ALTERNATIVE%20ENERGY%20SOURCES

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ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES

• Nonrenewable energy sources take a toll on our
  natural resources and pollute the environment.
• Alternative energy sources do not impact our
  environment as badly.

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SOLAR ENERGY

• 1. Uses the Suns radiation to produce energy.
  Solar panels collect solar energy photovoltaic
  cells convert the suns energy into electricity.
• 2. Advantages non-polluting, makes lots of
  energy

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SOLAR ENERGY CONTINUED

• 3. Disadvantages photovoltaic cells produce a
  very small electrical current need many to meet
  needs, takes up lots of space, expensive to
  install, not always sunny
• 4. Where - areas with lots of sunlight open
  space (desert)

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WATER ENERGY (Hydroelectric)

• 1. Hydroelectric power - water falls on turbine
  which causes them to turn, producing energy.
• 2. Advantages non polluting, recreational
  opportunities, drinking water, water for
  irrigation

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WATER ENERGY CONTINUED

• 3. Disadvantages floods behind dam, destroys
  wildlife habitat, interrupts migrating fish,
  changes natural pattern of water flow
• 4. Where Must have flowing water source (river)

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WIND ENERGY

• 1. Wind turns propeller that then generates
  energy.
• 2. Advantages unlimited, built quickly,
  expandable, non polluting, land under wind farms
  can be used for cattle, least expensive
  alternative energy source

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WIND ENERGY CONTINUED

• 3. Disadvantages need steady winds, interfere
  with birds, noisy, difficult to transport
  produced energy to far away locations.
• 4. Where coastal areas, areas with constant
  winds and open ground, or high elevations

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GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

• 1. Uses Earths internal heat to produce energy
• 2. Advantages abundant, reliable, steam doesnt
  pollute

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GEOTHERMAL ENERGY CONTINUED

• 3. Disadvantages water needed, minerals clog
  pipes, steam impacts birds
• 4. Where near plate boundaries or hot spots
  (Iceland, Yellowstone)

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BIOMASS FUELS

• Biomass fuels are obtained from organic
  materials.
• 1.Wood, dried crops (hay), dried fecal material
  from animals (manure)
• 2.Methane produced when bacteria decompose
  organic wastes (decomposition of trash,
  fermenting manure both can be used to produce
  gas and fuel power
• 3.Alcohol ethanol can be made by fermenting
  agricultural waste (corn)
• Can be used in vehicles (gasohol) produces less
  air pollution

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Biomass Advantages

• Environmentally friendly (limited air
  pollution)
• Reduces the amount of wastes entering a
  landfill or polluting the earth

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Biomass Disadvantages

• It takes many resources to grow crops for
  biomass
• Burning of biomass does release greenhouse
  gases into the air
• Ethanol (from corn) is less efficient than
  fossil fuel

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NUCLEAR ENERGY

• 1. Nuclear fission of radioactive uranium creates
  energy
• 2. Advantages no release of greenhouse gases,
  very efficient

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NUCLEAR ENERGY CONTINUED

• 3. Disadvantages high cost of operation, safety
  with radioactive materials, nonrenewable
• 4. Where near a water source for cooling the
  reactor

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Other Alternatives Tidal Power

• 1. As ocean tides rise, water flows behind a dam
  when tides fall, the water is trapped behind the
  dam. The trapped water is released to turn a
  turbine.
• 2. Advantages non-polluting, renewable

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Tidal Power Continued

• Disadvantages expensive to build and maintain,
  not many suitable locations.
• Where? coastlines (France, Russia, Canada)

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Other Alternatives

• Hydrogen an abundant element found in all
  living things and water.
• Advantages abundant, produces harmless water
  vapor when burned
• Disadvantages producing hydrogen right now is
  expensive and causes pollution. Needs to be
  compressed to be as effective as gasoline
  explosive.

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Other Alternatives

• Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) warm
  surface ocean water (in the tropics) is brought
  to boil in a vacuum chamber, turns to steam,
  turns a turbine.
• Disadvantage - expensive, possible environmental
  impacts of pumping deep ocean water to the surface

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THINK ABOUT IT

• If you were a politician and it was up to you to
  decide how the US should produce energy, which
  type of energy would you choose and why?