Alternative Green Energy Research Articles

English

The recent sensitive issue of climate change is due to the extensive amount of carbon emission through the consumption of fossil fuel as the primary option for energy demand. Due to the negative impact of green house effect, the alternative and renewable energy options have received significant attention global scale. The two branched approach of renewable energy projects including the reduction in the global greenhouse gas emissions and encouragement to the development of alternate green energy options like wind energy. Wind energy has become one of most acceptable solution among the different renewable energy resources because of the application of power electronic based controllers that allows the wind energy conversion system (WECS) to generate quality electric power irrespective of variable wind profile. The continuous flow of quality power from WECS to grid is insured for wider range of wind speed. Doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) used in WECS having power electronic converter which requires very small friction of power in comparison to the total generation capacity. This paper brings out the analysis of a DFIG system in terms of its stator and rotor currents and real and reactive power balance when the machine is operating with varying wind velocity conditions. Various possible maximum power point tracking techniques are listed in the paper. The suitable Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique has also been suggested to harness maximum available power for a given wind velocity to ensure the continuous power flow from WECS to the power grid.

Electro Synthesised NiTe<sub>2</sub> Thin Films with the Influence of Additives

Solar cell is one of the promising alternative green energy sources that can provide free electricity when sunlight is converted. The absorbent materials and their synthesis methods are subject of interest mainly due to solar panel installation cost despite of free electricity generated. The well-known silicon solar cells made, either amorphous or polycrystalline are good in conversion efficiency up to 17%, but their high cost make the researchers to look for alternate materials. Semiconducting materials in thin film form such as InP, SnO2 and ZnO are being studied as the alternative materials, but are not commercialised due to their poor conversion efficiency. Another group of semiconductor compounds known as transition metal chalcogenides (TMC) have been developed to be used as the absorbent materials. Consisting of transition metals and chalcogenides (S, Se and Te), they show promising solar absorbent properties such as semiconducting band gap, well adhesion to substrate and good conversion with better cost-effective. There are many TMC compounds synthesised, including copper indium selenide (CIS), ZnTe2, CdSe etc. Nickel, one of the transition metals synthesised with chalcogenides are referred as nickel chalcogenides. There are many possible combinations of nickel chalcogenides such as NiS2, NiSe, NiSe2 and Ni3Se2. The combination of nickel and telluride are the fewest being observed due to the nature of tellurium that is poorly-adhesive onto the substrate. Therefore, NiTe2 thin film is being electro-synthesised onto the indium tin oxide (ITO) coated glass substrates and their properties are studied. The additives are being used to improve the adhesion between the film and substrate. Cyclic voltammetry experiments have been done prior to electrodeposition in order to get the electrodeposition potential range where the observable reduction range is between-0.9-(-1.1) V. The electrodeposition is carried out using the potentials in the reduction region, producing the well-adherent, well-distributed and dark-coloured thin films.

The prediction of the hydrodynamic performance of tidal current turbines

Nowadays tidal current energy is considered to be one of the most promising alternative green energy resources and tidal current turbines are used for power generation. Prediction of the open water performance around tidal turbines is important for the reason that it can give some advice on installation and array of tidal current turbines. This paper presents numerical computations of tidal current turbines by using a numerical model which is constructed to simulate an isolated turbine. This paper aims at studying the installation of marine current turbine of which the hydro-environmental impacts influence by means of numerical simulation. Such impacts include free-stream velocity magnitude, seabed and inflow direction of velocity. The results of the open water performance prediction show that the power output and efficiency of marine current turbine varies from different marine environments. The velocity distribution should be clearly and the suitable unit installation depth and direction be clearly chosen, which can ensure the most effective strategy for energy capture before installing the marine current turbine. The findings of this paper are expected to be beneficial in developing tidal current turbines and array in the future.

Communicating Ocean Acidification

Participation in a study circle through the National Network of Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation (NNOCCI) project enabled staff at the California Academy of Sciences to effectively engage visitors on climate change and ocean acidification topics. Strategic framing tactics were used as staff revised the scripted Coral Reef Dive program, which resulted in positive engagement on the topic of ocean acidification, including self-reported awareness, understanding and receptivity to the Academy's specific asks, including to support and use public transportation as an alternative to driving and to consider green energy alternatives such as solar panels.

An assessment of a pulse-steam stirling expander

Global warming is now a serious problem. Therefore, energy conservation, carbon reduction, and the development of alternative green energy have become essential issues. Traditionally, before steam is conducted into the manufacturing process, its pressure has been reduced via a regulator; however, an enormous amount of energy is wasted during this operation. Additionally, to implement energy conservation, the expansion process of a steam expander producing extra electrical power via output work has been adopted. However, condensation, a problem in steam application, still occurs during the expansion process. Therefore, a Stirling-cycle expander using isothermal expansion is proposed in place of the traditional adiabatic process.

Green energy sources (GES) selection based on multi‐criteria decision analysis (MCDA)

Purpose – Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel consumption is a big challenge on the view of global warming and climate changes caused by greenhouse gases as per recent scientific reports. This paper aims to identify the major challenges of green energy sources (GES) to the future power systems and suggests an appropriate GES based on the preference by the decision maker on the various issues to meet these challenges.Design/methodology/approach – The proposed work presents a multi‐criteria decision analysis (MCDA) – the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to evaluate the GES – photovoltaic (PV), wind generator (WG), biomass (BM) and micro‐hydel (MH) and to find the appropriate selection in general, by evaluating its main operational characteristic. In this research, the choices of the green energy alternatives on the basis of various factors have been taken into consideration. MATLAB simulation of different criteria to ascertain their clear‐cut effects on GES selection under multiple uncertaint...

Simulation-based evaluation of tidal current power output characteristics

Tidal current is considered to be one of the promising alternative green energy resources. This paper introduces a simulation based methodology to evaluate tidal current power output characteristics, including capacity factor, and power production variability patterns. Power variability analysis is crucial to grid integration systems design. The proposed methodology is applied to the well known Minas Channel in the Bay of Fundy (Atlantic Canada).

Cutting emissions, transforming jobs

FOCUS □ CLIMATECHANGE ANDLABOURSTANDARDS Cutting emissions, transforming jobs Industrialunions have a vitalrole to playinfuture negotiations as major stakeholdersin thedebate on climate issues These issues and theirsolutions willdefinethe relevance ofthe nextgeneration oftrade unionists ROB JOHNSTON isExecutive Director atthe international Metalworkers' Federation in Geneva Speaking ronmental industrial out unions issues on climate but is not more change a of new a and return role envifor to Speaking ronmental issues is not a new role for industrial unionsbut moreof a return to theirroots.Arguably some of thefirst environmentalists were industrial unions,as theymade thelinkbetweenpollution intheworkplace and thelocal community and fought forbetter controls . Communities notonlysawan impact onthe environment but in manycases feltit touched theirdailylives.In factmanyof the first legal cases broughtabout to clean up production methods originated from tradeunionsfollowing theindustrial revolution. Asunionswon hardfought forlegislation protecting againstpollutiontheirrole dramatically changed in many developed countriesand NGO'sbeganto takeup theenvironmental banner .Thereisno doubtthat as climate changeand environmental protection once again move up thepolitical agendain themajority ofcountries, unionsmust redouble their efforts toensurea fair deal forworkers. Thisfair deal mustincludecuttingemissions butalso transforming jobs. However, whether you believein thescience ornot,thefact remains that itseemsas ifthewill of a majority of people seems to be forsome global action.For tradeunionsthismeanswe facea choice:we cantry toargueagainst change, fighting againstthe majority view, or we can influence theoutcome anddebatetobenefit ordinaryworking people.A globalyouthmovement hasalready grownaroundclimate changeissues. Anopportunity Climate changeoffers unionsa uniqueopportunity to publically promote ourroleas a positive force for socialchangeandtoreachouttoa new generation of potentialtradeunionists. In my view thebestpeople to represent in a fairand balancedway theworkers thatmakethings are industrialworkersthemselvesthroughtrade unions.Withthisin mindindustrial unionswill have a vitally important role to play in future negotiations as majorstakeholders and contributorstothedebateon climate issues. Manyof the barriers to achievinga binding international agreement came fromfearsover whatimpacta bindingemissionstargets would have on industry, trade,development and,subsequently , jobs. Theseissuesandtheir solutions willdefine the relevance ofthenextgeneration oftradeunionists . We must build solidarity among unions whether inthepublicorprivate sector. Wemust havea voiceand consistent message,a message thatis easilyunderstood, one thatencourages womenand youngpeople to join theranksof tradeunionsand setsasidenorth-south divisions and focuseson therealissueofa better tomorrow forworkers. A failure to finda voice on behalfof industrial workers willresult in a topdowncorporate approachthat willsimply isolate workers and putprofits before people.Putquite simply, climatechangeis notan optionalextra forunionsbuta central issue. Inmany international forums theideaofa new greeneconomyseemsto be gathering pace,but unlesssignificant changetakesplacetotheexistingeconomicmodelsthenitwillbe little more thantheoldglobaleconomy, with a surface coatingofgreenpaint (non-toxic we hope).In order to bringabout a fundamental change to the worldeconomyand an alternative globalisation thatputspeople first greater attention mustbe giveninfuture to thesocialdimensions ofglobalisation witha fairer distribution ofwealth, economicdevelopment and humanrights. The idea behind this alternative economic modelis to createa foundation thatenablestwo central issuesto be addressed ifa globalclimate agreement is to be reached.The first is a strong legally-binding comprehensive agreement ensuringambitious reduction ofgreenhouse gasses.In other words, theagreement must tackle theproblemsofclimate changeina sustainable way.The secondissocialjustice andlong-term employment policiesas an integral partofa climate policy. However,a numberof stumbling blocksstill remainbeforeeitherof thesecan be achieved. Forexample,itis impossible to makecleardistinctions betweenthegreenandtraditional economy .Taketheissueofgreenjobsofthree widelypromoted alternative greenenergy sources and subsequently greenindustries: wind,wave and solar.Nearly 90 percent oftheir component parts comefrom traditional industries suchas steeland glass. Controversially, and it may come as a shock to some, workersin these traditional industries can safely saythey already havegreen jobs. In manypeople's mindstraditional industries aretoblamefor globalwarming, butit'salso trueto saythatwe areseeingthesesameindustries producenewtechnologies and newmaterials thatare changing livesforthebetter. It'sno secretthatthisneedsto happenat a faster pace and in a morebalancedway.Buttheevidence already existsto showwhatcouldbe possibleif theright policiesareputinplace. The first policyareathatmustbe addressed is environmental protection andwe haveto recognise thatthereare no jobs on a dead planet. Financialresponsibility for climateprotection policiesis a highly contentious affair sinceitis difficult toprovide reliable andexactinformation aboutthepotential costsandusesofcertain measures .The widelyacceptedStern Reviewon the EconomicsofClimate Changeestimates thecost INTERNATIONAL union rights Page 8Volume 17Issue 1201 0 oftackling climate changewillamount toatleast one percentof global grossdomesticproduct (GDP). Inactioncould increasethiscost in the long-term to 20 percent ofglobalGDP.Whileall countries havea responsibility tomitigate climate change,itis clearthatthegreatest responsibility forreducing globalemissions and spearheading policylieswithlargeindustrial nations. Therefore, it is vitallyimportant that trade unions provideleadershipforan international framework that recognises thecentral debatemust be on how to reduceemissions (a social cost) without sacrificing employment (a socialbenefit). Whatmustbe done? Wecan onlydo thisbyestablishing a fair, robust and well-functioning global emissionstrading regime,acknowledging the developed world's historical responsibility for globalgreenhouse gas...

Numerical analysis of the characteristics of vertical axis tidal current turbines

Tidal current is considered to be one of the promising alternative green energy resources. Tidal current turbines are devices used for harnessing tidal current energy. The development of a standard for tidal current turbine design is a very important step in the commercialization of tidal current energy as the tidal current industry is growing rapidly, but no standard for tidal current turbines has been developed yet. In this paper, we present our recent efforts in the numerical simulation of the characteristics (e.g., power output, torque fluctuation, induced velocity, and acoustic emission) of tidal current turbines related to the development of the standard. The relationship between the characteristics and the parameters of an example turbine are extensively discussed and quantified. The findings of this paper are expected to be helpful in developing the standards for tidal current turbines in the near future.

A multiple perspectives view of the market case for green energy

This paper presents an exploratory evaluation of the market case for green energy. These energy sources are widely considered to have less of an ecological impact than conventional energy sources. The case for green energy is viewed from the multiple perspectives TOP (technical, organizational, personal) framework. The green energy technologies will need to meet certain technical, organizational and personal criteria and resolve key issues in order to address the barriers to market adoption. The multiple perspectives approach facilitates the evaluation of green-energy alternatives as potential new products which would enable organizations and individuals to meet both economic and green criteria that impact customer value creation. Given the present trends of increasing energy use and requirements to minimize environmental impact, green energy adoption may become a key element of strategies to ensure long-term economic growth.