Renewable and Alternative Energy Sources
Solar Energy- The simplest approach to solar heating is passive-solar heating. The building design should allow the maximum amount of sunlight to stream in through the south and west windows during the cooler months. This heat the house and materials inside. Allows heat in the house in the winter and moves it out during the summer.
Advantages- Energy is free, Net energy is moderate (active) to high (passive), quick installation, No CO2 emissions, very low air and water pollution, very low land disturbance ( built into roof or windows), moderate cost (passive)
Disadvantages- Need access to sun 60% of the time, sun can be blocked by trees and other structures, environmental costs not included in market price, need heat storage system, high cost (active), active system needs maintenance and repair, active collectors can be unattractive
Geothermal Power- Hot water due to magma turning and heating any groundwater. The steam and or hot water is used to create electricity or for heating.Each geothermal can only be used for a period of time, a few decades, before heat extraction is seriously depleted.
Advantages- Very high efficiency, moderate net energy at accessible sites, lower CO2 emissions than fossil fuels, low cost at favorable sites, low land use and disturbance, moderate environmental impact
Disadvantages- scarcity of suitable sites, can be depleted id used too rapidly, environmental costs not included in market price, CO2 emissions, moderate to high local air pollution, noise and odor, high cost except at the most concentrated and accessible sources
Hydropower- Advantages- Moderate to high net efficiency, high efficiency (80%), large untapped potential, long life span, No CO2 emissions during operation in temperate areas, can provide flood control below dam, provides irrigation water, reservior useful for fishing and recreation
Disadvantages- High construction costs, high environmental impact, environmental costs not included in market price, High CO2 emissions from rapid biomass decay in shallow tropical reservoirs, Danger of collapse, Uproots people, Decreases fish harvest below dam, Decreases flow of natural fertilizers(silt) to land below dam.
Wind Energy- Advantages- Moderate to High energy yield, High efficiency, Moderate capital cost, Low energy cost, very low environmental impact, no CO2 emissions, quick construction, easily expanded, can be located at sea, land below turbines can be used to grow crops or graze livestock.
Disadvantages- Steady winds needed, backup systems needed when winds are low, plastic components produced from oil, environmental costs not included in market price, high land use for wind farm, visual pollution, Noise when located by populated areas, can kill birds and interfere with flights of migratory birds
Biodiesel- Advantages- Reduced CO emissions, Reduced CO2 emissions, High net energy yield for oil palm crops, moderate net energy yield for rapeseed crops, reduced hydrocarbon emissions, better gas emissions, potentially renewable
Disadvantages- Increased NOx emissions and more smog, high cost than regular diesel, environmental costs aren't included in market price, low net energy yield for soybean crops, may compete with growing food on cropland and raise food prices, loos and degradation of biodiversity from crop plantations, can make engines hard to start in cold weather
Advantages- Energy is free, Net energy is moderate (active) to high (passive), quick installation, No CO2 emissions, very low air and water pollution, very low land disturbance ( built into roof or windows), moderate cost (passive)
Disadvantages- Need access to sun 60% of the time, sun can be blocked by trees and other structures, environmental costs not included in market price, need heat storage system, high cost (active), active system needs maintenance and repair, active collectors can be unattractive
Geothermal Power- Hot water due to magma turning and heating any groundwater. The steam and or hot water is used to create electricity or for heating.Each geothermal can only be used for a period of time, a few decades, before heat extraction is seriously depleted.
Advantages- Very high efficiency, moderate net energy at accessible sites, lower CO2 emissions than fossil fuels, low cost at favorable sites, low land use and disturbance, moderate environmental impact
Disadvantages- scarcity of suitable sites, can be depleted id used too rapidly, environmental costs not included in market price, CO2 emissions, moderate to high local air pollution, noise and odor, high cost except at the most concentrated and accessible sources
Hydropower- Advantages- Moderate to high net efficiency, high efficiency (80%), large untapped potential, long life span, No CO2 emissions during operation in temperate areas, can provide flood control below dam, provides irrigation water, reservior useful for fishing and recreation
Disadvantages- High construction costs, high environmental impact, environmental costs not included in market price, High CO2 emissions from rapid biomass decay in shallow tropical reservoirs, Danger of collapse, Uproots people, Decreases fish harvest below dam, Decreases flow of natural fertilizers(silt) to land below dam.
Wind Energy- Advantages- Moderate to High energy yield, High efficiency, Moderate capital cost, Low energy cost, very low environmental impact, no CO2 emissions, quick construction, easily expanded, can be located at sea, land below turbines can be used to grow crops or graze livestock.
Disadvantages- Steady winds needed, backup systems needed when winds are low, plastic components produced from oil, environmental costs not included in market price, high land use for wind farm, visual pollution, Noise when located by populated areas, can kill birds and interfere with flights of migratory birds
Biodiesel- Advantages- Reduced CO emissions, Reduced CO2 emissions, High net energy yield for oil palm crops, moderate net energy yield for rapeseed crops, reduced hydrocarbon emissions, better gas emissions, potentially renewable
Disadvantages- Increased NOx emissions and more smog, high cost than regular diesel, environmental costs aren't included in market price, low net energy yield for soybean crops, may compete with growing food on cropland and raise food prices, loos and degradation of biodiversity from crop plantations, can make engines hard to start in cold weather
Renewable Energy Webquest
1)How do scientists define energy? Energy is the ability to do work
2)Explain the law of conservation of energy. Give examples of energy transformations. Its a law of science that states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, but only changed from one form into another or transferred from one object to another. The different types of energy transformations are chemical to motion, radiant to chemical, and electrical to thermal.
3)What is energy efficiency? Energy efficiency is the amount of useful energy obtained from any type of system.
4)What does it mean for energy to be nonrenewable? Renewable? Nonrenewable energy is energy that is limited and renewable energy is replaced naturally and regularly.
5)According to the “U.S. Energy Consumption by Energy Source, 2012”, what percentage of energy that we use is renewable? What percent is nonrenewable? About 10% renewable and about 90% nonrenewable
Renewable Energy Sources
6)What are the 5 forms of renewable energy resources? The 5 forms of renewable energy are solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower, and biomass.
“Solar”
7)What is solar energy? Energy from the Sun
8)Solar energy is converted into what energy? Thermal and Electricity
9)Give two examples of how solar energy is used. It can be used to heat homes and to heat water in turbines that produce electricity
10)What do solar cells do? They change the sunlight directly into electricity.
11)What do solar power plants do? They generate electricity by concentrating solar energy to heat a fluid and produce steam that is then used to power a generator.
12)What are the 2 main disadvantages to solar energy? Solar energy is not constant and does not give much energy to one place at one time
13)Explain how solar energy is beneficial for the environment. It doesn't produce any pollution or green house gases.
15)What did American colonists use windmills for? American colonists used windmills to grind grain, to pump water, and to cut wood at sawmills
16)What do wind machines produce? Energy
17)Describe a wind power plant. Wind turbines use blades to collect the wind’s kinetic energy. Wind flows over the blades creating lift (similar to the effect on airplane wings), which causes the blades to turn. The blades are connected to a drive shaft that turns an electric generator, which produces electricity.
18)Describe the negative effects of wind machines. It is costly, wind isn't always available, and can be ugly.
“Geothermal”
19)What does the word “geothermal” mean? It comes from two Greek words meaning "Earth" and "Heat"
20)What is geothermal energy? It is heat from within the Earth
21)Geothermal energy is generated in the Earth's core
22)Where is geothermal energy found? The energy finds its way to the surface by volcanoes, hot springs, and geysers.
23)Name 2 ways people have used direct geothermal energy? Cooking and heating
24)Describe how has Iceland used geothermal energy. For a district heating system
26)Name 5 things that are biomass materials. Garbage, wood, landfill gas, alcohol fuels, and crops
27)What is the most common biomass material? Wood
28)84% of wood energy is used where? By industry, electric power producers, and commercial businesses
29)How can biomass energy be negative to the environment? If you gather it from wood, it could lead to over-forestation, still emits some CO2s, ash and some chemicals when you use waste-to-energy
31)What 3 states hold over one-half of the total U.S. hydroelectric capacity for electricity is Washington, Oregon. and California.
32)Most dams in the United States were not built to provide electricity, but for irrigation and flood control.
“Ocean”
33)Tides are the rising and falling of the ocean shore. What are tides caused by? Tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun, and the rotation of the earth
34)Compare wind turbines and wave turbines. Both are captured and spin turbines to make energy
35)Not only could the ocean provide us with tidal energy, but wave energy.
36)What is Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion? The Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) system uses a temperature difference (of at least 77°F) to operate a turbine to produce electricity.
37)Since the ocean expands almost two-thirds of the Earth, it makes sense to use that open ocean to provide us with energy. What are the two forms of energy have scientists considered placing over the open ocean? Pelmis and OTEC
38)What are the 4 areas in which energy is used? Homes, Commercial, Industry, and Transportation
40)What is the most used type of energy in the home? Space Heating
2)Explain the law of conservation of energy. Give examples of energy transformations. Its a law of science that states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, but only changed from one form into another or transferred from one object to another. The different types of energy transformations are chemical to motion, radiant to chemical, and electrical to thermal.
3)What is energy efficiency? Energy efficiency is the amount of useful energy obtained from any type of system.
4)What does it mean for energy to be nonrenewable? Renewable? Nonrenewable energy is energy that is limited and renewable energy is replaced naturally and regularly.
5)According to the “U.S. Energy Consumption by Energy Source, 2012”, what percentage of energy that we use is renewable? What percent is nonrenewable? About 10% renewable and about 90% nonrenewable
Renewable Energy Sources
6)What are the 5 forms of renewable energy resources? The 5 forms of renewable energy are solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower, and biomass.
“Solar”
7)What is solar energy? Energy from the Sun
8)Solar energy is converted into what energy? Thermal and Electricity
9)Give two examples of how solar energy is used. It can be used to heat homes and to heat water in turbines that produce electricity
10)What do solar cells do? They change the sunlight directly into electricity.
11)What do solar power plants do? They generate electricity by concentrating solar energy to heat a fluid and produce steam that is then used to power a generator.
12)What are the 2 main disadvantages to solar energy? Solar energy is not constant and does not give much energy to one place at one time
13)Explain how solar energy is beneficial for the environment. It doesn't produce any pollution or green house gases.
- “Wind.”
15)What did American colonists use windmills for? American colonists used windmills to grind grain, to pump water, and to cut wood at sawmills
16)What do wind machines produce? Energy
17)Describe a wind power plant. Wind turbines use blades to collect the wind’s kinetic energy. Wind flows over the blades creating lift (similar to the effect on airplane wings), which causes the blades to turn. The blades are connected to a drive shaft that turns an electric generator, which produces electricity.
18)Describe the negative effects of wind machines. It is costly, wind isn't always available, and can be ugly.
“Geothermal”
19)What does the word “geothermal” mean? It comes from two Greek words meaning "Earth" and "Heat"
20)What is geothermal energy? It is heat from within the Earth
21)Geothermal energy is generated in the Earth's core
22)Where is geothermal energy found? The energy finds its way to the surface by volcanoes, hot springs, and geysers.
23)Name 2 ways people have used direct geothermal energy? Cooking and heating
24)Describe how has Iceland used geothermal energy. For a district heating system
- “Biomass”
26)Name 5 things that are biomass materials. Garbage, wood, landfill gas, alcohol fuels, and crops
27)What is the most common biomass material? Wood
28)84% of wood energy is used where? By industry, electric power producers, and commercial businesses
29)How can biomass energy be negative to the environment? If you gather it from wood, it could lead to over-forestation, still emits some CO2s, ash and some chemicals when you use waste-to-energy
- “Hydroelectric.”
31)What 3 states hold over one-half of the total U.S. hydroelectric capacity for electricity is Washington, Oregon. and California.
32)Most dams in the United States were not built to provide electricity, but for irrigation and flood control.
“Ocean”
33)Tides are the rising and falling of the ocean shore. What are tides caused by? Tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun, and the rotation of the earth
34)Compare wind turbines and wave turbines. Both are captured and spin turbines to make energy
35)Not only could the ocean provide us with tidal energy, but wave energy.
36)What is Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion? The Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) system uses a temperature difference (of at least 77°F) to operate a turbine to produce electricity.
37)Since the ocean expands almost two-thirds of the Earth, it makes sense to use that open ocean to provide us with energy. What are the two forms of energy have scientists considered placing over the open ocean? Pelmis and OTEC
- “Use of Energy.”
38)What are the 4 areas in which energy is used? Homes, Commercial, Industry, and Transportation
- “Residential- homes.”
40)What is the most used type of energy in the home? Space Heating