Tidal Energy - Future Turbo Power!

If there is one thing we can safely predict and be sure of on this planet, it is the coming and going of the tide. This gives this form of renewable energy a distinct advantage over other sources that are not as predictable and reliable, such as wind or solar.


Tidal energy is produced through the use of tidal energy generators. These large underwater turbines are placed in areas with high tidal movements, and are designed to capture the kinetic motion of the ebbing and surging of ocean tides in order to produce electricity. Tidal power has great potential for future power and electricity generation because of the massive size of the oceans.


Tidal turbines are a new technology that can be used in many tidal areas. They are basically wind turbines that can be located anywhere there is strong tidal flow. Because water is about 800 times denser than air, tidal turbines will have to be much sturdier than wind turbines. They are heavier and more expensive to build but will be able to capture more energy.


This form of generation has many advantages over its other tidal energy rivals. The turbines are submerged in the water and are therefore out of sight. They don’t pose a problem for navigation and shipping and require the use of much less material in construction. They are also less harmful to the environment. They function best in areas where the water velocity is 2 - 2.5 m/s. Above this level the turbine experiences heavy structural loads and below this not enough generation takes place.


Small tidal power companies are taking advantage of the rising interest in alternative energies. Large amounts of coastal waters are being reserved on both coasts of North America by small companies who plan to take advantage of ocean energy technologies, in the hopes that these sites will become profitable sources of electricity. Read more...

ENVISION - The World's First GREEN Mega-Yacht !

In the decade where one of the most chanted slogans are 'GO GREEN!' and with activists gearing-up to make sure there is no unwanted waste of our useful resources, Florida-based Environmental Group RGF has gone a step ahead and made what is perhaps the World's First Environmentally Friendly Mega-Yacht - ENVISION !

RGF


Founded by owner and CEO Ron Fink in 1985, the company has come up with an astounding 500 environmental products. As most environmental groups, RGF's mission is to provide the world with the safest air, water and food without the use of chemicals.

ENVISION - IT'S CONCEPTION


Envision started off as a vision (pun intended). The RGF team's mission was to build the world's first environmental friendly mega yacht. A keyword in any environmental program is sustainability. With that in mind, the team decided to opt for a renovation of an old tired aluminium yacht and recycle her into a world-class enviro-friendly mega-yacht.

RGF found the right 'soul' in a 100-Feet Broward charter boat called Lady Bebe (after its then owner - the Bebe Clothing Stores)

FROM (EN)-VISION TO REALITY

Extensive work on all aspects was undertaken to the Lady Bebe after it was purchased in August of 2004. The vessel was basically stripped to a bare minimum hull. To get it to be as eco-friendly required a few design changes. Due to these changes, structural changes such as a 5-foot bow extension and 5-foot aft extension were required and this added up to a total of 110-feet for her.

Design changes such as enlarged and softened galley-windows with bullet-proofing and other materials for sound-proofing were used from the initial stage of construction. Mechanically she was rebuilt from rudders to stabilizers to engines to generators and down to the core of the last bit of wiring also.

Luxuries like a massive U-shaped teak bar dominates the upper deck along with 8-foot diameter pool/hot-tub. This pool comes with an innovative clear bottom providing a water-diffused sunlight to the lower aft deck during the day, and a water-diffused light-show at night.

INSIDE THE GREEN MEGA-YACHT

RGF has assured that the then prospective client's comfort was not compromised with to the smallest extent. An array of their patented technology has found application in doing so. One such major technology is PHI (PhotoHydroIonization) - a light-based electromagnetic energy that destroys odors, mold, bacteria, viruses and airborne organics. This technology (also used by the US Army) has been used in the systems for water, air, food, laundry, sewage, exhaust and bilge treatment resulting in a mega-yacht with purest air, water, food, laundry and bilge in the world.

The pool/ hot-tub opens your pores and the bromine, chlorine is readily absorbed by your skin as well as the hot vapors enters your lungs. The water is purified using friendly oxidisers to maintain crystal clear and pure water. A PHI-based application makes sure that the sneeze-germs from your sneeze are killed within 3 feet.

GO GREEN !

Being a diesel-powered boat, fuel contamination is constant battle. RGF's patented system allows 99.99% of the bacteria, fungi, algae that grow in the diesel. A filter is used to collect these and to dispose off cleanly. The HVAC system uses only a small amount of energy to operate compared to what vessels of the same size implement.

Fuel economy - the key question ! Though a 60 gallon per hour figure hardly convinces anybody about its eco-friendly nature...one should compare it to the figures generated by yachts of the same size. And then it would IMPRESS !

APPLE OF RGF'S EYE

So breakthrough has Envision been to RGF that it was the commemorative centre-piece of RGF's 20th anniversary.

Envision deserves a big round of applause for being an invention of a kind... Read more...