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hertznerkar00

What is U.S. electricity generation by energy source? - FAQ - U.S. Energy Information A... - 1 views

  • 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%
streetscor99

Fuel cells, what is a fuel cell, disadvantages, benefits - 0 views

  • * Because there is no combustion in a fuel cell, fuel is converted to electricity more efficiently than any other electrical generating technology available today. * There are no moving parts in a fuel cell stack, making them more reliable and quieter than generators. Even the ancillary systems (fans, pumps, controls, etcetera) in a complete fuel cell unit are relatively mature and simple technologies that should prove extremely reliable.
  • In the past, fuel cells were large and extremely expensive to manufacture, just as the first calculators and computers were. But, just like these products, the cost of fuel cells will quickly come down to consumer-affordable levels with mass production. We are currently in a transition period now, where many fuel cell companies are investing literally hundreds of millions of dollars to gear up for mass manufacturing at the same time they are trying to begin to develop a variety of markets for their product.
boothreb99

Group items matching "fuel cell" in title, tags, annotations or url - qmstech2 | Diigo ... - 1 views

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    "The fuel cell is being considered as an eventual replacement for the internal combustion engine for cars, trucks and buses. Major car manufacturers have teamed up with fuel cell research centers or are doing their own development. There are plans for mass-producing cars running on fuel cells. Because of the low operating cost of the combustion engine, and some unresolved technical challenges of the fuel cell, however, experts predict that a large scale implementation of the fuel cell to power cars will not occur before 2015, or even 2020."
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
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.
crandallmad00

How Tidal Power is Riding the Crest of a Wave - 1 views

  • The argument for tidal power is overwhelming: it’s a practically infinite supply of clean energy and has one of the smallest carbon footprints of any power source; it’s reliable, cost-efficient, has minimal effect on the marine environment and virtually zero effect on sea-gazing aesthetics. Most importantly, The World Energy Council estimates that the energy that can be harvested from world’s oceans is equal to twice the electricity that the world produces now
  • A reason many energy experts are looking at what tidal may be able to contribute, compared to other renewable sources like wind power, is that the amount of energy generated from a power-generating turbine is proportional to the density of the fluid that flows back and forth – meaning a water turbine has several hundred times the power of an air turbine.
  • Seawater is denser than air; a lot denser – 832 times to be exact, meaning an 8 knot tidal current has more energy than a 380kph wind. This means a wave farm of ‘sea snakes’ – devices built by Scotland’s Pelamis Wave Power – covering half a square mile of ocean could produce 30 MWh of power, which is estimated to be enough for 20,000 homes. A wave farm covering 472 square miles could supply 24 million households – enough for the entire UK.
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  • Partly this has been due to the uncertainty of how to harness all this abundant marine energy. While it’s great that there’s the potential to harness up to 153 GW of tidal power in the UK alone,
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
Xin Wang

Mapping US Tidal Power Potential | Climate Central - 0 views

  • It’s estimated that tidal power in Alaska could generate as much as 16 TWh/yr of energy (about four times more than what Hoover Dam generates in an average year). In the Lower 48, the potential energy from tidal power is just a fraction of that (just 0.6 TWh/year from Puget Sound, for example). Considering that no tidal power plants in these areas have even been approved yet, it’s going to be several years, or even decades, before Americans can rely on tidal power for their electricity. But for some regions, DOE says the energy from tidal currents will help meet the goal of generating 80 percent of America's electricity from clean sources by 2035.
lefebvrekat99

BIOFUELS: What are they? How can they be used as an energy source (either on-...(Q&A) - 0 views

  • ofuels can be derived from almost any type of "biomass," a broad term that refers to living or recently alive biological material. Because biomass is produced on a short time scale, it is considered a renewable resource. I will describe types of biofuels—ethanol, biodiesel, syngas, bio-hydrogen, biogas, and solid biofuel—and their use. I'll also identify the crops and wastes being used to produce biofuels, and some issues surrounding biofuel production. How are biofuels being used? Biofuels are already used to supply a small fraction of our energy needs, with significant opportunities to expand their use as infrastructure is developed. In addition to ethanol and biodiesel for transportation, biofuels are currently used for power production, heating and cooling of buildings, and the thermal needs of industry. Biomass is today the largest non-hydroelectric renewable source for electricity produced in the U.S. Most of this is produced in pulp and paper mills, which often generate electricity by burning wood chips, bark, or the sludges and "liquors" that are byproducts of the paper-making process. At the same time, they recover waste heat from electricity generation to meet the thermal needs of the mill. This highly efficient combination is referred to as combined heat and power (CHP) or cogeneration. The electricity generated may be used onsite and/or supplied to the local utility for distribution to the public.
cheniermab99

Wind Turbines for Electricity - 1 views

shared by cheniermab99 on 12 Mar 13 - No Cached
  • In 2006, wind power supplied 0.6% of US electricity but reduced CO2 emission from electricity production by a full 1%.
  • What really matters is the cost to society. With current subsidy methods, it costs around 3¢/kWh
  •   One-Time Cost per kW Capacity (usage) Factor Fixed Cost per kWh Variable Cost per kWh Total Cost per kWh Gas Turbine $439 15% 5.2¢ 8.7¢ 13.9¢ Coal $1,338 90% 2.7¢ 1.9¢ 4.5¢ Nuclear $2,180 90% 4.3¢ 0.3¢ 4.6¢ Wind $1,254* 30% 7.5¢ 0.0¢ 7.5¢
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  • as coal is the worst source of CO2. Thirty years from now, wind power might be cutting global GHG emissions by 10%.
cottonetar98

GENERATION TO THE NATION - 0 views

  • Wind is created when the sun hits the earth. The air above water and the air above the ground heat at different rates. Since the air above the ground heats faster, the warm air from the ground hits the atmosphere first. It then is pushed out toward the sea. As the air heads toward the sea, it gets colder and sinks back down to the sea level. This creates a current pushing the sea air toward the land in the form of wind. The stronger the sun's energy on the land and water, the faster the wind will circulate.
  • As the gearbox turns, it feeds the RPM into the generator, which transfers the energy into usable electrical energy and stores it. Large cables are attached to the generator that feed the electrical currents from the generators of all the wind turbines on the farm into one electrical storage area. The energy can then be transported through power lines around the area for commercial and home usage.
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    What makes wind. 
schmettererdav00

Biofuels - What are They and Where Do They Come From? | Sustainable Energy Systemz - 0 views

  • Biofuels are made with biomass (biological material from living or recently living organisms) there are many kinds, for example biodiesel involves growing crops that contain large amounts of natural oil, these plants then go through a refining process and subsequently are mixed in with regular diesel to power cars. Bio petrol is made in a similar way; plants are refined to make a natural ethanol.
dextereli99

What is the sustainability of solar energy? - Yahoo! Answers - 2 views

  • The will burn for billions of years, it won't run out any time soon. This is sustainable because it will not deplete in the near future. The harder question is if the materials that go into a solar cell are sustainable. They use primarily silicon, which is one of the most abundant materials on earth. But they can also use other things, like metals (copper, silver, gold), and some toxic chemicals (arsenic, cadmium) etc. The sustainability of these materials is questionable. These materials are recyclable, and it is thought 99% of a solar cell can be recycled. But the production of them does has some toxic site affects, which means we have to balance the 'clean' energy production of the cells with the bad by products of their manufacturing process.
butlerlex99

Solar Energy - 0 views

shared by butlerlex99 on 11 Mar 13 - Cached
  • Today's solar product offerings go way beyond what most people think of when they hear the term 'solar power' or 'solar energy' – typically they imagine solar electric panels on a roof converting sunlight into electricity. While these 'photo voltaic' panels do represent a piece of the solar pie, many more solar-powered products and technologies utilizing the sun's energy now exist. One of the biggest is solar hot water, whether for residential or commercial the use of the sun's heat to warm a potable water supply instead of electricity is a very efficient method and truly cost-effective. Solar HVAC systems, battery-backed off-grid systems, solar farms and more are at the forefront of the solar power world innovations, with more to come. Add this site to your Favorites to keep up with all the latest developments.
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    solar products 
kenyonlau99

How much power is generated in the United States by solar power? - 2 views

  • just over 843,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity were provided by solar power. The vast majority of that, more than 666,500 kWh, were produced in California. Roughly 14 percent of the total renewable energy generated in the U.S. in 2008 was solar energy. And remember that these numbers continue to grow each year. The solar industry has been growing on an average of 30-40 percent each year, and as the industry grows, so will the amount of clean, renewable power it puts out. Interested in Home Solar Energy? Fill in your details below and certified solar contractors will give you FREE estimates. What type of Solar Energy services are you interested in? * Please Select Solar Electrical Solar Thermal First Name * Last Name * Zipcode *
    • kenyonlau99
       
      GOOD INFO!
  • The EIA states that just over 843,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity were provided by solar power. The vast majority of that, more than 666,500 kWh, were produced in California. Roughly 14 percent of the total renewable energy generated in the U.S. in 2008 was solar energy. And remember that these numbers continue to grow each year. The solar industry has been growing on an average of 30-40 percent each year, and as the industry grows, so will the amount of clean, renewable power it puts out.
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    how much solar energy is being converted in the USA?
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    "How much power is generated in the United States by solar power? ted-vollgraff According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), renewable energy accounted for 7 percent of U.S. energy consumption in 2008. Solar power accounted for only one percent. But, considering how much energy is consumed each year in the United States, that is still a decent bit of power. The EIA states that just over 843,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity were provided by solar power. The vast majority of that, more than 666,500 kWh, were produced in California. Roughly 14 percent of the total renewable energy generated in the U.S. in 2008 was solar energy. And remember that these numbers continue to grow each year. The solar industry has been growing on an average of 30-40 percent each year, and as the industry grows, so will the amount of clean, renewable power it puts out. "
conwayjam99

What are the advantages and disadvantages of wind power - 0 views

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    "Wind power will become cheaper than fossil fuel in the next few years (when the price of carbon is added to coal and oil), and in many places already is."
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