Energy Tools

Folder contains information related to Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy.

Guide to Energy Options for Small-Scale Rural ICT Projects — by Winrock International — last modified 2007-07-02 12:52

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are contributing to the achievement of development goals in diverse and ever-expanding ways. They are used to increase the effectiveness and reach of development interventions, to enhance good governance and to lower the delivery costs of many public and private services. When used appropriately, ICTs facilitate the creation and strengthening of new economic and social networks with the potential to advance and even transform the development process. This guide addresses the challenge of meeting the small-scale energy needs of ICT installations in rural and remote areas where there is insufficient access to high-quality, reliable electricity to meet the needs of the ICT installation. Compared to the use of ICTs in developed countries, the economics of ICT ownership are very different when there is no readily available supply of high-quality electricity, as in the following cases: (1) There is no access to the grid at the desired location and grid extension is unaffordable or unavailable; (2) Access to electricity is intermittent or unreliable, as with community diesel generators operated only in the evenings and electricity grids with frequent and long-lasting outages; and (3) Electricity is available but is characterized by extremely poor quality. This guidebook is based in part on previous works including: Energía Fotovoltaica en la Educación A Distancia: Guía Técnica, published by Sandia National Labs and New Mexico State University for USAID and USDOE in August 2001; and Rural Energy & Connectivity Initiative, produced by Winrock International for the Organization of American States (OAS) in 2002.

Tool - Net Energy Analysis — by webadmin — last modified 2006-10-30 14:54

One technique for evaluating energy systems is net energy analysis, which seeks to compare the amount of energy delivered to society by a technology to the total energy required to find, extract, process, deliver, and otherwise upgrade that energy to a socially useful form.

Tool - RE Technology Analysis Models and Tools — by webadmin — last modified 2006-02-22 19:49

The following is a link to the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory's website that offers information on models and tools that can assist in learning more about the listed technologies and uses. Most of these tools can be applied on a global, regional, local, or project basis. Materials and links are organized according to *Biomass, *Hydrogen and Fuel Cells, *Advanced Vehicles and Fuels, *Building Technologies, *Basic Sciences, *Geothermal Technologies Electric Infrastructure Systems, *Solar, *Wind and Hydropower Technologies

Tool - Design and Installation Guidance for Photovoltaic Systems — by webadmin — last modified 2006-02-22 19:49

Design tools for photovoltaics installation from photovoltaic experts at Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Powering ICT Toolkit — by Jeff Haeni — last modified 2006-10-30 14:54

This toolkit helps users select the most cost-effective mix of ICT and energy systems for projects in off-grid and poorly electrified areas. It provides useful information about the energy requirements of ICT equipment, energy solutions for rural ICT projects, and decision-making support tools in the form of spreadsheets and web-based calculation tools. You can also find case studies from around the world and links to other related resources on the web.

NREL's HOMER Toolkit — by Jeff Haeni — last modified 2006-10-30 14:54

HOMER is a computer model that simplifies the task of evaluating design options for both off-grid and grid-connected power systems for remote, stand-alone, and distributed generation (DG) applications. HOMER's optimization and sensitivity analysis algorithms allow you to evaluate the economic and technical feasibility of a large number of technology options and to account for variation in technology costs and energy resource availability. HOMER models both conventional and renewable energy technologies.

NREL's Geospatial Toolkit — by Jeff Haeni — last modified 2006-10-30 14:54

The Geospatial Toolkit (GsT) allows the user to combine wind and solar resource data with local geographic and infrastructure information. The GsT is easy to use. No GIS expertise or software is required. It can help developers and planners understand the renewable energy resources and potential for the area included, help users choose optimal candidate sites for RE applications, and support energy planning.

NREL's international renewable energy decision support tools — by Dan Bilello — last modified 2007-07-02 12:56

In September of 2005, USAID/ANE(TS) Bureau hosted a presentation by scientists and engineers from the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory to demonstrate the Lab's GeoSpatial Tookit and Associated Renewable Energy Resource Information and Decision Support Tools. Dan Bilello, Peter Lilienthal, and Marguerite Kelly, three of the key NREL staff who have brought all of the pieces of the tookit together for USAID. The NREL staff demonstrated how these pieces work together, with the GsT as your window to understanding how powerfully and quickly this suite of tools operates and informs decision-making.

see also - Training Materials - Energy Fundamentals — by Portal Web Editor — last modified 2007-03-15 21:14

Private sector engineering and micro-business guru Don Lancaster has posted an excellent tutorial on energy fundamentals. It describes in easily understood language basic energy concepts like work, power, energy, thermodynamics, and debunks some popular myths associated with solar- and hydrogen-based energy production.

see also - Training Materials - Second Law of Thermodynamics Tutorial — by Portal Web Editor — last modified 2007-03-15 21:15

by Mark Simpson and James Kay, focuses on the second law of thermodynamics, and why it might be important to consider when developing future energy policy. (Archived version. Original no longer available via author's website)