Renewable Resources Table Activity

Solar Energy from the sun. The polar panels generate electric from light Ad: Clean & becoming more affordable Dis: interruptions & still expensive Solar energy uses semiconductors, which means they let electric flow through them when they get hot, but not when they get cold. Renewable, solar panel, fossil fuels 8 out of 10

Geothermal Power derived from earth’s internal heat Ad: can produce energy all the time, inexpensive, & produces very little CO2 Dis: could damage environment, smells like eggs, & interfere with geysers Nearly 90% of Iceland residents live in geothermally heated homes Energy, geothermal Out of 10

Wind Wind moves turbine. As it rotates the blades move a generator and electricity is created Ad: wind cannot be used up & clean source of energy Dis: No wind=no energy & can kill flying animals Wind turbines do not work with winds under 8 miles an hour or above 55 miles per hour Turbine, wind energy, 9 out of 10

Biomass Biomass is burned by thermal conversion and used for energy Ad: lots of algae & consistently available Dis: feedstocks aren’t replenished as quickly as they’re used & can create smog Alga contains oils that can be converted to a biofuel Biofuel, biomass, renewable 7 out of 10

Hydroelectric Energy made by moving water Ad: water recycles itself & very affordable Dis: can block moving fish & can flood river banks There are fish ladders to help fish get over dams Dams, hydroelectric, water turbine 6 out of 10

Hydrogen Fuel cells convert hydrogen-rich fuel into electricity Ad: fuel cells are very clean & self-sustaining Dis: None Biogas produces hydrogen from organic waste Fuel cell, electricity 10 out of 10

Ocean Two types thermal (suns heat) and mechanical (tides and waves0 Ad: unlimited source of power & great opportunity for jobs Dis: impacts on marine life & shipping industry Tides are driven by gravitational pull of the moon, waves driven by wind Wave power, ocean energy, currents, 6 out of 10

Cow Poop Uses methane from manure to make electricity Ad: plenty of poop & new ideas to lessen air pollution Dis: traditional ways= air pollution & expensive A typical cow produces 15 pounds of poop daily (that’s like a whole person) List any vocab given 7 out of 10

Best to worst electric power sources: 1. Wind power 2. concentrated solar power (CSP) 3. geothermal power 4. tidal power 5. solar photovoltaics (PV) 6. wave power 7. hydroelectric power 8. a tie between nuclear power and coal with carbon capture and sequestration (CCS).