Alternative Energy Resources

ALCOS: 11

6 ALTERNATIVE FUEL RESOURCES:1. SOLAR ENERGY2. WIND POWER3. HYDROELECTRIC ENERGY4. BIOMASS5. GASOHOL (ETHANOL GASOLINE) 6. GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

Alternative Fuel Resources…

THE ENERGY RECEIVED BY THE EARTH FROM THE SUN IN THE FORM OF RADIATION IS SOLAR ENERGY.

THE EARTH RECEIVES ENOUGH SOLAR ENERGY TO MEET ALL OF OUR ENERGY NEEDS, HOWEVER WE DON’T YET HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY TO GENERATE THE AMOUNT OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY WE NEED FROM THE SOLAR ENERGY.

SINCE THE EARTH CONTINUOUSLY RECEIVES SOLAR ENERGY, THIS ENERGY IS A RENEWABLE RESOURCE.

Solar Energy

Pros:1. One of the best things about solar energy is

that it doesn’t produce pollution.2. Solar energy is renewable, because it comes

from the sun.Cons:3. Some climates don’t have enough sunny days

to benefit from solar energy.4. Although solar energy is free, solar cells and

solar collectors are more expensive to make than other energy systems.

5. The cost of installing a complete solar-power system in a house can be one third of the total cost of the house.

Pros and Cons of Solar Energy

• WIND IS MADE INDIRECTLY BY SOLAR ENERGY THROUGH THE UNEVEN HEATING OF AIR.

• WIND POWER IS THE USE OF A WINDMILL TO DRIVE AN ELECTRIC GENERATOR.

• CLUSTERS OF WIND TURBINES CAN GENERATE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY.

• WIND ENERGY IS RENEWABLE, AND DOESN’T CAUSE POLLUTION.

• MANY PLACES DON’T HAVE WINDS THAT ARE STRONG ENOUGH OR FREQUENT ENOUGH TO CREATE ENERGY ON A LARGE SCALE.

WIND POWER

• Humans have used the energy of falling water for thousands of years. One example is a Water wheel. Water wheels were used to provide power to run factories and grind grain for things like bread.

• Electrical energy produced by falling water is called Hydroelectric energy.

Hydroelectric Energy

Pros:1. Inexpensive 2. Causes little pollution3. Is renewableCons:4. Not available everywhere.5. Can only be produced when large volumes can

be harnessed.6. Building large dams can often destroy other

resources such as forests & wildlife habitats. Examples are destroys migratory birds path and fish such as salmon can’t swim up stream to spawn.

7. Dams can also decrease water quality and create erosion.

Pros & cons of Hydroelectric Energy

There are two methods through which we can obtain energy from plants.

1. Biomass2. Gasohol (Ethanol Gasoline)

Power from Plants:

Biomass (organic matter) can be ◦ Uses:

Heat Fuel Generate electricity All this is called bioenergy. Wood, the largest source of

bioenergy, has been used to provide heat for thousands of years, but there are many other types of biomass - such as plants, residue from agriculture or forestry, and the organic component of municipal and industrial wastes - that can now be used as an energy source.

Biomass

Biomass can be converted directly into liquid fuels for our transportation needs.

The two most common biofuels are ethanol and biodiesel.

Biomass Cont.

BIOMASS MATERIAL CAN ALSO BE CHANGED INTO LIQUID FUEL.

PLANTS THAT CONTAIN SUGAR OR STARCH CAN BE MADE INTO ALCOHOL, THAT CAN BE BURNED AS FUEL OR MIXED WITH GASOLINE TO MAKE A FUEL CALLED GASOHOL.

MORE THAN 1000 L OF ALCOHOL CAN BE MADE FROM 1 ACRE OF CORN.

GASOHOL…

The energy produced by the heat within the Earth is called Geothermal energy.

In some areas, groundwater is heated by magma, or melted rock.

Holes can be drilled through rock and we can harness the power from the steam released.

Geothermal Energy…

Geothermal power plants can harness the energy within the Earth by pumping the water/steam from within the Earth through generators that produce electricity.

The world’s largest geothermal power plant is in California and is named The Geysers.

This power plant produces electrical energy for 1.7 million homes.

Geothermal energy can also be produced on a smaller scale for individual homes.