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Solar and Wind Power. Mariah Negrillo-Soor. WHY USE SOLAR ENERGY??. Potential to supply energy for full year BUT it’s expensive $$$ + difficult to store in large amounts Reduce heating costs. learn more http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDZzAIcCQLQ. HOW?.
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Solar and Wind Power Mariah Negrillo-Soor
WHY USE SOLAR ENERGY?? • Potential to supply energy for full year • BUT it’s expensive $$$ + difficult to store in large amounts • Reduce heating costs learn more http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDZzAIcCQLQ
HOW? • Daylighting: buildings with a lot of windows = natural light = low heating + electricity bills • Photovoltaic cells (energy storage like a car battery) absorb direct sunlight, convert to electricity So many windowssssss WOWW
HOW? • Solar Towers: • Thousands of mirrors direct sunlight/energy @ tower which heats a liquid to steam • Drives turbines; generate electricity
POTENTIAL VS. PROBLEMS • Could be greatest energy source BUT: • Need to find a way to concentrate, store, and make accessible • Produce little to no energy on rainy/cloudy days • Gov’t not into high costs, yet still subsidize or fund the use of fossil fuel
NEW IDEAS • Cells compress + pump air into underground caves use to drive turbines • HOT SALT: mirrors heat fluid in pipes heats molten salt; retains heat use heat to produce steam steam powers turbines
TRANSPORTATION • AC lines (alternating currents): • Loses power over long distances • DC lines (direct current) • Doesn’t lose power over long distance • Expensive; as demand increases price decreases
OKOTOKS, AB • Solar panels heat glycol solution • Solution flows through pipes in home • Goes through more pipes to Energy Center • Heat transfers to water • Cycle begins again • **EXCESS HEAT STORED UNDERGROUND FOR WINTER**
WIND u feel it
WHY? • no CO2 omissions • no acid rain • Renewable • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niZ_cvu9Fts Futuristic + pretty = WOWWW!?!
WIND FARMS • Onshore: fast winds to get over hills + ridges • = more power • Little habitat destruction • Few trees @ high elevations • Tall because velocity higher @ high elevations • (e.g rooftop turbines in Amsterdam and San Francisco)
WIND FARMS • Offshore: built on continental shelves • More dependable no trees or buildings in the way • Linked with cables to on shore generation systems • More attractive? (some peeps don’t like them?)
FUN FACT • 2003: plan for wind farm cancelled by Premier Campbell (Liberals) • Favour private development • This prevents BC Hydro from producing new power • Wind power $$$ at first; private companies need incentives; not willing to compete with BC Hydro
Wind Farms in BC • Clean Energy Act passed in 2010: • BC Hydro promises to buy energy from wind farms + other clean energy projects • HaidaGwaii: off shore farm proposed 2009 BC Hydro decides NOPE • But proposal for Tumbler Ridge farm in 6 years Bear Mountain Wind Farm in Dawson Creek, BC
Wind Farms in Canada • Largest just outside of Toronto • Some in Quebec, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba St. Joseph wind farm in Manitoba = one of the largest in Canada!
Wind Farms in World • Growing on people fossil fuel = $$ (no good) • Many advantages • BOOM in wind power = low cost • High demand = low price • **Encourages economic growth** • E.g offer money ($3-5000) to farmers to build on property Can humankind learn to coexist with nature ?!?
NOT PERFECT • Not “aesthetically” pleasing; noisy (??) • Blades can kill birds + bats • May not be windy when needed use with another energy source (*coughcough* solar) Careful little birdies