Comparing Renewable Sources of Energy A Presentation by Jinita Shah, Jonathan Li, and Melissa King

Comparing Renewable Sources of

Energy

Comparing Renewable Sources of

Energy

A Presentation by Jinita Shah, Jonathan Li, and Melissa King

A Presentation by Jinita Shah, Jonathan Li, and Melissa King

Why Worry About Alternatives?

Why Worry About Alternatives?

• Fossil fuels are limited• Burning of fossil fuels produces harmful greenhouse gases• Increase in greenhouse gases are believed to be the cause of

global warming• Rapid changes in temperature will have extreme effects on

ecosystems and natural processes such as wind patterns

• Fossil fuels are limited• Burning of fossil fuels produces harmful greenhouse gases• Increase in greenhouse gases are believed to be the cause of

global warming• Rapid changes in temperature will have extreme effects on

ecosystems and natural processes such as wind patterns

http://www.illinoisfamily.org/content/img/f32925/global-warming.jpg http://www.politicaldogs.org/news/global-warming.gifhttp://www.inkcinct.com.au/Web/CARTOONS/2005-256C--global-warming.gif

Thesis StatementThesis Statement

“Through the comparison of four renewable sources of energy (wind, solar, nuclear, and water), we propose that a combination of wind and solar energy is the best possible solution to the current energy problem we are facing”.

“Through the comparison of four renewable sources of energy (wind, solar, nuclear, and water), we propose that a combination of wind and solar energy is the best possible solution to the current energy problem we are facing”.

Wind PowerWind Power

LocationLocation• Practical where average wind speed is 10 mph

or greater• Ideal location:

• Near constant flow of non-turbulent wind yearlong• Wouldn’t suffer from sudden bursts of powerful wind• Higher altitudes There are minimum temperature

operating limits• Warmer than -20 degrees celsius

• Practical where average wind speed is 10 mph or greater

• Ideal location: • Near constant flow of non-turbulent wind yearlong• Wouldn’t suffer from sudden bursts of powerful wind• Higher altitudes There are minimum temperature

operating limits• Warmer than -20 degrees celsius

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http://www.nmm.ac.uk/upload/img_400/Wind-turbine.jpg





Usage of Wind Power in the United States

Usage of Wind Power in the United States

Investment Required/Cost of Production

Investment Required/Cost of Production

• In the US: cost now lower than the cost of fuel-generated electric power

• 5.6 US cents per kilowatt hour • Requires a lot of land• Effects aesthetics of the area• Noisy

• In the US: cost now lower than the cost of fuel-generated electric power

• 5.6 US cents per kilowatt hour • Requires a lot of land• Effects aesthetics of the area• Noisy



http://www.kidzworld.com/img/upload/article/a1181i0_bsc.jpg



http://www.barrhill.org.uk/windfarm/noise/4-BWEA%20Are%20wind%20turbines%20noisy_files/noise.gif

Time ConsumedTime Consumed

• The wind is translated directly to the generators to create energy almost instantaneously.

• The wind is translated directly to the generators to create energy almost instantaneously.



http://www.ourwind.org/windcoop/graphics/TurbineGraphs/Goldendale/Goldendale_powercurve_1105.jpg

EffectivenessEffectiveness

• Average output of one megawatt of wind power is equivalent to the average consumption of about 160 American households.

• Average output of one megawatt of wind power is equivalent to the average consumption of about 160 American households.



http://www.stratobox.com/wind-turbines/images/bonus.jpg

Pros for Wind EnergyPros for Wind Energy

• Little pollution

• Renewable resource

• Long-term potential

• Low-cost

• Clearing of wooded areas is often unnecessary

• Little pollution

• Renewable resource

• Long-term potential

• Low-cost

• Clearing of wooded areas is often unnecessary

Cons for Wind EnergyCons for Wind Energy

• Highly taxed• Environmental hazard to flying animals• Aesthetics• Loud• Because of their look and their noise they may

cause depreciation of property value

• Highly taxed• Environmental hazard to flying animals• Aesthetics• Loud• Because of their look and their noise they may

cause depreciation of property value

Solar EnergySolar Energy

Usable energy from the light of the Sun Usable energy from the light of the Sun

LocationLocation





The colors in the map show the average available solar energy on the surface (data from 1991 to 1993). For comparison, the dark disks mark the land area required to supply the primary energy demand in the year 2010. (http://www.ez2c.de/ml/solar_land_area/)

The colors in the map show the average available solar energy on the surface (data from 1991 to 1993). For comparison, the dark disks mark the land area required to supply the primary energy demand in the year 2010. (http://www.ez2c.de/ml/solar_land_area/)

Applications

Applications

• Heating (hot water, building heat, cooking, lighting)

• Electricity generation (photovoltaic cells, heat engines)

• Heating (hot water, building heat, cooking, lighting)

• Electricity generation (photovoltaic cells, heat engines)

BiofuelsBiofuels

• Any fuels derived from biomass

• Energy of the Sun is “captured” through photosynthesis.

• Biodegradable• You get more fuel

energy in your tank than the amount of fossil energy used to get it there

• Any fuels derived from biomass

• Energy of the Sun is “captured” through photosynthesis.

• Biodegradable• You get more fuel

energy in your tank than the amount of fossil energy used to get it there

http://www.biofuels4oregon.com/biofuels/ebgraph

Energy ConversionEnergy Conversion

LIGHT

LIGHT

-Skylights

DIRECT-Photovoltaic Cells

-Solar sails of spacecrafts

INDIRECTHydroelectric dams

ELECTRICITY

DIRECTHeats solar thermal collector

INDIRECTOean thermal energy

HEAT

Photosynthesis > Biofuels Fossil Fuels

CHEMICAL

SOLAR ENERGY

LIGHT

LIGHT

-Skylights

DIRECT-Photovoltaic Cells

-Solar sails of spacecrafts

INDIRECTHydroelectric dams

ELECTRICITY

DIRECTHeats solar thermal collector

INDIRECTOean thermal energy

HEAT

Photosynthesis > Biofuels Fossil Fuels

CHEMICAL

SOLAR ENERGY

Residue management

Residue management

• Pollution free during use• Wastes manageable using existing

pollution controls• End-of-use recycling technologies

under development

• Pollution free during use• Wastes manageable using existing

pollution controls• End-of-use recycling technologies

under development

ProsPros

• The amount of solar energy intercepted by the Earth every minute is greater than the amount of fossil fuel the world uses every year

• Pollution free during use

• Grid connected solar electricity reduces transmission/distribution losses

• Low operating costs

• The amount of solar energy intercepted by the Earth every minute is greater than the amount of fossil fuel the world uses every year

• Pollution free during use

• Grid connected solar electricity reduces transmission/distribution losses

• Low operating costs

ConsCons

• Limited power density

• Intermittency

• Locations at high altitudes/substantial cloud cover

• AC > DC

• Limited power density

• Intermittency

• Locations at high altitudes/substantial cloud cover

• AC > DC

Nuclear EnergyNuclear Energy

What is Nuclear Energy?

What is Nuclear Energy?

• Nuclear energy utilizes nuclear fission, breaking apart the element: uranium-235.

• Massive amounts of energy is released, evaporating water into steam.

• We then use steam turbines to generate electricity.• Similar to fossil fuel, the full potential of nuclear energy has not yet

been reached.

• Nuclear energy utilizes nuclear fission, breaking apart the element: uranium-235.

• Massive amounts of energy is released, evaporating water into steam.

• We then use steam turbines to generate electricity.• Similar to fossil fuel, the full potential of nuclear energy has not yet

been reached.


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EffectivenessEffectiveness• One nuclear plant can approximately generate

around a million kilowatts. And run for a 100 years.

• 7% of the worlds energy and 17% of the world’s electricity. 20% of USA’s electricity.

• USA provides the most nuclear energy.• 80% of France’s electricity is produced from

nuclear.• Supports 366GW as of 2005, 25GW worth of

power plants are under construction. • 441 power plants in the world.

• One nuclear plant can approximately generate around a million kilowatts. And run for a 100 years.

• 7% of the worlds energy and 17% of the world’s electricity. 20% of USA’s electricity.

• USA provides the most nuclear energy.• 80% of France’s electricity is produced from

nuclear.• Supports 366GW as of 2005, 25GW worth of

power plants are under construction. • 441 power plants in the world.

Is it convenient and versatile?

Is it convenient and versatile?

• Nuclear energy power plants can be installed anywhere with sufficient space.

• Nuclear energy can power typical equipments in households, to submarines and aircraft carriers.

• However it cannot replace fossil fuels required for airplanes.

• Nuclear energy power plants can be installed anywhere with sufficient space.

• Nuclear energy can power typical equipments in households, to submarines and aircraft carriers.

• However it cannot replace fossil fuels required for airplanes.


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Waste?Waste?• Nuclear energy produces a very little

amount of green house gases.• It is cheap like wind energy.• It produces exhausted radioactive

wastes (plutonium) that must be properly buried.

• Nuclear energy produces a very little amount of green house gases.

• It is cheap like wind energy.• It produces exhausted radioactive

wastes (plutonium) that must be properly buried.

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The Future?The Future?• Nuclear energy is the youngest

source of energy.• Nuclear energy is improving, it is

rather safe now. • Nuclear energy is evolving:

hydrogen fuel cell cars.

• Nuclear energy is the youngest source of energy.

• Nuclear energy is improving, it is rather safe now.

• Nuclear energy is evolving: hydrogen fuel cell cars.



Hydro EnergyHydro Energy

• Utilizes the flow of water to power turbines and mills.• There are 5 types of Hydro Energy: Waterwheels, Hydroelectric energy, Tidal Power, Tidal Steam, Wave Power.

• Utilizes the flow of water to power turbines and mills.• There are 5 types of Hydro Energy: Waterwheels, Hydroelectric energy, Tidal Power, Tidal Steam, Wave Power.

EffectivenessEffectiveness

• Hydro Energy is mainly converted to electricity.

• Supplies 715000MWe (19% of the world’s electricity)

• Cheaper than fossil fuels and nuclear energy

• Hydro Energy is mainly converted to electricity.

• Supplies 715000MWe (19% of the world’s electricity)

• Cheaper than fossil fuels and nuclear energy

Is it convenient?Is it convenient?

• Can only be installed in places with a water source.

• Often limited by its environment.• Needs to relocate people when

constructing dams.• No cost of fuel.

• Can only be installed in places with a water source.

• Often limited by its environment.• Needs to relocate people when

constructing dams.• No cost of fuel.

Waste?Waste?

• No harmful gas emissions.• Possibility of producing a very

insignificant amount of methane gases due to dead plants in the reservoir.

• No harmful gas emissions.• Possibility of producing a very

insignificant amount of methane gases due to dead plants in the reservoir.

The Future?The Future?

• Hydro energy is still evolving.• Tidal stream power mills are still

developing.• Blue energy: chemical process of

separating salt water from fresh water.

• Hydro energy is still evolving.• Tidal stream power mills are still

developing.• Blue energy: chemical process of

separating salt water from fresh water.

Wind Solar Hydro Nuclear

Pros Little pollutionPollution free during use

Pumped storage plants most significant means of storing energy

Low emission rate of greenhouse gases

Low capital and operating costs

Low operating costs Low cost production Pretty reliable

Long term potential

Large amounts of energy intercepted by the Earth

Negligible environmental effects of small scale hydro power

Clearing of wooden areas is unnecessary

Little maintenance needed after initial setup

Cons Highly taxed Large capital costsLittle potential of tidal power

Not all countries have required technology

Environmental hazard to flying animals

Locations at high altitudes/cloud cover

Building dams causes environmental problems

Radioactive wastes cause environmental problems

Disruptive to aesthetics

AC to DC conversionRelocation of people building dams

Radiation

Loud IntermittencyTidal stream power needs more research

Meltdowns

Cost of EnergyCost of Energy

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Cents per Kilowatt

Hour

Nuclear Hydro Solar Wind

Different Forms of Energy

Comparison of Energy Prices

Why Wind and Solar?Why Wind and Solar?

• Wind energy complements solar energy when there is no sunlight.

• They are the two cheapest and most viable renewable sources of energy.

• Both have low operating costs.• Very little or no environmental

impact.

• Wind energy complements solar energy when there is no sunlight.

• They are the two cheapest and most viable renewable sources of energy.

• Both have low operating costs.• Very little or no environmental

impact.

BibliographyBibliography

• W. Hoffmann. 2006. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells. 90: 3285-3311

• W. Krewitt, and J. Nitsch. 2003. The potential for electricity generation from on-shore wind energy under the constraints of nature conservation: a case study for two regions in Germany. Renewable Energy. 28. 10: 1645-1655.

• Bauen A, 2006. Future energy sources and systems- Acting on climate change and energy security, Journal of Power Sources 157 (3): 893-901

• www.wikipedia.com

• W. Hoffmann. 2006. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells. 90: 3285-3311

• W. Krewitt, and J. Nitsch. 2003. The potential for electricity generation from on-shore wind energy under the constraints of nature conservation: a case study for two regions in Germany. Renewable Energy. 28. 10: 1645-1655.

• Bauen A, 2006. Future energy sources and systems- Acting on climate change and energy security, Journal of Power Sources 157 (3): 893-901

• www.wikipedia.com

Documents

Comparing Renewable Sources of Energy A Presentation by Jinita Shah, Jonathan Li, and Melissa King