Renewable Energy

Renewable Sources of Energy

HydroSolarWindGeothermalBiomassTidal

How much renewable energy does Canada use?

Check out the Green pieces of pie.

• Process of using the potential energy of stored water to produce power.

• The amount of electricity generated is determined by how much water is flowing and the amount of force created by the dam

Hydro Energy

Diga del Cingino dam in ItalyLook closer... See spots on the dam wall? What are they?

European Ibex like to eat the moss and lichen. They also lick the salt off the dam wall.

Hydro Power in Canada

• 581 large hydropower dams

• Quebec has the largest number (32%), followed by Ontario and BC

Niagara Falls Canada’s First Source of Hydro Power

• 1893

Niagara Falls RMR Rick at the Niagara Falls tunnel project: Big Becky completed 2013http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1tT7upP6JE

Rockfill dam at Robert-Bourassa reservoir, QuebecThe storage capacity of 61.7 billion cubic metres —ranks 11th in the world.

Sainte-Marguerite rockfill dam, QuebecRises 171 metres in the air and is the highest dam of its kind in Québec.

The stability of this concrete dam is ensured by the structure's weight.

Daniel Johnson Dam, QuebecMultiple-arch-and-buttress dam Inaugurated in 1969, it was named after Québec's Premier.Its reservoir is four times the size of the Island of Montréal, making it the 5th largest reservoir in the world

Hydroelectricity energy: Pros

• Reliable • Capable of generating large amounts of

power• Multiple uses for reservoirs –

irrigation, recreation, flood control

• Currently inexpensive • No emissions

Hydroelectricity energy

Cons: • Flooding creates disruption in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems• Appropriate sites are difficult to come by• Sites are often distant from market • Long time to construct dam (10-15 years)• Locations aren't always reliable (drought)

RMR Rick builds power lineshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-B3D3nvUho

Hydroelectricity

• Video - Three Gorges Dam• http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-p

acific-13460536•

• http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/7143-china-three-gorges-dam-video.htm 2008

The only hydroelectric proposals that should be considered ‘green’ are those that entail no diversions, no inter-basin transfers of water, no flow modifications, no reservoirs, and no interference with fish runs.

Whitehorse Hydroelectric Station, Yukon River

Salmon Fish Ladder

Salmon Fish Ladder

Humans have harnessed wind power for thousands of years, using sails to propel ships and windmills to pump water. Only in the past 30 years has wind been used to generate large utility-scale electricity.

Windmills in Netherlands

WIND• transforms the kinetic energy of the wind into mechanical or

electrical energy that can be transmitted to cities and homes.

Kingston

Installed Wind Energy

http://www.canwea.ca/farms/wind-farms_e.php

Pincher Creek AlbertaCanada’s First commercial wind farm

• 1994

Grouse Mountain, Vancouver:world’s first and only wind turbine that allows you to stand in a clear glass viewPOD at the top of the tower, three metres from its massive, rotating blades Video: http://www.grousemountain.com/eye-of-the-wind/video

WIND

Pros: • No emissions or waste • Abundant and renewable. • Turbines can be set up without disturbing ecosystems.• Existing technology is relatively high output and affordable.

Wind Turbines

Cons: • Wind dependent (output proportional to wind speed). • Not feasible for many locations (Best on coastlines/ high ridges) • Currently expensive • NIMBY: unsightly and noisy

Wolfe IslandNear Kingston, Lake Ontario (86 turbines)

http://www.canwea.ca/wind-energy/myths_e.php

• Main sound comes from the aerodynamic swoosh of the blades passing the tower.

Solar Energy

• Photovoltaic (PV) cells convert sunlight directly into electricity.

• sunlight strikes a panel and electrons are dislodged, creating an electrical currentSolar Energy Explained http://www.aboriginalenergy.ca/solarpopup.html RMR Rick installs Solar Panels Oshawahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmI2BjOO9gg

Solar Map of Canada

The 13 PV hotspots in each province and territory in terms of yearly PV potential for south-facing PV panels with latitude tilt.

Solar Energy: AdvantagesA low-cost means to provide electricitySimplest and cleanest to operateQuiet and expandableNo fuel is used, eliminating transportation costs

Animation: http://www.odec.ca/projects/2006/wong6j2/solar.html

Solar energy: Disadvantages

• Setup is currently expensive. • Production is weather-dependent • Inefficient in low sun and cloudy conditions • Large surface areas are required to lay out

panels of PV cells.• Batteries used to store energy created by

solar cells add to the cost and maintenance of the system

Geothermal• Earth's natural heat used to

power turbines and generate electricity

• Underground steam and hot springs

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

Pros: • Renewable and simple• Available indefinitely• Low maintenance and operatingCons:• Few government incentive programs• Expensive initial costs: 10 to 15 year payback

Biomass• Organic material that can be

burned to generated renewable power

• Examples include wood by-products, municipal waste and livestock manure

Biomass Explained:http://www.aboriginalenergy.ca/biomasspopup.html

Biomass

Pros: Renewable, plentiful sources of waste products (from agriculture, forestry and food processing). Not dependent on fossil fuels.

Cons: Burning causes some polluting gases

Tidal Energy

The kinetic energy of sea waves spins turbines to generate power.

Pro: Renewable Predictable

CBC 2009

Tidal Energy

Cons: • Expensive• Equipment must be able to withstand salt

water & sand• Underwater turbines can kill fish • May change fish migration patterns• Sites not near market

See Animation: http://www.odec.ca/projects/2006/wong6j2/tidal.html

http://www.energybc.ca/images/profiles/tidal/canadatidal.png

Tidal Power Potential

Bermuda:100% dependence on imported oil

Ocean Currents

http://www.ec.gc.ca/cleanair-airpur/C2C8B6C9-3F12-42D1-B156-E549B4AB733A/2006_Total_Generation_by_Fuel.jpg

Sources• http://www.aboriginalenergy.ca/types-renewable-energy• http://www.energybc.ca/profiles/largehydro.html • http://www.energybc.ca/profiles/biofuels.html • http://www.energybc.ca/profiles/wind.html • http://www.energybc.ca/profiles/nuclear.html

Pros of Renewable Energy Sources

• The word 'renewable', says it all.

• Clean source of energy as they do not involve the combustion or burning of fossil fuels or other substances

• Plentiful and are available all over the world

• Low maintenance costs• Non-perishable energy sources

Cons of Renewable Energy Sources• Problems with reliability and consistency • Initial investment or setup cost is significantly

high• Poor global acceptance of renewable energy

on a mass scale