Botkin and KellerEnvironmental Science 5e

Chapter 18

Alternative Energy and the Environment

Botkin and KellerEnvironmental Science 5e

Introduction to Alternative Energy Sources

• Alternative Energy– Renewable and nonrenewable energy resources that are

alternatives to the fossil fuels

• Renewable Energy– Alternative energy sources, such as solar, water, wind and

biomass, that are more or less continuously made available in a time framework useful to people

• Nonrenewable Energy– Alternative energy sources, including nuclear and

geothermal, that are dependent on fuels or a resource that may be used up much faster than it is replenished by natural processes

Botkin and KellerEnvironmental Science 5e

Botkin and KellerEnvironmental Science 5e

Solar Energy

• Passive Solar Energy Systems– Direct use of solar energy through architectural design

to enhance or take advantage of natural changes in solar energy that occur throughout the year without requiring mechanical power

• Active Solar Energy Systems– Direct use of solar energy that requires mechanical

power; usually consists of pumps and other machinery to circulate air, water or other fluids from solar collectors to heat sink where the heat may be stored

Botkin and KellerEnvironmental Science 5e

Botkin and KellerEnvironmental Science 5e

Botkin and KellerEnvironmental Science 5e

• Solar Collectors: provide space heating or hot water

• Photovoltaic: converts sunlight directly into electricity

• Power Towers: type of solar energy system

• Solar Ponds: generate low-temperature water

• Ocean Thermal Conversion: involves using the ocean as a giant solar collector

Botkin and KellerEnvironmental Science 5e

Botkin and KellerEnvironmental Science 5e

Botkin and KellerEnvironmental Science 5e

Botkin and KellerEnvironmental Science 5e

Hydrogen

• Fuel generated by the sun

• Fuel cells: uses and stores hydrogen

Botkin and KellerEnvironmental Science 5e

Water Power

• A form of stored solar energy

• One of the world’s oldest and most common energy sources

• Sources vary in size

Botkin and KellerEnvironmental Science 5e

Botkin and KellerEnvironmental Science 5e

Tidal Power

• Form of water utilizing ocean tides in places where favorable topography allows for construction of a power plant

Botkin and KellerEnvironmental Science 5e

Wind Power

• Alternative energy source that has been used for centuries

• More recently thousands of windmills have been installed to produce electric energy

Botkin and KellerEnvironmental Science 5e

Biomass Energy

• Energy that is recovered from biomass, which is organic material such as plant and animal waste

• Sources of Biomass

• Biomass Energy and the Environment

• Future of Biomass

Botkin and KellerEnvironmental Science 5e

Geothermal Energy

• Natural heat from the interior of the Earth that is converted to heat buildings and generate electricity