Professional Documents
Culture Documents
aka
Alternativ
e
Solar
* fastest growing source of renewable energy
captures sunlight
directly with a
structure and
converts it to low-
temperature heat
for space heating
advantages advantage of living in a deciduous biome
* eliminate/reduce fossil fuel use
* No CO2 emissions
* save money on heating
disadvantages
* high initial cost
* latitude
Active Solar
typically uses photovoltaic
cells to absorb solar energy
and gain a mechanical
advantage
can be used to..
* heat water
* heat living space
* generate electricity
Photovoltaic Cells aka PV Cells aka Solar Cells
Solar Power Plants solar farm (uses PV cells)
Concentrated
Solar Power
(CSP)
Solar Power Tower
disadvantages
* Visual pollution
disadvantages
* High initial cost
* Blocks fish migration
* Traps sediment that
would replenish
shorelines downstream
* Floods upstream
habitats
Hoover Dam & Lake Mead
Colorado River, USA
Aswan High Dam Nile River, Egypt
Three Gorges
Dam
Yangtze River,
China
* Largest
hydroelectric
power plant in
the world
Tidal Power
Uses water movement from high
tides and low tides to turn
turbines and generate electricity
* Major limitation effectiveness based on
large tidal range (difference between low
and high tide) or shape of sea floor in the
area
Geothermal
Uses heat,
steam or hot
water from
underground
reservoirs
* Used to
heat/cool space
or to generate
electricity
Geothermal Heat
Pump/HVAC
Uses the temperatures below
the surface of the earth to
heat or cool a structure.
* Can be used anywhere
because although temps
above ground fluctuate
during the seasons, the
temperature below the
surface remains consistent
between 50F - 60F year
round.
Generate electricity
steam turns the turbine which
powers the generator to make
electricity
thermal energy mechanical energy
electrical energy
advantages
* No air pollution
* Reliable
disadvantages
* Limited locations
* Biogas (methane)
from landfills aka Waste to
Energy (WTE)
* Burning garbage
disadvantages
* Uses a large amount of land