Ch. 10 Flashcards
Primary source of renewable energy
Sun
Where does renewable energy come from?
Processes that replenish themselves or are continually present
Primary renewable energy source
Biomass
Biomass
Organic material produced by living things
Examples of biomass (4)
- Fuel wood - leads to deforestation
- Waste - recycling to produce energy
- Crop residue and animal waste
- Energy plantations - farmers plant for the specific purpose to produce energy
Techniques to convert biomass to energy (4)
- Direct combustion
- Biofuels production - ethanol
- Anaerobic digestion - not using oxygen
- Pyrolysis - charcoal
Environmental issues of biomass (4)
- Habitat and biodiversity loss
- Air pollution
- CO2 and global change
- Affects food production
Most commonly used in hydroelectric power
Dams
Environmental issues of hydroelectric power (4)
- Flooding from dam construction
- Alteration of water flow and water quality (flooding some areas)
- Alteration of migration patterns of fish
- Alteration of silt flow (all small particles the water brings with it that settle at the bottom of the body of water)
2 types of solar power
- Passive solar system - used for heating and lighting
2. Active solar system - solar panels on roof; water heated thru pipes and pumps thru home (POOL HEATER)
Solar-generated electricity
Collection and concentration of sunlight for steam production
Environmental issues of solar power (3)
- Manufacture of silicon for solar panels require lots of energy
- Power plants require large amount of land
- Must have a reliable source of sun
Uses of photovoltaic cells
- converts sunlight into electricity
- ex: light-powered calculators
Describe wind energy
- movement of turbine by wind generates energy
- location of wind turbines (must have reliable source of wind)
- ex: mountain tops
Geothermal energy
- popular in Iceland
- drill well into ground, pump heat for electricity
