Renewable

Energy
What is Renewable Energy?
Renewable Energy
 Renewable Energy
• Bioenergy, wind, hydropower, ocean, and
other renewable energy resources. 
• Non-hydro renewables are responsible for
32% of in-state generation, a higher
percentage than in any other state in the
nation.
 Solar Energy
We use solar thermal energy systems to
• heat water for use in homes, buildings, or swimming pools
• heat the inside of homes, greenhouses, and other buildings
• heat fluids to high temperatures in solar thermal power plants

Solar photovoltaic devices, or solar cells, change sunlight

directly into electricity.
Solar Energy
 Solar Energy
The two main benefits of using solar energy are
• Systems do not produce air pollutants or carbon dioxide.
• Systems on buildings have minimal impact on the environment.

The main limitations of solar energy are

• The amount of sunlight that arrives at the earth's surface is not constant.
The amount of sunlight varies depending on location, time of day, season
of the year, and weather conditions.
• The amount of sunlight reaching a square foot of the earth's surface is
relatively small, so a large surface area is necessary to absorb or collect a
useful amount of energy.
 Wind Energy
• Wind turbines operate on a simple principle. The energy in
the wind turns two or three propeller-like blades around a
rotor. The rotor is connected to the main shaft, which spins a
generator to create electricity.
Wind Energy
 Wind Energy
• Wind turbines are mounted on a tower to
capture the most energy. At 100 feet or more
above ground, they can take advantage of
faster and less turbulent wind.
• Wind turbines can be used to produce
electricity for a single home or building, or
they can be connected to an electricity grid for
more widespread electricity distribution.
 Wind Energy
• Advantages of Wind Energy
– Clean and renewable source of power
– Cost effective
– Rapid growth of industry, large potential
• Disadvantages of Wind Energy
– Wind reliability
– Threat to wildlife
– Noise and visual pollution
 Tidal Energy
• Tidal Stream Generator
– Makes use of the kinetic energy of moving water to power turbines, in
a similar way to wind turbines that use wind to power turbines.
• Tidal Barrage
– Tidal barrages make use of the potential energy in the difference in
height between high and low tides.
 Tidal Energy
• Advantages
– Clean fuel source compared to fossil fuels
– Domestic source of energy
• Disadvantages
– Tidal power can have effects on marine life.
• The turbines can accidentally kill swimming sea life with the
rotating blades.  
• Some fish may no longer utilize the area if threatened with a
constant rotating or noise-making object. 
• Installing a barrage may change the shoreline within the
bay or estuary, affecting a large ecosystem that depends on tidal
flats.
 Wave Energy
• Ocean waves contain tremendous energy
potential.
• Wave power devices extract energy from the
surface motion of ocean waves or from
pressure fluctuations below the surface.
 Wave Energy
• Advantages
– Renewable
– Environmentally friendly compared to fossil fuel energy
– Variety of designs to use
– Less energy dependence from foreign governments
• Disadvantages
– Can affect the marine environment
– May disturb private or commercial shipping
– Dependent on wavelength for best operation
– Poor performance in rough weather
– Visual/noise issues
 Geothermal Energy
• (geo = earth and thermal = heat), geothermal
energy comes from heat produced by the
Earth.
 Geothermal Energy
• Direct geothermal energy can be accessed in areas where hot
springs/geothermal reservoirs are near the surface of the
Earth.
• Geothermal heat pumps utilizes a series of underground
pipes, an electric compressor and a heat exchanger to absorb
and transfer heat.
• Geothermal power plants also harness the heat of the Earth
through hot water and steam. In these plants, heat is used to
generate electricity.
 Geothermal Energy
• Advantages
– Renewable energy
– Cleaner than burning fossil fuels
• Disadvantages
– Cost of drilling, researching proper areas
– Requires a suitable location
 Biofuels

• The two most common types of biofuels

are ethanol and biodiesel.
 Ethanol
– Ethanol is an alcohol.
– Ethanol is mostly used as a fuel additive to cut
down a vehicle's carbon monoxide and other
smog-causing emissions.
 Biofuels
• Biodiesel is made by combining alcohol
(usually methanol) with vegetable oil, animal
fat, or recycled cooking greases.
• It can be used as an additive to reduce vehicle
emissions (typically 20%) or in its pure form as
a renewable alternative fuel for diesel
engines.
 Biofuels
• Advantages
– Easy to source
– Renewable
– Reduces greenhouse gases
– Reduced dependence on foreign energy
• Disadvantages
– Higher cost of production (lower supply than gasoline)
– Monoculture
– Shortage of food
– Water Use
 Renewable Energy 101
National Geographic (~3:17)
THANK YOU