Energy 101
Why Does This
Matter?
Joseph Rand
KidWind Project
www.kidwind.org
joe@kidwind.org
What is KidWind?
The KidWind Project is a team of teachers,
students, engineers, and practitioners
exploring the science behind wind and
other renewable forms of energy. Our goal
is to make renewable energy widely
accessible through hands-on activities
which are challenging, engaging and teach
basic science and engineering principles.
“Engaging minds for a responsible future…”
KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org
Humanity’s Top Ten Problems
for next 50 years
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10.
ENERGY
Water
Food
Environment
Poverty
Terrorism & War
Disease
EDUCATION
Democracy
Population
Source: Nobel Laureate Richard Smalley
Energy for 10 Billion People
• For worldwide peace and prosperity we
need abundant and affordable clean
energy.
• Need to improve current technologies
• Need to develop new technologies
• We need students to enter Science,
Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics (STEM) fields
• We need a bold new approach to
confront this issue
Science Literacy
• In the U.S., climate change is still a “debate”
• Recent studies have shown that 50% of
Americans cannot name an example of
renewable energy.
• Understanding basics of energy and electricity
– What is a watt / kilowatt / kilowatt-hour?
• How can we “conserve” energy if we don’t
understand basic energy concepts?
KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org
KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org
Why Clean Energy Science in Schools ?
• Students learn science/math standards
– Lessons are completely scalable from elementary through college level
• Addresses myths and misconceptions regarding renewable
energy
• Encourages higher interest in Science, Tech., Engineering, Math
– Science/Math activities with “larger social purpose”
• Students learn about jobs/careers in renewable energy
industry, as well as opportunities for further training
• Educate the next generation of scientists, engineers, and
decision makers to make smarter, more informed choices
• Education – a promising avenue for widespread social change!
Atmospheric Carbon vs. Temp
KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org
Where does the Carbon Come From
Global annual fossil fuel carbon dioxide emissions through
year 2004, in million metric tons of carbon, as reported by
the Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center
This figure shows the relative fraction of manmade greenhouse gases coming from each of eight
categories of sources, as estimated by the Emission
Database for Global Atmospheric Research version 3.2.
KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org
Climate Change – Connect the Dots
Current research indicates that over the last 150 years the average
temperature has increased .8 C. Even if we stopped producing carbon
right now models suggest that the temperature would increase another .8
degrees.
Many effects of this .8 C rise are more dramatic than scientists have
anticipated (floods,drought,extreme weather events). Some researchers
think 2 degrees is a recipe for disaster.
NASA scientist James Hansen, the planet's most prominent climatologist, is
even blunter: "The target that has been talked about in international
negotiations for two degrees of warming is actually a prescription for longterm disaster.”
Source – Rolling Stone “Global Warming’s Terrifying New Math” Bill McKibben
KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org
Based on current models we can pump 565 gigatons of carbon into the
atmosphere and stay below or at the 2 C temperature increase.
While the amount of CO2 we have released over the last few years has
decreased, we are still putting 30-35 gigatons into the atmosphere each year.
Do the math and that gives you about 16-17years before we reach 565 gigatons.
1 GT = 1,000,000,000 Tons
1 Ton = 2000 lbs
1 lb of CO2 (STP) = A ball about 2.5 feet in diameter.
The average American releases about 57 pounds of CO2 each day!
Sources – Rolling Stone “Global Warming’s Terrifying New Math” Bill McKibben
http://www.nrdc.org/living/energy/why-worry-about-pound-carbon-dioxide.asp
KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org
This is the amount (gigatons) of carbon that would be released if we burned
all the known fossil fuel resources (coal, oil, natural gas).
It is 5 times the amount that we can burn if we hope to have any chance in
slowing or stopping global climate change.
It represents 27 trillion dollars in revenue for large coal, oil and gas
companies and city states.
Do you think it will be easy to convince investors or these entitites to leave
20 trillion dollars of assets in the ground? Me either.
Sources – Rolling Stone “Global Warming’s Terrifying New Math” Bill McKibben
KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org
What do Steroids in Baseball have to
do with Climate Change?
KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org
Caribbean - Cost of Energy
• The energy cost in the Caribbean is the
highest in the Western Hemisphere and
amongst the highest in the world.
• Most electricity produced in the region comes
from conventional thermal sources, primarily
oil-fired power plants.
• The islands' reliance on fuel oil makes them
highly vulnerable to international oil prices.
St. Kitts and Nevis – Energy Profile
Total installed electricity capacity (2010): 48 MW
St. Kitts: 33.9 MW
Nevis: 14.1 MW
St. Kitts and Nevis is a net energy importer. The country
has no indigenous sources of oil, coal, natural gas or
hydropower.
Oil imports are about 1,000 barrels per day. Nearly all of
the islands' electricity is generated from imported oil.
Wind Farm on Nevis – 1.1 MW Capacity
…. But what can we do???
C E D A R
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Conservation
Efficiency
Demand (Reduce Peak Demand)
Ancillary (Your behavior and choices)
Renewables
Basic Energy Background
1. FORMS of Energy
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Can we name 9 forms of energy?
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Basic Energy Background
1. FORMS of Energy
2. Energy TRANSFORMATIONS
– Energy’s ability to change form is what
makes it useful.
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Energy Transformations Activity
• Break into 4 groups
• 2 countries per group (~4 people)
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Energy Transformations Activity
• Identify the Energy Transformations that
take place to light an incandescent light
bulb
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Incandescent Light Bulb
Energy Transformation
Chemical Energy Thermal Energy Mechanical Energy
Electrical Energy Thermal Energy Radiant Energy
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Energy Transformations Activity
• Identify the Energy Transformations that
take place to light a hand-generator
flashlight
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Hand-Generator Flashlight
Energy Transformation
Nuclear Energy Radiant Energy Chemical Energy Mechanical Energy Electrical Energy Radiant Energy
KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org
Energy Transformations Activity
• Create your own for another common
energy transformation
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Basic Energy Background
1. FORMS of Energy
2. Energy TRANSFORMATIONS
3. SOURCES of Energy
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Can we name 9 SOURCES of Energy?
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Renewable vs. Non-renewable
Categorize the 9 SOURCES of energy as
“renewable” or “non-renewable”
KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org
Basic Energy Background
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FORMS of Energy
Energy TRANSFORMATIONS
SOURCES of Energy
Basics of ELECTRICITY
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How is Electricity Generated?
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Watt, Kilowatt, Megawatt…?
W = 1 Joule/Sec
Joule = 1 Newton over 1 meter
1 Watt ~ Lifting 1 Apple, 1 Meter in 1 second
1 Watt = KidWind Turbine Cranking
1 Kilowatt (kW) = 1000 Watts (Toaster)
1 Megawatt (MW) = 1,000,000 Watts (Large Wind Turbine)
1 Gigawatt (GW) = 1,000,000,000 (2 Nuclear Plants)
KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org
Power
vs.
Energy
Rate
Quantity
Liters / Minute
Liters
Kilometers / Hour
Kilometers
Watts, KW, MW
W-Hours, kWh, MWh
Meters / Sec
Meters
POWER
ENERGY
KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org
KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org
KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org
Questions?
KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org
What is the Cost of Inefficiency?
• WindWise Lesson 3
• Break into 4 groups
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Refrigerator
KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org
Calculate cost of phantom loads
• Typical Home:
– 2 cell phone chargers (0.6 W each)
– Computer plugged in (3.5 W)
– DVD Player on standby (3 W)
– Microwave on standby (1.2 W)
– Television on standby (3.5 W)
– Stereo (2.5 W)
KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org
How Does a Generator Work?
• WindWise Lesson 9
KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org
Joseph Rand
KidWind Project
www.kidwind.org
joe@kidwind.org