[ralfy]

The problem isn't so much as needing FFs to manufacture components for RE systems but needing FFs and many other material resources to manufacture not just components for RE systems but also for infrastructure to distribute energy and for consumer goods.

If this situation takes place in a world dominated by developing countries, then more FFs and material resources such as cement, copper, and fresh water will be needed to develop infrastructure. This is part of the lag time and energy trap needed for a transition to RE.

If this takes place in economic systems that are capitalist, then high and increasing energy returns will be needed to ensure continuous economic growth. In addition, with a growing market for consumer goods, even more FFs and material resources will be required.

How much more will be needed? According to the IEA, in order to maintain economic growth, we will need the equivalent of one Saudi Arabia in new oil every seven years.

If more of that new oil is from unconventional production, if the global middle class has to keep growing to ensure healthy returns on investment from RE, and if there will be both a lag time and an energy trap involved in a transition to RE, then even more new oil will be needed.

There are additional requirements for fresh water, copper, cement, etc.

[vox_mundi]

Solar Paper, the world's thinnest and lightest solar charger

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'S')olar Paper is an item that charges an iPhone fairly fast, and it's from a company called YOLK. Among its impressive qualities are two key features: It's very light and it's very thin.



Solar paper can charge almost any device that recharges via USB, including, smartphones, tablets, walkie talkies, flashlights, portable game consoles, cameras, video cameras, and rechargeable batteries.

[GHung]

Neat gadgets, but calling them "renewable" is a stretch. I also had to dig deep to find any specs. The "Solar Paper" 10 watt version (the only size with any hope being really useful) is set to retail at an estimated $200 USD. Quite a premium for portability.

For comparison, this 28 watt system will charge anything up to 18 volts, will charge smaller devices at a full 2.1 amps and charge radios, laptops, rechargeable flashlights, etc, has multiple outlets, and folds to about the size of a 9" tablet; $99 on Ebay. Recharged my 32 AH lithium battery pack from near full discharge in just a few hours (about 15 iPhone 6s worth)-



http://www.ebay.com/itm/18V-28W-Folding ... 2ecc37f0fc

I bought one for a relative using a discount for $87, free shipping. Very impressed with the price and performance. May get one for myself, though I don't need it, and certainly wouldn't call it "renewable". Add one of these battery banks....



.... and you have something really useful for under $120.

The Solar Paper thingy seems to me to be a case of diminishing returns, but I'm sure the Neiman Marcus/iPhone bunch will love it.

[vox_mundi]

Not RE but potentially useful ...

Salt water for lamp designed to serve people without electricity

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A') startup team calls their work a product. They also call it a social movement. Many people in the over-7,000 islands in the Philippines lack access to electricity .The startup would like to make a difference. Their main ingredient is salt.

Their product is a lamp that takes two tablespoons of salt and a glass of water in order to work. This is from the Sustainable Alternative Lighting, or SALt Corp. This is a startup focused on delivering a cost effective, environmentally safe lamp that runs on salt water.

Their lamp could be an alternative to kerosene/battery powered lamps and candles as a main source of lighting. They said use of the SALt lamp for eight hours a day every day delivers an anode lifespan of six months and used just as an alternative light source will prolong the life of the anode for more than a year.

For people living along coastlines, even running up the cost of salt would not be a problem. They could store ocean water in bottles and use them to power the lamp. The salinity of ocean-water can operate the lamp. They said it would give eight hours of running-time.



http://www.salt.ph/

[kublikhan]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '[')img]http://www.extremetech.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/transparent-luminescent-solar-concentrator-module-640x424.jpg[/img]

Back in August 2014, researchers at Michigan State University have created a fully transparent solar concentrator, which could turn any window or sheet of glass (like your smartphone’s screen) into a photovoltaic solar cell. Unlike other “transparent” solar cells that we’ve reported on in the past, this one really is transparent, as you can see in the photos throughout this story.

The prototype TLSC currently has an efficiency of around 1%, but they think 10% should be possible once production commences. And while we’re probably not talking about a technology that can keep your smartphone or tablet running indefinitely, replacing your device’s display with a TLSC could net you a few more minutes or hours of usage on a single battery charge.

[Tanada]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('kublikhan', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '[')img]http://www.extremetech.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/transparent-luminescent-solar-concentrator-module-640x424.jpg[/img]

Back in August 2014, researchers at Michigan State University have created a fully transparent solar concentrator, which could turn any window or sheet of glass (like your smartphone’s screen) into a photovoltaic solar cell. Unlike other “transparent” solar cells that we’ve reported on in the past, this one really is transparent, as you can see in the photos throughout this story.

The prototype TLSC currently has an efficiency of around 1%, but they think 10% should be possible once production commences. And while we’re probably not talking about a technology that can keep your smartphone or tablet running indefinitely, replacing your device’s display with a TLSC could net you a few more minutes or hours of usage on a single battery charge.

[kublikhan]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Tanada', 'P')icture every car using this type of glass for the side and rear windows to power the vent fan and keep the car interior from heating up when in a sunny parking lot.

[vox_mundi]

Ohm has worked up a drop-in replacement for car battery

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'O')hm is a 6-pound drop-in replacement for your car battery. What's not to like about what it claims to deliver. It never needs jump-starting. Works on the coldest days (in temperatures as low as -40C). Lasts more than twice than lead-acid batteries, which go for three years. Here, you are looking at a 7-year average lifetime. No lead, no acid. When Ohm says it is a drop-in replacement they mean that it is installed in the same way.

How it works: There is a "burst of energy" for starting the engine which comes from a bank of supercapacitors. When the engine is not running, the supercapacitors are kept charged by a small array of batteries.

As for materials the company said its supercapacitors are mostly carbon. The batteries are LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate.)

As for dimensions, Ohm's are 9.0"x6.8"x6.8", and will fit Group 35 batteries. "It will also fit in most cars above Group 35, but may require some extra fixturing, " according to the site.

Viewers might find the pricing amenable considering how long it lasts and some other benefits."Conventional car batteries contain dangerous acid and are responsible for over 24 million pounds of environmental lead contamination each year. Ohm has no lead, no acid, and is safe for the environment." Another promotion point being highlighted by Ohm is its light weight. "It's the easiest, most affordable way to instantly drop 30 pounds or more from your curb weight by switching from a lead-acid battery."

[vox_mundi]

Flashlight powered by body heat sparks campaign dollars

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '[')img]http://img.techxplore.com/newman/csz/news/800/2015/flashlightpo.gif[/img]

This is a body heat-activated little flashlight which goes by the name of Lumen. New York-based Rost is the creator behind this product. He is an engineer; his work environment focuses on producing injection molds and parts for mining machinery. That is worth mentioning because as an engineer he is involved continually with products that are built to last. One might think of his flashlight as an eternal torch.

How it works: Touch Lumen and the heat of your body is converted to light.

He said, "when your temperature is 98 °F and air temperature is 82 °F Lumen produce about 15 mA@3v. When difference is bigger - excessive power is stored in a capacitor to power Lumen whenever you need it. Such amount of energy is enough to power 5 mm Cree led with 3000 mCd light output."

Joe Svetlik in Trusted Reviews talked about the technology that makes the flashlight work with no battery support: "It features a thermoelectric generator – basically a small ceramic bar – that produces a current when you place your thumb on it. The difference between your body temperature and the environment is enough to power a single LED. When the difference is bigger – you're extremely hot, or the environment is extremely cold – the excess power is stored for later."

[Gsearch]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '[')size=150]Dirt[/size]

[Outcast_Searcher]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vox_mundi', '[')b]Solar Paper, the world's thinnest and lightest solar charger

[Outcast_Searcher]

Not sure if this counts, but motion sensing outdoor security lights that are solar seem to be practical now. I have this one. Considering the money I saved on an electrician, and not having to drill a hole through my exterior wall, etc., I consider the price I paid ($72 -- this seems to be increasing in price) very reasonable.

The light is bright. The motion detector seems accurate. It has never run down. The only drawback is they want you to let it charge for four days before operating, to let the battery get well charged.

I like this well enough that I will likely buy a couple more to try to discourage the beer drinking, pissing students that come up in the yard on the way to nearby Catholic school ball games. I'd prefer a baseball bat to send the message, but only the cops are allowed to use violence.

http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?par ... &cId=PDIO1

[vox_mundi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', ' ')http://organictransit.com/information-about-the-elf/

It looks like an inverted tricycle with an egg-shaped shell. The makers of the Elf vehicle tout it as the future of environmentally friendly urban transport, combining pedal power with battery propulsion and solar charging.

You start it up with a modified bicycle pedal crank, and steer and brake with handlebars. The battery kicks in to take it up to a speed of some 40 kilometers (25 miles) per hour.

The Elf has a solar panel on the roof that charges the battery, which offers a range of around 50 kilometers (30 miles)—or more, if you are willing to pedal.

Sparks said the Elf is "street legal" and requires no registration or insurance, with federal rules classifying it as a bicycle. But some state or local rules may be different.



The ELF body is made from a rugged ABS composite called Trylon that protects you from the elements and helps you stand out in traffic. It now comes standard with 100 W solar panel, Dynamic Dampening front suspension, EZ Ergonomic sliding seat and a sturdy deck lid and bulkhead, for additional security and cargo capacity.

[vox_mundi]

Producing electrical power with cardboard, tape, and a pencil

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '
')Video: Using cardboard, tape and a pencil to produce energy

A small device made from everyday materials can generate enough energy to power several diodes. This clever discovery by an EPFL postdoctoral student was presented yesterday at a global conference on micro- and nano- systems in Shanghai.

All you need to generate a little electricity is cardboard, Teflon tape and a pencil. A team from EPFL, working with researchers from the University of Tokyo, used these materials to make an 8-cm2 device that can generate more than 3 Volts of power: a simple, eco-friendly and inexpensive system that can produce the same current as two AA batteries – enough to operate a remote control.

[vox_mundi]

Physicists create first photonic Maxwell's demon

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', ' ')Maxwell's demon, a hypothetical being that appears to violate the second law of thermodynamics, has been widely studied since it was first proposed in 1867 by James Clerk Maxwell. But most of these studies have been theoretical, with only a handful of experiments having actually realized Maxwell's demon.

Now in a new paper, physicists have reported what they believe is the first photonic implementation of Maxwell's demon, by showing that measurements made on two light beams can be used to create an energy imbalance between the beams, from which work can be extracted. One of the interesting things about this experiment is that the extracted work can then be used to charge a battery, providing direct evidence of the "demon's" activity.

Even though the researchers did not aim to realize optimal work extraction, it's possible that some type of Maxwell's demon could one day have practical applications.

[vox_mundi]

Rays provide power for an electric generator

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '[')img]http://cdn.phys.org/newman/csz/news/800/2016/1-raysprovidep.jpg[/img]

Scientists from the RIKEN Quantitative Biology Center in Japan removed the electric organ from a torpedo eel and chemically stimulated the organ by injecting a solution of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine though a syringe. They were able to achieve more than a minute of continuous current, with a peak voltage of 91 mV and 0.25 mA of current. By increasing the number of syringes, they achieved a peak voltage of 1.5 V and a current of 0.64mA.

Scientists from the RIKEN Quantitative Biology Center (QBiC) in Osaka began work to develop a new type of electricity generator, based on the knowledge that electric rays known as torpedoes can beat other systems by generating electric power with near 100% efficiency. The torpedo has electric organs with densely-aligned membrane proteins that convert the chemical energy of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) into ion transport energy, and a nervous system that controls the whole process.

QBiC's Yo Tanaka and his collaborators thought the principle used by the fish might be applied to make a breakthrough power generator. Their experiments, reported in Scientific Reports, artificially reproduced and controlled this phenomenon

They began by looking at what happens in a live electric ray. Tanaka says, "When we used physical stimulation of a live torpedo, we detected less than 10 milliseconds of pulse current with a peak voltage 19 V and current of 8 A in the electrical response. Using this pulse, we found that we were able to store enough electricity to light up LED light or drive a toy car."

Then, in an attempt to generate more electricity, they removed the electric organ from a torpedo and chemically stimulated the organ by injecting a solution of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine though a syringe. They were able to achieve more than a minute of continuous current, with a peak voltage of 91 mV and 0.25 mA of current.

Tanaka continues, "By increasing the number of syringes, we achieved a peak voltage of 1.5 V and a current of 0.64mA. In addition, we found that it is possible to repeat power generation and keep the organ functional for up to one day." By combining a fluid control device to control the stimulation as is done by the torpedo's own nervous system, they were able to generate and store electricity with a peak voltage of 1.5 V and 0.25 mA of current.


One step closer to turning people into batteries

[vox_mundi]

Smart Glass Goes From Clear to Opaque and Back Again – 27 Million Times

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '[')img]http://img.techxplore.com/newman/csz/news/800/2016/1-smartglassgo.gif[/img]

A smart material that switches back and forth between transparent and opaque could be installed in buildings or automobiles, potentially reducing energy bills by avoiding the need for costly air conditioning.

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a type of 'smart' glass that switches back and forth between transparent and opaque, while using very low amounts of energy. The material, known as Smectic A composites, could be used in buildings, automotive or display applications.

[Outcast_Searcher]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vox_mundi', '[')b]Producing electrical power with cardboard, tape, and a pencil

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '
')Video: Using cardboard, tape and a pencil to produce energy

All you need to generate a little electricity is cardboard, Teflon tape and a pencil. A team from EPFL, working with researchers from the University of Tokyo, used these materials to make an 8-cm2 device that can generate more than 3 Volts of power: a simple, eco-friendly and inexpensive system that can produce the same current as two AA batteries – enough to operate a remote control.

[hanryjustin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('DesuMaiden', 'A')nyone can tell me? Are solar panels made of any rare earth minerals or other rare materials that are scarce and running out of? Are solar led panels solutions a reliable source of energy? Is it intermittent or constant? I just want to know if solar energy is a reliable source of energy.