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. Solar 2. Wind 3. Hydroelectric 4. Biomass 5. Geothermal 6. 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 one year 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 power Japan'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 DISADVANTAGES Initial start up cost is high Not as efficient as fossil fuels Unpleasant smell Releases methane gas into atmosphere Afterlife of Oil
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 electricity How 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 pavement and 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 spins the turbine creating energy in the generator Nuclear Power
ADVANTAGES Very minimal CO 2 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