Renewable Energy In The Europe Union For Year 2012

Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union have released publication of renewable energy usage in energy consumption for year 2012.
This report indicate that 14% energy is from renewable resources.

In 2012, energy from renewable sources was estimated to have contributed 14.1% of gross final energy consumption in the EU28, compared with 8.3% in 2004, the first year for which this data is available. The share of  renewables in gross final energy consumption is one of the headline indicators of the Europe 2020 strategy.

Wind Maps of Africa, Europe, South America, Central America

International Renewable Energy Agency have posted new maps with wind speed data for Africa, Europe, South America, Central America.

This maps shows wind speeds at 10 km resolution and 10 m height.

The wind maps have been developed and shared by the Spanish National Renewable Energy Center. The maps are calculated by simulating atmospheric conditions with the SKIRON mesoscale model. GFS 12 UTC cycle, from NCAR/NCEP is used as input. 

The calculation periods vary between the simulated areas. The SKIRON long-term simulation is launched to cover the full years, generating hourly maps to the entire simulated period. 

This methodology has been successfully validated with measurements spread over four continents. 

Biogas - Digestate As Fertilizer

Treatment of animal manure and slurries in biogas plants results in biodegradation of organic matter to inorganic compounds and methane.
In practice, the anaerobic degradation rate of organic matter from animal manure and slurries is about 40% for cattle slurry and of 65% for pig slurry.

The degradation rate depends at large on feedstock type as showed in table 1.
Due to degradation of organic matter, digestate is easier to pump and easier to apply as fertilizer, with reduced need of stirring, compared to untreated slurry.

Efficiency From Hydrophobic Surfaces

Video presentation by Karen Gleason professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at MIT.

Presentation is about increasing efficiency by using hydrophobic surfaces in heat transfer, in this example it is increasing efficiency in condenser in steam power plants.
Using the hydrophobic surface can increase total efficiency in steam power plant by total of 4%.

Utilization And Properties Of Biogas

Biogas has many energy utilisations, depending on the nature of the biogas source and the local demand. Generally, biogas can be used for heat production by direct combustion, electricity production by fuel cells or micro-turbines, CHP generation or as vehicle fuel.