Carbon Trader

National Geographic aired its newest documentary, on the Kingdom’s first truly intelligent office buildings- the Bahrain World Trade Center (BWTC) with its three integral Norwin A/S Wind Turbine Generators, in the UK February 5, 2008. The program will be broadcast throughout February in the UK and in March in the US on the National Geographic Channel. The three (3) Norwin 225 kW horizontal-axis 29m diameter wind turbines are mounted on bridges at 60, 98, and 136 Meters which span the two 50-storey sail-shaped commercial office towers, which taper to a height of 240 meters, support the three 29m diameter horizontal-axis wind turbines. Inspired by Arabian wind towers, the sail-shaped towers funnel the sea breeze into the three wind turbines. They act as aerofoils, funneling, and accelerating the wind velocity between them. The vertical sculpting of the towers also progressively reduces the pressure so that when combined with the rising velocity of the onshore breeze at increasing heights, a near equal regime of wind velocity on each turbine is achieved. Through its positioning and the unique aerodynamic design of the towers, the prevailing on-shore Gulf breeze is funneled into the path of the turbines, helping to create power generation efficiency. Once operational, the wind turbines will deliver approximately 11-15 per cent of the BWTC’s energy needs, eliminating around 55,000 kilos of carbon from being emitted into the air annually. Incorporating the wind turbines as an alternative source of energy for the buildings will generate 1100 to 1300 MWh per year, which is equivalent to lighting 300 homes for more than a year and will create substantial annual savings.

This is the first time that a commercial development has integrated large-scale wind turbines within its design to harness the power of the wind to generate an alternative energy supply. The use of ‘type-rated’ turbines with minimal modifications ensured that the additional cost incurred by incorporating turbines into the project was reduced to around 3.5% of the overall project value making it a financial viable venture and since its initial design launch there have been a number of derivative projects in the region, a true testament to the viability of the project’s design. The two 50-storey iconic towers, will not only provide local and international companies with a landmark business address but are further set to create office space that achieves new standards in technological advancement. The towers are integrated on top of a three-storey podium, which accommodates a new boutique shopping centre, fine dining, business center and car parking.

World Trade Center Bahrain is featured as a rising symbol of achievement and a reflection of the region´s fastest-growing economy, the WTC Bahrain will be the world´s newest landmark and has already established a landmark low carbon environmental achievement. The site for the Bahrain World Trade Center is prestigiously located on the main King Faisal Highway in Manama, Bahrain

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I had a really interesting discussion with a leading mining industry consultant who has spent much time involved in strategic and operational decisions for mining houses around the globe.

He was telling me that in Australia when you purchase an airline ticket, you are prompted to find out if you would like to make a contribution to a fund as part of responsible handling of your carbon footprint. i.e. a computer will calculate that your plane trip from Sydney to Melbourne will have a AUS$1.3 impact on the environment and then ask you to make a voluntary payment here.

What is apparently interesting (and I can’t verify this) is that a number of Australians are quite happy to agree to pay this amount, the moment they pay for their transaction. I am quite a big believer that similar offerings will come into South Africa very soon and it will be interesting to see how South Africans will embrace something along these voluntary lines.

 Are South Africans mature enough to make this contribution willingly? Are they more willing to pay this than a govt. tax for instance? Or will cash strapped South Africans simply refuse to not be parted from their hard earned cash?

Do YOU think SA is ready??

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The Olympic air quality control process conference was held recently in Beijing, unveiling that the preparations for pollution reduction during the Olympics is ready.Specific plans for the suspension of production and emission reduction of metallurgy, building material and petrochemical industries have been created. Beijing Yanshan Petrochemical Corporation will halt its most production; 27 cement manufacturing companies including Beijing Yanshan Cement Factory and 106 quarry and lime companies in the southwestern Beijing are ready for suspension of operations. Of the 18 metallurgy and building material companies, two will stop production, two will stop operations of main production equipment, and the other 14 will stop operations of some pollution-creation procedures. The four coal-fired power plants Beijing Gaojing Thermal Power Plant, Beijing Jingneng Thermal Power Co., Ltd, Guohua Electric Power and Beijing Huaneng Thermo-electricity Plant are aiming at emission reductions of 30% during the Olympic Games.

Read the complete article here.

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Eco-tube is a new site which launches this week and promises to deliver green awareness through consumer reviews and by show-casing short films that highlight the environmental debate. Founded by eco-therapist Chris Smith, this online resource allows for a free-flow of information focusing on the medium of film. Individual product reviews are uploaded on to the site free of charge, which makes the process of sharing tips about the latest gadgets and goods both user-friendly and user-driven.

Currently showing is a celebrity clip featuring Helen Lederer, the alternative comedienne of The Young Ones and Ab Fab fame. Although Helen’s character in Ab Fab was that of a power-dressing fashionista, in real life, like many people she has become increasingly interested in going green. Click on the link enclosed to see why Helen is airing her dirty laundry in public and what happens when she opens up her kitchen cupboards to our roving eco-consultant.

By going to the Freebies page the clientele have access to special offers from the likes of Ecotricity who are giving £25 off the bill for every customer that signs up via Eco-tube. It will really be a case of watch this space for ongoing money saving ideas.

Managing director Chris Smith says: “I was frustrated by the lack of media channels that specifically cover eco-innovations and that incorporate the participation of the public at large, so I devised Eco-tube; although like all start-ups we are still going through some growing pains, so far the response has been largely positive and I fully expect the up-take to grow as the word spreads.”

And since gaining his Masters Degree in responsibility and business practice, only this year, alongside working, it seems fitting that Chris is set to pass on his hard earned wisdom to guide Eco-tube through its exciting start-up phase.

http://www.eco-tube.com/v/HOME/Helen_Eco_Audit_Pt_1.aspx 

http://www.eco-tube.com/v/HOME/Helen_Leder_Eco_Audit_pt_2.aspx

Source: SanePR

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Costing 1.6 million and funded mainly by Inter-Reg, an EU (European Union) funded programme, the study will begin later this year. The west coast of Scotland and the North and North East coast of Ireland have a huge potential to harness both wind and wave power. The study will investigate the possibility of establishing a grid infrastructure between the two locations which would allow for an offshore transmission network. This would attract commercial investors and the area could become one of the key supply chains of renewable energy for Scotland and the UK.

Scotland has already committed to an ambitious target of sourcing 50% of their energy from renewable sources by 2020 and this study could pave the way to a successful achievement of this goal. Tim Mather, Scotland’s Energy Minister said “To realise the potential of the huge win, wave and tidal resources at our disposal, we need to examine the longer term development of our grid infrastructure. Scotland, we believe has never been in better shape to become the green energy capital of Europe and in turn, a renewables powerhouse”

The Renewable Energy Centre said it was a positive move forward for the renewable energy industry and the grid infrastructure. The Centre has already highlighted the issues many investors are experiencing with delays because of grid access and transmission and this study shows that efforts are being made to create a grid network which will support the future of the UK’s energy supply.

The Energy Minister for Northern Ireland agreed saying “We have a vast wealth of free natural resources that we can harness to provide ourselves with a clean and sustainable source of energy”

The Renewable Energy Centre said that more effort to upgrade and prepare the national grid could not come soon enough and that if the UK was to continue to flourish in the wind, wave and tidal industry improvements needed to be planned and implemented without delay.

Richard Simmons Managing Director at The Renewable Energy Centre said “The renewable industry is forging ahead in order to ensure the UK’s future energy supply but as usual our infrastructure is sadly lacking. This has been known for many years and still upgrades and necessary works to support this new industry are hampering projects all over the UK. The Beauly Denny line which would open up the east coast of Scotland has been in planning application since 2005 and is still nowhere near being finalised. Much of the national grid will need to be upgraded in the next 5 to 10 years but at this rate it will seriously affect the progress of the renewable energy industry.”

The Renewable Energy Centre stated that the government and Ofgem needed to work together and formulate a strategic and definite plan of development in order to maintain the momentum gathering the renewables industry. It said that now was the time for the government to act and move the UK forward in order to not only achieve its European Union targets but surpass them.

More information can be found at
http://www.therenewableenergycentre.co.uk

Source: SanePR

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Filed under: Uncategorized tagged EU, Ireland, Renewable Energy, Scotland, Tim Mather, UK