Alternative EnergiesAlternative Energies

Before the bell rings…Before the bell rings… Turn in your graph and worksheet up front.Turn in your graph and worksheet up front. Get out your book HW assignment from yesterday.Get out your book HW assignment from yesterday. Get out your notes and answer the following…Get out your notes and answer the following…

What are the three fossil fuels, give an advantage and What are the three fossil fuels, give an advantage and disadvantage of each?disadvantage of each?

What are the different types of coal, and the characteristics What are the different types of coal, and the characteristics of each?of each?

What is a major issue facing us using fossil fuels as a main What is a major issue facing us using fossil fuels as a main source of energy?source of energy?

What are alternative energies?What are alternative energies?

Before the bell rings…A chance to Before the bell rings…A chance to redeem yourself on the quiz!redeem yourself on the quiz!

Turn in your Webquest on the stool in the Turn in your Webquest on the stool in the middle of the room if you did not alreadymiddle of the room if you did not already

Get out your notes and answer the 2 Get out your notes and answer the 2 Questions…Questions… What are alternative energies?What are alternative energies? List as many as you can, you should at least know List as many as you can, you should at least know

6, think of you webquest.6, think of you webquest.

Alternative EnergiesAlternative Energies Energies that are not Energies that are not

fossil fuels. Most are fossil fuels. Most are renewable.renewable.

The following are The following are renewable: renewable: hydropowerhydropower, , solarsolar, , windwind, , geothermalgeothermal, , biomassbiomass, , hydrogenhydrogen, , tidaltidal, and , and wavewave..

About 10% of today’s About 10% of today’s energy in the U.S. is energy in the U.S. is renewable. renewable.

Why did we start to research Why did we start to research alternative energies?alternative energies?

Research toward Research toward alternative energies alternative energies started in the 70’s due started in the 70’s due to the oil embargo and to the oil embargo and are continuing today are continuing today due to foreign oil due to foreign oil dependency and dependency and environmental environmental concerns.concerns.

Alternative Energy OverviewAlternative Energy Overview

Alternative Energy VideoAlternative Energy Video

HydropowerHydropower This uses the mechanical This uses the mechanical

power of flowing water to power of flowing water to generate electricity. Power generate electricity. Power depends on the amount of depends on the amount of water (water (flowflow) and the ) and the distance it falls (distance it falls (headhead). ). (diagram pg. 450)(diagram pg. 450)

Accounts for 42 % of U.S. Accounts for 42 % of U.S. renewable energies and is renewable energies and is the largest renewable the largest renewable source for electricity – 10%.source for electricity – 10%.

Why can’t we increase hydroelectric usage?Why can’t we increase hydroelectric usage?

Will not increase in the U.S. because most Will not increase in the U.S. because most suitable sites have been used.suitable sites have been used.

Hydropower-Hydropower-ImpactsImpacts

Renewable, nonpolluting, Renewable, nonpolluting, and reliable, BUT….and reliable, BUT….

Costly to build and funds to Costly to build and funds to build new dams have not build new dams have not been approved in more than been approved in more than a decade.a decade.

Dams disrupt the Dams disrupt the environment and create environment and create different habitats.different habitats.

Block fish migration (fish lifts)Block fish migration (fish lifts) Dams can fill with sediment Dams can fill with sediment

becoming useless if not becoming useless if not maintained.maintained.

Hydropower is on the declineHydropower is on the decline

Fish Ladder Video

The Rundown on WindThe Rundown on Wind Use of wind to spin turbine to Use of wind to spin turbine to

generate electricity.generate electricity. Researches are looking for ways to Researches are looking for ways to

store energy and reduce cost.store energy and reduce cost. Fastest growing energy source in Fastest growing energy source in

the world. (costal Europe)the world. (costal Europe) Electricity is almost as cheap as Electricity is almost as cheap as

fossil fuel in areas with strong fossil fuel in areas with strong winds.winds.

Most effective on coasts, Most effective on coasts, mountains, and open plainsmountains, and open plains

Winds farms now exist in PA, West Winds farms now exist in PA, West Virginia, and New YorkVirginia, and New York

Accounts for only 1% of our Accounts for only 1% of our alternative energy.alternative energy.

Wind ImpactsWind Impacts Few environmental impacts (noise, space, damage to Few environmental impacts (noise, space, damage to

bats and birds)bats and birds)

No air pollutionNo air pollution

Poor BirdPoor Bird

Messed Up Messed Up

Why is wind energy limited?Why is wind energy limited? Limited due to varying winds…Limited due to varying winds…

BiomassBiomass The burning of wood, The burning of wood,

agricultural wastes, agricultural wastes, sewage, algae, and sewage, algae, and processed trash. Also processed trash. Also includes fuels made from includes fuels made from organic matter.organic matter.

Various methods are Various methods are used to create fuels that used to create fuels that can be used for heating can be used for heating or transportation. (could or transportation. (could possibly replace possibly replace petroleum) petroleum)

Corn, Sugar, and grains Corn, Sugar, and grains can be converted through can be converted through fermentation by yeast to fermentation by yeast to produce ethanol. (can be produce ethanol. (can be blended with gasoline)blended with gasoline)

EthanolEthanol

Usually put more Usually put more energy into making energy into making it then you get out it then you get out of the product of the product itself!!!!itself!!!!

Why do you think Why do you think people still produce people still produce it?it?

BiomassBiomass Biodiesel is a substitute for Biodiesel is a substitute for

diesel engines and is made from diesel engines and is made from animal fat or vegetable oils.animal fat or vegetable oils.

Use is increasing with new Use is increasing with new technologies. technologies.

Accounts for close to 50% of Accounts for close to 50% of alternative energy in this alternative energy in this country. Major source for country. Major source for Hawaii.Hawaii.

BiodieselBiodiesel

Bagasse-HawaiiBagasse-Hawaii

What are the impacts of Biomass?What are the impacts of Biomass? Some air pollution.Some air pollution. Processing of Processing of

some organic some organic wastes release wastes release hazardous hazardous chemicals.chemicals.

Responsible for Responsible for forest destruction forest destruction and soil erosion in and soil erosion in rainforests. rainforests. (burning of wood)(burning of wood)

GeothermalGeothermal Uses the natural heat Uses the natural heat

(dry heat, steam, or (dry heat, steam, or hot rock) tapped in the hot rock) tapped in the earth to heat homes or earth to heat homes or produce electricity. produce electricity. (diagram pg. 476)(diagram pg. 476)

Power plants must be Power plants must be near the source near the source because too much because too much energy is lost during energy is lost during transportation.transportation.

Only Hawaii, Nevada, Only Hawaii, Nevada, Utah, and California Utah, and California have the potential have the potential

Accounts for 6% of our Accounts for 6% of our renewable energy.renewable energy.

What are the effects of Geothermal?What are the effects of Geothermal? It is limited to certain areas.It is limited to certain areas. Nothing is burned so there is limited air pollution.Nothing is burned so there is limited air pollution. Harmful gases can sometime be vented with heat Harmful gases can sometime be vented with heat

and land surfaces may collapse.and land surfaces may collapse.

TidalTidal Converts the Converts the

mechanical energy mechanical energy from ocean tides to from ocean tides to electricity.electricity.

Limited to coastal Limited to coastal regions and therefore regions and therefore will never be a major will never be a major energy source in this energy source in this country. (Canada, country. (Canada, China, and France)China, and France)

Cool Tidal VideoCool Tidal Video

WaveWave Waves force water up a large tower pushing the Waves force water up a large tower pushing the

air up over a turbine to generate electricity. air up over a turbine to generate electricity. (Norway) (Norway)

Hydrogen FuelHydrogen Fuel The changing of hydrogen gas into a fuel The changing of hydrogen gas into a fuel

source (gas or liquid)source (gas or liquid) Makes up ¾ the mass of the universe Makes up ¾ the mass of the universe

and is the lightest element.and is the lightest element. Requires water (methane) and water Requires water (methane) and water

vapor is the only product given off when vapor is the only product given off when burnedburned

The Department of Energy is looking into The Department of Energy is looking into expanding its use (fuel cell technology)expanding its use (fuel cell technology)

HFuelHFuel It would require new equipment and It would require new equipment and

engines to burn it (fuel cells)engines to burn it (fuel cells) Hydrogen fueled cars have been made.Hydrogen fueled cars have been made. * Check out this web site: * Check out this web site:

www.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcellwww.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/s/

Great Video about Hydrogen Fuel Cell Great Video about Hydrogen Fuel Cell CarsCars

ImpactsImpacts Pollution free.Pollution free. It is too expensive and difficult to store.It is too expensive and difficult to store. It could one day replace gasoline engines It could one day replace gasoline engines

and our dependency on foreign oil.and our dependency on foreign oil. A transition from fossil fuels to hydrogen A transition from fossil fuels to hydrogen

fuel will take a lot of time and money.fuel will take a lot of time and money.

This is the so-called “chicken and egg” This is the so-called “chicken and egg” problem that hydrogen developers are problem that hydrogen developers are working hard to solve. Namely: who will working hard to solve. Namely: who will buy hydrogen cars if there are no refueling buy hydrogen cars if there are no refueling stations? And who will pay to build a stations? And who will pay to build a refueling station if there are no cars and refueling station if there are no cars and customers? customers?