Wind Turbines

What is a Wind Turbine? Wind turbines are electro-mechanical systems that convert the wind’s kinetic energy into electricity (wind power). They are generally categorized as either horizontal axis (propeller style) or vertical axis (egg beater style) turbines: The horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) is the more efficient of the two designs, but it requires tall towers that are typically hard to...

Home Wind Generators

Small wind generators, ranging in size from several hundred watts to tens of kilowatts with rotors 25 feet in diameter, can lower a residential customer’s electricity bill and/or provide backup power. Typically, they are found in rural areas with a fairly consistent wind source. Since most of these generators produce varying voltages (in terms of amplitude and frequency), they usually require...

Introduction to District Energy Systems

District energy systems produce steam, hot water, or chilled water at a central plant and distribute it to individual buildings for space heating, domestic hot water heating and air conditioning. Consequently, individual buildings served by a district energy system don’t require their own boilers or furnaces, chillers, or air conditioners. Mature systems are most commonly found in the central...

What is Alternative Energy?

Wind Power-Alternative Energy Alternative Energy (AE) is synonymous with the term renewable energy. Recent interest in AE resources has been brought about by a desire for: Independence from traditional power sources  (e.g. coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear), Decreased environmentally dangerous emissions, and Less price volatility as compared to the cost of fossil fuels (particularly...

Smart Grid Interrelated Communication Network

Smart Grid relies on a number of interrelated communications capabilities, namely: The ability to transmit and receive electronic signals (messages) between devices on the transmission and distribution grid. The ability to transmit real-time data from meters installed at the customer premises. The ability to control electronic devices installed within the customer’s location. The ability to...

The Aging Work Force at Electric Utilities

Typical Electric Utilities Age Profile For the last decade many observers have identified the industry’s aging work force as a demographic pattern that poses critical challenges to the safe and reliable operation of many utilities, particularly the electric utilities. The figure to the right highlights an illustrative and typical example of a U.S. electric utility’s work force age composition...

Smart Grid or Smart Meters?

Is Installing Smart Meters Smart? Smart Meter There is tremendous momentum driving the installation of Smart Meters across the U.S. as well as other international markets (e.g. Victoria in Australia, New Zealand and China). State laws (e.g. Pennsylvania Act 129 signed in October 2008) have been enacted to compel electric utilities to develop smart meter based solutions to support energy...

The Benefits of District Energy Systems

District energy systems offer a variety of benefits, including: Improved energy efficiency – Steam, hot water or chilled water arrive at a building ready to use. They are 100 percent efficient “at the door,” as compared with 80 percent efficient or less when burning natural gas or fuel oil at a building. In addition, district energy systems can use the “reject heat”...

What is Combined Heat and Power?

Combined heat and power (CHP) (also referred to as Cogeneration) is the use of a power plant to simultaneously generate electricity and useful heat. It is among the most common forms of energy recycling. Conventional power plants emit the heat created as a by-product of electricity generation into the environment through cooling towers, flue gas, or by other thermodynamic processes. CHP systems...

The History of District Energy Systems

District energy systems date back to the Roman Empire when heating systems were developed for hypocausts (ancient heating systems), greenhouses, water pipes, and hot water heating. This technology was used even more widely during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries during a particularly cold period. Early District Energy Systems Some of the more noteworthy developments in district energy...