Alternative Energies (notes L-1)
- Energies that are not fossil fuels. Most are renewable.
The following are renewable: hydropower, solar, wind,
geothermal, biomass, hydrogen, tidal, and wave.
Research toward alternative energies started in the 70’s due to
the oil embargo and are continuing today due to foreign oil
dependency and environmental concerns.
Only about 5% of today’s energy in the U.S. is renewable.
Hydropower – This uses the mechanical power of flowing water
to generate electricity. Power depends on the amount of water
(flow) and the distance it falls (head). (diagram pg. 450)
- Accounts for 6% of electricity in the U.S.
- It is the most widely used source of alternative energy in the
U.S.
- Will not increase in the U.S. because most suitable sites have
been used.
1
Impacts
- Renewable, nonpolluting, and reliable.
- Costly to build and funds to build new dams have not been
approved in more than a decade.
- Dams disrupt the environment and create different habitats.
- Block fish migration (fish lifts)
Fish lift video
- Dams can fill with sediment becoming useless if not
maintained.
- Hydropower is on the decline
Wind – use of wind to spin turbine to generate electricity.
- Researches are looking for ways to store energy and reduce
cost.
- Fastest growing energy source in the world. (costal Europe)
- 3.5% of world’s electricity but could produce up to 30% by
2050
- Electricity is almost as cheap as fossil fuel in areas with
strong winds.
- Most effective on coasts, mountains, and open plains but now
found in many areas
- Winds farms exist in PA, West Virginia, and New York and
-
Impacts
- Few environmental impacts (noise, space, damage to bats and
birds)
- No air pollution
- Becoming more available in many areas
- No way to store the energy – winds may not be constant,
needs a back up system
Biomass (biofuels) – The burning of wood, agricultural wastes,
sewage, algae, and processed trash. Also includes fuels made
from organic matter.
- accounts for 10% of the world’s energy – mostly wood
- Various methods are used to create fuels that can be used for
heating or transportation. (could possibly replace petroleum)
- Sugar crops and grains can be converted through
fermentation by yeast to produce ethanol. (can be blended
with gasoline)
Bagasse – residue from crushed sugarcane
Biodiesel is a substitute for diesel engines and is made from animal
fat or vegetable oils
Impacts
- Renewable can be quickly made
- Storable and easily transported
- A lot of land (wildlife habitat) would be used for large scale
production of biofuels.
- Some air pollution. CO2
- Processing of some organic wastes release hazardous
chemicals.
- Responsible for forest destruction and soil erosion in
rainforests. (burning of wood)
A lot of the ethanol we use is coming from South America
because it is cheaper. It is destroying tropical grasslands
Geothermal – uses the natural heat (dry heat, steam, or hot rock)
trapped in the earth to heat homes or produce electricity.
(diagram pg. 476)
http://www.alternativeenergyanimations.com
- power plants must be near the source because too much
energy is lost during transportation.
- only Hawaii, Nevada, Utah, and California have the potential
- Now be offered as a home heating source in our area
Impacts – Somewhat renewable – you can overdraw steam
- It is limited to certain areas.
- Nothing is burned so there is limited air pollution.
- Harmful gases can sometime be vented with heat and land
surfaces may collapse.
Tidal – converts the mechanical energy from ocean tides to
electricity. Gravitational effect of the moon
- Limited to coastal regions and therefore will never be a major
energy source in this country. (Canada, China, and France)
Wave – Waves force water up a large tower pushing the air up
over a turbine to generate electricity. (Norway)
Hydrogen Fuel – the changing of hydrogen gas into a fuel
source (gas or liquid)
- Makes up most of the universe but not common on earth as a
gas
- Requires water (methane) and water vapor is the only product
given off
- The Department of Energy is looking into expanding its use
(fuel cell technology)
- It would require new equipment and engines (fuel cells)
-
fuel cell animation
- Hydrogen fueled cars have been made. They are still not on
the market due to cost and lack of fueling infrastructure (GM
– Sequel and Hy-Wire)
future car - hydrogen fuel
Hydrogen car -GM
 Check out this web site:
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/
Impacts
- Pollution free.
- Renewable but currently the cheapest way to make it is by
using natural gas - cracking
- It is too expensive and difficult to store.
- It could one day replace gasoline engines and our
dependency on foreign oil.
- A transition from fossil fuels to hydrogen fuel will take a lot
of time and money.
Alternative Energies (notes L-1)
- Energies that are not fossil fuels. Most are renewable.
The following are renewable: _________, __________,
_________, __________, _________, ________, ___________,
and __________.
Research toward alternative energies started in the 70’s due to
the oil embargo, and are continuing today due to foreign oil
dependency and environmental concerns.
About ______of today’s energy in the U.S. is renewable.
Hydropower – This uses the mechanical power of flowing water
to generate electricity. Power depends on the amount of water
(_____) and the distance it falls (______). (diagram pg. 450)
- Accounts for 6% of electricity in the U.S.
- Will not increase in the U.S. because most suitable sites have
been used.
Impacts
- __________, __________, and ______________.
- Costly to build and funds to build new dams have not been
approved in more than a decade.
- Dams disrupt the environment and create different habitats.
- Dams can fill with _________ becoming useless if not
maintained.
- Hydropower is on the decline
Wind – use of wind to spin turbine to generate electricity.
- Researches are looking for ways to store energy and reduce
cost.
- Fastest growing energy source in the world. (costal Europe)
- 3.5% of world’s electricity but could produce up to 30% by
2050
- Electricity is almost as cheap as fossil fuel in areas with
strong winds.
- Most effective on ________, ____________, and
___________, but now found in many areas
- No way to store the energy – winds may not be constant,
needs a back up system
Impacts
- Few environmental impacts (noise, space, damage to bats and
birds)
- No air pollution
- Limited globally due to varying winds
Biomass – The burning of ______, __________, ___________,
_______, and ____________ This also includes fuels made
from organic matter.
- accounts for 10% of the world’s energy – mostly wood
- Various methods are used to create fuels that can be used for
heating or transportation. (could possibly replace petroleum)
- Sugar crops and grains can be converted through
fermentation by yeast to produce __________. (can be
blended with gasoline)
- ___________ is a substitute for diesel engines and is made
from _____________ or ____________.
Impacts
- Renewable can be quickly made
- Storable and easily transported
- Some air pollution.
- Processing of some organic wastes release hazardous
chemicals.
- Responsible for forest destruction and soil erosion in
rainforests. (burning of wood)
Geothermal – uses the natural heat (dry heat, steam, or hot rock)
tapped in the earth to heat homes or produce electricity.
(diagram pg. 476)
- power plants must be near the source because too much
energy is lost during transportation.
- __________, ________, ________, and ________have the
potential .
Impacts
- It is limited to certain areas as a power plant but is now being
offered as a home heating source in our area
- Nothing is burned so there is limited air pollution.
- Harmful gases can sometime be vented with heat and land
surfaces may collapse.
Tidal – converts the mechanical energy from ocean tides to
electricity.
- Limited to coastal regions and therefore will never be a major
energy source in this country. (__________, _______, and
________)
Wave – Waves force water up a large tower pushing the air up
over a turbine to generate electricity. (Norway)
Hydrogen Fuel – the changing of hydrogen gas into a fuel
source (gas or liquid)
- Makes up __________ of the universe and is the lightest
element.
- Requires water and ___________ is the only product given
off when burned
- The _______________is looking into expanding its use (fuel
cell technology)
- It would require new equipment and engines to burn it (fuel
cells)
- Hydrogen fueled cars have been made.
* Check out this web site: HYPERLINK
"http://www.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/"
www.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/
Impacts
- Pollution free.
- It is too expensive and difficult to store.
- It could one day replace gasoline engines and our
dependency on foreign oil.
- A transition from fossil fuels to hydrogen fuel will take a lot
of time and money.