active solar (think solar panels) production – use the sun’s energy to heat water or air either...
Post on 25-Dec-2015
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Active Solar (think solar panels)• Production
– Use the sun’s energy to heat water or air• Either stored or used immediately
– Photovoltaic cells are used to generate electricity by taking the solar energy and converting to electricity
Active Solar Advantages
• Limitless solar energy• Once the panels are made, emission free• Store energy during the day and release at
night
Active Solar Disadvantages and Environmental Effects
• Manufacturing the photovoltaic cells requires silicon, and this produces some waste product.
• Requires backup (battery or another system) for rainy/cloudy days
• Expensive• Not very efficient• Land use/habitat loss for large panel
installation
Ethanol Production• Ex. Corn (most common)
• The fermentation process:o the corn is crushed into a powder, , mixed to
form a “mash,” enzymes and yeast are added, mixture is transferred to fermenters, where the sugar becomes ethanol and CO2
o after 40-50 hours of fermentation, the resulting product goes to distillation columns, where the ethanol is separated and blended with natural gasoline
Ethanol advantages
• Domestically produced• Lower emissions of air pollutants• Waste can be used as livestock feed
Ethanol disadvantages and environmental effects
• Releases carbon dioxide • Uses lots of land to grow crops• Higher food costs• Millions of gallons of water used in
fermentation process
Hydroelectric Production
• Water is stored behind dams, and are released to spin turbines
• Turbines stationed in rivers are spun as the water runs downstream
Hydroelectric advantages
• Cost effective• Flood control• Recreation• No pollution after it is created
Hydroelectric Disadvantages and environmental effects
• High initial costs• Air pollution in creating of dam• Destruction of habitat• Diversion of rivers • Restricts fish migrations• Siltation• Loss of nutrients downstream• Displacement of people
Wind Production
• Wind turns the turbine blades, which spin a shaft, which connects to the generator and makes electricity
Wind Advantages
• Can generate in remote locations• No waste once the turbines are constructed• Cheap source of energy once constructed
Wind disadvantages and environmental effects
• Not consistent• Noise pollution• Pollution in creating of turbines• Threats to birds and bats-may affect
migrations• Habitat fragmentation
Biomass production
• Biomass is any organic matter that can be used as an energy source
-ie. wood, crops, seaweed, animal wastes
• Burn it, heats water, creates steam, turns turbines, generates electricity
Biomass advantages
• Available throughout the world• Can be carbon neutral
Biomass disadvantages and environmental effects
• Releases carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrogen, sulfur
• Requires lots of land• Releases particulate matter
Hydrogen Fuel Cells Production
• Combines hydrogen and oxygen to create water
• This reaction causes electrons to move therefore producing energy like electricity and heat
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Advantages
• Only byproduct is water• highly efficient
Hydrogen Fuel Cells disadvantages and environmental affects
• Expensive and bulky• Hydrogen may escape and destroy ozone layer• Production causes pollution• Transportation and storage of hydrogen is
difficult
Passive Solar Production
• produced by the sun, then the solar energy is absorbed using natural materials with no moving parts or electrical devices
Passive Solar Advantages
• Requires no electricity or energy consumption• No equipment to maintain• Cost effective
Passive Solar disadvantages and environmental effects
• Not very reliable when it is not sunny• High initial costs• Geographically limited• Production of passive solar designs causes
pollution
Geothermal Production
• Using natural heat of Earths core• The heat can be used for heating or used in
the generation of electricity. • For electricity,
plants drill into ground, capture steam or hot water and use it to turn turbines
Geothermal advantages
• Doesn’t depend on weather• Doesn’t take up much space• Constant source of heat
Geothermal disadvantages and environmental effects
• High installation cost• Some areas don’t have access, not efficient or
economical to drill that deep• Emits hazardous gases (carbon dioxide,
hydrogen sulfide)• Cannot be transported
Tidal/Wave Power Production
• Tidal waves push turbines that generate electricity
Tidal/Wave Advantages
• Consistent power generation• Once built cost effective in long run• Low maintenance• Tides are predictable and steady
Tidal/wave disadvantages and environmental effects
• High initial costs• Geographically limited• Can harm marine life and affect migration
patterns• corrosion
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