The Benefits

Now the question comes, what are the benefits of generating energy through a off-shore Solar-Rig (see end of page if you don't what it is); well, here are some

i) optimum utilization of space as it’ll not lead to deforestation on land,

ii) oil rig platform technology is very much developed and it’ll help in setting up Solar Rigs easily

iii) old & dried up oil rigs can be used as platform for Solar Rigs and,

iv) such high temperature & power system can be used for hydrogen generation which is fuel of the future.

Any comments?

Energy Collector Design

I've thought of a design for the Energy Collector of my project, 'off-shore solar' (As I'll call it now). Now first, what's an energy collector? Energy Collector is a device which is placed at the focal point of the Concentrator. Sun light can be as intense as around 3000 Suns at this point and temperatures in excess of 5000K

Image courtesy: Sandia National Laboratories & National Renewable Energy Laboratory (SunLab)

Now, think how wonderful it will be if we can take out useful energy from a solar cell without frying it in this intense heat. So, my design of the collector is basically based on this idea. We know that a silicon solar cell can convert only high frequency light into electricity i.e. blue to violet part of the spectrum. Rest of the energy essentially goes waste as heat in solar cells.

But, this is going to change Now!

If we can separate the intense beam of Sunlight into a spectrum like this, then we can safely place a solar cell in the Green to Blue portion of the spectrum and heat collectors can be placed in the Yellow to Red portion.
The results we can obtain using this technique seem to be amazing as the solar cell will work at maximum efficiency with minimal heating and we're also utilizing the heat of the sunlight.

Now the question is how we're going to split the sunlight into parts?

Maybe we can pass the intense beam through a prism or will diffraction work? (I'm not sure about this) or we can maybe... ah... err.... Ya, maybe we can use the way nature makes it (in a rainbow). If you're a researcher or professor or student or anybody knowing about this reading then can you please suggest me somethin..? Thanks very much!!

Suggestions & Comments are invited, thank you for reading.

Counterpoints; Explained

There are some counterpoints regarding my idea (see previous post) of offshore solar power plants. I'll explain them below;
Point 1: It would deprive sunlight to the part of ocean below and will affect marine ecology.

Explanation:
Yes, surely it would block sunrays from entering the ocean below and thereby less oxygen will be generated by undersea plants & phytoplanktons and it would affect marine life, but we can avoid that problem by using this process;

In this process raw material is water (H2O), final product is Hydrogen and by product is Oxygen, means oxygen is generated as a waste in this process much like in trees. We can simply dissolve this oxygen in the sea-water below and avoid the ecological problem.

Now, this reaction works only at high tempreatures which is easily obtainable in solar concentrators, which is exactly what I plan to use.
The hydrogen generated can be used directly in fuel cells or we can use it to generate electricity on-board and then transmit that electricity through undersea cables.

Comments are invited

A fuel cell car.

The Big Idea

So, How can you convert this beautiful oil-rig into something which is far more beautiful and eco-friendly...?
I will tell you! Just place a large parabolic solar concentrator on the top and derive useful and non-polluting energy from it and what's more, you can even track the sun easily, just lift up'n'down its large four feet to adjust. Imagine!!!
This idea is Copyright © Mridul,

Hi

Today I got another issue of Renewable Energy World Magazine, a bi-monthly dose of fresh new developments in the renewable energy world. And the Amazing thing about it is that it’s Free. Cover story in this issue is ‘How the PV industry manages environmental issues’ and a special report on Global Status of Renewables. My favourite article on Concentrating Photovoltaic

Vogan completed (scroll below)

Tim & Scott Witness test

Scott OK

Robin putting mounts together

Randy, Laxmi & Tim

These set of pictures show installation of solar PV modules in MIT

Heh Heh! Well this could be powering our home in the 'not too distant future'

Captured in Mussoorie , India. Exciting hill-station to visit. Rich flora & fauna, cool climate, mountains, low pollution all this and more. So get going!
And by the way, I happened to be there for my SAT II test at Woodstock school

Kempty Falls, Mussorie

Sunset View

MIT World

Here’s a link to MIT-World where you can watch a lecture on this topic
“Energy for the Coming Decades: Trends and Technologies”

Another beautiful place near my town called Gobind Sagar Lake

This picture was taken on a cloudy day
from a park in my town Naya Nangal, it is really a nature friendly and beautiful place situated near Satluj river in the lap of Shivalik Hills. If you are tired of city life, if you miss nature, then this place is for you. Come here for a vacation to rejuvinate and relax.

Fresh Man

I’ve applied to these Universities this year;
1. MIT
2. Yale
3. Cornell
4. Stanford
5. Columbia
It was the first time that I’ve submitted any form online and it was a wonderful experience, so easy and fast. Registration for the SAT tests is also a piece of cake for those who have their own credit card, but for others it’s not so easy considering that you live in India.
I’ve also had myself interviewed with an Educational counselor, an alumnus of MIT. It was really an encouraging and inspiring meet; I’ve got to learn so many things from her. It was really an exciting moment for me.

An Intelligent Electronic 2-Axis Sun Tracker that I've Developed. [And I've won a National Award for that(INTEL Science Talent Discvery fair)]











The pictures show Morning, Noon and Evening positions of the Tracker

A solar car designed by Massachusetts Institute of Tech. More about Solar energy at MIT Here, Here and Here. Also a nice tool for residents in US and AUS to check monthly solar irradiation and how to align solar panels, here

A solar parabolic cooker for fast and economical cooking. Great for Picnics Too! (Find More about them on the top Google Ads.)

Save climate

A new world

Today I got a book titled ‘University of California Engineering and Sciences Extension Series’, quite a long name though, it is as good as it sounds. I fell into deep thoughts after reading the first line of preface of the book which says ‘Civilization requires energy; not a wheel of commerce or industry would turn without it’. Well, a thought came to my mind about solar energy, how is it going to power our world, the world we know and inhabit derives its energy from fire, and how can somebody just transform that world into something that goes on just sun and wind power. Remember what happened with Hitler as he thought of changing the world into something that he desired. So, the thing that is to be done here is to create a new world, a community of people living on renewable energy and gradually expand that community into a city and then a country and that’s it. It may sound easy but it isn’t actually. As I think it’s the fastest way possible to get people onto the track.

Welcome to Sun Enery world. Here we will discuss all about the mighty Sun!
Yes! you are right. Its about Solar Energy and other renewable alternatives.

Let me introduce myself, I am a 17 year old guy from India, and I dream of a world filled with happiness, like a small family, a motherly loving Nature and father Sun (A star in our family).

I've just completed my high school and I already know what's my aim in life. I want to phase out the use of coal and oil for energy purposes by using the energy that's freely available.
I have actually developed some designs and devices which gather freely available energy in an efficient way and I have also won national and regional awards in that context.

Well, when you live in the lap of nature and see others living in a places like hell, then you will surely develop a thinking like me.
I live in a small and beautiful town with lots of trees and very low pollution, when I see people living a hectic life in cities I feel sad.
So, come on join my world (Sun energy World) and and live happily ever.