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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
faglejoh98

Renewable Energy Sources in the United States - 0 views

  • Flash steam plants are the most common type of geothermal power plants in operation today. They use extremely hot water (above 300 degrees F (149 degrees C)), which is pumped under high pressure to the generation equipment at the surface. The hot Estimated subterranean temperatures at a depth of 6 kilometers.water is vaporized and the vapor in turn drives turbines to generate electricity
  • While geothermal energy use is efficient, reliable, and environmentally friendly, it currently meets less than 1% of U.S. power needs.
  • While geothermal energy use is efficient, reliable, and environmentally friendly, it currently meets less than 1% of U.S. power needs.
lefebvrekat99

Biodiesel as a Transportation Fuel - 0 views

  • Biodiesel is an alternative fuel produced from renewable resources, such as soybeans or used restaurant grease. Biodiesel contains no petroleum, but it can be blended with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel blend. It can be used in diesel engines with no major modifications. Biodiesel is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics.
cottonetar98

Price List | Bergey Wind PowerBergey Wind Power - 0 views

shared by cottonetar98 on 12 Mar 13 - No Cached
  • It’s like buying vs. renting a home. Over the next 10 years a typical homeowner or small business will pay $18,000 to over $50,000 in electric bills, at rates that often increase faster than inflation. When you choose a Bergey wind system you take the same monthly expense and invest it in a tangible asset. Once your Bergey turbine is paid off, you will enjoy more money in your pocket every month for the next 20 – 40 years. Tax credits and rebates make it affordable. Small wind turbines qualify for a 30% federal tax credit and, for businesses, accelerated depreciation.  USDA grants are available for farmers, ranchers, and rural businesses.  Many states offer additional incentives (see www.dsireusa.org).  These incentives make owning a Bergey wind turbine surprisingly affordable.
dylan purner

Energy Basics: Photovoltaics - 1 views

  • First used in about 1890, "photovoltaic" has two parts: photo, derived from the Greek word for light, and volt, relating to electricity pioneer Alessandro Volta. And this is what photovoltaic materials and devices do—they convert light energy into electrical energy, as French physicist Edmond Becquerel discovered as early as 1839.
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    "First used in about 1890, "photovoltaic" has two parts: photo, derived from the Greek word for light, and volt, relating to electricity pioneer Alessandro Volta. And this is what photovoltaic materials and devices do-they convert light energy into electrical energy, as French physicist Edmond Becquerel discovered as early as 1839. Becquerel discovered the process of using sunlight to produce an electric current in a solid material. But it took more than another century to truly understand this process. Scientists eventually learned that the photoelectric or photovoltaic effect caused certain materials to convert light energy into electrical energy at the atomic level. PV systems are already an important part of our daily lives. Simple PV systems provide power for small consumer items such as calculators and wristwatches. More complicated systems provide power for communications satellites, water pumps, and the lights, appliances, and machines in some homes and workplaces. Many road and traffic signs also are now powered by PV. In many cases, PV power is the least expensive form of electricity for these tasks."
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."
wooddan99

Geothermal Energy - 3 views

  • Resources of geothermal energy range from the shallow ground to hot water and hot rock found a few miles beneath the Earth's surface, and down even deeper to the extremely high temperatures of molten rock called magma.
  • Hot water near the surface of Earth can be used directly for heat.
  • Wells can be drilled into underground reservoirs for the generation of electricity. Some geothermal power plants use the steam from a reservoir to power a turbine/generator, while others use the hot water to boil a working fluid that vaporizes and then turns a turbine.
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  • Geothermal energy is the heat from the Earth. It's clean and sustainable. Resources of geothermal energy range from the shallow ground to hot water and hot rock found a few miles beneath the Earth's surface, and down even deeper to the extremely high temperatures of molten rock called magma.
  • Hot dry rock resources occur at depths of 3 to 5 miles everywhere beneath the Earth's surface and at lesser depths in certain areas.
  • of geothermal energy range from the shallow ground to hot water and hot rock found a few miles beneath the Earth's surface, and down even deeper to the extremely hig
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    "Geothermal energy is the heat from the Earth. It's clean and sustainable. Resources of geothermal energy range from the shallow ground to hot water and hot rock found a few miles beneath the Earth's surface, and down even deeper to the extremely high temperatures of molten rock called magma."
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    "Geothermal energy is the heat from the Earth. It's clean and sustainable. Resources of geothermal energy range from the shallow ground to hot water and hot rock found a few miles beneath the Earth's surface, and down even deeper to the extremely high temperatures of molten rock called magma."
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    "Geothermal energy is the heat from the Earth. It's clean and sustainable. Resources of geothermal energy range from the shallow ground to hot water and hot rock found a few miles beneath the Earth's surface, and down even deeper to the extremely high temperatures of molten rock called magma."
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    Geothermal energy can be easily found close to the surface or far down in the core.
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    "Geothermal energy is the heat from the Earth. It's clean and sustainable. Resources of geothermal energy range from the shallow ground to hot water and hot rock found a few miles beneath the Earth's surface, and down even deeper to the extremely high temperatures of molten rock called magma."
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    "Geothermal energy is the heat from the Earth. It's clean and sustainable. Resources of geothermal energy range from the shallow ground to hot water and hot rock found a few miles beneath the Earth's surface, and down even deeper to the extremely high temperatures of molten rock called magma."
jack wells

Wind power - sustainable power generation from wind farms across the globe - 0 views

  • Wind power is safe, clean and increasingly affordable – with the potential for production on a much larger scale.Government support is crucial in ensuring the expansion of wind power. We believe such support should be transitional and limited. In the US, there is continuing uncertainty over the renewal of the production tax credit, which provides incentives to invest in wind energy. We are working with other wind energy suppliers to make an effective case for wind energy generation and the renewal of the production tax credit.Wind farms can provide large volumes of electricity (sometimes at a lower cost than conventional power generation)
  • Wind power is safe, clean and increasingly affordable – with the potential for production on a much larger scale.Government support is crucial in ensuring the expansion of wind power. We believe such support should be transitional and limited. In the US, there is continuing uncertainty over the renewal of the production tax credit, which provides incentives to invest in wind energy. We are working with other wind energy suppliers to make an effective case for wind energy generation and the renewal of the production tax credit.Wind farms can provide large volumes of electricity (sometimes at a lower cost than conventional power generation) Wind energy and the environment While wind farms can be an attractive alternative energy offering, they can also stir debate. During the planning stage for each new wind farm we assess the potential social and environmental impacts.The impact on wildlife and habitat The impact of wind farms on local residentsNoise from wind turbinesShadow flicker Interference with communications signalsWe then take steps to manage any negative impacts through engineering design changes, technology and other elements.
  • Wind power is safe, clean and increasingly affordable – with the potential for production on a much larger scale.Government support is crucial in ensuring the expansion of wind power. We believe such support should be transitional and limited. In the US, there is continuing uncertainty over the renewal of the production tax credit, which provides incentives to invest in wind energy. We are working with other wind energy suppliers to make an effective case for wind energy generation and the renewal of the production tax credit.
crandallmad00

Energy Resources: Tidal power - 0 views

  • A huge dam (called a "barrage") is built across a river estuary. When the tide goes in and out, the water flows through tunnels in the dam. The ebb and flow of the tides can be used to turn a turbine, or it can be used to push air through a pipe, which then turns a turbine. Large lock gates, like the ones used on canals, allow ships to pass. If one was built across the Severn Estuary, the tides at Weston-super-Mare would not go out nearly as far - there'd be water to play in for most of the time. But the Severn Estuary carries sewage and other wastes from many places (e.g. Bristol & Gloucester) out to sea. A tidal barrage would mean that this stuff would hang around Weston-super-Mare an awful lot longer! Also, if you're one of the 80,000+ birds that feeds on the exposed mud flats when the tide goes out, then you have a problem, because the tide won't be going out properly any more.
mchughkon99

Directory:Cents Per Kilowatt-Hour - PESWiki - 0 views

  • GasCurrently supplies around 15% of the global electricity demand. 3.9 - 4.4 Cents/kW-h Gas-fired plants and generally quicker and less expensive to build than coal or nuclear, but a relatively high percentage of the cost/KWh is derived from the cost of the fuel. Due to the current (and projected future) upwards trend in gas prices, there is uncertainty around the cost / KWh over the lifetime of plants. Gas burns more cleanly than coal, but the gas itself (largely methane) is a potent greenhouse gas. Some energy conversions to calculate your cost of natural gas per kwh. 100 cubic feet (CCF)~ 1 Therm = 100,000 btu ~ 29.3 kwh. CoalCurrently supplies around 38% of the global electricity demand. 4.8 - 5.5 Cents/kW-h Increasingly difficult to build new coal plants in the developed world, due to environmental requirements governing the plants. Growing concern about coal fired plants in the developing world (China, for instance, imposes less environmental overhead, and has large supplies of high sulphur content coal). The supply of coal is plentiful, but the coal generation method is perceived to make a larger contribution to air pollution than the rest of the methods combined. NuclearCurrently supplies around 24% of the global electricity demand. 11.1 - 14.5 Cents/kW-h Political difficulties in using nuclear in some nations. Risk of widespread (and potentially lethal) contamination upon containment failure. Fuel is plentiful, but problematic. Waste disposal remains a significant problem, and de-commissioning is costly (averaging approximately US $320MM per plant in the US).
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    cost for fossil fuels
dittrichcai99

Geothermal Basics Current Use - 1 views

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    "The geothermal power production in the U.S. today provides enough electricity to meet the electricity needs of about 2.4 million California households. (1) This does not include contributions from geothermal heat pumps and direct heating uses."
demboskiemm00

Solar power in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - 0 views

  • Solar potential from very large scale solar power plants State Land used (sq mi) Potential (GWp) Annual generation (TWh) Arizona 19,279 2,468 5,837 California 6,853 877 2,075 Colorado 2,124 272 643 Nevada 5,589 715 1,692 New Mexico 15,156 1,940 4,588 Texas 1,162 149 351 Utah 3,564 456 1,079
  • 6,877
  • Total generation in the United States is about 3,800 TWh.[11]
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  • ) systems. This was double the 435 MW installed in 2009 around the U.S.[16] According to a 2011 survey conducted by independent polling firm Kelton Research, nine out of 10 Americans support the use and development of solar technology. Eight out of 10 respondents indicated that "the federal government should support solar manufacturing in the U.S. and should give federal subsidies for solar energy".[17] According to the Energy Information Administration, in 2010, subsidies to the solar power industry amounted to 8.2% ($968 million) of all federal subsidies for electricity generation.[18] Solar Energy Industries Association and GTM Research found that the amount of new solar electric capacity increased in 2012 by 76 percent from 2011, raising the United States’ market share of the world’s installations above 10 percent, up from roughly 5 to 7 percent in the last seven years. [19]
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    "Total: 42,554 MW - 76,577 MW, depending on the technology used"
filionmar99

Group items tagged pollution - qmstech2 | Diigo Groups - 0 views

    • filionmar99
       
      read this
  • The major challenge to using wind as a source of power is that it is intermittent and does not always blow when electricity is needed. Wind cannot be stored (although wind-generated electricity can be stored, if batteries are used), and not all winds can be harnessed to meet the timing of electricity demands. Further, good wind sites are often located in remote locations far from areas of electric power demand (such as cities).
  • 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.
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  • A Renewable Non-Polluting Resource Wind energy is a free, renewable resource, so no matter how much is used today, there will still be the same supply in the future. Wind energy is also a source of clean, non-polluting, electricity. Unlike conventional power plants, wind plants emit no air pollutants or greenhouse gases. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, in 1990, California's wind power plants offset the emission of more than 2.5 billion pounds of carbon dioxide, and 15 million pounds of other pollutants that would have otherwise been produced. It would take a forest of 90 million to 175 million trees to provide the same air quality.
rodriguezjos99

Is Tidal Energy a sustainable way to produce power? | GreenAnswers - 4 views

  • It does not create any emissions that may contribute to global warming.
  • Tidal energy is most sustainable and beneficial as a tool in a larger tool belt of renewable energy sources needed to meet our energy demands.
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    "tidal power is a renewable source of electrical power that is used in addition to other sources of energy. It does not create any emissions that may contribute to global warming. Tidal power is not entirely the most consistent source of electricity though, as it does not adhere to peak usage schedules, due to daily tidal cycles (differing energy harnessing potential between Ebb and Flood tides). Tidal energy is most sustainable and beneficial as a tool in a larger tool belt of renewable energy sources needed to meet our energy demands."
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    "Yes, tidal power is a renewable source of electrical power that is used in addition to other sources of energy. It does not create any emissions that may contribute to global warming. Tidal power is not entirely the most consistent source of electricity though, as it does not adhere to peak usage schedules, due to daily tidal cycles (differing energy harnessing potential between Ebb and Flood tides). Tidal energy is most sustainable and beneficial as a tool in a larger tool belt of renewable energy sources needed to meet our energy demands."
giumarraant99

http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/foresight/docs/energy/hydrogen-and-fuel-cells-towards-a-su... - 1 views

    • giumarraant99
       
      Read abstract.. why hydrogen and fuel cells
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    CO2 pollution use (sticky note)
rutalil00

Wind Power - Converting wind energy into electricity - 0 views

  • Wind power is produced by using wind generators to harness the kinetic energy of wind. It is gaining worldwide popularity as a large scale energy source, although it still only provides less than one percent of global energy consumption. The articles listed below explore wind power and its usage around the world.
  • Wind power is produced by using wind generators to harness the kinetic energy of wind. It is gaining worldwide popularity as a large scale energy source, although it still only provides less than one percent of global energy consumption. The articles listed below explore wind power and its usage around the world.
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    Wind Power News | Wind Power Forum | Wind Power Directory | Videos Wind power is produced by using wind generators to harness the kinetic energy of wind. It is gaining worldwide popularity as a large scale energy source, although it still only provides less than one percent of global energy consumption.
tavarreskat99

Tidal power (tidal energy) facts - Interesting energy facts - 1 views

  • Tide mills, in use on the Spanish, French and British coasts, date back to 787 A.D.
  • Tidal energy is a type of energy that produces electricity and other forms of power through the use of water.
  • The tide moves a huge amount of water twice each day and although the tidal energy supply is reliable and plentiful, converting it into useful electrical power is not easy.
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  • The first involves converting the power of the horizontal movement of the water into electricity. The second involves producing energy from the rise and drop of water levels
  • 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 station at the mouth of the La Rance river estuary in France.
  • There are three prototypes of tidal energy devices: horizontal axis turbine, vertical axis turbine, and oscillating devices
  • Tidal energy is not on the list of sustainable energy technologies the UN agencies even though for islanders it is our best hope for large amounts of affordable clean power.
  • Turbines, similar to wind turbines, can be anchored to the sea bed to generate electricity from tidal currents
  • Tidal energy has an efficiency of 80% in converting the potential energy of the water into electricity
dpurdy

Solar Electricity and how it works - Photovoltaic Systems and Components, Grid-Connecte... - 0 views

  • A valuable feature of photovoltaic systems is the ability to connect with the existing power grid which allows owners to sell excessive electricity back to the utility with a plan known as (5) Net Metering. At times when you are not using all of the electricity produced by your system, your meter will spin backwards selling the electricity back to the (6) utility power grid at retail rate.
  • (1) Solar Electric or PV modules convert sunlight to electricity. The PV modules generate DC electricity - or direct current - sending it to the inverter. (2) The inverter transforms the DC power into AC electricity for ordinary household needs. (3) Existing electrical panel distributes solar electricity and utility power to (4) loads (appliances). For systems with a battery backup (optional), the inverter also regulates the charge of batteries. The electricity stored in the batteries can be used at night or during blackouts.
    • dpurdy
       
      Great video showing solar cell (photovoltaic) in action.
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    Solar is not always connected to grid. Sometimes there are batteries, otherwise your system is connected to grid to share excess electricity.
giumarraant99

NREL: Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Research - Renewable Electrolysis - 0 views

  • Renewable electrolysis is a process that uses renewable electricity to produce hydrogen by passing an electrical current through water. Renewable energy sources such as photovoltaics, wind, biomass, hydropower, and geothermal can provide clean, sustainable electricity for our nation
  • Wind turbines can be used to produce hydrogen through a process called renewable electrolysis.
dpurdy

Succeeding in the 21st Century -- Skills and Abilities for the Future TCA paper - 0 views

  • The exchange of thoughts and ideas by speech or writing
  • Cooperative effort within a group in order to achieve a desired goal
  • To give rise to imaginative or artistic abilities as well as the ability to find novel solutions to problems
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  • Training or control over one's conduct for personal improvement as well as the ability to forgo immediate pleasure for long term goals
  • The ability to discern factual from opinionated information
  • The effective use of grammatical rules and guidelines in order to express one's ideas in correct form
  • bility to use computer technology effectively, including word-processing and spreadsheets
  • The ability to use the defined principles of logic and effectively engage in abstract thinking to achieve mastery or understanding
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