New Renewable Technologies - Brief

Key:

light blue - wind energy 

yellow - solar

darker shade of blue - HEP schemes

red - geothermal

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  • How can new renewable technologies help future supply meet demand?
    • Increase Efficiency
      • multijunction PV solar cells have a maximum efficiency of 46% compared with single junction 27.6%
        • this is because the multijunction cells have many layers of materials which absorb different wavelengths of light
      • PV hybrid systems
        • prevent the resistance of cells reaching levels which could reduce efficiency by absorbing the heat for space heating
      • Kaplan turbines harness up to 90% kinetic energy of the water
        • blades rotate to allow variations in flow rate - means that for energy to be converted, the minimum velocity is reduced
      • blade-tip fins and nacelle brushes reduce air resistance
    • Increase Energy Density
      • parabolic reflectors - focus the light energy to one area
      • helical VAWTs - curved blades rotate more smoothly
        • absorption of energy is equalised across the blades so more is absorbed
    • Reduce Cost
      • direct drive turbines lack a gearbox - one of the most expensive components
    • Storage Potential - Overcoming Intermittency
      • solar thermal storage: use tanks of molten salt rather than water to store energy as these have a higher boiling point
        • molten salt can store temperatures of 550C - water can be boiled to steam at any time
    • Reduce Locational Constraints
      • low temperature fluids - using fluids that bill and turn turbines at lower temperatures
        • butane or pentane boil at 60C - geothermal energy could be used in the UK
      • Vertical Axis turbines (VAWTs) are driven by wind in any direction
        • can be used in urban areas and where winds are turbulent
        • also operate at lower wind velocities - wider range of areas available

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