Wise Investments in Alternative Energy

Business hunches are catching on the unfolding attraction of profits offered by alternative energy investments. Their clue comes from highly informed analysis showing that "green" energy production is all systems go to become a multi-billion business by 2013.

The alternative energy frontier has recently expanded its vast horizons. The newly crafted wind turbine technologies, for example, have given us fresh glimpses of how cost-effective wind-powered energy can become. They are gaining support due largely to their superior long-term viability in comparison with what traditional energy technologies offer. With initial successes, industry players are expected to jump on the bandwagon, further fueling possibilities of increased investments in wind technology research and production.

Another example is photovoltaic or solar cell alternative energy technology. This technology has long been in use to energize pocket calculators, personal asset lights, US Coast Guard buoys and other related implements. Now its uses have been increasing, like gracing housing roofs, commercial and other industrial complexes. While the cost of the technology continues to drop, its efficiency ratio continues to rise. The efficiency ratio of energy conversion using silicon cells has risen from only 4 per cent in 1982 to more than 20 per cent in recent years with application of the latest technologies. Moreover, photovoltaic cells do not emit pollutants because they merely produce electrical power. The downside of PV cells is that they are currently not as cost-efficient when compared to the commercial electric-generating facilities. Their production capability at a scale remains constrained due to their space requirements. But with increasing availability of areas where PV cells can be placed in adequate number, the PV technology has become an attractive business proposition.

Alternative energy investment experts also believe that alternative sources of energy from tidal currents or movements as well as temperature differentials offer new and huge business potentials. France continues to lead in developing hydro power technology research and production. The United States and Scotland, among other countries, are also deep in their own researches on hydro power generation. There had been initial difficulties in this field, owing in part to the decline of salt water metals, proliferation of barnacles and turbulent storms, among other things, which impeded stable energy generation. But current breakthroughs have addressed these concerns such as by using alternative and better industrial materials. It also helps that people are having a better understanding on ocean currents and ocean waves. Many things are working for ocean-powered energy, not the least of which being its reliability and renewability.

Elsewhere, investments in hydro-electric technology have increased in the last 20 years. Hydro-electric power is environmentally clean. The problem with dams that make use of water and gravity to run turbines and generate electricity is their limited availability. Not many dams can be viably constructed in relation to total demand for energy. The giant dams have also been blamed for despoiling the marine eco-system. Efforts to address these concerns require big and sometimes prohibitive expenses such that focus has turned to low-impact "run-of-the-river" hydro-power-generating facilities. While they remain potent as sources of electric power, these relatively smaller facilities are not ecological hazards.

Green energy is the way to go. Alternative sources of energy are environmentally safe even as they respond to our growing need for power. This sunrise industry beckons. We would be well-advised to go with the current and invest in it.

Hermilando Aberia is an expert in social development work with at least 22 years of professional experience as either consultant or key staff member of health, community development, education and local governance projects. He has a master's degree in development management from the Asian Institute of Management. Contact Information: B21 L59 Kassel Kristina Heights, Tacloban City, Philippines. Mobile: (+63) 9058664106; Website: http://www.freewebs.com/iaberia

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Alternative Energy Investments - Japan's emerging Role

What's Japan's role in alternative energy investment? Japan is among several countries that are addressing energy needs by making advances in water treatment, electricity storage and in solar power. Currently, SPI Holdings, Inc., has $3 billion in private equity investments meant to access growth in Asian companies with a venture capital fund, and will be among the new alternative energy funds expected to appear.

Specifically, global investors are expected to come up with 30 billion yen, or $330 million, from sovereign wealth funds like Masdar Clean Tech Fund of Abu Dhabi and Temasek Holdings Pte. Expected internal rate of return on investment is expected to be 25 to 30%.

Clean technologies are increasingly in the public eye because President Barack Obama and Japan's Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama are focusing on projects that will deliver electricity to consumers from wind power and solar plants, both renewable energy sources, without disruption to the current system; the current system largely depends on fossil fuel sources like coal for its electricity generation needs.

This has boded well for the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, which has gone up about 30% in the last year, more than benchmark equities indices' gain in both Japan and the United States. (It should also be noted, however, that some investors are taking losses, resulting in what seems to be at least a temporary financial crisis. In 2009, for example, clean energy investment fell 6.5% versus 2008.)

This interest in renewable energy technology is not new, but its actual inception, including sustainable, renewable, clean or "green" energy sources, is indeed new and has been exciting to watch, for many. Japan's own focus on developing renewable sources like wind power has made it a perfect partner to the US in developing these technologies. managing director of the Institute of Energy Economics Japan, Kensuke Kanekiyo, has said that, "Japan is also getting this trend off the ground and money follows." Specifically, alternative energy funds like the one being developed by SBI prevent new opportunities for investors.

A year ago, SBI joined with a unit of Mubadala Development Co., a sovereign fund of Abu Dhabi, meant to speed the development of alternative energy so that a reduced dependence on oil as possible. Now, SBI's plan for the 30 billion yen fund is waiting for investors' commitment, with two companies so far involved.

Takashi Nakagawa, director of Tokyo-based SBI, says that the plan is to look at water management, light emitting diodes, solar and batteries. Clean technology is paramount and one of the "three pillars" of SBI's investment policy, including the other two "pillars," bio-science and information technology.

One of the companies SBI has chosen for the alternative energy pilot fund has found a way to produce silicon solar cells that are shaped like spheres, do not require as much material as standard solar cells, and yet have more power output. Another of the companies SBI has chosen for the pilot fund has developed a lithium rechargeable battery that is both safer and lighter than current models.

One of the major developments in Japan's use of renewable energy is that its solar panel sales achieved record levels in 2009 as the government used incentive programs so that citizens would switch to renewable power, which meant an increase in local demand and helped to offset the negative aspects of a decline in exports. Sales in solar panels increased 21%.

Indeed, perhaps the current high price of fossil fuels like oil is not an entirely negative thing, given that it spurs the growth of these technologies. Of this, the Institute's Kanekiyo says, "There are plenty of untapped technologies that can be developed when oil is priced at the current level."

What might this mean for the development of alternative energies in the US, besides the development of alternative energy funds?

Although it is not quite known what the far-reaching benefits of this will be yet, in October of 2009, President Obama unveiled a plan to invest $3.4 billion in government grants so that a smart grid could be developed and installed; this "smart grid" would make electricity delivery more reliable and would also help deliver power from "green energy" sources like solar panels and wind turbines. In November of 2009, the US Department of Energy also announced $620 million in funding for these smart grid projects.

The development of smart grid technologies and renewable "green" energy technologies, such as is being done in Japan and the US, bode well, of course, for our economies, in that oil prices are skyrocketing and making this type of energy much more expensive to acquire; additionally, development of these types of "green energies" will also garner independence, in that our countries will not be able to generate our own energy from these renewable technologies. Exciting for any investor who wants to sink his or her money into alternative energy funds that support not only financial success, but national independence from fossil fuel imports and environmental benefits, too.

For more information on the potentials and pitfalls of alternative energy funds [http://www.alternativeenergyreport.net], visit us at [http://www.alternativeenergyreport.net].

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Biofuel Technology - The Cost of Alternative Energy

Certainly consumers are concerned with escalating fuel prices as well as what fossil fuels are doing to the environment. The concern has led many consumers to find out more about alternative energy sources in the way of solar power, wind power and biofuel technology. However, are these technologies new? Certainly not - although now that energy is such a concern the technologies relative to biofuels, wind and solar can no longer be put on the back shelf. That said, this technology is a very old alternative energy solution. The costs of biofuel technology have to be looked at before solutions can be found.

The creation of a biofuel is not some sort of complex science. In order to create a biofuel the following needs to occur. First you will need to take some form of grain or vegetable and thoroughly grind it up. The grain or vegetable is then mixed with water. The grain or vegetable and water is then cooked for a very short length of time. During this short period of cooking time an enzyme is added to the mixture in order that the starch may be subsequently convert to sugar. The cooking process just described is referred to as Hydrolysis.

You next add some yeast. The yeast is necessary in order that the mixture can ferment. The fermentation of the mixture results in the production of Ethanol. A distillation process is applied in order to separate the Ethanol from the other ingredients. You may not be aware of it, but currently with the concern regarding diminishing fossil fuels and the threat they present to the environment there are a fair amount of websites showing various ways to manufacture the product of Ethanol at home. Even though the steps do not sound all that significant there is truly a great deal of time involved and a good deal of work. Further, some have mentioned it is not all that cost-effective to produce Ethanol at home.

However, on a larger scale a good deal of time and financial resources is being spent currently with respect to manufacturing methods pertinent to biofuels. In example, researchers are looking for ways to produce Ethanol by means that prove less expensive than what is incurred when using grains. This assures food sources are not used too frequently. It is not necessary for part of the population go hungry due to the fact food sources are being used over-extensively in the way of biofuel manufacture. Countries that have been manufacturing biofuels for a relatively long time now grow food products high in sugar content; one example of such a food product is sugar cane. Brazil is one country that grows a considerable amount of sugar cane. Brazil has also been producing biofuels for quite a while now.

It may be said, the majority of Ethanol used commercially is the result of manufacture using the by-product yeast. Ethanol is manufactured as well wherein gasoline is used within the production process. However, the majority of Ethanol produced is the result of using yeast. In manufacturing biofuels corn is considered in areas such as North America where its harvest is generous. However, though corn is generally used in the production of biofuels the process is pricey and the conversion into biofuel a good deal more detailed.

Greg has been writing articles for over 5 years. Please visit his latest website about renewable energy ideas at Alternative Energy Sources, with great information and thoughts surrounding Costs of Biofuel Technology.

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The Latest in Alternative Energy Technology

World resources of fossil fuels are running low, and burning them causes a number of problems to the environment. There is no way to avoid these facts unless we get to replace them completely and take advantage of alternative energy technology. And there are many alternatives to using fossil fuels for our source of energy.

Solar power is one of the best options because most of our energy comes from the sun and there is a lot of energy to power the world 1000 times over. This however has it's drawbacks in areas close to the poles where the amount of sunlight can be limited in winter. Wind power too has its benefits and can be powered through windmills that generate electricity as well marine energy such as energy produced by the waves and the tides. Another exciting source of energy is the magnetic generator which is in use commercially in parts of Europe and Canada

There are other alternative energy technology options, but those mentioned above are the best ones and the only ones in circulation today that have the potential to develop into something really amazing.

Solar power is an alternative energy technology that is being used well today. For centuries it has been known that the sun can be used to produce electricity however, in the early 1900's fossil fuels were cheap and abundant and so they became very popular. We have been using fossil fuels too fast and they are running out.

There is strong evidence to suggest that we could power our whole society by harnessing the heat of the sun on certain technologies. Solar collectors are an alternative technology that is being used by many people worldwide to heat water for showering and washing. This technology has many benefits - it provides hot water in times of electricity shortage, and a cheaper option for electricity too.

It is a good idea to make use of this technology now because solar collectors will only get more expensive as electricity prices increase in the future (due to the shortages of fossil fuels). On top of this, the environmental effects of using solar power is great - instead of burning fossil fuels and causing pollution, your power will come from the sun (a resource that continually replenishes itself).

Wind power is another good alternative energy technology and has proved to be successful in the past. For years windmills were used to mill grain and pump water, and were even used as a source of electricity in continental Europe around 1890. But wind power as been seen as a potential wind source in the last decade and many scientists agree that this is one of the best ways to power the globe without electricity. There are wind farms scattered throughout the globe that are making use of alternative energy technology. The technology works like this: three blades are attached to a rotor and when the wind blows the blades spin the rotor and this allows energy to be produced - it is a rather simple concept but works well. The only problem with wind power is that for the technology to work there has to be wind and some places in the world do not have wind. However, this technology will work in places like Wales in the United Kingdom and in North Dakota and California here in the United States.

Alternative energy technology for marine energy is still being researched and developed fully, but there is some evidence to suggest that this technology works too. It will just take a bit more time until marine energy is in the mainstream, like that of solar power, wind power and the magnetic generator.

Paul Goldman, is an Australian living in Florida who got tired of sky-high electricity prices, gas prices and things that were damaging the environment (and his wallet) so he investigated ALL the options. The ones that WORKED and the others!

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