CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
HRVATSKI CENTAR OBNOVLJIVIH IZVORA ENERGIJE
Monday, April 28, 2025
Balancing Conservation and Agriculture / Conservation Reserve Program
Monday, April 21, 2025
Geomagnetic Reversal / Earth's Magnetic Flip Explained
Key Points on Magnetic Field Weakening:
Current Observations: The Earth's magnetic field has weakened by about 10-15% over the last 200 years, based on measurements from observatories and satellites like Swarm. This is within normal historical fluctuations.
Causes:
Geodynamo Variability: Shifts in the flow of molten material in the outer core can disrupt the magnetic field, causing localized or global weakening.
South Atlantic Anomaly: A notable weak spot in the field, centered over South America and the South Atlantic, where the field strength is significantly lower, allowing more cosmic radiation to penetrate.
Pole Movement: The magnetic poles are drifting (e.g., the North Magnetic Pole moves ~40 km/year), which can be associated with weakening as field lines reconfigure.
Historical Context: Geological records, like magnetic signatures in rocks, show the field has fluctuated in strength for billions of years. Weakening often precedes geomagnetic reversals, but not always, and reversals are rare (last one ~780,000 years ago).
Implications:
Radiation Exposure: A weaker field lets more solar and cosmic radiation reach Earth, potentially affecting satellites, power grids, and, to a lesser extent, human health.
Navigation: Systems like compasses could become less reliable if weakening intensifies.
No Immediate Catastrophe: The current rate of weakening is not alarming, and a full reversal, if it occurs, would take centuries to millennia.
Not a Reversal Indicator: Weakening doesn’t guarantee an imminent geomagnetic reversal. The field can stabilize or strengthen again, as it has in the past.
Why It Happens:
The geodynamo is chaotic, influenced by heat flow, Earth's rotation, and core composition. Temporary disruptions in these flows can reduce the field’s intensity. Scientists monitor this using tools like magnetometers and satellite data to model core activity.
Current Status:
The field’s dipole moment is ~7.8 × 10^22 Am², down from ~8.5 × 10^22 Am² in the 1800s.
The CIA has declassified documents that touch on Earth’s magnetic field and its changes, but they don’t reveal groundbreaking or conspiratorial insights. A notable document, from 1951, discusses the Earth’s magnetic field in relation to the world’s oceans, authored by Soviet Academician V. V. Shuleykin. It explores why the magnetic axis deviates from the rotational axis, the rapid variation of magnetic field elements, and the correlation between magnetic field isolines and continental coastlines. The document suggests that electrical currents in the oceans create a supplementary magnetic field, which shifts the magnetic axis and causes continuous variations. These currents, measured at a few points, were found to be about 1 ampere per hectare and increase during magnetic storms linked to solar activity. This is more of a scientific hypothesis than a definitive conclusion, and it aligns with known geophysical research rather than revealing hidden secrets.
Another reference involves a 1965 book by Chan Thomas, The Adam and Eve Story, partially declassified by the CIA in 2013. Thomas, an electrical engineer with fringe claims, argued that Earth’s magnetic poles flip every few thousand years, causing catastrophic events like massive floods. The CIA’s interest in this seems tied to Cold War-era investigations into extreme scenarios, not an endorsement of the theory. Scientists dismiss Thomas’ claims as lacking evidence, noting that geomagnetic reversals occur roughly every 200,000–300,000 years, with the last one 780,000 years ago, and take centuries to millennia, not causing sudden cataclysms.
Recent X posts mention a CIA document allegedly warning of a sudden crustal shift with apocalyptic consequences, like tsunamis and high winds, tied to magnetic field changes. These claims exaggerate and misinterpret the declassified material, likely referencing Thomas’ discredited work. No credible evidence supports such rapid, civilization-ending shifts.
In summary, the CIA’s declassified documents on Earth’s magnetic field reflect scientific curiosity and Cold War paranoia, not suppressed truths. Current geophysical data, like the 10% field weakening over two centuries or the South Atlantic Anomaly, is monitored by NASA and others, showing no imminent reversal or catastrophe.
The Magnetic Field | |
What is Geomagnetic Reversal? | |
Our Planet's Dynamo | |
Echoes in Rock and Ice | |
The Weakening Field | |
A Magnetic Weak Spot |
Monday, April 14, 2025
Izmjene i dopune Zakona o obnovljivim izvorima energije i visokoučinkovitoj kogeneraciji
Na sjednici Vlade Republike Hrvatske usvojen je Prijedlog Zakona o izmjenama i dopunama Zakona o obnovljivim izvorima energije i visokoučinkovitoj kogeneraciji. Time se hrvatski zakonodavni okvir usklađuje s europskom Direktivom o promicanju uporabe energije iz obnovljivih izvora, a istovremeno se unose ključne promjene koje će imati konkretan utjecaj na građane, poduzetnike i investitore.
"Ovim Zakonom činimo važan korak naprijed u energetskoj tranziciji, osiguravamo ravnotežu između interesa građana, gospodarstva i energetskog sustava te stvaramo temelje za dugoročno održiv razvoj hrvatske energetike", istaknuo je ministar Šušnjar.
Jedna od važnih novosti je uvođenje novog sustava samoopskrbe električnom energijom. Umjesto dosadašnjeg modela neto-mjerenja, uvodi se neto-obračun, koji pravednije vrednuje višak struje koji korisnici predaju u mrežu. Građani i poduzetnici koji proizvode vlastitu energiju ubuduće će sudjelovati u pokrivanju mrežnih troškova prema količini električne energije koju stvarno preuzmu iz mreže, što osigurava održiv i pošten sustav za sve korisnike. Za one koji već koriste postojeći sustav predviđeno je prijelazno razdoblje od 10 godina.
Zakon također omogućuje proizvodnju električne energije za vlastite potrebe i na udaljenim lokacijama, pod uvjetom da su sva mjerna mjesta na ime istog korisnika. Ova mjera otvara nove mogućnosti za veće investicije, fleksibilnost i decentraliziranu proizvodnju energije.
Pojednostavljena su i pravila za osnivanje energetskih zajednica građana, što će dodatno osnažiti njihovu ulogu u energetskoj tranziciji, te su uvedeni stroži kriteriji za održivost biogoriva te zabrana potpora za spaljivanje otpada ako nije prethodno osigurano njegovo odvojeno prikupljanje.
Posebno je važno da će se temeljem ovog Zakona izraditi plan razvoja elektroenergetske infrastrukture i skladišnih kapaciteta, čime se stvaraju uvjeti za još veću integraciju obnovljivih izvora u mrežu.
Prema prijedlogu, uspostavlja se i novi sustav potrošnje vlastite obnovljive energije i samoopskrbe, a koje će biti posljedice i kako bi to trebalo funkcionirati, objasnio je energetski stručnjak.
- Zakonski okvir je sada postavljen i vi električnu energiju koju ste proizveli na vašoj elektrani na Braču, koristite u Splitu, ali isto tako i vaša djeca u Zagrebu. Nema gubitka i vi niste ostatak prodavali na mrežu, već ste koristili koliko vam treba. Ako bude koja razlika, ona se plati ili doda ili se odbije. Ali u svakom slučaju je iskorak napravljen i vi sada 25 godina, koliko je vijek jedne sunčane elektrane, možete mirno reći imam svoju električnu energiju na svoja tri obračunska mjesta, rekao je Ivica Jakić, energetski stručnjak.
Pojasnio je i što znači energetska zajednica:
Vi stanujete u stambenoj zgradi. Ima stotinu stanova, ali imate veliku površinu krova. Dovoljno je 51 posto stanara. Više nije potrebno 100 posto. Demokratski, ako je prosta većina, možete svaki svoj projekt ostvariti. Bez obzira na to što pet susjeda to neće, ali oni ne sudjeluju u financiranju. Ako je ta energana na krovu postavljena i 51 % se suglasilo, oni će financirati sunčanu elektranu koja će omogućavati da se električna energija podijeli stanarima proporcionalno koliko je tko sudjelovao. Tu nema financijskog okvira, to je samo električna energija koju ste dobili. Indirektno ste dobili i novac jer nećete plaćati račune, zaključuje Jakić.
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Composing Energy Futures / A 2050 Vision
Friday, April 4, 2025
Trump Tariffs 2025 /Key Features Unveiled
Monday, March 24, 2025
Mind Blowing Energy Facts You Didn't Know
- The Sun’s Overabundance: In just one hour, the Earth receives enough energy from the Sun to power the entire world for a year. If we could harness even a fraction of that solar power, we’d never run out of energy!
- Lightning’s Raw Power: A single lightning bolt carries enough energy to toast about 100,000 slices of bread. That’s one electrifying breakfast!
- Human Energy Output: The average person generates about 100 watts of energy at rest—just enough to power a light bulb. When you’re exercising, that can jump to over 300 watts. You’re basically a walking power plant!
- Coal’s Long Reign: Coal has been used as an energy source for over 4,000 years, dating back to ancient China. It’s still a major player today, though renewables are starting to steal the spotlight.
- Wind Power Origins: The first windmills were built in Persia around 200 BCE to grind grain. Today’s wind turbines are their high-tech descendants, generating electricity instead of flour.
- Eel-ectricity: Electric eels can produce shocks of up to 600 volts—enough to stun prey or deter predators. Nature’s own renewable energy source!
- Energy in Your Coffee: A single cup of coffee contains about 0.00002 kilowatt-hours of energy. It’s not much, but it’s enough to get your personal engine running.