Renewable Energy Sources
1A2 Geography
29th September 2014
Topics for today’s class…
• Why do we need to develop renewable
sources of energy?
• How many types of renewable energy sources
are there?
• Which is the most popular source of
renewable energy in Ireland?
• Will we be getting homework today?
Why do we need to develop
renewable sources of energy?
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•
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•
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Electricity generated by burning fossil fuels.
Coal, peat, oil and gas.
Finite/ non-renewable.
Conserve fossil fuels
Make greater use of renewable energy
resources.
• Environmental benefits
How many types of renewable energy
sources are there?
• Several, including:
Hydroelectric Power (HEP)
Solar Energy
Geothermal Energy
Tidal Energy
Wind Energy
Hydroelectric Power
• Force of falling water
turns turbines –
generating electricity.
• Examples include
Inniscarra Dam.
• 1953
• ESB
• 19 MW
Solar Energy
• Heat.
• Light.
• Captured by solar cells
in solar panels.
• Electricity
Geothermal Energy
• Water heated when pumped deep into Earth’s
crust.
• Pumped back to surface – heats homes.
• Steam turns turbines – generating electricity.
• Iceland.
Geothermal Energy Iceland
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRAQrDd
uaU0
Tidal Energy
• Tides rise and fall.
• Turbines turn.
• Electricity generated.
Which is the most popular source of
renewable energy in Ireland?
• What do you think?
Wind Energy
• Moving wind turns
turbines – electricity
generated.
• Popular.
• Turbines very big.
• “Wind Farms.”
• Built out at sea – windy,
prevents visual pollution.
• Many examples in
Ireland.
Homework
• Page 23.
• Question 6, parts (i) (ii) & (iii).
• To be completed for tomorrow’s class.