Transcript Wind Power - Battaly's Home Page

Fuel for Thought:
The Promise of Alternative Energy
Presented by:
The Eco-Sci Club of
The Academy of Mount St. Ursula
The Truth is…Fossil Fuels are History!
Through technological advancements and public
awareness, people and scientists alike are realizing
that fossil fuels are contributing to the destruction of
the environment.
With the growing popularity of renewable alternative
energy resources, there is still hope for the future with
the development of efficient energy sources that may
one day fully replace fossil fuels.
Major Alternative Energy
Resources
Wind Power
Solar Power
Hydroelectric Power
Geothermal Power
Wind Power
The oil shocks of the 1970s
furthered interest in wind and
other sources of energy resources
Natural conditions of climate and
geography produce wind that
blows across a landscape
Windmills are used to convert
wind into mechanical energy
and/or electricity
Power is often gained through
large groups of turbines or wind
farms
Wind Power: How it Works
Wind Power in the US
The U.S has used over 6740
MW, 17 billion killo-watts of
electricity since 2004
Additional 5000 MW of wind
energy expected in the next
five years
U.S Department of Energy,
2020 objective: 6% of
energy from wind
Global Wind Power
In 2004, world wind
capacity reached 47317 MW
Most wind power plants
located in Europe
(Germany) and U.S.
Average growth rate- 30%
95 countries and counting
utilize wind power
How Much Does It Cost?
Cost depends on the
speed of wind, the cost
of the turbines and the
size of the farm
Wind power cost ranges
from 6-14 cents per kWh
No fuel costs
Operating costs are
steadily decreasing 3-5%
Advantages
A better lifetime
investment than fossil
fuels
Doesn’t emit CO2 or other
greenhouse gases
Prevents the emission of
2.5 billion lbs of CO2 and
15 million lbs of other
pollutants
Disadvantages
Noise Pollution
Visual pollution
Kills birds
Wind patterns are
subject to change
Wind energy can only
be stored through a
battery
Turbines spin 65-80%
of the time, on average
What is Solar Power?
Usable energy from sun light
When Sun light passes through
earth’s atmosphere, it takes the
form of infrared and visible
radiations
Plants use solar energy to make
food-photosynthesis
We use solar energy by:
Eating plants
Burning fossil fuels
How does it work?
Technologies:
Use the sun light to
produce electricity
Classifications:
Direct & Indirect
Passive & Active
(buildings)
Concentrated &
Non-Concentrated
Solar Power Usage
Solar cooking
Solar lighting
Photovoltaics
Electric Power Plants
Solar Pond
Solar Chemical
Biofuels-stored solar energy
Architecture
Heating systems
Advantages 
Sunlight is abundant
Solar energy is very dense
Pollution-free!
Easy maintenance of facilities
Economical
Low operating costs
Disadvantages 
Requires large plots of land
In order to generate a lot of energy, many
photovoltaic cells are required
Solar density is limited
Automobiles
Has to be transformed into another form of energy
Initial set up is costly
Polysilicon solar cells are expensive
Costs are expected to decrease
What is hydroelectric energy?
• Hydroelectric energy is kinetic
energy derived from rivers or
waterfalls
How is hydroelectric energy generated?
• Hydroelectric energy
•
•
is generated in
hydroelectric power
plants
Rivers or waterfalls
are used to turn
turbines
A metal shaft in an
electric generator
goes up and
produces electricity
Diagram of a hydroelectric dam
Hydroelectric Dams in the U.S:
Hoover Dam
The Hoover Dam contains 17 generators and
produces 4 billion kilowatt-hours of
electricity each year.
Pros
• Some large hydroelectric plants have the
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•
•
capacity to generate 300-400 megawatts.
300 megawatts is enough energy to power
about 3,000,000 one hundred watt light bulbs!
It is entirely renewable with no CO2 emissions
Hydroelectric energy contributed 13% of the
electricity produced in 2001.
Cons
• Hydroelectric power generation requires a lot
•
•
•
•
of land
Most major sites are being used or are
unavailable because of environmental reasons
Dam production usually involves flooding large
areas of land, which greatly changes natural
habitats
Can potentially endanger local and non-local
wildlife.
It’s estimated that it will decrease to 12.4%
by 2010
Geothermal Energy
What is Geothermal Power?
• The use of geothermal heat to
generate electricity
• From heat within the earth
• "geothermal" is Greek:
– geo, meaning earth
– therme, meaning "heat."
Uses for Geothermal Energy
• Generate electricity
• Heat buildings and greenhouses
One Exception
• Although geothermal energy is often
referred to as a form of a renewable
resource, because the heat at any location
can eventually be depleted it is not strictly
renewable
Electric Generation
• Three types of power
plants are used to generate
power from geothermal
energy:
• Dry steam
• Flash
• Binary
Dry Steam Power Plants
• Dry steam plants take
steam out of fractures in the
ground and use it to directly
drive a turbine that spins a
generator to make energy
• The largest dry steam field
in the world is The Geysers
in California
• Production of electricity
started at The Geysers in
1960 – Now it’s the most
successful alternative
energy project in history!
Flash Power Plants
• Uses a geothermal
reservoir that produces
mostly hot water
- a "hot water reservoir"
• Water ranging from 300 –
700 F is released to the
surface from the pressure of
the deep reservoir, through
a production well
• Some of the water flashes
into steam in a 'separator'
which then powers turbines
to make energy
Binary Power Plants
• A reservoir with temperatures
between 250 - 360 degrees F
• Geothermal water is passed
through a heat exchanger,
where its heat is transferred
into a second (binary) liquid,
such as isopentane
• The binary liquid flashes to
vapor expands across and
spins the turbine blades. The
vapor is then re-condensed to
a liquid and is reused
repeatedly
Geothermal Energy Countries
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•
•
•
•
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•
•
Mexico
U.S.
Canada
Russia
Japan
Philippines
Indonesia
New
Zealand
• Iceland
Pros
• Geothermal energy can be found almost
anywhere; from the remote, deep wells of
Indonesia to our backyards!
• An affordable and sustainable solution to
reducing our dependence on fossil fuels,
as well as the global warming and public
health risks that result from their use
Cons
• Ground water can potentially be
contaminated with sulfides and other
pollutants if well casings are not managed
properly
• Carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide are
released by geothermal plants
• Many geothermal reservoirs are located in
sensitive and pristine wilderness areas
In General
Despite their cons, alternative energy
still proves to be a safer, more
effective approach to fighting global
warming caused by fossil fuels
Alternative energy can provide clean
energy around the world for years
With public action, we can make a
better environment for our future!
Ways You Can Help!
At Home:
– Use Energy-saving appliances
– Reduce/Conserve electricity
– Switch to a hybrid or an electric car
Get involved!:
– New Energy Congress
– Global Institute for New Energy
Technologies
– An-Inconvienitent-Truth(.com)
References
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“Facts About Hydropower” - Waterpower - The World's Leading Renewable
Energy Source. www.wvic (mht)
Solar power info:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/sources/renewable/solar.html
Photovoltaic cells: http://www.epa.gov/epahome/enviroeye/archive.html
Hoover Dam and Hydroelectric Power
www.teachersdomain.com
Wind power information and graphics sources
www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/RENEW/inform.shtml
www.library.thinkquest.org/26026/Science/wind_energy.html
www.awea.org/faq/wwt_statistics.html
www.solarnavigator.net
www.cnn.com
www.chinapage.com X
www1.eere.energy.gov
www.ucsusa.org
www.compositesnews.com ?
www.news.bbc.co.uk ??
Alternative Energy?
Saving our Earth?
Now That’s
Food For Thought!
I Need to Wake Up Lyrics
Melissa Etheridge

I want to change
I need to shake up
I need to speak out
Oh, Something’s got to break up
I’ve been asleep
And I need to wake up
Now!
Fuel for Thought:
The Promise of Alternative Energy
Presented by:
The Eco-Sci Club of
The Academy of Mount St. Ursula