Alternate Energy
st
Sources for the 21
Century
Mike Ewert
Houston Renewable Energy Group
Problem & Opportunity

Several Problems
– Air & water pollution
– Health effects of pollution
– Oil depletion/ imports
– Global warming from CO2

One Solution
– Renewable energy
sources cause minimal
pollution, don’t cause
global warming and are
locally available
Pollution

US power plants emit 18 million tons of SO2 per year +
NOx, particulates, carbon monoxide, mercury and lead

Energy production & use also contribute to Water
pollution

Houston has been in violation of federal air quality
standards since they began in the 1970’s

The Houston/Galveston area must be in compliance by
2007 because we were designated as a "severe" ozone
area.
Some Energy Statistics
The US uses ¼ of
the world’s energy
 The US pays
more than
$5 billion for
imported oil
each month

Global Warming

Throughout history, the earth has been
much colder, and at times warmer, than it
is now
– But climate change is occurring 100’s of times
faster than these natural changes
– CO2, CH4, N2O, O3 and soot all cause warming

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Global average air temperature has risen
1°F in the past 50 years
But, this has already resulted in melting ice
sheets, migration of animals and more
severe weather
What’s the Alternative?
And what’s the hold up?

Renewable energy generally
cost more than conventional
fossil fuel energy systems
•
Solar 11 - 40 ¢/kWh
depending on the
technology
•
Wind 5 - 15 ¢/kWh from
large wind turbines
But what if you consider the big picture?
There are lots of
Alternatives
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Nuclear
Hydroelectric
Wind
Solar
Wave
Tidal
Geothermal
Bio-mass
Helium 3 (from the moon)
Wind

Wind turbines – modern windmills
have become quite efficient and cost
effective in windy areas
Solar Electric

Solar Photovoltaic (PV)
panels generate electricity
directly from sunlight with
special materials

Solar electricity can
also be generated from
the sun’s heat instead
of burning fossil fuels
Solar Thermal

Heat from the sun can be
used to heat water, houses,
pools, in industry and to
generate electricity
Passive Solar

Uses sun angles,
shading and
thermal storage

Daylighting is using
natural sunlight
instead of electric
lights
Solar Cookers

Many different
designs

Can improve health &
reduce deforestation
in developing
countries
Solar Cars?


Hybrid and Electric
cars are coming
Why not solar
charge them?
Water Energy
Hydro-electric, wave, tide
Geothermal & Bio-mass
A Future Hydrogen
Economy?

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Solar energy can
split water into
hydrogen & oxygen
A fuel cell can make
electricity from
hydrogen and
oxygen, making
water
A completely clean,
renewable cycle
2 Last Thoughts
It has been
estimated that we
can improve the
way we use energy
by a factor of 4!
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ELECTRIC CHOICE
You now have a choice of electric providers in
Texas
Providers must provide an electricity facts label,
so the source is something you can consider
www.powertochoose.com