Unit 3: Resource Sustainability Renewable Energy Unit 3: Resource Sustainability

What is Renewable Energy? Energy from sources that are constantly being formed The EU made a promise to produce 12% of their energy from renewable sources by 2010. Did they succeed? Keep in mind all sources of energy affect the environment (think about how throughout) YES. 25.4% (as of 2014)

Solar Power Sun’s energy is enough to power the wind, plant growth, and the water cycle Passive solar heating – uses the sun’s energy to heat something directly N. Hemisphere – south facing windows receive the most energy Having overhangs to keep buildings cool in the summer Active solar heating – solar collectors heat a liquid to heat the building’s water Solar cells (panels) can even produce electricity! (1.5 million homes!) Heat can be released overnight. Walls and floors must be THICK. Mention CBF building! What drawbacks might this form have?

Wind Power Wind occurs due to the uneven heating from the sun Cheap and abundant – less than 5 cents per KWH Wind farms are placed in windy areas and can power large, remote areas of homes! Also very easy to set up small farms (easy to erect) Scientists estimate that the windiest spots on earth could generate TEN time the energy needed worldwide! Hard to transport – but what if we convert it to Hydrogen?

Biofuels Plant material, manure, or any organic material Burning of wood is major source of energy in developing countries Methane – formed by bacteria decomposing organic waste. Where have we seen methane before? Alcohol – made by fermenting fruit or waste. Corn is popularly used to make ethanol! Gasohol – combination of gas and ethanol! (E85) Algae Lab!

Hydro and Tidal Power As water flows across the land, the energy of its movement can be used to generate electricity! 20% of the world’s electricity! Water is released to turn a turbine, thereby generating electricity Expensive to build, but cheap to operate Tidal power operates in the same way but at the shore – used YEARS ago to power mills in Europe

Geothermal Power Deposits of water in the earth’s crust are heated by energy within the earth Steam is used to power a turbine; leftover water can be sent back down to be heated again! More than 600,000 homes in the U.S. are heated this way—can even be used to cool in the summmer

Hydrogen and Nuclear Power The future, but not today (2000) Methods are not efficient (hard to compress) and very expensive Fuel cell (cars) – produces electricity by combining hydrogen fuel with oxygen from the air Nuclear – bombard atoms with neutrons causing them to split, and release energy! Hard to store the waste; nuclear accidents (Chernobyl) Ran an unauthorized test; blew threw the reactor. Some areas of the Ukraine are still contaminated!

Renewable Energy – Think-Pair-Share Share what you’ve learned so far about your type of renewable energy What would be the drawbacks of adopting this energy completely?