Renewable Energy Resources Ch.5 L2 G6 PDF

Ch.5, L2: Renewable Energy Resources *We can't stop the sun from shining or the wind from blowing, This the meaning of renewable resources *Renewable resources come from natural processes that have been happening for billions of years and will continue to happen....

Ch.5, L2: Renewable Energy Resources *We can't stop the sun from shining or the wind from blowing, This the meaning of renewable resources *Renewable resources come from natural processes that have been happening for billions of years and will continue to happen. Solar Energy *Solar energy is energy from the Sun. *Solar cells, such as those in watches and calculators, capture light energy and transform it to electrical energy. *Solar power plants can generate electricity for large areas. They transform energy in sunlight, which then turns turbines connected to generators that produce electricity. *Some people use solar energy in their homes. *Active solar energy uses technology, such as solar panels, that gathers and stores solar energy that heats water and homes. *Passive solar energy uses design elements that capture energy in sunlight. Such as, windows on the house can let in sunlight that helps heat a room. Wind Energy *This renewable resource has been used since ancient times to sail boats. *Today, wind turbines, can produce electricity. *A group of wind turbines that produce electricity is called a wind farm. Water Energy *Water energy produces electricity using different methods, such as hydroelectric power and tidal power. *Hydroelectric Power: Electricity produced by flowing water. *Humans, build a dam across a powerful river that depend on the flowing water to turns turbine that produce electricity. *Tidal Power: Coastal areas that have great differences between high and low tides can be a source of tidal power.  Geothermal energy *Thermal energy from Earth's interior is called geothermal energy. *This thermal energy flows outward to Earth's surface. It can be used to generate electricity. *People drill wells to reach to the magma. The thermal energy from the hot rocks or magma heats water that makes steam. The steam turns turbines connected to generators that produce electricity. Biomass Energy *Biomass energy is energy produced by burning organic matter such as wood, food scraps, and alcohol which is called (Ethanol). *Wood is the most widely used biomass. *Industrial wood scraps and organic materials, such as grass clippings and food scraps, are burned to generate electricity *Biomass can be used to generate electricity, In addition it can be converted into fuels for vehicles, HOW?! *Ethanol is made from sugars in plants, such as corn. *Ethanol often is blended(mixed) with gasoline to reduce (decrease) the amount of oil used to make the gasoline and to reduce the amount of carbon monoxide gas released by vehicles. *Another fuel (renewable) called biodiesel, is made from vegetable oils and fats. It emits few pollutants and is the fastest-growing renewable fuel in the United States. Advantages Renewable Resources renewable and produce less pollution than fossil fuels. Disadvantages of Renewable Resources Costly (expensive) and limited to certain areas. For example, large-scale geothermal plants are limited to areas with tectonic activity. Managing Renewable Energy Resources *U.S. currently use only 9.8 % of Renewable energy. *Most renewable energy comes from biomass. *Solar energy, wind energy, and geothermal energy meet only a small percentage of U.S. energy needs. *Management of renewable resources often focuses on encouraging their use.