1. Environmental Science
Richard T. Wright
Environmental
Science
Tenth Edition
Chapter 14
Renewable Energy
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Prentice Hall, Inc.

2. Scroby Sands Wind Farm

3. Putting Solar Energy to Work

4. Rooftop Water Heaters

5. Solar Thermal Power in Southern California

6. Renewable-energy Use in the United States

7. Renewable Energy Putting solar energy to work Indirect solar energy
Renewable energy for transportation
Additional renewable-energy options
Policy for a sustainable-energy future

8. Examples of Renewable Energy Sources

9. Putting Solar Energy to Work
Principles of solar energy
Solar heating of water
Solar space heating
Solar production of electricity
The promise of solar energy

10. Principles of Solar Energy
Constant
Abundant
Free
Everlasting

11. Hurdles in Using Solar Energy
Collection
Conversion
Storage
Cost-effectiveness

12. Terms and Definitions: Solar Heating Systems
Active: moves water or air with pumps and blowers
Passive: moves water or air with natural convection currents or gravity

13. Components of Active or Passive Solar Heating Systems?
Flat-plate collector
Water pump
Blowers
Heat exchanger
Improved insulation
Earthen berms

14. Solar Heating of Water: Flat-plate Solar Collector

15. Solar Water Heaters

16. Solar Space Heating

17. Solar Building Siting

18. Landscaping in Solar Heating and Cooling

19. Solar hot water Solar space heater Both Required Components?
Flat-plate collector
Water pump
Blowers
Heat exchanger
Improved insulation
Solar hot water
Solar space heater
Both

20. Solar Production of Electricity
Photovoltaic Cell

21. How Photovoltaic Cells Work: Part 1
Each cell consists of two thin mylar layers.
Lower layer has atoms with single electron in outer orbit – easily lost.
Upper layer has atoms lacking one electron in outer orbit – easily accepts electrons.

22. How Photovoltaic Cells Works: Part 2
Kinetic energy from sunlight dislodges electrons from lower layer – creates an electric potential between the two layers.

23. How Photovoltaic Cells Works: Part 3
The potential provides the energy for an electrical current through the rest of the circuit.
Electrons from lower layer flow through a device back to upper side.

25. PV System Inverter Connects PV panels to the electric grid.
Converts direct current coming
from PV panels to alternating
current.

26. PV Power Plant
6.5 Mw at
peak
34 foot
panels
220 panels

27. Concentrating Solar Power
PV power plants
Solar-trough collectors
Power towers
Dish-engine system

28. Power Tower

29. Solar Dish Engine System

30. Disadvantages of Solar Energy Technologies
Expense
Only works during the day
Requires back-up energy sources, e.g., batteries
Some climates not sunny enough

31. Promise of Solar Energy (More or Less?)
The use of solar electrical power will:
create ____ reliance on coal or nuclear power.
lead to significantly _____ acid rain.
produce ____ electrical power for villages in developing countries.

32. Indirect Solar Energy
Hydropower
Wind power
Biomass energy

33. Hydropower: Benefits or Drawbacks?
Level of pollution generated
Level of environmental degradation
Amount of energy produced

34. Hoover Dam

35. Hydropower: Benefits or Drawbacks?
Geographical distribution of energy produced
Ecological impacts above and below dam
Societal disruptions

36. Wind Power: Benefits or Drawbacks?
Size limitations of wind turbines
Megawatts of electricity produced
Level of pollution generated

37. Wind Power: Benefits or Drawbacks?
Level of environmental degradation
Geographical distribution of energy produced
Aesthetics

38. Wind Energy in the United States
cost

39. Biomass Energy Burning firewood Burning wastes
Burning biogas (methane)

40. Biogas Power

41. Biomass Energy: Benefits or Drawbacks?
Availability of the biomass resource
Access to the biomass resource
Public acceptance and utilization of biomass energy
Past history of human harvests within a maximum sustained yield

42. Renewable Energy and Transportation
Biofuels
Hydrogen?
Hybrid
Electric

43. Model U Ford

44. Hydrogen-oxygen Fuel Cell

46. Freedom Car

47. Fuel Cells: Benefits or Drawbacks?
Substitute for fossil fuels
Pollution factor
Production technology
Portability
National distribution system

48. Additional Renewable Energy Options
Geothermal energy
Tidal power
Ocean thermal-energy conversion (OTEC)

49. Geothermal Energy: Benefits or Drawbacks?
Consistent source
Level of pollution
Cost-effectiveness
Technology required for extraction
Geographical distribution of energy produced

50. Geothermal Heat Pump System

51. Tidal Power: Benefits or Drawbacks?
Consistent source
Level of pollution
Cost-effectiveness
Technology required for extraction
Geographical distribution of energy produced

52. OTEC: Benefits or Drawbacks?
In an average day the heat absorbed by the surface water in only one square mile is equivalent to the burning of 7000 barrels of oil.
Cost effectiveness to capture and distribute heat energy.
Industrial interest in the OTEC alternative.

53. Policy for a Sustainable Energy Future
National energy policy
Energy Policy Act of 2005
A clean energy blueprint

54. A Clean Energy Blueprint
Supply side
Establish a Renewable Portfolio Standard
Maintain production tax credits
Extend net metering (paying solar cell owners for excess electricity)
Substantially increase research and development on renewable energy and efficiency

55. A Clean Energy Blueprint
Demand Side
Improve efficiency standards
Enhance building codes
Provide incentives for combined heat and power facilities
Raise fuel economy (CAFÉ) standards
Increase research and development on high-efficiency vehicles (hybrid electric and fuel cell vehicles).

56. End of Chapter 14
PPT by Clark E. Adams