What Is a Solar Tower?

July 15, 2011 | By Articles are the property of their respective Authors In alternative energy | Comments(0)

What Is a Solar Tower?
By Mark W. Medley

Energy is becoming the most important resources of this decade, and our societies are growing more anxious about what form of energy, replaces our fast depleting sources of fossil fuels. One solution could be a Solar Tower.

Over half a millennium ago, Leonardo Di Vinci, worked with a feather, ink and parchment, dreaming of the future. Around 500 years later, one of his unique designs was of a “SolarTower.”

The first solar tower was built in the late 17th century in Spain, and lately has become a viable alternative energy source. Already France, Israel and Spain benefit from the use of this pre-industrial revolution technology, which generates solar electricity, as well as enables crops to be grown around it.

How Does a Solar Tower Work?

A solar tower is placed on a reinforced concrete base in areas prone to high levels of sunlight. On the top of the tower, solar panels move to catch the sunlight, which is in turn used to generate electricity for the homes, and industries in the area near the tower.

Beneath the tower, the excess heat the tower loses can be sealed in plastic covers, where crops are grown such as tomatoes, and lettuces. Thus creating a dual purpose for the tower, and the community it serves.

The most famous solar electricity tower is located in Seville, in Southern Spain. And generates enough power to offer electricity to 200.000 homes in the area, at a much lower cost than traditional electricity.

The Future?

The scarcity of traditional fossil fuels, plus the current distrust of nuclear power could mean that more solar towers are built, and can offer electricity to communities around the world.

The initial cost is the only expense, aside from maintaining the tower, whilst valuable crops can be grown to generate an income for the community. A win-win sustainable situation.

Leonardo Di Vinci’s dream has turned into a reality for several communities, and perhaps as technology advances, a Solar tower could become one of the many solutions to a probable future energy crisis.

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How A Solar Charger Can Help You Live Green

August 5, 2010 | By In living green | Comments(0)

Everyone should have an alternate source of backup power in case of an emergency and the power has been suddenly cut off. During the hurricane and tornado season is especially a good time for a power back up.

Choosing a solar charger to back up a few batteries that will give you electricity any time it is needed. The good thing about solar chargers is that at any time you can use the solar charged batteries, and turn all the power off in your home that you can do without, and use the solar charged batteries. This will help you to cut down on your electric bill, dramatically.

Solar power is very economical, the panels themselves will cost a little more at first, but you will make that back the first year. If you are planning to use solar electricity to power your home all year round, you should check with a certified solar power installer. The installation company can help you with any questions that you may have.

You can talk to the installation contractor about just setting up a power grid large enough for emergency use only. This will save you some money now, and later when you can afford it better, you can then finish installing the rest of the solar panels, because you will already have some of the installation already.

To start your emergency solar generator you will need a wind turbine that will hook up to a generator; the generator will then transfer power to an inverter, which will store power in at least 4 batteries or power cells. Regular house electricity is powered by Alternating current (AC) and the solar power that you are saving used direct current (DC), so you need to have an inverter to transform the DC current into AC current. You will also need a component called a charge controller. The charge controller disconnects the electric current once the batteries have been fully charged; this is a necessity for long battery life. Batteries still have to be maintained, even the batteries that you are storing energy in.

You should check the installation company to find out what mounting hardware, wiring, junction boxes, grounding equipment, and other equipment you will need in order to build your own solar charger. Often the company will have a discount available if you acquire them to build your system. Once the system you want is installed, it has little maintenance other than checking the batteries once a month. And the system will provide emergency electricity for more than 20 years.

Click on solar charger to find out about the best products to help you live your life using renewable energy. There’s very little you can’t do using wind or solar power – how about a rechargeable radio for example?
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