Photo: Victoria plum blossom
Photo: Wood anemone
Photo: Fritillaria meleagrisSunday, 8 April 2007
MICROGENERATION
Last week saw a large wind farm opened by Duncan Stuart from the RTE programme Eco –Eye. The farm outside Ballybofey is said to be the largest one in the country. For all the positive news that comes out of this form of energy production there is a growing number of people that are questioning their viability. The first group of people that object are the organisations that say that the countryside should come first. There only needs to be a couple of turbines on a hill to ruin a landmark. The turbines kill a lot of birds as well so the bird societies are also wary of their use. Surveys have revealed that the increase of wind power can only decrease a tiny proportion of the greenhouse gasses that are used. This is because electricity generators account for only a third of the emissions. Transport and industry produce the rest. The other criticism that wind power generates is the fact that at present the system fluctuates with the production depending on the weather conditions. It simply cannot cope with big surges in demand on a still day. Solid fuel and oil are getting scarce and there will need to be a shake up in the use of energy. A start would be to use the energy that is produced more effectively. With conventional power stations, only about half of the fuel put in comes out as electricity. The rest is heat, which is lost. There is also a loss of ten percent during transmission and distribution. So the most obvious start to reducing emissions would be to use less electricity in the first place. Turn off lights; do not put electrical goods on standby etc. The other method of reducing emissions is to equip houses and offices with a system called microgeneration.
WHAT IS MICROGENERATION?
“Microgeneration” or micropower is the production of power on the smallest of scales. Micropower technologies emit low amounts of carbon dioxide, or in some cases, no carbon dioxide at all. Unlike large power stations, micropower appliances are situated very close to where their power is used.
Micropower takes the electricity industry full circle. Thomas Edison, father of the modern electrical age, had small-scale, localised power in mind when he built the worlds first power plant, Pearl Street Station, in New York in 1882. His vision was for a decentralised energy industry with dozens of companies generating and delivering power close to where it was to be used – or even putting systems in the homes and factories of their customers. By 1907, fifty-nine percent of American electricity came from small-scale generation.
Micropower units are growing in popularity because they are more efficient and less hazardous to the environment than large, centralised power plants, and with many units producing electricity, they provide greater diversity and security of supply. Some can even provide back-up power during blackouts. Micropower is cost-effective. Often micropower technologies are able to use heat that would otherwise be wasted. Micropower is good for the environment. Some forms of micropower use fuels or energy sources that produce no greenhouse gases. Those that do use fossil fuels do so with efficiencies typically of greater than 90%.
MICROPOWER AND THE CONSUMER
By putting generators in people's houses, micropower brings energy issues home to the public. Because they are visible, micropower technologies form a daily visual reminder of energy use and associated issues such as climate change. As a result, micropower could help bring about a shift in the way people use energy, and will help the country achieve its ambitions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The following are amongst the most common approaches being developed:
Microturbines
About the size of a refrigerator, a microturbine unit generates 30 to 60 kilowatts of electricity, enough to power a small business. Maximum thermal efficiencies can be achieved when the exhaust is used in a combined heat and power, or cogeneration, application. With its flexible design, generation capacity is unlimited when running in parallel to the electric grid -- up to 1.2 megawatts of electricity, coupled independent of the grid.
Like a jet engine, the unit mixes fuel with air to create combustion. This combustion turns a magnet generator, compressor and turbine wheels on a revolutionary single shaft, air-bearing design at high speed with no need for additional lubricants, oils or coolants. The result is a highly efficient, reliable, clean combustion generator with very low Nitrate emissions that, unlike diesel generators, can operate around the clock without restrictions. And, unlike combined cycle gas turbines, these power systems use no water.
Fuel cells
A fuel cell combines hydrogen with oxygen (from air) in a chemical reaction.
Ground Source Heat Pumps
Ground Source heat pumps tap the heat within the ground and convert it into energy.
Solar Water Heating
This is the most commonly used form of solar energy currently used today. Solar water heating typically uses roof-mounted panels to provide 40-50% of a household’s hot water needs
Biomass Heating
This involves the use of fast-growing trees such as willow or poplar as commercial energy crops.
Wind turbines: Last but not least is the wind turbine. These devices don’t need to be plonked on a hillside. Smaller versions can fit on your chimney!
Environmental.
WHAT IS MICROGENERATION?
“Microgeneration” or micropower is the production of power on the smallest of scales. Micropower technologies emit low amounts of carbon dioxide, or in some cases, no carbon dioxide at all. Unlike large power stations, micropower appliances are situated very close to where their power is used.
Micropower takes the electricity industry full circle. Thomas Edison, father of the modern electrical age, had small-scale, localised power in mind when he built the worlds first power plant, Pearl Street Station, in New York in 1882. His vision was for a decentralised energy industry with dozens of companies generating and delivering power close to where it was to be used – or even putting systems in the homes and factories of their customers. By 1907, fifty-nine percent of American electricity came from small-scale generation.
Micropower units are growing in popularity because they are more efficient and less hazardous to the environment than large, centralised power plants, and with many units producing electricity, they provide greater diversity and security of supply. Some can even provide back-up power during blackouts. Micropower is cost-effective. Often micropower technologies are able to use heat that would otherwise be wasted. Micropower is good for the environment. Some forms of micropower use fuels or energy sources that produce no greenhouse gases. Those that do use fossil fuels do so with efficiencies typically of greater than 90%.
MICROPOWER AND THE CONSUMER
By putting generators in people's houses, micropower brings energy issues home to the public. Because they are visible, micropower technologies form a daily visual reminder of energy use and associated issues such as climate change. As a result, micropower could help bring about a shift in the way people use energy, and will help the country achieve its ambitions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The following are amongst the most common approaches being developed:
Microturbines
About the size of a refrigerator, a microturbine unit generates 30 to 60 kilowatts of electricity, enough to power a small business. Maximum thermal efficiencies can be achieved when the exhaust is used in a combined heat and power, or cogeneration, application. With its flexible design, generation capacity is unlimited when running in parallel to the electric grid -- up to 1.2 megawatts of electricity, coupled independent of the grid.
Like a jet engine, the unit mixes fuel with air to create combustion. This combustion turns a magnet generator, compressor and turbine wheels on a revolutionary single shaft, air-bearing design at high speed with no need for additional lubricants, oils or coolants. The result is a highly efficient, reliable, clean combustion generator with very low Nitrate emissions that, unlike diesel generators, can operate around the clock without restrictions. And, unlike combined cycle gas turbines, these power systems use no water.
Fuel cells
A fuel cell combines hydrogen with oxygen (from air) in a chemical reaction.
Ground Source Heat Pumps
Ground Source heat pumps tap the heat within the ground and convert it into energy.
Solar Water Heating
This is the most commonly used form of solar energy currently used today. Solar water heating typically uses roof-mounted panels to provide 40-50% of a household’s hot water needs
Biomass Heating
This involves the use of fast-growing trees such as willow or poplar as commercial energy crops.
Wind turbines: Last but not least is the wind turbine. These devices don’t need to be plonked on a hillside. Smaller versions can fit on your chimney!
Environmental.
RAISED BEDS
RAISED BEDS AT CASHEL NA COR
This week I have been at the Cashel na Cor site on the Carndonagh road working with a group of 14 people who are on the Job Initiative Programme. The reason we have all come together is to take part in a landscaping and basic garden design course.
So much work has been done already on the riverside garden by the team working there full time, but one of the projects of the week was to create some raised herb beds that will look attractive with the minimal amount of maintenance at the far end of the garden.
This week I have been at the Cashel na Cor site on the Carndonagh road working with a group of 14 people who are on the Job Initiative Programme. The reason we have all come together is to take part in a landscaping and basic garden design course.
So much work has been done already on the riverside garden by the team working there full time, but one of the projects of the week was to create some raised herb beds that will look attractive with the minimal amount of maintenance at the far end of the garden.
There was an area set aside for the beds, but apart from that we had the freedom to come up with a design that would fit in with the existing landscaped areas. Most of the garden is already natural stone so the similar stone that had been donated for the beds will fit in nicely, this will be far longer lasting than building a bed out of wood for example.
There were a few factors to take into consideration before the beds were created. The first thing was to make sure that the path in between the beds were at least four feet (1.35m) wide or more to cater for any wheelchair users or people that need a carer to walk along side them. Steps were intentionally left out because they could cause problems for people with mobility difficulties
The next thing was to come up with a good height for the beds, not only for showing the plants off to their best advantage, but also to be the right height for most gardeners to be able to do the weeding and pruning without any back strain. The decision was made to put the beds at around two feet high (0.7m), which would hopefully satisfy most of the requirements. I use the word “around” because as I found out this week building a raised bed isn’t exactly a straight forward science. The spirit level was gathering dust in the storeroom, and rightly so. The beds are built on a slight slope and to get the benefit of the beds from all angles when you are walking around them they were lowered in certain areas and raised in others. At first I was a bit doubtful whether this method would work, but seeing them in place I realise that it does. The secret is to do a small section of wall and stand back to see if it looks right. If it does, then it is right. Then carry on doing another small section and standing back again.
The stones were held in place by a mortar mix, the effect was to give a dry stone wall look, so the excess cement in the gaps was brushed off before it had time to set, then small gaps were left with no cement, into which trailing plants were put. These were mainly slow growing alpines but in one of the four beds that have been done there are around thirty strawberry plants that hopefully should give a healthy crop in summer.
We started the course by sitting down and getting our heads together to come up with an attractive design that would fit in the area. This done we set about putting the ideas into practice. But like all things organic the ideas changed dramatically by the time we got onto the site. Fixed plans are probably vital when building a house but in this case every change that was suggested by the team improved the look of the beds. We started off with two semi circular shaped beds facing one another, these are now kidney shaped beds offset from one another. There has also been a seat incorporated into the narrow area of the beds for anyone to sit down on a warm sunny day and eat their sandwiches.
The raised beds were heaped full of good quality topsoil to allow for any settling and after a soil test, found that it was around PH7, the fact that the beds will be free draining makes them ideal for most herbs to grow. The beds have been planted up with a few aromatic herbs such as Lavender, Thyme, Chamomile, Fennel and Feverfew. There will be more plants such as creeping Thyme, Rosemary, Lemon Balm and Sage, but at the moment they are small plugs and cuttings so they have to grow up a bit before they can be planted into place. For now they have been potted up and will sit on the windowsill in the building until they are ready for the outside world. The fact that the beds have very few plants doesn’t make them less attractive because we have used a thick mesh covered with gravel to keep the weeds down.
I must say I feel we all worked really well as a team, there were a large number of us on the project, but that didn’t stop us all pulling together, and I think coming up with a very attractive and practical piece of garden sculpture, that hopefully will be enjoyed for years to come.
I’d like to end by thanking everyone that took part for a very enjoyable and enlightening week.
Horticultural.
GIANT VEGETABLES
(Click on the title for a link to Robinsons mammoth seed website)I was in Belfast last weekend visiting friends. These friends of mine are lucky enough to live very close to the Botanic gardens, and we thought it would a good idea to let the children get some exercise hunting for conkers (creating a small diversion as I tuck a few seed heads in my pocket from the herbaceous borders). When we got to the gardens though, we were surprised to see a very large marquee set up on the grass. The tent was set up to house three things, firstly a Dahlia competition; here people entered their choice specimens, usually in threes to, be judged. Secondly there was a competition for bonsai trees and cacti. Thirdly the grand competition to find the biggest and best vegetables.
There were parsnips measuring 8 feet long (including the fibrous roots) onions weighing in at a little over 5lbs (2.5kg) The marrows needed four people to help lift them onto a table and leeks that were as wide and tall as fence posts. I was in awe at the size and quality of all the vegetables from the celery to tomatoes and felt as though I was doing something wrong in my own veg patch, until I happened to spot a catalogue from a company called Robinson’s, this company specialise in mammoth vegetable seeds (Sunny Bank, Forton, Nr. Preston, Lancashire PR3OBN tel: 00441524 791210) Now I don’t know whether it’s classed as cheating buying these seeds, I’m sure it’s not, there is still a lot of work to do to grow these seeds into prize winners. There’s a wide range of seed available to fill the vegetable patch most of them range in price from £1.75 to 2.50 sterling per packet. For those people that want a head start though you can buy specially grown selected plants for the exhibitor.
There are individually potted onions and leeks for you to buy at £27 sterling for ten plants, they have elephant garlic as well, which costs £10 per head, which will make the chilli con carne pretty expensive to make but there’s sure to be plenty of it!
Horticultural.
MULCHING
(Taken from November)
This week I’ve had some much-needed help in the garden. My friend Paul, visiting from England, has been hacking away at the undergrowth in the more neglected areas and planting small trees and shrubs to create what will eventually be a forest garden. This has given me some much needed time to sort out my plants in the front garden that have quickly outgrown their pots and need more room to spread their roots out in comfort. He has also been going out to work with me. It has been a pleasure working with some one else, not least because he has been going to choir with Julie and is practising while he digs! While Paul is here we are planning to have a morning session on mulching on Saturday 1st of December. Paul will talk a bit about mulching and there will be hands on experience (bring wellies, raingear, gloves etc) and handouts. Paul has brought over a few specialist tools and of course you are welcome to look around. The cost is a tenner (or a donation if you prefer). For more details call me on the usual number (see below). In the meantime, here is Paul to talk some more about what mulching is.
Last week I introduced the concept of mulching as a way of maintaining and improving your garden without working too hard. Instead of digging (or double digging) your garden before planting you can simply mulch. Mulching is applying a top dressing of organic or inorganic materials to suppress weeds and improve soil fertility. You can use well-rotted horse manure, mushroom compost, seaweed, carpet, cardboard and even old cotton rags. It is complementary to the use of compost but easier. Ian and I have been trying to put our ideas into practice but my aching bones are telling me that we might not have the art perfected yet (If any-one has a motorized wheel barrow let me know!) I have used this system in the past with excellent results however you need to keep your nerves as old bits of carpet and cardboard lying around the garden does not exactly have that “garden makeover” look. The system may take a year or two to look good but when the materials have rotted in the soil is wonderfully rich, producing great crops of veggies, loads of flowers etc. If you think that what I’m saying is rubbish “literally,” we are putting your money where our mouths are on the open day. At least you can come along and see what I am talking about it action.
Why dig anyway! It is a primeval instinct. Put a spade in the hand of a small child and they will immediately imitate a digging action. Though lazy to a point of fastidious principle I still see a spade and think dig. We have evolved the mind-set to dig but have yet to develop the back muscles and stamina. If you want a he man body go to the gym, if you want an Eden to laze about in put your spade beyond use and start to mulch (it saves on weeding too)!
Farmers are digging all the time. They call it ploughing and use big machines to take the strain. It is the technique that humans have used since they first settled and developed agriculture in the near east thousands of years ago to keep the forest at bay. It’s a great idea if you want to grow a cereal crop quickly in a semi arid climate but it requires lots of intense inputs both in labour and resources to maintain its fertility. It also damages the natural soil structure.
Soil is a complex and wonderful medium. A hand full of dirt is a source of endless fascination. Put it under the microscope and there is more life and drama than a week of soap output on the telly.
First lets consider the bacteria that live in the soil. There are two main groups, aerobes that live in the first few inches, thriving in the surface conditions and anaerobes that live a bit deeper and like it cold, dark and wet. When we dig we change this natural state of affairs and by turning the soil we put the penthouse dwellers into the basement and the basement dwellers into the penthouse. They do not like this at all. In fact they dislike it so much they die! Initially this has a beneficial effect and the soil is made more fertile as the bacteria decompose. In time however, the soil becomes less productive relying on expensive inputs of artificial fertilizer. So mulching makes sense. Looking forward to meeting any interested would be mulchers on Saturday 1st December. Cheers!
Last week I introduced the concept of mulching as a way of maintaining and improving your garden without working too hard. Instead of digging (or double digging) your garden before planting you can simply mulch. Mulching is applying a top dressing of organic or inorganic materials to suppress weeds and improve soil fertility. You can use well-rotted horse manure, mushroom compost, seaweed, carpet, cardboard and even old cotton rags. It is complementary to the use of compost but easier. Ian and I have been trying to put our ideas into practice but my aching bones are telling me that we might not have the art perfected yet (If any-one has a motorized wheel barrow let me know!) I have used this system in the past with excellent results however you need to keep your nerves as old bits of carpet and cardboard lying around the garden does not exactly have that “garden makeover” look. The system may take a year or two to look good but when the materials have rotted in the soil is wonderfully rich, producing great crops of veggies, loads of flowers etc. If you think that what I’m saying is rubbish “literally,” we are putting your money where our mouths are on the open day. At least you can come along and see what I am talking about it action.
Why dig anyway! It is a primeval instinct. Put a spade in the hand of a small child and they will immediately imitate a digging action. Though lazy to a point of fastidious principle I still see a spade and think dig. We have evolved the mind-set to dig but have yet to develop the back muscles and stamina. If you want a he man body go to the gym, if you want an Eden to laze about in put your spade beyond use and start to mulch (it saves on weeding too)!
Farmers are digging all the time. They call it ploughing and use big machines to take the strain. It is the technique that humans have used since they first settled and developed agriculture in the near east thousands of years ago to keep the forest at bay. It’s a great idea if you want to grow a cereal crop quickly in a semi arid climate but it requires lots of intense inputs both in labour and resources to maintain its fertility. It also damages the natural soil structure.
Soil is a complex and wonderful medium. A hand full of dirt is a source of endless fascination. Put it under the microscope and there is more life and drama than a week of soap output on the telly.
First lets consider the bacteria that live in the soil. There are two main groups, aerobes that live in the first few inches, thriving in the surface conditions and anaerobes that live a bit deeper and like it cold, dark and wet. When we dig we change this natural state of affairs and by turning the soil we put the penthouse dwellers into the basement and the basement dwellers into the penthouse. They do not like this at all. In fact they dislike it so much they die! Initially this has a beneficial effect and the soil is made more fertile as the bacteria decompose. In time however, the soil becomes less productive relying on expensive inputs of artificial fertilizer. So mulching makes sense. Looking forward to meeting any interested would be mulchers on Saturday 1st December. Cheers!
Horticultural.
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