantly slow down a fully renewable transition. Not to mention the lack of availability of certain renewables in certain geographies and the fact that the appropriate infrastructure must be in place for this energy to be delivered—something no one company can do on its own.

Manufacturing requires an enormous amount of electricity in comparison to offices. In some countries or regions where the supply of renewable electricity is limited, like Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore, it is much more expensive than electricity produced by traditional means, placing a significant future cost burden on companies that purchase renewable electricity.

Epson is working to popularize the use of renewable electricity, despite the certainty of short-term cost increases. The company is advancing investment in sustainability to enrich communities and invest in future generations to create social value.

 

Going local

Wherever they are in the world, with whatever types of renewable energy available to them, companies need to adapt to local, national, and global circumstances. Seiko Epson, based in Japan, has done just that. Having switched to 100% renewable electricity for all its sites in Japan in 2021, it will complete the transition to 100% renewable electricity globally by the end of 2023(4). This goal has been made achievable through steady implementation of decarbonization targets and the use of renewable electricity since 2018.

In Nagano Prefecture, Japan, for example, where water sources are abundant, it relies on hydroelectric power. But in the Tohoku area, where it has a semiconductor fabrication plant, it uses hydropower and geothermal heat from the Ou mountains.

It is taking a similar approach outside Japan. In the Philippines, it taps into local geothermal and hydroelectric sources. While in Indonesia, it uses yet another renewable source—biomass power.

“We have used locally produced energy wherever possible,” says Junichi Watanabe, Managing Executive Officer General Administrative Manager, Production Planning Division, whose role encompasses the promotion of Epson’s procurement strategies in the supply chain, including the use of renewable electricity. “Rather than using energy generated in faraway countries, using a particular region’s abundant renewable resources brings many benefits, such as improving energy self-sufficiency and creating jobs.”

In addition to purchasing renewable electricity, Epson co-creates and develops other power sources through continuous renewable electricity purchases. In partnership with Nagano Prefecture and Chubu Electric Power Miraiz Company, Inc., the company began support of hydroelectric power plants in Nagano Prefecture. Two are already in operation (totalling 5,770 kilowatts) and another is scheduled to begin operation in 2024. That number is expected to increase to five by 2025.

Such targets can help a company stand out from the crowd. “Based on our research, setting a near-term goal for 100% renewable electricity use is an example of leadership and a differentiator. Some companies also have roadmaps to transition over longer time periods,” says Holdredge.

 

Among the practical methods companies should consider are:

• Sourcing renewable electricity from local suppliers via contracts with electricity suppliers – the ability to do this will depend on the rules in a particular country but, if it is possible, a company can be confident its electricity is only coming from renewable sources.

• Generating electricity on-site, via rooftop solar panels or, if space allows, wind turbines. Even if they do not generate all the power needed, they can still make a useful contribution.

• Develop battery storage facilities. A common concern about renewable electricity is the risk of supply being interrupted when the wind isn’t blowing or the sun isn’t shining, but storage technology offers a viable way to address that.

 

When it comes to solar power generation systems, Epson’s sites also decide whether to adopt self-investment or power purchase agreement (PPA) based on the individual circumstances of each country or region. The solution will vary from company to company. But most manufacturers are likely to find a combination of these elements will go a long way to reaching their renewable electricity goals.

What’s more, many manufacturers like Epson realize that their indirect GHG emissions from their entire value chain (Scope 3) are much greater than the GHG emissions from their own electricity use (Scope 2). As such, by reducing the sector’s Scope 2 emissions using renewable energy—something the sector can do independently—is likely to have a far greater impact on society. Setting goals early and demonstrating a company’s stance toward solving climate change is the key to co-prosperity with suppliers and a sustainable society.

“For large companies the return on investment is there to make the case for investment in renewables. For smaller companies this can also be true, but it depends on the geography. Government incentives can only speed up transition which is sorely needed,” says Christy Slay, Chief Executive Officer of The Sustainability Consortium.

 

The future for greener manufacturing

There are big gains for humanity if climate change can be addressed, but for manufacturing companies and their shareholders the best approach could also deliver commercial gains.

Consumers and investors are increasingly likely to reward companies with greener credentials, making it an essential part of long-term market positioning. In addition, greater use of renewables and greater self-generation can make a company more resilient to volatile electricity prices on the open market.

“Reaching 100% renewable is tough but pushing to get as close as possible, as soon as possible should be every company’s focus right now,” says Slay. “Epson has managed to stay one step ahead of the industry and is setting an example not only to Japan but to the world.”

 

 

 

 

Source  Reuters

Transparent Solar Panels: a Powerful Alternative to Glass

Posted on by dishanth
Transparent Solar Panels: a Powerful Alternative to Glass

In the foreseeable future, transparent solar panels hold the potential to take the place of conventional windows, although several challenges must first be overcome. Transparent solar panels are crafted from materials that permit visible light to pass through while capturing the sun’s energy to generate electricity. This unique feature grants them an aesthetically pleasing advantage over traditional, bulky, and opaque solar panels.

However, the best technologies still have lower efficiency than their traditional counterparts, resulting in lower electricity generation per square meter. Moreover, the cost exceeds that of traditional ones, making them less economically viable for the majority of consumers.

Transparent solar panels are made of a transparent material, such as titanium dioxide or amorphous silicon. These materials allow visible light to pass through while still absorbing some of the energy to generate electricity. This makes transparent solar panels more aesthetically pleasing than traditional solar panels, which can be bulky and opaque.

They are still in the early stages of development, but they have the potential to revolutionize the way we generate electricity. They could be used to power buildings, cars, and other devices without taking up any extra space. For example, transparent solar panels could be used to create solar-powered windows that would allow natural light to enter a building while also generating electricity. They could also be used to create solar-powered car roofs or windows that charge the car’s battery whenever it is exposed to sunlight.

 

They will make economic sense in larger applications despite their lower power-generating capacity. For example, a large high-rise building with good solar exposure could have all the windows facing the sun made with solar panels instead of glass. On a large surface area, this would provide a significant amount of power to run the systems in the building. When combined with high-efficiency LED lighting, regeneration from elevators, and energy storage, the building could become energy neutral or even a net producer.

 

Numerous companies are vigorously working on enhancing the efficiency and affordability of glass solar panel windows. Successful advancements in this direction could potentially position transparent solar panels as a practical alternative to traditional windows in the future.

Here are some companies actively involved in developing transparent solar panels:

  1. SolarWindow Technologies: Pioneering the field, SolarWindow Technologies has created a transparent solar panel utilizing a thin film of titanium dioxide. This material absorbs sunlight and converts it into electricity. The company claims its transparent solar panel boasts 90% transparency and has the capacity to generate up to 10 watts of electricity per square meter.
  2. PolySolar is a company that specializes in the development and manufacturing of transparent solar panels. PolySolar’s transparent solar panels are made of a thin film of cadmium telluride (CdTe), which is a semiconductor material. CdTe is a very efficient material for absorbing sunlight and converting it into electricity. PolySolar’s transparent solar panels are also very transparent, allowing up to 80% of visible light to pass through.
  3. Onyx Solar is a company that specializes in the development and manufacturing of transparent solar panels. Onyx Solar’s transparent solar panels are made of a thin film of amorphous silicon (a-Si), which is a semiconductor material. a-Si is a very transparent material, allowing up to 80% of visible light to pass through.

These companies represent just a glimpse of the ongoing efforts to develop solar panel windows. With continued research and development, it remains promising that glass solar panels will eventually emerge as a compelling option for replacing windows in the future.

 

 

 

 

Source  Happy Eco News

The Air-gen Device that Converts Humidity into Energy

Posted on by dishanth
The Air-gen Device that Converts Humidity into Energy

What if it were possible to create energy out of air? A purely sustainable and renewable source of energy that wouldn’t require towers or panels. Researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst have developed just that. It turns out that air humidity is a vast, sustainable reservoir of energy that is continuously available. The researchers claim that just about any surface can be turned into a generator by replicating the electrical properties of storm clouds. A storm cloud is a mass of water droplets, all of which contain a charge. When the conditions are right, the cloud can produce a lightning bolt. The researchers have used similar properties to build a small-scale cloud that can produce electricity predictably and continuously.

So how does it work? Their air generator (Air-gen) relies on microscopic holes smaller than 100 nanometres (even more minuscule than a strand of a human hair). The small diameter of these holes is called a “mean free path”, which is the distance a single molecule can travel before it collides with another molecule of the same substance.

Water molecules float all around the air, and their mean free path is around 100 nanometres. As the humid air passes through Air-gen’s minuscule holes, the water molecules will directly contact an upper and lower chamber in the film. Because each pore is so small, the water molecules would easily bump into the pore’s edge as they pass through the thin layer. This interaction creates a charge imbalance and results in electricity.

The researchers claim that their product could offer kilowatts of power for general usage as long as there is any humidity in the air. Their Air-gen device could be more space efficient and blend into the environment compared to other renewable energy options such as solar and wind power. Moreover, humidity exists at all hours of the day and night, rain or shine, to provide non-stop energy.

The researchers also claim that harvesting the air and water droplets could be designed from all kinds of materials, which offers many opportunities for cost-effective and environment-adaptable designs. The Air-gen device is so small that thousands of them could be stacked on top of each other, increasing the amount of energy it gives off without increasing the environmental footprint of the device.

This device stems from the researcher’s previous inventions of generating an electric current using moisture in the air using a microbe called Geobacter. Their device produced a sustained voltage of about 0.5 volts for about 20 hours and could light up small LED bulbs. However, they couldn’t get the microbe to create enough nanowires (the small holes that generate the electric charge) to scale up the technology further.

Their new Air-gen device has never been discovered before, and it opens up many possibilities for effectively using renewable resources to create energy. It’s incredible to think we could harvest energy from the air around us. This discovery and invention could be scaled up. They could make renewable energy more accessible to people around the world. They could reduce the negative environmental impact we see with some existing forms of renewable energy (solar panels or wind turbines).

 

 

 

 

Source Happy Eco News 

Vortex Bladeless Turbine Wind Generator

Posted on by dishanth
Vortex Bladeless Turbine Wind Generator

How the Vortex Bladeless Turbine Works

The Vortex Bladeless Turbine is a pole-shaped structure that functions without rotating blades, but instead of rotating blades, it works off vibrations generated in the structure by vortices created when the wind passes around it. When the frequency of the vortices matches the resonance frequency of the structure, into which an alternator is integrated, the vibration energy can be transformed into electricity. In simpler terms, as the wind flows past the turbine, it creates a series of spinning whirlwinds, or vortices, that cause the rod-shaped turbine to vibrate. This vibration then converts the mechanical energy into electrical energy that can be used as a source of power.

One of the main differences between bladeless or motionless turbines and traditional wind turbines is that they can generate power at low wind speeds, which is significant because wind speeds in urban areas are typically lower than in rural areas. Traditional turbines require higher wind speeds, making them less effective in built-up areas.

Advantages of the Vortex Bladeless Turbine

One of the significant benefits of the Vortex Bladeless Turbine is that it’s more cost-effective than traditional turbines. It has fewer moving parts, which results in reduced manufacturing and maintenance costs. Also, it doesn’t require any oil or lubricants, making it a more environmentally friendly option.

The design of the Vortex Bladeless Turbine is more eco-friendly than traditional turbines because its pole-shaped structure does not pose any harm to birds and other animals that can come into contact with rotating blades. Furthermore, the device’s sleek design takes up less space than traditional wind turbines, making it adaptable to a wide range of environments.

Another benefit of the Vortex Bladeless Turbine is its flexibility. Its small size makes it the perfect choice for urban areas, where space is limited. They can be placed on the roofs of buildings or integrated into street furniture, providing an unobtrusive source of renewable energy. It can also be used to power individual homes or small communities that are off-grid, where running costs are a concern.

Applications of the Vortex Bladeless Turbine

One application of the Vortex Turbine is in urban environments. As mentioned earlier, these turbines can generate electricity at low wind speeds, making them a viable option for powering cities and towns. By placing them in strategic locations, they can capture the wind currents that flow through narrow streets, parks, and plazas.

Another application of the Vortex Bladeless Turbine is its potential to replace traditional turbines in remote locations. Traditional turbines are often used to provide power in areas where a connection to the electrical grid is not possible. However, their high manufacturing and maintenance costs make them less feasible in such instances. The Vortex Bladeless Turbine, being cost-effective and low maintenance, provides an alternative that can meet the power needs of those living in isolated areas.

The Vortex Bladeless Turbine is a revolutionary wind power generator that has the potential to transform the way we generate renewable energy. Its low manufacturing and maintenance costs, eco-friendly design, and flexibility make it an attractive option for powering urban areas and remote places alike. While there are some limitations, such as the amount of power generated compared to traditional turbines, and the need for further development to increase efficiency, the Vortex Bladeless Turbine is a step in the right direction towards a cleaner, more sustainable future. The device’s minimal environmental impact also makes it an excellent choice for environmentally conscious consumers and energy companies alike.

With renewable energy becoming more important in the fight against climate change, the development of innovative technologies like the Vortex Bladeless Turbine is crucial. As we continue to explore cleaner, more sustainable sources of energy, devices like these will become increasingly critical. And while there are still challenges to overcome and further research to be done, the potential benefits of the Vortex Bladeless Turbine make it a promising addition to our renewable energy toolkit.

Overall, the Vortex Bladeless Turbine is a fascinating innovation that could play a significant role in the future of wind power generation. Its eco-friendly design, low cost, and flexibility make it an exciting alternative to traditional wind turbines. It’s clear that as we move towards a more sustainable future, technologies like this will continue to be developed, offering us new and exciting ways to generate renewable energy and help protect our planet.

 

 

 

 

Source Happy Eco News 

 

More Conscious Travelers, Climate Concerns Impacting Accommodation Design

Posted on by dishanth
More Conscious Travelers, Climate Concerns Impacting Accommodation Design

In a race to avert the climate crisis, the tourism industry is evolving. More travelers decide to keep their feet on the ground; the industry responded with flight-free services and itineraries. Concerned with how the climate impacts biodiversity and wilderness areas, many tour operators began actively supporting carbon reduction and rewilding programs. It turns out that where travelers finally lay their heads at the end of a busy day affects the climate, as well.

According to research conducted by the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, “The hotel industry needs to reduce its carbon emissions by 66 percent per room by 2030 and 90 percent per room by 2050 to ensure that the growth forecast for the industry does not lead to a corresponding increase in carbon emissions.”

Responding to regulatory changes, consumer preferences and proactive climate commitments, hotel chains and independently owned accommodations are making changes — though at varying speeds and to differing degrees. This includes pursuing LEED certification, shifting to renewable energy, and reducing waste and water consumption, among other actions.

“When I designed our first villa, Villa Punto de Vista, that was back in 2007 — just after the release of Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth — so I was already in tune with the concept of a warming planet and designed the building with an eco-conscious mindset,” said David Konwiser, co-founder and architect of the Costa Rica property. “However, ten years later and after seeing the devastating storms and worsening drought ravage our planet over that next decade, I designed our second villa (Villa La Isla) with even more emphasis on carbon neutrality.”

From natural fiber ceilings produced by Indigenous Peoples living in Costa Rica’s mountains to the microfiber bedding made from recycled plastic bags, nearly every square inch of the property reflects Konwiser’s climate concerns. “The villas’ materials and finishes had to be of premium quality, ecologically sourced, and surpass the challenging esthetic and safety expectations of the world’s most discerning travelers,” he said.

Villa Punto de Vista certainly isn’t the only property built from the ground up with the climate top of mind. In fact, there’s been a wave of them lately: Svart — a luxury property in Norway expected to open in 2024 — is said to be the first off-grid, energy-positive resort. The recently opened Hotel Marcel in New Haven, Connecticut, is completely powered by solar electricity.

Similarly, Populus — a 265-room hotel currently under construction in Denver, Colorado — is being billed as the first carbon-positive hotel in the US. It features window “lids” that provide shade while improving energy performance and a roof terrace planted with regional vegetation intended to attract local wildlife and insects.

Critics of “sustainable” buildings rightly point out that an eco-friendly, resource-efficient building is one thing; but construction itself has a massive carbon footprint. As noted in a 2022 Bloomberg article, the Marcel may be designated LEED Platinum; but on its way to being the US’s first net-zero-emissions hotel, its calculations failed to include embodied carbon — which includes all the greenhouse gases emitted during renovation, construction, demolition and disposal of a building.

According to Transforming Existing Hotels to Net-Zero Carbon, a guide developed by four companies including IHG Hotels & Resorts, embodied carbon makes up between 30 and 70 percent of a typical building’s total lifecycle emissions. Further, approximately 80 percent of the buildings that will be in use in 2050 are already in existence today.

“Adapting and retrofitting existing buildings to lower GHG emissions is critical and needs to be embraced as part of the hotel sector’s ‘Routemap to Zero Carbon,’ particularly as expectations of hotel investors, owners, staff, and guests shift towards greener, more sustainable models of investment, business operation, and living,” noted Gillian Breen, director of Gleeds at the time of Transforming Existing Hotels’ publication.

The natural solution for most properties, then, is to renovate existing buildings with an eye on sustainability. For example, Hotel Belmar — located in Costa Rica’s Monteverde cloud forest — was built in 1985 with environmental stewardship, cultural appreciation and economic benefits for the local community in mind. Upgrades nearly 30 years later further reduced its environmental footprint.

“The 2012 renovation of Hotel Belmar kept our traditional wooden architecture; but we adapted most rooms, some bathrooms and hallways to have floor-to-ceiling windows, skylights and big sliding glass doors,” said Pedro Belmar, CEO and general manager of the hotel. This increased lighting efficiency and ventilation, and decreased energy consumption. Property owners also invested in solar panels, upgraded water-treatment systems and installed rain-collector systems.

Regardless of whether properties are renovated or built more sustainably (while accounting for embodied carbon), time is of the essence when it comes to making climate-conscious accommodations an industry standard.

“It is widely acknowledged that this decade needs to be one of climate action,” wrote Simon Gill, hotels and leisure business leader for UKIMEA at Arup, in his forward to Transforming Existing Hotels. “Without taking bold steps now, we will not be able to achieve the net-zero carbon target set for 2050 and avert climate catastrophe.”

 

 

 

 

Source  Sustainable Life Media

Sri Lanka’s first ever agrivoltaic solar power plant opened

Posted on by dishanth
Sri Lanka’s first ever agrivoltaic solar power plant opened

Solar Universe, the 10MW solar power plant in Vavunathivu, Batticaloa was declared open today.

Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera announced the opening of the 10 MW Ground Mount Solar Power Plant.

Minister Wijesekera said that invested and developed by WindForce PLC, Vidullanka PLC, and HiEnergy Services (Pvt) Limited, it is the 1st Agrivoltaic Power Plant in Sri Lanka.

The Minister further said that the new 10MW solar power plant in Vavunathivu will add 20 GWh annually to the National Grid. (NewsWire).

 

 

 

Source NEWSWIRE

 

Solar Blanket: Sustainable, Self-Sufficient Renewable Energy

Posted on by dishanth
Solar Blanket: Sustainable, Self-Sufficient Renewable Energy

Access to sustainable living and greener choices is still fairly limited to those that can afford to do so, often raising questions around inclusivity and accessibility in relation to sustainable, self-sufficient living.

If the aim is to move towards a greener future, including the widespread adoption of sustainable energy choices at both the macro and micro scale, the opportunity for everyone to access the renewable energy solution is absolutely vital.

A recent graduate of the MA Material Futures at Central Saint Martin’s (CSM), London, Mirielle Steinhage has conceived of a solar-powered blanket that could grant access to renewable energy to those in need. The blanket is made from a conductive material that can be used to warm a person using solar power as the energy source.

People Power
Steinhage was inspired to develop the project – People Power – as a way of making sustainable energy more accessible and by exploring ways in which to introduce people to affordable renewable energy products.

This is because often, there is an imbalance in the emphasis placed on individuals to take personal responsibility versus being able to access the resources to do so. This is far from the ideal scenario in a world trying to combat climate change.

This is where Steinhage’s ‘People Power’ could prove to be crucial, as it offers those living close or beneath the breadline access to technology that would benefit them in a practical scenario.

 

Cost Savings and Circularity
The energy-saving ‘Solar Blanket’ directs heat toward the user and isolates the warmth in their immediate periphery, which avoids wasting energy on heating up an entire space. Furthermore, the blanket could retail for around 10 GBP (roughly 12 USD), and as it is solar-powered, it does not incur any extra costs for charging either via a power supply or buying replacement batteries.

The solar panel which charges the blanket remains functional in almost all weather conditions and has been designed for easy positioning in front of a window. Currently, Steinhage has three low voltage prototypes, between 5 and 12 volts. The 12-volt blanket has the capacity to heat to around 30 degrees Celsius, and the power bank remains functional for two hours on a single full charge.

The blanket’s portable power bank has the potential to be used with other compatible objects in the home. Additionally, portability means that the blanket can be used in a wide range of scenarios and environments as it is not restricted to a single room.

Steinhage’s design is made from polyester fabric combined with a conductive yarn that helps generate heat. A polyester ribbon is also part of the fabrication to prevent any damage when the yarn comes into contact with itself when folded or in use.

Steinhage specifically chose these materials for their cost-effectiveness, functionality, and durability. Moreover, they can be easily separated for recycling, making the blanket a circular product that could be later converted into other useful products.

In the future, Steinhage is focused on developing more sustainable, self-sufficient renewable energy products that are accessible to all. She hopes she can extend the People Power range to include household lighting solutions and fans that would be compatible with the same solar panel and power bank.

Source – AZoCleantech