Tech Insights

The All Electric World

June 01, 2015 by Bodo Arlt

Electricity dominates the world, and gradually becomes more electronic. In transportation, trains in many countries are electric and everywhere electric

Electricity dominates the world, and gradually becomes more electronic. In transportation, trains in many countries are electric and everywhere electric and hybrid-electric cars are in use. Electro-hybrid drives are used in ships for maneuvering in harbors, and hybrid all-electric ships are being developed.

At home, heating is often electric, and when by gas or oil, the furnace is electronically controlled.

The white goods that make our life easier, for instance by washing and drying our clothes, and pressing them, are most often electric appliances. For cooking and baking, we use electric stoves and ovens. Inductive heating is often the preferred technique for cooking-surfaces, and microwave ovens are now quite standard in the kitchen, as in many hotel rooms around the world.

Modern communication has advanced from the early days of telegraphy, through the wired telephone, to today’s internet and the ubiquitous mobile devices. Computers, and digital communications, have become a significant load.

Notwithstanding the great strides made in equipment efficiency, the demand for electric power is increasing through the sheer volume amount of devices in use. The future source for electric energy is from renewables. We see this recognition growing in many countries of the world. My state in the north of Germany, Schleswig Holstein, experiences days where wind-derived energy exceeds its demand, and it exports energy to other regions.

I am thankful that leadership here in Germany has moved away from nuclear power. It helps me to feel safer to enjoy life. The experience of Chernobyl and Fukushima is still not fully understood, with many in leadership positions sanguine with the status quo - too simple minded to face up to the risks. Utility companies continue to mishandled nuclear rubbish in corroded steal barrels. Management of these companies should be dressed in overalls and put to work cleaning up such disastrous storage sites, an experience will help with the learning process of doing better in the future – a learning opportunity! Unfortunately, the half-life of nuclides far exceeds a politicians time in office, or of those driven by the bottom-line.

Semiconductor development of efficient high power switches is enabling “green power” achievements in a wide area of applications. The wide band gap semiconductor introduction points to a significant reduction in losses of future applications in volume.

We have delivered six issues this year. All technical articles are archived on my web-site and are also retrievable at PowerGuru. Bodo’s Power Systems reaches readers across the globe. If you speak the language, or just want to have a look, don’t miss our Chinese version: www.bodoschina.com

My Green Power Tip for June

Turn off power whenever you don’t need it. We can help reduce the usage of our older power sources, slow down the greenhouse effect, help our world - the only one we have.

Regards,