Category: Engineering

How Industrial IoT can Help Improve Energy Efficiency in Manufacturing

How Industrial IoT can Help Improve Energy Efficiency in Manufacturing

11/06/18

“How can connectivity help with efficiency in manufacturing?”

The digital revolution of the Internet of Things is transforming everything in its wake, and manufacturing is no exception. With increased connectivity, automation can be made much more efficiency, therefore reducing energy consumption used and greenhouse gas emissions generated. This is just a small example of How Industrial IoT can Help Improve Energy Efficiency in Manufacturing.

Image credit negromanosphere.com

Puerto Rico Might Go 100% Renewable

Puerto Rico Might Go 100% Renewable

11/05/18

“Will Puerto Rico go 100% in on Renewable Energy?”

Puerto Rico has faced a tough time with its energy infrastructure recently. Hurricane Maria has knocked out the vast majority of its power generation capabilities and has left much of the island in the dark. But that doesn’t mean Puerto Rico is going down without a fight. Taking inspiration from the proven evidence that solar energy will provide it with resiliency and California’s recent audacious climate goals, Puerto Rico might go 100% renewable!!! If policymakers decide to act upon this, then not only will Puerto Rico be transformed but perhaps the entire region around it.

Photo: Power line workers in Puerto Rico. Credit: Lorie Shaull, Flickr Creative Commons

The Kilogram is Being Redefined

The Kilogram is Being Redefined

11/04/18

“How is the Kilogram being redefined?”

A massive shift has just happened in the physics community. For over a century our measurement for the kilogram has been based off an official block sealed in vaults below Paris. However, after many decades of work and false starts, a committee has convened to redefine the kilogram based not on an artifact of nature but instead on Plank’s constant. As a result we now have a truly uniform system of fundamental units!

The Azraq Refugee Camp and Renewable Energy

The Azraq Refugee Camp and Renewable Energy

11/03/18

“How does the world’s first renewable powered refugee camp work?”

The Azraq Refugee Camp is Jordan is not like any other. Built to accommodate 20,000 Syrian Refugees, the site is completely powered by a nearby solar energy farm. Currently at 2 MW of capacity, The farm provides enough energy for the residents to meet their daily needs and carry on their lives. The success of the Azraq refugee camp can serve as a template for other such sites around the world.

Image credit: http://www.unhcr.org

Why Installing Solar Energy Would be Greatly Beneficial for the Navajo Nation

Why Installing Solar Energy Would be Greatly Beneficial for the Navajo Nation

11/02/18

“How would the Navajo Nation benefit from the addition of solar energy?”

The Navajo is an indigenous tribe located roughly in Northeastern Arizona and Northwestern New Mexico, right on top of some of the greatest solar resources in the world. If the Navajo were to install utility-scale solar energy and send it to nearby communities for profit, they would reap great benefits.

Image credit https://www.indianz.com

How ‘Invisible Wires’ Could Improve Solar Cell Efficiency

How ‘Invisible Wires’ Could Improve Solar Cell Efficiency

11/01/18

“How can we solve the silicon wire reflectivity problem in solar cells?”

We know that PV modules have a transmission wire reflectivity problem. But some research coming out of Stanford University could change this entirely. Instead of relying upon wires to channel electrons away from the silicon semiconductors, what if we were to use gold sheets with holes in them, and tiny silicon towers on top to redirect sunlight away from the gold sheet and into the holes? This way the maximum amount of sunlight can be absorbed and reflectivity can be minimized. This is just a small example of How ‘Invisible Wires’ Could Improve Solar Cell Efficiency.

Image Credit https://news.stanford.edu

A Few Energy Saving Tips for a Super Scary Halloween

A Few Energy Saving Tips for a Super Scary Halloween

10/31/18

“How can we be both green and scary on Halloween?”

Today in the United States and across the world is Halloween. Here stateside, people dress up in silly costumes, decorate their house, and trick-or-treat for candy. But even though this is a special night, it is still time to be thinking about how we can do our part to climate change. So here are A Few Energy Saving Tips for a Super Scary Halloween.

Use LED lights for Halloween decorations.
Use solar panels to capture energy during the day and unload it at night
Give out low-carbon intensity candies.

Have a great night full of scary sugary goodness Y’all!!!

Image credit media.treehugger.com

The Grid Edge

The Grid Edge

10/30/18

“What exactly is the bleeding edge of the utility industry?”

The utility industry is evolving rapidly. The days of the old, centralized paradigm are now gone. In their place is a network of distributed and autonomous systems capable of handling the renewable, resilient future. Companies that are on the bleeding edge of all of this are known as The Grid Edge, and are positioned to grow their market manyfold in the near future.

The Problem with Silicon Wiring in Solar PV Cells

The Problem with Silicon Wiring in Solar PV Cells

10/29/18

“How does silicon wiring harm solar PV Cells?”

Silicon wiring is needed for the electrons produced in solar PV cells to move around. However, the wires on the front of the solar cells cover 5-10% of the surface and reflect incoming light, thereby lowering the efficiency. As a result, there are many Problems with Silicon Wiring in Solar PV Cells.

Image credit http://davebuemi.com

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