Renewable and Non Renewable Energy
Renewable resource
A resource that can be replaced at a sustainable rate.
Non renewable resource
A resource that cannot be replaced at the rate they are consumed
Advantages of using Fossil Fuels
Cheap compared to other energy sources. Buildings are already designed to use fossil fuels Easy to transport and store Not Weather Dependent
What type of energy is Fossil Fuels?
Chemical
What type of energy is Hydrogen Fuel Cells?
Chemical
Energy Transformation diagram of Fossil Fuels
Chemical --> Heat --> Motion -->Electrical
List the Fossil Fuels
Coal, Oil, Natural Gas
List the Nonrenewable Fuels
Coal, Oil, Natural Gas, and Nuclear Power
Advantages of Solar Power
Does not produce CO2 Low maintenance Minimal ecosystem disruption Can be placed in sparsely populated areas or on top of buildings
Advantages of Hydrogen Fuel Cells
Does not produce CO2 Not weather dependent Water is the only waste product
Where does Natural Gas come from?
Drilled for underground, in areas that were previously underwater, it is the dead matter of marine organisms
Where does Oil come from?
Drilled for underground, in areas that were previously underwater, it is the dead matter of marine organisms
Where does energy of Hydrogen Fuel cells come from?
Energy input (fossil fuel, solar or wind) splitting Water into hydrogen and oxygen
Where does nuclear Power come from?
Energy that holds neutrons and protons together in Uranium
Disadvantages of using Fossil Fuels
Excessive CO2 emissions leads to green house effect and greenhouse effect Chemicals lead to air pollution and acid rain Habitats are destroyed in mining and drilling
Disadvantages of Solar Energy
Expensive to set up Weather dependent- no sunshine = no energy Useful only in sunny environments (determined by latitiude) and cloud cover
Energy Transformation diagram of Solar Power
Light --> Electricity
Disadvantages of Wind Power
Limited to high wind areas Weather dependent Affects view of landscapes
Where does Coal come from?
Mined underground, it is the dead matter of prehistoric plants
Energy Transformation diagram of Wind Power
Motion --> Electricity
Advantages of Wind Power
No is CO2 is produced Wind is renewable
Energy Transformation diagram of Nuclear Power
Nuclear --> Heat --> Motion --> Electricity
Disadvantages of Hydrogen Fuel Cells
Requires production of hydrogen fuel Very expensive
Advantages of Nuclear Power
Several million more times energetic No CO2 emission
Disadvantages of Nuclear Power
Storage of radioactive waste is tricky, since it is hazardous to the environment (radiation) They are currently stored in pods and dry casks deep inside the Earth Risk of meltdown can devastate environment for decades
What are the renewable sources of energy?
Sunlight, Wind Power, and Hydrogen Fuel Cells
Describe the process of how fossil fuels produce electrical energy
The fuel is burned in a boiler, which heats up water going through pipes, turning it into steam. The motion of the steam particles then move parts of a turbine. This energy is converted to chemical energy inside a generator using electromagnetism.
Fission
The separation of the neutrons and protons in Uranium, releases seven thousand times more energy than coal
What sustainable resource use?
Where our consumption of resources can continue forever without damaging the environment.
How is energy produced by the generator?
a magnet rotates inside a coil of copper to excite electrons