• Cloud power

    Posted on by beno Comment

    Data centers are big power users. I know Apple and Google are doing the best they seemingly can by putting solar and wind farms in near their centers, but there is still more that needs to be done.

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/dec/11/tsunami-of-data-could-consume-fifth-global-electricity-by-2025

    The communications industry could use 20% of all the world’s electricity by 2025, hampering attempts to meet climate change targets and straining grids as demand by power-hungry server farms storing digital data from billions of smartphones, tablets and internet-connected devices grows exponentially.

    That’s pretty much it. The data centers are on track to use more power than most countries.


    📂This entry was posted in Computers

  • Solar Shade

    Posted on by beno Comment

    While we are talking about solar… I think Gary should cover most of his property with solar, it sounds like there is no downside from doing this…

    http://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2018/11/solar-arrays-can-create-prolific-microclimates-on-dry-farmland/

    Solar panels could increase productivity on pastures that are not irrigated and even water-stressed, a new study finds. The new study published in PLOS One by researchers at Oregon State College finds that grasses and plants flourish in the shade underneath solar panels because of a significant change in moisture. The results bolster the argument for agrovoltaics, the concept of using the same area of land for solar arrays and farming. The idea is to grow food and produce clean energy at the same time.

    It’s well worth a read (and it’s a quick read). In a nutshell, the shade produced really helps keep moisture in the soil and so things grow better.
    It’s making me think of my setup at home, perhaps I should build a structure over my wildflower garden and put the panels on top. They would get more sun than on the roof like they currently are (less shadows)… hmmmm


    📂This entry was posted in Life in the USA

  • Seven facts about Aussie solar

    Posted on by beno Comment

    Pretty interesting read for me.
    Most of my readers are from down that way and so probably know most of this already.

    https://reneweconomy.com.au/seven-australian-solar-facts-to-make-your-jaw-drop-30669/

    1. Australia now has over 10.1 GW of solar installed

    2. Total new solar registered for the month of September exceeded 725MW

    3. The record was set with the registration of 667MW of large-scale solar

    4. The two largest solar farms in Australia were registered in September: 180MW Daydream Solar Farm and 188MW Coleambally Solar Farm

    5. Each GW of solar requires the installation and connection of over 3 million solar panels and creates more than 1,000 full time jobs a year

    6. Commercial and residential rooftop solar are also powering along with another 100MW expected to be registered in the in those markets. Australia is on track to exceed 1GW in installed rooftop solar for 2018.

    7. With 1.95 million installations in Australia, and growing at over 15,000 per month, we expect to have over 2 million installs by the end of the year. Taking delayed registration into account, Australia will have over 10.2GW of solar installed by that time.


    📂This entry was posted in Life in the USA

  • “Moon” light

    Posted on by beno Comment

    Just because you can, does not mean you should is the take away for me on this one….. What do you lot think?

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-18/chinese-city-plans-to-launch-artificial-moon-by-2020/10392862

    China is reportedly in the process of creating an “artificial moon” that would be bright enough to replace the streetlights in the south-western city of Chengdu by 2020.

    Chinese scientists plan to send three artificial moons into space in the next four years, and the moons — made from reflective material like a mirror — are expected to orbit at 500 kilometres above the Earth and light up an area with a diameter of 10 to 80 kilometres.

    I kind of get what they are doing, but am totally lost on the why.
    The how should be interesting. I am sure before long, someone will provide a diagram on how they are going to reflect sunlight from behind the earth… Either that or 500 km’s is high enough for it to always be in sunlight?


    📂This entry was posted in Life in the USA