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Renewable Energy. Our World is Changing. Energy demand growing faster than supply. Canterbury Manufacturers Association 2006. Energy Sources. Sources of energy can come from non-renewable or renewable resources. Non-Renewable Energy: Oil. Advantages: World set up for oil
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Energy demand growing faster than supply Canterbury Manufacturers Association 2006
Energy Sources Sources of energy can come from non-renewable or renewable resources.
Non-Renewable Energy: Oil Advantages: • World set up for oil • Relatively Cheap Disadvantages: • 40 years supply readily available • CO2 causing global warming • Smog • Economic skills to develop global carbon credit system • Oil wars Your Challenge: • Political skills to reduce consumption (especially in rich countries) • Economic skills to develop global carbon credit system
Non-Renewable Energy: Coal Advantages: • Cheap • Plentiful - at least 1000 years supply Disadvantages: • Smog • CO2 causing global warming • Releases radio active waste Your Challenge: • Political skills and options to create alternatives. • Develop clean burning coal stations
Non-Renewable Energy: Gas Advantages: • Cheap • Natural • Popular Disadvantages: • Existing gas fields running out • Highly flammable • Create cavities in the Earth Your Challenge: • Research how best to utilise the gas e.g. home heating
Non-Renewable Energy: Nuclear Power Advantages: • High energy production • No greenhouse gases • Cheapest energy source in Europe • Fusion power could last forever Disadvantages: • Uranium will last only 70 years with current consumption • Disposing of radioactive waste Your Challenge: • Currently have nuclear fission, need to develop nuclear fusion.
Renewable Energy:Wind Power Advantages: • No CO2 emissions • NZ is a windy country Disadvantages: • Unpredictable power • Hard to store • Visual & acoustic pollution Your Challenge: • Design and build them
Renewable Energy:Geothermal Power Advantages: • Potential for growth in NZ • No adverse emissions • Reliable Disadvantages: • Possible subsidence • Effects on ecosystems • Harder to get YourChallenge: • Developsystems to find geothermal fields
Renewable Energy:Solar power • Advantages: • Each household can produce some of their power • Usually for hot water heating • Excellent for remote locations • Disadvantages: • Unpredictable sunshine hours • Bulky batteries with limited storage capacity • Expensive capital cost Your Challenge: • Explore technologies for low cost solar power e.g. paint
Renewable Energy:Biomass Advantages: • Carbon neutral • Whey used by Gull for petrol with 10% biomass • May be able to use wood processing waste Disadvantages: • Cars are not all suited to using biomass Your Challenge: • Explore biomass technologies for New Zealand
Renewable Energy:Hydro-electric power Advantages: • No CO2 emissions • Currently generates about 60% of NZ power • Cheap to generate from existing power plants Disadvantages: • Expensive to build new power stations • Impacts on the environment • Getting resource consent Your Challenge: • Develop micro hydro-electric power systems
Renewable Energy: Wave Energy Advantages: • Many possible locations in New Zealand Disadvantages: • High capital costs • Reduces tidal flow and causes silt build up • Needs a suitable site where waves are consistently strong • Must withstand very rough weather • Noise Your Challenge: • An infant technology requiring development
Renewable Energy:Tidal Energy Advantages: • Predictable tidal currents • Unaffected by weather • Cook Strait could produce as much electricity as all of NZ’s current electricity with no visual pollution • Foveaux Strait is another excellent site Disadvantages: • Possible effect on mammals due to sound • Attachment to the seabed Your Challenge: • Infant technology requiring development
Possible Turbine ArraysCook Strait • Deep Water turbine option (30-100m) • Shallow water turbine option (10-30m)
Energy Conservation • Reduce • Reuse • Recycle
What kind of people do we need? • Can do attitude • Creative • Enthusiastic • Persistent • Leaders with a long-term vision for NZ • People who are aware of environmental issues
Employees Wanted – Apply Within • Biofuel Scientist – develop technology to convert wood waste • Turbine Installer – maritime skills needed for Cook Strait • Industrial Designer – aesthetic design for solar panel walls • Business Manager - export NZ micro-hydropower system to China • Diplomat – negotiate international carbon credits • Environmentalist – assess impact of wave power plant
Study Options • Science • Environmental studies • Engineering • Business • Languages • Politics • Diplomacy & international relations • Entrepreneurship