Using the Sun for Power - How It Works
By Richard Chapo

Solar Panels

Generating electricity from the sun is all about converting sunlight into power. Importantly, the process has nothing to do with converting the heat produced by sunlight into energy. This common misconception leads to a lot of confusion regarding solar systems.

Increasingly we find ourselves beset by problems that seem beyond our control; global warming, GM Foods, animal testing, the spread of factory farming, the arms trade and human rights abuses, to list but a few. Shoppers are often left feeling helpless, the typical response being theres nothing I can do.

GE has recently announced it has entered into a $27 million partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to design a next-generation offshore wind turbine. The power rating of the turbine will be optimized for minimal cost of energy but is expected to be between 5 and 7 Megawatts, making it one of the most powerful wind turbines in the world. The partnership will also help expand the nation’s wind energy potential. The research will be conducted at GE’s Global Research Center in Niskayuna, NY.

GE, like other leading energy companies, has pledged to ramp up development in the use of cleaner technologies. Over the next five years, they plan to spend between $700m to $1.5b.

“Wind is the fastest growing sector of the energy market, and GE has become one of the world’s leading wind turbine suppliers,” said Jim Lyons, Chief Engineer for Electrical Systems at GE’s Research Center and leader of Advanced Technology for GE’s Wind Energy Business. "Wind energy is a major component of our ecomagination initiative, and the design of a next generation offshore wind turbine represents our commitment to introduce new products that help our customers meet their environmental challenges."

See www.gepower.com for more information.

By Aldene Fredenburg

With gas and oil prices rising, consumers, particularly in cold winter climates, are looking at a variety of alternative fuels for home heating. Wood, a traditional fuel, is regaining popularity while more modern alternatives, such as wood and corn pellets and waste oil, are more routinely used.