Solar power systems for camping are increasing in availability, but what about practicality? Can solar power systems for camping be put to use readily? Are they portable enough? Are they durable enough?

Solar power practicality for camping must address those questions and more. Are solar power systems for camping cost effective? Do they produce enough energy for normal needs?

RV Camping

Solar power systems for camping can readily be used in RV camping. But are they practical?

Many people spend most of their RV camping time in RV camping spaces with full hook-ups. They plan trips according to where the next RV camp is, and reserve a full hook-up space for the end of each day. For them, solar power practicality is questionable. It makes a good back-up system, if there is a power outage at a campground. On the whole, however, it is an unnecessary expense – just another toy.

Others enjoy the freedom of being able to camp without hook-ups. They want to get off the beaten track – be pioneers. They want the opportunity to be in a remote, quiet place for a few days. They may want to go off road, or stop beside a quiet stream, even though it is in the middle of nowhere. They don’t want to rush to make it to the next full hook-up campground.

Solar power practicality for camping is real for the second group of campers. Solar power serves a practical use for them. It breaks the leash of energy needs and lets them wander as they please.

Operating an RV’s electrical system with a solar power system is simple. Charging its batteries with solar power is also simple. You need to plan your system, of course. You need to know how much energy you want. Then you need to purchase and install solar panels, batteries, and inverters that will produce that amount of energy for you.

Many Internet websites will guide you through the necessary steps of determining how much solar power you need. They will explain which components will provide that amount of energy. Solar power systems for camping in recreational vehicles are increasingly available in a range of sizes, and you are sure to find one to fit your needs. Most are easy to use.

Solar power systems for camping may make you think twice about appliances you take for granted in RV camping. For example, suppose you have a coffee maker that requires 15 minutes to brew coffee, and then keeps the coffee warm on a warming plate. This will consume a lot of your solar power. You may want to replace that coffee maker with one that will brew in 10 minutes and shut itself off. Pour your coffee into a thermos and it will remain hot without using more energy.

Non-RV Camping

Solar power systems for camping are also practical for non-RV camping. The same two groups of people are to be found. One group likes to make camp in a KOA campground, with electrical power close at hand. The other group likes to hike into the back country with lightweight backpacks, and camp wherever darkness overtakes them.

Solar power practicality can easily be seen in the array of lightweight, portable units hitting the market. Solar power can be generated by the backpack in which gear is carried. Flexible solar panels can be rolled up and carried to the campsite, where they can be stretched on the ground to generate additional energy.

Solar power systems for camping are small and portable, but can generate enough energy to run a small heater or light bulb. Solar collected by a backpack while hiking can recharge a cell phone, camera, or iPod. Small solar power units will run appliances made for use in a vehicle. The coffee maker that will plug into your cigarette lighter can be run by a flexible solar power panel.

Solar power practicality for camping is sure to increase, and products for this use will multiply. Those who appreciate the environment enough to want to be far out into it will demand clean energy, i.e. solar power.

Keeping Kurrent in the Neighborhood

Still, electric vehicles are getting better and there are some inexpensive models on the road from independent companies like American Electric with their Kurrent selling for around $9,800. However, this is not a family vehicle as it only seats two people. It isn’t meant for cruising down the highway either, the manufacturers suggest that people need to “slow down” a bit anyway and tout this vehicle as a “neighborhood vehicle”. This would be perfect for college students or people who live a short distance from work, but it won’t replace your regular vehicle just yet. Meanwhile, countries like Norway have been driving electric cars like the Think which can go 112 miles on a charge at top speeds of 62 mph for years now and these vehicles are expected to hit US markets within the next couple of years for less than $10,000.

Innovations on the Rise

Most Americans aren’t ready to settle for driving 30-100 miles on a charge and then waiting many hours to get back on the go and so the car manufacturers are still working hard to overcome the obstacles and build better batteries and vehicle designs that will extend the driving distance and increase speed. Ideas being developed include hydrogen fuel cells and plug-in hybrid. Either manufacturers are going to have to find a way to create electric vehicles that are comparable in performance and price to conventional vehicles or Americans are going to have to alter their lifestyles by limiting the number of hours driven per day and their driving speed. Since the latter is unlikely in the near future, automakers will have to keep working on new designs.

Weighing the Options

There are several good, inexpensive electric vehicles on the market right now for people who travel short distances to work or to the grocery store like the Kurrent, the Fly bo (made in China), and the GEM. There are also more expensive electric cars like the Venturi Fetish that top out at speeds of 100mph and have an equally impressive price tag at over 0,000 in the US. Meanwhile, it will likely still be few years into the future before the electric car becomes a viable option for the majority of people in the United States.

The American Electric Car

GM is not the first and certainly will not be the last American auto manufacturers to create a mass marketed electric car. GM did it in the 90′s with the “EV” which was a success to the consumers, but not for GM as it was more of a test car. They are working on a car, the “Volt” which will be designed to travel 40 miles solely on battery power. Something like 75% of Americans travel less than 40 miles in their commute to work. So it can provide a clean means to travel and will have a small engine for those with greater distances. The Volt is highly anticipated to charge into American’s lives.

Since manure and waste products are often used in the digestion process, many biogas facilities build their tanks underground to reduce concerns about odors.  Tim Evans, the managing director of Renewable Zukunft, which is working in partnership with SS Agriservices, confirmed that the prospective facility at Attlesborough was be resubmitted with plans to store the waste underground.

SS Agriservices, is a collective of local farmers and agricultural contractors in Norfolk and Suffolk hoping to build the region’s first anaerobic digestion project. Located on a poultry farm off Stony Lane in Attleborough, the power station would be fueled by manure and waste crops like maize, cereals, and grains.  The methane gas produced would drive a generator and create electricity.

Evans said he believes that biogas was a more reliable and “attractive” source of energy than onshore and offshore wind farms. While other European nations like Germany and Austria can boast over 7,500 biogas facilities, there are only a handful currently running in the UK.

“The government is putting lots of money into wind farms, which only run for 25 percent of the year, and we run for 95 percent of the year,” Evans said. “It is not windy everywhere, but there are farms everywhere, and one of the attractions of Crows Hall Farm is that it is very close to a suitable connection to the National Grid.”

Read the article here. Read more about Harvest Power’s best-of-breed technologies here.

Recent environmental concerns have made way for the return of wind power, and in its wake came a host of myths, mistruths and misunderstandings. This article aims to dispel some of the common myths of wind power.

Wind turbines are only efficient in high winds
This is a common misconception regarding wind turbines. Obviously the more wind there is the more electricity each wind turbine will generate, but even in a light breeze both large commercial wind turbines and the smaller residential wind turbines will generate an acceptable amount of electricity. As the wind speed changes, the angle of the turbines blades will adjust themselves accordingly to achieve maximum efficiency, regardless of wind speed.

Wind turbines are noisy
This may have been true in the past as many early wind turbines had no noise emission guidelines to adhere to. Also, wind turbine manufacturers and wind power companies didn’t really consider the impact a large scale wind farm would have on nearby residential areas. These early wind turbines are the source of the current ‘wind turbines are noisy’ myth. Over the last decade wind turbine technology had progressed considerably, rendering mechanical noise almost undetectable.

Wind farm planners have strict guidelines to adhere to in order to protect nearby residential areas from noise emissions. This doesn’t mean that wind farms are silent as there is an audible ‘swoosh’ as the turbines blades pass the tower; however this is only heard at a relatively close range.

Wind farms are not cost effective
Twenty to thirty years ago, wind farms and wind turbine technology was a victim of trial and error to a certain extent. Let us not confuse older, noisier and more costly wind farms with their modern counterparts. In the early 1980′s over 5000 wind turbines were put in place at the Tehachapi Pass in California. These days wind farms consist of fewer, larger wind turbines which have proved not only more cost effective but more attractive on the eye than the early wind farms which dotted the landscape with hundreds of smaller wind turbines.

Home wind turbines are a waste of time and money
The smaller home wind turbines are more often than not used in combination with an array of solar panels. The wind turbine will continue to charge the batteries through the night even in a light breeze meaning a steady trickle of electricity is potentially available 24 hours a day. Prices of home wind turbines vary depending on the output power and installation cost. A small residential wind turbine will reduce an average electricity bill by around 20-35%. Or to put it another way, a residential wind turbine would save around half a ton of CO2 each year.

Wind farms kill birds
It is true that a considerable number of birds have flown into the blades of wind turbines and as a result have been injured or even killed. Saying that, it is also true that a large number of birds are killed each year as a result of flying into tall buildings or are hit by cars, trains, trucks and buses. It is an unfortunate fact that human impact on the environment does take its toll on wildlife to a certain extent; however, wind farms do not pose any considerable threat to birds or any other form of wildlife.

Today’s Electric automobiles you can find are a bit smallish than the full sized cars we are use to however, they will well seat four adults, but nothing more. normally the style is like to a two-door hatchback. Other ease or necessaries you will find are airbags, seat belts, and air-conditioning. Not only will you savor these characteristics but also the new Electric automobile automobiles can get up to speeds of around 60MPH and move for about 12 hours without breaking and recharging.

The Electric Automobile cars are unthoughtful urban Electric cars as most masses will still not wish to use them on long trips, however, even in larger cities or going from the urban regions to the big urban centers, they will be great. The idea is that you will be able to go longer and faster than before so the Electric motorcar motorcar will be more attractive for those that live in large cities or in the urban areas and travel to the city for work.

At this time, Ford and Nissan are trying out these Electric cars and Daimler-Chrysler is under sign up for the Zap! Smart motorcar to the US. In the past, the Zap! Smart car was imported to the US and then modified to meet the safety standards of the US.

Why are these Electric Automobile vehicles on the Rise? The answer is quite plain. The Electric Automobile car does not let loose carbon dioxide or other harmful gases into the air. Along with this, in the UK, if you have a automobile that does not emit carbon-dioxide you do not have to pay motorcar tax. In the UK, the car tax you pay is defined by the amount of CO2 your vehicle emits, the more your car emits the more you give in car tax. One more great cause to view buying an Electric automobile car is that they are compact, are easy to drive in congested areas, and you can find a spacing space much quicker.

Electric car automobiles are advantageous for the environment while allowing all individuals the chance to get around town or the area, but in a diminutive more compact way. Research is still being done and of course, more Electric automobile motorcars are being made. This means that before long, you will see umpteen improvements in the speed and the space you can move between recharges.

Mankind has recently enhanced its living standard and its population in an explosive way. In fact, the human population quadrupled and primary power consumption increased 16-fold during the 20th century [1]. The consumption of energy, food, and material resources is predicted to increase 2.5 fold in the coming 50 years. As a result of our efforts for better life, we have come to face, in this 21st century, serious global issues threatening our safe life or even our existence itself on our mother planet earth. These are issues such as global warming, environmental degradation, declining nutrition on land and sea from rising CO2, and rapid decrease of fossil reservoir. Since the living standard and the population of developing countries are increasing continuously, the demand of energy will be several times larger than that of today’s requirement by the time of the half way of this century.

In 2000, the world had 6.1 billion human inhabitants. This number could rise to more than 9 billions in the next 50 years as shown in Fig.-1. This future population increase is mostly due to very rapid increase in less developed countries although the number in more developed countries will be almost constant (about 1 billion) or rather decrease [2].

The explosive increase in the human population inevitably requires an exponential increase in the consumption of energy, food, and material resources. One primary power source at present comes from fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas. However, the fossil fuels have two serious factors which prevent them from being used for a long term as primary power source. One is their limited amount that does not last long if used with the same or higher pace than that of today (Fig.-2). The other is their negative feature of emitting carbon dioxide, one of the green house gases, which causes the global warming.

Atmospheric carbon dioxide monthly mean mixing ratios. Data prior to May 1974 are from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO, blue), date since May 1974 are from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA, red). A long term trend curve is fitted to the monthly mean values [4]

Atmospheric CO2 has increased from 275 parts per million (ppm) before the industrial era begun to 379 ppm in March 2004 as shown in Fig.-3. Some scientists suggest that it will pass 550 ppm this century. Climate models and paleoclimate data indicate that 550 ppm, if sustained, could eventually produce global warming comparable in magnitude but opposite in sign to the global cooling of the last Ice Age [5].

Global energy demand continues to grow along with worldwide concerns over fossil fuel pollution, the safety of nuclear power and waste, and the impact of carbon-burning fuels on global warming. As a result sustainable energy sources like solar, wind, hydropower, biomass, geothermal, hydrogen, ocean thermal, tidal power etc are drawing prime attention, out of which solar power is the most promising one. Terrestrial solar power has too many limitations like atmospheric attenuation, daily and seasonal variation, and affects by climate conditions etc. To overcome these limitations concept of Solar Power from Space is getting momentum, which was first proposed by Czech-American engineer Peter Glaser as a solution to the oil crises of the 1970s [6]. Solar Power from Space is a proposed concept to place a gigantic solar power station in space orbiting around the earth that uses microwave power transmission to beam solar power to a very large antenna on earth where it can be used in place of conventional power sources.

2. SPACE SOLAR POWER (SSP) vs TERRESTRIAL SOLAR POWER (TSP)

The SSP concept arose because space has several major advantages over earth for the collection of solar power. Space is free from day-night cycle, atmosphere, clouds, dust, rain, fog and other climatic changes, so it would receive 30% more intense and at least eight times more sunlight than that of at ground constantly and continuously unaffected by the weather. In geosynchronous orbit it would receive sunlight almost 24 hours a day hence avoiding the expensive storage facilities necessary for earth-based solar power systems.  Since earth’s axis is tilted, it would be in earth’s shadow only for 70 minutes maximum at late night when power demands are at their lowest, during 42 days near the equinoxes [7] .

3. SSP: SYSTEM DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGIES

The SSP system is composed of a space segment and a ground power receiving site (Fig.-6). Space segment consists of mainly three parts; solar energy collector to convert the solar energy into DC (Direct Current) electricity, DC-to-microwave converter, and large antenna array to beam down the microwave power to the ground. Ground power receiving site uses a device called rectenna (rectifying antenna) to receive and rectify the microwave power beam. The rectenna system converts the microwave power back to DC power which is then converted to conventional AC (Alternating Current), and is connected to existing electric power networks.

Assuming typical values for efficiencies like 15% for solar panels to convert solar energy into DC, 70% conversion rate in the space segment from DC to microwave, 90% beam (power) collection efficiency, and 80% conversion rate for rectenna from microwave to DC in ground segment, the estimated over-all efficiency is approximately 7.5 %. With such efficiency a SSP space segment would be of size of about 50 km2 (5 km x 10 km) to generate 5 GW DC power on earth

Fig.-6 : Reference Model: 5 GW GEO based Space Solar Power Station Designed by US Department of Energy (DOE) and NASA in 1979 [8]

3.1 -SOLAR CELL: EFFICIENT STRUCTURES

In the very near future, breakthroughs in nanotechnologies promise significant increase in solar cell efficiencies from current 15% values to over 50% levels. That might decrease required size of space segment by about 3 fold. Author proposes Metal-Metal junction cavity solar cell which theoretically promises to increase solar-electric conversion efficiency many folds.

A cavity of metal m2 (work function W2) with thin polish of metal m1 (work function W1, W1 <W2 , Fig.-7) on inner surface, with a pin hole is kept at the focus of the solar concentrator coinciding the pinhole and focus. Pinhole is covered with transparent glass to protect inner polish of cavity from atmospheric reaction. Such cavity behaves as metal-metal junction solar cell (termed as M-M cavity solar cell) with various features (described below) leading to enhancement of solar-electric conversion efficiency.

·  The major loss in usual structures is the reflection loss (about 30%) but in M-M cavity solar cell once ray enters in cavity, undergoes multiple inner reflection

According to the car company’s managing director, by the name of Jonathan Nash, to give confidence to motorists and other players in the emerging sector, stronger signals were needed from government.

He cited Sweden as an example. He said that new and reconditioned filling stations in it were only given planning permission if they stocked E85, which is blended using 85 percent ethanol. In effect, motorists could buy the fuel in more than 800 locations. In the UK it is only available at 15 Morrisons filling stations.

Mr. Nash also said that cars that are designed to run on E85 had a 20 percent increase in power and a 30 percent increase in torque as compared to those running on conventional fuel, but could still use straight petrol where necessary. According to him, people can use cars with smaller engines.

He added that with the technology, sales of Saab models had jumped to 85 percent of total output since they were launched in Sweden and Ireland, in less than 12 months.

He continued that consumers are ready to make the wise choices when offered the right tools, but the government has to offer a long-term but reachable framework.

The managing director further said that LPG or liquid petroleum gas was killed by government policy and that it is now a dead technology. Thus, there are no new and more modern cars that are built with original equipment for LPG.

About Saab

The name SAAB is actually an acronym of “Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget” which means “Swedish Aircraft Company.” Their aircraft legacy is more than a novel piece of historical trivia: It is a persistent design philosophy that makes Saab stand out. Evidences are seen in the cockpit-inspired interiors, the ergonomic controls, and the sleek, aerodynamic lines. Saab AB manufactures broad-based systems solutions, products and services in civil security, defense, aviation and space as well as related areas in the global market. Gripen, developed by Saab AB, is the first of the new generation, multi-role combat aircraft to enter service.

The company sought ways in which to diversify its business and it started to manufacture Saab Automobiles in the late 1940s. The automobile division was based in Trollhättan with the first car being the Saab 92001 on launched in June 10, 1947.

Over the years, Saab designers have been creating innovations such as turbo engines, heated seats, active head restraint systems, cabin air filters, headlamp washers and more.

Founded by 16 aircraft engineers, the brand assures that each single Saab fuel pump meet their high quality standards.

The manufacturers of Saab jets and vehicles are no longer affiliated today.

Countries like Denmark and Spain have already successfully harnessed wind power to supply a portion of their electric power. In London, a vast wind farm expected to become the largest in the world has already begun construction, a physical manifestation of the country’s efforts towards encouraging the renewable energy sector. Elsewhere in the United States are several wind farms established for power generation, such as those in Pampa, Texas and in Fond du Lac County in Wisconsin. In Wyoming, there is the Happy Jack Windpower Facility that already began its commercial operations in September 2008.

Another renewable energy source is also being used to generate power and for other practical purposes as well—solar power. In states filled with sunshine the whole year through, such as California and Nevada, solar thermal power plants are being constructed with the aim of supplying power to a large percentage of households. However, the largest photovoltaic plant in the world is found in Germany and is expected to become operational in 2009. Several communities in the United States are also implementing plans of purchasing and installing their own photovoltaic farms to supply renewable energy to its households.

Many places all over the world are also harnessing geothermal energy for power supply. In the United States, the latest projects of this kind have been initiated in Beaver County, Utah and in New Mexico. The former has a geothermal power plant called Thermo while the latter has just begun construction on the Lightning Dock Geothermal Power Plant.

Wave power is also being tapped as potential source of renewable source, with the opening of a large wave farm in Portugal in September 2008. This first of its kind facility is expected to generate more than 2 MW of electricity. In Oahu, Hawaii, the US Navy has funded and taken active participation in the development of a wave energy technology expected to generate about 1 MW of electricity.

And elsewhere in the world, car manufacturers, legislators, and private individuals have taken interest and commitment to reduce carbon dioxide emissions through the use of more energy efficient automobiles. Most of these vehicles are also capable of using the biofuel ethanol, which is certainly affordable and produces no pollutants into the atmosphere.

With most of the countries in the world and environmental organizations pushing for the use of renewable energy resources and for the development of supporting technologies, there is an expected trend of consumer preference toward renewable energy supply. Because of these, it is also expected that the renewable energy sector will continue to increase and expand with more investments from capitalists all over world. With these developments, the goals of reducing the world’s dependence of fossil fuels and enjoying cleaner environment are slowly reaching realization.

The number of parts in an electric car is also less as against other hybrid cars or cars that run on gas. The noise from electric cars is almost negligible. Basically, an electric car is made up of a simple frame, wheels, an electric motor, car battery and an electric on and off switch. The engine of the electric car is made up of a series of batteries that are attached to an on and off switch and it is in turn, attached to a motor that is electrically operated. Obviously, the electric motor drives the wheels and sets the car in motion.

The amount of electricity that goes into the motor is controlled to drive the vehicle in a controlled manner. There are solar cars available that convert solar energy into electricity. The electricity that is stored within the battery of an electric car can be generated from any source, apart from solar, like nuclear, natural gas, coal and petroleum.

Since electric cars have a low center of gravity, the initial acceleration is quite rapid and can be handled quite easily. But, the fact of the matter is, that the lithium ion batteries used in cars are very expensive making the overall price of the car expensive and these batteries have to be replaced once in three or four years. In addition, the charging of the battery takes almost three or four hours to fully recharge and therefore needs prior planning, if the electric car is to be used for longer distances.

This also means that the batteries can be charged only from the initial point of journey because there may not be too many charging stations on the way. People also feel that the electric cars are not most suitable for driving long distances and can be nightmarish, if the car runs out of battery or in the midst of busy traffic.

Normally, an electric car offers the equivalent of twenty miles per gallon and the cost to run a mile is nearly three cents. Further more; there is no expenditure on tune ups, oil changes and the like in an electric car. So, people who are environment friendly and want to paint a greener world can opt for an electric car.

The choice would not only be appreciated by others but it would also fill the pocket of the owner because it saves a lot of fuel in the long run. Even though man affords to purchase oil what with soaring oil prices, oil is a depleting natural resource and it is our duty to save this resource for our future generations.

Even though the government still has a long way to go to get these alternative fuels many Americans have already learned the chemistry to producing these fuels. A recent study by a Pacific Northwest university said that they cannot find a way to make the fuel as good as gas made from oil. Gas will only go so far but the bio diesel will go a long way because it is cheap to make and isn’t hard to convert motors to run on them they just have to already be a diesel motor.

Biofuels are made by using matter from the environment to make a usable fuel to burn. These biofuels are better to use then the fossil fuels that we burn every day. The bio fuels need to be able to use in cars or vehicles because that is where most of out fossil fuels go to. They need to make a way or fuel that can run in any car and can make it at a very cheap rate.

Even though it has a long way to go till everyone is using these there are still a few people in the United States who have these bio fuel labs in the garages at home. The study done up north by a university still cannot find out why they can’t make a small amount of bio fuel and that is because you don’t have the right properties. You are probably trying to use something with no significant bio value at all.

Even though the oil has been though in the stock exchange does not mean that we Americans cannot make something that can be used as an every day alternative, dropping all the oils prices are not going to do it because then people will continue to use them. The people just need to take the matter into their own hands and make something that can be used every day as a fossil fuel alternative. It isn’t hard people are already using bio diesel every day. Nothing stopping them from making their own. The government knows how to make these fuels they just don’t want to because they want to keep stealing all our money even though they are the ones printing the money.