Wind Energy

By: Andrea Zuluaga, Melissa Borjas, and Nicole Jimenez

Wind

What is Wind Energy? Wind Energy is the power generated by harnessing the wind, usually by windmills .Wind Energy is created with the use of machines called wind turbines. Wind- energy can be produced in stand-alone applications and can be distributed to the electric grid.How is it used? Wind energy can be used to pump water, for communications, and can be used to provide electricity.

Once the wind turbine is built the energy it produces does not cause green house gases or other pollutants.The wind is free and with modern technology it can be captured efficiently.Although wind turbines can be very tall each takes up only a small plot of land. This means that the land below can still be used. This is especially the case in agricultural areas as farming can still continue.

Advantages

AdvantagesOnce the wind turbine is built, the energy it produces does not cause green house gases or other pollutants.The wind is free and with modern technology it can be captured efficiently.Although wind turbines can be very tall each takes up only a small plot of land. This means that the land below can still be used. This is especially the case in agricultural areas as farming can still continue.

Disadvantages

The strength of the wind is not constant and it varies from zero to storm force. This means that wind turbines do not produce the same amount of electricity all the time. There will be times when they produce no electricity at all.Many people feel that the countryside should be left untouched, without these large structures being built. The landscape should left in its natural form for everyone to enjoy.Wind turbines are noisy. Each one can generate the same level of noise as a family car travelling at 70 mph.

Historical Problems with Wind EnergyWind Farms harm sleep and health of the farmers. Due to the fact that this source of energy requires a large amount of wind, once it starts running it gets very loud which does not allow the farmers to rest enough and affects their health. There is not much that can be done about this issue because this energy source relies on the wind.

Recent Wind Energy Problems in the United StatesModern United States Wind Energy Policy coincided with the beginning of modern wind industry, which began in the early 1980s. Since then, the industry has had to endure the financial problems, low productivity, and equipment reliability caused by a highly fluctuating tax incentive program. Wind turbine syndromeDestruction of fragile ecosystems and animal habitats: deforestation, excavation, erosion.SOLUTIONS: avoid from building wind turbines in fragile ecosystems; build wind turbines where there is no residence.

VIDEO: http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/2950-wind-power-the-worlds-fastest-growing-energy-source-video.htmAt the current growth rate, U.S. wind energy developers install two new wind farms per week.By 2030, U.S. wind power will save nearly 30 trillion bottles of water.U.S. wind power produces as much electricity as nearly 10 nuclear power plants.A single wind turbine can power 500 homes.

More Information about Wind EnergyNuclear EnergyBy: Andrea Zuluaga, Melissa Borjas, and Nicole Jimenez

What is Nuclear Energy?E = MC2: M is the small amount of mass and C is the speed of light.Nuclear energy comes from mass-to-energy conversions that occur in the splitting of atoms larger than Iron or joining atoms smaller than Iron.Nuclear power is generated inside a facility called a nuclear reactor.

How is it used? The majority of nuclear energy is used to create electricity/ radiation techniques.Many military ships use nuclear marine propulsion, a form of nuclear propulsion.Medicinal use of isotopes

Nuclear reactions release a million times more energy, as compared to hydro or wind energy. A large amount of electricity can be generated. During nuclear reaction, nuclear energy does not contribute to the release of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, chlorofluorocarbon.) Nuclear reactors make use of uranium as fuel. Fission reaction of a small amount of uranium generates a large amount of energy. Currently, the high reserves of uranium found on Earth, are expected to last for another 100 years. Advantages

DisadvantagesThis energy can be used for production and creation of nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapons make use of fission, fusion or combination of both reactions for destructive purposes. Large amount of energy can be produced from a nuclear power plant, it requires large capital cost and it takes about 15-20 years to develop a single plant. The waste produced after fission reactions contains unstable elements and is highly radioactive. Not only is it dangerous to the environment, but also human health.

The Chernobyl disaster that occurred at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in 1986 in Ukraine, was the worst nuclear power plant disaster.

The worst accident in U.S. commercial nuclear power plant history is TheThree Mile Island accidentwhich took place near Middletown, Pennsylvaniaon March 28, 1979.The partial meltdown resulted in the release of small amounts of radioactivegases and radioactive iodineinto the environment.

Historical Problems with Nuclear Energy

No new nuclear plants have been made since 1973 and currently there are no plants under construction.Nuclear research has also nearly ceased, as a result of federal funding cut-backs under the Clinton Administration. Since 1995, several research projects have been shut down, including development of the advanced liquid metal reactor (ALMR), also called the Integral Fast Reactor (IFR), research on the gas turbine modular helium reactor (GT-MHR), and research on improved versions of light water reactors (LWRs)

Recent Problems with Nuclear Energy

104 nuclear plants supply about 20% of the United States electricity.While nuclear power plants themselves do not create carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, or nitrogen oxides, the mining, enrichment, and transportation of uranium generates harmful fossil fuel byproducts.Globally, there are over 430 commercial nuclear power reactors in 31 countries.

Nuclear Energy Fun FactsWIND ENERGY: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/energy/windpower/9653429/Wind-farm-noise-does-harm-sleep-and-health-say-scientists.htmlMayhew, Susan. A Dictionary of Geography, Oxford University Press, 1997.Rosenbloom, Eric. "A Problem With Wind Power [AWEO.org]." A Problem With Wind Power. Aweo, 3 Aug. 2003. Web. 11 Apr. 2013.Ryan. (2009). Advantages and Disadvantages of Wind Power. Retrieved March 28, 2013, from Technology Student website: http://www.technologystudent.com/energy1/wind8.htm Wind Energy. (2013). Retrieved March 28, 2013, from Renewable Energy World website: http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/tech/wind-power

Work Cited NUCLEAR ENERGY:Gupta, Sourabh. "Uses of Nuclear Energy." Buzzle.com. Buzzle.com, 29 June 2012. Web. 11 Apr. 2013.World Nuclear Association. "Nuclear Power in the World Today." Nuclear Power Today. Word Nuclear Association, n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2013.Thomas, Edwin. "How Is Nuclear Energy Used Today?" EHow. Demand Media, 21 Oct. 2010. Web. 11 Apr. 2013.