Environmental Sciences Course Principles of Matter and Energy

1. Environmental Sciences CoursePrinciples of Matter and Energy

2. Alternative Energy Resources • Biomass Energy (Biofuel) • solid, liquid, or gas fuel consisting of, or derived from biomass • Wood is considered as a biomass. • Examples: • Fuel obtained from olive wastes (Jeft). • Alcohol obtained from sugar cane. • Methane obtained from sludge treatment processes University Of Palestine ENVI005

3. Alternative Energy Resources • Nuclear Energy • the controlled use of nuclear fission to release energy. • As of 2004, nuclear power provided 6.5% of the world's energy and 15.7% of the world's electricity • There are more than 400 nuclear power plants around the world, with more than 100 in the United States. • Potential release of radiation and the difficulty of radioactive wastes disposal put a question mark on the safety of this source of energy. • The two most well-known events are the Three Mile Island accident and the Chernobyl disaster University Of Palestine ENVI005

4. Alternative Energy Resources • Hydropower • Energy obtained from moving water • Dams and Turbines are built to transform hydropower into other forms of energy. • Hydroelectric power now supplies 19% of world electricity • Hydropower is an environment friend source of energy, however, it may affect environment adversely because building of dams may change ecosystems, also it results in additional stresses on the geological formations beneath them. University Of Palestine ENVI005

5. Alternative Energy Resources • Geothermal Energy • Energy stored beneath earth surface in the form of heat. • What radiates to the surface (0.06 Watt/m2 ) is ignorant if compared to what reaches from sun (1360 Watt/m2 ). • Some visible features of geothermal energy are volcanoes and hot springs • However, As of 2007, geothermal power supplies less than 10% of the world's energy • Several technologies are used to generate electricity from geothermal energy: (Flash steam, Binary cycle, Hot dry-rock system). • Difficulty of extracting this source of energy prevents its widespread. University Of Palestine ENVI005

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7. Alternative Energy Resources • Tidal Power • Energy obtained from the tidal currents (ebb and flow ) or the rise and the fall of sea levels • In the past it was used to run water mills in England and Holland. • For commercial generation of electricity, a difference of at least 8 m between the minimum and the upper water level is required. • In Gaza Strip, tidal over-height is in the range of 0.5–0.9 m University Of Palestine ENVI005

8. Alternative Energy Resources • Wind Energy • Energy obtained from moving air currents (winds) • In past, it was used for sailing and running wind mills. • although it currently produces just over 1% of world-wide electricity use, it accounts for approximately 20% of electricity production in Denmark. • Use of this source dwindled since winds are randomly variable, and highly affected by construction activities, and difficult to be stored. • However, in some countries turbine blades are built in Wind Farms to generate electricity. Like those famous ones in California. University Of Palestine ENVI005

9. Alternative Energy Resources • Solar Energy • Is the incoming energy from sun as heat and light • The basic source for other types of energy (wind energy, hydropower, biomass, etc ..) • Represents 99.9% of the renewable energy resources on earth. • Modern solar technologies provide heating, lighting, electricity and even flight. Its use is common in arid and semiarid regions. • Solar Energy is favorable for being the most renewable environment friend source of energy . • What hinders use of solar energy is being highly dependant on weather conditions and the nature of the required technology. University Of Palestine ENVI005

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