Feedin Tariff

December 27, 2007

The term Feedin Tariff refers to a premium paid for your home generated, renewable electricity that is returned to the grid. The premiums are generally quite generous.

Feedin tariffs began in the USA in 1978, however the model used in Germany in since 1990 and modified in 2000 has proven to be the most effective at boosting investment in renewable energy sources.

“An outstanding example of a successful FEEDIN TARIFF is that of Spain — the generator of solar or wind energy gets paid 5x the base rate of fossil-generated electricity,for up to 25 years, after which the rate drops by 20% for the life of the system. At present this is around 43 euro cents/kwhr., if I recall correctly. With a system size cap at 2MW, this encourages rather large, utility-scale systems. The result has been a fulminating boom in solar energy installation in Spain.”

Feedin Tariffs should not be confused with Net Metering. “Net metering simply means returning your unused home-generated electricity to the grid for CREDIT equal to either a)the retail cost of electricity, or b) the avoided cost of electricity, in your area. 39 US states make net metering mandatory.”

Lets see if Australia can offer good incentives like Spain.

Website: Feedin Tariff at Wiki & Renewableenergyaccess (see comments)

Written by Craig · Filed Under Energy, Political

Green Peace - New Radicals - You Get What You Give

December 27, 2007

Video: YouTube

Written by Beam · Filed Under Environment, People

The Call Of Life ‘Facing The Mass Extinction’ Trailer narrated by Peter Coyote

December 27, 2007

Video: YouTube

Written by Beam · Filed Under Animals, People

Solar Trees may be used in Europe

December 26, 2007

Solar Trees

Solar Trees
Photo: metaefficient.com

A recent trial of Solar Trees (Solar powered lights in the shape of trees) in Vienna, Austria has proven successful and may prove to be catalyst for their installation throughout the rest of the city. It is also hoped that the Solar Trees could spread to cities throughout Europe.

The solar trees were tested successfully for a period of four weeks on a busy street in Vienna. The tests showed that the trees were able to provide light throughout the night, even when the sun did not show for a period of four days due to cloud cover.

The branches of the solar trees each have 36 solar cells and 10 lamps as well as rechargeable batteries. The rechargeable batteries get charged during the daytime and store enough energy to power the lights during the nighttime and also for a number of days even when cloudy weather is experienced.

Christina Werner from Cultural Project Management (Kulturelles Projektmanagement, Vienna) has said “The tests have shown that solar trees really are a practical form of street lighting.”

She said that the City of Vienna was now in the process of deciding whether to install more solar trees.

“We hope that not only the city of Vienna but other cities will see the merits of using renewable energy for street lighting to cut emissions,” Christina Werner said. “Someday soon solar trees could well be the main form of street lighting in Europe.”

“Street lighting consumed 10 percent of all the electricity used in Europe in 2006 or 2,000 billion KWh, and resulted in carbon emissions of 2,900 million tonnes.”

Many of us would have seen smaller versions of the same principle used in solar garden lights, and these street light commercial versions are a natural progression. We can only hope that governments and local councils will see the long term benefits and start looking seriously at implementing them.

Website: Solar trees for street lighting.

Written by Craig · Filed Under Energy, Technology

Nuclear Power and Weapons Testing Kills 20 million Americans

December 26, 2007

Video: YouTube

Written by Beam · Filed Under Energy, Environment, People, Political

Electric Bikes

December 26, 2007

Being a fan of ‘Pushies’ as we call them in Australia and considering the problems with the cost of fuel and the daily grind of traffic jams and parking problems… I thought I’d do a series on electric ‘Pushies’.

Video: YouTube

Now I did notice the mentioning of Polymer batteries and I remembered a reference to batteries on an Australian ‘eLation eBikes‘; I’m waiting on YouTube footage and photos of this new Aussie bike to included in his site.

To date I have yet to make up my mind, but the iZip Express Electric Bicycle is definitely on my list, though there is a problem in Australia… the ‘brainieacks’ making the rules are at present restricting the power out put to miserable 200W, why? good question, if anybody can answer this or any other issues relation to which are the best batteries, please let us know.

Undoubtedly these and variations of electric bikes; both 2 or 3 or even 4 wheel, will soon become common place as indeed will a whole range of electric and hybrid cars.

Written by Beam · Filed Under Environment, Transport

Matchmaking Global Energy Needs and Local Energy Technology

December 25, 2007

Video: YouTube

Written by Beam · Filed Under Energy

Cool Clouds doing Mexican Wave

December 25, 2007

Video: YouTube

Written by Beam · Filed Under Climate

Japanese whaling: The Japanese Government and big business in charge have no honour

December 24, 2007

Video: YouTube

FIRST AND FOREMOST LET ME SAY THAT, I BELIEVE THAT THE MAJORITY OF JAPANESE CITIZENS WOULD BE OPPOSED TO THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT AND BIG BUSINESS KILLING WHALES AS THEY DO.

I have a good friend who travels to Japan very often for work. He has some goods friends who are Japanese and he values their friendship greatly. He finds them to be very honorable people who are always willing to go out of their way and help you and are always very generous as well.

It is for this reason that I find it hard to understand why some of the officials in charge are continuing to allow the whale hunt to go ahead under the disguise of “FOR RESEARCH”.

So the Japanese Government has buckled under international pressure and decided to not kill the 50 Humpbacks that they had on their quota. They still however are going to kill the 935 minke whales and 50 fin whales, and they are down in the Southern Ocean as we speak beginning their slaughter.

If any of the Japanese Government or whaling companies are listening, please think about your honour, how can you maintain your honour while continuing to tell the rest of the world you are killing the whales for research. You are, in my opinion not motivated by research, but for the Yen. In my opinion you have no honour.

I guess like any country there are a certain number of people in positions of power who have absolutely no morals and are willing to do anything as long as they benefit financially. I guess it’s just another case of ‘Big Business greed’.

Lastly, good luck to Greenpeace and The Sea Shepherds who are going to be at the front line down in the Southern Ocean taking on these Japanese whalers.

Checkout the Sea Shepherds and Greenpeace websites at the links below.

Websites: Sea Shepherds and Green Peace

Written by Craig · Filed Under Animals, Political

Wind turbines in the mist

December 24, 2007

Wind turbins in the mist
Photo: Darkroastedblend

It’s sort of surrealistic… ’some people say’ that Wind turbines are ugly, perhaps they’d prefer a Nuclear or Coal fired power station next to them?

“Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us”. Mark Twain

Written by Beam · Filed Under Energy, People

Bolivia for Sale…

December 23, 2007

Damian Lewis reports.

Video:YouTube

I believe that the privatization of Australian water was what Howard’s (spit on the floor) Libs, Malcolm Turnbull and probably the Macquarie Bank/Group had in mind for us… WAKE UP PEOPLE BEFORE EVERYTHING IS SOLD OUT FROM UNDER US.

Written by Beam · Filed Under Political