WIND ENERGY - THE FACTS

From a European, as well as a global perspective, wind power is undergoing rapid development. Within the past 10 years the global installed capacity of wind power has increased from approximately 2.5 GW in 1992 to a little below 40 GW at the end of 2003, with an annual growth rate of around 30%. However, only at few sites with high wind speeds can wind power compete economically with conventional power production at present.
This section focuses on the cost structures of a wind power plant, including the lifetime of the turbine and operation and maintenance costs. Finally, it analyzes how the costs of wind power have developed in previous years and how they are expected to develop in the near future. Wind power is used in a number of different applications, including both grid-connected and stand-alone electricity production, as well as water pumping. This section analyzes the economics of wind energy primarily in relation to grid-connected turbines which account for the vast bulk of the market value of installed turbines.

धेरै समस्या एउटै समाधान बायोग्यास

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बायोग्यास प्लान्टले समुद्री सतहभन्दा २१०० मिटरभन्दा माथि राम्रोसँग काम गर्दैन भनिन्थ्यो, तर ३८५० मिटरको उचाइमा अवस्थित लाङटाङ उपत्यकाको सबैभन्दा अग्लो बस्ती क्यान्जिङ गोम्पामा प्लान्ट स्थापना गरेर बायोग्यास सहयोग कार्यक्रम -बीएसपी-नेपाल) ले चौंरीगाईको गोबरबाट ग्यास उत्पादन गर्ने सरल उपाय पत्ता लगाएको छ । गाउँमा बायोग्यास प्लान्ट स्थापना भएकोमा खुसी ट्रेकिङ गाइड पासाङ डेम्दी शर्ेपा भन्छन्, "यसले थुप्रै दाउरा जोगाउनेछ र धेरै मानिसले प्लान्ट बनाउने छन् ।" उच्च हिमाली भेगमा प्लान्टको भूमिगत डाइजेष्टरको माथिपट्ट कम्पोष्ट थुपारिदिँदा डाइजेष्टरलाई न्यानो राख्न र ग्यास उत्पादन गर्न मद्दत पुग्छ ।

क्यान्जिङ गोम्पाको होटल याला पिकमा बनेको पहिलो प्लान्ट बाहिरबाट हर्ेदा फोहोरको थुप्रो जस्तै देखिन्छ, तर माथि वाफ उडिरहेको त्यस थुप्रोमुनि प्लान्टको भूमिगत डोम र डाइजेष्टरबाट जाडोमा समेत होटलको भान्छामा मिथेन ग्यास आइरहेको हुन्छ । "हामीले डाइजेष्टरलाई तातो राख्न सोलार हिटरदेखि ग्रीन हाउसभित्र बायोग्यास प्लान्ट निर्माणसम्मका धेरै तरिका अपनायौं । तर ती सबै महँगो समाधान थिए, कम्पोष्ट थुपार्नु सस्तो ठहरियो", बीएसपीका इञ्जिनियर हरिबहादुर केसी भन्छन् । जाडोमा ग्यास कम हुने समस्या भोगिरहेका होचा पहाडी र तर्राई भेगका उपभोक्ताले पनि यही उपायबाट ग्यास उत्पादनलाई यथावत् राख्न सक्ने उनको सुझाव छ ।

Carbon footprint

A carbon footprint is "the total set of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions caused by an organization, event or product" . For simplicity of reporting, it is often expressed in terms of the amount of carbon dioxide, or its equivalent of other GHGs, emitted.

The concept name of the carbon footprint originates from ecological footprint discussion. carbon footprint is a subset of the ecological footprint and of the more comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).

An individual, nation, or organization's carbon footprint can be measured by undertaking a GHG emissions assessment. Once the size of a carbon footprint is known, a strategy can be devised to reduce it, e.g. by technological developments, better process and product management, changed Green Public or Private Procurement (GPP), Carbon capture, consumption strategies, and others.

The mitigation of carbon footprints through the development of alternative projects, such as solar or wind energy or reforestation, represents one way of reducing a carbon footprint and is often known as Carbon offsetting.

Finland's Largest Biomass Plant

The official inauguration of Finland's largest wood-burning biomass power plant was held in Lappeenranta on Friday. Minister of the Environment Paula Lehtomaki was on hand for the event.

Lehtomäki said the plant was a step forward in the use of renewable energy sources and emissions-free energy production. She said she expects more biomass plants to be built in the future.

The plant, which is owned by energy companies Pohjolan Voima and Lappeenrannan Energia, was built ahead of schedule and cost less than the initial estimate of 244 million euros. In total, the plant cost 240 million euros to build.

The power plant, fueled by bark, branches, small wood and peat, is located at the UPM Kaukas' mill complex, and has been fully operational since November.

Worst-Case Scenario: Fighting the Gulf Oil Spill

As an environmental disaster, the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico just keeps getting worse. Late on Thursday, April 29, BP — the energy company that operates the sunken Deepwater Horizon rig and is financially responsible for the spill — revealed that oil was leaking from the burst well at a rate of 5,000 bbl. a day, five times faster than previously estimated. That means about 210,000 gal. of oil are now spilling into the Gulf each day, forming a metastasizing oil slick that is 5,000 sq. mi. (13,000 sq km) large and growing by the hour.

Worse, shifting winds and currents are pushing the oil toward the Gulf Coast, where the Coast Guard and other government agencies are already preparing to minimize the environmental impact when the crude washes ashore. "We are being very aggressive, and we are prepared for the worst case," said Rear Admiral Sally Brice O'Hara of the Coast Guard in a press briefing on Thursday.

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1986102,00.html