1. Alternative Energies

2. Before the bell rings… Get out your HW assignment due today.
Get out your notes and answer the following…
What are the three fossil fuels, give an advantage and disadvantage of each?
What is a major issue facing us using fossil fuels as a main source of energy?
What are alternative energies?
List as many as you can.

3. What’s going on with our policy?!

4. Alternative Energies
Energies that are not fossil fuels. Most are renewable.
Nuclear is NOT renewable but IS an alternative
The following are renewable: hydropower, solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, hydrogen, tidal, and wave.
About 10% of today’s energy in the U.S. is renewable(not including nuclear).

7. Renewable Energy by State
(ACTUAL)
(POTENTIAL)

8. Why did we start to research alternative energies?
Research toward alternative energies started in the 70’s due to the oil embargo and are continuing today due to foreign oil dependency and environmental concerns.

9. Alternative Energy Overview
Alternative Energy Video

10. Hydropower
This uses the mechanical power of flowing water to generate electricity. Power depends on the amount of water (flow) and the distance it falls (head). (diagram pg. 450)
Accounts for 42 % of U.S. renewable energies and is the largest renewable source for electricity – 7%.

13. Why can’t we increase hydroelectric usage?
Will not increase in the U.S. because most suitable sites have been used.

14. Hydropower-Impacts Renewable, nonpolluting, and reliable, BUT….
Costly to build and funds to build new dams have not been approved in more than a decade.
Dams disrupt the environment and create different habitats.
Block fish migration (fish lifts)
Dams can fill with sediment becoming useless if not maintained.
Hydropower is on the decline

15. Natural Fish Ladder Video

16. Dam Videos Dam Removal- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LxMHmw3Z-U
3 Gorges Dam- Full capacity-

17. The Rundown on Wind
Use of wind to spin turbine to generate electricity.
Researches are looking for ways to store energy and reduce cost.
Fastest growing energy source in the world. (costal Europe)
Electricity is almost as cheap as fossil fuel in areas with strong winds.
Most effective on coasts, mountains, and open plains
Winds farms now exist in PA, West Virginia, and New York
Accounts for only 1% of our alternative energy.

18. What about the Ducks
Video

20. Philadelphia Eagles- Green Energy

21. Wind Impacts
Few environmental impacts (noise, space, damage to bats and birds)
Some argue they are not aesthetically pleasing
Nantucket Video
No air pollution

23. Poor Bird
Messed Up

24. Why is wind energy limited?
Limited due to varying winds…

25. Biomass
The burning of wood, agricultural wastes, sewage, algae, and processed trash. Also includes fuels made from organic matter.
Various methods are used to create fuels that can be used for heating or transportation. (could possibly replace petroleum)
Corn, Sugar, and grains can be converted through fermentation by yeast to produce ethanol. (can be blended with gasoline)

27. Ethanol
Usually put more energy into making it then you get out of the product itself!!!!
Why do you think people still produce it?

28. Biomass
Biodiesel is a substitute for diesel engines and is made from animal fat or vegetable oils.
Use is increasing with new technologies.
Accounts for close to 50% of alternative energy in this country. Major source for Hawaii.

29. Biodiesel

30. Bagasse-Hawaii

31. What are the impacts of Biomass?
Some air pollution.
Processing of some organic wastes release hazardous chemicals.
Responsible for forest destruction and soil erosion in rainforests. (burning of wood)

32. Geothermal
Uses the natural heat (dry heat, steam, or hot rock) tapped in the earth to heat homes or produce electricity. (diagram pg. 476)
Power plants must be near the source because too much energy is lost during transportation.
Only Hawaii, Nevada, Utah, and California have the potential
Accounts for 6% of our renewable energy.

35. What are the effects of Geothermal?
It is limited to certain areas.
Nothing is burned so there is limited air pollution.
Harmful gases can sometime be vented with heat and land surfaces may collapse.

36. Tidal Converts the mechanical energy from ocean tides to electricity.
Limited to coastal regions and therefore will never be a major energy source in this country. (Canada, China, and France)

41. Cool Tidal Video

42. Wave
Waves force water up a large tower pushing the air up over a turbine to generate electricity. (Norway)

43. Hydrogen Fuel
The changing of hydrogen gas into a fuel source (gas or liquid)
Makes up ¾ the mass of the universe and is the lightest element.
Requires water (methane) and water vapor is the only product given off when burned
The Department of Energy is looking into expanding its use (fuel cell technology)

44. HFuel
It would require new equipment and engines to burn it (fuel cells)
Hydrogen fueled cars have been made.
* Check out this web site:
Great Video about Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars

45. Impacts Pollution free. It is too expensive and difficult to store.
It could one day replace gasoline engines and our dependency on foreign oil.
A transition from fossil fuels to hydrogen fuel will take a lot of time and money.

48. This is the so-called “chicken and egg” problem that hydrogen developers are working hard to solve. Namely: who will buy hydrogen cars if there are no refueling stations? And who will pay to build a refueling station if there are no cars and customers?