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Adama University Dept of Electrical Engineering

ELT 350

POWER SYSTEM I

Lecture 1 General Introduction

ADISU TESHALE

Course Outline
1. General 2. Solar
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Introduction

Radiation Fundamentals The Solar Radiation Origin and Spectrum Effect of the Earths Atmosphere Solar Energy Measurements and Estimation Energy Resources and Current Utilization

3. Renewable
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Major Resources The Global Resource Potential and Utilization Local Resource Potential and Utilization

Course Outline
4.

Major Renewable Energy Systems and Technologies


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Solar Thermal Solar Photovoltaic Wind Hydropower Geothermal Bioenergy

5. 6.

Energy Storage Technologies Socio-economic and Environmental Aspects

Course Reference
1.

Boyle G., (Ed.) Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press

2.

Duffie J.A. and Beckman, W.A., Solar Engineering of Thermal Processes, Wiley, New York, 1991.

3.

J. Twidell, T. Wier, Renewable Energy Resources, Spon Press London

4.

Websites: A number of useful websites are referenced that will serve as helpful supplements to the course.

Evaluation Components
   

Assignments Survey Projects with Presentations Mid-Semester Examination Final Examination

General Introduction
The aim of the course is to understand the principles and make effective use of the renewable energy resources. Four questions must be answered:
1.

How much energy is available, that is, the strength of the resources

2. 3.

What can the energy resource be used for? What is the environmental impact from the use of the energy resources?

4.

Is the energy resources cost effective?

Introduction


Modern energy resources can be categorized as conventional and renewable.

Conventional or non-renewable energy resources are mainly fossil fuel based including oil, coal, and natural gas. Fossil fuels are all of limited amounts and cannot be replaced.

Renewable energy resources are those being replaced / generated at the same rate that they are being utilized. Hence they will last indefinitely.

Introduction


Nuclear fuels -limited amounts of uranium for nuclear fission reactors but reprocessing of fuel possible.

Difficult to estimate how long these fuels will last but is it sustainable economically or environmentally?

All sources of energy ultimately come from the sun.

General Introduction

At the most basic level, the diversity of energy forms can be reduced to four:

Kinetic Gravitational Electrical Nuclear

Thermal energy is a microscopic level kinetic energy; Chemical energy a microscopic level electrical energy; Electromagnetic energy is also a variant of electrical energy with radiant nature such as that of solar energy.

General Introduction
The renewable energy sources, derived principally from the enormous power of the suns radiation, are at once the most ancient and the most modern forms of energy used by humanity. Solar power, both in the form of direct solar radiation and in indirect forms such as bioenergy, water, and wind power, was the energy source upon which the early societies were based. Technologies for harnessing power of the sun, firewood, water and wind continued to improve right up to the early years of the industrial revolution.

General Introduction

At the start of the industrial revolution, the advantages of coal, the first and most plentiful of fossil fuels had become apparent. These highly concentrated energy sources soon displaced wood, wind and water in the domestic, commercial, industrial and transport sectors of the industrial nations.

At the moment, the fossil fuel trio of coal, oil and natural gas provides about 75% of the worlds energy.

Concerns about the adverse environmental and social consequences of fossil fuel, such as air pollution, mining accidents, and about the finite nature of supplies have been voiced for a long period.

General Introduction

It was not until the 1970s, with a steep price rises of oil (The Oil Crisis) and the advent of environmental movement , that humanity began to take seriously the possibility of fossil fuels running out and that their continued use could be destabilizing the planets natural ecosystem and the global climate.

The development of nuclear energy following World War II raised hopes of a cheap, plentiful, and clean alternative to fossil fuels. However, the development is stalled in recent years, due to increasing concern about the cost, safety, waste disposal, and weapon proliferation.

General Introduction

Continuing concerns about sustainability of both fossil and nuclear fuels use has been a major catalyst of renewed interest in the renewable energy sources in the recent decades.

Ideally, a sustainable energy source is one that is not substantially depleted by continuous use, does not entail significant pollutant emissions, or other environmental problems, and does not involve the perpetuation of health hazards or social injustices.

End of Lecture 1

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