1.
Solar
plant
On
Tuesday I took bus to Campinas Brazil to the CPLF Energia building to hear
about solar power. CPLF Energia creates energy solutions and work with solar
energy. They told us about their company and all the details involving solar
energy. Then we went to their solar plant that was on the outskirts of the
town. I learned how the solar panels work and how they are used. I
actually saw the systems connect from the collections panels to the power going
down the power line to be used. I saw how an area is selected and the
construction that followed to set up a plant. I neat bit of information I
learned was in some plants they let animals graze. This kind of practice is
something that helps the instillation of green tech into an area.
Solar energy in Brazil
is a very low percentage of the energy produced. In Brazil due to the actual
equator going through Brazil the potential for solar energy is high. The
temperature could be problematic due to the fact that solar plants work better
in cooler temperatures. The fact remains that a bunch of solar farm on the
equators would be a great resource to Brazil.
The U.S and Brazil both
utilize solar energy. Both countries only use a small of amount of solar energy
when compared to other energy sources. U.S has some of the largest solar plants
in the world and large deserts to put them in. Compared to U.S the Brazil needs
to do some investing to get more solar plants up and running.
Efficiency is always an
issue. All solar plants need to increase efficiency so any improvement is a
plus. Not all the panels at the plant had the motor device that moves it
relative to the sun. Adding more these will help increase the efficiently at
the plant. This is important with increases in demand in energy in Brazil.
Solar energy is a growing industry and will apart of the solution to energy
needs
2.
Bosh plant
Later in the day we
visited the regional headquarters for Bosch Company and saw the testing and
planning sites were they test their flex fuel engines. We saw different cars
and engines that are being tested or being worked on. We saw were they are testing
their cars indoors and outdoors. One thing that got me was how large facility
was but with all that is going on it’s not that surprising.
Ethanol fuel needs to be
above a certain temperature to work at top efficiency this is a problem in
areas with lower climates. I never knew about the pre-heating problem and the
system they created to fix it. The system they created to fix it was very
interesting to see and how it evolved over time was interesting as well.
Brazil has the largest
amount of flex fuel vehicles in the world. Due to its large ethanol production
and the amount of ethanol pump infrastructure. The concept really has done well
here. This is not the case with the U.S. The U.S has large amounts of ethanol
and flex fuel vehicles but bad infrastructure and marketing. Pumps that fuels
with E85 are lacking and the fact that the majority of owners of flex engines
don’t know they have one. These are hurdles the U.S flex vehicles industry has
to face if they want to see the same success as in Brazil.
The next step for the
technology is improving the heating tool so the car can work in other climates
than Brazil. Make a better engine that is smaller and more efficient would be
an obvious next goal. This goal is being reached as flex fuel motorcycles which
reaching a new market that is ever growing. More people are buying more motorcycles
and giving them the same engine options as a car is a smart business move. Flex
engines are a good business because of their flexibility and the option to save
some money by using ethanol when prices are low. Flex engines are a way to
decreases co2 emissions and start using less fossil fuel. Brazil’s flex fuel
market shows that this technology can be successful
3.
Convention
The next day we went to
the second international fair of technologies of solar energies. This
convention is a hub for mutable industries to showcase their solar technology
and other green technologies like wind power.
I learned that the solar
energy industry is a much larger one than I expected. Companies around the
world were there all trying to sell their products. Talking to the presenters
taught me a lot about solar panels. They told me how they are made, what makes
them and the multiple systems that are involved with harvesting the energy of
the sun. For example one guy taught me what an inverter was. IT is a device
that converts DC into AC current and showed where in process it located is.
Solar technology is not
very large but the increasing demand for energy and lower costs have arrested
many solar industries. The convention is proof that Brazil will soon be a
hotspot solar energy. Going around the floor I got to see firsthand all the
companies and technologies this industry has to offer. Having a diverse group
of companies all working to solve the same energy problem is a good thing. It’s
good for the industry and good for getting the best solution possible.
Conventions like this are ways that ideas can continue to move forward and spread
the effect of solar energy.
4.
Water plant
The Henry Borden hydroelectric
plant is located in Cubatão and gives power to the city of Santos. The plant
diverts water from the Pinheiros River to fall down a hill through large pipes.
I have never been to a
hydro plant before and to see how it works is interesting. The water is led
downwards and the force of gravity is used to power turbines to create energy.
I never been to a hydro plant and learned the interstices and mechanics of the
plant. I knew the turbines were big but standing next to them you get the real
scale of these machines. To see the parts that make them up a how they fit together
was an experience that made me glad saw it firsthand.
Hydro energy in Brazil is
huge with very large infrastructure. It is able to meet power needs without
resorting to fossil fuels. Brazil has access to many powerful rivers all with a
lot of power to harness. A worry about droughts is always a con when it comes
to hydro power but diversify the energy production solves this problem. Hydro
power is also used in the U.S. Hydro is big in the U.S but it is not as popular
as it is in Brazil and is smaller compared to fossil fuels
One thing I noticed was
some of equipment was really old. I believe that this is the same in other
dams. To make them more modern many dams
are old and do not use latest tech. This dam can update itself somehow it can
make more power. Hydro power is a popular
form of energy that is a better alternative to fossil fuel. With energy needs increasing
having such a large reservoir of power is recurring to the future of Brazil.
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