JANUARY 2018 CONFIDENTIAL

INSTRUCTION: Answer ALL questions.

Please use the answer booklet provided.

Question 1

Energy demand in Malaysia is increasing over seven per cent a year, while 40% of the energy
is supplied from the conventional non-renewable energy resources. Considering that, the
government wants more electricity to be generated from renewable energy resources.

a) Discuss the reasons for switching the non-renewable energy resources over the alternate
renewable energy resources.

(4 marks)

b) Explain in brief TWO potential renewable energy resources with special reference to
Malaysia context. For each potential resource you have considered, give one example of
the existing renewable energy powerplant in Malaysia.

(6 marks)

c) Increase of carbon dioxide (CO2) is discussed as one of the major conventional energy
problems. Identify TWO factors that contribute to this continuous increasing of CO2.

(4 marks)

d) Continuous increasing of CO2 has resulted in the greenhouse effect. Identify THREE
possible impacts on the environment that are caused by this so-called greenhouse effect.

(6 marks)

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e) Developing new renewable energy power plants is an important effort towards reducing our
dependency on the current used non-renewable energy resources. However, in a point of
view, developing a new energy power plant might not be a good solution, since the cost is
high.

In your opinion, instead of developing a totally new energy power plant, suggest TWO
actions that could be taken towards minimizing cost and maximizing the profits.

(5 marks)

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Question 2

a) An energy conversion device converts one form of energy into another. In the case of
powerplant shown in below, recognize TWO of the energy conversion devices, and the
energy conversion process that involved.

Figure. Power generation plant

(4 marks)

b) A DC generator has an electromotive force (emf) of 200 V and provides a current of 10 A.

Calculate how much energy does it provide each minute.

(5 marks)

c) Solar cells, also called photovoltaic (PV) cells, convert sunlight directly into electricity.
Discuss in detail on the electric current generation in a photovoltaic cell.

(4 marks)

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d) The performance of PV cells is determined through the I – V characterization. Based on

the I – V curve of a single PV cell given in below, sketch the I – V curves when there are
two PV cells connected in series and parallel.
(Short-circuit current, ISC = 2.7 A, Open-circuit voltage, VOC = 0.6 V)

Figure. I – V curve for a single PV cell

(4 marks)

e) There are two usages of geothermal energy; direct and indirect. Geothermal heating is an
example for the direct geothermal energy usage, where a geothermal heat pump system
(GHPs) consists of a heat pump, an air delivery system (ductwork), and a loop of pipes
buried in the ground near the building acting as a heat exchanger.

This so-called GHPs system will be benefited the users in both winter and summer. Identify
the function difference of GHPs system in winter and summer by explaining the working
mechanism, accordingly.

(8 marks)

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Question 3

Government has decided to build a renewable energy powerplant in Kudat, Sabah. Kudat is
observed to be suitable for both wind and solar energy power generation. However, in order
for the government to decide the most suitable RE-powerplant to be built in Kudat, electrical
power generation obtained from both wind and solar farms per km2 must be taken into
consideration.

a) There are two types of wind turbine; Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) and Horizontal
Axis Wind Turbine (HAWT). Sketch the two types of wind turbine and label the important
parts of rotor blade, rotor diameter, gearbox, and power generator.

(8 marks)

b) A wind farm consisting of 10-m diameter wind turbines with efficiencies of 40% will be built.
Evaluate the average output power in kW per km2 if the wind blows at the average velocity
of 6 m/s by considering that the air density, ρ is equal to 0.602 kg/m3.

It is important to be noted that the average spacing of the wind turbines downwind will be
10 times the rotor diameter and the crosswind spacing will be 3 times the rotor diameter.

(8 marks)

c) Evaluate the average output power per km2 of wind farm with the average output of a 1 km2
solar farm by considering the PV cells efficiency of 18%. Assume that the average solar
insolation is 168 W/m2. Based on that, recommend the suitability of RE-power generation
for that area.

(4 marks)

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d) Other than wind, waves are also one of the renewable energy sources. The diagram below
shows a wave-powered generator. The generator transforms kinetic energy from the waves
to electrical energy.

Fig. Wave-powered generator

The following sentences describe how the wave generator works. The sentences are in
the wrong order.

R Waves push air up and down a chamber inside the building.

S The turbine turns the generator.
T The generator transforms kinetic energy to electrical energy.
U The air rushes through a turbine making it spin.
V Strong waves move towards the wave-powered generator.

Arrange these sentences in the correct order. Start with letter V.

(5 marks)

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Question 4

a) According to report, Malaysia’s demand in electricity by 2020 is expected to reach 124,677

GWh, so if wind power is to meet, say, 10% of this projected electricity use, the total land
area of Malaysia needed for windmills is around 18,977 km2, which is equivalent to 6% of
the total land area of Malaysia, or equivalent to over 1.2 million windmills to be set up.
Explain THREE environmental consequences of wind power. Elaborate each point in detail.

(9 marks)

b) After considering the environmental consequences of wind power in (a), identify another
TWO suitable renewable energy generations in Malaysia. Give the reason of suggesting
so by providing the advantageous of that energy power generation over the wind power.

(6 marks)

c) Antarctica is a huge land mass surrounding the Earth’s south pole. It is covered in a very
thick layer of ice and is the only remaining large area of the Earth’s surface that has not
been affected very much by humans. However, there are teams of scientists from various
countries studying Antarctica that need electricity for lighting, for their computers and other
scientific instruments and to communicate with the rest of the world.

Antarctica

Figure. Location of Antarctica in world map

Since the temperature in Antarctica is always sub-zero, the scientists need some way of
keep themselves warm. Besides, they also need fuel to be able to get around on their
snowmobiles. By means, these scientists cannot avoid affecting the environment. Even so,
they still want the environment to be affected as little as possible.

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• solar energy
• energy from the wind
• natural gas (present in large quantities deep down in the Antarctic land mass)
• diesel oil (which would have to be imported)

Four types of the sources listed in above are proposed to be used. However, there are a
lot of factors that should be considered for utilizing those resources.

By considering the local condition of Antarctica, evaluate the suitability of utilizing the
energy sources by considering all the advantages and, then recommend the most suitable
energy sources to meet the scientists’ needs.

(10 marks)

END OF EXAMINATION PAPER

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