BUILDING TRADES ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES: SOLAR, WIND, HYDRO, GEOTHERMAL AND HYDROGEN Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

Building Trades: Alternative Energy2 SOURCES OF ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOLAR SOLAR WIND POWER WIND POWER GEOTHERMAL GEOTHERMAL WAVE/TIDES/HYROELECTRIC WAVE/TIDES/HYROELECTRIC POWER POWER HYDROGEN POWER HYDROGEN POWER

Building Trades: Alternative Energy3 SOLAR ENERGY SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS Water or fluid flows through special tubes enclosed in a heat absorption container designed to transfer the sun solar energy to the fluid Water or fluid flows through special tubes enclosed in a heat absorption container designed to transfer the sun solar energy to the fluid Typical uses are for swimming pools, water heaters or home heating Typical uses are for swimming pools, water heaters or home heating Solar Cell Collectors Solar cells convert the sun’s energy to “DC” voltage Solar cells convert the sun’s energy to “DC” voltage Solar cells charge a bank of batteries Solar cells charge a bank of batteries The solar system converts the “DC” voltage to “AC” The solar system converts the “DC” voltage to “AC” The converted electricity is connected to the power source for the residence/business The converted electricity is connected to the power source for the residence/business Solar Cell system may replace or supplement existing power system Solar Cell system may replace or supplement existing power system Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

Building Trades: Alternative Energy4 WIND POWER Wind Generators come in all shapes and sizes from homemade to commercial production Wind Generators come in all shapes and sizes from homemade to commercial production Based on the principle of “Harnessing the wind” Based on the principle of “Harnessing the wind” Wind Generators are designed to use the slightest breezes to generate “DC” voltage for conversion to home energy Wind Generators are designed to use the slightest breezes to generate “DC” voltage for conversion to home energy The “DC” power is stored in a bank of batteries and then converted to “AC” for power supplement to the home or business The “DC” power is stored in a bank of batteries and then converted to “AC” for power supplement to the home or business Wind Generators may be tied directly to a power grid through a Power Inverter System Wind Generators may be tied directly to a power grid through a Power Inverter System Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

Building Trades: Alternative Energy5 Wind power 2 The good old windmill… Many years ago water was pumped out of the ground in remote areas through the use of windmills. Windmills were also used to grind grain and to power large saws for cutting lumber Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

Building Trades: Alternative Energy6 GEOTHERMAL GEOTHERMAL? Geothermal is using the earth’s natural heat (from the earth’s core) to heat homes or industry Geothermal is using the earth’s natural heat (from the earth’s core) to heat homes or industry At the earth’s core the temperature is approximately 4000 degrees Celsius. However the core is 4000 miles away…unreachable At the earth’s core the temperature is approximately 4000 degrees Celsius. However the core is 4000 miles away…unreachable The outer core of the earth is about 45 miles away and it is approximately 375 degrees Celsius…but still inaccessible by today’s standards The outer core of the earth is about 45 miles away and it is approximately 375 degrees Celsius…but still inaccessible by today’s standards If we drill down just 3 miles we can still hit a temperature of about 100 degrees Celsius. We do have the technology to complete the drilling but it is still not easily accessible...and costly If we drill down just 3 miles we can still hit a temperature of about 100 degrees Celsius. We do have the technology to complete the drilling but it is still not easily accessible...and costly Geothermal Hot Spots There are areas throughout the world where the earth’s crust is very thin thus creating “hot spots” such as volcano and hot spring areas There are areas throughout the world where the earth’s crust is very thin thus creating “hot spots” such as volcano and hot spring areas The heat produced from these Hot Spots can be used to help generate electricity The heat produced from these Hot Spots can be used to help generate electricity These Hot Spots can also be tapped for a direct heat source These Hot Spots can also be tapped for a direct heat source How Can these Hot Spots Produce Electricity The heat from the Hot Spots is used to provide heat for steam generators The heat from the Hot Spots is used to provide heat for steam generators The steam generators then produce the electricity The steam generators then produce the electricity Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

Building Trades: Alternative Energy7 WAVE OR TIDE ENERGY The energy from the ocean’s waves surging through the special designed turbines causes the energy to be converted to electricity for power stations The energy from the ocean’s waves surging through the special designed turbines causes the energy to be converted to electricity for power stations Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

Building Trades: Alternative Energy8 HYDROELECTRIC POWER Hydroelectric Power comes from a reservoir or lake dam which is fitted with a channel or tunnel that allows water to feed from the lake through the tunnel to generator turbines which are activated by the force of the moving water The flowing water passes through the turbines into the river below the dam Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

Building Trades: Alternative Energy9 HYDROGEN POWER In the future “Hydrogen Power”…power produced from removing Hydrogen Gas from “Water” will be used as an alternative source of power for our cars, homes and businesses Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

Building Trades: Alternative Energy10 ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES IN REVIEW Presently we have many alternative energy or renewable energy sources available We use “Solar Energy” to supply heat and electrical energy for our homes and businesses We use “Wind” to power turbines and windmills to supply electricity, grind grain and to power sawmills We can tap into the natural or “Geothermal” heat source from the earth’s core to supply heat for our homes and businesses Wave or Tide energy is used to power giant turbines that produce electricity Dams are built across rivers to create lakes as sources for water power to special turbines supplying electricity to major areas Hydrogen Gas as an alternative source of power has recently shown a resurgence for powering vehicles and homes Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

Building Trades: Alternative Energy11 ALTERNATIVE ENERGY: “THE BEGINNING” We are in an era of human development that may prove to be a new industrial revolution. Due to the continued, unwarranted, massive increases in fossil fuel costs we are being forced to consider alternative sources for more efficient, reliable energy sources that will lower our energy consumption costs. Renewable Energy Sources will fit the needs for alternative energy. Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.