INTRODUCTION TO CLEAN ENERGY AND ENGINEERING CAREERS Introduction Video 1 © Daniel L. Wilson, Dr. Michael A. De Miranda, Dr. Thomas J. Siller, & Dr. Todd D. Fantz

Clean Energy 2

Goals  By the end of this lesson you will be able to:  Discern between clean and traditional energy sources.  Explain the mechanism that is the Greenhouse Effect and how it contributes to climate change.  Identify the a greenhouse gases (GHG) and their sources  Discuss what makes greenhouse gases unique in their ability to warm the planet.  Identify engineering problems and how different engineering careers could solve those problems.  Describe how you, as an engineer, could help the world. 3

Clean Energy  Clean energy is, essentially, the process of harnessing useful energy without emitting many greenhouse gases.  Clean energies are generally associated with being renewable, however, these are not the same concept Image 2 From: The Daily Galaxy URL: 7/renewable-energ.html Image 1 From: Raleigh Public Relations, NC URL: pr-google-clean-energy-2030/ pr-google-clean-energy-2030/ Image 3 From: HeatingOil.com URL: renewable-energy-projects106/ 4

Why Are Greenhouse Gases Bad?  Greenhouse gases contribute to the “Greenhouse Effect,” which is the mechanism which is causing global climate change. Figure 1 From: muchapedia URL: -effect.html 5

What Kinds of gases are GHG?  The most important greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), but there are many others as well. Figure 2 From: National Academy of Sciences URL: museum.org/exhibitgcc/causes02.jsp 6

Why are Some Gases GHG?  Greenhouse gases are special because their bonds absorb infrared energy (the kind of light energy released from Earth’s warm surface). Figure 3 From: Elmhurst College, IL URL:  Instead of this energy being passed into space, the infrared energy is absorbed by GSG, re-released, and transmitted back to Earth 7

How Does a Bond Absorb Energy?  Although not perfectly analogous, you can think of a chemical bond like a spring; that spring wants to vibrate at a specific frequency.  If you put energy into the bond “spring” at its resonant frequency, it will be easily absorbed.  Cool Spring Video! Cool Spring Video! Figure 4 From: Elmhurst College, IL URL: 8

Where Does GHG Come From? 9

Where to GHG Come From?  There are many sources of GHG including power production for electricity, transportation, agriculture (methane), and industrial uses. Figure 5 From: Metropolitan Council, MN URL: Figure 6 From: wikipedia URL: 10

Coal-Fired Power Plant Demo Figure 7 From: Abandoned Mine Reclamation Clearinghouse, PA URL: 11

Coal Pros and Con  Pros  Extremely cheap: ~$12/ton of coal (literally cheaper than dirt)  Extremely powerful  Existing infrastructure  Cons  Very dirty  Destruction of mountains and habitats Image 4 From: The Citizen Compendium URL: 12

Sources of Clean Energy 13

 What are some ideas that you have for sources of greenhouse gas-free (or reduced) energy sources?  Here are some common sources:  Wind  Solar  Geothermal  Hydro  Biofuels (debated)  We will spend this curriculum talking about two of the most viable sources: solar and wind, as well as how to store solar and wind energy in fuel cells. Where Can We Get GHG-Free Energy? Image 6 From: Solar Energy Fact.org URL: Image 5 From: Aum Energy, GA URL: 14

Scientists discover the world that exists; engineers create the world that never was. - Theodore Von Karman Engineering Clean Energy 15

Why Engineers?  The climate problems that our world faces are, by and large, engineering challenges  Mechanical engineers Can design more efficient engines, transportation devices, and power- generation systems  Electrical engineers Can design better electrical distribution networks and energy-efficient electronics  Civil engineers Can design efficient buildings to better utilize our existing resources  Environmental engineers Can measure the positive effects of new energy technologies on the environment  Computer engineers Can control complex energy-consuming systems in efficient ways  Chemical engineers Can design new fuels and produce them in environmentally friendly ways 16

Why Would I Want to Be An Engineer?  Engineers work on very exciting projects  Engineers are in demand  Engineers are paid well  Engineers make a very big difference in the lives of billions of people! 17

The World Needs You!  People need good engineers  The environment needs good engineers  The planet needs good engineers  Will it be you? 18