1. RENEWABLE RESOURCES

2. What are renewable resources?
Renewable resources are natural resources that can be recycled or replaced by the environment
E.g.: Cotton plants to make clothing i.e. jeans can be planted again each year
Examples
Plants and animals
Wind
Geothermal
Nuclear
Water (hydro)

3. How do we use renewable resources?
Humans use renewable resources as a source of food (plants and animals) to help us survive
We also use renewable resources to provide energy and power
Examples:
Solar energy: solar cells
Wind energy: wind farms
Water energy: dams

4. SOLAR ENERGY Solar energy is energy from the sun
It is trapped in solar cells and turned into electric current
Sunlight hits cells covered with silicon (Si) layers, changes the light and a stream of electrons is created
Solar cells can be small and easy to use
Expensive to generate large amounts of electricity

5. WIND ENERGY Electricity can be produced on wind farms
Wind turbines are placed on the land
Need lots of open space
No pollution is produced

6. WATER ENERGY Called hydroelectric power
Electricity created from the energy of flowing water by building dams
Earth’s water cycle continually replaces the water and it is non-polluting

7. GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
Used and found in locations with lots of volcanic activity
Energy from an eruption comes from hot rock under the Earth’s surface
Thermal energy (heat energy) is used to generate electricity

8. BIOMASS ENERGY
Converting the energy in plants to usable energy for humans
Wood
Used for fuel, heating and cooking
Sugar cane
Used to make ethanol (alcohol) for transportation fuel

9. Questions to consider: Which renewable energy is ‘best’?
Which renewable energy type is a good alternative to burning fossil fuels (using non-renewable resources) ?
Which renewable energy type produces little pollution?
Which renewable energy type costs little money?
Which renewable energy type requires little land and people to manage it?