Photovoltaic Systems

Photovoltaic systems are devices utilizing solar radiation, producing electromotive force (ie, become electrical generators). A photovoltaic system consists basically of photovoltaic panels, configuration management and control and of course the necessary cabling and transmission coupling. Photovoltaic systems can be grid or grid, depending on whether or not coupled with the national electricity grid. In the case of the photovoltaic system, is usually necessary and the availability of means of energy storage (batteries) to power availability during non-sunlight (night, cloudy days).

The development of photovoltaic systems is initially placed in the middle of last century (1950) arose when service needs of applications of space technology, while after 1970 the first steps in place for the use of PV in more everyday applications, something that helped and oil crises 1973 and 1979. Nowadays (2009), the Photovoltaic Technology has managed to produce several PV systems affordable for even small investors, which in combination with social sensitivity and the shift to renewable energy sources, making fruitful the rapid proliferation of applications of PV with a direct impact on micro-and macroeconomics, management of natural resources and our environmental performance.

Solar Energy Technology

Active use of solar energy to serve human needs goes back to the dawn of human history where, directly or indirectly were operated mainly thermal energy to support daily activities.

Today, there is widespread use of the known solar collectors to heat water (solar water heaters) and rapidly evolving systems convert sunlight into electricity (PV).

Less known are the applications of solar systems that include Natural Illumination (Solatube ®), the Concentration of Solar Energy (systems CSP), the Photocatalysis (production of fuel cells for energy).


If we exclude applications Condensed Photocatalysis and Solar Energy - currently on station facilities and specialist interest and increased size - other forms of exploitation of solar energy is not only possible but also an ideal solution for the energy requirements of households and many professional and charitable buildings and facilities.

Energy from old wine

Scientists from the U.S. and India were able to generate energy from spoiled wine.
 More specifically, using microbes, scientists use the sugar and wine vinegar to produce electricity and hydrogen.
"There is nothing wrong with using bacteria. Just give them a nice environment to grow, "he said in his statement, Bruce Logan, a scientist at Penn State University.
Noted that bacteria play a key role in both phases of the process.
First a group of bacteria used to convert sugar and vinegar into electricity, while another group of bacteria use the energy generated to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen.
"So we can produce enough methane, suitable for heating, and hydrogen, the ideal alternative fuel,"

London: The first hydrogen bus in the tourist line

The first bus burning hydrogen to serve the tourist route in London is in operation  and by mid-2011 will have added seven more.
The initiative is regarded as the foundation for the spread of the hydrogen throughout the country.
The bus is designed exclusively for London, the evaporation of water vapor comes out and has a range of 18 hours without need for refueling.
The buses are equipped with batteries storing electricity produced by a hydrogen element, a device that combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce both energy and water as a combustion product of the other.
Every year it is estimated that more than 4300 people lost their lives in London because of poor air quality, the cost amounting to 2 billion. pounds per year.

Photovoltaic roofs

Over the next 10 years are expected to invest 12 billion on the roofs of buildings to install solar panels.
Many owners have expressed their interest to put photovoltaic roofs on their homes and save large amounts may even exceed 4.000 per year on energy.

Already banks have begun forming packages of "green" loans.

It is necessary to open books to the tax office, while only a permit from the Town Planning.

The selling price of energy generated in the network will be five times higher than a household purchasing power today than PPC and fixed at 55 cents / kWh.

Regarding the electricity to be brought to the grid will be offset by the energy generated by each home's needs.

That is, the money will be credited to the next bi-monthly electricity bill and he, in this case the building will be the administrator, will receive either through a bank account, either directly from the store's electricity.

The purchase and installation of an instrument system, power 5 KW, which occupies an area of 80sq.m with terrace, cost 25.000 euro.

The system generates annual revenues of the holder of 3575 Euro and the credit balance occurs through the netting, shall be deposited in a bank account holder.

Wing Energy

The winds of the Sea are the apple of disord" for prspective producers of clean electricity. The 1200 wind turbines available in the country produce about 745,6 MW, ie 2.5% of national production. By 2006 made use of harmony with the Beaufort in the Aegean Sea only 10% of wind turbines have received a license and about 2% of those who had made an application to operate. Lignite provide cheaper energy from the wind because the wind and offered "free" to install a wind turbine can be up to € 3m. and a lifetime of 20 years. The environmental gain is because for every one kilowatt-hour produced by wind disappears one kilowatt-hour produced by conventional power plants. The question whether the traditional island architecture can tolerate a short distance a wind turbine has a height of approximately 90 meters, ecologists reply: "Go on in-environmental-gain what is beauty?", To paraphrase the old folk saying. Many islanders as a modern Don Quixotes trying to put the "windmills" of the new season. To avoid turning the islands into vast parks the government has created a spatial planning that hopes to respect the environment and traditional architecture, but to transform the island into vast wind farms. The first park built in Kythnos and began operations in 1982 having five wind turbines with a total power initially 20 KW. Nowadays, however, filed a plan for installation of 87 wind turbines in Serifos, while in men who consumed 15 MW of electricity, a request for production of over 400MW. The winds are in demand in the Greek market for renewable energy and will be the spearhead for the production of clean energy. In order to cover 87% of the total green electricity, Greek winds should produce 3.372 KW, 2010.

Geothermal energy

Geothermal energy
Earth is endowed by nature. A few meters below the surface developed high temperatures ranging from 28 ° C and can reach, depending on the depth at 350oC. In some areas, either because of the volcanic soil or because of rising hot water from cracks, the heat of the earth is significantly larger than the surface, resulting in a relatively small depth to water or steam at high temperature. These areas are called geothermal fields, and there the exploitation of geothermal energy is appropriate. In Greece there are 56 hot springs. Somehow this explains the steam that came close to the Oracle of Delphi and gave inspiration to the Pythia. Even Thermopylae took its name from heat sources located in the subsoil. Since the temperature of the water or steam coming out of the earth depends on its usefulness. Milos and Nisyros in the heat of the water exceeds 90oC if drawn with a specific technology can generate electricity. In the effort made by the PPC to use the geothermal islands in 1985, creating a factory 2KW capacity for electricity generation, he found the reaction of residents complained about the stench caused by the release of gases. Missed opportunity to produce energy 120 KW, which arrives on the energy efficiency of all the Cyclades. The geothermal energy found at a depth of 100 meters can be used to heating and cooling buildings. The positive is that geothermal energy is not affected by climatic conditions and maintain constant temperature and constant flow. This method of heat pumps that carry water from the energy source is air-conditioned City Hall Rhodes and three homes. The cost of heating is cheaper by 50% from where anyone would use oil for heating. Geothermal energy is used to Macedonia and Thrace in greenhouses, fish farming etc. Although Greece has many reserves target for 2010 is to occupy 0.4% of energy from renewable having producing 12 KW.