 |  | |
 |  |
RENEWABLEOur core business is saving energy for our clients. What is Energy Efficiency? Simply, Energy Efficiency is using less energy to provide the same level of energy service. Making homes, vehicles, and businesses more energy efficient is seen as a largely untapped solution to addressing the problems of pollution, global warming, energy security, and fossil fuel depletion.
The idea of meeting energy needs by increasing efficiency instead of increasing energy production. At Iskhus Power we break down the energy sector into onsite energy efficiency, onsite renewable energy, offsite renewable efficiency and Water.
Onsite Renewable Energy is the use of alternative energy sources, on site that provides guaranteed output thus reducing the dependency on fossil fuels. Solutions such as Solar, Wind, Bio-Mass and Hydro are implemented.How?
What is Solar Power?
You've no doubt heard of solar energy at some point. And maybe it sounded really good to you-no energy bills! But if you are new to the solar energy scene, you may be wondering-what is solar energy?
So what is Solar Power? Essentially, it is the act of capturing the sun's rays and either storing them, or converting them into energy or heat. It's similar to when you get into a hot car in the summer, or touch the hot road on a sunny day-these items have been heated with solar power. These situations are not exactly solar power at its finest, but you get the idea. Solar power for your home works the same way. The rays are captured, and then using top-notch technology, the heat is stored and converted to heat your home or provide energy any time of day.
There are many different types of solar power. We will be focusing on the traditional solar power panels, either the kind that you place on your roof, the side of your home, or use to heat your swimming pool. There are two types of solar panels, photovoltaic modules, and solar thermal collectors. Photovoltaic panels are use to generate electricity, while solar thermal collectors are used to generate heat, either to heat water, or to heat air. Both types of panels look about the same and they are usually installed right alongside each other for maximum solar usage.
Photovoltaic modules. These solar panels are used to generate electricity by converting solar heat into energy. These are comprised of “cells” and are arranged on a flat grid. These cells are usually contained within glass to protect the panel from environmental damage. The cells are connected by “strings”, or “ribbons” that carry and transfer the energy between the cells. Once the sunlight is captured, the cells are able to convert the solar heat into solar energy for electrical use around your home.
Thermal collectors. These types of solar panels are much more versatile. They are used on homes and business, but can also be used directly on water tanks and to heat swimming pools. These work similarly to photovoltaic panels, but they do not convert their thermal energy into electrical energy. They simply store the heat from the sun, and then transfer it to the places where heating is needed, be it indoors, or heating water such as the water in swimming pools. They are also used in simple solar energy applications, such as powering calculators and wrist watches and pumping and aerating water.
Finally, when it comes to solar power, you might also be interested in passive solar power. Passive solar power is a term used to describe the method of using the sun without specialized panels. This might include simple solar water heating, smart window installation, or specialized insulation in your home. You can do such simple things as set up a water tank in your yard to heat water, then pump it or even haul it manually into your home. Or you might choose to use windows to maximize sun power by installing sky lights and light shelves or putting windows in the right places to ensure you don’t have to use as much traditional, electric lighting in your home.
What is the advantages and disadvantages of solar energy?
Solar energy advantages & disadvantages are important, because installing solar energy is such a big (and often, expensive) step. The first advantage to solar energy is the money you’ll save over time.
The average South African family uses a lot of energy and many spend hundreds of rands each month just in heating and powering their home.
Once installed, solar power is essentially free; all you have to do is capture the sun’s rays. This is a major advantage for many people when it comes to solar energy.
When it comes to solar energy advantages and disadvantages, there are clearly more pros than there are cons. But there is one major disadvantage to solar energy-the upfront cost. While solar energy will save you more money over time, it can cost quite a bit to install.
What is Wind Energy?
Wind power energy is often held up as a powerful response to global warming.
But what makes it tick and how does it stack up?
In 2005 energy from wind accounted for less than one per cent of global energy, with a total wind generator capacity of less than 56,000 megawatts. Between 1999 and 2005 wind power generation more than quadrupled.
By 2008 global wind energy capacity had grown to 27,051 MW, a 29% increase on the previous year!
In 2008 8% of Europe's electricity is wind-derived. The US has most capacity of any country and China is set to surpass its 2010 wind energy target of 10,000 to install 12,200 MW by end 2008.
This capacity is obviously fast growing one.
Of course today’s energy from wind is mainly about generating electricity rather than power commercial shipping or milling of grain, or pumping water in windmills through mechanical energy.
Wind Power is essentially it’s solar energy. The energy contained in the movement of air that we call wind is converted into electric energy.
The wind is caught by blades that spin as a result.
These movements are then transformed by electrical generators into electrical current.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of Wind Energy?
The advantages of wind energy are as for all renewable energy sources.
These include
Disadvantages of wind energy
It should be said that costs of wind energy are continually decreasing through benefits of scale and new technology.
Of course domestic, small-scale wind turbines ameliorate many of these concerns about wind power energy.
Energy storage is easier and back-up systems could easily involve a mix of solar and fossil fuel-driven energy. Less fossil fuel may then be neededWhat is Bio-Mass?
Biomass fuel refers to anything that can either burn or decompose. Other terms are biomass energy or biofuel. The prefix "bio" refers to life.
Essentially, biomass is stored solar energy that man can convert to electricity, fuel, and heat. Through photosynthesis the energy from the sun is stored in the chemical bonds of the plant material. Typically biomass energy comes from three sources: agricultural crop residues, municipal and industrial waste, and energy plantations. In addition, crops such as corn, sugar beets, grains, and kelp can be grown specifically for energy generation. Crops that make good energy resources have a high yield of dry material and use minimal land; the crop should also generate more energy than its production consumes. Numerous processes such as cogeneration, gasification, and fermentation, can tap into this energy source to produce energy available for human consumption.
Biomass fuels are starting to become more popular due to the rising costs of fossil fuels. The beauty of using these biofuels is that we can develop our own fuels at home just as our forefathers did over 100 years ago. Also utilizing the source of bioenergy reduces pollution, helps control carbon dioxide emissions ( Remember, plants take in CO2 which will offset emissions)
What are the advantages and disadvantages of Bio-Mass Energy?
Advantages
Disadvantages
What is Hydro Energy?
Hydro energy is simply energy that is taken from water and converted to electricity. Hydro energy can be obtained by using many methods of capture. The most common method of using energy from water is a hydroelectric dam, where water coming down through an area causes turbines to rotate and the energy is captured to run a generator. Power can also be generated from the energy of tidal forces or wave power, which uses the energy created by waves.
What are the advantages of Hydro Energy
Hydroelectric energy offers a number of advantages for people who use it, the environment, and electricity suppliers.
1. Using this type of energy to generate electricity is not dependent upon the price of uranium, oil, or other types of fuel. This makes electricity costs lower and more stable.
2. The pollution created by hydroelectric energy generation is quite minimal
3. It doesn't require many employees to run a hydroelectric station..
4. Hydroelectric power stations can be set up in almost any size, depending upon the river or stream used to operate them; big enough to power a single home, factory, small town, or large city.
5. Renewable form of energy, like wind and solar; it does not rely upon finite resources like natural gas or coal to generate power.
6. Hydroelectric stations can operate for many years after they are built.
7. Small hydro electricity generation systems sometimes offer more economic advantages for home owners than solar power, and tend to last longer than solar panels do.
 |
 |
 |
 |
|||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
|
The holistic process of delivery starts
with an energy study at our client’s site. The purpose of the study is to define and measure the type and quantity of energy used. This results in an energy baseline. |
A solution offering is presented to the client, detailing where costs can be cut, energy savings made and alternative methods employed. We use these findings to design a tailor-made solution for optimising the energy saving potential of the facility. | After procuring and assembling the necessary equipment at our manufacturing plant we install and commission the solution at their site. | Once operational, the verification process begins, giving feedback on the performance of the solution and comparing projected with actual savings. | |||
  |
||||||
