Solar Energy (Start Here)
We, as human beings, at our temperature, about 300 Kelvin, emit radiation in the lower “infra-red” range. As does our planet. Were it not for greenhouse gases, our planet’s surface temperature would average about 255 Kelvin. Our Sun is emitting energy at the predominant ‘wavelengths’ it does because its outer gases are around 5800 Kelvin in temperature. [Although gravity-driven nuclear fusion reactions deep in the Sun’s core provide the energy for heating its outer gases, “solar energy” as received by us is the electromagnetic energy (light) radiating from the (considerably cooler) glowing gases at the Sun’s outer layer.]
Electromagnetic Radiation, Temperature, Colour, Light
[The “Star Light, Star Bright” section of Amazing Space, an interactive educational site made by the Space Telescope Science Institute for NASA, is experientially well worth the visit…Toast the Robot! “Adjust the temperature of the nuclear-powered blow torch and see how the spectrum of the robot changes as you increase the temperature. Observe where the peak wavelength is at each temperature.”
Guided Tour on Wind Energy:
This is the famous and best Danish Windpower site. Quite simply, if you want the best education available on the InterNet about Wind Power, go there. For younger children, they also have Wind with Miller. Also, we highly recommend The KidWind Project: where: “… a team of teachers, students, engineers and practitioners [is] exploring the science behind wind energy in classrooms around the US. Our goal is to introduce as many people as possible to the elegance of wind power through hands-on science activities which are challenging, engaging and teach basic science principles.” Solar Tower Power: Build a 5 kilometre wide circular greenhouse, put a 1 kilometre high chimney in the middle, and place a turbine where the heated air rushes up the chimney. Only in Australia, you say…but no, lately interest has shown up in the American sunbelt.
Ocean Current and Tidal Energy: Peace Initiative, initially designed by Barry Davis, the man who brought you the Avro Arrow and the Bras d’Or Hydrofoil. “The Davis Turbine can be compared in design and output to an ultra-efficient underwater windmill.” “Blue Energy Canada: is commercializing the Davis Hydro Turbine, a technological breakthrough able to generate high-density renewable and emission-free electricity from ocean currents and tides at prices competitive with the cheapest conventional sources of energy today.
The Sea is a natural collector of solar energy, and its floor is nutrient-rich (big fish eats little fishes, dies, and sinks to the bottom). Why not pump that water up, with electricity made from the temperature difference between the cold bottom water and the top heated water, and use the upwelling nutrients in floating sea-farms?
History of OTEC and How It works
There are very few companies investing in this currently. Here, a video from Lockheed Martin shows plans for such a facility.