Download Renewable Energy Sources: Solar, Wind, Biomass, Hydropower, Geothermal, and Tidal Energy and more Slides Wildlife Ecology in PDF only on Docsity! Chapter 13 Renewable Energy and Conservation Docsity.com Overview of Chapter 13 Direct Solar Energy Indirect Solar Energy Wind Biomass Hydropower Geothermal Tidal High and Low Technology Energy Solution Docsity.com Solar Sunspace Utilizes passive solar energy to heat and cool homes Can be added to existing homes Docsity.com Typically used to heat water 8% of energy in US is used to heat water This technology could supply large amount of US energy demand Heating Buildings and Water Active Solar Energy System of collecting and absorbing the sun’s energy, and using pumps or fans distribute the collected heat Docsity.com Heating Buildings and Water Solar Thermal Electric Generation Means of producing electricity in which the sun’s energy is concentrated by mirrors or lenses to either heat a fluid filled pipe or drive a Stirling engine More efficient than other solar technologies No air pollution No contribution to global warming or acid precipitation Docsity.com Cost of Electrical Power Plants Alternative power sources are becoming competitive with traditional power sources Docsity.com Indirect Solar Energy Biomass Plant materials, such as wood, crop wastes and animal waste, used as fuel Wind energy Electric or mechanical energy obtained from surface air currents caused by solar warming of air Hydropower Form of renewable energy reliant on flowing or falling water to generate mechanical energy or electricity Docsity.com Biomass Contains energy from sun via photo-synthesizing plants Oldest known fuel to humans - still used by half the world’s population Renewable when used no faster than it can be produced Can convert to biogas or liquids Ethanol and methanol Clean fuel Docsity.com Wind Energy No waste - clean source of energy Biggest constraints: Cost Public resistance (NIMBY) Few environmental problems Kills birds and bats Docsity.com Hydropower Most efficient energy source (90%) Most widely used form of solar energy 19% of world’s energy Traditional hydropower Suited only to large dams New technology Utilize low flow systems Docsity.com Other Indirect Solar Energy Ocean waves Produced by winds Has potential to turn a turbine- and create electricity Ocean Temperature Gradients Use difference in temperature of surface and deep water to create electricity Docsity.com Local Example: The Geysers 30 sq. mile geothermal area located in Lake, Sonoma, and Mendocino Counties 22 power plants Largest geothermal facility in the world Generates electricity for 1.1 million people Docsity.com Geothermal Energy From hot, dry rock Geothermal heat pumps Use difference in temperature between surface and subsurface Great for heating buildings Expensive installation Docsity.com Tidal Energy Typical difference between high and low tide is 1–2 ft Narrow bays may have greater variation Potential energy difference between low and high tide can be captured with A dam across a bay A turbine similar to a wind turbine Docsity.com High and Low Technology Energy Solutions Most promising “energy sources” are energy conservation and energy efficiency Energy Conservation Using less energy by reducing energy use and waste Energy Efficiency Using less energy to accomplish a given task Docsity.com Energy Efficient Technologies Super-insulated buildings (right) Energy efficient appliances Automobiles Aircraft technology Compact Fluorescent light bulbs Condensing furnaces Docsity.com Cogeneration Production of two useful forms of energy from the same fuel Most effective on small scale Docsity.com
