offsetting co 2 emissions. different types of energy fossil fuels make up large amounts of our daily...
TRANSCRIPT
Different Types of Energy
• Fossil fuels make up large amounts of our daily energy use
• However, there are energy that can take large chunks out of our fossil fuel use
• Many of these produce energy with little or no CO2
Different Types of Energy
• The following methods can produce energy with no CO2 emissions
• Nuclear Power• Solar Power• Wind Power• Hydropower
Wind Power
• The power of the wind had been harnessed throughout history
• This power has been generated by windmills
• These windmills apply physical work when the wind blows
Wind Power
• The windmill still is used in today’s world, but it has a much different function
• The windmill is actually a large turbine that generates electricity
• These turbines can generate large amounts of electricity when ever the wind is blowing
Wind Power
• Wind Power is the second fastest growing form of energy– Behind Solar
• This is because it is a cheap and renewable form of energy
• There are currently 7 different countries that are planning to have the largest wind farm in the world
Wind Power
• Wind energy does have its drawbacks
• It is a fairly intermittent source
• Energy is only produced when you have wind
• Storing energy for these farms is a large issue
Wind Power
• However, wind power has many advantages
• If wind turbines are placed in windy areas they can generate more than enough electricity to power large cities or towns
Wind Power
• There are cases when customers are paid to use electricity when it is a particularly windy time
• This is because so much electricity is being produced that there is no where to put it
Video
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llIbjC49Fjs
Why Nuclear Energy?
• Nuclear power has a very good balance of safety, reliability, environmental friendliness and cost effectiveness
• The balance is often considered one of the best ways to produce energy
Why Nuclear Energy?
• However, if nuclear power has a problem there is a much larger risk for a large amount of people
• This risk is generally small
• It makes nuclear energy overall one of the safest energy sources
Why Nuclear Energy?
• Inside the US we currently have 103 operating nuclear power plants
• These plants provide around 20% of electrical power
• This power is mostly used to power the public
How It Works
• Nuclear energy involves chances at the atomic level through one of two basic processes
• Fission – One large atom of an element is split to produce two smaller atoms
• All power plants currently use fission
How It Works
• Fission creates two completely different elements out of the original large element
• This also releases a large amount of energy and free neutrons
• This energy is the energy harnessed
Video
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBdVK4cqiFs
How It Works
• Fusion is the combination of two small elements (mostly hydrogen)
• Fusion takes two smaller elements and creates a larger element
• This is not currently used by power plants but is being researched
Nuclear Power
• The goal of nuclear power is to slowly control a nuclear reaction
• Controlling a slow nuclear reaction allows humans to use the energy that is produced
• This energy has to be transformed into a secondary source of power
Solar Energy
• The energy delivered from the sun is vast
• The Sun’s rays have so much energy we could replace fossil fuels for a year if we captured all the energy hitting the US for 40 minutes
• The sun delivers 10,000 times the energy used by humans every year
Solar Energy
• Although it is an abundant source, it is also a diffuse source
• A diffuse source of energy is a source of energy that is widely scattered and can vary
• Think about the seasons and area needed to capture the sun
• Most energy from the sun needs to be collected over time and stored before it can be used
Solar Energy
• The energy from the Sun can be captured and converted into electricity
• This is done though photovoltaic cells and solar-trough collectors
• These methods of energy clean and renewable
Solar Energy
• A photovoltaic cell is a small 4 x 4 inch piece of material that convert sunlight directly into electricity
• They are hooked together to form large panels
• 40 PV cells can power one light bulb
Video
• http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/solar-power
Hydropower
• Early in history it was learned that water was a moving force and could be used to perform mechanical actions
• Early uses of hydropower are mills and lumber mills
• These all used large paddle devices that were powered by moving water
Hydropower
• While the technology has changed, the idea has not
• Hydropower is mainly based on the predictable patterns of flowing water
• This moving water can be used to generate electricity
Hydropower
• The moving water is used to push modified turbines
• These turbines produce a flow of electrons
• The flow of electrons continues as long as the water continues to push
Video
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpigNNTQix8
More Dams?
• Many of the sites that would be suitable for dams have already been filled
• These sites already have dams that are producing electricity
• The ability for us to build new dams is not as available as in the past
More Dams?
• While hydropower is a clean, consistent and powerful source of energy it has several drawbacks
• In order to use it, dams must be built
• These dams flood areas that are often occupied by people or animals
Tidal Energy
• Since most rivers and streams have been used people have started turning to the ocean
• In the ocean you can find energy to displace water by using the tide
• The energy that is in tides can be harnessed to create energy
Tidal Energy
• There are several different ways to generate power using tidal energy
• Most of them require a turbine system to be working with sections of water that are tidal
• The larger the tidal surge, the more energy that can be created
Video
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSBACzRE3Gw