reliant on fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) · reliant on fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural...
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Reliant on fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas)
Those will not last forever, need to have a back up plan
Using fossil fuels creates greenhouse gases, which impact climate change
Renewable energy is better for the environment and people
1. Solar2. Wind3. Hydroelectric4. Biomass5. Geothermal6. Nuclear
Most widely used around the globe Many shapes and sizes of solar panels
Sun shines on solar panels Electricity is created and converted for use Used to power appliances, lights and heat
water Any extra electricity goes into the main
power grid for others to use
Solar Power
Why aren't we using solar power more?
ADVANTAGES
Completely renewable (the sun is always going to shine)
No pollution/gases given off
Very little maintenance (tend to last a long time)
Will save people money in the long run
Easy to install
DISADVANTAGES
Expensive to first purchase Cannot produce electricity
on cloudy days or at night
Earth receives more energy from the sun in an hour than it used in the entire world in oneyear
It would take less than 1% of the Earth’s land area covered with solar panels to supply all of the world’s electricity needs
Type of solar energy
Winds are caused by uneven heating of the atmosphere by the sun
Come in many different sizes
Wind blows causing the wind turbine blades to spin
Turbines convert wind energy into mechanical power
Mechanical power is converted into electricity
Wind Energy
ADVANTAGES
No gases or pollution given off
Only take up a small plot of land Can farm beneath
Remote areas can use wind power to produce electricity
DISADVANTAGES
Strength of wind is not constant
Noisy Not all people want to look
at them Large wind farms are
needed to provide communities with electricity
Wind energy has been around since 200 B.C United States generates more wind energy than
any other country, except China By 2050, the United States has to potential to:
Avoid 12.3 gigatons of greenhouse gases from being emitted
Save 260 billion gallons of water
80 countries around the world use wind powerJapan's New Wind Turbine Design
Uses the force of running water to produce electricity
Usually stored in dams
Build a dam with lots of water behind it in the reservoir
Near the bottom of the dam, there is a water intake
Gravity causes the water to go down into the intake
The moving water spins the turbine propellers, which creates energy in the attached generator
ADVANTAGES
Minimal pollution Reduces greenhouse gas
emissions Running water is free Rainfall renews the water
in the reservoir, so the fuel is almost always there
Low operation and maintenance costs
Reliable and proven technology over time
DISADVANTAGES
High investment costs Dependent on water being
available Can disrupt land and
wildlife habitats Loss or change of fish
habitat Prevent fish from
migrating Can displace local
populations
7% of total energy production Largest hydroelectric power station in the
world is the Three Gorges Dam in China Has been used to power water mills for
thousands of years Tidal power is another type of hydroelectric
energy Hoover Dam creates enough power to serve
1.3 million people each year in Nevada, California and Arizona
Uses plant material and animal waste
Examples: wood chips and corn
Can resupply/regrow in a short period of time Some can be converted into biofuels, which
can be used to power cars, tractors and trucks
Burns biomass in a boiler
Usually hot water or steam boilers
Boiler moves the steam or hot water towards the turbine
Turbine spins and creates electricity in the generator
ADVANTAGES
Better for environment than fossil fuels
Easily available Reduces landfills Can be used to create other
products Ethanol and fuels
Afterlife of Oil
DISADVANTAGES
Initial start up cost is high Not as efficient as fossil
fuels Unpleasant smell Releases methane gas into
atmosphere
Has been used by humans for most of our history
Burning wood or other materials for heat and cooking
Currently meets 10% of human energy needs around the world
As of 2012, Brazil and the US were the largest producers of ethanol and biodiesel in the world
Algae can be used for energy
Algae based fuels can be produced 5-10 times faster than many forms of land-based agriculture (corn, soy)
Heat from the Earth Range from shallow ground to hot water and
hot rock found a few miles beneath the surface
About 4 feet underground, the temperature stays the same all year around (about 55°F)
Pipes are buried 4 feet and below System pumps a liquid through the pipes to
absorb heat and brings it back to the system Heat exchanger takes the heat from the liquid
and forces it to spin the turbine Energy is transferred to the generator, which
produces electricityHow it works
ADVANTAGES
Powered by Earth’s heat, which does not change
Can be used for heating and cooling
Small impact on land Minimal pollution Less chance for change in
cost because it does not involve fuel
DISADVANTAGES
High upfront cost Can have gas emissions
escape from inside Earth Cannot be easily
transported
Geothermal plants in the Philippines and Iceland contribute around 30% of their electricity production
US is less than 1%
Humans have enjoyed geothermal energy in the form of hot springs for thousands of years
In some parts of Iceland, hot water runs from geothermal power plants under pavementand roads to melt ice
Produces 11% of the world energy Uses a small amount of fuel that creates a lot
of energy
Uranium 235 rods are placed in water in the reactor endeavors
Control rods are near the Uranium in case of overheating
▪ Also can control the rate of the reaction
Nuclear fission occurs, splitting the Uranium into smaller atoms and releases energy
Energy is used to heat the water, which spinsthe turbine creating energy in the generator
Nuclear Power
ADVANTAGES
Very minimal CO2
emissions Technology has been
created and modified High amount of energy
with a small amount of fuel
DISADVANTAGES
Removal and storage of the radioactive waste produced in the plant
High safety risk (high security standard, but accidents happen)
Uranium (fuel) is a scare resource
Takes 20-30 years to build a new power plant Planning, laws, safety
Every 18-24 months, the power plant must shut down to remove the spent Uranium rods (radioactive waste)
Being used in over 30 counties around the world
Used to power Mars rovers Curiosity Rover
Curiosity Rover- Nuclear Power 1 in 5 households in the US are electrically
powered by nuclear power