B. S. E. E., M. S. Space Technology An Introduction to Renewable Energy Frank R. Leslie, B. S. E. E., M. S. Space Technology 10/08/2002, Rev. 1.3 fleslie @fit.edu; (321) 674-7377 www.fit.edu/~fleslie f.leslie @ieee.org; (321) 768-6629

Overview Renewable energy is sustainable indefinitely, unlike long-stored energy from fossil fuels that will be depleted Renewable energy from wind, solar, and hydroelectric power emits no pollution or carbon dioxide (although the building of the components does) Biomass combustion is also renewable, but emits CO2 and pollutants Nuclear energy is not renewable, but sometimes is treated as though it were because of the long depletion period Sustainable energy comes from the sun or from tidal forces of the moon and sun; usually implies not using it faster than can be replenished Nonrenewable energies come from combustion of coal, oil, and natural gas. Their creation took millions of years, and we are using it faster than it was produced and faster than it is being created. Renewable energies come from the sun. Collection is from natural occurrences. While the energy is free, it costs money to collect it. Nuclear and geothermal energies aren’t renewable but are treated that way since the quantity is so large. Revised 021003

Energy Considerations for 2050 Fossil-fuel energy will deplete in the future; took millions of years to create that much fuel US oil production peaked about 1974; world energy will peak about 2004-9 or so Renewable energy will eventually become mandatory, and our lifestyles may change Transition to renewable energy must occur well before a crisis occurs Revised 020115

Conclusion Renewable energy offers a long-term approach to the World’s energy needs Economics drives the selection process and short-term (first cost) thinking leads to disregard of long-term, overall cost Increasing oil, gas, and coal prices will ensure that the transition to renewable energy will occur ― How will we choose to do it? Revised 020115

References: Books Brower, Michael. Cool Energy. Cambridge MA: The MIT Press, 1992. 0-262-02349-0, TJ807.9.U6B76, 333.79’4’0973. Duffie, John and William A. Beckman. Solar Engineering of Thermal Processes. NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 920 pp., 1991 Gipe, Paul. Wind Energy for Home & Business. White River Junction, VT: Chelsea Green Pub. Co., 1993. 0-930031-64-4, TJ820.G57, 621.4’5 Patel, Mukund R. Wind and Solar Power Systems. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 1999, 351 pp. ISBN 0-8493-1605-7, TK1541.P38 1999, 621.31’2136 Sørensen, Bent. Renewable Energy, Second Edition. San Diego: Academic Press, 2000, 911 pp. ISBN 0-12-656152-4. Revised 020115

References: Websites, etc. awea-windnet@yahoogroups.com. Wind Energy elist awea-wind-home@yahoogroups.com. Wind energy home powersite elist geothermal.marin.org/ on geothermal energy mailto:energyresources@egroups.com rredc.nrel.gov/wind/pubs/atlas/maps/chap2/2-01m.html PNNL wind energy map of CONUS windenergyexperimenter@yahoogroups.com. Elist for wind energy experimenters www.dieoff.org. Site devoted to the decline of energy and effects upon population www.ferc.gov/ Federal Energy Regulatory Commission www.hawaii.gov/dbedt/ert/otec_hi.html#anchor349152 on OTEC systems telosnet.com/wind/20th.html www.google.com/search?q=%22renewable+energy+course%22 solstice.crest.org/ dataweb.usbr.gov/html/powerplant_selection.html Revised 020115