Geothermal Power

1. Geothermal Power • Uses thermal energy that occurs from hot springs, decaying radioactive material, volcanic activity, and absorbed solar energy. • High cost to implement • Low cost to maintain • Only 10-23% efficient

2. Hydroelectric Power • Creates power by using flowing water. • Expensive to implement • Low maintenance costs • Creates high amounts of power

3. Wind Power • Only takes up a small plot of land for base of turbine • Moderately Inexpensive • Available in a range of sizes • However, wind is not always available

4. Solar Power • Low startup cost • Low maintenance cost • Panels can last a long time • However, sunlight is not always available

5. Wind and Solar Combination • Mini wind turbines combined with solar arrays • Add a large amount of reliability to the system • In such weather conditions where sunlight is not available, wind often is • Wind greatly improves the effectiveness of off-the-grid systems, especially in winter • Cost efficient

6. Why did we choose a wind and solar combination? • Together, wind and solar power can optimize the energy production of our system while controlling costs. In our system we will use a smaller wind turbine to control costs and to prevent the production of an excess of energy. We will angle our 6 General Electric GEPV-200 solar panels at 5˚ to maximize the amount of year-round sunlight which can enter the system via the solar panels. The solar panels will function as the main power source on days where sunlight is prevalent. And because wind is typically present on overcast days, the turbine can serve as the main source of power when there is not as much sunlight.

7. Works Cited • http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/wuhy.html • http://geothermal.marin.org/ • http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/technology/solar-power/ • http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/technology/wind-power/ • http://www.solarhome.org/solarpanelbrand_ge.html