These three projects will harness natural resources to powerful effect.
Hull, Massachusetts
This resort town, population 11,000, plans to moor four 260-foot-tall turbines a mile and a half offshore, at a total cost of $40 million. Along with Hull's two existing onshore turbines, wind power could generate 14 megawatts, enough to supply energy to the entire community.
Mojave Desert, California
This fall, construction begins on a five-square-mile stretch of heliostats, small moveable mirrors that follow the sun's rays and reflect them onto a boiler on top of a central tower. The sunlight heats water inside the boiler's pipes to temperatures above 1,000°F, creating steam that generates electricity in a nearby turbine. By 2011, the plant will produce its first 100 megawatts.
Pembrokeshire, Wales
As part of the U.K.'s goal of running on 10 percent renewable energy by 2010, this summer Wales will install a Wave Dragon converter, the world's largest wave-energy generator. The 980-foot-long device captures waves in basins. When the water rushes back into the sea, it spins turbines, producing seven megawatts of electricity.
Read more of Popular Science's predictions for 2009.
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from Hacienda Heights, CA
It is really good that we are trying to develop alternative and renewable energy sources. However, the devil is always in the details and in one case, also in local residents and environmental groups. I have written some of my thoughts on this on my blog (http://pchow98.blogspot.com/2008/12/unrealistic-fairy-are-we.html). The CPUC passed the usage a few days ago and that was good. But if we have an energy crisis and mounting green house problems, why are the same environmentalists fighting this?
Recent developments allow for the manufacture of more flexible solar cells. My question is why can't these or other types of solar cells be built into the blades of wind turbines. This would allow their use in locations where wind or solar power alone might not be enough.
L.David Korkia
Corey Binns,
I have read yours and many articles regarding various technologies that help reduce energy consumption. I have not seen one about a technology that reduces air conditioning,refrigeration, and computer room cooling (CRAC) by 15-30%. The product is IceCOLD®. Briefly,it has been around since 2002 and addresses a problem called "oil fouling" that is inherent in all ac, cooling and refrigeration equipment. There have been many products that have claimed to address the "oil fouling" problem but none without the drawbacks or "snake oil" stigma given by those who would rather not see this product really gain marketplace acceptance. In fact, all compressor and ac manufacturers would rather you only address "oil fouling" by buying a new more efficient unit.
IceCOLD® works on all ac, CRAC, and refrigeration systems and refirgerants except those that use r11 or r123.
I will gladly give you test after test, pilot after pilot results to confirm what I have said above.
I am sorry for using this method for contacting you but I did not know how to reach you directly.I believe you can reach me via my e-mail address.
Sincerely,
Mitchell Gelnick