Introduction
Welcome to the Tech Renewable Energy Society (TRES). TRES is an appropriate name for our group for several reasons. In French, tres means “very” and we hope you find these pages very interesting, very informative, and very entertaining.
In Spanish, tres means “three” and so, like Julius Caesar, I’ve had the gall to divide this introduction into three parts: solar, wind and geothermal. Of course, there are also hydroelectric, bio-fuels, ocean currents and tides, and others. But in Lubbock, we are likely to find most interest in the Big Three.
Solar:
There are also three main solar applications: PV (photovoltaic), thermal, and concentrated. PV is what NASA uses to power its satellites – a panel made up of chemicals that interact with sunlight to create a flow of electrons. Solar thermal is evident on some Lubbock roof-tops – a tray measures about 8’X4’ and containing tubing that circulates either water or antifreeze solution which is heated by the sun. The net output is very warm water, which is generally stored in an insulated tank and is usually made hotter when it is needed for showers or a dish washer. Solar concentrated is primarily used by utilities to focus sunlight on a container of water which causes steam to move out of the container and turn a turbine, thereby generating electricity.
Wind:
We are all aware of the wind turbines that have sprung up around the Caprock. We are lucky to have a very good museum which presents this technology (American Wind Power Museum, 1701 Canyon Lake Drive – soon to be Caesar Chavez Drive?). There are numerous companies who sell small (residential) turbines which are also in evidence around town.
Geothermal and Geoexchange:
The temperature under the earth (50 feet or deeper) is, for practical purposes, constant at about 65 degrees F. Geoexchange techniques use this temperature difference by pumping a fluid down to that depth and then pumping it back up to the surface. If it is summer, the fluid can be used to cool a building; or in winter, the fluid can be used to warm the building. Lubbock Christian University installed such a geoexchange system in eight of its buildings.
Energy Conservation:
This is a very big topic, and is a requirement for a full discussion of the environmental impact of energy. A good resolution we can all take is to perform an energy audit of your home to see where you “spend” most of your energy, and then to take measures to tighten up your energy “budget.” Some find they can cut their energy bills in half. For more, see the book Carbon Busters Handbook by Godo Stoyke. Texas Tech is required by low to report certain aspects of its use of energy to the governor’s office: http://www.governor.state.tx.us/
Transportation:
About 25% of the world’s pollution is caused by vehicles. Unfortunately, it is difficult to put together a vehicle that’s powered by the classic renewables (solar, wind, geothermal), so transportation energy is a challenge. There is a solar car competition each year, but the vehicles are not yet ready for consumer adoption. Batteries may be the answer, as the success of hybrids has shown. My hero (with respect to renewable, anyway), Ed Begley, Jr., drives an electric car that he charges with his roof-top solar panels. Another possibility is hydrogen, which burns, but in the process produces only water as an outcome. Fuel cells are being used in this application. Texas Tech is experimenting wit fuel cell technology – see below.
Texas Tech:
Our university has a lot of renewable energy activity. The Office of Research has expressed a lot of interest in making this as a research activity at TTU. Karlene Hoo is the contact person in his office. At a recent Summit on Energy Sustainability, Karlene organized the agenda and supported the College of Engineering, who sponsored the summit. If you visit http://www.depts.ttu.edu/coe/energysummit/ you can learn more about this conference. Fossil fuels and other non-renewable sources played a part, but the conference also brought out several renewable energy sources for discussion.
The WISE group, lead by Andy Swift, studies wind energy and how to harness it. They are located in the Reese Center and occasionally offer presentations that anyone can attend. The group is also very focused on water problems in the South Plains and how wind energy can be coupled to solve them.
Katherine Hayhoe is a climate scientist in the Department of Geosciences. She is primarily interested in the phenomenon of global warming but is also looking at renewable energy as a way to control it. She is working on a project involving greenhouse gases in Lubbock, and was awarded a grant in October to continue her research with several universities. Recently her work with the United Nations IPCC group was recognized as part of the Nobel Peace Prize.
Another Geosciences professor, Melanie Barnes, is working with students Caitlin Grann and Clint Peters, who want to increase our awareness of recycling (as an aspect of energy efficiency).
Mechanical Engineering houses a research group that addresses transportation using fuel cells and other technologies. Dr.Timothy Maxwell guides grad students Thomas Gates, Ryan Goode, Jared Whitten and Cory Hays.
Several Tech faculty members are interested in photovoltaics. We are hoping to hear from them over the next few months.
Several universities have banded together to establish “carbon neutrality.” One of these efforts is called American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. Another university-related project is from The Endowment Institute, who rate universities once each year on their commitment to sustainability and renewable energy. One of the efforts of our group will be to optimize this.
So this is our state of the organization as of November, 2007. Please contact Lindsayj.reed@ttu.edu with any comments or interests you might have in furthering our goals and mission. Welcome to TRES!