Professional Documents
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Renewable Energy
SEV4 Resource allocation and use
Renewable Energy
Solar Energy
Large,
water heaters
Water
cells
Wind Power
Air is heated unevenly wind Wind power Electrical energy Fast growing resource 3 months to build a windmill
Wind Farms
280,000 homes in CA powered by wind Take up little space
Farmers
Currently Underused
Windiest areas on earth could generate 10x energy used worldwide. Transportation of energy is challenging Wind farms may make hydrogen from water in the future. Hydrogen used as fuel.
Biomass
Plant material, manure, other organic matter used as fuel Challenges
Trees
Methane
Decomposition methane (CH4) Can be burned for heat or electricity
China
6 million homes use methane for heating/cooking England Methane from cow manure as fuel for electricity USA electricity from methane generated by landfills
Alcohol
Ethanol fermenting fruit or agricultural waste Gasohol
mix
Hydroelectricity
Produced from moving water 20% of electricity How it works
Reservoir
holds water Water turns turbines/generator Generator turns movement into electricity
Benefits of Hydroelectricity
Expensive to build but cheap to operate No air pollution Last longer Flood control Water for drinking, agriculture, industry, and recreation
Disadvantages of Hydroelectricity
Displaces people Farmland downstream less productive Decay in reservoir greenhouse gases
Modern Hydroelectricity
No new dams in the USA Brazil, India, and China still building large dams Micro-hydropower
Geothermal Energy
From the heat in earths crust Use water or steam to turn turbines The Geysers in CA powers 1.7 million homes Philippines, Iceland, New Zealand, Japan, Mexico, and Italy Renewable, but must be managed
Assignment
Answer #5 on p. 499 Ticket out the door
Warm up
What
Alternative energy
Still in development Some renewable energy was once alternative energy. Govt investments are vital to development.
Tidal power
Benefits
Drawbacks
Benefits
Drawbacks
Cold and warm ocean water are available at different depths Cold water boils at low temp in vacuum chamber Steam can turn a turbine
Not cost effective Uses 1/3 of the energy it produces Environmental effects unknown
Hydrogen
Benefits
Drawbacks
Generating it uses energy, money, and makes pollution Explosive and dangerous
Fuel Cells
Produce electricity chemically Combine H2 and O2 and electricity is produced. Water is only byproduct
Energy Efficiency
What you get out vs. what you put in %Energy efficiency =
Useful energy out Energy in x 100
Efficient Transportation
Public transportation Hybrid cars
Efficient
Cogeneration
Production of 2 useful forms of energy from 1 fuel source Use waste heat from a furnace to turn a turbine
Energy Conservation
Saving energy
Use
Osage, IA
3,600
Sealed
Insulation Efficient