Type of Geothermal Tidal & Ocean Thermal

Energy
sources springs, the center of the earth, molten rock heats sun, tides, gravitational pull of moon, thermal
groundwater gradients in layers of ocean water
pros - Can exist almost anywhere - Limitless and pollution-free
- The earth can be used as part of a heat exchange - Tides are high enough (6m) to use this kind of
system that extracts heat in the winter and uses the power in about 30 locations around the world
ground as a heat sink in the summer. Thus, this
system can be used for heating and cooling and
does away with the need for a separate furnace and
air-conditioning system
- Energy savings means overall, less expensive. They
are some of the most cost-effective energy systems
available
cons - High upfront cost - There is only one suitable location in North
America
- Barrages trap sediments, impede fish
migration, prevent navigation, alter the
circulation of mixing saltwater and freshwater
estuaries
- Ocean thermal power plants show little
economic promise
future - some scientists feel that the potential of geothermal - san Francisco is planning to install underwater
energy has barely been tapped, they predict an turbines near the Golden Gate bridge
additional 80,000 MW of electricity could be - there isn’t much interest in ocean thermal
generated power
interestin - involves loops of buried pipes filled with antifreeze - tidal barrage: a dam is built across the mouth of
g fact solution, circulated by a pump connected to an air a bay and turbines are mounted in the
handler containing a blower and a filter. The blower structure. The incoming tide flowing through
moves house air through the heat pump and the turbines generates power
distributes it throughout the house through - ocean thermal-energy conversion –
ductwork experimental technology that makes use of
temperature differences in ocean water to
produce power. This technology involves using
the warm surface water to heat and vaporize a
low-boiling-point liquid, the increased pressure
of the vaporized liquid drives turbochargers.
Type of Passive Solar Solar Electric
Energy
sources the sun the sun
pros - inexhaustible resource - inexhaustible resource, will not change the
- involves no machinery energy balance of the biosphere
- no pollution - PV cells collect sunlight and convert it to
- reduces energy bills electrical power in one step, they have no
- low added construction cost moving parts and do not wear out
- Can provide energy to areas far from power
lines
- Pollution-free and sustainable
- Dish-engine systems are the most efficient at
30%
cons - solar energy is diffuse and can vary with the - main problems involve the collection,
season, latitude, and atmospheric conditions conversion, and storage of solar energy
- cannot be adapted to many pre-existing buildings - efficiency of PV cells is 20%
- a back-up heating system is still required for - still too expensive for many people
periods of bad weather - works best in areas with abundant sunlight
- only works during the day, so it requires backup
energy for nighttime use
future - energy star labels came into use in 2001, reducing - used on space satellites
carbon emissions by 1.8 billion pounds - the industry is growing rapidly due to falling
prices
- the most promising future of PV panels are
home-sized systems on rooftops
- the Energy Policy Act of 2005 established solar
panel tax credits
- the Million Solar Roofs Initiative aims to have 1
million residential installations by 2010
- thin PV cells can be applied as a coating on roof
tiles
- electrically conductive plastics can be made
into inexpensive solar sheets
- solar electricity is growing 40% a year
interestin - flat-plate collectors can be used to heat water using - solar energy originates with thermonuclear
g fact either a pump (active system) or natural convection fusion in the sun. the solar energy reaching
currents (passive system) earth is radiant energy. 30% of the energy
- earth-sheltered housing involves using the earth as entering the atmosphere is reflected and 20%
insulation and orienting the building for passive is absorbed by the atmosphere
solar energy
Type of Hydropower Wind
Energy
sources indirect solar (evaporation), large rivers indirect solar (changes in air temperature caused by
the sun)
pros - most common form of renewable energy is use - pollution-free and sustainable
- hydroelectric plants have longer life spans that fuel- - competitive price
fired generators - land beneath turbines can be used for farming
- provide flood control and irrigation for agriculture - there is enough potential to provide wind power
for the entire country
cons - reservoirs drown farmland and wildlife habitats, - intermittent source, so backup power is still
sometimes towns necessary
- displace rural populations - not attractive
- impede or prevent the migration of fish - hazard to birds
- wreck havoc on downstream waters because of
irregular flow and temperature changes
- there are few rivers that can be used

future - the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 gives certain
rivers the status of national parks
- the World Commission on Dams reported that large
dams should be built only if no other options exist
- dams will still be built in developing countries, but
probably not developed ones
interestin - the amount of power generated is proportional to
g fact both the height of the water behind the dam and
the volume of water that flows through it
- generates 6.7% of electrical power in the US an
17% throughout the world
- in the past 5 years, the global wind power
capacity has increased at a rate of 28% per
year, it is the second fastest-growing energy
source in the world
- many localities are considering offshore
windfarms
- supplies 1.3% of global energy demand, but it
could do 12%

Type of Biomass Biofuels

Energy
sources burning organic matter that gets its energy from the sun complex organic matter
pros - renewable (whenever forests are ample)
- when the disposal of manure, the production of
energy, and the creation of fertilizer can be
combined into an efficient cycle, great economic
benefits can be achieved
cons - has the potential to degrade forests
future - pellet stoves burn compressed wood pellets,
burning efficiently and continuously
- use of firewood is declining worldwide as nations
become more developed
interestin - includes burning wood, burning municipal
g fact wastepaper and other organic waste, generating
methane from the aerobic digestion of manure and
sewage, and producing alcohol from fermenting
grains and other starchy materials
Type of Hydrogen
Energy
sources hydrogen
- provides another market for corn crops, helping
the Midwestern economy
- reduces greenhouse gas emissions
- reduces reliance on foreign oil
- can substitute for methyl terriary buryl ether,
which makes the burning of gasoline cleaner
- makes good use of organic waste
- production costs make ethanol more expensive
than gasoline
- little suitable farmland for further expansion
- fossil fuels are required to create and transport
biofuels
- ethyl alcohol and biodiesel are expanding
rapidly
- high oil prices, strong farmer support, and
environmental concerns have led to a doubling
of global ethanol production since 2000
- cellulose might work better than corn
- currently provide 2% of global transportation
fuels
- Brazil leads the world in ethanol production
pros - Only major by-product is water vapor
- Create less waste heat than conventional engines,
allowing energy transfer to be more efficient

cons - There is almost no hydrogen gas on earth

- It takes energy to derive from other compounds
- It is difficult to store enough hydrogen in a vehicle
to operate over long distances
- Little infrastructure to provide hydrogen refueling

future - Can be aided by further development of solar power

- FreedomCAR is the government’s partnering with
auto companies to move toward fuel-cell vehicles
interestin - Hydrogen is an energy carrier; it must be generated
g fact using some other energy source
- Fuel cells are devices in which hydrogen or some
other fuel is chemically recombined with oxygen in
a manner that produces electrical potential rather
than initiating burning