AP Environmental Science Mr. Grant Lesson 99

1. AP Environmental Science • Mr. Grant • Lesson 99 “New” Renewable Energy Sources & Solar Energy

2. Objectives: • Define the terms passive solar and active solar. • Outline the major sources of renewable energy and assess their potential for growth. • Describe solar energy and the ways it is harnessed, and evaluate its advantages and disadvantages.

3. Define the terms passive solar and active solar. Passive Solar Active Solar

4. Outline the major sources of renewable energy and assess their potential for growth. • The “new renewable” energy sources include solar, wind, geothermal, and ocean energy sources. They are not truly “new,” but rather are in a stage of rapid development. • The new renewables currently provide far less energy and electricity than we obtain from fossil fuels or other conventional energy sources. • Use of new renewables is growing quickly, and this growth is expected to continue as people seek to move away from fossil fuels.

5. “New” renewable energy sources

6. New renewables provide little of our energy

7. The new renewables are growing fast In 2008, we added more energy from renewables than from fossil fuels and nuclear power

8. Use has expanded quickly because of:

9. New energy sources create jobs Green-collar jobs = design, installation, maintenance, and management of renewable energy technologies

10. Policy can accelerate our transition

11. Describe solar energy and the ways it is harnessed, and evaluate its advantages and disadvantages. • Energy from the sun’s radiation can be harnessed using passive methods or by active methods or by active methods involving powered technology. • Solar technologies include solar panels for heating, mirrors to concentrate solar rays, and photovoltaic cells to generate electricity. • Solar energy is perpetually renewable, creates no emissions, and enables decentralized power. • Solar radiation varies in intensity from place to place and time to time, and harnessing solar energy remains expensive.

12. Solar energy

13. Passive solar is simple and effective

14. Active solar heats air and water

15. Concentrating solar rays magnifies energy Focusing solar energy on a single point magnifies its strength

16. CSP techniques CSP facilities on just 100 mi2 in Nevada could generate enough electricity for the entire U.S. economy

17. A typical photovoltaic cell… generating quick electricity

18. Variations on PV technology

19. Solar power is fast growing

20. Solar energy will continue to grow

21. Solar energy offers many benefits A 5-kilowatt PV system in a home in Fort Worth would provide half its power needs, save $681/year, and prevent 5 tons of CO2 emissions/year

22. Location is a drawback

23. Cost is a drawback