Solar energy has been welcomed into the world in a big way. Many families and communities are turning to renewable power sources to reduce their impact on the environment. Solar is adaptable and has enormous cost-saving potential.

A Bloomberg New Energy Finance analysis predicts that half of the world’s energy will be generated by solar and wind by 2050. This stems from the decreasing cost of installation and battery storage.

Traditional solar arrays are installed on a building or at ground level on poles. However, innovative companies have discovered that it is possible to install solar panels on water.

The Sekdoorn Project

German renewable and bioenergy company BayWa.re partnered with Dutch GroenLeven to build a power plant on the water. Construction took just six-weeks, a speed record for BayWa.re.

The solar farm consists of panels that float. The annual yield will be 13.330 MWh, which will cut CO2 emissions by around 6,500 tonnes. That is equivalent to the energy needed to power 4,000 homes.

A floating solar array eliminates the need to occupy precious land. This is a key development because it means that industrial pools, small lakes, reservoirs, and other bodies of water can also be used to generate power.

The World Bank found that just 10% of man-made freshwater reservoirs throughout Europe can potentially produce more than 200 GWp if floating solar panels were installed.

The undertaking introduced unique challenges. Floating solar panels require improvised cabling, adequate anchoring, and the need for walkways. BayWa.re used its ground-mounted design and developed it for an aquatic environment to address these concerns.

Other countries, including Belgium and Portugal, have plans for their own photovoltaic projects in the future.

China’s Largest Floating Solar Farm

China is also on board with renewable technology. Former coal miner Sang Dajie wanted to do something safer, so he became an electrician. He now works on the world’s largest floating solar farm.

The structure sits on a flooded coal mine located near Huainan city. The array includes 166,000 panels. Sang discussed the hazards of working in coal mines in China. The temperatures were hot, and the air was not safe to breathe.

China is known for some of the worst air pollution in the world. By switching to clean, sustainable power sources, the country can continue to grow its industry while generating less pollution.

The Chinese government promised to invest $360 billion into clean energy projects by this year. Their efforts are projected to create 13 million new jobs.

Solar Power on the Sea

Floating solar farms are primarily confined to inland bodies of water. However, developers are researching floating PV panels that could be used on the ocean. Ghent University, Jan De Nul Group, Tractebel, Dredging, and Environmental and Marine Engineering (DEME) in Belgium have come together to build a solar farm on the North Sea.

Their goal is to overcome the challenges of a lack of availability and high cost of land. The project is promising, but still faces obstacles. A floating solar farm usually costs 10% to 15% more than land-based arrays. An offshore version would likely be even more expensive to build.

Learn more about solar energy advancements by visiting Connect Electric. Let us know if you have questions about renewable energy for your home or business.

Renewable technology is on the rise in Australia. More communities are adopting sustainable energy sources and cleaner processes to lessen humanity’s impact on the planet.

According to the Clean Energy Council, a total of 38 renewable energy projects with 2,333-megawatt capacity were completed in 2018. Another 14.8 GW of generation was under construction or financially backed, which represented over 13,000 new jobs and $24.5 billion in investments in renewables.

Today, Australia utilises several renewable technologies that are in near-constant development. Connect Electric wants to share some of the methods that are used that could help change our future for the better.

Wind Energy

When it comes to large-scale energy production, wind is one of the cheapest renewable options out there. The turning of blades on enormous turbines produces electricity that is connected to the grid.

Improvements have given us “smarter” versions of a basic turbine. By adjusting rotor diameter and height along with other technology, we can reduce the number of turbines needed to generate the same amount of energy.

Wind farms produced 33.5% of Australia’s clean energy in 2018. That was a little over 7% of all electricity used throughout the country.

Solar Power

Solar power provides an even more adaptable option that can be used to meet large and small scale needs. While it may be impossible to install turbines in your yard, solar panels can be attached to homes or other structures.

They provide a renewable solution that can supply energy at the point of demand. This eliminates the need to transport power over long distances through expensive infrastructure.

Small scale solar systems of up to 100 kW generated nearly 20% of all clean energy in Australia in 2018 and 4.2% of all electricity produced.

Hydroelectricity

Hydroelectricity (hydro) isn’t a new idea. It’s been in use for over 100 years. This process harnesses the momentum of flowing water to rotate a turbine that’s attached to a generator. The amount of electricity produced is based on the height and volume of water.

Large hydro stations are housed inside dams. No water is consumed in the process, so every drop is returned to the river after it is used.

The downside to hydro is that the amount of electricity produced can vary based on rainfall and energy consumption. Hydro made 35.2% of all clean energy and 7.5% of all electricity in Australia in 2018.

Australia Leads the Way in Renewable Technology

Australia is currently the fastest-growing producer of renewable energy in the world. The country is growing its sustainable energy industry more than three times faster than Germany, which is the next fastest country on the list.

Even though investment money spent dropped in 2019, the generation capacity continued to increase. Reductions in the cost of construction may have been a factor, allowing for systems to be built cheaper than previous years.

The appeal of renewable technology isn’t going away. Many predict high installation rates for the foreseeable future. This is also supported by state government programs that encourage the use of sustainable energy.

If you have questions about renewable technology, let us know. Connect Electric can help you learn more about solar power and how it can reduce your expenses and your impact on the environment.

LED stands for “light emitting diode.” This device is a semiconductor. Other types of lighting convert energy into heat and then light. LEDs skip the heat part, converting energy directly into the light we need. This process is more efficient, with less wasted electricity.

Manufacturers can customise the colour of an LED by using different materials to make them. Many produce white light by combining a blue LED with yellow phosphor.

Some will instead combine red, green, and blue LEDs to create white light. This method isn’t typically used for household lighting. It’s preferred when creating components for full-colour devices.

Are LED Bulbs More Efficient Than Other Lights?

LEDs have been hailed as the most efficient lighting option out there. There are many reasons for that. They pull far ahead of standard incandescent bulbs when it comes to efficiency.

An incandescent light will use approximately 60 watts per 10 LED watts. The LED uses five times less energy. Incandescent bulbs also only last a short time – usually months. LEDs can last up to 25 times longer (depending on quality and brand).

Halogen bulbs are another popular choice. Both halogen and LED products produce the same brightness. LED wins again by generating equal illumination while consuming 85% less energy. They also last approximately 10 times longer than halogen bulbs.

How Much Can I Save Using LEDs in My Home?

Some homeowners get excited when they hear about the energy efficiency and lifespan of an LED, only to feel uncertain when they see the initial cost. LED bulbs have come down in price in recent years, but they are still the more expensive option. That’s why it’s important to look at the bigger picture when deciding on what type to buy.

It’s impossible to know exactly how much you will save each year without knowing how big your home is, how long you leave your lights on, and how many lamps and fixtures you need to power.

According to the Australian Department of Environment and Energy website, electricity accounts for 10% of the average household budget. Replacing 10 halogen bulbs with LEDs can amount to an estimated savings of $650 over 10 years.

For those concerned about the initial expense, you’ll be happy to hear that LEDs generally earn that amount back in less than a year of use.

Manufacturer Viribright found a noticeable difference in long-term operational costs. The following list is based on using a 60-watt incandescent bulb and equivalent CFL and LED bulbs over 20 years. The totals include the cost of the bulb, and the energy consumed to power it:

• Incandescent bulb costs $211
• CFL bulb costs $54
• LED bulb costs $34

When you factor in the long-term savings, LED lights still win out even with their higher purchase price.

There are also environmental benefits to using efficient lighting that requires fewer replacements. Begin switching to LEDs now so that you can start saving on your annual household expenses.

Electric cars are here, but they haven’t entirely caught on. New research found that only one-third of Australians surveyed want one while the other two-thirds don’t expect to own one. Electric vehicles claim a mere .2% of the new car market.

While there are environmental benefits, most car buyers are more interested in the financial savings. Lowering fuel costs was the top reason given for wanting an electric car. An average petrol car that is driven around 10,000km annually would cost $1,350 to fuel. An electric model can be charged for the same distance for approximately $350.

That sounds great. However, there are some drawbacks. Electric vehicles tend to cost more to buy. There’s also a concern for the lack of charging infrastructure. There aren’t as many places to recharge compared to how many petrol stations are available across Australia.

Charging takes time. Fueling with petrol seems easy. You fill the tank, and you are on your way. An electric vehicle must sit and charge for a certain length of time. That amount of time varies based on several factors.

How Long Does It Take to Charge an Electric Car?

The amount of time needed to charge a vehicle will depend on the charging infrastructure and model being driven.

There aren’t many completely electric models available in Australia right now. Several well-known companies make them, including Tesla, BMW, Nissan, Hyundai, Jaguar, and Renault, with more on the way.

Different models require different charging times. For example, Nissan’s Leaf can be charged to full capacity in up to 24 hours when using the standard power source available in a home. If you buy a 7kW charger, the time goes down to just 7.5 hours.

Tesla’s Model 3 can travel around 48km per hour of charge. Using a Supercharger or Tesla Wall Box will reduce the time needed.

Jaguar’s i-Pace SUV is advertised as offering up to 11km per hour of charge using the same at-home power. That means you will have to leave it plugged in for 43 hours to get a full charge. Installing Jaguar’s charging device will increase that to 35km.

Hyundai’s Kona Electric is marketed as going from empty to 80% charged in a little over 9.5 hours when using a home wall unit. That time lowers to 75 minutes when using a fast-charging station. A full charge would take up to 28 hours.

Are Electric Cars Worth the Wait?

A full charge for any electric vehicle takes a while. It’s a lot longer than most people would want to wait when they have somewhere to be. However, some car owners explain that waiting isn’t as bad as it sounds. You don’t have to fully charge every time. Some may charge for just 30 minutes to an hour to get hours of driving.

Much depends on how much you drive and how accessible charging stations are to you. Electric cars can greatly reduce fuel costs and help the environment. In time, the technology will likely improve to increase the driving range per charge. For now, electric vehicles provide an eco-friendly alternative that can cut your annual fuel costs.