Energy Production

Question 1

What are the key alternatives to fossil fuels?

Answer 1

• Solar
• Wind
• Wave
• Hydro electricity
• Geothermal
• Improve energy efficiency

Question 2

What is irradiance, and what are the key factors that influence it?

Answer 2

The main factor of power density delivered by solar power.

Depends on:

• Latitude
• Local climate
• topography (shade from mountains)

Question 3

What is dispatchable energy, and which sources provide this?

Answer 3

Energy where the generation can be turned up or down

Fossil fuels and hydroelectricity provide this.

Solar and wind do not.

Question 4

What is the maximum efficiency of a wind energy plant?

Answer 4

56%

Question 5

Compare onshore and offshore wind plants.

Answer 5

On shore: Less energy but easier to extract. Noise and visual pollution.

Offshore: more energy but harder to extract. More expensive to build.

Question 6

What are the main challenges with wave energy?

Answer 6

engineering challenges of reliability in the ocean environment

Question 7

What is the main advantage of hydro electricity?

Answer 7

Its dispatchable. It is the largest source of renewable electricity globally.

Question 8

How much does electricity production need to increase by to achieve net zero?

Answer 8

it needs to be doubled.

Question 9

Compare wind and solar.

Answer 9

Human environment: wind has bigger affect

Natural environment: Wind has bigger affect (bird strike)

Power at night: no solar

Mixed land usage: Wind does

Seasonal availability: solar better in summer

Wind less predictable but does require maintenance.