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westkea00

Ocean Wave Energy Power Technology - History - 0 views

  • Currently, numerous wave power plants (so called wave farms) have been implemented throughout the world. Many different organizations have designed various wave power systems that differ in size, cost, and effectiveness. A wave farm is a collection of wave power systems in order to create mass quantities of power. One example of a wave power plant is the Aguçadoura Wave Farm in Portugal from Pelamis Wave Power Ltd. It is the first wave farm ever established and produces 2.25 megawatts of power. It was completed in 2008. Other wave farms, with other companies involved, have been proposed.
  • In contrast to tidal power, ocean wave energy plants do not make use of the energy difference between high tide and low tide, but generating energy from continuous wave motion. So, wave energy generation is the conversion of the forces from the motion of waves into usable energy.
  • Wave energy is considered a form of hydropower, although it is the wind blowing over the surface of the ocean causing waves. So in many ways, wave energy is also wind energy - with all the pros and cons.
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  • Wave energy is about using the energy of ocean waves for producing electrical current. It is a renewable energy resource and often confused with Tidal Power.
  • Wave power generation has been tested over the past century as an alternative energy source to fossil fuels to create electrical power, sea water desalinization, and reservoir pumping. Unfortunately, despite of all examinations and tests, the price for generating energy from ocean waves is still about twice as high as that of wind energy. Companies involved in wave energy generation hope to be able to cut 50% of the costs within the next couple of years.
  • During the 1970's gasoline crisis, wave power was pushed in order to be a good long term energy solution. Later, the energy crisis was resolved yet the leaps and bounds made in the innovation of wave power remained. Though there were not many wave power plants actually implemented, it has proven to be a benefit to modern resolutions with current power crises. Fuel prices are rising exponentially and the greenhouse effect is having potentially disastrous effects on the environment. There has never been more need for alternatives to fossil generated energy.
lanebri99

Solar Power Frequently Asked Questions | Solar Energy World | MD, DC, NJ - 0 views

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    ". Solar energy reduces the amount of fossil fuel that is burned, thus reducing the pollutants and CO² that get into the atmosphere. "
troisichr99

Research Report: does solor powers pollution than CO2 when compared to fossil fuels? - 0 views

  • But as much as it poses a health risk, a group of researchers from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory point out that the relative risks are still light when compared to the use of fossil fuels
pondalb98

Wind Energy Basics - 5 views

  • Wind is a form of solar energy. Winds are caused by the uneven heating of the atmosphere by the sun, the irregularities of the earth's surface, and rotation of the earth. Wind flow patterns are modified by the earth's terrain, bodies of water, and vegetative cover. This wind flow, or motion energy, when "harvested" by modern wind turbines, can be used to generate electricity.
  • The terms "wind energy" or "wind power" describe the process by which the wind is used to generate mechanical power or electricity
  • The terms "wind energy" or "wind power" describe the process by which the wind is used to generate mechanical power or electricity. Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in the wind into mechanical power
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  • Wind turbines, like aircraft propeller blades, turn in the moving air and power an electric generator that supplies an electric current
  • Modern wind turbines fall into two basic groups; the horizontal-axis variety, like the traditional farm windmills used for pumping water, and the vertical-axis design, like the eggbeater-style Darrieus model
  • wind farm, and generate bulk electrical power
  • Utility-scale turbines range in size from 50 to 750 kilowatts. Single small turbines, below 50 kilowatts
  • Wind energy is very abundant in many parts of the United States. Wind resources are characterized by wind-power density classes, ranging from class 1 (the lowest) to class 7 (the highest). Good wind resources (e.g., class 3 and above, which have an average annual wind speed of at least 13 miles per hour) are found in many locations (see United States Wind Energy Resource Map)
  • free, renewable resource, so no matter how much is used today, there will still be the same supply in the future
  • clean, non-polluting, electricity. Unlike conventional power plants, wind plants emit no air pollutants or greenhouse gases
  • higher initial investment than fossil-fueled generators. Roughly 80% of the cost is the machinery, with the balance being site preparation and installation.
  • Although wind power plants have relatively little impact on the environment compared to fossil fuel power plants, there is some concern over the noise produced by the rotor blades, aesthetic (visual) impacts, and birds and bats having been killed (avian/bat mortality) by flying into the rotors. Most of these problems have been resolved or greatly reduced through technological development or by properly siting wind plants
  • remote locations far from areas of electric power demand (such as cities)
  • alternative uses may be more highly valued than electricity generation. However, wind turbines can be located on land that is also used for grazing or even farming
  • Wind is a form of solar energy. Winds are caused by the uneven heating of the atmosphere by the sun, the irregularities of the earth's surface, and rotation of the earth. Wind flow patterns are modified by the earth's terrain, bodies of water, and vegetative cover. This wind flow, or motion energy, when "harvested" by modern wind turbines, can be used to generate electricity.
  • The terms "wind energy" or "wind power" describe the process by which the wind is used to generate mechanical power or electricity. Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in the wind into mechanical power. This mechanical power can be used for specific tasks (such as grinding grain or pumping water) or a generator can convert this mechanical power into electricity to power homes, businesses, schools, and the like.
  • Wind turbines, like aircraft propeller blades, turn in the moving air and power an electric generator that supplies an electric current. Simply stated, a wind turbine is the opposite of a fan. Instead of using electricity to make wind, like a fan, wind turbines use wind to make electricity. The wind turns the blades, which spin a shaft, which connects to a generator and makes electricity.
  • Modern wind turbines fall into two basic groups; the horizontal-axis variety, like the traditional farm windmills used for pumping water, and the vertical-axis design, like the eggbeater-style Darrieus model, named after its French inventor. Most large modern wind turbines are horizontal-axis turbines.
  • Wind is a form of solar energy
  • The terms "wind energy" or "wind power
  • describe the process by which the wind is used to generate mechanical power or electricity.
  • Wind turbines, like aircraft propeller blades, turn in the moving air and power an electric generator that supplies an electric current. Simply stated, a wind turbine is the opposite of a fan. Instead of using electricity to make wind, like a fan, wind turbines use wind to make electricity. The wind turns the blades, which spin a shaft, which connects to a generator and makes electricity.
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    "Wind is a form of solar energy. Winds are caused by the uneven heating of the atmosphere by the sun, the irregularities of the earth's surface, and rotation of the earth. Wind flow patterns are modified by the earth's terrain, bodies of water, and vegetative cover. This wind flow, or motion energy, when "harvested" by modern wind turbines, can be used to generate electricity."
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    "Modern wind turbines fall into two basic groups; the horizontal-axis variety, like the traditional farm windmills used for pumping water, and the vertical-axis design, like the eggbeater-style Darrieus model, named after its French inventor. Most large modern wind turbines are horizontal-axis turbines."
tavarreskat99

Tidal Energy | Pros for Wave and Tidal Power - 3 views

  • Tidal energy is one of the oldest forms of energy used by humans. Indeed, tide mills, in use on the Spanish, French and British coasts, date back to 787 A.D.. Tide mills consisted of a storage pond, filled by the incoming (flood) tide through a sluice and emptied during the outgoing (ebb) tide through a water wheel. The tides turned waterwheels, producing mechanical power to mill grain. We even have one remaining in New York- which worked well into the 20th century.
  • Tidal power is non-polluting, reliable and predictable.Tidal barrages, undersea tidal turbines - like wind turbines but driven by the sea - and a variety of machines harnessing undersea currents are under development. Unlike wind and waves, tidal currents are entirely predictable.
  • A tidal range of at least 7 m is required for economical operation and for sufficient head of water for the turbines
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  • Currently, although the technology required to harness tidal energy is well established, tidal power is expensive, and there is only one major tidal generating station in operation. This is a 240 megawatt (1 megawatt = 1 MW = 1 million watts) at the mouth of the La Rance river estuary on the northern coast of France
  • Tidal electricity can be used to displace electricity which would otherwise be generated by fossil fuel (coal, oil, natural gas) fired power plants, thus reducing emissions of greenhouse and acid gasses.
  • There is a high capital cost for a tidal energy project, with possibly a 10-year construction period.
  • Electricity can be generated by water flowing both into and out of a bay. As there are two high and two low tides each day, electrical generation from tidal power plants is characterized by periods of maximum generation every twelve hours, with no electricity generation at the six hour mark in between.
  • Tidal energy is a renewable source of electricity which does not result in the emission of gases responsible for global warming or acid rain associated with fossil fuel generated electricity. Use of tidal energy could also decrease the need for nuclear power, with its associated radiation risks. Changing tidal flows by damming a bay or estuary could, however, result in negative impacts on aquatic and shoreline ecosystems, as well as navigation and recreation.
  • Indeed, tide mills, in use on the Spanish, French and British coasts,
  • date back to 787 A.D..
  • Tidal power is non-polluting, reliable and predictable.Tidal barrages, undersea tidal turbines - like wind turbines but driven by the sea - and a variety of machines harnessing undersea currents are under development. Unlike wind and waves, tidal currents are entirely predictable.
  • idal energy is one of the oldest forms of energy used by humans. Indeed, tide mills, in use on the Spanish, French and British coasts, date back to 787 A.D.. Tide mills consisted of a storage pond, filled by the incoming (flood) tide through a sluice and emptied during the outgoing (ebb) tide through a water wheel. The tides turned waterwheels, producing mechanical power to mill grain. We even have one remaining in New York- which worked well into the 20th century. Tidal power is non-polluting, reliable and predictable.Tidal barrages, undersea tidal turbines - like wind turbines but driven by the sea - and a variety of machines harnessing undersea currents are under development. Unlike wind and waves, tidal currents are entirely predictable.
  • Tidal power is non-polluting, reliable and predictable.Tidal barrages, undersea tidal turbines - like wind turbines but driven by the sea - and a variety of machines harnessing undersea currents are under development. Unlike wind and waves, tidal currents are entirely predictable.
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    "Tidal power is non-polluting, reliable and predictable.Tidal barrages, undersea tidal turbines - like wind turbines but driven by the sea - and a variety of machines harnessing undersea currents are under development. Unlike wind and waves, tidal currents are entirely predictable."
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    when it started to be used and who it was used by.
mattianic99

Solar energy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - 3 views

  • Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun
  • radiant light and heat from the sun,
  • Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar energy technologies include solar heating, solar photovoltaics, solar thermal electricity, solar architecture and artificial photosynthesis, which can make considerable contributions to solving some of the most urgent energy problems the world now faces.[1] [2]
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  • "the development of affordable, inexhaustible and clean solar energy technologies will have huge longer-term benefits. It will increase countries’ energy security through reliance on an indigenous, inexhaustible and mostly import-independent resource, enhance sustainability, reduce pollution, lower the costs of mitigating climate change, and keep fossil fuel prices lower than otherwise. These advantages are global.
  • Solar technologies are broadly characterized as either passive solar or active solar depending on the way they capture, convert and distribute solar energy. Active solar techniques include the use of photovoltaic panels and solar thermal collectors to harness the energy. Passive solar techniques include orienting a building to the Sun, selecting materials with favorable thermal mass or light dispersing properties, and designing spaces that naturally circulate air.
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    The technologies of solar energy.
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    the advantages of solar energy for the world 
dpurdy

Coal Burning, Fossil Fuels, Pollution - National Geographic - 0 views

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    We have more coal than other countries.
westkea00

Advantages and Disadvantages Of Wave Energy - 0 views

  • Wave energy is as source of power that comes from the endless march of the waves as they roll into the shore then back out again. Humans harness this power along the coastal regions of the United States, Canada, Scotland, and Australia. Energy that comes from the waves in the ocean sounds like a boundless, harmless supply.
  • Advantages of Wave Energy 1. Renewable: The best thing about wave energy is that it will never run out. There will always be waves crashing upon the shores of nations, near the populated coastal regions. The waves flow back from the shore, but they always return. Unlike fossil fuels, which are running out, in some places in the world, just as quickly as people can discover them. Unlike ethanol, a corn product, waves are not limited by a season. They require no input from man to make their power, and they can always be counted on
  • Also unlike fossil fuels, creating power from waves creates no harmful byproducts such as gas, waste, and pollution. The energy from waves can be taken directly into electricity-producing machinery and used to power generators and power plants nearby. In today’s energy-powered world, a source of clean energy is hard to come by.
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  • Another benefit to using this energy is its nearness to places that can use it. Lots of big cities and harbors are next to the ocean and can harness the power of the waves for their use. Coastal cities tend to be well-populated, so lots of people can get use from wave energy plants.
  • A final benefit is that there are a variety of ways to gather it. Current gathering methods range from installed power plant with hydro turbines to seafaring vessels equipped with massive structures that are laid into the sea to gather the wave energy.
  • The biggest advantages of wave power as against most of the other alternative energy sources is that it is easily predictable and can be used to calculate the amount that it can produce. The wave energy is consistent and proves much better than other sources which are dependent on wind or sun exposure.
  • The biggest disadvantage to getting your energy from the waves is location. Only power plants and towns near the ocean will benefit directly from it. Because of its source, wave energy is not a viable power source for everyone. Landlocked nations and cities far from the sea have to find alternate sources of power, so wave energy is not the clean energy solution for everyone.
  • As clean as wave energy is, it still creates hazards for some of the creatures near it. Large machines have to be put near and in the water to gather energy from the waves. These machines disturb the seafloor, change the habitat of near-shore creatures (like crabs and starfish) and create noise that disturbs the sea life around them. There is also a danger of toxic chemicals that are used on wave energy platforms spilling and polluting the water near them.
  • Another downside is that it disturbs commercial and private vessels. Power plants that gather wave energy have to be placed by the coastline to do their job, and they have to be near cities and other populated areas to be of much use to anybody. But these are places that are major thoroughfares for cargo ships, cruise ships, recreational vehicles and beach goers. All of these people and vessels will be disrupted by the installation of a wave energy gathering source. This means that government officials and private companies that want to invest in wave energy sources have to take into account and consider the needs of those they may be disturbing.
  • Wind power is highly dependent on wavelength i.e. wave speed, wave length, wavelength and water density. They require a consistent flow of powerful waves to generate significant amount of wave power. Some areas experience unreliable wave behavior and it becomes unpredictable to forecast accurate wave power and therefore cannot be trusted as reliable energy source.
dylan purner

Sun - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - 0 views

  • Sunlight is Earth's primary source of energy.
  • The energy stored in petroleum and other fossil fuels was originally converted from sunlight by photosynthesis in the distant past.[119]
sokolkyl00

When Solar Becomes Cheaper Than Fossil Fuels | azizonomics - 0 views

  • If the trend continues for another 8-10 years, which seems increasingly likely, solar will be as cheap as coal with the added benefit of zero carbon emissions. If the cost continues to fall over the next 20 years, solar costs will be half that of coal.
  • When applied to electricity prices this predicts that solar generated electricity in the US will descend to a level of 12 cents (7 pence) per kilowatt hour by 2020, possibly even 2015 for the sunniest parts of America.
tavarreskat99

What are the advantages and disadvantages of alternative tidal power as an energy source - 1 views

  • Advantages: Tidal energy is an alternative energy. The energy produced is clean and non polluting. There is no carbon dioxide or any other by-products released. It produces no greenhouse gases or other waste.It is a renewable energy that will help reduce our reliance on the burning of fossil fuels. There are two tides every day and they can be relied on. The energy is there for the taking.So the electricity supply is constant and efficient.Once you've built it, the energy is free because it comes from the ocean's powerIt needs no fuel.It produces electricity reliably.Not expensive to maintain.Tides are definitely predictable. There are two tides every day and they can be relied on. So the electricity supply is constant. Offshore turbines and vertical-axis turbines are not ruinously expensive to build and do not have a large environmental impact.A plant is expected to be in production for 75 to 100 yearsUses an abundant, inexpensive fuel source (water) to generate powerMay protect coastline against damage from high storm tides and provide a ready-made road bridge
  • Holding back the tide allows silt to build up on the river bed.The dams and barrages sometimes interfere with shipping. You will need to find a way to connect the electricity to the grid.Pose same threats as large dams, altering the flow of saltwater in and out of estuaries, which changes the hydrology and salinity and possibly negatively affects the marine mammals that use the estuaries as their habitatTurbidity decreases as a result of smaller volume of water being exchanged between the basin and the sea.The average salinity inside the basin decreases, also affecting the ecosystemA barrage across an estuary is very expensive to build, and affects a very wide area - the environment is changed for many miles upstream and downstream. Many birds rely on the tide uncovering the mud flats so that they can feed.There are few suitable sites for tidal barrages.Only provides power for around 10 hours each day, when the tide is actually moving in or out.
  • It only provides about 7% of the power needed for England and Wales that means that some people get their energy close to free and some pay a lot of moneyWater is not replenished, it cannot flow away so any dirt or pollution lingers around the coast much longerNeeds a very big piece of sea to be cost effectiveCannot be used inlandBarrage systems require salt resistant parts and lots of maintenanceAffects the lives of the people who rely on fishing for a means of livingLimited because the tide never speeds up or slows down, and occurs on 6 hour cycles. It is also dependent on the fetch distance. The fetch is the distance the tide rises and falls, so some beaches have a very small fetch, and others have a big fetch but hardly any have a large enough fetch to support tidal energy
morrisseygra99

Biofuels | What are bio fuels and how are biofuels made - 0 views

  • Bio fuels are a viable alternative to fossil fuels.
  • Some examples are that of biodiesel, which entails growing crops that contain high amounts of natural oil then through a process of hydrogenation or refining a more compatible bio diesel, substitute is created.
  • These are examples of first generation biofuels and due to their nature they may or may not be long-term economically or environmentally viable.
schmettererdav00

http://www.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/biofuels/10-advantages-of-biofuels.htm - 0 views

  • As gas prices rise and global warming becomes more pervasive, more people are using biofuels as a way to save money and decrease their consumption of fossil fuels.
conboyeri98

DOE - Fossil Energy: Current Technology for Producing Hydrogen - 0 views

  • Today, most hydrogen in the United States, and about half of the world's hydrogen supply, is produced through the steam reforming of natural gas. The U.S. demand for hydrogen currently is about 9 million tons per year. Of this amount, about 1.5 million tons is merchant hydrogen production that is sold to refineries and chemical plants. In refineries, hydrogen is produced as a by-product of naphtha reforming, and any supplemental hydrogen is produced from steam reforming of natural gas. The chemical industry also uses hydrogen, mostly to manufacture ammonia and other nitrogen-based fertilizers. Hydrogen for the chemical industry is also produced from steam reforming of natural gas, although some chemical plants use coal gasification (i.e., partial oxidation) to produce hydrogen. In total, about 95 percent of U.S. hydrogen production for supplemental refinery needs and the chemical industry is produced from natural gas using steam reforming technology.
dpurdy

Discovery Kids :: Tell Me - How does a generator work? - 0 views

  • . It does this by using a magnet that forces electrons to move along a wire at a steady rate while putting pressure on them.
stockmanchl99

Information about Biofuel, what is Biofuel, renewable energy solutions, Ethanol uses - 0 views

  • Basically biofuel is produced by using ethanol from naturally grown plant matter which allows for a more sustainable and environmentally friendly earth.
  • Bio fuel is a natural alternative from other fossil fuels and is attained from living or biological material that has just died. Basically biofuel is produced by using ethanol from naturally grown plant matter which allows for a more sustainable and environmentally friendly earth. To assist in the manufacturing of biofuel, the plants and plant-derived materials that contribute to its formation includes corn, corn cob, sugar cane, soybeans, flaxseed, rapeseed, vegetable oils, waste cooking oils, animal fats, tall oil and even cow manure. However, at present the most widely used source of bioeenergy is of course wood.
faglejoh98

Geothermal Energy Information, Geothermal Power Facts - National Geographic - 0 views

  • Geothermal energy has been used for thousands of years in some countries for cooking and heating. It is simply power derived from the Earth's internal heat.This thermal energy is contained in the rock and fluids beneath Earth's crust. It can be found from shallow ground to several miles below the surface, and even farther down to the extremely hot molten rock called magma.These underground reservoirs of steam and hot water can be tapped to generate electricity or to heat and cool buildings directly.A geothermal heat pump system can take advantage of the constant temperature of the upper ten feet (three meters) of the Earth's surface to heat a home in the winter, while extracting heat from the building and transferring it back to the relatively cooler ground in the summer
  • There are three types of geothermal power plants: dry steam, flash, and binary. Dry steam, the oldest geothermal technology, takes steam out of fractures in the ground and uses it to directly drive a turbine. Flash plants pull deep, high-pressure hot water into cooler, low-pressure water. The steam that results from this process is used to drive the turbine. In binary plants, the hot water is passed by a secondary fluid with a much lower boiling point than water. This causes the secondary fluid to turn to vapor, which then drives a turbine. Most geothermal power plants in the future will be binary plants.
  • It can be extracted without burning a fossil fuel such as coal, gas, or oil. Geothermal fields produce only about one-sixth of the carbon dioxide that a relatively clean natural-gas-fueled power plant produces.
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  • wer plants: dry steam, flash, and binary. Dry steam, the oldest geothermal technology, takes steam out of fractures in the ground and uses it to directly drive a turbine. Flash plants
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    good info.
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    Geothermal energy doesn't release much CO2
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    "There are three types of geothermal power plants: dry steam, flash, and binary. Dry steam, the oldest geothermal technology, takes steam out of fractures in the ground and uses it to directly drive a turbine. Flash plants pull deep, high-pressure hot water into cooler, low-pressure water. The steam that results from this process is used to drive the turbine. In binary plants, the hot water is passed by a secondary fluid with a much lower boiling point than water. This causes the secondary fluid to turn to vapor, which then drives a turbine. Most geothermal power plants in the future will be binary plants."
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