Renewable Energy SourcesMichelle Captain

Professor: Akers JordanEnglish 112Section 3W

April 12, 2013

Thesis How far can the inhabitants of Mother

Earth push the boundaries of the natural reserves, before the fossil fuels are entirely depleted? The occupants of Earth should focus on renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal energy. Instead of depending on fossil fuels or depleting the Earth of its natural resources, and contributing to the increase of CO2. The primary focus should be on using renewable energy.

CO2

The CO2 levels in the atmosphere are reaching an all time high & the worlds ozone layer is suffering

This problem needs to be addressed GloballyThe truth is it is going to take a long time to repair the

damage that has been done to the environmentThe major causes of CO2 according to The

Environmental Protection Agency are:o Human activityo Burning fossil fuels (oil, coal, gas)o Deforestation

Graph: Inventory of US Greenhouse Emissions & Sinks (1990-2010)

CO2 Almost all CO2 emissions

come from fossil fuels usage.

The three types of fossil fuels that are used the most are:

oCoaloNatural GasoPetroleum

When fossil fuels are combusted the carbon stored within is emitted almost entirely as CO2.

Three main sectors that use fossil fuels are:

oTransportationoUtilitiesoIndustrial

Source: Environmental Protection Agency

Photo Source: Yourwellness.com

CO2 The main cause of

destruction is Human Activity

There are physical signs that can be seen today:

oMelting GlaciersoSmog

Smog lingers in the air over large cities & resembles a pollution blanket.

Smog effects:oAiroGround wateroPlant Life

If the inhabitants continue to ignore the signs, & refuse to look into renewable energy sources then the future will not be a positive one to look forward to.

Renewable Energy Now that we know where the large majority of CO2 comes

from the question remains how to fix it? The answer is renewable energy Renewable Energy:

o Safer on the environmento Sustainable energyo Easily Replenishedo Free

Renewable energy consumption & distribution will not contribute to greenhouse gases

This form of energy is “Green” renewable energy

Solar EnergyOne of the main renewable energy sources comes

directly from the suno It is a continuous source of energyo It is constantly replenishing itselfo It is an extremely abundant source

The sun’s rays have an enormous effect on the planet

The sun’s energy is also a leading contributor on the Earths weather patterns

This form of energy is called “Solar Energy”

Solar EnergyAccording to Ashok a Professor of Engineering, at Pennsylvania State University, solar energy is “radiation from the sun capable of producing heat, causing chemical reactions, or generating electricity.” (par. 1)

Solar panel collectors are used to harness the sun’s power

Solar panels collect Photons from the sun’s rays

This process super charges electrons within the panel cells

A chemical reaction takes place within the panel & this is what creates electricity

The sun’s energy:oFree oInexhaustibleoEnvironmentally safe

Solar Energy

Solar panels were invented 63 years agoThe inventor was French scientist Edmund

BecquerelHe discovered that mere sunlight falling on certain

materials produced a flow of electricityIn the 1950’s solar panels were used for the first

time within the space programThe first modern, silicon-based solar cell was born

Source: Mother earth New p. 40

Wind Wind is another form of solar energy Sunlight directly affects the wind & rain

A study conducted by the Energy Information Administration concluded that the winds are created by:o Uneven heating of the atmosphere by the suno Irregularities of the Earth’s surfaceo Rotation of the Earth

As a result winds are strongly influenced & modified by:o Local terraino Bodies of watero Weather patternso Vegetation coverageo Other factors

Source: Energy Information Administration (EIA)

Photo Source: blogs.telegraph.co.uk

Wind To harness the power of

the wind Turbines are used

Wind turbines produce electricity by capturing & harnessing the kinetic power of the wind

In order for this form of energy to be productive three essential factors are needed:

o Windo Speed & consistency of

the windo Density of air

Source: Energy Information Administration

History of Wind PowerEarly ancestors have been trying to harness

the power of the wind for more than 7000 yrsThe first recorded use of wind power dates

back to 5000 B.C.Early inhabitants used the power of the wind

to sail boats across large bodies of waterIn 500-900 A.D. the Persians were the earliest

inhabitants to use windmills to grind grain & irrigate crops

Source: Jennifer Vogel, author of “Wind: A Hard Blowing History.”

Hydroelectric Power Hydroelectric power is manufactured from the motion

of running water The flow of water is directed through openings or

tunnels This process turns large turbines The turbines are connected to a generator This continual flow of water produces electricity There are three main ways to produce electricity from

water:o Storage facilitieso Run-off from rivers or streamso Waves

Source: Britannica Academic Edition

Photo Source: docstoc.com

Hydroelectric Storage facilities hold/dam

water in reservoirs Run-off water from (is used to

generate electricity):oRiversoLarge StreamsoMountains

Storage & run-off facilities are remarkably similar

Both facilities have a dam construction

The major difference is that the run-off facility allows the water to run though continually without storing it in reservoirs

Tidal or wave facilities use tidal movement

Dam like walls are constructed in areas that allow the ocean to rise & fall

At low tide the water that has been trapped drains through openings turning turbines & generating electricity

History of Hydroelectric Power Hydropower has been around for two thousand years Early occupants built water wheels to grind grain & wheat The use of falling water to create hydroelectricity has

existed for more than a century The evolution of the modern hydropower turbine began in

mid-1700’s French Hydraulic & Military Engineer, Bernard Forest de

Be’lidor wrote “Architecture Hydraulique” In 1775, the Corps of Engineers put the newfound

knowledge into effect This is the start of the hydropower revolutionary era

Sources: U.S. Department of Energy. Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy

Geothermal EnergyTo understand the definition of geothermal energy is

to break into two words“Geo” means of the Earth“Thermal” means heat In combination it means Earth Heat or Heat from the

EarthTo extract this form of energy is to drill into the Earths

surfaceDepending on what form of energy is being extracted

depends on the depthGeothermal energy is a sustainable energy source It is a clean way to product electricity

Photo Source: Climatepedia.org

Geothermal Energy

Geothermal power plants produce electricity by using steam

Geothermal resources are reservoirs of hot water that exist at varying temperatures & below the Earth’s surface

Mile-or-more-deep wells can be drilled to tap into steam & hot water

Once brought to the surface they can be used in a variety of applications including:

o Electricity Generationo Direct Useo Heating & Cooling

The steam that is tapped from the Earth turns turbines which are connected to a generator, & this produces electricity

Source: U.S. Department of Energy

History of Geothermal Energy Geothermal energy has existed since the Planet Earth

began The direct use of geothermal energy has been in

existence for thousands of years Archaeological evidence shows than more than 10,000

years ago Paleo Indians settled at the hot springs in North America

The hot springs served as a source of:o Warmtho Cleansingo Healing

Source: Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE)

Renewable Energy OverviewThe renewable energy sources discussed

throughout could solve the world’s needsThey could stop the process of adding poisonous

CO2 emissions into the atmosphere Jacobson a Professor of Civil & Environmental

Engineering exclaims that “there are no technological or economic barriers to converting the entire world to a clean, renewable energy source. It is a question of whether we have the societal & political will.” (Bergeron, par. 8)

If the technology is at the disposal of the inhabitant’s finger tips why not utilize it

ConclusionThe inhabitants of Earth need to

accept responsibility for the damage that has been caused by human activity. The burning of fossil fuels has caused serious complications. In order for these actions to be reversed, the inhabitants must have a real desire to want to make this change. The fact is that renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal resources are safer for the environment. Human activities have consequences on the environment. The action that should be implemented, is replacing fossil fuels with a cleaner more sustainable energy source. Human activity is depleting the earth of its natural resources. Fossil fuels are non-renewable, and they omit large amounts of poisonous CO2 into the atmosphere. Going green and using renewable sources have proven to be a cleaner, sustainable, safer, and a healthier choice when it comes to energy consumption.

Works Cited "A history of geothermal energy in the United States." National Driller Jan. 2009: 24. General OneFile. Web. 1 Apr. 2013.

<http://libproxy.umflint.edu:2176/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA201854105&v=2.1&u=lom_umichflint&it=r&p=ITOF&sw=w> Bergeron, Louis. “The World Can Be Powered by Alternative Energy, Using Today’s Technology, in 20-40 Years, Says Stanford

Researcher Mark Z. Jacobson.”Stanford News. Stanford University, 26 Jan. 2011. Web. 15 Mar. 2013. <http://news.stanford.edu/news/2011/january/jacobson-world-energy-012611.html>.

EERE. “Geothermal Technologies Office.” Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy. EERE. 28 Jan. 2013. Web. 3 Mar. 2013. < http://www1.eere.energy.gov/geothermal/heatpumps.html>

EERE. “History of Hydropower.” U.S. Department of Energy. Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy. 19 Sept. 2011. Web. 3 Mar. 2013. <http://www.eereenergy.gov/water/hydro_history.html>.

EIA. “Renewable & Alternative Fuels.” Independent Statistics & Analysis. EIA, Jan. 2011. Web. 17 Mar. 2013.<http://www.eia.gov/cneaf/solar.renewables/page/wind/wind.pdf>.

EPA. “Greenhouse Gas Emissions.” United States Environmental Protection Agency. EPA. 14 June, 2012. Web. 7 Mar. 2013. <http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/gases/co2.html>.

“Geothermal Energy.” Renewable Energy World. Renewable Energy World. 2013. Web. 17 Mar. 2013. <http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/tech/geothermal-energy>.

"Hydroelectric Power." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc. 2013. Web. 2 Mar. 2013. <http://libproxy.umflint.edu:3106/EBchecked/topic/278455/hydroelectric-power>.

"Reinventing the Solar Panel." Mother Earth News 1995: 40-. ProQuest. Web. 20 Mar. 2013. <http://libproxy.umflint.edu:3030/docview/210557156>.

Sims, Geoffrey. “Hydroelectric Energy.” Science Direct. October 1991: 776-786. Elsevier. Web. 15 Mar. 2013. <http://libproxy.umflint.edu:2053/science/article/pii/030142159190047R>.

"Solar Energy." Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopedia Britannica Inc. 2013. Web. 19 Mar. 2013. <http://libproxy.umflint.edu:3106/EBchecked/topic/552905/solar-energy>.

“What Are the Main Sources of Carbon Dioxide Emissions?” What’s Your Impact? What’s Your Impact? 2013, Web. 1 Mar. 2013. <http://www.whatsyourimpact.eu.org/co2-sources.php>.

Vogel, Jennifer. "Wind: A Hard-Blowing History." E: The Environmental Magazine 2005: 30-. ProQuest. Web. 17 Mar. 2013. <http://libproxy.umflint.edu:3030/docview/229060742>