A world beating Australian solar technology emerges

A new solar technology developed in Australia is set to bring down solar energy costs even further. Technique Solar based in Melbourne & run by Prof Ian Bates formally of RMIT University has developed solar panels that are claimed to be four times more efficient & three times cheaper than any comparable existing technology.

The panels are a hybrid of photovoltaic cells & acrylic lenses that are designed to track the sun as it moves across the sky. The design of the panels allows for the production of both heat energy & electricity.

With price per kw/hr expected to be anywhere from one third to one quarter that of existing technology, this recent advance in solar power generation is an initial indicator that the cost of solar power output will follow the price curve that other technologies exhibit which is down.

For more on Technique Solar visit their website


Posted by: Andrew
Company: Noble & Associates
Phone: 61894007400
Posted On: 1/1/0001
Contact via email: andrew@nobleaccounting.com.au
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Categories: Energy
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Distributed Energy

Historically energy grids have been highly centralised and in the case of energy in Western Australia the centre has consisted of coal powered electricity generating stations. With new DIY energy technologies becoming available the centre is yielding to the edge. The edge will include all homes and businesses that decide to invest in their own solar panels, wind turbines & wave energy generators.

As more distributed power generators come online, connections between these energy generators will grow, creating a robust, distributed and intelligent energy network. This new network will yield as yet unknown benefits beyond stability and price efficiencies.

The future is looking bright indeed.


Posted by: Andrew
Company: Noble & Associates
Phone: 61894007400
Posted On: 1/1/0001
Contact via email: andrew@nobleaccounting.com.au
Categories: Energy | Infrastructure
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A drying climate - a new mindset required

CSIRO have completed short term water supply & demand modelling for Western Australia covering the next twenty years and the scenario is frightening. Surface water running into dams & rivers could reduce by up to 50%, the Gnangara Mound faces a one third decline by 2030 and rainfall is expected to fall by another 7% after falling by 15% since 1970. With the forecast extreme climate changes and significant population growth there could be a water deficit of 250 gigalitres per annum. Unless energy costs fall significantly, converting sea water to drinkable water will mean much higher costs for our water.

Market forces will probably lead to adaptation in the way that West Australians live, particularly in relation to the size and design of our dwellings and their garden surroundings. Lawns & European style gardens will need to make way for desert, Mexican & native gardens as well as synthetic lawns.

 


Posted by: Andrew
Company: Noble & Associates
Phone: 61894007400
Posted On: 1/1/0001
Contact via email: andrew@nobleaccounting.com.au
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Categories: Climate Change
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Designing buildings for the hot West Australian climate

After one of the hottest summers on record it is worth consider how we might better adapt our building designs for houses, offices and factories to the fierce Western Australian heat. Termite mounds provide a great example of how insects engineer their living quarters to ensure survival in hot climates. giant-termite-mound

The typical termite mound must accommodate millions of inhabitants together with their fungus gardens. Termites cannot digest the cellulose from the wood that they collect so they use the wood as a food for fungus to grow on & then eat the fungus. These fungus gardens need a stable environment in which to grow and so constant humidity and temperature is a must.

Initially it was believed that termite mounds act as a giant chimney, filtering out the CO2 from the wasps & the fungus gardens. A typical mound needs to 'breathe' 1000 litres of fresh air per day. However, recent research has demonstrated that the real ventilation is driven through the walls of the termite mound which are porous. Termite mounds tap turbulence in the gusts of wind that hit them. A single breath of wind contains small eddies and currents that vary with speed & direction with different frequencies. As the range of frequencies changes from gust to gust, the boundary between the stale air in the nest and the fresh air from outside moves about within the mounds' walls, allowing the two bodies of air to be exchanged. In essence, the mound functions as a giant lung.

As termites do not need any electricity to run the heating, cooling and ventilation on their buildings, their designs are worth paying attention to, especially if we want to continue developing our civilization in Western Australia, one of the hottest driest spots on the planet.


Posted by: Andrew
Company: Noble & Associates
Phone: 61894007400
Posted On: 1/1/0001
Contact via email: andrew@nobleaccounting.com.au
Tags: , , , , , , ,
Categories: Climate Change
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