Technology Available Now
A more efficient building means more profit, and one way to cut expenses is through energy efficiency. Not very glamorous, but sometimes window shades save more money per dollar invested than high tech gadgets. Good solid conservation practices should be the first area of improvement.
Water heaters are the next most cost effective improvement. The proper sized heat storage tanks can collect enough heat in the summer to heat your business all winter long, provide a heat source for regenerative air conditioner, preheat process water, or even provide enough heat for power generation. Waste heat or excess process heat also can easily be reclaimed and utilized.
Photovoltaic (PV) Cells supply the grid during the day when demand is greatest. Your electric company credits you for power supplied at the rate set by the State of North Carolina. The grid tie system is the least expensive system because there are no batteries or charge controller, though power conditioners and battery backups for critical systems are often smart additions.
NC businesses can deduct up to 35% of the investment in alternate energy systems up to $2,500,000.00, spread over 5 years, and take an additional 30% deduction for federal taxes as well. If your business is making a profit, you can write off 65% of the cost.
Residual heat from industrial processes or solar water heaters can run generators. One of the best kept secrets is that waste heat, low temperature geothermal or solar heat sources can generate electricity using less than 200 degrees F. Oil companies, commonly power oil rigs using waste gas to power microturbines.
Microturbines promise to evolve into an important source of power in our distributed system. Waste from recycling centers, waste gasses, waste process heat, renewable resources, geothermal, solar, and other heat sources are all capable of powering microturbines.
Currently, geothermal generators are underutilized. A recent MIT study advises wider use of geothermal energy as a cost effective alternative to coal fired generators. The cost of building a geothermal plant is currently less than building a coal fired generator with a comparable capacity: zero emissions with zero fuel costs.
Fuel cells are also becoming more affordable for businesses which require uninterruptible power supplies, or for operations in remote locations. Residual heat produced by fuel cell stacks can also run auxiliary generators.
There are many options.
Businesses choosing to invest in distributed power systems save money, increase reliability, reduce carbon emissions, and reduce toxic compounds released by coal fired power plants.
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Commercial Applications and Raw Power
| Direct solar heating through windows is the best way to save energy in the winter; and the best way to keep cool in the summer is to eliminate sources of heat gain by using shades, low E glass on South and West facing windows, and reflective roofing material. |  |
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Radiant heat can be easily installed in an existing structure over a concrete floor. 2 inches of grout offers ample protection, and provide a bed for stylish tile floors, vinyl, carpet, or wood. |
| This parabolic dish sun farm is a low cost method of collecting enough heat to run a 16 mW steam power turbine generator. Also, enough heat can be accumulated to run lower powered generators and to provide hot process water. |  |
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The latest generation of Uni-Solar PV Laminate material adheres to most surfaces. This inexpensive material has the best ROI available because it is installed very quickly and does not require an expensive framework or backing. This is the most cost effective solar alternative available today. |
| Corporate leaders already know the benefits of installing PV panels. With a 5 to 10 year pay-off in saved utilities, this investment continues to pay dividends. With spiraling utility costs, a relatively small investment today can provide free energy for decades. |  |
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Silicon PV panels currently compete with microprocessing companies for a limited supply of silicon. Life spans from 20 to 30 years and must be anchored using rigid frames. Silicon is the great grandfather of PV technology and prices are forecast to drop as the supply of silicon rises to meet increasing demand. |
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Wasted gas like this from refineries, landfills, livestock or dairy farms, and manufacturing processes can be used to generate electricity. Methane is 25 times more powerful than CO2, can be used in place of natural gas, and is often a byproduct of farm operations. Methane is a source of free power. |
| Gas from landfills, plug flow digerstors, solid waste treatment, geothermal, waste oil, process heat, and other sources of heat can all power microturbines, compressors, or pumps. |  |
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Geothermal is cost effective with sufficiently high temperatures of at least 180 degrees F. Temperatures can also be achieved with solar collectors and tank systems designed to store heat. |
| Hot Rocks used to be the only source hot enough for geothermal electricity generation, but today technological advances enable us to use much cooler temperatures. Generators in the 20kw to1 megawatt range is just right for a manufacturing facility, mall, business park, office building, or subdivision. |  |
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Fuel Cells, originally designed in the 1940's are widely available from a few microwatts in size to many megawatts. Fuel cells will soon be used in portable devices such as laptops, cell phones, cars, buses and spacecraft of the future. They are clean, reliable, have few moving parts, and are completely safe. |
| 100% of Nanosolar Technology, a new concept in mass producing carbon based flexible panels, is exported to Germany. There are plans to build more plants in Germany, instead of the USA, and Nanosolar sells only to utilities. |  |
