Renewable energy

Renewable energy

• A renewable energy resource is defined as

• An energy source that is replenished at a faster rate than the rate at which it is
being used
• As a result of this, renewable energy resources cannot run out
• Renewable resources include:
• Solar energy
• Wind
• Bio-fuel
• Hydroelectricity
• Geothermal
• Tidal
 Energy transfers
• Solar energy: nuclear energy → light & thermal energy → electrical energy
• Nuclear: nuclear energy → thermal energy → kinetic energy → electrical energy
• Wind: kinetic energy → electrical energy
• Bio-fuel: chemical energy → thermal energy → electrical energy
• Hydroelectricity: gravitational potential energy → kinetic energy → electrical energy
• Geothermal: thermal energy → kinetic energy → electrical energy
• Tidal: kinetic energy → electrical energy
 Solar energy
• The solar panels we use to generate electricity use
photovoltaic cells or solar cells.
• They are around 15% efficient and transfer light energy
directly to electrical energy.
• Solar cells can also be used to heat up water.
• This is good for energy efficiency as by using the Sun to heat
up water you do not need to worry about using potential
fossil fuel generated electricity to do the heating.
 Watch

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-yALPEpV4w

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciStnd9Y2ak
 Wind

• Winds are powered by the Sun’s heat energy.

• Wind is a renewable energy resource.
• The wind’s kinetic energy pushes blades which turn a generator
and produce electricity.
• The energy produced is clean but wind turbines are only suitable
in certain locations.
• Some people do not like how they look and they can be a bit
noisy, and have the potential to kill birds.
 Pros of wind energy Cons of wind energy
Renewable & clean
source of energy Intermittent

Low operating costs Noise and visual

Advantages and pollution

disadvantages Efficient use of land

space
Some adverse
environmental impact
Wind energy is a job
creator Wind power is remote
 • The kinetic energy available in moving
water can be used to generate electricity.
• The water passes through a turbine,
causing electrical generators to be turned
in a hydroelectric power station.
Hydroelectric
• GPE can be stored in high reservoirs in hills
and mountains and then converted to KE
as the water flows down the mountain to
the hydroelectric power station.
 Hydroelectric
• These energy transfers are renewable. The Sun causes water
evaporation which falls as rain over the reservoirs.
• Hydroelectric power also does not emit CO2 unlike burning fossil
fuels.
• A disadvantage of hydroelectric is location. Large areas of land are
required in very specific locations and natural habitats for wildlife
can be destroyed.
 Pros Cons

Environmental
Renewable
consequences

Hydroelectric Low
Expensive to build
emissions
Reliable Drought potential
Safe Limited reserves
Tidal

• Tidal power is similar to hydroelectric power in that moving water

transfers kinetic energy to electrical energy.
• It is different in that while hydroelectric uses a high reservoir and
often an inland river system, tidal power uses the motion of tidal
waves coming to and from the sea.
• This is a clean source of energy and renewable but it is very
location dependent.
Tidal
 • Energy can also be transferred from
waves more directly, such as the
example below.
Wave • All water power is clean, producing no
greenhouse gases or unwanted waste
products.
 Wave

Advantages Disadvantages
High energy potential Scalability issues

Reliable source of energy High maintenance costs

Less dependency on fossil fuels Low performance in unfavourable weather

It causes no damage to the land Noise and visual pollution

 Geothermal
• Geothermal energy is the thermal energy in the Earth's crust which
originates from the formation of the planet and from radioactive
decay of materials. The high temperature and pressure in Earth's
interior cause some rock to melt and solid mantle to behave
plastically. 
• Geothermal heating, using water from hot springs, for example, has
been used for bathing since Paleolithic times and for space
heating since ancient Roman times. More recently geothermal power,
the term used for generation of electricity from geothermal energy, has
gained in importance. It is estimated that the earth's geothermal
resources are theoretically more than adequate to supply humanity's
energy needs, although only a very small fraction is currently being
profitably exploited, often in areas near tectonic plate boundaries.
 Pros Cons

Gases are released

A source of renewable energy. into the atmosphere
during digging.

Geothermal
The number of exploitable
Geothermal energy
geothermal resources will
increase with ongoing runs the risk of
triggering
research and development in
earthquakes.
the industry.