AP Environmental Science Mr. Grant Lesson 100

1. AP Environmental Science • Mr. Grant • Lesson 100 Wind Energy & Geothermal Energy

2. Objectives: • Define the term ground source heat pumps (GSHPs). • Describe wind power and how we harness it, and evaluate its benefits and drawbacks. • Describe geothermal energy and the ways we make use of it, and assess its advantages and disadvantages.

3. Define the terms ground source heat pumps (GSHPs). Ground Source Heat Pumps

4. Describe wind energy and the ways it is harnessed, and evaluate its advantages and disadvantages. • Energy from the wind is harnessed using wind turbines mounted on towers. • Turbines are often erected in arrays at wind farms located on land or offshore, in locations with optimal wind conditions. • Wind energy is renewable, turbine operation creates no emissions, wind farms can generate economic benefits, and the cost of wind power is competitive with that of electricity from fossil fuels. • Wind is an intermittent resource and is adequate only in some locations. Turbines kill some birds and bats and wind farms can face opposition from local residents.

5. Wind has long been used for energy

6. Wind turbines turn kinetic to electric energy

7. Wind farms

8. Wind is the fastest-growing energy sector

9. Denmark leads the world in wind power

10. Texas leads the U.S. in wind power Wind power could meet 20% of the electrical needs of the entire U.S. by 2030

11. Offshore sites hold promise

12. Wind power has many benefits

13. Wind power creates job opportunities

14. Wind power has some downsides

15. U.S. wind-generating capacity Mountainous regions have the most wind and wind turbines 15% of U.S. energy demand could be met using 16,600 mi2 of land (less than 5% is occupied by turbines and roads)

16. Describe geothermal energy and the way it is harnessed, and evaluate its advantages and disadvantages. • Energy from radioactive decay in Earth’s core rises toward the surface and heats groundwater. This energy is harnessed at the surface or by drilling at geothermal power plants. • Use of geothermal energy for direct heating of the water, electricity generation, and in heat pumps can be efficient, clean, and renewable. • Geothermal sources occur only in certain areas and may be exhausted.

17. Geothermal energy = thermal energy from beneath Earth’s surface • Radioactive decay of elements under extremely high pressures deep inside the planet generates heat • Which rises through magma, fissures, and cracks • Or heats groundwater, which erupts as geysers or submarine hydrothermal vents • Geothermal power plants use hot water and steam for heating homes, drying crops, and generating electricity • Geothermal energy provides more electricity than solar • As much as wind

18. Geothermal energy

19. The U.S. is the leader in geothermal use

20. Geothermal power has benefits and limits

21. Enhanced geothermal systems

22. Heat pumps use temperature differences

23. GSHPs are efficient