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Facing challenges from a changing climate, and upheaval in key oil and gas-producing regions, the world has been rethinking how and where it gets its power.
In 2015, for the first time, renewables accounted for more than half of the world’s power generation capacity. And the trend appears likely to accelerate.
In 2016, Portugal ran its electrical grid for four straight days in May entirely on green energy sources such as solar and wind power. Germany ran all electrical systems for a full day entirely on green energy. Denmark, too, reached a milestone, several times generating enough wind power to fulfill all its electricity needs with enough left over to transmit power to neighboring countries. And on one sunny day in April, in the UK, for the first time ever, solar energy production exceeded that from coal.
On the other side of the Atlantic, Chile is generating solar power at record levels, while, in the first three months of 2016, the US added about 70 times more renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, and biomass, to its grid than gas. By one estimate, a new photovoltaic system tops a US roof every four minutes.
Asia, where more solar panels are currently manufactured than anywhere else, is not only a major player in supply, but also in demand. China has set a goal of more than doubling its wind and solar capacity over the next several years.
SMEs, including WPG members and associates, are playing significant roles in the green revolution. And while much of the rapid build-out has been boosted by government subsidies, even in countries where incentives are lacking, businesses and individuals often see doing their part to green their world as incentive enough. That, says Gerhard Heyl, is what fuels his business, PV Green Energy Savings, in Donacarney, Ireland.
“Look we've got one planet we've got to start looking at this very seriously,” says Heyl. “It's really something that should be a necessity for people to have.”
It might seem surprising that countries where the skies aren’t always blue and sunny are adopting solar at a rapid rate, but Heyl says that photovoltaic (PV) panels can operate just fine on cloudy days, and in countries well north of Spain and Portugal.
“What actually helps us is our cool climate, our wind,” says Heyl. “If electrical components get too warm, they overheat. And when they overheat, they perform less well and they can even shut down. PV starts losing efficiency above about 25° Celsius [about 77° Fahrenheit]. With a cool temperature, there is less loss.”
While the goal of becoming energy independent often spreads from one country to its neighbor, the same can and does happen on a smaller but no less important scale. A study in the Journal of Economic Geography found that generating your own green energy is actually “contagious”: if you see an array of solar panels on your neighbor’s roof, you’re more likely to install them, too.
“By creating a zero carbon generating power source and keeping it at source as much as possible, we are starting to make some impact on the national grid,” says Heyl, “which means we're starting to become more energy independent from other countries.”
Heyl notes that society as a whole is using more power than in the past. Even without concerns about climate, that forces everyone to reconsider how to meet future energy needs. “Just the same as countries need to start looking at food independence, they have to start looking at energy independence.”
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Numerous SMEs are involved in the Green Energy revolution. The list below offers a small sample:
AEGIS POWER PLC identifies, develops, builds, owns, and operates electricity and heat generation plants in the UK and Ireland, with projects spanning wind, hydro, solar, and waste-to-energy. For more information, see: http://aegispower.co.uk/
BRITE LITE ENERGY, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, specializes in prospecting, designing, and permitting solar projects both locally and internationally. It also acts as a consultant to developers of renewable energy projects. For more information, see: http://www.brightliteenergy.com/
OPSUN, based in Ontario, Canada, develops solar racking systems that are, perhaps, the most customizable on the market, able to adjust to any tilt, shading angle, or height so solar panels can take full advantage of available rays and achieve better return on investment. It currently sells in the US and Canada, with an eye toward possible expansion into South America and Africa. It’s seeking partners to develop projects and has an interest in acquiring solar design and engineering firms in the USA, as well as a racking manufacturer. While Opsun can support development projects with any type of PV, it has unique expertise in bifacial PV racking. For more information, see: opsun.com
PLUS LED SOLAR LIGHTING of ShenZhen, China, is engaged in research, manufacturing and marketing of LED products, for home, hotels, street lighting, and industry. For more information, see: http://www.31led.com/exhibit/
PV GREEN ENERGY SAVINGS, based in Donacarney, Ireland, installs photovoltaic systems throughout the Republic of Ireland. It sources primarily from Germany and Italy. For more information, see: http://pvgreenenergysavings.ie/
RENEWZ, based in Montreal, Canada, with offices in Boca Raton, Florida, develops easy-to-assemble, low maintenance solar charging carports which are sold across North America. Expansion plans in the future include Europe, the Middle East, and Australia, and Renewz will be seeking installation and network operating partners to help it widen its reach into these regions. For more information see: www.renewz.com
SUN-IN-ONE of Wilmington, Delaware, USA, manufactures a broad range of consumer, roadway, and industrial green energy products. It won the World Trade Center award for excellence in international trade, and has participated in state trade missions to Brazil and South Africa. Active in Kenya, South Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Ghana and Togo, the company manufactures solar products, including portable solar panels, off-grid sheds, out-building and sign-lighting kits, and off-grid kits and micro-grids for homes and villages. For more information, see: https://suninone.com/
( Vivian )20 Jul,2016
| Product Model | Inside Diameter | Outside Diameter | Thickness |
| NUTW209X/3AS NTN | 45 | 85 | 38 |
| NUTW208X/3AS NTN | 40 | 80 | 38 |