Dr.

Lai Soon Onn

SA Block Ground Floor FGO Office
Email: laiso@utar.edu.my
Consultation hour: Tues. & Wed. 10
12pm
UEMK 3242
RENEWABLE FUEL ENERGY
Lecture : Tuesday 5 6 pm (DK2B)
Tutorial : Friday 3:30 5:30 pm
(DK2B)
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1. What was the name
of the documentary
film?
a) An convenient truth
b) An convenient
untruth
c) An inconvenient
truth
d) An inconvenient
untruth

4
2. What was the name
of the documentary
film?
a) The 10
th
hour
b) The 11
th
hour
c) The 12
th
hour
d) The 24
th
hour

5
3. Who held the world's
first underwater cabinet
meeting with the aim of
becoming carbon
neutral in 10 years?
a) The President of India
b) The President of
Maldives
c) The President of
Indonesia
d) The President of Egypt


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4. If humans stopped emitting carbon dioxide
tomorrow, what would happen to global
temperatures?

a) They would immediately begin to drop
b) They would begin to rise
c) They would flatten out and then drop
7
5. Biodiesel is a natural, renewable fuel which can
be used in diesel engines. Which of the following
can it NOT be made from?

a) Soya beans
b) Used chip fat
c) Carrots
d) Used cooking oil
8
6. The amount of energy poured onto the Earth by
the Sun every 15 minutes equivalent to what?

a) The worlds electricity needs for a decade
b) The worlds electricity needs for a year
c) The worlds electricity needs for a month
d) The worlds electricity needs for a day
9
7. When ranked by their direct contribution to the
greenhouse effect, the most important
greenhouse gas is:

a) Water vapor (H
2
O)
b) Carbon dioxide (CO
2
)
c) Methane (CH
4
)
d) Nitrous oxide (N
2
O)
e) Ozone (O
3
)

10
8. The goal of the Kyoto Protocol is to reduce
worldwide greenhouse gas emissions to 5.2
percent below base year levels between 2008
and 2012. When was the base year?

a) 1986
b) 1988
c) 1990
d) 1992

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9. Which organization is a scientific body under the
auspices of the United Nations (UN) to review
and assess the most recent scientific, technical
and socio-economic information produced
worldwide relevant to the understanding of
climate change?

a) IEA
b) EIA
c) IPEEC
d) IPCC
e) IRENA

12
10. What does 350 mean in www.350.org?

a) 350 is the number that leading scientists say was
the level of carbon dioxide in the pre-industrial era.
b) 350 is the number that leading scientists say is the
targeted level of carbon dioxide to be achieved in
2020.
c) 350 is the number that leading scientists say is the
safe upper limit for carbon dioxide measured in
ppm in our atmosphere.

13
Thats the last number you need to know, and
the most important
As James Hansen of America's National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, the first scientist to warn about global warming more
than two decades ago, wrote:
"If humanity wishes to preserve a planet similar to that on which
civilization developed and to which life on Earth is adapted,
paleoclimate evidence and ongoing climate change suggest that
CO
2
will need to be reduced from its current 385 ppm to at most
350 ppm."
That will be a hard task, but not impossible. We need to stop taking
carbon out of the ground and putting it into the air. Above all, that
means we need to stop burning so much coal and start using solar
and wind energy and other such sources of renewable energy
while ensuring the Global South a fair chance to develop. If we do,
then the earths soils and forests will slowly cycle some of that extra
carbon out of the atmosphere, and eventually CO
2
concentrations
will return to a safe level. By decreasing use of other fossil fuels,
and improving agricultural and forestry practices around the world,
scientists believe we could get back below 350 by mid-century. But
the longer we remain in the danger zone above 350 the more
likely that we will see disastrous and irreversible climate impacts.

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280
316
400
15
CO
2
atmospheric levels have been
steadily rising for 200 years,
registering around 280 ppm at the
start of the industrial revolution and
316 ppm in 1958 when the Mauna
Loa observatory started
measurements.


400???
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The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has reached 399.72
ppm and is likely to pass the symbolically important 400ppm level for the first
time in the next few days and this number is rising by about 2 parts per
million every year.
John Vidal
The Guardian, 29 April
2013
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STERN REVIEW
The Stern Review on the Economics of Climate
Change is a 700-page report released for the British
government on 30 October 2006 by economist Nicholas
Stern, chair of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate
Change and the Environment at the London School of
Economics and also chair of the Centre for Climate
Change Economics and Policy (CCCEP) at Leeds
University and LSE.
The report discusses the effect of global warming on the
world economy.
The report states that climate change is the greatest and
widest-ranging market failure ever seen, presenting a
unique challenge for economics.
The main conclusion is that the benefits of strong, early
action on climate change far outweigh the costs of not
acting.
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Executive Summary, STERN REVIEW: The Economics of Climate
Change
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Figure 2 Stabilisation levels
and probability ranges for
temperature increases

- Executive Summary,
STERN REVIEW: The
Economics of Climate
Change
-
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1. 100 Top Renewable Energy Sites : www.world.org/weo/energy
2. U.S. Energy Information Admistration: www.eia.gov
3. U.S. DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy:
www.eere.energy.gov/
4. National Renewable Energy Laboratory: www.nrel.gov/
5. Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century: www.ren21.net
6. International Renewable Energy Agency: www.irena.org
7. Reegle: www.reegle.info
8. Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership: www.reeep.org/
9. International Network for Sustainable Energy: www.inforse.org
10. International Renewable Energy Alliance: baringo.invotech.se/
a) International Hydropower Association (IHA)
b) International Solar Energy Society (ISES)
c) International Geothermal Association (IGA)
d) World Wind Energy Association (WWEA)
e) World Bioenergy Association (WBA)
11. International Energy Agency: www.iea.org
12. International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation: www.ipeec.org
13. Renewable Fuels Association: www.ethanolrfa.org/
14. BP Alternative Energy:
www.bp.com/modularhome.do?categoryId=7040&contentId=7051376
15. Exxon Mobile: corporate.exxonmobil.com/en/
16. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): www.ipcc.ch/
List of RE Related Websites
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http://www.map.ren21.net
http://yearbook.enerdata.net/
Maps
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BP Energy Charting Tool
http://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/about-
bp/energy-economics/statistical-review-of-world-
energy-2013/energy-charting-tool.html
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Contents


1. Introduction
2. Solar Energy
3. Hydrogen and Fuel Cells
4. Biomass
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Course Objective


Introduce the concept of renewable fuel
energies as new and sustainable energy
resources by highlighting the energy
form, production, transport, storage, and
their potential role in sustainable
development.
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Course Outcomes
Demonstrate the current situation of energy
supply and demand in the world and the roles of
different forms of renewable energies in mitigating
global warming.
Analyze the conversion of solar radiation into
solar energy supply and its collection via solar
thermal and photovoltaics.
Evaluate production, delivery and storage of
hydrogen energy and its application in challenges
in fuel cell.
Compare among different biomass resources,
processing systems and conversion processes to
produce biofuels.
Evaluate resources, production, recovery,
ecosystem and economics impacts of first- and
second-generation biofuels.
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Assessment


Final Exam 60%

Coursework 40%
Midterm test 20%
Assignment 20%
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References
Main Text
o Boyle, G. & Godfrey. (2004). Renewable energy:
Power for a sustainable planet. (2
nd
ed.). Oxford
Univ. Press.

Additional Text
o Aldo V. Da Rosa. (2005). Fundamentals of
renewable energy processes. Elsevier Academic
Press.
o Sorensen, B. (2005). Hydrogen and fuel cells:
emerging technologies and applications.
Elsevier/Academic Press.
o Drapcho, C. M., Nhuan, N.P., Walker, T. H. (2008).
Biofeuls engineering process technology. McGraw-
Hill.
o Nag, A. (2008). Biofuels refining abd performance.
McGraw-Hill.
31
Introduction to Energy Systems
and Resources
32
Outline
Global Energy Supply and Demand
Fundamentals of energy conversion
Types and impacts of renewable energies

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The tonne of oil equivalent (toe) is the amount of energy released by
burning one tonne of crude oil, approximately 42 GJ. Multiples of the
toe are used, in particular the megatoe (Mtoe, one million toe) and the
gigatoe (Gtoe, one billion toe).
36
Carbon dioxide equivalent (CDE)
and Equivalent carbon dioxide
(CO
2
e)
Carbon dioxide equivalent (CDE) or Equivalent CO
2

(CO
2
e) is the concentration of CO
2
that would cause the
same level of radiative forcing as a given type and
concentration of greenhouse gas. Examples of such
greenhouse gases are methane, perfluorocarbons, and
nitrous oxide. CO
2
e is expressed as parts per million by
volume, ppmv.
37
Radiative Forcing
In climate science,
radiative forcing
is defined as the
difference of
radiant energy
(sunlight) received
by the Earth and
energy radiated
back to space.
A positive forcing
(more incoming
energy) warms
the system,.
A negative forcing
(more outgoing
energy) cools it.

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Top FIVE Countries

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BP 2012
bp.com/statisticalreview
BP Statistical Review of World Energy
June 2013
BP 2013


Oil
Oil reserves-to-production (R/P) ratios
Years
2012 by region History
Distribution of proved oil reserves in 1992, 2002 and 2012
Percentage
Oil production/consumption by region
Million barrels daily
Production by region Consumption by region
Oil consumption per capita 2012
Tonnes
Natural Gas
Gas reserves-to-production (R/P) ratios
Years
2012 by region History
Distribution of proved gas reserves in 1992, 2002 and 2012
Percentage
Gas production/consumption by region
Billion cubic metres
Consumption by region Production by region
Source: Includes data from Cedigaz.
Gas consumption per capita 2012
Tonnes oil equivalent
Coal
Coal reserves-to-production (R/P) ratios
Years
2012 by region History
Source: Survey of Energy Resources 2010, World Energy Council.
Distribution of proved coal reserves in 1992, 2002 and 2012
Percentage
Coal production/consumption by region
Million tonnes oil equivalent
Production by region Consumption by region
Coal consumption per capita 2012
Tonnes oil equivalent
Nuclear Energy
Nuclear energy consumption by region
Million tonnes oil equivalent
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity consumption by region
Million tonnes oil equivalent
Renewable energy
Renewable energy consumption/share of power by region
Other renewables consumption by region
Million tonnes oil equivalent
Other renewables share of power generation by region
Percentage
Biofuels production by region
Million tonnes oil equivalent
World biofuels production
Primary energy
Primary energy world consumption
Million tonnes oil equivalent
Primary energy regional consumption pattern 2012
Percentage
79
Population and income growth underpin
growing energy consumption
OECD members
Europe: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Iceland, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK.
Other member countries: Australia, Canada, Chile, Israel, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, South Korea, US.
80
Population and income growth are the key
drivers behind growing demand for energy. By
2030 world population is projected to reach 8.3
billion, which means an additional 1.3 billion people
will need energy; and world income in 2030 is
expected to be roughly double the 2011 level in real
terms.
World primary energy consumption is projected
to grow by 1.6% p.a. from 2011 to 2030, adding
36% to global consumption by 2030. The growth
rate declines, from 2.5% p.a. for 2000-10, to 2.1%
p.a. for 2010-20, and 1.3% p.a. from 2020 to 2030.

81

Industrialization and growing power demand
increase the worlds appetite for primary energy

82
Almost all (93%) of the energy consumption growth
is in non-OECD countries. Non-OECD energy
consumption in 2030 is 61% above the 2011 level, with
growth averaging 2.5% p.a. (or 1.5% p.a. per capita),
accounting for 65% of world consumption (compared to
53% in 2011).
OECD energy consumption in 2030 is just 6% higher
than in 2011 (0.3% p.a.), and will decline in per capita
terms (-0.2% p.a. 2011-30).
Energy used for power generation grows by 49% (2.1%
p.a.) 2011-30, and accounts for 57% of global primary
energy growth. Primary energy used directly in industry
grows by 31% (1.4% p.a.), accounting for 25% of the
growth of primary energy consumption.
The fastest growing fuels are renewables (including
biofuels) with growth averaging 7.6% p.a. 2011-30.
Nuclear (2.6% p.a.) and hydro (2.0% p.a.) both grow
faster than total energy. Among fossil fuels, gas grows
the fastest (2.0% p.a.), followed by coal (1.2% p.a.), and
oil (0.8% p.a.).

83


Energy demand growth is matched by supply
from all sources, conventional and
unconventional

84
From 2011 to 2030 shale gas more than trebles and
tight oil grows more than six-fold. Together they will
account for almost a fifth of the increase in global
energy supply to 2030.
High prices for fossil fuels also support the
expansion of non-fossil energy. Renewable energy
supply more than trebles from 2011 to 2030,
accounting for 17% of the increase in global
energy supply. Hydro and nuclear together account
for another 17% of the growth.
Despite all the growth from shale, renewables and
other sources, conventional fossil fuel supplies
are still required to expand, providing almost
half the growth in energy supply.

85
Forms of Energy
Kinetic energy
Potential energy
Mechanical energy
Chemical energy
Nuclear energy
Thermal energy
Electrical energy
Light (or radiation) energy
Sound energy
86
Energy Conversions

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Principle of Energy Conversion
88
Energy Conversion Efficiency
89
Energy conversion efficiency () is the ratio
between the useful output of an energy
conversion machine and the input, in energy
terms.
The useful output may be electric power,
mechanical work, or heat.

Hmmmm....
What do you think non-
renewable resources are?


90
Non-Renewable Resources
A non-renewable resource is a natural resource that
cannot be re-made or re-grown at a scale comparable to
its consumption.
oil coal natural gas Nuclea
r
91
Non-renewable Resources
Fossil and nuclear fuels are often termed non-
renewable energy sources
Although the quantities in which they are available
may be extremely large, they are nevertheless
finite and so will in principle run out at some time
in the future.
92
Nuclear Energy
Nuclear fusion uses
uranium to create energy.

Nuclear energy is a non-
renewable resource
because once the uranium
is used, it is gone!

93
Coal, Petroleum, and Gas
Coal, petroleum, and natural
gas are considered non-
renewable because they
cannot be replenished in a
short period of time.

These are called fossil
fuels.
94
Fossil Fuels
The current use of fossil & nuclear fuels has
many adverse consequences
These include air pollution, acid rain, the depletion
of natural resources and the danger of nuclear
radiation.
Global climate change caused by emission of
greenhouse gasses from fossil fuel combustion.
95
Earth Surface Temperature
The surface temperature of the earth establishes
itself at an equilibrium level where the incoming
energy from the sun balances the outgoing
infrared energy re-radiated from the surface back
into space.
If the earth had no atmosphere, its average surface
temperature would be 18C.
96
Natural and Human Activities
The natural greenhouse effect
Their cause is essential in maintaining the earths
surface temperature at a level suitable for life at
around 15C.
Since industrial revolution, human activities have
been adding extra greenhouse gasses to the
atmosphere.
The principal contributor to these increased
emission is CO
2
from the combustion of fossil fuels.
97
Greenhouse Gases
But its atmosphere includes greenhouse gases,
principally water vapour, CO
2
, methane.
These act like the panes of a greenhouse, allowing
solar radiation to enter but inhibiting the outflow of
infrared radiation.
98
99
Temperature Rise
Scientist estimate (IPCC, 2001) that these
human-induced emission caused a rise in the
earths global mean surface temperature of 0.6C
during the 20th century.
The surface
temperature is
predicted to rise
by 1.4 to 5.8C
by the end of
21
st
century.
101
Climate Change
Such rises will probably cause an increased
frequency of climate extremes, such as floods or
droughts and serious disruption to agriculture and
natural ecosystems.
Glaciers and ice-sheets are starting to melt, adding
more water to the oceans
Means sea levels are likely to rise by around 0.5 m
by the end of the century.
And beyond 2100, much greater sea level rises
could occur if major Antarctic ice sheets were to
melt
102
Carbon Budget
Non-OECD countries account for a rising share of
emissions, although 2035 per capita levels are only
half of OECD.
The 2 C carbon budget is being spent much too
quickly.
103
Reduction of CO
2
Emission
The threat of global climate change caused by
CO
2
emissions from fossil fuel combustion is one
of the main reasons why there is growing
consensus on the need to reduce such
emissions.
Reduction in the range of 60-80% may be needed
by the end of the 21st century
And ultimately, a switch to low- or zero-carbon
energy sources such as renewable.
104
Hmmmm....
If non-renewable
resources are resources
that cannot be re-made at
a scale comparable to its
consumption, what are
renewable resources?
105
Renewable
Resources
Sources that are continuously
replenished by natural processes.
Hydropower and solar energy are
two examples of renewable energy
sources
Renewable energy sources are
essentially flows of energy,
whereas the fossil and nuclear
fuels are, in essence, stocks of
energy.
106
Renewable Energy
107
Introduction to Renewable
Energy
Twidell and Weir, 1986 (Authors of Renewable
Energy Resources)
Renewable energy can be defined as energy
obtained from the continuous or repetitive currents
of energy recurring in the natural environment
Or, as energy flows which are replenished at
the same rate as they are used
The origin of the earths renewable energy
sources is solar radiation.
Power = 1.7310
17
W = 510
6
t coal J/s produced
by coal
108
The Sun
Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) uses the difference in
temperature between the ocean surface and the deep waters to
drive a heat engine that produces electricity or synthetic fuels
(e.g., ammonia can be produced by OTEC energy using nitrogen
from air and hydrogen from water).
Solar ponds are pools of saltwater whose surface is exposed to
solar radiation. A gradient of temperature is formed in the pond
due to stratification; the temperature at the pool bottom reaches
up to 90C. The harvested energy can be used for either space or
process heating, desalinization, or electrical power generation.
Solar-driven heat engines can concentrate the solar radiation to
obtain high temperature sources and convert the associated heat
into electricity and lower grade process or space heating, which
is cogeneration.
Photovoltaic technology transforms the incident solar radiation
directly into electricity.
Other applications such as process heating, house and space
heating, water heating, cooking, steam generation, and
desalinization are possible.
109
Solar Energy: Direct Use
Solar radiation can be converted into useful
energy directly using various technologies.

Solar cells/panels
Solar cells are devices that
convert light energy directly into electrical
energy.
You may have seen small solar cells on
calculators.
Larger arrays of solar cells are used to power
road signs, and even larger arrays are used
to power satellites in orbit around Earth.
Solar cells are also called photovoltaic cells.
110
Solar Energy: Direct use
Solar radiation can be converted into useful
energy directly using various technology

Solar heaters
Solar heater are different to solar cells.
Solar heaters do not generate electricity.
Instead they heat up water directly.
A pump pushes cold water from a storage tank
through pipes in the solar panel. The water is
heated by heat energy from the Sun and
returns to the tank.
They are often located on the roofs of
buildings where they can receive the most
sunlight.
111

Concentrating Solar
power (CSP) Plants
112
Solar Energy
Good
Solar cells dont need
fuel to generate
electricity and once
built require very little
maintenance
Electricity produced is
free and clean. Solar
cells dont produce
any chemical pollution
Bad
Solar cells dont
produce much
electricity and it is
very costly to build a
large solar farm
Solar cells work best
in sunny countries
and they arent as
effective in winter. If it
gets cloudy sky, the
power drops!
113
Solar Energy (cont.)
Good
Solar cells can vary in
size and as such are
idea for private use to
top up a main
electricity supply
Solar cells are easy to
transport and can be
used at remote areas
Energy reaching the
earth is incredible
Bad
Solar cells are
expensive to
manufacture
Solar farms take up a
lot of space and are
very ugly to look at
Difficult to regulate
the amount of
electricity made
114

115
Solar Energy: Indirect Use
Solar radiation can be converted to useful energy
indirectly, via other energy forms.
Hydropower
Wind power
Wave power
Ocean thermal energy
Bioenergy
116
Hydropower
A large fraction of the
radiation reaching the
earth is absorbed by the
oceans, warming them
and adding water vapour
to the air.
The water vapour
condenses as rain to feed
rivers, into which we can
put dams and turbines to
extract some of the
energy
It provides about a sixth
of the worlds electricity.
117
118
Hydropower
Good Bad
Hydropower dams
have no fuel costs
They can be run in
reverse to pump
water back into the
reservoir to be
released at busy
times when electricity
is in high demand
Building a dam and
its reservoir covers
miles of often
picturesque and
occupied uplands. It
can involve the
destruction of farm
land, forests and even
whole villages
119
Hydropower
Good Bad
It is very easy to
control the amount of
electricity being
produced at any time
They dont produce
any chemical pollution
Building a dam
creates a reservoir
that can be used for
recreation; boating
and fishing etc.
To fill the reservoir
you need a lot of
rainfall. A hydropower
station wouldnt be
much use in a dry
country
They are incredibly
expensive to build.
They do produce a lot
of energy
120
Wind Power
Wind is caused by huge convection currents in
the Earth's atmosphere, driven by heat energy
from the Sun.
2% solar energy wind energy
Usable wind energy = 210
7
MW
The energy in such currents can be harnessed by
wind turbines.
Wind turbines cannot work if there is no wind,
or if the wind speed is so high it would damage
them.

121
Wind Power
The moving air (wind) has huge amounts
of kinetic energy, and this can be transferred into
electrical energy using wind turbines.
The wind turns the blades, which spin a shaft,
which connects to a generator
and makes electricity.
The electricity is sent through
transmission and distribution
lines to a substation, then on
to homes, business and schools.
122
123
Wind Power
Good Bad
Wind turbines dont
need fuel to generate
electricity and once
built require very little
maintenance
Wind turbines are
clean and do not
produce ant chemical
pollution at all
A single wind turbine
doesnt produce much
electricity. You need a
lot of turbines to
match a normal power
station and this can
be an ugly and noisy
issue in picturesque
areas
124
Wind Power
Good Bad
Once built wind
turbines to produce
energy for free
Small wind turbines
can be used privately
to top up other
electricity supplies.
This can be
particularly useful in
isolated areas such
as the Scottish
islands
It is expensive to build
this many wind
turbines
You only get
electricity on windy
days. No wind, no
electricity!
It is difficult to
manage the amount
of electricity being
produced
125
Wave Power
Waves are created by the force of the wind over
the water and so can be big or small depending
on the strength and speed of wind.
Wave power turbines harness the kinetic energy
that is in the up and down movement of the
waters surface to make mechanical or electrical
energy.

126
Earth surface area = 5.110
8
km
2
127
Wave Power
Good Bad
Wave power has no
fuel costs
It produces no
chemical pollution so
doesnt harm the
environment
Wave farms are ugly,
can get in the way of
shipping and can be
harmful to sea life
It is expensive to
initially build large
wave farms
128
Wave Power
Good Bad
Once built the
electricity produced is
free
Because wave farms
are built at sea, they
dont use up valuable
land
The amount of energy
generated is
unreliable. It all
depends on the size
of the waves. If it isnt
windy and waves are
small, very little
electricity is produced.
129
Ocean Thermal Energy
The process of converting the heat contained in
the oceans water into electrical energy.
The water at the surface of an ocean gets heated
by the heat of the sun and attains a higher
temperature than the colder water at deeper
levels in the ocean. This difference is up to 20C.
The energy due to the difference in the
temperature of water at the surface of the ocean
and at deeper levels can be harnessed through
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)
systems.
These systems use the heat in sea water (or
thermal energy) to vaporize a fluid, such as
ammonia, or to create steam which is used to
drive turbines to generate electricity.

130
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
(OTEC)

131
Bioenergy
Through the photosynthesis in plants, solar
radiation converts water and CO
2
into
carbohydrates, which form the basis of more
complex molecules.
Biomass in the form of wood or other biofuels is a
major world energy source
Gaseous and liquid fuels derived from biological
sources
Biofuels can be derived from wastes, many of which
are biological in origin
132

133
Is Bioenergy Renewable?
Biofuels are a renewable resource if the
consumption rate is not greater than the re-
growing rate.
Although the combustion of biofuels generates
atmospheric CO
2
emissions, these should be
offset by the CO
2
absorbed when the plants are
growing.
Significant emission of other greenhouse gasses
can result if the combustion is inefficient.
134

135
Non-Solar Renewables
Two other sources of renewable energy do not
depend on solar radiation:
Tidal power
Geothermal energy
136
Tidal Power
Tides are caused due the gravitational pull of the
moon on the water in oceans and seas.
The power of the tides can be harnessed by
building a low dam or barrage
in which the rising waters are captured and then
allowed to flow back through electricity generating
turbine.
It is possible to harness the power of strong
underwater currents, which are mainly tidal in
origin.
Devices for exploiting this energy source are marine
current turbines.
137

138

Marine current turbines
139
Tidal Power
Good Bad
Tidal energy has no
fuel costs
There are no
chemical waste
products such as
carbon dioxide or
sulphur dioxide
Once built the energy
produced is free
A tidal barrier across
a river mouth is ugly,
an obstacle to boats
and ships and can
affect wildlife
A tidal barrier is
expensive to build
140
Tidal Power
Good Bad
Tidal water can be
stored up and
released when energy
is in demand. Such as
in the evenings when
people use a lot of
electricity. This is
more versatile than
most renewable
energy sources
The amount of
electricity generated
is irregular. It depends
on the state of the
tide which varies
throughout the day. It
will generate more
electricity at high tide.
This also varies
throughout the year
as the height of high
tide increases and
decreases
141
Geothermal Energy
The high temperature of the
interior was originally caused by
gravitational contraction of the
planet as it was formed.
It has been enhanced by the heat
from the decay of radioactive
materials within the earths core.
In some places where hot rocks
are very near the surface.
They can heat water in
underground aquifers to provide
hot water or steam.
142
~100 PWh/year

143

144
Geothermal Energy
Good Bad
Geothermal energy
has no fuel costs
It is a clean energy
and doesnt release
any harmful gases
into the atmosphere
Geothermal energy is
only really viable in
areas of geothermal
(volcanic) activity
It is very expensive to
build a large
geothermal power
station. It involves
drilling deep into the
ground
145
Geothermal Energy
Good Bad
Geothermal energy is
very reliable and it is
easy to control the
amount of electricity
produced
Once built geothermal
energy is free to
produce!
Geothermal power
stations require a lot
of maintenance as the
pipes tend to corrode
146
Is Geothermal Energy
Renewable?
Geothermal energy is called a renewable energy
source because the water is replenished by
rainfall, and the heat is continuously produced by
the earth.
If steam or hot water is extracted at a greater rate
than heat is replenished from surrounding rocks,
a geothermal site will cool down
When operated in this way, geothermal energy is
not strictly renewable.
It is possible to operate in a renewable mode by
keeping the rate of extraction below the rate of
renewal.
147
Renewable Energy Contribution
Renewable energy contributed about 18% of the
worlds primary energy needs
This proportion is likely to increase substantially
throughout this century as concerns about
climate change
declining fossil fuel reserves
148
Energy Capacity

149
Renewable Capacity

150
Primary Energy Sources
The fossil fuels
and nuclear
power supply
78% of the world
energy demand.
Under the
assumption that
the population of
mankind does not
change
drastically and it
consumes energy
at the current
level, the fossil
fuel reserves will
be exhausted
within 320 years
and the nuclear
energy within 260
years
Possible?
151
Conclusions

152