SET 101 – Intro to Sustainable EnergyLecture 29/8/2010

What is Sustainable Energy Sustainable energy is the provision of

energy such that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Sustainable energy sources are most often regarded as including all renewable sources, such as plant matter, solar power, wind power, wave power, geothermal power and tidal power. It usually also includes technologies that improve energy efficiency.

Sustainable Conventional fission power is sometimes

referred to as sustainable, but this is controversial politically due to concerns about peak uranium, radioactive waste disposal and the risks of disaster due to accident, terrorism, or natural disaster.

What is Renewable Energy? Renewable energy is energy which

comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable (naturally replenished).

Renewable In 2008, about 19% of global final

energy consumption came from renewables, with 13% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.2% from hydroelectricity.

Renewable New renewables (small hydro, modern

biomass, wind, solar, geothermal, and biofuels) accounted for another 2.7% and are growing very rapidly. The share of renewables in electricity generation is around 18%, with 15% of global electricity coming from hydroelectricity and 3% from new renewables.

Course Topics Wind Generation

Small scale Commercial/Ind. Large Scale Offshore

Course Topics Hydroelectric Power Plants

River & Storage Hydroelectric Plants Large-scale hydro Micro-hydro electric power

Concentrating Solar Reflectors Passive Solar

Photovoltaic Thin Film Monocrystalline Silicon Multi Crystalline

Geothermal Gros Schonebeck

Borehole production

Biomass Creating liquid or gaseous fuels from

biomass Includes existing ‘waste’ biomass

Slash from timber Straw

Oil seed Soy Canola/Rape Others

Wave-motion

Wave-motion Off the coast of Scotland

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Germany Ballard Washington

Other ‘Sustainable’ Conservation Landfill methane ‘Clean Coal’?

References Info from Renewable Energy –

Sustainable Energy Concepts for the Future. Roland Wengenmayr – Wiley Pub. ISBN 978-3-527-40804-7