Technology Information

About RESPC

History

The Committee

Grants

Project Updates

Public Relations

Note from the Committee:
Already, there are many comprehensive websites available to learn about Renewable Energy Technologies (RET's), how they work, and where they've been used throughout the world. One great website we'd recommend that can give you an overview of many different RET's is The National Renewable Energy Laboratory. There are yet many other websites to get you started with renewable energy, and so below we've listed a couple technologies of special signficance to us along with the links to some of these other informative resources.

Photovoltaic Systems (PV)

PV Close-Up

To many people, photovoltaic (PV) panels are the most recognizable form of renewable energy. Converting solar energy into electricity, PV represents the most versatile form of solar panel. Over the last few decades, significant strides in technology have made PV a viable alternative to fossil fuels, especially for remote systems. While the overall financial payback of PV projects currently takes longer than solar thermal panels or wind turbines, the modularity, favorable subsidies, and increasing efficiency of photovoltaic panels will hopefully make them a viable option in the very near feature. Please visit these sites for more information on Photovoltaics:

National Renewable Energy Laboratory	NC Solar Center (also offers walk-in tours of solar house)
Florida Solar Energy Center's (PV Resources)	BP Solar
Natural Resources Defense Council	Solargenix (formerly Duke Solar)
North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association	NC Greenpower (supporter of alternative energies)

Source: http://www.sei-energy.co.uk/PV

Solar Thermal Panels

Solar Thermal Close-Up

As opposed to photovoltaic panels, solar thermal evacuated tube collectors concentrate the sun's rays into heat energy, and channel that energy through steam piping into a building. UNC-Chapel Hill has a 40-mile long “steam loop” which provides heated steam from the Cogeneration Facility, located on Cameron Avenue to the UNC campus. The steam provided powers space heating and cooling as well as hot water heating for the campus. A Solar Thermal project on campus could connect into the steam loop and provide supplemental heat for the steam loop, thereby displacing the coal needed to generate the same amount of heat. With such a large network of steam piping, there is no possibility of generated heat not being used by UNC facilities, making solar thermal a superb opportunity for the campus. Furthermore, as the more efficient of solar energy technologies being considered, solar thermal will pay huge dividends if incorporated into the UNC Renewable Energy program. Solar thermal can also be used, at lower temperatures, to heat domestic hot water, which would provide water heating for faucets and shower heads in dormitories, or hot water for use in laboratories or swimming pools.Peruse the following sites to find out more about some of the possibilities involving solar thermal panels:

California Solar Center	Green Energy Ohio	Solargenix Website (formerly Duke Solar)
DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency)

A picture of one of 172 Solar Thermal Panels atop Morrison Dorm, courtesy of committee member Shaddi Hasan

Wind Turbines

Wind Farm in Colorado

Wind turbines have recently leapt forward as a new spin on the old idea of windmills. While generally envisioned as archaic technology for grinding out flour, windmills have evolved into the newer, sleeker, “wind turbines” which have been dominating the renewable energy news lately. In a very short amount of time, wind turbines have been embraced as a new, incredibly clean and efficient way of reducing dependence on non-renewable sources. Denmark already has 13% of their total power generated by wind, and is pledging to have 50% come from wind power by the early 2030's. Germany also has taken the initiative to produce wind power, generating three times as much wind production as the entire United States in their country, which is slightly smaller than Montana (CIA Factbook). Currently, wind projects in North Carolina are hard to initiate, due to state statutes against building on mountaintops (the Ridge Law specifically) and resistance from coastal towns towards offshore wind projects. However, a solid wind program would be a hard offer to pass up for RESPC, due to the cost-effectiveness, reliability, and cleanliness of wind power. While currently the committee is focusing on campus, we hope to be able to purchase shares in future wind projects if they are viable and cost-effective.

Each wind turbine on this 162-MW Colorado Green Wind Farm (seen above) produces 1.5 MW of electricity. Source: http://www.nrel.gov/learning/re_wind.html

Biodiesel

Biodiesel is a diesel replacement fuel that is manufactured from vegetable oils, recycled cooking greases or oils, or animal fats. Because plants produce oils from sunlight and air, and can do so year after year on cropland, these oils are renewable. Animal fats are produced when the animal consumes plant oils and other fats, and they too are renewable. Used cooking oils are mostly made from vegetable oils, but may also contain animal fats. Used cooking oils are both recycled and renewable. [Source: http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy06osti/40555.pdf]

In 2005, RESPC provided funding for the incremental cost of fueling the University owned Point-To- Point (P2P) bus fleet with B-20 biodiesel for the 2005-2006 school year. Our committment then prompted the University’s administration to include the extra cost of B-20 biodiesel in future P2P budgets.

Right: The sticker featured on all P2P buses after the switch to B-20 fuel.

Geothermal

More information about Geothermal Technology is forthcoming. In the meanwhile, please visit the Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's website about their Geothermal Technologies Program, or the Geothermal Energy Association's website for more information.

In Spring 2007, RESPC committed funds for the construction of 30 geothermal wells to be installed at the NC Botanical Garden's Visitor Education Center.

Right: A diagram demonstrating how geothermal technology will be used at the Visitor Education Center. Circulating water through underground pipes takes advantage of consistent temperatures that are "cool" in the summer and "warm" in the winter. [Source: http://ncbg.unc.edu/pages/4/]