Here’s a look at three of the most prominent sources of alternative fuel, the benefits they provide and the possibility for increased uptake in the near future.

Hydrogen Gas

Unlike other natural gas forms, hydrogen is a fully clean burning fuel. When produced, hydrogen gas cells only emit warm air and water vapor when used.

The main problem with this type of alternative energy is that it’s mainly derived from the use of fossil fuels and natural gas. As such, it might be argued that the emissions that are created to remove it counteract the advantages of its use.

The electrolysis process, which is critical for the splitting of water into oxygen and hydrogen, makes it less of a problem. But, electrolysis still ranks under the aforementioned method of obtaining hydrogen, although studies continuously make it more cost-effective and efficient.

Tidal Energy

Tidal energy utilizes water’s power to produce energy, similar to the hydroelectric method, but its application, in many cases, really has more in common with wind turbines.

Although it’s a pretty new technology, it has incredible potential. Research generated in the U.K. estimated that such energy might meet as high as 20 percent of the United Kingdom’s present demands for electricity.

The most common tidal energy generation form includes the usage of Tidal Stream Generators. They use the ocean’s kinetic energy to power turbines, without generating fossil fuels’ waste or being as vulnerable to the elements as additional alternative energy forms.

Solar Power

When the majority of people imagine sources of alternative energy they usually utilize solar power as an example. This technology has massively evolved over time and is now utilized for both large-scale energy generation and single home power generation.

Numerous countries introduced initiatives that promote solar power’s growth. The UK’s ‘Feed-in Tariff’ is one of the examples, as is the ‘Solar Investment Tax Credit’ in the United States.

This source of energy is fully renewable and the expenses of installation are outweighed by the money that is saved in utility bills from traditional suppliers.

For more information on solar energy please feel free to get in touch with our Solar Division team at Tri-State Electrical Contractors in Chattanooga, TN at (423) 800-2134.

Technological advancements and rapidly growing interest are giving way to solar panels that are more efficient and less expensive. They are an excellent investment, whether you need them for your business, or your home. However, like with any investment, you want to ensure you are receiving the perfect deal for the perfect price. If you are searching for an incentive to try solar, search no further than the twenty six percent Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit.

This credit, also referred to as the Federal Solar Tax Credit, or ITC, is an incentive that is available to everyone. Whether you are a homeowner, operate a small business, or operate a large corporation, it is possible to take advantage of the incentive. Here’s how it works:

As you invest in solar panels, it’s possible to utilize the Federal Solar Tax Credit to receive 26 percent of the overall expense of the system back in tax credits. This means that more than 1/4 of the price is decreased from the beginning. Plus, if you do not use all of your tax credits in the first year, do not be concerned- they will simply roll directly on over to the next.

Therefore, if you invested in a $20,000 solar panel system, which includes installation, you would receive $5,200 back in tax credits. It would decrease the price of your solar panels to $14,800. Plus, with other potential local and state incentives, you could further decrease the price of your system.

The 26% Federal Solar Tax Credit is an excellent method of getting solar panels for an outstanding cost. But, if you want to take advantage of that incentive and change to solar, you will need to act rapidly. The twenty six percent credit is only available until the end of 2020. Beginning Jan. 1, 2021, the credit will decrease to twenty two percent. Plus, in 2022, it will be fully unavailable for homes. If you would like to talk with someone about solar integration, contact our team at Tri-State Electrical Contractors.

Planned plant shutdowns are a great time to run critical tests, perform upgrades, plan for the future and optimize automation. Even remote or small access plants may benefit from utilizing this downtime in a productive manner.

The holiday months are an excellent time to arrange downtime or a complete shutdown. With decreased staff numbers inside the building, machines may be individually tested  and data may be collected in a controlled, isolated environment. If you missed the opportunity to schedule a shutdown this past holiday season, you and your operations team can look ahead to prepare for the next major holiday.

Thinking about the future is a critical component of plant operations. Planned downtimes are the perfect time to audit processes, mitigate risk by updating all safety protocols, perform machine upgrades, test connectivity and reporting between platforms, or test abilities for future implementation. Consider taking your audit a step further by leveraging the time to:

• Gather data and perform tests to identify issues that might come up in the future.
• Perform network testing, simple electrical upgrades, and substation maintenance.
• Do a walkthrough of all equipment to ensure it is still within warranty and running optimally.
• Assess maintenance processes and existing output abilities.

Speaking of looking ahead…

Let us say you have plans to increase in output or have an upcoming expansion, is your facility able to handle it? Testing before a shutdown lets you know if sufficient capacity for an upgrade exists. What’s your power availability? Are your panels able to handle more output? Tests during a shutdown will evaluate where you stand, and Tri-State Electrical Contractors can help.

Preventative maintenance is a big part of planning for the future. Tri-State Electrical Contractors provides predictive testing designed to evaluate risk and identify non-compliance issues. Comprehensive reporting, which includes IFR Heat Scans and power distribution inspection, panel and breaker testing, and much more, ensure facilities are performing optimally and are up to code. Preparing for your future allows you to decrease overall downtime, avoid expensive upkeep and replace equipment before it malfunctions. In the long run, it pays to make the best use of such downtimes. For plants of every size, from multi-function beverage and food packaging and processing plants to large scale electrical projects, contact us to find out how partnering with Tri-State Electrical Contractors will help you maximize your plant’s downtime.