1. Renewable Energy

2. Did You Know?
1. Which of the following is not an example of a potentially renewable or non-depletable energy source?
Hydroelectricity
Solar energy
Nuclear energy
Wind energy
Geothermal energy

3. Nuclear energy Did You Know?
1. Which of the following is not an example of a potentially renewable or non-depletable energy source?
Hydroelectricity
Solar energy
Nuclear energy
Wind energy
Geothermal energy

4. Definitions
Potentially Renewable: Can be renewable if we do not consume them faster than they can be replaced (ex: biomass)
Non-depletable: Cannot be depleted no matter how much we use them (ex: solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric and tidal energy)
Renewable: Potentially renewable and non-depletable resources together

5. Did You Know?
2. The primary sources of renewable energy in the United States are?
solar and wind energy.
hydroelectricity and tidal energy.
biomass and hydroelectricity.
geothermal and tidal energy.
wind and geothermal energy.

6. biomass and hydroelectricity.
Did You Know?
2. The primary sources of renewable energy in the United States are?
solar and wind energy.
hydroelectricity and tidal energy.
biomass and hydroelectricity.
geothermal and tidal energy.
wind and geothermal energy.

7. U.S. Energy Consumption 2013

8. U.S. Per Capita Energy Use

9. Did You Know?
3. Which of the following best describes U.S. energy use?
Transportation is the largest end use of energy in the United States.
Transportation is fueled mainly by coal.
Electricity generation is the largest end use of energy in the United States.
Electricity generation is powered mainly by nuclear energy.
Industry is the largest end use of energy in the United States.

10. Did You Know?
3. Which of the following best describes U.S. energy use?
Transportation is the largest end use of energy in the United States.
Transportation is fueled mainly by coal.
Electricity generation is the largest end use of energy in the United States.
Electricity generation is powered mainly by nuclear energy.
Industry is the largest end use of energy in the United States.

11. U.S. Energy Consumption by Sector 2013

12. useful energy output / total energy input
Energy Efficiency =
useful energy output / total energy input
This will give you a decimal number between 0 and 1, but efficiency looks better as a percentage. Multiply the efficiency by 100 to get this.
Due to the principle of conservation of energy, energy efficiency within a closed system can never exceed 100%.

13. R-value
Measurement of how effectively a material resists the transfer of heat via conduction. The higher the R-value, the less heat transfer can take place.

14. Did You Know?
4. An energy-efficient building might include all of the following except?
building materials with low thermal inertia.
a green roof.
southern exposure with large double-paned windows.
reused or recycled construction materials.
photovoltaic cells.

15. Did You Know? building materials with low thermal inertia.
4. An energy-efficient building might include all of the following except?
building materials with low thermal inertia.
a green roof.
southern exposure with large double-paned windows.
reused or recycled construction materials.
photovoltaic cells.

16. Passive Solar Heating
Captures sunlight directly within a structure and converts it into low-temperature heat for space heating.

17. Active Solar Heating
Special collectors absorb solar energy; a fan or pump is used to circulate the hot water.

18. Photovoltaic Cells
PV (Solar Cells) - Sunlight falling on a wafer thin silicon sheet releases a flow of electrons creating an electric current.
High net energy yield; and still functions in cloudy weather
Cost of PVs is high
Storage of electricity produced is a problem
Data Table

19. Photovoltaic Cells
Photovoltaic is the direct conversion of light into electricity at the atomic level. Some materials exhibit a property known as the photoelectric effect that causes them to absorb photons of light and release electrons. When these free electrons are captured, an electric current results that can be used as electricity.

20. Sunlight hits the surface of the photovoltaic cell.
A material called a semi-conductor converts the light into electricity.
Reflectors concentrate the sun's rays to heat a special kind of liquid. The heat from this liquid boils water to create steam. Steam spins a turbine that is connected to a generator, which creates electricity.

21. Concentrated Solar Thermal Power

22. Concentrated Solar Thermal Power

24. Fuel Cell
A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, with water and heat as its by-product.  As long as fuel is supplied, the fuel cell will continue to generate power.  Since the conversion of the fuel to energy takes place via an electrochemical process, not combustion, the process is clean, quiet and highly efficient – two to three times more efficient than fuel burning.

25. Fuel Cell

26. Wind Power Producing electricity from Wind:
Unlimited source at favorable sites
Land underneath turbines can be used for grazing cattle or farming
Need steady winds
Fastest growing energy source in the world since 1990
Data Table

27. As the wind blows over the blades of a wind turbine it causes the blades to lift and rotate…The rotating blades turn a shaft connected to a generator…The generator creates electricity as it turns.

28. U.S. Onshore Wind Power Potential

29. U.S. Offshore Wind Power Potential

30. Hydroelectric Power
Second most common form of renewable energy in the U.S. and the world.
Most widely used form of renewable energy for electricity generation.
3 Types:
Water Impoundment Hydroelectric Dam
Run-of-the-River
Tidal Systems
Moderate to high net energy yield
Flood vast areas, destroy wildlife habitat, uproots people
Data Table

31. Hydroelectric Dam

32. Run-of-the-River

33. Tidal Power

34. Did You Know?
5. All of the following are negative environmental impacts of hydroelectric power except
Damming rivers destroys habitat
Damming disrupts the natural flooding of rivers
Hydroelectric power contributes directly to acid rain
Hydroelectric dams can create thermal pollution downstream
Sediment, and nutrients, are trapped behind dams

35. Did You Know?
5. All of the following are negative environmental impacts of hydroelectric power except
Damming rivers destroys habitat
Damming disrupts the natural flooding of rivers
Hydroelectric power contributes directly to acid rain
Hydroelectric dams can create thermal pollution downstream
Sediment, and nutrients, are trapped behind dams

36. Producing Energy from Biomass
Organic matter can be burned directly as a solid fuel, or converted into gaseous or liquid biofuels.
Solid biofuels: wood, charcoal, dried manure
First Generation Biofuels: ethanol, biodiesel, methanol, butanol, biogas
Flex-fuel vehicles can run on either gasoline or E-85
Potentially renewable if managed properly

37. Producing Energy from Biomass
Biomass = Modern Carbon
Burning biomass sustainably is Carbon Neutral because the resulting carbon is absorbed by the next year’s growth of biomass.
Fossil Fuels = Fossil Carbon
Fossil Carbon has been buried for millions of years. The burning of fossil fuels results in an increase in atmospheric and oceanic CO2 levels.

38. Biofuel Drawbacks Require large areas of land
“Food vs. Fuel” = increased food prices
Increase soil erosion
Air pollution
Deforestation - can compete for land that would otherwise be available as wildlife habitat
Data Table

39. U.S. Geothermal Energy Potential

40. Power from th earth

41. Geothermal
Energy

42. Did You Know?
6. Which of the following sources of energy is not ultimately solar-based?
Wind
Biomass
Tides
Coal
Hydroelectricity

43. Did You Know?
6. Which of the following sources of energy is not ultimately solar-based?
Wind
Biomass
Tides
Coal
Hydroelectricity

44. Did You Know?
7. The environmental impacts of cutting down a forest to obtain wood for fuel for heating and cooking could include?
deforestation and subsequent soil erosion.
release of particulate matter into the air.
a large net rise in atmospheric concentrations of sulfur dioxide.
I only
II only
III only
I and II
II and III

45. Did You Know?
7. The environmental impacts of cutting down a forest to obtain wood for fuel for heating and cooking could include?
deforestation and subsequent soil erosion.
release of particulate matter into the air.
a large net rise in atmospheric concentrations of sulfur dioxide.
I only
II only
III only
I and II
II and III

46. What the government can do:
increase fuel efficiency standards for motor vehicles
establish energy-efficiency standards for buildings and appliances
increase government sponsored R&D to improve energy efficiency
give tax credits and exemptions for purchases of energy efficient vehicles, houses, buildings and appliances
phase in full-cost pricing to include the environmental impact

47. Quick Review

48. Did You Know?
8. Which of the following statements best describes the role of renewable energy in the United States?
It is the dominant source of energy.
It is the largest contributor of greenhouse gases.
It is a large contributor to the transportation sector.
Its largest contribution is to the electricity generation sector.
It is never sustainable.

49. Did You Know?
8. Which of the following statements best describes the role of renewable energy in the United States?
It is the dominant source of energy.
It is the largest contributor of greenhouse gases.
It is a large contributor to the transportation sector.
Its largest contribution is to the electricity generation sector.
It is never sustainable.