Ocean thermal energy conversionOcean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) uses the ocean thermal gradient between cooler deep and warmer shallow or surface seawaters to run a heat engine and produce useful work, usually in the form of electricity. OTEC can operate with a very high capacity factor and so can operate in base load mode. The denser cold water masses, formed by ocean surface water interaction with cold atmosphere in quite specific areas of the North Atlantic and the Southern Ocean, sink into the deep sea basins and spread in entire deep ocean by the thermohaline circulation.
Cheseaux-sur-LausanneCheseaux-sur-Lausanne (ʃəzo syʁ lɔzan, literally Cheseaux on Lausanne; Chesâls) is a municipality in the district of Lausanne in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. It is a suburb of the city of Lausanne. Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne is first mentioned in 1228 as Chesaus. Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne has an area, , of . Of this area, or 60.3% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 14.6% is forested. Of the rest of the land, or 24.0% is settled (buildings or roads), or 0.7% is either rivers or lakes.
Le Mont-sur-LausanneLe Mont-sur-Lausanne (lə mɔ̃ syʁ lɔzan, literally Le Mont on Lausanne; Lo Mont) is a municipality in the district of Lausanne in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. It is a suburb of the city of Lausanne. Le Mont-sur-Lausanne is first mentioned in 1237 as Monte super Lausannam. Le Mont-sur-Lausanne has an area, , of (depending on calculation method). Of this area, or 51.0% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 18.2% is forested. Of the rest of the land, or 30.0% is settled (buildings or roads).
Terrestrial planetA terrestrial planet, telluric planet, or rocky planet, is a planet that is composed primarily of silicate rocks or metals. Within the Solar System, the terrestrial planets accepted by the IAU are the inner planets closest to the Sun: Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. Among astronomers who use the geophysical definition of a planet, two or three planetary-mass satellites – Earth's Moon, Io, and sometimes Europa – may also be considered terrestrial planets; and so may be the rocky protoplanet-asteroids Pallas and Vesta.
Alternative fuelAlternative fuels, also known as non-conventional and advanced fuels, are fuels derived from sources other than petroleum. Alternative fuels include gaseous fossil fuels like propane, natural gas, methane, and ammonia; biofuels like biodiesel, bioalcohol, and refuse-derived fuel; and other renewable fuels like hydrogen and electricity. These fuels serve are intended to substitute for more carbon intensive energy sources like gasoline and diesel in transportation and can help to contribute to decarbonization and reductions in pollution.
Belmont-sur-LausanneBelmont-sur-Lausanne (bɛlmɔ̃ syʁ lɔzan, literally Belmont on Lausanne) is a municipality in the district of Lavaux-Oron in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. It is a suburb of the city of Lausanne. Belmont-sur-Lausanne is first mentioned in 1228 as Belmunt sowie apud bellum Montem. Belmont-sur-Lausanne has an area, , of . Of this area, or 35.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 29.8% is forested. Of the rest of the land, or 33.2% is settled (buildings or roads). Of the built up area, housing and buildings made up 23.
Environmental impact of the energy industryThe environmental impact of the energy industry is significant, as energy and natural resource consumption are closely related. Producing, transporting, or consuming energy all have an environmental impact. Energy has been harnessed by human beings for millennia. Initially it was with the use of fire for light, heat, cooking and for safety, and its use can be traced back at least 1.9 million years. In recent years there has been a trend towards the increased commercialization of various renewable energy sources.
Nuclear energy policyNuclear energy policy is a national and international policy concerning some or all aspects of nuclear energy and the nuclear fuel cycle, such as uranium mining, ore concentration, conversion, enrichment for nuclear fuel, generating electricity by nuclear power, storing and reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, and disposal of radioactive waste. Nuclear energy policies often include the regulation of energy use and standards relating to the nuclear fuel cycle.
Anaerobic digestionAnaerobic digestion is a sequence of processes by which microorganisms break down biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen. The process is used for industrial or domestic purposes to manage waste or to produce fuels. Much of the fermentation used industrially to produce food and drink products, as well as home fermentation, uses anaerobic digestion. Anaerobic digestion occurs naturally in some soils and in lake and oceanic basin sediments, where it is usually referred to as "anaerobic activity".
Wood gasWood gas is a fuel gas that can be used for furnaces, stoves, and vehicles. During the production process, biomass or related carbon-containing materials are gasified within the oxygen-limited environment of a wood gas generator to produce a combustible mixture. In some gasifiers this process is preceded by pyrolysis, where the biomass or coal is first converted to char, releasing methane and tar rich in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
Wood-burning stoveA wood-burning stove (or wood burner or log burner in the UK) is a heating or cooking appliance capable of burning wood fuel, often called solid fuel, and wood-derived biomass fuel, such as sawdust bricks. Generally the appliance consists of a solid metal (usually cast iron or steel) closed firebox, often lined by fire brick, and one or more air controls (which can be manually or automatically operated depending upon the stove). The first wood-burning stove was patented in Strasbourg in 1557.
Copper–chlorine cycleThe copper–chlorine cycle (Cu–Cl cycle) is a four-step thermochemical cycle for the production of hydrogen. The Cu–Cl cycle is a hybrid process that employs both thermochemical and electrolysis steps. It has a maximum temperature requirement of about 530 degrees Celsius. The Cu–Cl cycle involves four chemical reactions for water splitting, whose net reaction decomposes water into hydrogen and oxygen. All other chemicals are recycled.
