Wind Power and magnetic levitation motors
2nd June 2010
Dear Sirs,
I refer to my email of 15th May 2010 in which I suggested the use of wind power to generate electricity on top of tall office buildings and HDB blocks. The electricity can be used for common area lighting.
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On 2nd June 2010, there was a TV programme “Super Science” on the CNA channel, and it showed how China has used “magnetic levitation, ball bearing free friction motors” to generate electricity even in places where there is low wind force.
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Even passing cars along the rural roads could provide enough wind force to propel the ‘magnetic levitation motors’ to generate electricity to light up street lamps. Please check for the TV programme with CNA.
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I hope our government will encourage the research into wind power and the use of ‘magnetic levitation motors’ to generate electricity in Singapore in a big way.
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Solar energy has its limitation as Singapore has very few days in a year with clear-blue cloudless sky to provide maximum sun power.
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On top of that, our rainy seasons will mean less sunlight power during the day making solar power less effective when compared with wind power generated by ‘magnetic levitation motors’.
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In a year, solar power in Singapore would be effective for only 3 months [12 hours of moonlight, mean some 6 months in a year has no sunlight for solar electricity generation; and cloudy days, rainy days and rainy season could add up to some 3 months in a year lacking sunlight. With 9 months without effective or no sunlight, it means only some 3 months of effective solar power in a year].
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If the occasional passing cars in China’s rural roads have enough power to generate electricity, our MRT trains will have more than enough wind power throughout the day to generate electricity using the ‘magnetic levitation motor’ which will have no friction to affect train operations.
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I wrote on this a few years ago suggesting tapping of wind power in MRT train tunnels and in lift shafts in high rise buildings to generate electricity.
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There is light at the end of the tunnel as the use of ‘magnetic levitation motor’ will make it practical and feasible to tap wind force in MRT tunnels or even in purpose-built tunnel made of fibre-glass over elevated open train tracks for the purpose of generating electricity with ‘magnetic levitation motors”.
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The tunnel coverings will also act as a buffer to cut down noise levels in our densely populated residential areas. Even a passing train on open tracks without the tunnel coverings will have enough power to propel the friction-free magnetic levitation motors.
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Singapore should explore the use of ‘magnetic levitation motor’ seriously to generate electricity as it will help in a certain way to achieve PM Lee’s commitment in Copenhagen to bring down our carbon footprint as soon as possible.
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China and other countries should look into the Turkish-designed wind turbines, and research into instilling magnetic motors in the turbines for both the vertical and horizontal types, which should be installed on top of tall buildings, roadside, and hills.
The magnetic motors should not cause friction against the wind power even if is light wind to get the full effect of spinning the motor to generate electricity.
The horizontal types when installed on roof tops of tall buildings will not be seen from ground level, and will not cause height or weight concern as there will be no heavy structure involved.
Please see the link below for the wind turbines:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10155445992756479
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Electricity…. All modern equipment use electricity.
Not cheap to use it. Cost is rising. Use less is the solution.
If only the Govt would allow everyone to fix their own wind turbines, horizontal or vertical types.
It will drive down Green House Gas emission too fast, too steep.
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From: tan kok tim
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Subject: Solar Panels
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To: reach@reach.gov.sg
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Date: Saturday, 15 May, 2010, 19:33
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Dear Sirs,
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Speaking to German business leaders at a dialogue session at the 12th Asia Pacific Conference of German Business held in Singapore from May 13 to 15, PM Lee Hsien Loong said that Singapore is betting on high-tech renewable energy sectors such as solar and wind power to attract more investments.
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I can see that the investments must be more for export to meet global demand for solar and wind power technology as there is no possibility for Singapore able to use solar and wind power in a big way to generate electricity.
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Our climate has remained the same. There is still heavy cloud covers over Singapore and hardly any clear blue sky. There is the rainy season lasting a few months, and less than 8 hours of sunlight each day when the moon appears.
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In a year, solar power in Singapore would be effective for only 3 months [12 hours of moonlight, mean some 6 months in a year has no sunlight for solar electricity generation; and cloudy days, rainy days and rainy season could add up to some 3 months in a year lacking sunlight. With 9 months without effective or no sunlight, it means only some 3 months of effective solar power in a year].
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Wind power is effective about 3 months in a year too as Singapore does not have high mountains for installing wind turbines and there is hardly strong wind in most days. The only period is during the rainy monsoon period from Nov to Feb of each year where there is some wind force coming from the north. Wind power for electricity generation on high roof tops will not be subjected to the forces of inclement weather conditions like that faced by solar power generation.
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Since solar vs wind systems in Singapore would be about the same for both, effective some 3 months out of 12 months in a year, solar will be less cost effective than wind power system.
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Solar panels are more expensive and it takes up a huge surface space to install enough solar panels for the system to be effective. Some roof tops may not have adequate surface space for solar panels installation whereas wind turbines are the opposite as it occupies less land space and could cost much less to install.
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All these negative factors are not in Singapore’s favour to install expensive solar panels as the return on investment will be meagre.
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Recently, a reader wrote “Install small off-grid solar panels on top of HDB flats” [Today, 11 May 2010]. I expect the government to reject it yet again as impractical.
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The better bet should be on the tapping of wind power on top of tall buildings above 30-storey in height as there is a 3 to 4 month period in a year where there are strong cold winds coming from the north.
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I hope the government will look in to the use of wind power in more detail to help reduce our carbon footprint.
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HDB increases solar target, enough to power 135,000 four-room flats by 2030
Solar panels on the rooftop of a Housing & Development Board (HDB) block in Ang Mo Kio. The HDB plans to more than double its capacity for solar power by 2030.PHOTO: ST FILE
PUBLISHED on 30th Dec 2019 in Straits Times
SINGAPORE – Leading the charge to generate more clean energy in Singapore, the Housing & Development Board (HDB) plans to more than double its capacity for solar power by 2030. Its new target announced on Monday (Dec 30) means that over the next 10 years, it will have a solar capacity that is equivalent to powering about 135,000 four-room flats with clean energy.
The HDB remains the biggest driver of Singapore’s solar push, with the Republic having pledged to ramp up its clean energy generation and cut back its carbon emissions as part of global efforts to fight climate change.
These remain on track, with the HDB already having exceeded its previous target of 220 megawatt-peak (MWp) by 2020 – the equivalent of powering 55,000 four-room flats.
The new targets significantly raise the bar for both the HDB and Singapore, and will involve installing solar panels across more HDB blocks. The efforts are being aided by advances in technology which allow more solar energy to be generated from the same amount of space on HDB rooftops.
HDB’s new target of 540 megawatt-peak (MWp) by 2030 can reduce carbon emissions by 324,000 tonnes per year. As part of its wider clean energy drive, Singapore has pledged to ramp up its overall solar capacity to at least 2 gigawatt-peak (GWp) by 2030.
In a major step towards achieving such targets, the HDB has launched a tender to install solar panels across 1,154 HDB blocks and 46 government sites such as schools.
The latest tender will reap 60 MWp of solar energy islandwide.
It comes under the HDB and Economic Development Board (EDB)’s SolarNova programme, which was launched in 2014 to compile solar demand from various agencies to enjoy economies of scale.
Six agencies are participating in this tender. They include the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), who are participating for the first time.
The tender will close on March 2, 2020 and is targeted to be award in the third quarter of 2020.
The installation of the solar photovoltaic (PV) systems is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2023.
The previous tender, the fourth of such contract, was awarded to local clean energy firm Sunseap. It involved 1,218 HDB blocks and 49 government sites. Sunseap also won the first tender in 2015, involving about 800 HDB blocks.
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As of this month, about 2,060 HDB blocks have been fitted with solar panels and installation at another 2,500 blocks or so is in progress.
The solar energy harness is used to power common services such as lifts, lights and water pumps.
On average, these HDB blocks are able to achieve net-zero energy consumption in the common areas, which means the building produces more energy than it consumes.
Excess solar energy is channelled back to Singapore’s electrical grid.
HDB aims to install solar panels on about 10,000 blocks, where feasible.
Since the SolarNova programme started in 2014, it has expanded into using more efficient solar panels, which can convert around 20 per cent of sunlight into electricity, compared to the previous 16 per cent. This has enabled previously unsuitable rooftop spaces such as point blocks and partially shaded areas to now be installed with solar panels.
HDB chief executive Cheong Koon Hean said: “We will continue to amplify our solar efforts as our nation pushes towards its next milestone to generate more clean energy and help combat climate change.”
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10 years to go…by 2030… Why not install the wind turbines now? Start it simple. All modern equipment need electricity.
Easy solution, first Install wind turbines along road, on tall buildings, and on Bukit Timah Hill. Unlike solar panels, it does not require big space.
Mass produce and install the wind turbines, both the horizontal and vertical types with magnetic motor. Install at least 20 in every sq. km.
The horizontal types on top of tall buildings cannot be seen from ground level. It will not be a super high thing to be a threat to those who fly too low, having to dodge.
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10 years from now…..by 2030…….but the ultimate must be when fossil oil and LNG become obsolete.
What will replace the oil refineries, the oil and gas revenue, and the drop in GDP without the oil sector?
This must be of the greater concern, not the GHG emission thing.
Red Dot has been lucky since 1965 with the advent of fossil oil and LNG, the worldwide demand, and our oil refineries are working well, bringing in the oil revenue every year. Once remove that [we are second to Houston], it will be a hole to be filled but with what?
Any politicians who are worth their salt and know the solutions [no more oil sector, drop in GDP, no more oil refineries], please put up your hands and be counted. You will be the man, or woman.
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Electricity tariffs to rise 3.5% in first quarter of 2020; gas prices to fall
For the period from Jan 1 to March 31, electricity tariffs will increase by 0.81 cents per kilowatt hour compared with the previous quarter.PHOTO: ST FILE
PUBLISHED8 HOURS AGOUPDATED2 HOURS AGO on 30th Dec 2019 in Straits Times
SINGAPORE – Households can expect higher electricity and lower gas bills for the next three months.
Electricity tariffs are set to rise by an average of 3.5 per cent in the first quarter of next year, SP Group said on Monday (Dec 30).
For the period from Jan 1 to March 31, electricity tariffs will increase by 0.81 cents per kilowatt hour (kwh) compared with the previous quarter.
Excluding the goods and services tax (GST), this translates to a rise from 23.43 cents per kwh to 24.24 cents per kwh for households powered by SP Group.
This is the highest it has been since the period from October to December 2014, when it was 25.28 cents before GST.
It exceeds the rate of 24.22 cents from July to September this year, the previous highest rate.
SP Group said that the increase is mainly due to higher energy cost compared with the previous quarter.
The average monthly electricity bill for families living in four-room Housing Board flats will rise by $2.76, excluding GST.
City Gas also announced on Monday that gas prices will be falling.
The gas tariff for households will dip by 4.22 per cent, which means they will pay 17.23 cents per kwh in the first quarter of the year, down from 17.99 cents per kwh, before GST.
City Gas said that the lower gas prices are due to a decline in fuel costs compared with the previous quarter.
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When asked why electricity prices are rising and gas prices falling, an Energy Market Authority (EMA) spokesman said: “The difference between the electricity and town gas tariffs is mainly due to the different fuel types used and their prices moving in different directions.”
Both SP Group and City Gas review tariffs quarterly, based on guidelines set by the EMA, which approves the new pricing.
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Photo of roof top wind turbine at Nagoya Airport :
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tankoktim 