Anaerobic digestion has proven to be a beneficial technology in various spheres for rural development. Biogas produced is a green replacement of unprocessed fuels (like fuel wood, dung cakes, crop residues). It is a cost effective replacement for dung cakes and conventional domestic fuels like LPG or kerosene. Biogas technology has the potential to meet the energy requirements in rural areas, and also counter the effects of reckless burning of biomass resources.
Biogas has the potential to rejuvenate India’s agricultural sector
An additional benefit is that the quantity of digested slurry is the same as that of the feedstock fed in a biogas plant. This slurry can be dried and sold as high quality compost. The nitrogen-rich compost indirectly reduces the costs associated with use of fertilizers. It enriches the soil, improves its porosity, buffering capacity and ion exchange capacity and prevents nutrient depletion thus improving the crop quality. This means increased income for the farmer.
Further, being relatively-clean cooking fuel, biogas reduces the health risks associated with conventional chulhas. Thinking regionally, decreased residue burning brings down the seasonal high pollutant levels in air, ensuring a better environmental quality. Anaerobic digestion thus proves to be more efficient in utilization of crop residues. The social benefits associated with biomethanation, along with its capacity to generate income for the rural households make it a viable alternative for conventional methods.
The Way Forward
The federal and stage governments needs to be more proactive in providing easy access to these technologies to the poor farmers. The policies and support of the government are decisive in persuading the farmers to adopt such technologies and to make a transition from wasteful traditional approaches to efficient resource utilization. The farmers are largely unaware of the possible ways in which farm and cattle wastes could be efficiently utilised. The government agencies and NGOs are major stakeholders in creating awareness in this respect.
Moreover, many farmers find it difficult to bear the construction and operational costs of setting up the digester. This again requires the government to introduce incentives (like soft loans) and subsidies to enhance the approachability of the technology and thus increase its market diffusion.
The use of data as a research tool is widespread in academia and industry. In many ways, we are already reliant on data. To name just a few examples: the majority of traffic lights now use data to control their green lights, the internet uses data to route our packets, and the UK National Health Service uses data to monitor the progress of patients and doctors alike. Data is a powerful tool, but it comes at a cost. Many of our data-driven services require a large infrastructure, which requires a lot of electricity – so why not use clean energy?
There are a number of ways that researchers are improving our understanding of the green technologies available, how these can be used, and ultimately how to reduce the carbon emissions generated through the energy production process. Researchers at University College London recently published a study which analyzed the electricity demand profiles from 10,000 households across Europe. The researchers were able to develop algorithms to estimate the amount of power consumed in each house. The findings are particularly useful as a baseline reference point for comparing different energy options, and also to provide an accurate indicator of the amount of energy that could potentially be saved through the adoption of new energy technologies.
The development of renewable energy is a crucial part of efforts to tackle climate change, and the data available to researchers such as those at UCL, can be used to provide evidence to policy makers and the public alike. For example, a recent report produced by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) concluded that there was a significant potential to increase the penetration of solar PV, and hence reduce the amount of CO2 emitted. However, DECC found that the available data was inadequate to quantify this potential. As a result, the authors were unable to accurately predict the size of the market, or to identify the barriers to increasing uptake.
This problem is being addressed through collaboration between industry and academics. A number of organizations, including the British Solar Trade Association, the Institution of Engineering and Technology, and the Renewable Energy Association, are working together to produce a common dataset on solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, to help researchers better understand the market potential of the technology.
For other researchers, the data is not always available. While it is possible to use household surveys to capture information on household consumption patterns, this method has several limitations. Firstly, it can be difficult to capture the nuances of the behavior associated with different technologies, such as Delphix.
For example, if you ask a household whether they would consider installing a solar PV system, you will get a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer, but you won’t get the details of why they choose one over another. If you instead asked people directly why they selected a particular technology, you would get a more accurate reflection of the actual choices being made. Secondly, even if you do gather this kind of detailed data, it does not provide the information needed to identify the full range of options that are available.
The use of data to improve our understanding of energy technologies is not limited to renewables. The ability to track how a technology performs is also vital for the deployment of nuclear reactors. This means that researchers have been using sensors in order to measure the performance of nuclear reactors, and thereby better understand their operation. A recent publication by researchers at the National Nuclear Laboratory and the Institute for Energy Technology provided a detailed analysis of the performance of a reactor at the Dounreay site in Scotland.
By measuring how the temperature and pressure inside the reactor changed as a function of time, it was possible to model the core’s thermal and mechanical behavior. This led to the development of algorithms which can be used to estimate the reactor’s lifetime, and also provided valuable insight into the processes that occur inside the reactor and how they affect its performance.
How scientist use data in green energy
Data is the key to unlocking many of today’s problems and issues. Scientists use this data to help create solutions and ways of tackling these. It’s why they need to gather data, so they can find out how to produce the most sustainable and efficient way of producing electricity.
Many scientists today use advanced equipment to look at data. They are analyzing how the earth’s climate is changing and what it will mean in the future. They have created ways of calculating how much carbon dioxide will remain in the atmosphere. This allows them to forecast what will happen and make decisions based on this.
There are many factors that affect the world. Some scientists are looking at renewable energies, such as solar and wind power. These have many advantages, such as creating jobs and making countries energy independent. They can be cheaper than oil, and can provide the majority of the worlds’ energy needs in many cases.
There are many types of renewable energy but the best known is wind power. Wind turbines have been around for a long time. They were used in places like Ireland, Denmark and Norway. The technology has moved on a lot since then. Today wind turbines can provide 10% of the worlds’ electricity needs. The industry is worth billions of pounds to many countries.
Solar power is another type of renewable energy. Solar panels collect energy from the sun and use it to create electricity. This type of renewable energy is growing quickly and it’s already contributing to some countries energy supply.
Scientists are looking into the use of hydrogen and the potential to create renewable energy. A form of hydrogen called water fuel cells are used in cars and are one of the biggest areas of interest. The process of putting hydrogen in a car works the same as that of a traditional fuel cell, but it’s cleaner, greener and easier. Hydrogen can be produced from biomass (plants/organic matter) and water.
Conclusion
In summary, we are already dependent on data for a huge number of things, but this dependence will only increase. If we want to reduce the environmental impact of our energy use, then understanding the environmental performance of the technologies we adopt is a critical component of achieving this goal. Using data science in renewable energy, we can quantify the amount of energy being generated by an individual green energy technology.
Many people are now realizing the importance of using solar energy. Remember that solar energy has now become more common in renewable energy. Most homeowners are installing solar panels on their roofs so that they can benefit from solar energy. Both business owners and homeowners can take advantage of solar energy. Besides the obvious financial benefits, there are also various good reasons why it makes sense to use solar energy rather than fossil fuels. This post explains why you should install solar panels on your property.
Reduce energy bills
Regardless of where you live, there is always enough amount of sun that can power your home at net zero energy consumption. You can generate a lot more solar energy on warm spring days. Even better, on hot summer days, you can generate solar energy that can be enough to run your air conditioning system.
Even if you live in an area that is usually cloudy, you can still receive a couple of hours of sunlight each day. On the other hand, sunny areas can get at least 5.5 hours of sunlight each day. While sunny days can help to generate more solar energy, solar panels can keep on getting energy from the sun when it’s cloudy. Diffused or indirect sunlight can still assist to power your building. It’s worth mentioning that cloudy days can generate between 10 and 20 percent of the energy produced on sunny days. If you decide to install solar panels, you can visit 4 Solar Estimates for help.
You can start saving right away
You can spend a lot of money on your energy bills. Solar energy can lower or even eliminate these energy costs once you install the solar panels. Besides, they also give you long-term savings because it’s free to get power from the sun.
Also, solar panels can significantly increase the resale value of your property. Most home buyers understand the importance of having solar panels, especially when they don’t need to make any investment and installation. Solar panels can also extend the lifespan of your roof because they tend to protect it from the elements like snow, debris, and rain. Above all, they can make your home more energy-efficient during the summer since the sun doesn’t hit directly on your roof. Instead, the solar panels absorb the sun to keep your home’s temperature lower.
Help the environment
Solar panels can get pure and clean energy from the sum. Therefore, you need to install panels so that your home can help fight greenhouse gas emissions and lower your dependence on fossil fuels. Electricity is usually produced from fossil fuels like natural gas and coal. When they burn fossil fuels to generate electricity, they produce harmful gasses that are the leading cause of air pollution.
Fossil fuels are not good for the environment, and they are also finite resources. Renewable energy can improve your health. On the other hand, natural gas and coal plants lead to water and air pollution that can harm you. Hence, you need to replace fossil fuels with solar energy.
Biomethane is a well-known and well-proven source of clean energy, and is witnessing increasing demand worldwide, especially in European countries. Between 2012 and 2016, more than 500 biomethane production plants were built across Europe which indicates a steep rise of 165 percent. The main reasons behind the growth of biomethane industry in Europe is increasing interest in industrial waste-derived biogas sector and public interest in biogas. Another important reason has been the guaranteed access to gas grid for all biomethane suppliers.
Biomethane production in Europe has swiftly increased from 752 GWh in 2011 to 17,264 GWh in 2016 with Germany being the market leader with 195 biomethane production plants, followed by United Kingdom with 92 facilities. Biogas generation across Europe also witnessed a rapid growth of 59% during the year 2011 and 2016. In terms of plant capacities, the regional trend is to establish large-scale biomethane plants.
Sources of Biomethane in Europe
Landfill gas and AD plants (based on energy crops, agricultural residues, food waste, industrial waste and sewage sludge) are the major resources for biomethane production in Europe, with the predominant source being agricultural crops (such as maize) and dedicated energy crops (like miscanthus). In countries, like Germany, Austria and Denmark, energy crops, agricultural by-products, sewage sludge and animal manure are the major feedstock for biomethane production. On the other hand, France, UK, Spain and Italy rely more on landfill gas to generate biomethane.
A large number of biogas plants in Europe are located in agricultural areas having abundant availability of organic wastes, such as grass silage and green waste, which are cheaper than crops. Maize is the most cost-effective raw material for biomethane production. In many parts of Europe, the practice of co-digestion is practised whereby energy crops are used in combination with animal manure as a substrate. After agricultural biogas plants, sewage sludge is one of the most popular substrates for biomethane production in Europe.
Biomethane Utilization Trends in Europe
Biomethane has a wide range of applications in the clean energy sector. In Europe, the main uses of biomethane include the following:
Production of heat and/or steam
Power generation and combined heat and power production(CHP)
Replacement for natural gas (gas grid injection)
Replacement for compressed natural gas & diesel – (bio-CNG for use as transport fuel)
Replacement for liquid natural gas – (bio-LNG for use as transport fuel)
Prior to practically all utilization options, the biogas has to be dried (usually through application of a cooling/condensation step). Furthermore, elements such as hydrogen sulphide and other harmful trace elements must be removed (usually trough application of an activated carbon filter) to prevent adverse effects on downstream processing equipment (such as compressors, piping, boilers and CHP systems).
Biomethane is getting popularity as a clean vehicle fuel in Europe. For example, Germany has more than 900 CNG filling stations, with a fleet of around 100,000 gas-powered vehicles including cars, buses and trucks. Around 170 CNG filling stations in Germany sell a blend mixture of natural gas and biomethane while about 125 filling stations sell 100% biomethane from AD plants.
Barriers to Overcome
The fact that energy crops can put extra pressure on land availability for cultivation of food crops has led many European countries to initiate measures to reduce or restrict biogas production from energy crops. As far as waste-derived biomethane is concerned, most of the EU nations are phasing out landfill-based waste management systems which may lead to rapid decline in landfill gas production thus putting the onus of biomethane production largely on anaerobic digestion of food waste, sewage sludge, industrial waste and agricultural residues.
The high costs of biogas upgradation and natural gas grid connection is a major hurdle in the development of biomethane sector in Eastern European nations. The injection of biomethane is also limited by location of suitable biomethane production facilities, which should ideally be located close to the natural gas grid. Several European nations have introduced industry standards for injecting biogas into the natural gas grid but these standards differ considerably with each other.
Another important issue is the insufficient number of biomethane filling stations and biomethane-powered vehicles in Europe. A large section of the population is still not aware about the benefits of biomethane as a vehicle fuel. Strong political backing and infrastructural support will provide greater thrust to biomethane industry in Europe.
The world knows renewable energy offers extensive, far-reaching benefits that can help mitigate climate change. If we want to make progress, we need to move away from fossil fuels permanently. That’s an issue where most people agree. It is now evident there is another argument for renewable energy besides sustainability. This option has become much more efficient, both production- and cost-wise. Let us explore how renewable energy manufacturing has become more efficient in recent years:
Production Innovations Boost Effectiveness
Consider how renewable energy was received publicly 10 or 15 years ago. It wasn’t exactly an avenue that most individuals or businesses knew existed. There have been various challenges regarding implementation across America. Hurdles like government support and wide-spread education are examples.
That’s changed as more information has been released about how fossil fuels negatively affect our planet. It’s now evident that renewable energy prospects continue to grow annually — even during COVID-19. That’s largely due to how production methods have transformed over the past several years.
The renewable energy industry can now manufacture sources through smarter means. For example, we used to harness wind power from land-based turbines. Those opportunities have expanded as offshore capabilities are now more mainstream. This innovative progress has become applicable to other sources, too.
These new ideas are significantly responsible for how renewable energy has become more efficient. If we never changed our manufacturing processes, we couldn’t produce renewable energy on a large enough scale. There’s no denying that continuous innovations will make choices like solar, hydro and geothermal increasingly accessible.
As a result, we can enjoy more options as consumers. There’s also cost to consider — which unquestionably determines how efficiently people view renewable energy. They need to be even cheaper than fossil fuels.
Costs Are Lower Than Ever Before
It is important to highlight how renewable energy has turned into an affordable alternative. This cost-efficiency will be necessary to help people choose renewable energy sources over fossil fuels. There are many reasons why prices for eco-friendly power have fallen.
1. Subsidies
The most significant components are subsidies. These government-backed incentives help manufacturers switch to alternative energy sources for less money. It’s also evident that options exist for individuals and businesses. People can access tax incentives to support their sustainable power pursuits financially.
2. Non-Profit Organizations
There’s also help from green non-profit organizations. Take GRID Alternatives Mid-Atlantic as an example. They provide free solar panel installation to households that can’t otherwise afford renewable energy. That’s a useful resource to help drive accessibility to these alternatives.
3. Investments
What about renewable energy investments? These endeavors are more prevalent than ever. If our country’s most influential figures put their money in renewable energy, we can expect to pay less for green power. Texas has the lowest energy costs in America — and they also use the most wind power. That’s not a coincidence.
These three points ensure that renewable energy becomes more affordable yearly. Various entities need to work together to ensure that sustainable options are accessible. They need to be more available than fossil fuels to ensure they catch on as alternatives.
Future of Renewable Energy Manufacturing
There’s a bright future for renewable energy. As a result of innovative and cost-effective manufacturing progress, Americans now have access to various eco-friendly power sources. If we can keep making strides regarding production, we should be able to create renewable energy on a far-reaching scale.
This process won’t happen overnight. It’s taken decades for renewable energy to be seen as even a viable alternative to harmful fossil fuels. But we’re in an ideal place right now. It shouldn’t be long before renewable energy becomes even more efficient. There’ll then be no excuse for people to keep using fossil fuels.
If you are looking to sell your home or are just thinking about doing some upgrades to make it more attractive when you do finally sell it, studies show that making your property more eco-friendly will make it more attractive to potential buyers. If you want to get specific, there are some eco-friendly upgrades that not only help the environment by reducing the home’s energy consumption, but at the same time provide a return on the investment of more than 100%. This is not just an empty promise as every year sees an increase in home construction that includes the latest in environmentally friendly technology.
It is no secret that technology is helping every industry develop at supersonic speeds. With the continued threat that rapid urban development brings to the environment. it only makes sense to use new technology to create better construction methods that are less harmful to the environment and more affordable to the homeowner. Jump on the go green opportunities available today and commit to making a better tomorrow.
Be Both Ambitious and Realistic
As you might expect, some eco-friendly upgrades are going to cost more than others. Want to add solar panels on top of the roof? First you have to check with your HOA, if you have one. Then you need to check the financials of the project. The upfront cost will vary from one installer to the next, and the rebates and incentives that encourage you to change in the first place will also vary depending on your home state.
If installing solar panels on your roof is not in your budget, there are plenty of other options to choose from. Everything from changing your insulation to never buying bottled water can have an impact. Changing the number of days you water your lawn or the amount of time for each sprinkler. Try reducing the amount of time you spend in the shower by just a few minutes each day.
Using your home as a tax write-off is so obvious it’s a huge reason many people buy homes in the first place. The important thing to remember is that you aren’t the only one who has a vested interest in making your home eco-friendly. The IRS has entered the discussion and extends tax credits based on different upgrades made to the home for environmentally friendly purposes. And since employing a special tax attorney may not be in your budget, there are other feasible ways to examine your financial situation as it impacts your taxes, and whether or not there are any discrepancies that need to be taken care of.
Once you have your overall financial situation looking a little clearer, don’t just be content with the usual write-offs consisting of interest payments and the like; consider all of your options and make a home upgrade that pays for itself. The point is, being proactive and taking the initiative to make your home more eco-friendly is not only affordable, it is also rewarding.
South Africa is experiencing a mammoth energy crisis with its debt-laden national power utility, Eskom, being unable to meet the electricity needs of the nation. After extensive periods of load shedding in 2018 and again earlier this year, it is becoming increasingly important to find an alternative source of energy. According to Marko Nokkala, senior sales manager at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, South Africa is in the perfect position to utilize biomass as an alternative source of energy.
Things to Consider
Should South Africa choose to delve deeper into biomass energy production, there are a few things that need to be considered. At present, a lot of biomass (such as fruit and vegetables) is utilized as food. It will, therefore, be necessary to identify alternative biomass sources that are not typically used as food, so that a food shortage is never created in the process.
One alternative would be to use municipal solid waste from landfills and dumpsites as well as the wood waste from the very large and lucrative forestry industry in the country. It is also essential to keep in mind that an enormous amount of biomass will be needed to replace even a portion of the 90 million tons of coal that Eskom utilizes every year at its various power stations.
Potential Biomass Conversion Routes
There are a number of processing technologies that South Africans can utilize to turn their biomass into a sustainable energy source. Biochemical conversion involving technology such as anaerobic digestion and fermentation makes use of enzymes, microorganisms, and bacteria to breakdown the biomass into a variety of liquid or vaporous fuels.
Fermentation is especially suitable when the biomass waste boasts a high sugar or water content, as is the case with a variety of agricultural wastes. By placing some focus on microbial fermentation process development, a system can effectively be created that will allow for large-scale biofuel production. Other technologies to consider include thermal methods like co-firing, pyrolysis, and gasification.
Future of biomass energy in South Africa
Despite the various obstacles that may slow down the introduction of large-scale biomass energy production in the country, it still promises to be a viable solution to the pressing energy concern. Biomass energy production does not require any of the major infrastructures that Eskom is currently relying on.
Although the initial setup will require a substantial amount of electricity, running a biomass conversion plant will cost significantly less than a coal-powered power plant in the long run. With the unemployment rate hovering around 27.1% in South Africa at present, any jobs created through the implementation of biomass energy conversion will be of great benefit to the nation.
Conclusion
Without speedy intervention, South Africa may very soon be left in the dark. Although there are already a number of wind farms in operation in the country, the addition of biomass conversion facilities will undoubtedly be of great benefit to Africa’s southernmost country.
Biomass resources can be transformed into clean energy and/or fuels by thermal and biochemical technologies. Besides recovery of substantial energy, these technologies can lead to a substantial reduction in the overall waste quantities requiring final disposal.
However, biomass energy projects worldwide are often hampered by a variety of techno-commercial issues. The issues enumerated below are not geography-specific and are usually a matter of concern for project developers, entrepreneurs and technology companies:
Large Project Costs
In India, a 1 MW gasification plant usually costs about USD 1-1.5 million. A combustion-based 1 MW plant would need a little more expenditure, to the tune of USD 1-2 million. An anaerobic digestion-based plant of the same capacity, on the other hand, could range anywhere upwards USD 3 million. Such high capital costs prove to be a big hurdle for any entrepreneur or renewable energy enthusiast to come forward and invest into these technologies.
Low Conversion Efficiencies
In general, efficiencies of combustion-based systems are in the range of 20-25% and gasification-based systems are considered even poorer, with their efficiencies being in the range of a measly 10-15%. The biomass resources themselves are low in energy density, and such poor system efficiencies could add a double blow to the entire project.
Dearth of Mature Technologies
Poor efficiencies call for a larger quantum of resources needed to generate a unit amount of energy. Owing to this reason, investors and project developers find it hard to go for such plants on a larger scale. Moreover, the availability of only a few reliable technology and operation & maintenance service providers makes these technologies further undesirable.
Gasification technology is still limited to scales lesser than 1 MW in most parts of the world. Combustion-based systems have although gone upwards of 1 MW, a lot many are now facing hurdles because of factors like unreliable resource chain, grid availability, and many others.
Lack of Funding Options
Financing agencies usually give a tough time to biomass project developers as compared to what it takes to invest in other renewable energy technologies.
Non-Transparent Trade Markets
Usually, the biomass energy resources are obtained through forests, farms, industries, animal farms etc. There is no standard pricing mechanism for such resources and these usually vary from vendor to vendor, even with the same resource in consideration.
High Risks / Low Pay-Backs
Biomass energy projects are not much sought-after owing to high project risks which could entail from failed crops, natural disasters, local disturbances, etc.
Resource Price Escalation
Unrealistic fuel price escalation too is a major cause of worry for the plant owners. Usually, an escalation of 3-5% is considered while carrying out the project’s financial modelling. However, it has been observed that in some cases, the rise has been as staggering as 15-20% per annum, forcing the plants to shut down.
The valuable component of biogas is methane (CH4) which typically makes up 60%, with the balance being carbon dioxide (CO2) and small percentages of other gases. The proportion of methane depends on the feedstock and the efficiency of the process, with the range for methane content being 40% to 70%.
Biogas is saturated and contains H2S, and the simplest use is in a boiler to produce hot water or steam. The gas can also be upgraded and used in gas supply networks. The use of biogas in solid oxide fuel cells is also being researched.
Biogas can be combusted directly to produce heat. In this case, there is no need to scrub the hydrogen sulphide in the biogas. Usually the process utilize dual-fuel burner and the conversion efficiency is 80 to 90%. The main components of the system are anaerobic digester, biogas containment system, pressure switch, booster fan, solenoid valve, dual fuel burner and combustion air blower.
The most common method for utilization of biogas in developing countries is for cooking and lighting. Conventional gas burners and gas lamps can easily be adjusted to biogas by changing the air to gas ratio. In more industrialized countries boilers are present only in a small number of plants where biogas is used as fuel only without additional CHP. In a number of industrial applications biogas is used for steam production.
Burning biogas in a boiler is an established and reliable technology. Low demands are set on the biogas quality for this application. Pressure usually has to be around 8 to 25 mbar. Furthermore it is recommended to reduce the level of hydrogen sulphide to below 1 000 ppm, this allows to maintain the dew point around 150 °C.
CHP Applications
Biogas is the ideal fuel for generation of electric power or combined heat and power. A number of different technologies are available and applied.
The most common technology for power generation is internal combustion. Engines are available in sizes from a few kilowatts up to several megawatts. Gas engines can either be SI-engines (spark ignition) or dual fuel engines. Dual fuel engines with injection of diesel (10% and up) or sometimes plant oil are very popular in smaller scales because they have good electric efficiencies up to guaranteed 43%.
The biogas pressure is turbo-charged and after-cooled and has a high compression ratio in the gas engines. The cooling tower provides cooling water for the gas engines. The main component of the system required for utilizing the technology are anaerobic digester, moisture remover, flame arrester, waste gas burner, scrubber, compressor, storage, receiver, regulator, pressure switch and switch board.
Gas turbines are an established technology in sizes above 500 kW. In recent years also small scale engines, so called micro-turbines in the range of 25 to 100kW have been successfully introduced in biogas applications. They have efficiencies comparable to small SI-engines with low emissions and allow recovery of low pressure steam which is interesting for industrial applications. Micro turbines are small, high-speed, integrated power plants that include a turbine, compressor, generator and power electronics to produce power.
New Trends
The benefit of the anaerobic treatment will depend on the improvement of the process regarding a higher biogas yield per m3 of biomass and an increase in the degree of degradation. Furthermore, the benefit of the process can be multiplied by the conversion of the effluent from the process into a valuable product.
In order to improve the economical benefit of biogas production, the future trend will go to integrated concepts of different conversion processes, where biogas production will still be a significant part. In a so-called biorefinery concept, close to 100% of the biomass is converted into energy or valuable by-products, making the whole concept more economically profitable and increasing the value in terms of sustainability.
One example of such biorefinery concept is the Danish Bioethanol Concept that combines the production of bioethanol from lignocellulosic biomass with biogas production of the residue stream. Another example is the combination of biogas production from manure with manure separation into a liquid and a solid fraction for separation of nutrients.
One of the most promising concepts is the treatment of the liquid fraction on the farm-site in a UASB reactor while the solid fraction is transported to the centralized biogas plant where wet-oxidation can be implemented to increase the biogas yield of the fiber fraction. Integration of the wet oxidation pre-treatment of the solid fraction leads to a high degradation efficiency of the lignocellulosic solid fraction.
Solar energy is rapidly gaining popularity among many homeowners due to being a reliable and efficient renewable energy source. Investing in a solar system can help you reduce your energy bills.
Solar energy depends on the power from the sun. It’s eco-friendly and can help you reduce your carbon footprint. Finding ways to maximize your solar energy can ensure that the system delivers as much as possible to meet your home’s power needs and save money.
Below is an outline highlighting how you can maximize solar energy in your home:
1. Perform An Energy Audit
An energy audit can help you gauge if your solar system is fit to serve your energy needs and reduce energy consumption. Different home appliances differ in how they consume energy. Therefore, it would be wise to understand how you use solar energy to adjust the devices that draw more power. Besides being able to know your daily solar power production, some systems include online monitoring technology that offers live feeds and graphs of your solar energy production.
Installing a solar energy meter can give you a detailed audit of individual home appliances, providing you with solar and live-on-grid consumption data. You can study the information you get from the solar meter to determine the high energy use patterns, helping you introduce measures to reduce energy consumption. If you’re looking for the best services in the solar market in Colorado, Bex Solar can install the best solar panels with up-to-date features.
2. Use High-Consumption Appliances During The Day
Your solar panels can only produce electricity during the day since they generate energy from sunlight. Therefore, it would be wise to use as much energy as possible during the day. Appliances that consume a lot of energy include the washing machine, dishwasher, and kitchen stove. Running these appliances when energy production is at its highest can help maximize your home’s energy consumption as you would be using this energy directly as it originates from your solar panels.
3. Install A Solar Battery
Solar energy is produced by solar panels during the daytime when the sun is shining. Solar batteries work by storing the energy your solar panels make for use at night or during storms when there’s inadequate sunlight. Additionally, you can use the solar energy you store in your solar batteries during power outages. Installing solar batteries can help reduce your carbon footprint as they reduce your dependence on the energy from the grid.
4. Use Your Solar Energy Wisely
Each home appliance drains solar energy. The number of home appliances you can run at a go depends on your solar system’s size and the amount of energy the appliance draws. Running them constantly and simultaneously throughout the day can quickly deplete the energy you draw directly from your solar panels, placing unnecessary strain on your solar system.
Using one appliance at a time would be best to ensure that you’re wisely consuming your solar energy. For instance, consider running your dishwasher after using the washing machine, taking a shower after using the dishwasher, or turning on your television after cooking dinner.
It’s also wise to turn off standby mode. Electrical appliances like computers, televisions, HiFi systems, and gaming consoles consume electricity on standby. A single household can have most of these electric devices; hence the standby energy consumption can add up to high figures. Therefore, it’s crucial to use switchable sockets to separate these devices from the circuit when not in use.
5. Insulate Your Home
A poorly insulated home typically uses up more solar energy. You can cut energy costs through home insulation by helping it remain cool when hot and warm when it’s cold outside. Hence, your HVAC systems would require less energy than necessary to keep you comfortable with changing temperatures. Therefore, insulating your home can help you divert the energy you would’ve used for heating or cooling your home for other energy needs.
6. Maintain Your Solar System
You can also maximize your solar energy by keeping your solar system in proper working order. Your solar panels can lose efficiency when they’re dirty. It’s crucial to frequently clean them to free them from dirt, leaves, bird droppings, and mold that reduces the amount of sunlight your solar panels receive. Cutting any surrounding vegetation that blocks the solar panel’s access to sunlight is also crucial. Additionally, scheduling regular maintenance of your solar system by a professional can help you identify issues and fix them in time to avoid costly repairs.
7. Install LED Lights
Due to the glowing tungsten filament, incandescent lights typically emit more heat than light. As a result, they consume more energy, leading to higher bills. On the other hand, LED bulbs use all the electricity they receive to produce light, consuming less energy. Installing LED light bulbs can reduce solar energy consumption, helping you maximize the solar energy in your home.
Conclusion
We are currently living in an eco-friendly world. Therefore, most homeowners appreciate solar energy in their homes as it’s affordable, reliable, and environmentally friendly. The guide above can take you through ways to maximize solar energy in your home.
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