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Power sharing at night

London Free Press -- Renewable energy: Western engineers find cost-cutting ways to use solar technology at night to control wind generators.
It may sound like the punchline to a joke, but electrical engineers at the University of Western Ontario have found a way to harness solar technology at night.

London Hydro is so powered up by the idea, it plans to install the technology on two solar sites within months.

“Everybody wants to become green the world over,” says Rajiv Varma, a UWO professor of electrical engineering.

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Submitted Aug 17, 2010 By: CookieAcct

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:15,978 Points:1,248,125 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Aug 19, 2010 6:06:26 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse hopefully it will work so that the nay-sayers can be proven to have been wrong all along.
W16 All-Star Author Ontario Posts:569 Points:274,220 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Aug 18, 2010 10:29:42 PM Ignore W16 Report Abuse ...a way of the future!
jedintheshed Champion Author Colorado Springs Posts:1,607 Points:482,740 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Aug 18, 2010 11:04:41 AM Ignore jedintheshed Report Abuse Technology keeps getter better!
remay Champion Author Houston Posts:5,227 Points:1,761,170 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Aug 18, 2010 9:01:42 AM Ignore remay Report Abuse Nice, but relevance to this forum?
UseLessGasFolks Champion Author Iowa Posts:3,641 Points:942,635 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Aug 18, 2010 12:55:18 AM Ignore UseLessGasFolks Report Abuse Very cool. There is a synergy here involving 2 of the most promising alternative energy technologies.
GryphonX Champion Author Nevada Posts:5,002 Points:1,282,970 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Aug 18, 2010 12:06:49 AM Ignore GryphonX Report Abuse Soooooo ... what's the punchline?
faulkc05 All-Star Author Atlanta Posts:562 Points:193,540 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Aug 18, 2010 12:00:39 AM Ignore faulkc05 Report Abuse Becoming green doesn't happen over night, it takes time.
JettaKnight Champion Author Toronto Posts:1,394 Points:1,800,690 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 11:59:36 PM Ignore JettaKnight Report Abuse ladyeagle57 Maine "I did not think solar panels worked well in the winter." Solar panels work in daylight. So, unless you're an Eskimo near the North pole...
NorthglennBill Champion Author Denver Posts:5,701 Points:1,120,265 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 11:57:14 PM Ignore NorthglennBill Report Abuse Technology marchs on. Alternate energy will work.
GasitupJB Champion Author Columbia Posts:3,772 Points:572,500 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 11:52:14 PM Ignore GasitupJB Report Abuse On the surface this looks good. Now, if it can be done without government interaction, that would be even better.
HiGramma Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,814 Points:401,620 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 11:50:57 PM Ignore HiGramma Report Abuse As long as it's profitable it will take off on its own. If private companies bail out in droves when gov' subsidies stop, it's a rotten deal.
misterray Champion Author Oregon Posts:2,838 Points:662,045 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 11:44:42 PM Ignore misterray Report Abuse When all these ideas are added up it gives me great hope.
Eichhornchen Champion Author Detroit Posts:3,787 Points:750,470 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 11:30:00 PM Ignore Eichhornchen Report Abuse They still have a long way to go.
danreino Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:6,807 Points:1,243,265 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 11:28:34 PM Ignore danreino Report Abuse Interesting stuff
ladyeagle57 Champion Author Maine Posts:7,170 Points:1,087,200 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 11:27:35 PM Ignore ladyeagle57 Report Abuse I would like to find out about using something other than oil, wood, or gas to heat a home. I did not think solar panels worked well in the winter.
TIGERPAW46 Champion Author Florida Posts:5,560 Points:1,051,960 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 11:15:47 PM Ignore TIGERPAW46 Report Abuse Sounds interesting. Wish it gave more detail. Only Question is they used a free grant & now he has applied for two patents and he & the power companies will make all the profit. ("Varma has applied for two patents for the technology, developed in part through a $6-million research grant from the Ontario Centre of Excellence.") So where is the Ontario Centre of Excellence's share of the profits. Without there support there would be no invention or modification unless they are part of the power co. Also I believe they are saying UWO Is the university where he works with the others of his team. So much if not all their research & work was likely done on the job as am employee of the university. I'm not a lawyer but it's always been my understanding that the invention therefore is proprietary property of the university. On top of that not knowing for sure but the University is possibly publicly supported at least in part by the people's taxes. I can't wait to see how this one plays out. Maybe "the rules are different in Ontario".
divebomber Champion Author Nebraska Posts:4,244 Points:1,450,225 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 11:08:38 PM Ignore divebomber Report Abuse Lead On!
lookn4adeal Rookie Author Chicago Posts:71 Points:27,145 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 11:07:23 PM Ignore lookn4adeal Report Abuse We're getting there... a combination of wind and solar is a step in the right direction to help lower US dependancy on foriegn oil. The price of solar panels is going to come down drastically in light of recent discoveries in (nickle vs gold) design requirements.
abcdMA Champion Author Worcester Posts:6,144 Points:1,218,205 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 11:05:08 PM Ignore abcdMA Report Abuse new technologies will create the new energy
lightbulbman2008 Champion Author Worcester Posts:249,230 Points:1,226,000 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 11:04:51 PM Ignore lightbulbman2008 Report Abuse give it some time to develop.!!!!!
salgood Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:2,569 Points:641,685 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 11:04:16 PM Ignore salgood Report Abuse Not bad, work on reducing the cost of what appears to be some promising technological advancements.
TomJDriver Champion Author London Posts:1,036 Points:302,340 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 11:03:25 PM Ignore TomJDriver Report Abuse The biggest problem with solar and wind solved. Regulating it as it feeds into the grid. Having to regulate and not use some of it. In my case, the wind is strong just as the sun stops shining on my south facing solar panels. Perfect marriage of the two. Cheaper and a quicker payback.
TRAIN RIDER Champion Author San Bernardino Posts:7,303 Points:2,404,810 Joined:Oct 2004	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 10:56:05 PM Ignore TRAIN RIDER Report Abuse GREEN IS GOOD, BUT HOW MUCH EXTRA DOES IT COST THAN WHAT WE HAVE NOW?
BKool Champion Author Michigan Posts:4,863 Points:1,821,600 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 10:53:14 PM Ignore BKool Report Abuse Green is red, no matter what nation you're in.
waynemustang Champion Author Indiana Posts:5,046 Points:1,334,165 Joined:Nov 2006	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 10:53:00 PM Ignore waynemustang Report Abuse Much too expensive and won't pay for itself.
FordF2502001 Champion Author Mississippi Posts:6,224 Points:1,259,345 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 10:49:10 PM Ignore FordF2502001 Report Abuse Right on judgemobile. Scary times.
jb107 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:7,748 Points:2,260,575 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 10:36:38 PM Ignore jb107 Report Abuse Anything that will reduce costs is good.
MRED3 Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:3,666 Points:816,820 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 10:35:45 PM Ignore MRED3 Report Abuse People always thinking on their own see the government needs to stay out of the way and things can get done.
rayk Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:2,106 Points:1,245,080 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 10:33:11 PM Ignore rayk Report Abuse and when will it pay for itself?
hauler43 Champion Author Oakland Posts:7,567 Points:2,457,150 Joined:Sep 2003	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 10:30:50 PM Ignore hauler43 Report Abuse Good
judgemobile Champion Author Ohio Posts:5,762 Points:2,086,080 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 10:24:00 PM Ignore judgemobile Report Abuse a million here, a million there, and pretty soon we may be talking about real money...wait, did I say Million ? I should have sad BILLION, or TRILLION. Now don't anyone go tell O'Bummer what comes after a TRILLION.
30mpg80 Champion Author Lexington Posts:5,712 Points:1,127,470 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 10:20:27 PM Ignore 30mpg80 Report Abuse Sounds great! Anytime you have a chance to reduce costs by a few million dollars, do it!
leemun Champion Author Utah Posts:3,593 Points:683,280 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 10:19:29 PM Ignore leemun Report Abuse Brilliant.
t_flor Champion Author Illinois Posts:2,230 Points:788,590 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 10:12:09 PM Ignore t_flor Report Abuse Now will it work the way it's planned?
PissedCanuck Champion Author Toronto Posts:5,277 Points:1,262,440 Joined:Nov 2006	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 10:11:49 PM Ignore PissedCanuck Report Abuse Just make sure you don't put one of those solar/wind farms next to houses. Would not want to live next to it - might as well be living next to a power plant, coal or nuclear.
bell05 Champion Author Atlanta Posts:7,415 Points:1,515,535 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 10:10:52 PM Ignore bell05 Report Abuse Now that is thinking outside of the box. Sure hope it works.
fattydaddy Rookie Author Omaha Posts:54 Points:52,690 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 10:05:51 PM Ignore fattydaddy Report Abuse Sounds good on paper.
methaneman Champion Author Minnesota Posts:2,155 Points:1,178,450 Joined:May 2002	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 10:03:54 PM Ignore methaneman Report Abuse We need more of this tyhpe of insite.
schatzila Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:3,247 Points:680,065 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 9:55:31 PM Ignore schatzila Report Abuse smart thinking
gasaholicMO Champion Author Missouri Posts:2,620 Points:510,670 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 9:39:19 PM Ignore gasaholicMO Report Abuse If it makes economic sense, why not do it.
bbreff Champion Author Atlanta Posts:8,142 Points:2,227,840 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 9:27:53 PM Ignore bbreff Report Abuse Great if it works on a basis where it can be used economically.
rimpyCA Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:1,550 Points:709,650 Joined:Aug 2009	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 9:25:59 PM Ignore rimpyCA Report Abuse cool tech
knot2swift Champion Author Calgary Posts:2,832 Points:453,155 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 9:24:45 PM Ignore knot2swift Report Abuse Good news. The big drawback to both wind and solar has always been the fact that systems can't handle too much fluctuation. Batteries to store that much juice during peaks are not practical.
LanguageMan1 Champion Author Tampa Posts:9,720 Points:1,301,625 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 9:22:15 PM Ignore LanguageMan1 Report Abuse More ideas; well, do something.
ILANGE9 Champion Author Illinois Posts:5,744 Points:1,237,375 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 9:15:48 PM Ignore ILANGE9 Report Abuse Hope it works in reality and not just on paper or in theory.
mplato Champion Author Columbia Posts:6,506 Points:1,468,125 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 9:14:13 PM Ignore mplato Report Abuse renewable energy.....is a punchline joke!
Motodometer Sophomore Author Washington Posts:166 Points:260,595 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 9:08:51 PM Ignore Motodometer Report Abuse Save energy---shower with a friend.
jjjleblanc Champion Author Rochester Posts:4,728 Points:1,198,160 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 9:06:55 PM Ignore jjjleblanc Report Abuse worth a try.
SSchmidty Champion Author Illinois Posts:7,507 Points:1,427,555 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 9:06:53 PM Ignore SSchmidty Report Abuse There might be even more to the this thinking ... just expand our creative side of the collective intelligence.
1cheapgasin Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:3,670 Points:849,215 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Aug 17, 2010 9:05:27 PM Ignore 1cheapgasin Report Abuse Sounds good to me.