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

UK Temperature

The UK should expect a 4°C rise in temperature by 2080 according to the most likely results of the experiment.

Heatwaves are on the rise and, by 2080, summer temperatures of 40°C will be common. Winters will also be warmer.

UK rainfall

Summer rainfall is set to decrease and the UK can expect more frequent droughts

Winters will bring less snow and more rain, especially in the north and west. Storms will be more frequent and more severe.

Global changes

Different regions around the world can expect varying levels of warming. New Zealand faces a smaller temperature rise than the UK's 4°C change, while Alaska should prepare for a greater increase

दुइ आँखा चिम्ले मनमा आयो तपाईंको सम्झना, कल्पना गरे केही दिन खोजे भेटाये शुभ-कामना, झर्ना झै चोखो बगिनै रहोस् मन्का ति भावना। फुल झै हर्पल् फुलिनै रहोस्,प्रगति र चहना।। नाम र किर्ति फैलिनै रहोस्,सिद्ध होस् कामना। नव बर्ष २०६७ सुखमय बनोस्, यही छ मेरो शुभ-कामना।।।

solar hot water system

Solar hot water systems use the sun's energy to heat water in liquid-based solar collectors; they are almost always used along with conventional water heaters. Solar collectors for these systems are typically 3–6 m² in area and the systems are sold as a standard package like appliances. A typical solar hot water system can provide about 50% of the water heating energy needs in a home.


How they work

Solar water heating systems include storage tanks and solar collectors. There are two types of solar water heating systems: active, which have circulating pumps and controls, and passive, which don't.

Most solar water heaters require a well-insulated storage tank. Solar storage tanks have an additional outlet and inlet connected to and from the collector. In two-tank systems, the solar water heater preheats water before it enters the conventional water heater. In one-tank systems, the back-up heater is combined with the solar storage in one tank.

Three types of solar collectors are used for residential applications:

• Flat-plate collectors
  
  Glazed flat-plate collectors are insulated, weatherproofed boxes that contain a dark absorber plate under one or more glass or plastic (polymer) covers. Unglazed flat-plate collectors – typically used for solar pool heating – have a dark absorber plate, made of metal or polymer, without a cover or enclosure.



• Batch collectors
  
  Also known as integral collector-storage (ICS) system, these feature one or more black tanks or tubes in an insulated, glazed box. Cold water first passes through the solar collector, which preheats the water. The water then continues on to the conventional backup water heater, providing a reliable source of hot water. They should be installed only in mild-freeze climates because the outdoor pipes could freeze in severe, cold weather.



• Evacuated-tube solar collectors
  
  These feature parallel rows of transparent glass tubes. Each tube contains a glass outer tube and metal absorber tube attached to a fin. The fin's coating absorbs solar energy but inhibits radiative heat loss. These collectors are used more frequently for commercial applications.