1. Alternative Energy Sources

2. Many resources go towards making electricity.

3. http://www.tva.gov/power/images/coalart.png

5. Most energy used today comes from fossil fuels.

7. Fossil fuels come from the remains of once living things.

8. They include: coal, oil (petroleum), and natural gas.

9. While fossil fuels are relatively cheap, we need alternatives to them b/c they are: Nonrenewable Cause pollution And have to be mined

10. Some Alternatives include: Wind energy Geothermal energy Nuclear energy Biomass Hydroelectric Solar

11. *No energy source is perfect, but some are better than others b/c they are better for the environment and they are renewable.

12. Alternative Energy Source Reasons to use itReasons to not use it Description of how it works Where is it currently being used? How often is it being used? Solar Power Non air polluting- Renewable-Sunlight's free-Sun makes lots of energy-Good in remote areas Only good where its sunny- expensive-not very efficient- no way to store energy- unreliable radiation from the sun is turned it into energy Sunny climates (Germany and Italy) 0.2% 1% Wind Energy Inexpensive (wind is free)-Non air polluting-Renewable- Good in remote areas- land can be used for other things too unreliable-need room-ugly- may kill birds-can be noisy- wind turn the turbines to generate electricity Places w/ strong, steady wind- usually near coast or rounded hilltops (Denmark, Portugal, Spain) 0.51% 9% Hydroelectric Energy Inexpensive- renewable-can make lots of energy Expensive to build-flooding behind dam- bad for wildlife-Only works on big rivers Building a dam, flowing water turns turbine Any river where a dam can be built and a reservoir will form (China ) 35% Geothermal Energy Non air polluting- renewable-uses little land-inexpensive-no fuel needed Limited availability-may be unreliable-sometimes harmful gasses/minerals come up Pump water into crust, heat turns it to steam Where crust is warmed by tectonics (Iceland, Italy, Japan,..) 0.12% 5% Biomass Energy Tend to be cheap- Renewable-can use waste planet material Not very efficient- Requires space to grow-may release greenhouse gasses- uses land which could be growing food Generally burn plant materials to heat the water Anywhere plants can grow 0.28% 26% Nuclear Energy Inexpensive-Non air polluting-makes lots of energy from small amount of fuel- reliable Nonrenewable- waste is very dangerous and must be safely stored for 1000s of years-NONrenewable heat from splitting atoms turns water to steam Pretty much everywhere 434 operable reactors world wide 2.7% 9%