Journal number 2 ∘ Ramaz Abesadze ∘
Alternative Energy[1]

Summary.Nowadays concerning to energy sector still stands strictly two the most important problems:

1. 1.   Exhaustion of traditional sources of energy and
2. 2.   Protection of environmentfrom energetic contamination.

Into this work is studied the both problems throughout the world modern status and conditions. Also in the work has analyzed the possibilities for development of renewable and alternative energies  in Georgia.

Key words: Alternative Energy, Hydropower, Solar power, Wind energy, Geothermal energy..

Introduction

The energetic sector is the biggest consumer of energy resources. Nowadays the most of  energy resources that have used are unrenewable, and after a certain period that resources won’t exist. Thus, the agenda is the task of searching alternative energy resources. Energy is also the biggest pollutant ofenvironment which requires the creation of clean energy technologies. Nowadays, the world has made a quite huge steps in that direction, but much more should be done in the future.

Alternative energy, unlike traditional, includes technologies that focus on traditional energy changing and environmentally friendly development. It is based on the use of renewable energy sources (solar, wind, tides, waves, geothermal and biomass energy) and some non-renewable resources (atomic and hydrogen power), as well as energy of saving technologies. Since water energy belongs to renewable energy, it can also be a source of alternative to energy. 

Renewable energy resources

Hydropower. The most important between renewable energy sector is hydropower. People use water for energy from immemorial time by means of water wheels. Water mills are preserved in almost unchanged form. The energy base of manufacture production was water energy. At the beginning of the 19th century steam engines stirred the water wheel, but after discovery of electricity covering long distances, water engines had been returned itsnecessity of owing to hydro-turbines invention.

One of the first places in Georgia's natural wealth occupying  by the hydropower resources. Extremely abundant atmospheric sediments and mountain relief have conditioned enormous reserves of water. Georgia is one of the first in the world according to hydropower resources on its territory. The use of water energy in Georgia has centuries-old history. However, the use of hydro power resources is in a very low level. At present, it is only used 10-12 percent of all technical hydropower potential. If we compare these indicators to the analog indicators of different countries of the world, we can assure that the level of hydro-energy resources development in Georgia is very low point, for example, Japan uses  65 percent of hydropower,  Italy-71, Sweden-82,5, France-89,5, Switzerland - 90. According to the use of hydro energy, the world leaders are China, Brazil, the US, Canada and Russia.

Solar power. The sun is a huge source of energy, with a capacity of 4.1023 kW, andthe Earth gets only a small part - 1014 kW. On average one kw solar energy comes per square meter of the earth, though, that indicator is uneven in different locations.

Solar energy can be used to produce both heat and power. The first helio-equipmentin the world had been produced in January 6, 1952. Since then the  thousands of helio-tools have been invented, from the simplest boilers to the large (several thousand square meters) parabolic mirror concentrations (in the middle of them the temperature reaches 2500-3500°) and the solar tower type power plants with a capacity of several tens of MW. According to the use of solar energy the leaders in the world are Germany, Italy, USA, China, Japanand by according to solar concentrations - Spain, USA, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Australia.

Solar energy transformation into thermal energy had begun in Georgia in the late 40s and early 50s of the lastcentury. In 1950, the thermal helio -plant was successfully used, itscoefficient was 45%. In 1955-1957, 17 water heater helio- plants were installed in different regions of Georgia with total area of ​​collectors - 1600m2. In 1959 on the basis of Tbilisi  Zoo-Veterinary Institute was built the solar light concentrator, to treat the eggs into incubator. Under the conditions of Georgia, solar power can be used to provide with energy distant and small populated villages, shepherds, geological and mining works, military-field zones, telecommunication stations and emergency situation centers in the higher mountainous areas. The territory of Georgia is considered as a territory, where appropriate and economically justified is the use of solar radiation as a source of energy. The best conditions for this are on the adjacent areas of the Black Sea, as well as the lowlands of Eastern and Southern Georgia and  some other the Caucasus regions.

Wind energy. Wind energy plays an important role in the overall balance of world natural resources. Wind energy has been used since ancient times. Initially it was used in the navigation, and then to replace human muscle strength. The earliest wind engineshad been built in Egypt and China. Nowadays in Egypt remains the ruins of windmills. Wind engines have been greatly used in western Europe to bring waterto break seeds, and make various machine work. Nowadays wind power is also used to get electricity. High capacity of the wind power plants of  vertical axis are considered to be more prospective.

The installed capacity of wind power plants in the world will gradually grow. Theoretical resources of that in Georgia are 10¹² kWh, economically justified can be considered 2-3 billion kWh. The largest wind turbine in the world is located in Hawaii, is the height of a 20-storey building and its wing is the size of the standard football stadium. Today, one of the most successful countries in the usage of wind energy is Denmark, where 28% of electricity is derived from wind energy, and by 2020 it is expected to increase up to 50%. Currently, there are about 1500 wind power plants. According to the use of wind energy in the world leaders are:  China, US, Germany, Spain, India.

In Georgia, there are several promising places for  construction of wind power plants: Poti (capacity - 50 MW, output - 110 mln kWh), Chorokhi (50 MW, 120 mln kWh), Kutaisi (100 MW, 200 mln kWh), Gori-Kaspi (200 MW, 500 mln kWh), Paravani (200 MW), Mta-Sabueti (150 MW, 450 mln kWh), Mta-Sabueti (600 MW, 2000 mln kWh) , 500 mln kWh), Samgori (50 MW, 130 mln kWh), Rustavi (50 mg) Wt, 150 mln kWh). Total capacity - 1450 MWare one of the most promising places for construction of wind power plants in Georgia.

The commercial wind power plant “Kartli”  with six turbines has been put into service in Gori,it is the first not only in Georgia but in the whole Transcaucasia steadily producing electricity. Its construction was made possible by support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union as well as with assistance of other international donors.

Geothermal energy is the energy in the heart of the Earth. In the middle of the Earth is a scorching mass and its intensity even exceeds the solar temperature. Those heat and energy erupt on the surface of the earth in the form of volcanoes and geysers. The usage of that energy, besides the arrangement of baths, became possible for other means too. Nowadays 10% of energy in the world is derived from geothermal energy and it  is usually used for heating and electricity.

In Iceland, where there are strict conditions in winter, there are furious soil and fiery waters, 87% of the country's heat and 25% of it’s electricity are obtained from geothermal energy. Geothermal energy is currently used in over 25 countries around the world, including the USA, Philippines, Indonesia, Mexico, Italy, New Zealand, China, Japan, Russia, Israel, etc.

Georgia is rich in geothermal waters. Currently, there are found 300 water springs with 30-110 °C temperature that is equivalent to 500 thousand tons of conventional fuels. Using such quantity of geothermal waters will save 2 million tons of fuel a year.

The practical application of thermal waters has begun in Georgia since 1973. Tbilisi, Zugdidi, Samtredia and some other towns were supplied with thermal water. In 1993, almost all of the mine operations were suspended, exceptthe resources of  Tbilisi lake Lisi. According to the modern level of hydrogeological study, geothermal waters prognostic reserves in Georgia reaches 250 million M3 per year. More than 250 natural and artificially drilled springs are known today in which the geothermal water temperature varies between 30-1100⁰C and the total debit reaches 160 thousand m3 per day. These water resources are grouped in 44 deposits. Out of these on 350 m2 there are wells where water temperature is 850 ⁰C and more. Over 80% of geothermal deposits are located in western Georgia. 9 productive, 7 reinjective and 3 observation wells can be considered as suitable for operation in Zugdidi-Tsaishi geothermal field. It has been established that there are two independent thermo water containing horizons on the deposits which can be stable of the  reinjecting of 30 thousand m3 thermal water per day.

The energy of the sea and ocean waves.The sea and ocean tidal energy drives turbines, generators and gives electricity. The sea waves do not depend on weather. Additional benefit for  population are the bridges and roads that are created to arrange the stations. France, the UK, Canada and Russia have the potential to generate energy through waves, but  that means of energy development is still at the initial stage, there are only 2 commercial utilities in the world, one in France,  other in Canada, and one experimental station operates in Russia.

Non-traditional energy resources

Atomic energy is used for the generation of electricity in nuclear power plants (AES), as well as atomic submarines and atomic ice capacities, there are also attempts to use nuclear energy in the space satellites. According to the energy generated, there are the nuclear power plantswhich generate only electricity; The atomic thermal power plants that generateboth electric and thermal energy; The thermal power atomic stations which generate only thermal energy. In the twentieth century, the usage of atomic energy had been rapidly grown, but disaster which were happened in the different areas of the world reduced its consumption. However, it is not ruled out in the future that its consumption will increase in terms of growing its security provision, because it is an inexhaustible source of energy. Humanity at first started using the biomass energy for heating andpreparation of food. The burning fire for scare animals had been the first practical usage of the biomass energy.

In the direction of the use of biogas energy nothing important had been donein Georgia, however, there is a real potential of it. It is possible to construct a plant-based large-scale equipment and generate biogas energy  or to produce small (for concrete family usage)  equipment in which the population can provide the energy themselves. In the first direction, on the base of biothermal treatment plant, of municipal wastes it is possible to obtain biogas through special equipment. In the second direction, by the firm "Constructor" has been prepared a project of 7-10 m3 biogas plant which  owner can use for own way . The use of biomass energy in the world is led by: USA, Brazil, China, Germania, Sweden.

Black Sea energy resources. Here, along with chemical and hydrological resources, energy resources are represented as a hydrogen sulfide, methane and propanein the seawater, which is about 8 billion tons and the renewable part of hydrogen sulfur is ten million of tons. The Black Sea also has a great potential of efficient cold source of heating. The water temperature is 6-8 °C at31 m deep and it is continuous throughout the year. The world developed different ways of getting water from hydrogen sulfide, but mankind has no the perfect method of its usage yet.

Very interesting is the synergic concept of energy development that implies the combined use of energy types in order to make more energy efficiency than in their separate usage. The synergic concept does not mean cogeneration, ie. getting the several types of energy from one type of it. It is possible to consider sun-wind, sun-hydro, wind-hydro, sun-hydro-synergistic power plantsas well as the wind-warming synergic power plants. The effect in that case is achieved by simultaneously using different types of energy to fill the deficiencies which is accompanied by the usage of energy separately. For example, the wind power plant works only when it is windy and it does not necessarily coincide with the requirements of the electricity system, as well as the solar power plant. Their usage long with hydrocarbon power plants at the same time explains these deficiencies. It is possible to consider many examples of synergic processes.

Sun - wind -hydro power plant in Georgia is intended to be constructed in Tianeti district, in the village of Begelawhere wind or solar power can be used to pump water to 100, and dropping at 700 sq.m. For the construction of a wind-healing synergic station, the area of ​​Mta -Sabueti where wind capacity is 500-700 MW, and the number of hours used is 5000 hours, the average wind speed at 40 m height is 12.1 m / s.

Environmentally friendly technologies facilitate efficient usage of resourcesas well as the protection and preservation of natural resources.

The future belongs to such a production line that is characterized by low energy and material capacity. Ecologically clean technologies include processes aimed at reducing adverse environmental impacts and promoting rational use of natural resources. In that respect, the largest role along with non-traditional energy has the energy of saving technologies that are focused on the reduction of energy capacity resulting in the rational use of energy resources and the reduction of the number of harmful substances launched in nature.

Conclusions 

1. In the modern stage, there are two main problems  which are strictly related to energy:

1. Exhaustion of energy and 2. Environmental protection against energy pollution;

2.  The energy sector is the largest consumer of energy resources. Nowadays the most of using energetic resources  are unrenewable, and after a certain period of time that resources won’t exist. Thus, on the agenda there is a problem of searching of alternative energy resources. The producing of energy resources  is also the biggest pollutant of environment which requires the creation of clean energy technologies.

3. The alternative energy, unlike traditional, includes technologies focused on changing traditional energy and developing ecologically pure products. The alternative energy is based on renewable energy sources (solar, wind, tidal, waves, geothermal energy, biomass energy) and some non-renewable resources (atomic and hydrogen power systems) as well as energy saving technologies. Since water energy belongs to renewable energy, it can also be an alternative resource of  energy.

4. The electricity that  generating in the world by hydropower plants is increasing year by year.

In 2015, hydro energy has provided 60 per cent of renewable electricity and 16 per cent of total output.

5. Georgia is one of the first state  in the worldaccording to hydropower resources on its territory.

6. The use of water energy in Georgia has centuries-old history. However, the level of hydro power consumption in Georgia is in a very low level.

7. According to the usage of hydroelectric power the world’s  leaders  are:  China, Brazil, USA, Canada, Russia.

8. The sun is a huge source of energy. The solar energy can be used to produce both heat and power. According to the usage of solar energy the world’s leaders are: Germany, Italy, USA, China, Japan and according tosolar concentrations - Spain, USA, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Australia.

9. The territory of Georgia is deemed to be a territory where the solar radiation is economically justified as a profitable source of energy. The best conditions for it usage are on the adjacent areas of the Black sea as well as the lowlands of eastern and southern Georgia and the Caucasus regions.

10. Wind energy plays an important role in the overall balance of world natural resources. The installed capacity of wind power plants in the world will gradually grow.

11. Nowadays, one of the most successful countries in the use of wind energy is Denmark, where 28% of electricity is derived from wind energy and by 2020 it is expected to increase up to 50%. Currently, there are about 1500 wind power plants. According to the use of wind energy the world’s leaders are: China, the US, Germany, Spain, India.

12. The theoretical resources of wind energy in Georgia are equal to 1012 kWh of which 2-3 billion kWh can be considered economically justified. In Georgia there are some advantageous  places for  construction the wind power plants.

13. The commercial wind power plant “Kartli” with six wind turbines has been put into service in Gori, which is the first not only in Georgia but in the whole Transcaucasia and steadily produces electricity.

14. 10% of the world's energy is derived from geothermal energy, the geothermal energy is usually used for heating and electricity. It is currently used in up to 25 countries around the world, including: the USA, Philippines, Indonesia, Mexico, Italy, New Zealand, China, Japan, Russia, Israel, etc.

15. Georgia is rich in geothermal waters. Currently, there are found 300 water sources having 30-110 ° C water temperature which is equivalent to 500 thousand tons of conventional fuels. The practical application of thermal waters started in Georgia in 1973. Tbilisi, Zugdidi, Samtredia and some other towns were supplied with thermal water. In 1993, almost all of the deposits were exploited, except for the deposit at  Tbilisi Lisi lake.

16. France, the UK, Canada and Russia have the potential to produce energy by wave tides, but  that means of energy is still at the initial stage of development.Nowadays there are only 2 commercial power plants in the world;

17. The usage of biomass energy in the world is led by: the USA, Brazil, China, Germany, Sweden.

18. In the direction of biogas energy, nothing has been done in Georgia yet, but there is a real potential for it’s development.

19. The prospect for Georgia is to use the energy resources of the Black sea. Here, along with chemical and hydrological resources, energy resources are representedby fuel gas in the seawater, such as hydrogen sulfide, methane and propane,

20. Environmentally clean technologies include processes aimed at reducing adverse environmental impacts and promoting rational use of natural resources. In that respect, the biggest role plays the alternative energy, the energy saving technologies which are focused on reducing energy efficiency and resulting in rational usage of energy resources and reduction of the number of launching harmful substances in nature.

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