Group items tagged

Tidal power, often referred to as tidal energy, is a type of hydropower that harnesses the energy of our ocean’s tides or other flowing waterways to produce power, usually in the form of electricity.  As sea levels rise and fall or the currents flow underwater a potential energy is created.  By using equipment such as tidal energy generators and underwater turbines in areas of high tidal movements, the kinetic motion of the ocean can be used to turn the turbines, thus producing electricity. 

What is wave power? Wave power is renewable energy derived from ocean waves. It is the kinetic energy of wind interacting with water and creating waves

Wave energy is generated by the wind

The best wave energy environments are along western coastlines because the largest, most consistent winds come from the west,

Since 1998, the Pelamis development programme has covered all aspects of the design from the fundamental concept refinement through to accelerated cycle testing of individual components for reliability.

During the first phase of Pelamis development prior to full-scale operations in 2004, extensive numerical modelling and analysis and a range of technology demonstration models at different scales were used to understand survival characteristics in extreme waves and verify the accuracy of our simulations

 The process of converting wind energy to electric energy uses a wind turbine. The wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in the wind into mechanical power. The mechanical power can be used for many things. In the past this meant pumping water, creating ventilation, or grinding food sources. While these things still occur, wind power is also used to generate electricity.      The wind turbine is a tall shaft with several horizontal rectangular blades attached to it. These blades are often covered with stiff material or ratting material. When turned they push against the air, causing pressure, and turning the inner shaft. This shaft connects to a generator which then creates energy.

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]

What is U.S. electricity generation by energy source? In 2012, the United States generated about 4,054 billion kilowatthours of electricity.  About 68% of the electricity generated was from fossil fuel (coal, natural gas, and petroleum), with 37% attributed from coal. Energy sources and percent share of  total electricity generation in 2012 were:  Coal 37% Natural Gas 30% Nuclear 19% Hydropower 7% Other Renewable 5% Biomass 1.42% Geothermal 0.41% Solar 0.11% Wind 3.46% Petroleum 1% Other Gases < 1%

Biofuels and bioenergy are as old as civilization itself.  Solid biofuels like wood, dung and charcoal have been used ever since man discovered fire, and are still used today for cooking and heating in many communities in developing countries.

Photovoltaic cells are made of at least two layers of semiconducting material. The first layer has a positive charge; the next layer has a negative charge. When sunlight strikes the cell, the semiconducting material absorbs photons from the light. This process frees electrons from the negative layer, which move to the positive layer. This flow of electrons constitutes an electric current, which can be captured in a circuit connecting the two layers. The electricity generated by a photovoltaic cell can be used directly, stored in batteries or sold back to a utility company.

If solar panels are manufactured using electricity from coal-burning plants, they indirectly emit greenhouse gas emissions. That makes them less clean than a panel that’s manufactured using renewable energy.

hexafluoride

eothermal power plants do not burn fuel to generate electricity, so their emission levels are very low. They release less than 1% of the carbon dioxide emissions of a fossil fuel plant. Geothermal plants use scrubber systems to clean the air of hydrogen sulfide that is naturally found in the steam and hot water.

Geothermal plants emit 97% less acid rain-causing sulfur compounds than are emitted by fossil fuel plants. After the steam and water from a geothermal reservoir have been used, they are injected back into the Earth.

In 2011, U.S. geothermal power plants produced about 17 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh), or 0.4% of total U.S. electricity generation.

3,816,000 Gigawatts of Electricity is used in the United states each year