Renewable Energy

Today’s lesson will focus on

Renewable Energy.

So, what is Renewable Energy?

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Definition of Renewable Energy

Renewable Energy
- is energy that is generated
from natural processes that
are continuously replenished.
This energy cannot be
exhausted and is constantly
renewed.
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WHAT RENEWABLES ARE?

• These are sources found

in nature that are self-
regenerating:

SUNLIGHT, WIND,
GEOTHERMAL HEAT,
TIDES,
BIOMASS, WAVES,
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WHAT RENEWABLES ARE?
• These sources are normally used to
produce clean or (green) energy. This
production does not lead to climate
change and does not involve in
emission of pollutants.
• A related term is sustainable energy:
this concept refers to generating
energy with an awareness of the
future, in a way that would enable
future generations to meet their
energy needs to. The concept is not
related only to renewables, but also to
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energy efficiency.
Solar Energy
• Solar energy is the sun’s
rays (solar radiation) that
reach the earth.
• Can be used to heat water
and heat spaces.

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Conversion to Solar Energy
• Photovoltaic (PV devices) or
“solar cells” – change sunlight
directly into electricity.
• Solar Power Plants -
indirectly generates electricity
when the heat from solar
thermal collectors is used to
heat a fluid which produces
steam that is used to power a
generator. 7
Photovoltaic (PV devices)

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Photovoltaic (PV devices)
The application of solar cells to
convert sunlight directly into
electricity. When PV cells are
assembled, they form a PV
module (or panel). An
installation of panels is called
a PV array.
WORLD LEADERS in PV use:
Germany, USA, Spain.
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Solar Power

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Solar Power Plants

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Solar Power Tower

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Solar Dish

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What is wind?
• Air in motion caused by
uneven heating of the earth’s
surface by the sun.
• Large atmospheric winds that
circle the earth are created
because the land near the
earth's equator is heated
more by the sun than the
land near the North and
South Poles. 14
 Wind Energy

The terms "wind energy " or

"wind power" describe the
process by which the wind is
used to generate mechanical
power or electricity.

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How Wind Power Is Generated

Wind turbines convert the kinetic

energy in the wind into mechanical
power.
This mechanical power can be
used for specific tasks (such as
grinding grain or pumping water) or
a generator can convert this
mechanical power into electricity to
power homes, businesses, schools,
and the like.
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Wind Machines
• Two types of wind machines
(turbines) used today based on
the direction of the rotating shaft
(axis)
– Horizontal-axis (most common)
– Vertical-axis
– Clusters of wind machines are
called Wind Farms
WORLD LEADERS IN WIND
ENERGY USE : Germany, USA,
Spain and India
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wind turbines
Wind Turbine
Noise level
Wind Turbines
- Opposite of a fan. Instead
of moving electricity to
make a wind like a fan, wind
turbines use wind to make
electricity. The wind turns
the blades, which spin a
shaft, which connects to a
generator and makes
electricity.
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Wind Energy
• Wind energy currently
generates only 1% of all
electricity on a global
scale, but its share is
growing rapidly. In
Denmark for example,
wind already accounts for
19% of the total electricity
production.
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✅✅✔Environmental
Benefits
✔No emissions
✔No fuel needed
✔Distributed power
✔Remote Locations
 The Future of Wind
Energy
◾Future of wind energy can be bright if
gpvernment policies subsidize and encourage
its use.

◾Tehcnology improvements unlikekt to

have a major impact.

◾Can become cos compettiv for electricity

generation of fossil enegt cost skyrocket.
Hydropower Energy
- Hydropower (also called
hydraulic or water power) is
derived from the force of
moving water. Since water is
much denser than air, its
movement generates more
energy than wind does.
Electricity generated with
hydropower is called
hydroelectricity. 25
Hydropower Energy
Hydropower was harnessed with
waterwheels to operate water
mills, sawmills, textile machines
and others long before electric
power came into use.

Hydroelectricity is mostly
generated in dams. Water is first
collected in dams, then let flow
through turbines.
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Hydropower Energy
A great advantage of this
technology is that the amount
of energy produced can be
easily adjusted to e level of
demand by controlling the
outflow of water.

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Hydropower Energy
Accounts for 6% of the total U.S
electricity generated and 71%
of generated renewables.

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Hydropower

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Geothermal Energy
• Heat from the earth
• Uses the steam and hot water
produced inside the earth to
heat buildings or generate
electricity.
• Is a renewable energy source
because the water is
replenished by rainfall and the
heat is continuously produced
inside the earth. 30
How Geothermal Energy is
Generated

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Where do we find
Geothermal Energy?

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Uses of Geothermal Energy

1) Direct Use and District

Heating Systems

2) Electricity Generation

3) Geothermal Heat
Pumps

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Geothermal Plants & Heat
Pumps
• Types of Geothermal Plants
– Dry Steam Plants
– Flash Steam Plants
– Binary Power Plants
• Geothermal heat pumps are the
most energy-efficient,
environmentally clean, and
cost-effective systems for
temperature control. 34
Biomass Energy
Biomass is organic material
made from plants and
animals.

Biomass can be converted to

other usable forms of
energy like methane gas or
transportation fuels like
ethanol and biodiesel.
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Forms of Biomass
• Wood and wood waste are
the most common forms.
• Municipal solid waste,
landfill gas and biogas are
other forms.

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Biofuels: Fuels Made from
Biomass Material
• Biofuels don’t burn as much
as fossil fuels.
• Biofuels are cleaner burning
and produce fewer air
pollutants than fossil fuels.
• Types of biofuels:
– Ethanol
– Biodiesel
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