Energy & Power

Energy and 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.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

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.

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

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

Rocky Mountain Institute’s Energy & Resources Page

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.

Sustainable Energy - MIT OpenCourseWare

“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.”

Energy Information Administration (EIA)

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”.

World Petroleum Assessment-Information - USGS

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.

ITER — Nuclear Fusion for Peaceful Use

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.

The Energy and Resources Institute, North America

“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.

Thermoeconomics as a conceptual basis for energy-ecological analysis (pdf)

“…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.”

Girding Up For the Power Grid

Micropower, distributed generation, and the ‘intelligent grid’, or ‘energy web’. (Wired magazine)

Solar

alt.solar.thermal

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.

Solar Cooking Archive

Plans, discussions, and links to resources for using the heat of the Sun to cook food. Also, here’s a Fresnel Solar Cooker.

Solar-Concentrator Mailing List and Archives

(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.”

Infinitely Large Solar Furnace

“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.”

Potential Applications of Concentrated Solar Energy

Water treatment and chemical waste management using solar energy; photooxidation processes, photocatalytic reaction and high-temperature photochemistry induced by concentrated solar radiation.

Solar Energy Businesses by Country

Photovoltaic Research Home Page

From the National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Energy required to manufacture, install and operate a solar hot water system

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

Hydrogen Fuel Produced By Common Algae

“A metabolic switch that triggers algae to turn sunlight into large quantities of hydrogen gas, a valuable fuel…”

Biodiesel FAQ

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

Wind Energy FAQ

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)

Assessment of Research Needs for Wind Turbine Rotor Materials Technology

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.

Windmill World

History and development of windmills, including modern windmills and turbines