Renewable Energy (Lec 10) Flashcards
Percentages of Renewable Energy we use the most
Hydropower 57
Biomass 23
Solar 9
Wind 7
Geothermal 4
Google currently is using renewable energy to power what percent of operations?
35
Energy contained in fireweed and other plant matter
Bio energy
What are biomass fuels derived from
Solar energy
Traditional fuels
Wood, charcoal, and animal dung
Fossil fuels takes ——- out of coal, oil, and natural gas deposits
Carbon
CO2 used to make ethanol from trees comes from where?
The air
Does CO2 used to make ethanol from trees, when burned, increase the net amount of CO2 in the air?
No
Pros of using cellulosic ethanol (switch grass) as energy
Native
Needs little fertilizer and water
Grows on marginal land
Perennial
Cons of using cellulosic ethanol as energy
Not produced large-scale
No subsidy available
Enzymes are expensive
Does algae biofuel reproduce quickly ?
Yes
Bio fuel advantages
Carbon neutral
Lower NOx and SOx
Abundant
Widely distributed
Produced domestically
Bio fuel disadvantages
life span ( carbon is emitted)
Costs
Net gain
Blade works like an airplane wing, and turns a generator
Wind power
What causes uneven heating of earth winds formed from high to low pressure
Geography and topography
Denmark produces over _____ percent of thwir electricity needs thround wind power
50
Denmark commands——- percent of the global mark for wind turnbines
60
2/3 of wind power in the US is attributed to…
Texas, California, Iowa, Minnesota, and Washington
Clusters of turbines
Wind farms
Fastest growing renewable sector and produces less than .5% of global electricity
Wind
Advantages of wind farms
No fuel needed
No pollution
Domestic energy source
No disruptions of single energy plants
Disadvantages of wind farms
Bird and bat deaths
Aesthetics
Intermittent winds
Not usually near urban areas
Capturing the energy of water moving under the force of gravity
Hydropower
Forms if Hydropower
Impoundment Plants
Run of river plants
Run of river plants are
Less costly and disruptive
Depends on sustained flow
Account for 16% of global demand of electricity
2% of global energy
Satisfies 100% of Norway and Paraguay’s needs
China, Brazil, and Canada re the largest producers
Empowerment dams/ run of river plants
Advantages of Hydropower and Dams
No fossil fuels needed
No pollution
Energy is cheap to produce
Power is matched to demand
Dams control floods
Water retention
Disadvantages of hydro power and dams
Effects environment and communities
Ecosystem aterations
Peak flows no longer seasonal
Sediment accumulation
Temperature and oxygen in stream change
(Solar Impulse ) When did the plane begin it’s first cross-US flight (Cali) and when did it land in NY
May 2013
July 6
How long did each leg take
19-25 hrs
When the Solar Impulse 2 flew all around the world, where did it land
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
-Heated almost entirely by solar energy
-Solar panels provide most of the electricity
-South-facing windows are mostly glass and black masonry walls
Visitors center at zion national park in Utah
Silicon layer with Phosphorous and Boron
Photovoltaic cell ( solar power)
Photovoltaic cell production is growing by
25% / yr
Focus sunlight onto water pipes producing steam that is used to turn generator turbines
Concentrating Solar Power
When was the first solar car race
1985
Solar advantages
Free and renewable
No emissions
Roof Installations/ space
20,000 jobs and increasing 35% per yr
Solar disadvantages
High start up prices
High cost of electricity compared to coal
Daylight requirement 
Geographic limitations
Hazards materials used in construction
Heat energy generated and stored in earth
Geothermal energy
In a dry-steam power plant, underground hot water and steam are used to generate electricity.
Geothermal electriciy
We can use Ground Source Heat Pumps for
Heating and Cooling
Geothermal reservoirs sufficient for geothermal power plants exist mainly in_______
Western states
Advantages of geothermal resources
Reliable & Inexpensive
Pollution free
GSHP use 30-70% less energy than conventional methods
Disadvantages of geothermal resources
Ecosystem disturbance
Replenishment rates if ground heat
High Start Up Costs
Geographic Limitations (Cali, Nevada, Hawaii, and Utah)
Using Kinetic energy of tides and waves
Ocean energy
Types of ocean energy
Onshore wave energy
Tidal Barrage
Each day the tide rises and falls 40ft at the barrage in France. The turbines spin and generate electricity as water moves in and out if the bay
Tidal barrage
______on the coast if Northern Ireland will generate 1.2 megawatts of renewable energy to the equivalent of 1,000 homes
Tidal turbine
Advantages of ocean energy
Renewable and pollution free
Low cost of production
Disadvantages of ocean energy
Ecosystem disturbances
Tidal barrage systems need high tide amplitude
Geographic limitations
