So far I am learning much about the production of energy, many would probably agree that if we as a society can use natural resources it will be better for the planet. In the case of nuclear power plants many of my friends disagree on the usefulness of the reduction in greenhouse emissions while others including myself feel that just because the cost of producing electricity generation is cheaper for the usable energy in nuclear power.
what are the risks? These are the questions I ask myself as I study the science of atomic nuclei.
Nuclear technology is a fascinating subject to study in theory but what are the repercussions in trying to save a few dollars if it means putting peoples lives in jeopardy. Semi renewable energy is something I want to see going forward and as I come across more information I will share my thoughts.
Some things to think about include answering the question of the disadvantages to nuclear energy and power generation, does the bad outway the good? only time will tell it just may not happen in our life time and the scary fact is that the advantages of those future generations can not be predicted no matter how much research is currently being done.
Radiation exposure from what I understand causes acute health problems in victims who come in contact with high doses of ionizing radiation. Those nuclear plant workers in Japan who experienced damage to the nuclear power reactors will be first in line for treatment.
Interestingly, from this tragedy there is a gleamer of hope. Infusion of blood stem cells can be introduced into the bodies of the workers at the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant.
Stem cell doctors will have to harvest red and white blood cells from the 400 workers to freeze and later use to provide bone marrow transplantation. The goal is to restore the workers bone marrow production which introduces oxygen to the bloodstream. As seen in cancer patients individuals with high doses of radiation lose stem cells causing the need for replacement.
The question I have in this situation is that the damage radiation causes can effect other areas in the body such as the organs and digestive tissues. So if drugs such as potassium iodine which only helps to protect against thyroid cancer.
Could it just be hopeful thinking that lives can be saved, especially those with acute radiation syndrome?
This is just my observation after reading news spots and doing some research on the whole process, apparently our body will replace old blood cells with new ones and our blood is what carries oxygen as well as platelets to the immune system. My concern is that will there be enough drugs made available for those who need treatment.
Will these advanced medical procedures work for the long-term? To me it seems to be good for the short-term but as for years down the road it is something that needs to be closely looked at in the coming months.
In Berlin protests in front of the RWE, thousands of people rally to have the nuclear reactors taken off the grid. Will Germany end the use of nuclear energy by instead opting for renewable energy after talks of several of the nuclear power plants to transition over the next 25 years by phasing out the use of atomic energy.
My question is how would this effect countries like the United States who have a new power plant in construction as of the start of the year?
France relies on 70 percent of nuclear energy for its power and with Germany changing its course to include alternative energy sources it will lead to higher energy costs for consumers.
Europe's need for continuing with the use of its 143 nuclear reactors shows that even if protestors of the christian democrates continue to demand a anti-nuclear coalition be passed the nuclear crisis in Japan will change the view of chancellor Angela Merkel.
Is this response from Germany rational or are they allowing electoral politics get in the way? Closing seven of the coutries 17 nuclear plants comes at a time where the upcoming state election where the Greens doubled their voters share to win the state governmentship. So it looks as if Greens defeat Merkel’s party in state elections amid Fukushima disaster.
Nuclear scientists and meteorologists say that any radioactive fallout is not dangerous. They even say that the leaking of radioactive water that is spilling into the sea at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, will not harm the fish or marine animals.
What should one believe?
One moment the media is talking all doom and gloom and then the next minute government officials state that the health risks to U.S. citizens is nothing to worry about.
The part that is the hardest to swallow in this scenario is all the people trying to sell potassium iodide tablets which only works for those who have been exposed to radioactive materials and even then it will only help the thyroid.
What about all the other vital organs in the body?
Next I have read people say that one can protect themselves from radiation exposure by eating certain foods.
I am sure there is some basis to this analogy because recent cancer patients who have undergone extensive chemotherapy have seen benefits of eating dark green leafy vegetables, vitamin d and vitamin k as well as eating seaweed.
Ironically sea vegetables and algae can be bought in bulk online with most of it harvested in Aran Islands, North Atlantic, United Kingdom .
If you do a search for sea green products you will find that most of the small sites that sell kelp, agar, spirulina, chlorella, seaweed nori, miso soup etc. are sold out or have a long waiting time for processing due to high demands.
This could lead to the production of seaweed supplements where the pill has a seaweed extract. The seaweed supplements are suppose to detox the body. Since kelp and seaweed are the most protective natural resources against radiation and environmental pollution, particularly heavy metals its worth a try.
Just remember that there are other health risks that need to be addressed during this opinion vs. science debate.
Eco-Friendly Power Plants for Global Warming
Sustaining the earth: The easy way
Wind energy systems are way more eco-friendly than a conventional power plant, like a coal plant. The latter releases harmful global-warming gases with greenhouse effects that considerably pollute the atmosphere. Visibility degradation is an important disadvantage as well. Extremely miniscule dust matter is also emitted in the air.
These particles can result in cardiovascular problems, asthma attacks and respiratory failure in human beings. Wind power systems, on the other hand, do no involve the emission of any such poisonous material. Hence, it scores over traditional power plants on this count. The wind power units also have a negligible total cost over their entire life span. This is chiefly due to two factors: the costs of operating the system are rather negligible, and the fuel required wind, in this case is plentiful in supply, completely free, and renewed any number of times.
Unnecessary wastage of power is also cut down on by wind energy systems. No contractual agreements need to be entered into with the domain of power generation either. Such contracts are for reducing the risk levels in the market and bringing the finance costs down. Since the usage of wind power plants started comparatively recently, these guarantees are not required.
Wind energy cost is indeed a low amount. Using wind energy, you can also pay less for the consumption of electricity. However, before installing your own wind energy system, it is advisable to browse through a manual. Such a training manual would help you zero in on the best spot in your home for installing the system, and provide step-by-step guidance for installing the unit.
Other aspects, like the wiring of the system, the availability of relatively cheap parts of the system along with free batteries, and the prescribed precautionary safeguards are all discussed in the manual. Hence, it helps a lot in the process of installation of a wind energy system.
Fossil Fuels vs. Nuclear Fusion
Nuclear power has generally been considered an alternative energy source to fossil fuels, and generally considered on the good list due to its clean aspect with no pollution. New technology in the sector has really boosted the future prospects with the ability to generate power using spent fuel rods. Using them longer means less waste by a significant margin thus, making them even more attractive.
However, due to the meltdowns in Japan after their big Earthquake and Tsunami, once again, the powers that be and their citizenry are having second thoughts.
Does this open the door up for other alternative energy projects? Yes, and capital is being re-directed as we speak, as many nuclear power plants in the planning or construction phase have been put on hold and everyone is taking a wait and see approach. "Safety First" is suddenly back in vogue, perhaps to the point of absurdity considering how careful everyone already is in the sector when it comes to designing and building new nuclear power plants.
There have been many very telling articles concerning the challenges going forward for Nuclear Power. In the short-term, this is a complete and utter disaster for the nuclear power generation industry. One article perhaps, a little hard on the industry was in the Daily Bell on March 15, 2001 titled; "The End of Nuclear Power," where the author notes a quote from the "Globe and Mail" stating; "Power utilities had launched proposals for more than 300 new reactors, most of them in Asia, and dozens were under construction," and then indicates it's all a wash now.
Already, Germany had stopped all discussion on the applications for Nuclear Plants and Upgrades pending further review, originally it was postponed after the Japanese nuclear plant meltdowns for three months, now with all the anti-nuclear protests who knows, could be 5-10 years. In the Philippines they've halted a major nuclear power plant project. In the US Lawmakers have postponed the hearings on the latest permits for several new nuclear power plants, and in Sweden a plan to store spent fuel rods is getting cancelled.
In the Wall Street Journal on March 17, 2011 there was an article titled; "China Halts Plant Approvals in New Nod to Safety Issues," by James T. Areddy and Brian Spegele - and it's really hard to say if all these cancellations and deferments are only temporary or may become permanent. China needs more electricity plants, and if they forgo these latest nuclear plants, which are already in the works it could cause a problem in their country economically, which is the last thing they need right now.
Apparently and depending on the final outcome these challenges with the Japanese nuclear power plants is going to have a significant impact on the future of nuclear energy. It's really rocking the industry right now.
In fact, there was another interesting article in the Wall Street Journal's commodities section; "Uranium Tumbles on Japan Crisis" by Carolyn Cui which indicated that much of the run-up 80% in the last 3 quarters is in severe jeopardy of retreat.
Meaning there isn't a lot of confidence out there on the future of nuclear power, especially in the near term. Currently, the article stated there are over 65 new nuclear plants under construction right now in the world - mostly in Russia and China, but this a world-wide issue.
For now Nuclear Energy is out, and perhaps other alternative energy projects will get some breathing room, and a little extra juice with regards to capitalization.
How Does Wind Power Work and Is Nuclear Power an Option
Wind energy is an environmentally inert, clean, and inexhaustible source of electric power that, as it turns out, is really just another form of solar energy. The sun creates wind by its uneven heating of the planet's atmosphere. It's moderated by the earth's rotation and irregularities in its surface.
The planet's terrain, water bodies, and vegetation then affect the wind flow patterns. With the invention of wind turbines, we can now harness the wind's energy and use it instead of purchasing electricity from the utility companies that are derived from non-renewable sources.
The easiest way to understand how wind turbines work is to think of a fan operating in reverse - rather than electricity spinning the blades and thus generating wind, the wind spins the blades, thereby generating electricity.
Breaking it down to it's simplest components, a wind turbine operates as follows:
There are two basic types of wind turbine:
In an innovative advancement known as hybrid wind systems, these smaller turbines are also being used in combination with solar (photovoltaic) systems, rechargeable deep-cycle batteries, and diesel generators to provide storable, on-demand power in more remote, off-the-grid places.
In most residential situations, a wind turbine is used as a supplemental source of power in combination with local, on-the-grid, utility power. There is something called a cut-in speed (7-10 miles per hour), below which the wind turbine will cease to provide an output, and the utility grid provides the structure's power. Above the cut-in speed, the wind turbine kicks in and the grid power supply is proportionately reduced (depending on the structure's energy draw at the given moment).
If the output produced by the wind turbine exceeds the draw from the structure (and/or storage devices, like batteries), the excess power is then sold back to the pubic utility company. Use of wind energy can reduce a residence's energy costs by, on average, 50-90%, though these numbers are influenced by a variety of factors and, as such, can fluctuate greatly.
In a typical residence that uses under 10,000 kilowatt hours per year of electric power, a 5-15 kilowatt wind turbine should more than suffice. This type of system can run anywhere from $6,000-$22,000 to install, depending on a variety of factors, including: its size, your intended application, and any service contracts entered into with the manufacturer.
Being that certain situations (such as in the city) make personal wind power use an unviable option, a general rule of thumb is to consider installing your own wind power system if and only if you pay at least 10 cents per kilowatt hour and your location's average wind speeds exceed 10 miles per hour.
The larger wind turbines have capacities upwards of 50 kilowatts, running these days into the several-megawatt range. These windmills, known as utility scale turbines, can be grouped together and connected to central lines for transmitting and distributing in bulk to the local utility grids that, in turn, sell that power to homes and businesses across the land. These are called wind power plants or wind farms.
What is exactly meant by wind power?
Solar radiations emit a type of energy, which result in creation of wind. The sun heats up the earth's terrains in uneven amounts. Such unequal heating is caused by the rotational motions of earth, the unevenness of earth's surface, the varying propensities of heat absorption at different levels of the atmosphere, the vegetation types as well as the presence of the water bodies of the earth. As a consequence, some parts of earth remain naturally hotter than certain other regions. An easy example in this context is the large and fixed temperature difference that exists between the equatorial areas and the freezing polar regions.
In the warmer parts of earth, the air is less dense, and as such, it starts to rise. This results in the creation of an empty space in their place. This space soon gets occupied by the cooler air that rushes in from the cold regions that lie nearby. This motion of air, called wind, generates a form of energy (kinetic energy). Modern methods are used to tap and harness this kinetic energy, in order to convert the latter into wind energy. Wind power refers to the techniques of the practical usage of wind energy for the production of electricity and such other reusable forms of output. Since wind power is extensively being use today, let us look into the issue of wind power cost in greater detail.
What are the expenses of using wind power?
The rate of growth of the wind energy systems has indeed been very rapid over the last few years. As a result, the wind power cost levels have fallen by around 80 per cent since the days when utility-grade wind energy units were used. This huge reduction in costs has been achieved within the past couple of decades. The current level of wind power cost, which currently stands at five cents per kilowatt-hour, used to be as high as thirty cents per kilowatt-hour in the 1980s, when wind power systems made their initial appearance. The more suitably designed machines, the advanced levels of technologies, and the overall ideal nature of the sites chosen for setting up the large-scale wind energy units have all contributed to this magical fall in the wind power cost amounts.
Wind energy systems are likely to sustain over the long run as well. Unlike the previously used fossil fuel plants, which frequently faced bottlenecks in fuel supply, wind based units make us of an abundantly available fuel resource (viz., the wind itself). Thus, more and more countries are shifting from conventional power generation plants to using wind energy systems, since wind is free to obtain, and is always readily available. The wind energy units are extremely environment-friendly in nature as well, much more so than the fossil fuel systems.
As a result, air pollution goes down by a significant amount, making the choice of wind energy resources indeed a wise decision. Immense economic advantages can also accrue from the usage wind energy plants. The plants take up only a little of the total land area that is taken on lease for their installation, by farmers. Thus, farming activities can be continued without any problems on the remainder of the land. Hence, farmers ensure two simultaneous source of long term income for themselves - from farming and from the sale proceeds of the produced electrical power on their lands.
How much wind energy the system would be able to generate depends crucially on the velocity of wind in that area. Hence, choosing a proper site for these wind energy systems is of the essence. In particular, places that have wind flowing at speeds in excess of 5 to 7 peters per second are considered to be ideal for the installation of these units.
Slashing the cost of wind power
Wind power plant costs can be slashed by large amounts, if proper financial management is done for them. Cost of wind power falls heavily in cases where a gas power plant and a wind power unit are acquired on identical terms. The ownership of the wind energy system by a utility service, as opposed to individual ownership, can also pull down costs by large amounts. Let us consider an example: A 50 MW wind power plant, when owned by individuals (like wind developers) can yield power at the cost of 5 cents per kilowatt-hour. However, reduction of wind power cost, to the tune of 30 per cent (lowering it to around 3.5 cents per kilowatt-hour) is possible by using the same wind power plant, if the latter is in the hands of investor-owned utilities (IOUs)
The planet's terrain, water bodies, and vegetation then affect the wind flow patterns. With the invention of wind turbines, we can now harness the wind's energy and use it instead of purchasing electricity from the utility companies that are derived from non-renewable sources.
The easiest way to understand how wind turbines work is to think of a fan operating in reverse - rather than electricity spinning the blades and thus generating wind, the wind spins the blades, thereby generating electricity.
Breaking it down to it's simplest components, a wind turbine operates as follows:
- the wind turns the blades
- the blades spin a shaft
- the shaft connects to a generator
- the generator produces electricity
There are two basic types of wind turbine:
- horizontal axis wind turbines: the kind most commonly in use today and the focus of U.S.
- Department of Energy research on wind power, these come in two varieties -
- 2-blade horizontal axis turbines spin downwind
- 3-blade horizontal axis turbines spin upwind
- vertical axis wind turbines
In an innovative advancement known as hybrid wind systems, these smaller turbines are also being used in combination with solar (photovoltaic) systems, rechargeable deep-cycle batteries, and diesel generators to provide storable, on-demand power in more remote, off-the-grid places.
In most residential situations, a wind turbine is used as a supplemental source of power in combination with local, on-the-grid, utility power. There is something called a cut-in speed (7-10 miles per hour), below which the wind turbine will cease to provide an output, and the utility grid provides the structure's power. Above the cut-in speed, the wind turbine kicks in and the grid power supply is proportionately reduced (depending on the structure's energy draw at the given moment).
If the output produced by the wind turbine exceeds the draw from the structure (and/or storage devices, like batteries), the excess power is then sold back to the pubic utility company. Use of wind energy can reduce a residence's energy costs by, on average, 50-90%, though these numbers are influenced by a variety of factors and, as such, can fluctuate greatly.
In a typical residence that uses under 10,000 kilowatt hours per year of electric power, a 5-15 kilowatt wind turbine should more than suffice. This type of system can run anywhere from $6,000-$22,000 to install, depending on a variety of factors, including: its size, your intended application, and any service contracts entered into with the manufacturer.
Being that certain situations (such as in the city) make personal wind power use an unviable option, a general rule of thumb is to consider installing your own wind power system if and only if you pay at least 10 cents per kilowatt hour and your location's average wind speeds exceed 10 miles per hour.
The larger wind turbines have capacities upwards of 50 kilowatts, running these days into the several-megawatt range. These windmills, known as utility scale turbines, can be grouped together and connected to central lines for transmitting and distributing in bulk to the local utility grids that, in turn, sell that power to homes and businesses across the land. These are called wind power plants or wind farms.
What is exactly meant by wind power?
Solar radiations emit a type of energy, which result in creation of wind. The sun heats up the earth's terrains in uneven amounts. Such unequal heating is caused by the rotational motions of earth, the unevenness of earth's surface, the varying propensities of heat absorption at different levels of the atmosphere, the vegetation types as well as the presence of the water bodies of the earth. As a consequence, some parts of earth remain naturally hotter than certain other regions. An easy example in this context is the large and fixed temperature difference that exists between the equatorial areas and the freezing polar regions.
In the warmer parts of earth, the air is less dense, and as such, it starts to rise. This results in the creation of an empty space in their place. This space soon gets occupied by the cooler air that rushes in from the cold regions that lie nearby. This motion of air, called wind, generates a form of energy (kinetic energy). Modern methods are used to tap and harness this kinetic energy, in order to convert the latter into wind energy. Wind power refers to the techniques of the practical usage of wind energy for the production of electricity and such other reusable forms of output. Since wind power is extensively being use today, let us look into the issue of wind power cost in greater detail.
What are the expenses of using wind power?
The rate of growth of the wind energy systems has indeed been very rapid over the last few years. As a result, the wind power cost levels have fallen by around 80 per cent since the days when utility-grade wind energy units were used. This huge reduction in costs has been achieved within the past couple of decades. The current level of wind power cost, which currently stands at five cents per kilowatt-hour, used to be as high as thirty cents per kilowatt-hour in the 1980s, when wind power systems made their initial appearance. The more suitably designed machines, the advanced levels of technologies, and the overall ideal nature of the sites chosen for setting up the large-scale wind energy units have all contributed to this magical fall in the wind power cost amounts.
Wind energy systems are likely to sustain over the long run as well. Unlike the previously used fossil fuel plants, which frequently faced bottlenecks in fuel supply, wind based units make us of an abundantly available fuel resource (viz., the wind itself). Thus, more and more countries are shifting from conventional power generation plants to using wind energy systems, since wind is free to obtain, and is always readily available. The wind energy units are extremely environment-friendly in nature as well, much more so than the fossil fuel systems.
As a result, air pollution goes down by a significant amount, making the choice of wind energy resources indeed a wise decision. Immense economic advantages can also accrue from the usage wind energy plants. The plants take up only a little of the total land area that is taken on lease for their installation, by farmers. Thus, farming activities can be continued without any problems on the remainder of the land. Hence, farmers ensure two simultaneous source of long term income for themselves - from farming and from the sale proceeds of the produced electrical power on their lands.
How much wind energy the system would be able to generate depends crucially on the velocity of wind in that area. Hence, choosing a proper site for these wind energy systems is of the essence. In particular, places that have wind flowing at speeds in excess of 5 to 7 peters per second are considered to be ideal for the installation of these units.
Slashing the cost of wind power
Wind power plant costs can be slashed by large amounts, if proper financial management is done for them. Cost of wind power falls heavily in cases where a gas power plant and a wind power unit are acquired on identical terms. The ownership of the wind energy system by a utility service, as opposed to individual ownership, can also pull down costs by large amounts. Let us consider an example: A 50 MW wind power plant, when owned by individuals (like wind developers) can yield power at the cost of 5 cents per kilowatt-hour. However, reduction of wind power cost, to the tune of 30 per cent (lowering it to around 3.5 cents per kilowatt-hour) is possible by using the same wind power plant, if the latter is in the hands of investor-owned utilities (IOUs)
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