Renewable Energy
-
Upload
jonas-burke -
Category
Documents
-
view
29 -
download
1
description
Transcript of Renewable Energy
18-1 Renewable Energy 18-1 Renewable Energy TodayTodayObjectives
1. List six forms of renewable energy, and compare their advantages and disadvantages. 2. Describe the differences between passive solar heating, active solar heating, and photovoltaic energy. 3. Describe the current state of wind energy technology. 4. Explain the differences in biomass fuel use between developed and developing nations. 5. Describe how hydroelectric energy, geothermal energy, and geothermal heat pumps work.
Renewable Energy – energy from sources that are constantly being formed
Solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal
Characteristics of a passive Characteristics of a passive solar homesolar home
Ceilings heavily insulatedThick walls and floorsSouth-facing double paned windowsShade trees for summerInsulated windows
◦Active Solar HeatingUses collectors to gather the sun’s energyCollectors on roofs capture the sun’s energy and heat a liquid which flows to a heat exchanger which heats water for the building
Photovoltaic cells convert the sun’s energy into electricityNo moving partsProduce a small electric current
Need extended periods of sunlightElectricity stored in batteries
Provides about 1 million households with electricity worldwide
Olmedilla Photovoltaic Park - Spain
280 acres
162,000 pv panels
Electricity for 40,000 homes
15 of 20 largest solar power plants in the world
Number of MWatts by state, March 2007
As of third quarter, 2009 there are 31,100 MW of electricity produced by wind in US
Biomass When plant material, manure, or any other organic matter is used an energy source◦Include wood and dung (can cause air pollution and habitat destruction)
◦Other sources of biomass include methane (gas given off by decomposition) and alcohol (ethanol- fermentation of agriculture wastes)Gasohol – blend of gasoline and ethanol; less air pollution than gas
Hydroelectricityenergy produced by moving water
20% of the world’s electricity
Dams are expensive to build but inexpensive to operate
Advantages: No air pollution, provide flood control, water for drinking, agriculture, industry, and recreation
Disadvantages: disrupts ecosystems, displacement of people, potential for dam failure, sedimentation
Geothermalenergy from the heat in the Earth’s crust
Pump water heated water from rock formations and use the water or steam to power turbines
18-2 Alternative Energy and 18-2 Alternative Energy and ConservationConservationObjectives1. Describe three alternative energy
technologies. 2. Identify two ways that hydrogen
could be used as a fuel source in the future.
3. Explain the difference between energy efficiency and energy conservation.
4. Describe two forms of energy-efficient transportation.
5. Identify three ways that you can conserve energy in your daily life.
Ocean Thermal Energy Convection
Warm surface water is used to boil sea water◦Water at lower pressure boils at a lower temperature
HydrogenoHydrogen is found in every molecule of every living thing
oProduces water vapor as a byproduct
oTakes energy to produce the pure hydrogen
Energy EfficiencyHow do we reduce energy use?◦Lifestyle changes◦Upgrade distribution grid◦Upgrade industrial motors
◦Newer steel manufacturing methods
◦Recycling
◦Increase energy efficiencyThe percentage of energy put into a system that does useful work
energy out/energy in X 100
More than 40% of energy produced is wasted
Super Grid technologyAllows for mixed use of stable and
intermittent energy sourcesUtilizes electricity storage
technologyHigher efficiency in delivering
electricity over long distancesDecentralization of electricity
generating plantsClose or reduce usage of coal-fired
electric plantsDuke Power, Smart meters
Decrease dependence on fossil fuels
Use public transportationUse more energy efficient vehiclesHybrid cars - Toyota Prius, Honda (Civic, Fit, CR-Z) Tesla Roadster, Fisker Karma, Chevy Volt, Hyundai Sonata, Ford Fusion, etc.
Cogeneration◦The production of two useful forms of energy from the same fuel sourceUsing waste gases and heat for electricity and heating and cooling
Why cogeneration?More efficient use of primary fuelCuts energy costsReduces CO2 emissionsIncreases corporate and utility
profitsIncreases the GDP
What prevents cogeneration?Current utility laws in 42 statesCorporate reluctance to invest in
new electric enginesAbsence of specific tax and
program subsidies from Federal government
Energy Conservation◦SAVING ENERGY! Use energy efficient devices Walk or Carpool Buy products that use less packaging
Recycle between 1990 and 2000 US trashed 50 billion aluminum cans, enough to rebuild the worlds entire commercial airfleet 25 times
9 aluminum, plastic or glass containers every week on avg for every person in the US = 53.5 million barrels of oil each year