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tushabeper99

What are the advantages and disadvantages of solar energy - 0 views

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    "Advantages: Solar power gives you a return on your investment, while paying your utility for electricity gives you 0% return. Solar energy is renewable unlike the conventional resources (coal, oil) which will inevitably run out. Non-polluting, no carbon dioxide like fossil fuels Free except for capital expenses. Longevity - solar panels can last over twenty years Low maintenance - solar panels require very little upkeep Independence - an off-grid system allows you to break free from the electrical grid Environmentally friendly because the conversion of energy doesn't produce any carbon dioxide. It comes from the sun, which, unless you are in The South or North pole, comes out almost everyday Solar power is better for the environment, compared to burning fossil fuels and other electrical power. sun is renewable You get clean energy without harming the environment [in term of carbon emissions] , in certain countries, excessive power generated can be sold back to local electricity provider reduces pollution helps create jobs - shores up economy - to build -> you hire - innovate-maintain - basically economic activities reduced dependence on fossil fuels Once installed, the power is free It is environmentally friendly and no pollution is associated with solar power You can sell your excess power back to the power companies It can be installed anywhere You can use batteries to store power for use at night Energy from the sun is renewable, that is, it keeps on coming It is free It does no damage to the earth or its atmosphere It produces no carbon dioxide It doesn't have to be dug up from the ground like coal, oil, natural gas, or uranium It doesn't have to be cut down, like wood from forests. It produces clean, green power in the form of electricity and can be used to power just about everything we need. There is more solar energy landing on the earth every day than it would take to supply the world for a year. Solar energy can heat swimming pools, power calcul
dpurdy

How do fossil fuels cause pollution - 1 views

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    "Fossil fuels, even when burned perfectly (natural gas, or methane, burns the best) release carbon dioxide which is a greenhouse gas causing dangerous global warming. Most fossil fuels also release smoke (leading to smog), and they may also release sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides which contribute to acid rain."
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    "Fossil fuels, even when burned perfectly (natural gas, or methane, burns the best) release carbon dioxide which is a greenhouse gas causing dangerous global warming. Most fossil fuels also release smoke (leading to smog), and they may also release sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides which contribute to acid rain."
dpurdy

The Hidden Cost of Fossil Fuels | Union of Concerned Scientists - 2 views

  • Fossil fuels—coal, oil, and natural gas—are America's primary source of energy, accounting for 85 percent of current US fuel use.
  • Many of the environmental problems our country faces today result from our fossil fuel dependence. These impacts include global warming, air quality deterioration, oil spills, and acid rain.
  • Over the last 150 years, burning fossil fuels has resulted in more than a 25 percent increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere.
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  • limate scientists predict that if carbon dioxide levels continue to increase, the planet will become warmer in the next century.
  • Several important pollutants are produced by fossil fuel combustion: carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, and hydrocarbons. In addition, total suspended particulates contribute to air pollution, and nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons can combine in the atmosphere to form tropospheric ozone, the major constituent of smog.
  • Finally, fossil fuel use also produces particulates, including dust, soot, smoke, and other suspended matter, which are respiratory irritants.
  • Oil spills, for example, leave waterways and their surrounding shores uninhabitable for some time.
  • Production, transportation, and use of oil can cause water pollution.
  • Sulfur oxides are produced by the oxidization of the available sulfur in a fuel. Utilities that use coal to generate electricity produce two-thirds of the nation's sulfur dioxide emissions. Nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides are important constituents of acid rain
  • Hydrocarbons are emitted from human-made sources such as auto and truck exhaust, evaporation of gasoline and solvents, and petroleum refining.
  • Two oxides of nitrogen--nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide--are formed in combustion. Nitrogen oxides appear as yellowish-brown clouds over many city skylines
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    The article we read in class. Use the summary we wrote or refer to this.
brownale99

How much more expensive is solar energy than fossil fuels - 0 views

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    "Fossil fuel power stations typically cost about $2.1 dollars per watt to build solar stations around $7 at present. The efficiency is increasing and costs are falling. This of course does not represent the cost to the consumer. In addition it does not take into account all the various other costs and the advantages and disadvantages of each. Fuel (fossil stations), poor sunlight (solar stations). Maintenance costs are similar for single plants but solar stations do not have the capacity of fossil fuel stations."
labrumbra99

Sierra Club Green Home » Blog Archive Fuel Cells: Environmental Benefits » Si... - 0 views

  • The use of fuel cells can significantly diminish our dependency on foreign oil. Since fuel cells make energy electrochemically and do not burn fuel like conventional combustion systems, they are much more efficient. Admittedly, some fuel cells need fossil fuels to start their functions; most residential systems run partially off of natural gas. If just 20% of the cars in America used fuel cells, we could cut oil imports by 1.5 million barrels per day. This is $44 billion per year that could remain in the country!
  • The use of fuel cells can significantly diminish our dependency on foreign oil. Since fuel cells make energy electrochemically and do not burn fuel like conventional combustion systems, they are much more efficient. Admittedly, some fuel cells need fossil fuels to start their functions; most residential systems run partially off of natural gas. If just 20% of the cars in America used fuel cells, we could cut oil imports by 1.5 million barrels per day. This is $44 billion per year that could remain in the country!
  • The use of fuel cells can significantly diminish our dependency on foreign oil. Since fuel cells make energy electrochemically and do not burn fuel like conventional combustion systems, they are much more efficient. Admittedly, some fuel cells need fossil fuels to start their functions; most residential systems run partially off of natural gas. If just 20% of the cars in America used fuel cells, we could cut oil imports by 1.5 million barrels per day. This is $44 billion per year that could remain in the country!
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  • fuel cells
  • metimes produce a by-product of water or heat, though hydrogen fuel cells are considered more difficult to work with because of transportation and storage. More user friendly fuel cells which use natural gas with emissions that are much lower than those produced by conventional engines or energy sources and can reduce your carbon footprint by around 40%. Additionally, there are only negligible levels of NOx, SOx, Volatile organic compounds and particulates, which is a drastic improvement over traditional means of grid power production. Besides the decreased CO2 emissions and high efficiency rates, fuel c
  • The use of fuel cells can significantly diminish our dependency on foreign oil. Since fuel cells make energy electrochemically and do not burn fuel like conventional combustion systems, they are much more efficient. Admittedly, some fuel cells need fossil fuels to start their functions; most residential systems run partially off of natural gas. If just 20% of the cars in America used fuel cells, we could cut oil imports by 1.5 million barrels per day. This is $44 billion per year that could remain in the country!
  • The use of fuel cells can significantly diminish our dependency on foreign oil. Since fuel cells make energy electrochemically and do not burn fuel like conventional combustion systems, they are much more efficient. Admittedly, some fuel cells need fossil fuels to start their functions; most residential systems run partially off of natural gas. If just 20% of the cars in America used fuel cells, we could cut oil imports by 1.5 million barrels per day. This is $44 billion per year that could remain in the country!
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    " The environmental impact of fuel cells depends on the type of cell and the fuel being used. Fuel cells can run on a variety of sources, from natural gas to hydrogen to ethanol to biogas. Those that run on hydrogen can sometimes produce a by-product of water or heat, though hydrogen fuel cells are considered more difficult to work with because of transportation and storage. More user friendly fuel cells which use natural gas with emissions that are much lower than those produced by conventional engines or energy sources and can reduce your carbon footprint by around 40%. Additionally, there are only negligible levels of NOx, SOx, Volatile organic compounds and particulates, which is a drastic improvement over traditional means of grid power production. Besides the decreased CO2 emissions and high efficiency rates, fuel cells offer plenty of positive environmental impacts that should be considered by investors and consumers as solutions for cleaner energy are being further researched. 1. Fuel Conservation The use of fuel cells can significantly diminish our dependency on foreign oil. Since fuel cells make energy electrochemically and do not burn fuel like conventional combustion systems, they are much more efficient. Admittedly, some fuel cells need fossil fuels to start their functions; most residential systems run partially off of natural gas. If just 20% of the cars in America used fuel cells, we could cut oil imports by 1.5 million barrels per day. This is $44 billion per year that could remain in the country! 2. Combined Heat and Power The greatest benefit from high powered, well designed fuel cells is the heat and power produced. This means that a property can reduce additional investments to heat their indoor areas or water. In this case, less is more. Since the heat can be redirected to heat water, the environmental benefit from this is the ability to heat the hot water supply without a need for a separate system as is the case with home solar."
cheniermab99

Wind Power: clean, sustainable, and affordable | Union of Concerned Scientists - 0 views

  • Wind power generates electricity with... No air emissions No fuel to mine, transport, or store No cooling water No water pollution No wastes
  • Wind power can reduce pollution generated by fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas. A typical (750 kW) wind turbine provides enough power for 328 typical (non-electric heating) homes.
  • Wind power can reduce pollution generated by fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas. A typical (750 kW) wind turbine provides enough power for 328 typical (non-electric heating) homes.
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  • Wind power can reduce pollution generated by fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas. A typical (750 kW) wind turbine provides enough power for 328 typical (non-electric heating) homes.
  • No fuel to mine, transport, or store
  • Wind power can reduce pollution generated by fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas.
  • Wind power can reduce pollution generated by fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas.
  • Wind power can reduce pollution generated by fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas
  • Wind power can reduce pollution generated by fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas
cottonetar98

Montana Environmental Information CenterCost of Wind vs. Fossil Fuels - MEIC - 0 views

  • Wind energy is cost-competitive with fossil fuels, especially coal. In Montana, wind energy is less expensive than coal for NorthWestern Energy--the state's largest utility.
  • ccording to the EIA, the total cost of wind energy without federal tax and other financial incentives is about 9.7 cents/kilowatt-hour. The total cost of conventional coal without federal tax and other financial incentives is about 9.4 cents/kilowatt-hour.
  • here are integration costs associated with intermittent renewable energy but unlike fossil fuels, wind (and solar and many other renewables) the fuel price stays the same: Zero.  Plus, wind-power technology has rapidly evolved. Turbines are much larger, growing from an average of 1.2 megawatts to 1.6 megawatts (a 33% increase in average capacity) in just three years.
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  • When comparing the cost of wind vs. fossil fuels its important to consider  fuel costs, integration costs, operating costs, and the cost of tax incentives. Wind energy is cost-competitive with fossil fuels, especially coal. In Montana, wind energy is less expensive than coal for NorthWestern Energy--the state's largest utility. The graph below from the Montana Public Service Commission, compares the costs of various resources in NorthWestern's portfolio. Judith Gap wind facility is about $47.00/Megawatt-hour (or 4.7 cents/kilowatt-hour) and Colstrip Unit 4 is $68.00/Megawatt-hour or (6.8 cents/kilowatt hour).
  • Today's typical new turbine has a 2.3-megawatt capacity; 7-megawatt turbines will be available soon.  The newer turbines can wring more electric power out of the wind (especially at lower wind speeds) than older turbines could. The combination of greater output and greater capacity nearly offsets the materials and labor cost increases plaguing traditional resources.
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    wind to fossil fuels 
smithree98

Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Vehicles - Is Hydrogen the Fuel of the Future? - 1 views

  • The benefits of ditching fossil fuels for hydrogen are many, of course. Burning fossil fuels like coal, natural gas and oil to heat and cool our buildings and run our vehicles takes a heavy toll on the environment, contributing significantly to both local problems such as elevated particulate levels and global ones such as a warming climate. The only by-product of running a hydrogen-powered fuel cell is oxygen and a trickle of water, neither of which will cause any harm to human health or the environment.
  • But right now, 95 percent of the hydrogen available in the United States is either extracted from fossil fuels or made using electrolytic processes powered by fossil fuels, thus negating any real emissions savings or reduction in fossil-fuel usage. Only if renewable energy sources—solar, wind and others—can be harnessed to provide the energy to process hydrogen fuel can the dream of a truly clean hydrogen fuel be realized.
  • They concluded that we’d lower greenhouse gas emissions more by driving gasoline/electric hybrid cars than by driving fuel-cell cars run on hydrogen from coal. Hydrogen made using natural gas would fare a little bit better in terms of pollution output, while making it from wind power would be a slam-dunk for the environment.
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  • many reasons, ranging from safety to cost to lack of demand.
  • Another problem is the lack of hydrogen refueling stations
  • replacing the fossil fuels responsible for global warming and various nagging forms of pollution.
  • they are spending upwards of $1 million to produce each one due to the advanced technology involved and low production runs. Toyota hopes to reduce its costs per fuel-cell vehicle to around $50,000 by 2015
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    says most things about hydrogen and what it does
rutalil00

Wind power - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - 1 views

  • Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electricity, windmills for mechanical power, windpumps for water pumping or drainage, or sails to propel ships
  • Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electricity, windmills for mechanical power, windpumps for water pumping or drainage, or sails to propel ships.
  • The total amount of available power from the wind is considerably more than present human power use from all sources.[3] At the end of 2011, worldwide nameplate capacity of wind-powered generators was 238 gigawatts (GW), growing by 41 GW over the preceding year.[4] Wind power now (2010 data) has the capacity to generate 430 TWh annually, which is about 2.5% of worldwide electricity usage.[5][6] Over the past five years (2010 data) the average annual growth in new installations has been 27.6 percent. Wind power market penetration is expected to reach 3.35 percent by 2013 and 8 percent by 2018.[7][8] Several countries have already achieved relatively high levels of wind power penetration, such as 21% of stationary electricity production in Denmark,[5] 18% in Portugal,[5] 16% in Spain,[5] 14% in Ireland[9] and 9% in Germany in 2010.[5][10] As of 2011, 83 countries around the world are using wind power on a commercial basis
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  • A large wind farm may consist of several hundred individual wind turbines which are connected to the electric power transmission network. Offshore wind power can harness the better wind speeds that are available offshore compared to on land, so offshore wind power’s contribution in terms of electricity supplied is higher.[11] Small onshore wind facilities are used to provide electricity to isolated locations and utility companies increasingly buy back surplus electricity produced by small domestic wind turbines. Although a variable source of power, the intermittency of wind seldom creates problems when using wind power to supply up to 20% of total electricity demand, but as the proportion rises, increased costs, a need to use storage such as pumped-storage hydroelectricity, upgrade the grid, or a lowered ability to supplant conventional production may occur.[12][13][14] Power management techniques such as excess capacity, storage, dispatchable backing supply (usually natural gas), exporting and importing power to neighboring areas or reducing demand when wind production is low, can mitigate these problems.
  • Wind power, as an alternative to fossil fuels, is plentiful, renewable, widely distributed, clean, produces no greenhouse gas emissions during operation, and uses little land. In operation, the overall cost per unit of energy produced is similar to the cost for new coal and natural gas installations.[15] The construction of wind farms is not universally welcomed, but any effects on the environment from wind power are generally much less problematic than those of any other power source
  • Wind is the movement of air across the surface of the Earth, affected by areas of high pressure and of low pressure.[35] The surface of the Earth is heated unevenly by the Sun, depending on factors such as the angle of incidence of the sun's rays at the surface (which differs with latitude and time of day) and whether the land is open or covered with vegetation. Also, large bodies of water, such as the oceans, heat up and cool down slower than the land. The heat energy absorbed at the Earth's surface is transferred to the air directly above it and, as warmer air is less dense than cooler air, it rises above the cool air to form areas of high pressure and thus pressure differentials. The rotation of the Earth drags the atmosphere around with it causing turbulence. These effects combine to cause a constantly varying pattern of winds across the surface of the Earth.[35]
  • Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electrical power, windmills for mechanical power, wind pumps for water pumping or drainage, or sails to propel ships.
  • Compared to the environmental impact of traditional energy sources, the environmental impact of wind power is relatively minor in terms of pollution
  • Wind energy is the kinetic energy of air in motion, also called wind
  • ind power, as an alternative to fossil fuels, is plentiful, renewable, widely distributed, clean, produces no greenhouse gas emissions during operation and uses little land.[2] The effects on the environment are generally less problematic than those from other powe
  • Wind power is very consistent from year to year but has significant variation over shorter time scales. The intermittency of wind seldom creates problems when used to supply up to 20% of total electricity demand,[5] but as the proportion increases, a need to upgrade the grid, and a lowered ability to supplant conventional production can occur.
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    wind turbine stuff
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    "Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electrical power, windmills for mechanical power, wind pumps for water pumping or drainage, or sails to propel ships."
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    Wind power, as an alternative to fossil fuels, is plentiful, renewable, widely distributed, clean, produces no greenhouse gas emissions during operation and uses little land.[2] The effects on the environment are generally less problematic than those from other power sources. As of 2011, Denmark is generating more than a quarter of its electricity from wind and 83 countries around the world are using wind power on a commercial basis.[3] In 2010 wind energy production was over 2.5% of total worldwide electricity usage, and growing rapidly at more than 25% per annum. The monetary cost per unit of energy produced is similar to the cost for new coal and natural gas installations.[4]
mannixjul00

Fossils Fuels vs. Renewable Energy | Ecology Global Network - 1 views

  • Burning fossil fuels creates carbon dioxide, the number one greenhouse gas contributing to global warming. Combustion of these fossil fuels is considered to be the largest contributing factor to the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. In the 20th century, the average temperature of Earth rose 1 degree Fahrenheit (1°F). This was a period that saw the most prolific population growth and industrial development
  • Some estimates say our fossil fuel reserves will be depleted within 50 years, while others say it will be 100-120 years.
  • Sun, wind and water are perfect energy sources…depending on where you are. They are non-polluting, renewable and efficient
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  • The object is to capture and harness their mechanical power and convert it to electricity in the most effective and productive manner possible.
  • Another form of hydroelectric energy is tidal power. In use since the early 1900s, tidal power stations collect the energy created by the rise and fall of the tides to convert to electricity.
    • mannixjul00
       
      history maybe?
brownale99

How is geothermal energy better than fossil fuels - 1 views

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    "Geo thermal systems heat and cool your house cheaper and better than fossil fuels will with gas going up pretty soon you would not be able to afford it. It might be costly to put one in your house initially but it will pay itself off in 3-5 years. Also there is a company called ECONAR that builds a heat pump that will cool, heat, and do 50 to 100% of your hot water heat. Fossil fuels also produce carbon dioxide when burnt, adding to the greenhouse gases and contributing to climate change."
slentzkel99

Describe Two Different Energy Alternatives To... | Chegg.com - 1 views

  • Difference Between Alternative Energies (Ae) And Fossil Fuels essential difference between alternative energies (AE) and fossil fuels? Alternative energies will not have a lot of pollution, but fossil fuels will cause some..
conwayjam99

World of Wind Energy.com - The World's #1 Wind Energy Site! - News - WIND ECOLOGY AND P... - 1 views

  • Wind power is a renewable resource, which means using it will not deplete the earth's supply of fossil fuels. It also is a clean energy source, and operation does not produce carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, mercury, particulates, or any other type of air pollution, as do conventional fossil fuel power sources.
  • Wind power consumes no fuel for continuing operation, and has no emissions directly related to electricity production.
  • Wind power's ability to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions will depend on the amount of wind energy produced, and hence scalability.
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  • Wind power may also have an indirect effect on pollution at other production facilities, due to the need for reserve and regulation, and may affect the efficiency profile of plants used to balance demand and supply, particularly if those facilities use fossil fuel sources. Compared to other power sources, however, wind energy's direct emissions are low, and the materials used in construction (concrete, steel, fiberglass, generation components) and transportation are straightforward.
  • Wind power's ability to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions will depend on the amount of wind energy produced, and hence scalability.
  • Wind power may also have an indirect effect on pollution at other production facilities, due to the need for reserve and regulation, and may affect the efficiency profile of plants used to balance demand and supply, particularly if those facilities use fossil fuel sources. Compared to other power sources, however, wind energy's direct emissions are low, and the materials used in construction (concrete, steel, fiberglass, generation components) and transportation are straightforward.
  • carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, mercury, particulates, or any other type of air pollution, as do conventional fossil fuel power sources.
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    " United States, onshore and near-shore turbines kill 70,000 birds per year, compared to 57 million killed by cars and 97.5 million killed by collisions with plate glass."
dpurdy

Hydrogen vehicle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - 2 views

  • As of October 2009, Fortune magazine estimated the cost of producing the Honda Clarity at $300,000 per car
  • by 2010, the Department of Energy estimated that the cost had fallen 80% and that such fuel cells could be manufactured for $51/kW,
  • When compared to ICE vehicles using gasoline, however, fuel cell vehicles using hydrogen produced from natural gas reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60%
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    • dpurdy
       
      so an internal combustion engine releases more co2 than a fuel cell that uses natural gas as its hydrogen source. 
  • Hydrogen fuel does not occur naturally on Earth and thus is not an energy source, but is an energy carrier. Currently it is most frequently made from methane or other fossil fuels. However, it can be produced from a wide range of sources (such as wind, solar, or nuclear) that are intermittent, too diffuse or too cumbersome to directly propel vehicles. Integrated wind-to-hydrogen plants, using electrolysis of water, are exploring technologies to deliver costs low enough, and quantities great enough, to compete with traditional energy sources.[1]
  • While methods of hydrogen production that do not use fossil fuel would be more sustainable
  • The challenges facing the use of hydrogen in vehicles include production, storage, transport and distribution.
  • The hydrogen infrastructure consists mainly of industrial hydrogen pipeline transport and hydrogen-equipped filling stations like those found on a hydrogen highway. Hydrogen stations which are not situated near a hydrogen pipeline can obtain supply via hydrogen tanks, compressed hydrogen tube trailers, liquid hydrogen tank trucks or dedicated onsite production.
  • Hydrogen fuel does not occur naturally on Earth and thus is not an energy source, but is an energy carrier. Currently it is most frequently made from methane or other fossil fuels. However, it can be produced from a wide range of sources (such as wind, solar, or nuclear) that are intermittent, too diffuse or too cumbersome to directly propel vehicles. Integrated wind-to-hydrogen plants, using electrolysis of water, are exploring technologies to deliver costs low enough, and quantities great enough, to compete with traditional energy sources.[2]
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    Fuel cell cars are expensive.  The fuel cell costs a lot
fieldingbry99

Ocean Wave Energy - Pros and Cons - 1 views

  • But, on shore ocean wave energy generators will occupy extended lengths of coastline. And most of the coastlines of the world that have significant wave activity are either highly desired residential areas, or they are pristine wilderness.
  • Ocean wave energy is still in the development stages but it is already apparent that its impact on the environment could be relatively high compared to other renewable energies.
  • It is noteworthy that even these environmental impacts are far less than those of most fossil fuel plants.
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  • electrical charges of less than $.05 per KWh; which makes it competitive with fossil fuel generators.
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    " wave energy is very close to being competitive with installed costs that suggest electrical charges of less than $.05 per KWh; which makes it competitive with fossil fuel generators. But that figure doesn't take into account the fact that wave energy is intermittent and variable. Even in the most active wave areas, there are many days with little wave activity."
carpenteraut98

Fuel Cells Save Money, Fuel and Mother Earth | ReTechnology Power and Water Engineering - 0 views

  • Although fuel cells are more expensive than fossil fuels, it is predicted that in the near future, fuel cell power will be less expensive and more efficient. The cost is an enticing advantage for the future.
  • The only emission is water vapor, a lot environment-friendly than the toxic elements released into the air by burning fossil fuels and gasoline burning cars.
  • The only waste product is water vapor.
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    "Although fuel cells are more expensive than fossil fuels, it is predicted that in the near future, fuel cell power will be less expensive and more efficient. The cost is an enticing advantage for the future."
carusonepay99

How sustainable is wind power? | OregonLive.com - 0 views

  • When looking at a wind powered electric generator, many people see a permanent source of renewable electricity. The problem with this image is that wind generators have shorter life spans than the term “sustainable” would imply. Wooden windmills in Holland that used to power industrial machinery before the invention of steam engines were more durable than these picket lines of propellers along our Columbia Gorge. The composite material and rare earth chemicals they require are both perishable and costly to replace. More important, like fossil fuels, our planet has a finite supply of these materials. Wind power is such an inefficient means of generating electricity that a world that seriously relied on it the way we do fossil fuels would run out of the limited resources needed to build and maintain them long before our present trends would exhaust our vast bounty of hydrocarbons.
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    "The first hard core environmentalist I ever encountered in life taught my 8th grade energy class at Estacada Junior High, a course that President Carter's brand new Department of Education had mandated upon us a decade before as a symbolic gesture to show he cared about America's energy future. Despite an overall policy of separating church and state, in this class it was the gospel that we would deplete all fossil fuels by the year 2000. Back when "2000" was preceded by "THE YEAR" it seemed so far away didn't it? The only lasting lesson this course taught me was a healthy skepticism of government mandated indoctrination."
sconzomic99

What is tidal energy - How tidal works? - Tidal energy - 0 views

  • tidal energy uses tidal strength of water and back and forth movement  in seas, rivers or oceans. Tidal power exploits kinetic energy of water that power water turbines with its movement between the wings which rotate the turbine to produce electricity.
  • For producing significant amount of energy out of tidal water turbines, range of tides should be high and substantial amount of water should be there for pushing water through the turbine.
  • It is significantly important to spot the appropriate place which provide suitable and sustainable conditions to produce tidal energy, there are plenty of places around the globe which provide good conditions for installing water turbines and then produce electricity use tidal power of oceans in the location.
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  • Once tidal power plant is built its’ electricity is free. It does not emit greenhouse gasses, carbon emission gasses which pollute environment. It does not have any dependency of any fossil fuel including furnace oil, gasses, etc; it needs no oil what so ever to produce electricity. Tidal power technology is renewable energy, which uses tidal and waves of same water for producing electricity over and over again. Tidal power technology like all renewable energy is clean energy and does not leave much impact on environment. Tidal power plants does not require much maintenance, therefore it is maintenance cost free. Tidal energy stations have about 80 % efficiency ratio, where as fossil fuel have approximately 30 % for efficiency levels. Tides in oceans are very predictable, its easy to judge when strong tides are going to show up from water consider weather and other conditions. The better tides and wave strengths of the oceans is, improved the efficiency of the station is. Electricity does not fluctuate on large scale using tidal energy as it happens in solar power technology.
  • Electricity can only be produced when tides are high in the sea, once ocean is calm and does not flow certain level of waves, it cannot produce electricity. Therefore electricity can be produced for only 10 hrs a day in presence of tides.
  • Tidal power plants are not cost effective. Millions of dollars are utilized for developing tidal power which could provide electricity in Megawatts.
  • Once tidal power plant is built its’ electricity is free. It does not emit greenhouse gasses, carbon emission gasses which pollute environment. It does not have any dependency of any fossil fuel including furnace oil, gasses, etc; it needs no oil what so ever to produce electricity. Tidal power technology is renewable energy, which uses tidal and waves of same water for producing electricity over and over again. Tidal power technology like all renewable energy is clean energy and does not leave much impact on environment. Tidal power plants does not require much maintenance, therefore it is maintenance cost free. Tidal energy stations have about 80 % efficiency ratio, where as fossil fuel have approximately 30 % for efficiency levels. Tides in oceans are very predictable, its easy to judge when strong tides are going to show up from water consider weather and other conditions. The better tides and wave strengths of the oceans is, improved the efficiency of the station is. Electricity does not fluctuate on large scale using tidal energy as it happens in solar power technology.
  • not appropriate to risk £15 millions worth of money. This is the main reason why this project is yet start
whalenkil98

Institute for Energy Research | Fossil Fuels - 1 views

  • Scattered records of the use of coal date to at least 1100 BC.
dpurdy

How Is Fossil Fuel Converted Into Electricity? | eHow.com - 0 views

  • The fossil fuels are then burned to heat water.
  • The steam from the water then increases in pressure, forcing a turbine to spin. The turbine is used to rotate a magnet encased in a generator a high speeds. As the magnet spins, electrons are produced, and they power the electricity grid.
  • As of 2009, fossil fuels supplied about 85 percent of the world's energy demands.
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