Alternative Energy Resources Alternative energy is energy that is not made from burning fossil fuels.

Alternative energy resources generally… 1) are much less polluting than fossil fuels 2) are often renewable since most get their energy from the sun! 3) have other advantages too.

ELECTRICITY is really the energy of the future... But electricity in nature isn’t easy to obtain. So we have to make it using other resources. Right now, we use mostly fossil fuels to create electricity.

a) We burn fossil fuels to create heat... b) The heat is used to turn water into steam. c) The steam rises and turns an energy generator, called a TURBINE, to make electricity.

But burning fossil fuels this way creates pollution... ELECTRICITY is really the energy of the future... Where else can we get heat to make steam, without creating pollution?

Nuclear Energy The energy released by splitting atoms is used to heat water to steam, and then turn a turbine which creates electricity.

Nuclear Energy This process produces no pollution. It only produces water vapor at the end.

However, the process does produce dangerous radiation and wastes which CANNOT be allowed into the environment.

Geothermal Energy This type of energy uses the heat from magma near the surface to heat groundwater.

Geothermal Energy The heated groundwater turns to steam. The steam rises out of the Earth in GEYSERS. The steam spins the turbine.

Geothermal Energy The heat of the Earth will be around for millions and millions of years, so it is very renewable.

Geothermal Energy There is no pollution produced. And the Earth provides this energy for free.

Geothermal Energy Unfortunately, geothermal areas are only located in certain areas of the world. = Not found everywhere!

Neither nuclear fuel, or geothermal energy produces any pollution! ELECTRICITY is really the energy of the future... And the Earth provides these alternative resources for free!

What other free resources can we use to make electricity? ELECTRICITY is really the energy of the future... We can use the endless energy of the sun...

Biofuels Plant material can be turned into fuel (alcohol)we can burn to produce electricity using a steam turbine.

Biofuels Biofuels burns cleaner than fossils fuels, even though they are both made of plants.

Biofuels And plants get their energy from the sun, which gives it to us for free!

Biofuels The only real problem so far is the cost of turning waste material into fuel, and then making it available for common use.

What other free resources can we use to make electricity? ELECTRICITY is really the energy of the future... We can use the endless energy of the sun, but without burning anything, or heating water...

Wind Energy This type of energy is very clean, and the land can be used for other purposes as well. Individual windmills are used to generate combined amounts of electricity.

Wind Energy The sun heats the air and it rises. As hot air moves up, more air moves sideways to take its place. This creates wind, powered by the sun.

Wind Energy Heating water isn’t necessary. The wind spins the turbine directly. This energy has NO pollution, and the wind is free!

Wind Energy They are a little ugly though, and take up space. And sometimes they can kill birds that fly through the blades.

Hydroelectric Energy The energy of falling water spins turbines (turbogenerators) which create electricity. Dams also control flooding and provide recreational areas.

Hydroelectric Energy Water keeps flowing down river because the water cycle keeps replacing it. The water cycle is powered by the sun, and is entirely free!

Hydroelectric Energy The only bad thing is that dams often destroy wildlife habitats. Many plants and animals species can be ruined by building dams!

Sometimes we don’t have to heat water, or even spin a wheel... We can make electricity directly from sunlight... ELECTRICITY is really the energy of the future...

Solar Energy Light can be turned directly into electricity by solar cells or solar panels.

Solar Energy The panels can even make some energy on cloudy days.

Solar Energy The problem is… the panels are very expensive right now, and they take up a lot of space.

We don’t really even need the sun sometimes... We can use the power stored in an atom to make electricity... = Hydrogen Fuel Cell ELECTRICITY is really the energy of the future...

Fuel Cells Fuel cells combine hydrogen with oxygen from the air to produce electricity. The only exhaust is water vapor!

Fuel Cells Fuel cells are the most expensive energy source of all, and take up a lot of space, so they don’t work well for most things (yet!)

The goal for our future is to try and not use resources that create pollution (ex. fossil fuels), and are non-renewable. ELECTRICITY is really the energy of the future... All of these resources use the energy from the sun, so they are free. And most produce no pollution.

THETHE E N D !!