SOLUTIONS

1. Global Warming Threats and Power Electronic Based Energy TechnologyProf. MTE KahnNeuroMorphoGenics/NMG Africa INTRODUCTION ABSTRACT PROBLEM Following the Kyoto Protocol, the need to reduce greenhouse gasses was given a prominent awareness of global warming devastating effects on our planet. A general shifts in climate is refer to as climate change. Global warming refers specifically to any increase in the global surface temperature. Earth is heated by sunlight. Although much of the sun’s radiant energy is reflected back into space, some of this heat is trapped by gasses in the atmosphere like water vapour, methane, and carbon dioxide. Energy conversion processes is the main culprit in increasing the greenhouse gasses. To put this into perspective the electrical energy required for domestic and industrial uses consume approximately three times the energy at the power plant to generate that electrical energy. That equates to an energy efficiency of about 33%, which is very low. To mitigate the effect of global warming there is need for researching and developing more alternative energy sources that will meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs. Equally important is improvement on energy conversion processes that is, thriving for higher energy conversion efficiency through research and development initiatives. Power electronics systems make these mitigation concepts possible. Power electronics is the technology associated with energy conversion, control and conditioning of electric power by static means from any available input form into the desired electrical output for the user consumption. Alternative energy sources such as wind energy, fuel cell, solar cell, can only be interfaced with the grid or for stand alone applications through power electronic systems. Power electronic based energy technology conversion processes can achieve a very high energy efficiency value greater than 90%. With power electronic systems, less energy will be wasted which result into less greenhouse gasses emission consequently protecting our environment from the global warming effects sweeping across the world. FUEL CELL: ALTERNATIVE ENERGY GENERATION SOLUTIONS CONCLUSIONS Renewable and alternative energy sources can only be useful through power electronic system interface especially for high power applications such as residential and industrial uses. The output voltage of such sources can be categorized into varying output voltage and or low output voltage. The use of power electronic based energy technology produces high energy conversion value, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, protect the environment, enhance sustainable development, improve standard of living, and provide energy security. Such power electronic system includes dc-dc converter, dc-ac converter, ac-ac converter and ac-dc converter systems. The technology also makes it possible for the deployment of distributed generation system which can manifest itself as an autonomous or grid-connected renewable energy resources.