Renewable Energy Resources

aka
Alternativ
e
Solar
* fastest growing source of renewable energy

* includes Passive Solar

Active Solar
Solar Power Plants
Suitability of Solar Usage
Passive Solar

captures sunlight
directly with a
structure and
converts it to low-
temperature heat
for space heating
advantages advantage of living in a deciduous biome
* eliminate/reduce fossil fuel use
* No CO2 emissions
* save money on heating

disadvantages
* high initial cost
* latitude
Active Solar
typically uses photovoltaic
cells to absorb solar energy
and gain a mechanical
advantage
can be used to..

* heat water
* heat living space
* generate electricity
Photovoltaic Cells aka PV Cells aka Solar Cells
 Solar Power Plants solar farm (uses PV cells)

use solar energy to generate

large amounts of electricity
Moyock, NC
When complete, will be the largest east of the Mississippi

Concentrated
Solar Power
(CSP)
Solar Power Tower

huge arrays of computer

controlled mirrors that
track the sun and focus
sunlight on a central heat
collection tower
only 3 in the United States

Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project,

Nevada

Ivanpah Solar Power Facility,

California
Linear Concentrating System
(parabolic trough)

sunlight is collected and

focused on oil or water
filled pipes that run
through the middle of
curved solar collectors
Wind
* Second to solar in industry growth
* Generator converts mechanical energy to
electricity behind the turbine
advantages
* No air pollution
* High efficiency
* Quick construction

disadvantages
* Visual pollution

* Requires steady winds

* May impact migratory birds

In the rangelands of the Great Plains,
ranchers may make money by leasing
land to power companies and still use
the land for grazing or growing crops.

West Texas wind farm

offshore wind potential
Denmark, with a pioneering wind-
power program, is above 40 percent
renewable power on its electric grid.
It wants to be off fossil fuels by 2050.
nonconventional turbine styles bladeless
prototype
Wind and
Solar farm
in China.
Wind and
Solar
capacities
are growing
faster in
China than
anywhere
else in the
world.
Hydropower
A hydroelectric dam is built
across a large river to create
a reservoir upstream from
the dam.

* Water is released through

the dam to spin turbines to
generate electricity.
advantages
* No air pollution * Low maintenance * Controls downstream flooding

disadvantages
* High initial cost
* Blocks fish migration
* Traps sediment that
would replenish
shorelines downstream
* Floods upstream
habitats
Hoover Dam & Lake Mead
Colorado River, USA
Aswan High Dam Nile River, Egypt
Three Gorges
Dam
Yangtze River,
China

* Largest
hydroelectric
power plant in
the world
 Tidal Power
Uses water movement from high
tides and low tides to turn
turbines and generate electricity
* Major limitation effectiveness based on
large tidal range (difference between low
and high tide) or shape of sea floor in the
area
Geothermal
Uses heat,
steam or hot
water from
underground
reservoirs

* Used to
heat/cool space
or to generate
electricity
Geothermal Heat
Pump/HVAC
Uses the temperatures below
the surface of the earth to
heat or cool a structure.
* Can be used anywhere
because although temps
above ground fluctuate
during the seasons, the
temperature below the
surface remains consistent
between 50F - 60F year
round.
Generate electricity
steam turns the turbine which
powers the generator to make
electricity
thermal energy mechanical energy
electrical energy
 advantages
* No air pollution
* Reliable

disadvantages
* Limited locations

* Possible land subsidence

The largest geothermal field in the world is known as The
Geysers. It is north of San Francisco, Ca and is home to 22
geothermal power plants.
Biomass
* Any organic matter that can be
used as an energy source.

* It may be burned directly as a

solid fuel or converted into a gas or
liquid fuel
using biomass for transportation fuel..
* Corn, sugarcane and
switchgrass are the most
common sources for
ethanol.

Brazil is the largest producer of

sugarcane for ethanol Switchgrass field in Illinois
using biomass for electricity..
Includes

* Biogas (methane)
from landfills aka Waste to
Energy (WTE)
* Burning garbage

* Burning wood chips/pellets

using biomass for heating & cooking..
* In many developing countries this
accounts for over 90% of their
energy use in homes

* Includes fuelwood, animal dung

and agricultural waste

* Cause of deforestation in many of

these countries
* Major source of indoor air pollution
advantages
* Inexpensive
* Renewable if land is well managed
* Decreased fossil fuel use

disadvantages
* Uses a large amount of land

* Loss of a carbon sink/deforestation

* Increased soil erosion