Development of Solar Society

UK developed solar powered spy plane breaks flight record

2008-08-25T07:40:00.000-07:00

A solar powered spy plane developed by British scientists has completed the longest-lasting unmanned flight.

The solar-powered Zephyr aircraft developed by the UK defence and technology firm QinetiQ broke the record for the longest time spent in flight after remaining in the air for three and a half days, reports Telegraph.

With solar panels along its 60ft wingspan, the Zephyr promises to revolutionize military intelligence.

The unmanned aircraft stores power from the sun in its batteries, allowing it to continue through the night and, potentially, stay in the air for months at a time.

Unlike conventional spy planes, which need regular refuelling and so make relatively short flights, it will give commanders an unbroken picture of the battlefield.

The engineers who created the Zephyr also believe it will have important civilian applications, including search-and-rescue operations and police surveillance.

The plane is designed to provide surveillance and communication support for military personnel on the ground by circling slowly over a battle zone, tracking troop movements with its on-board camera. It can reach 70mph at 60,000ft.

Solar taxi comes to India

2008-04-15T23:02:00.000-07:00

http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/50992/drive-against-global-warming-solar-taxi-comes-to-india.html

The world's first solar taxi is on a trip around the world and has made a stop in India. It’s a car that is spreading awareness about global warming, the fun way.

It’s a taxi with a difference. There is more to this sleek three-wheeler than what meets the eye. The compact electric car runs purely on solar energy.

And how do you get a solar powered car? It’s simple. Just attach a solar cell panel to the car. This ingenuous idea took birth in the mind of taxi driver Louis Palmer a long time ago and he decided to stretch it to the limits by travelling around the world. He drives his electric car which runs purely on solar energy around the world to spread awareness about global warming and its causes.

He says, "This idea came to me when I was 14. I wanted to travel the world and not pollute it so I designed this taxi.”

The car's gearless electric motor runs on twin 380 volt batteries that are charged from solar cells that allow it to accelerate up to 90 kms per hour.

And that's not all. If the driver is tired he can just slide the steering wheel to the passenger.

Palmer says, “I hope that with this car people realise that they can use alternative sources of energy.”

Louis, who has driven from Switzerland through Turkey all the way to Dubai has also been posting his experiences on the we and the solar taxi is now all set to conquer India's tough roads.

Harvesting solar power in residences

2008-03-26T03:11:00.000-07:00

Steady strides: Solar Examples of how Solar Power is harnessed and used . House in Canada has solar panels on the roof.

Impacted by the global context, Chennai is experiencing dramatic change with ever-increasing pressure from growing populations. Rapid urbanisation has resulted in considerable increase in the use of energy and fuel, consequently polluting atmosphere through the release of toxic emissions. This situation calls for a rapid and fundamental reorientation in our thinking, particularly on the part of planners and institutions involved in the process of urban development.

The form of our future built environment must be based on a responsible approach to an ecological balance and the use of the inexhaustible energy potential of the sun.

Buildings, in urban areas, are major consumers of energy. It has been estimated that in the US, residential and commercial buildings together use two-thirds of all electricity consumed in the country.

While the situation is not as acute in India, increasing demands on urbanisation may push in that direction. The percentage of urban population in India increased from 18.0 in 1961 to 27.8 in 2001. The energy consumption raised threefold, from 4.16 to 12.8 quadrillion Btu between 1980 and 2001, putting India next only to the US, Germany, Japan and China in total energy consumption. There is greater recognition that it is time to take meaningful initiatives in this direction, through creating awareness of what are called `green’ buildings.

Solar energy paradigm

Solar lamp.

With ample sunlight almost around the year, one possibility is through use of solar energy and other renewable energy sources to generate electricity to meet the needs of residential buildings in Chennai.

At an urban scale similar initiatives could be undertaken to provide solar powered streetlights and other public facilities. Delhi government has decided to pass an order for compulsory use of solar power for advertising hoardings and water heating in government and some categories of buildings.

The order also says that lights of advertisement hoardings shall be powered by solar photovoltaic systems at the cost of the franchisee and conventional streetlights shall be replaced by solar photovoltaic powered ones.

Tsunami experiences

In Tamil Nadu, renewable energy is now making a gradual impact especially in rural areas. Simultaneously though, its utilisation in urban and semi-urban areas has not yet been growing at the desired pace. Wind energy and solar energy seem to be the most preferred at this stage. Pertinent to mention here is that the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has initiated a programme at the national level assisted by academic & research organisations, solar equipment manufacturers, and funding institutions like the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA). At the State level Non-Governmental Organisations have also, in the absence of infrastructure in rural regions, have invariably relied on solar energy sources.

For instance, over the last three years, in coastal Tamil Nadu, affected by the tsunami, several rehabilitation and rebuilding programs were dependant on solar energy for their sustainability. Several temporary shelter enclaves were equipped with cost-effective solar lights and solar fans, in the absence of links to the TNEB network in remote inaccessible areas.

The solar street lights are manufactured by companies such as Tata BP Solar. Though the initial cost of investment is relatively higher than the conventional systems, in the long term, in remote rural areas, solar energy has gradually come to be accepted as a more reliable alternative.

Solar energy in Chennai

Solar street light.

If experiments to introduce solar energy are workable in housing settlements in Nagapatinam and Ladakh, a more systematic and concerted effort to explore the possibilities and constraints of introducing such systems in Chennai and other fast growing urban areas is required through the cooperative efforts of the various stakeholders.

At a purely theoretical level, the unutilised surface area of the terraces of buildings in the city itself should provide enough incentive to gradually shift to renewable sources like solar energy.
In addition balconies also become potential areas to harvest solar power. Even slopped roofs with tiles can accommodate solar panels. The present technology allows for less conspicuous solar array on the roof and they can harvest more energy with less space.

In residential developments, the immense potential for use of solar energy equipment exists, through solar lights in common areas and open spaces, gateways, solar fans, solar water heaters and even the possibility of solar cookers in the kitchen. While it could dramatically reduce the consumption of electricity, savings in electricity bills could offset the initial investments.

The fact remains that in harnessing it effectively, several initiatives are required.. A nominal solar power backup system UPS that can run 2 lights a fan and a TV can cost about Rs. 28,000/-. These systems have a 20-year durability and a battery life of 3 years.

Apprehensions that a cloudy day could mean that there is no solar power need to be allayed.Several solar systems do have back-up energy systems to tide through a few days of cloudy weather.

More user-friendly equipment could also facilitate its use on a larger scale. Concerns voiced by environmentalists on the excessive production of photovoltaic solar cells containing silica also need careful examination before deploying the technology.

An integrated awareness of the benefits and constraints of solar energy and its sustainability over the long term in conserving and protecting our environment is essential. In order to attain these goals, it will be necessary to modify existing courses of instruction and training, as well as energy supply systems, funding and distribution models, standards, statutory regulations and laws in accordance with the new objectives.

Dr.Jeppiar Builds First Private Harbour in Tamil Nadu using SOLAR POWER

2008-03-12T07:46:00.000-07:00

Dr. Jeppiaar

Dr. Jeppiar, the Chancellor of the Satyabama University, is developing the first privatised harbour in Tamil Nadu, the first of its kind in Tamil Nadu, and India.
The privatised harbour is developed and operated in Muttam, in the Kanniya-Kumari District, through the Jeppiar Fishing Corporation.The harbour will function like any other harbour but on a small scale.
The harbour is entirely based upon solar power. Dr. Jeppaiar hopes to develop the harbour further into a tourist spot and to woo more tourists with the help and support of the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation.
The Tamil Nadu Government has offerred 40 acres to develop the harbour and the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department has chosen the Jeppiar Fishing Corporation, Muttom,Private Limited, Chennai through open bidding.

Kanniya-Kumari Harbour (present)

The Government wanted to construct a port on the principle'build, own, operate and transfer'basis, since the fishermen in and around the area had to go to Kollam and faced so many problems. Hence, Dr. Jeppiar whose birth place was Muttom, undertook the project to do something for his birthplace.
The proposed harbour will be constructed in another 15 months at a cost of 55 crores. Initially small boats will be built which will be owned by the fishermen themselves. Modern facilities with a dockyard, schools and colleges for the employees wards, repairing fecilities for small ships will also be made availble in the harbour.

Jharkhand villages get water, light through solar power

2008-03-03T03:25:00.000-08:00

Ranchi: Paharsingh is a hamlet, situated about 52 km from Ranchi. The village has a population of only 87 people, belonging to the primitive Birhor tribe.

Till a few months ago, the village had no source of drinking water. The villagers had to collect water from a hand pump located in a far-off village.

However, their water woes came to an end when a solar water pump of 1,200W capacity was installed in the village. The initiative was taken by Jharkhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (JREDA), run by the Jharkhand government. The agency works with the Ministry for New and Renewable Energy.

The project, which cost Rs 7 lakh, now also lights up the streets of the village.

The agency, with the help of the ministry, generates electricity from the solar plant and provides it to remote villages.

It plans to cover 224 remote villages of Jharkhand by the year-end through solar home lighting and street lighting systems. The JREDA has recommended more such units in remote villages of the state to ensure drinking water supply.

Under this programme, one solar home lighting system has been installed in each house of Paharsingh village and 1,211 solar lights have been installed in the streets.

“Over 84,000 people belonging to the SC/ST category have benefited from this programme and the JREDA has spent Rs 2,392 lakh on this project,” says project officer Prakash Kumar Das.

“We are also doing a pilot project of providing power through bio-fuel. A diesel generator set of 5 KVA capacity has been installed in Gardih village of Nawadih block in Bokaro district. The engine runs on vegetable oil and supplies electricity to the village,” Das adds.

The tribal village of Paharsingh, with 100 houses, gets 4 hours of power daily from the engine that runs on karanji oil, the seed of which is available in the village.

A machine for manufacturing leaf plates was installed by the villagers with the help of the agency, after a performance study of the engine running on different vegetable oils was made available by the Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra.

The electricity is supplied to the machine by the solar plant for 2 hours everyday. The villagers are happy because the availability of electricity has increased their income due to the sale of leaf plates. The total cost of the project is Rs 15.79 lakh.

Student Volunteers Light up the village near Tanzania

2008-02-25T21:20:00.005-08:00

While browsing the web, i found an interesting article about students of United States ,came forward to light up a small village Arusha near Tanzania. I thought of sharingthe information here.Arusha is a small village near Tanzania whose people made their living all these years without knowing "WHAT IS ELECTRICITY???" . Students have set up teams to bring solar panels to this village and lighted the poor people houses. Congradulations guys.!!!!!!

Solar Fuel for Automobiles

2008-02-25T21:18:00.000-08:00

Cars are manufactured to run on solar energy. The Consumption of Petroleum and their related products has really gone up and it consideably reduces the non-renewable sources of energy in the world. The Solar energy has become a successive alternative for the fuels. They serve as the Solar fuel. Solar vehicles are powered by the solar panels on them. North American Solar Challenge conduct solar car race every year.
This type of vehicles must be manufactured in India soon inorder to save our natural sources.

Solar Lanterns to Light up the Society

2008-02-25T21:16:00.005-08:00

Most of the rural people make their living from agriculture. The main problem faced by the people is the undependable supply of electricity. Most of the people have practised their living without the need of electricity. Only the wealthy enough can afford the water pumps,electrical appliances and television in their home. The pesants are forced to wake and sleep early. The children have been made to study in street lamps.

Even the artificial lights and petromax lights have shown their disability of being unreliable,smoking and even dangerous. And they are also expensive to rent.The development of solar lanterns have minimized the people's problem to certain extent. Thus has also given employment to some people especially womenhood. This has very much improved the hygiene of the society.

Solar Energy Harnessed from the Crops

2008-02-25T21:15:00.001-08:00

Solar Energy is also harnessed from Crops like Sugarcane, Sugar Beet and Maize. This energy is Green Energy.
These Crops are fermented to produce alcohol similar to petrol called Bio Fuel.
Even petroleum and coal are generated from the remains of plants and animals (buried solar energy for ages).

Development of Solar Cooking in the Society

2008-02-25T21:13:00.002-08:00

Due to the constraint living in the rural parts of the country, people have started to make use of the sun's energy as the main fuel to light up their living. The cost of the fuel used in traditional cooking like kerosene and firewood costs high and they are not affordable to the poor people,so they cultivate this practice of solar cooking.

Bringing Solar Street Lights in Rural Areas

2008-02-25T21:11:00.003-08:00

Now a days, the trend of using Electrified Street lights are being changed to the Solar Street Lights. The Light consists of Solar cells that has the power to absorb the sun's energy in the day time. This energy is stored in the special types of batteries. During the night, the lamp burns with the help of the stored energy automatically.People living near the places of Rameshwaram and Dhanushkoti use this types of lights near their houses.