Critical Analysis of the viability of Renewable Energy The WritePass Journal

Critical Analysis of the viability of Renewable Energy INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW Critical Analysis of the viability of Renewable Energy INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEWDEFINITION OF RENEWABLE ENERGYTYPES/MAIN FORMS OF RENEWABLE ENERGYi.Wind Power ii.Hydropower iii. Solar Energy iv.Biomassv.Biofuelvi.Geothermal energy.ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF RENEWABLE ENERGYCONCLUSIONBIBLOGRAPHYRelated INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW This Essay would tend to analyse and define Renewable Energy as a whole.It would also list and discuss types/main forms of renewable energy and its commercialization to members of the public. The essay would aim to discuss economic importance of Renewable energy,new   and future use of renewable energy as regards research and methods. Finalise and suggest for safe use of renewable energy. DEFINITION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY Renewable energy could be defined as energy which is extracted from natural resources such as,sunlight,wind,rains,geothermal heat and tides which in turn are renewable over and over. TYPES/MAIN FORMS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY i.Wind Power One hot type of alternative energy is wind power which is steadily growing at the rate of 30% annually, with a worldwide installed capacity of 121,000 megawatts (MW) in 2008, and is widely used in European countries and the United States. While some people may feel these are hideous looking intruders, wind energy could generate 20 percent of the electricity needed by households and businesses in the eastern half of the United States by 2024. ii.Hydropower Brazil has one of the largest renewable energy programs in the world, involving production of ethanol fuel from sugar cane, and ethanol now provides 18% of the country’s automotive fuel. They have also recently been granted permission for building a huge dam in the heart of the Amazon rainforest which would generate a ton of hydroelectric power helping with Latin America’s demand for electricity. Unfortunately, this form of renewable energy may hurt the local indigenous people and have a negative impact on the environment. iii. Solar Energy In searching for a definition of renewable energy, you are bound to come across solar power which use photovoltaic cells to convert the radiation from the sun into usable energy. These extremely versatile systems can power everything from your small PUMA cell phone to massive building complexes. In fact, after Haiti’s horrendous and disastrous earthquake, solar cells easily replaced a dwindling diesel supply.   Alan Doyle, a science editor at MSNBC, recently wrote that a single solar water purification system, recovered from the rubble by the Red Cross, is now purifying 30,000 gallons (over 110,000 liters) of water a day. iv.Biomass Biomass (plant material) is a renewable energy source because the energy it contains comes from the sun. Through the process of photosynthesis, plants capture the suns energy. When the plants are burnt, they release the suns energy they contain. In this way, biomass functions as a sort of natural battery for storing solar energy. As long as biomass is produced sustainably, with only as much used as is grown, the battery will last indefinitely. In general there are two main approaches to using plants for energy production: growing plants specifically for energy use, and using the residues from plants that are used for other things. The best approaches vary from region to region according to climate, soils and geography.[ v.Biofuel Brazil has bioethanol made from sugarcane available throughout the country. Shown a typical Petrobras gas station at So Paulo with dual fuel service, marked A for alcohol (ethanol) and G for gasoline.Biofuels include a wide range of fuels which are derived from biomass. The term covers solid biomass, liquid fuels and various biogases. Liquid biofuels include bio alcohols, such as bioethanol, and oils, such as biodiesel. Gaseous biofuels include biogas, landfill gas and synthetic gas. Bioethanol is an alcohol made by fermenting the sugar components of plant materials and it is made mostly from sugar and starch crops. With advanced technology being developed, cellulosic biomass, such as trees and grasses, are also used as feed stocks for ethanol production. Ethanol can be used as a fuel for vehicles in its pure form, but it is usually used as a gasoline additive to increase octane and improve vehicle emissions. Bioethanol is widely used in the USA and in Brazil. Biodiesel is made from vegetable oils, animal fats or recycled greases. Biodiesel can be used as a fuel for vehicles in its pure form, but it is usually used as a diesel additive to reduce levels of particulates, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons from diesel-powered vehicles. Biodiesel is produced from oils or fats using trans esterification and is the most common biofuel in Europe. Biofuels provided 2.7% of the worlds transport fuel in 2010. vi.Geothermal energy. Krafla Geothermal Station in northeast IcelandGeothermal energy is energy obtained by tapping the heat of the earth itself, both from kilometers deep into the Earths crust in volcanically active locations of the globe or from shallow depths, as in geothermal heat pumps in most locations of the planet. It is expensive to build a power station but operating costs are low resulting in low energy costs for suitable sites. Ultimately, this energy derives from heat in the Earths core. Three types of power plants are used to generate power from geothermal energy: dry steam, flash, and binary. Dry steam plants take steam out of fractures in the ground and use it to directly drive a turbine that spins a generator. Flash plants take hot water, usually at temperatures over 200  °C, out of the ground, and allows it to boil as it rises to the surface then separates the steam phase in steam/water separators and then runs the steam through a turbine. In binary plants, the hot water flows through heat exchangers, boiling an organic fluid that spins the turbine. The condensed steam and remaining geothermal fluid from all three types of plants are injected back into the hot rock to pick up more heat.[citation needed] The geothermal energy from the core of the Earth is closer to the surface in some areas than in others. Where hot underground steam or water can be tapped and brought to the surface it may be used to generate electricity. Such geothermal power sources exist in certain geologically unstable parts of the world such as Chile, Iceland, New Zealand, United States, the Philippines and Italy. The two most prominent areas for this in the United States are in the Yellowstone basin and in northern California. Iceland produced 170 MW geothermal power and heated 86% of all houses in the year 2000 through geothermal energy. Some 8000 MW of capacity is operational in total. ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY Renewable energy is often considered as the best way to tackle global warming and climate change. The more renewable energy we use the less fossil fuel we burn, and less burning of fossil fuels means less carbon dioxide emissions and lesser impact to climate change. There are really plenty of reasons to choose renewable energy over fossil fuels but we must not forget that renewable energy is still not ready to completely replace fossil fuels. Some day it will be but not just yet. The most important thing to do right now is to further develop different renewable energy technologies in order to ensure that once this day comes world wouldnt have to worry whether renewable energy will be able to deliver the goods or not. Together with costs renewable energy will also need to improve its efficiency. For instance, average solar panels have efficiency of around 15% which means that lot of energy gets wasted and transferred into heat, instead of some other form of usable energy. However, there are many ongoing researches with the goal to improve efficiency of renewable energy technologies, some of which have been really promising, though we are yet to see some highly efficient and commercially viable renewable energy solution. Renewable energy sector could decide to choose a sit and wait strategy because fossil fuels will eventually become depleted and renewable energy would then remain as the best alternative to satisfy worlds hunger for energy. But this would be a bad strategy for two reasons: energy security and climate change Renewable energy is very popular topic these days and here are some advantages and disadvantages of renewable energy. Like fossil fuels do so does renewable energy have certain advantages and disadvantages. Economy, ecology, and efficiency are only some of the factors through which we should look renewable energy when discussing its advantages and disadvantages. As the name already suggests renewable energy sources cannot be depleted like this is the case with fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are limited, and therefore one day coal, oil, and natural gas will be depleted but the same scenario wont happen with renewable energy sources because Sun will continue to shine, wind will continue to blow, etc. It is difficult to say how long will fossil fuels still be able to satisfy large part of global energy demand, some energy experts believe this is likely to last till the end of this century, but in any case once fossil fuels become depleted world will need to have already established alternative in form of renewable energy. From the ecological point of view renewable energy has extreme advantage over fossil fuels, renewable energy sources are clean energy sources and unlike coal, oil, and natural gas release none or negligible carbon emissions. Fossil fuels on the other hand when burning release harmful carbon emissions that not only pollute our planet but have contributed to the severity of climate change impact. The cost-competitiveness of renewable energy sources, despite the serious improvement in renewable energy technologies in the last couple of years still remains one of the biggest disadvantages of renewable energy. In order for renewable energy to become cost-competitive with fossil fuels lot more research will be needed to mostly improve efficiency of renewable energy technologies because efficiency and economy still outweigh positive environmental effects in eyes of many people. Renewable energy also needs to work on energy storage solutions to ensure reliability of delivery because the most important renewable energy sources are intermittent (wind, solar), and are therefore not totally reliable. The lack of tradition is also one disadvantage of renewable energy. Fossil fuels have long tradition, and many renewable energy sectors have just started developing. Tradition that fossil fuels have on their side has contributed to the development of powerful fossil fuel lobbies that have significant impact on politics, and these lobbies use this influence to get important decisions their way. Many countries in the world rely on foreign oil import, and by developing their own domestic renewable energy sectors they would help decrease the dependence on importing oil from other countries, and would also diversify their own energy portfolio in the process. The development of renewable energy sectors can also create many economic benefits for countries, mostly in form of many new green jobs. CONCLUSION . Source: REN21[16] BIBLOGRAPHY renewable energy. Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica. Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica Online. Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, 2011. Web. 31 Jul. 2011. britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/17668/renewable-energy.

Inclusional Best Practices, Supporting Inclusion

Inclusional Best Practices, Supporting Inclusion The inclusive classroom means that all students have the right to feel safe, supported and included at school and in the regular classroom as much as possible. There is ongoing debate about placing students completely in the regular classroom. Views from both parents and educators can create a great deal of anxiety and passion. However, most students today are placed in agreement with both parents and educators. Often, the placement will be the regular classroom as much as possible with some cases where alternatives are selected. The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), amended version 2004, does not actually list the word inclusion. The law actually requires that children with disabilities be educated in the least restrictive environment appropriate† to meet their â€Å"unique needs.† The least restrictive environment typically means placement in the regular education classroom which typically means Inclusion when ever possible. IDEA also recognizes that it is not always possible or beneficial for some students. Here are some best practices to ensure inclusion is successful: An Overview of the Inclusive ClassroomIn the inclusive classroom, it is important that the teacher fully understands the learning, social and physical needs of the students. A teacher has a special role to play when trying to maximize learning potential for students with special needs. It becomes the educators role to create a welcoming environment and provide students with ongoing opportunities to learn, share, and engage in all classroom activities. Determining what alternate assessment needs to occur is another area where the educator needs to make changes to specifically support the student in the regular classroom. Preparing Students for the Inclusive ClassroomThis checklist helps both parent and teacher prepare the student for the inclusional classroom setting. The child needs to know what to expect, equally important is to ensure that there are no surprises.The Inclusional Classroom ChecklistI am a big fan of checklists. This checklist provides educators with guidance about m aximizing success for students in an inclusional setting. There are 12 key items that will guide the establishment of a successful inclusional setting. Each item points to some form of action which will be key in maximizing sucess for the student with special needs. Youll find that the checklist includes strategies for academic, social and physical success. Using Peer Support in the Inclusive ClassroomPeer support is one of the most essential ingredients in the inclusive classroom setting. Peer support helps to build rapport and a sense of belonging and community among students. Students with special needs often become the targets for inappropriate behavioral conduct from other students, however, by education the whole class and having members of the class become peer supporters, the problem of teasing is often minimized. How To Reach and Teach all Students in the Inclusive ClassroomIt always helps to have great resources to help out. Without a doubt, this resource is my favorite! The pages of my book are dog-eared, marked up and highlighted. I have come across and read many books and articles about inclusion but this book is the practical one that my colleagues all agree on as needing at their fingertips. Some food for thought regarding some of the challenges of the full inclusional model include: How can you ensure that the student relationsips in your class are not superfical?How will you provide intense one to one instruction? Time for this is often greatly reduced.How will you ensure that equal rights are in place for all students?Sometimes youll be faced with research that suggests the inclusional classroom may not be as successful based on the specific needs of the student.Many parents want both inclusion and alternative settings. Sometimes the full inclusional model just wont support all the needs. Although inclusion is the preferred approach, it is recognized that for a number of students, it is not only challenging but sometimes controversial. If you are a special education teacher, there is no doubt that you have discovered some of the challenges of inclusion.

International Standards and Information Systems Quality Management Essay

International Standards and Information Systems Quality Management - Essay Example Quality Management System is defined as a â€Å"set of coordinated activities to direct and control an organization in order to continually improve effectiveness and efficiency of its performance.† These activities are well integrated and synchronized that the understanding of one would not lead to understanding of the entire system as a whole (Gitlow, 2001). The basic purpose is not to detect the defective products after production rather than focusing in producing quality products free of any defects. Implementation of an effective quality management system would benefit an organization whether in manufacturing, service industry or public sector. These companies generally employ some information system to communicate within the organization and to supplier and customers external to the organization. The underlying concept is customer, supplier and the organization working together for their mutual interest. To implement said concept, efforts are required to integrate and str engthen interfaces not only between immediate customers and suppliers but also beyond that are linked to any organization. An efficient and effective quality management system would help in building customer’s confidence on organization’s ability to produce quality products and services, and deliver desired objectives while meeting their wants, needs and expectations. In similar way, quality management system enables an organization to achieve its objectives defined in its policy and strategy with minimum and effective utilization of resources at an optimum cost. Quality management system interfaces all activities of the organization in a coordinated manner starting from identification of customer requirements to meeting customer’s satisfaction at every step of the process. It can be compared to a wedge that ensures consistency of gains along the quality journey by preventing good practices from sliding back as shown below (Business Balls, 2008). An effective qu ality management system would improve process control, reduce waste, decrease costs, increase market share and help to meet customer’s expectations. Quality and Evaluation of Information Systems Evaluation of information systems is a crucial subject for the researchers and practitioners aiming for improvements in the processes of designing and developing the information systems (Checkland & Holwell, 1998). The evaluation of an information system

Water, Flexibility and the Tao Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Water, Flexibility and the Tao - Essay Example This verse of the Tao Te Ching holds up water as a model for human flexibilty and adaptiveness. Water, it says, is softer than any elements in its way, and yet it dissolves those elements with its very gentleness. This is true in nature, of course. Water turns rocks into sand, making soft what is hard. Many things dissolve in water, when all the water is able to do is flow around those elements. Water yields to anything in its way, a phenomenon easily seen by any mountain stream. Water yields to a rock in its way, flowing around it. In this way the â€Å"gentle overcomes the rigid,† and the water finds its way to the sea without being stopped by boulders or fallen trees. As the Tao says, everyone has seen this, but few are able to make this truth work for themselves, in their own lives. This difficulty stems from the human tendency to direct our own actions, and can be solved by an understanding of the Tao as the natural state to which things can return. In a commentary by the Center for Taoist Thought and Fellowship, the writer suggests that people misinterpret this verse, thinking that being flexible like water means being weak. However, most people do not see the small bits of hardness that are in water. â€Å"It is not the water which attacks the hard and strong, it is the little tiny bits of hard and strong suspended in the water which do the job.† This suggestion gives the verse a new meaning, allowing the reader not to be solely soft but to allow his or her softness to surround a powerful hardness.

Introduction, Review of Accounting Process and Financial Statements Essay

Introduction, Review of Accounting Process and Financial Statements case assignment 1 - Essay Example Double Entry system of accounting is a standard used to record all the transactions at least in two accounts. This results in the one or more accounts being debited as well as credited. This system of accounting is very effective as it permits more accuracy in checking and also permits more balanced accounts. This is mainly because all the accounts with a debit balance need to equal the credit balance of the accounts as well (Burke & Litwin). The original monetary value of a good is referred to as the historical cost. This has been criticized for a number of inaccuracies. Historical costing does not take into account the gains or losses unless they have been realised. However use of historical costing is very helpful and provides the management with a better view of the fair value of the item or also the market value. This helps the management make more informed decisions and make more educated strategies as well. Although historical costs have been very helpful for the management, there are a number of criticisms that relate to the same as well. It has been noted that historical costs only considers the cost allocations and does not consider the value of the assets. Accrual basis accounting is one where all the transactions, i.e. the incomes and expenses are recorded when the transactions occur. On the other hand, cash basis accounting refers to the transactions that are recorded when the income or expenditure is received or paid. There is no focus on the date of the transaction. However the accrual basis is one of the most popular systems of accounting and is followed by most companies and is also required to be followed by law. The accrual basis of accounting provides a clear picture of the financial state of the business. Current assets and liabilities refer to the short terms assets and liabilities, i.e. those that need to be settled within one year. On the other hand, a non current asset or

A Focus on the Different Economic Principles and Theories of John M Term Paper

A Focus on the Different Economic Principles and Theories of John M. Keynes - Term Paper Example Keynesian economic principles promote mixed economies in which both the state as well as the private sector will play significant roles. The emergence of Keynesian economics closed the curtain on laissez-faire economics that were based on the idea that markets as well as the private sectors could be able to operate independently without government intervention (Keynes, 1936). Keynesian economists believe in the government's role to level the business environment. State intervention may take the form of tax breaks and government spending with a view of stimulating the economy. In good economic times, government expenditure cuts as well as tax hikes would help curb inflation (Blinder, 2006). This paper advances Keynes’s theory that the best way to ensure economic stability and growth is by active government intervention in the marketplace and monetary policy. Keynesian Principles Keynes differed with the Classical economic theories posing various arguments to disapprove them. Basically, Keynes believed that markets could not automatically attain full-employment equilibrium, but rather, the economy would settle in equilibrium at any given level of unemployment (Blinder, 2006). This implies that the classical principles of non-intervention by government would not apply. For the economy to grow in the correct direction, it would require prodding and this means active government intervention in order to manage the demand level. The Keynesian principles are illustrated on the basis of circular income flow. In case of disequilibrium between income injections and leakages, then, according to classical economists, prices would move to appropriately restore the equilibrium. However, Keynes principles that the output level (National Income) will adjust appropriately in attempt to restore equilibrium (Keynes, 1936). For instance, if, for some reason, there is a rise in income injections, say due to increased government expenditure, an imbalance would result between injections and leakages. Following the resulting extra aggregate demand, firms will tend to employ more persons and this would result in more income within the economy. Some of this income could be spent while some would be saved or remitted in tax. The extra expenditure is likely to prompt most of the firms in that economy to increase their production further creating even more employment opportunities and in turn increasing income within the economy. This process will continue until it finally comes to a stop. It would finally stop since with every increase in income, leakages’ levels also increase (tax, savings and imports). When income injections finally equal the leakages, equilibrium will be restored. This process, according to Keynes is referred to as the Multiplier effect (Blinder, 2006). Keynesian Theories Keynes suggested that it was not a perfect idea to rely on market s in order to attain full employment in the economy. He believed strongly in his view that economies can settle at any given equilibrium. As a result, there couldn’t be automatic changes that could correct equilibrium in the markets. The main theories used to justify the Keynesian view are: The labor market theory (the monetarist theory), the money market theory (market for loan-able fund theory), the Multiplier effect theory and the Keynesian Inflation Theory (Keynes, 1936). Monetarist Theory: The Labor Market To Keynes, wage determination is more complex. First, he pointed out that it nominal wages but not real wages that are often subjected to negotiations between workers and their employers such as in barter relationship. In the first place, it is very difficult to effect nominal wage cuts due

Impacts of the Housing Crisis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Impacts of the Housing Crisis - Essay Example The real property market has experienced a melodramatic turmoil with prices abating in some markets as much as twenty-five to thirty percent. Likewise, with interest yields in the credit markets abating intensely, and stock markets having moderate returns at best, investors are very much engrossed to double-digit yields that tax lien investments may provide. The basics of the tax-lien market, the update the environment for individual investors as well hedge funds were affected. There was also a decreasing effect in the property values. According to the  Securities and Exchange Commission  (SEC), the self-regulation of investment banks contributed to this crisis (Randel 5). Another group affected is the traditional house lending companies. This people usually lend out houses to individuals who require the houses for a little time, for example less than one year. The high cost of housing means that this kind of people experienced decreasing demand for their houses thus poor perform ance in business (UN-Habitat 2). The housing crisis affected the government in that it pressurized the government to change the some housing policies. One of them was the community reinvestment act. The president carter had originally enacted this policy in 1977. The act had been set in a place to encourage the banks to halt the practice of lending discrimination. This policy affected every individual since it discriminated some people interested in housing who could not afford housing at that time (Alexander and Malpass 5). Lastly, the housing crisis had a direct bearing on other household insiders such as pets, which live in these houses with their owners. The owners who could not afford to live in large houses shifted to small houses where they... The basics of the tax-lien market, the update the environment for individual investors as well hedge funds were affected. There was also a decreasing effect on the property values. According to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the self-regulation of investment banks contributed to this crisis.Another group affected is the traditional house lending companies. These people usually lend out houses to individuals who require the houses for a little time, for example, less than one year. The high cost of housing means that this kind of people experienced decreasing demand for their houses thus poor performance in business. The housing crisis affected the government in that it pressurized the government to change some housing policies. One of them was the community reinvestment act. President Carter had originally enacted this policy in 1977. The act had been set in a place to encourage the banks to halt the practice of lending discrimination. This policy affected every indivi dual since it discriminated some people interested in housing who could not afford to house at that time. Lastly, the housing crisis had a direct bearing on other household insiders such as pets, which live in these houses with their owners. The owners who could not afford to live in large houses shifted to small houses where they were congested. This means that they had to squeeze themselves to fit in the houses. However, this increased the risk associated with living too close to animals in the house.