...English135 Prof Layton 3/24/13 Essay#1-Explanatory Alternative Energy What is Alternative Energy? It’s an energy generated, in ways that do not deplete natural resources or harm the environment. There are about four types of natural alternative energy. Each energy has a different element used to create energy. The types of energy are wind power, solar power, geothermal power, hydroelectric power, and nuclear energy. In the next paragraphs, I’m going to explain the reasons why the world needs alternative energy and how the energy is harnessed. First type of alternative energy is wind power. Using large blades can capture the winds power. The wind causes the blade to rotate turning into electrical current. Electric generators harness all the energy and distribute it to small towns or larger scale towns. There are some advantages for using wind power. First, it causes no pollution. Meaning there are no harmful by-products. Keeping the world safe. Second, wind power is a renewable source; we will never run out of wind. Third, wind turbines can be placed practically anywhere. All you need is a good source of wind. As with any energy source, there are always some concerns. One concern is that wind is never constant. Some days there is significant amount of wind. Then the next day no wind at all. Another concern is that residents that live next to turbine blades think they are ugly. Second type of alternative energy is solar power. This is created by capturing the sun’s rays into...
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...Introduction What is Alternative Energy? Alternative energy can be defined as any source of energy used to interchange fuel resources without harming the environment or energy derived from other sources without the use of natural resources: burning fossil fuels such as carbon dioxide which contributes to global warming. There are several types of alternative energy such as: wind power (focus of this report), solar power, geothermal energy, hydroelectric energy, alcohol and many more available for use. What is Wind Power? Wind power, a reliable source of electricity, can be defined as producing energy from the wind. Wind power is simply converting wind energy into a usable form of energy. Wind power is actually a form of solar power as wind comes from the sun. When air moves, generating wind, it has a kinetic energy: the energy created when mass in motion. The wind’s kinetic energy can be caught and transformed to other customs of energy such as electricity or mechanical power which are examples of wind power. Some examples that utilize wind power to some extent are: wind turbines which are used to make electricity, wind mills, a form mostly used, are used for mechanical power or wind pumps for pumping water. Wind was one of the earliest forms of energy harnessed to do work, one of which is sails which propel ships. Wind is an entirely renewable resource hence the reason why it is considered a pure and clean form of energy. They are different types of wind mills available...
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...101 Alternative Energy Solar and wind power 10/14/2012 [Type the abstract of the document here. The abstract is typically a short summary of the contents of the document. Type the abstract of the document here. The abstract is typically a short summary of the contents of the document.] Abstract This paper will review solar and wind energy as the alternative energy sources to replace fossil fuels and nuclear energy. Solar and wind energy has experienced phenomenal growth in recent years due to both technological improvements resulting in cost reductions and government policies supportive of renewable energy development and utilization. Fossils fuels and nuclear energy have been the world’s main source of energy for years but, with global warming and with a recent melt down at a Japanese nuclear plant many are questioning is it time to use other alternatives energy sources. Although both alternative energy sources are safer than fossil fuels and nuclear energy the world has been reluctant to switch power sources. The recent severe energy crisis has forced the world to develop new and alternative methods of power generation, which could not be adopted so far due to various reasons. Solar energy represents our largest source of renewable energy supply. The Sun is naturally Earth’s most abundant energy source and will be around for billions of years. This is a resource that essentially human beings won’t be worried about running out of anytime soon. Wind Energy...
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...Problem 2 Purpose 2 Scope 2 Introduction 3 Advantages of wind power 4 Environmental effects 5 Emissions 5 Ecological footprint 5 Conclusion 7 Recommendation 7 Executive summary The report provides an analysis of the nonmarket issues of the wind power market and provides information relating to wind power projects in Canada. The report aims to help communities balance local concerns with wider environmental needs, thereby allowing the benefits of renewable energy to be realized through careful design and consultation. Additionally, it also provides a profile of a major wind power company in Canada. Problem Electricity generation produces more pollution than virtually any other single industry in Canada. Pollution, air quality, acid rain, nuclear waste and global warming are the unwanted side effects of traditional power production that endanger the environment. Every day, many fossil fuel consuming contraptions spew out gases that pollute the environment. However, when the fuel supplies for these devices run out, they will grind to a halt. To prevent this, Canada needs to find an alternative to unstable and polluting energy sources. Purpose The purpose of this report is to examine wind energy as alternative energy source and effectiveness at reducing emissions by replacing power generated from fossil fuels. Scope The report will examine wind power as an alternative energy source and nonmarket issues. Wind power usage in Canada has been growing at a significant rate in...
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...Alternative Energy Sources Geology Many people believe that we must depend on fossil fuels for energy, where as the reality of it is the earth provides an abundance of renewable energy sources. These energy sources can produce enough energy that we would never have to use fossil fuels again. Alternative energy is the use of other energy sources instead of the use of fossil fuels or nuclear energy. Solar power can be used to operate cars and provide electricity to homes and businesses. Hydropower can be used to provide electric power to small towns and cities. Geothermal power can heat up buildings or water to power turbines to make energy. Wind power can be used to pump water and generate electricity. So let’s start with solar power since it is the most known of the group. Energy from the sun is one of the most abundant resources available today out of the alternative group. It is one of the most important of the non-conventional energy sources as well, because it does not pollute the earth. “One of the reasons for this is that the total energy we receive each year from the sun is around 35,000 times the total energy used by man”. (Alternative Energy Sources) One way to capture the sun’s energy is through the use of solar panels made out of Photovoltaic cells, which are commonly called (PV) cells. These panels can be used on homes, businesses, greenhouses, water heaters, traffic lights, or grouped together as a solar power plant. PV cells can transform the sun’s energy...
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...Alternative Energy With the world economy growing at a fast pace, energy demand too has been witnessing a sharp rise in the past few decades, with demand mainly originating from the big developing economies of Asia, namely, India and China. Factors such as high population growth, growing urbanisation and changing lifestyles in these developing nations are behind the increase in demand for energy. According to International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates, during 1990-2008, while world population increased by around 27%, energy use increased by around 39%. Consequently, average per person consumption of energy has seen a rise of 10% for the same period. The year 2010 has seen a further increase of around 5% in the world energy consumption levels. Most of the countries in the world use coal, oil and natural gas as their primary sources of energy. Around 90% of the total global energy requirement is met through these non-renewable energy sources. This heavy reliance on fossil fuels poses certain major concerns. Most importantly, these sources are limited. So, it is only a matter of time before these resources are exhausted completely. Another important factor that works against the heavy use of fossil fuels is that they are detrimental to the environment. The use of fossil fuels leads to emission of greenhouse gases which causes global warming. Also, these fuels are a major source of air, water and soil pollution. All these factors have created a need for alternative energy sources...
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...cost of energy is a majority of a household’s monthly expenses, and huge amounts of energy are consumed for industry use. Energy defines a society; our ability to produce it is in direct correlation with the society’s economic success. With fossil fuel energy sources becoming more expensive to extract, and the inevitability of oil and natural gas running out, our society must turn to alternative energy sources. These sources have been criticized and met with backlash because of how dependent and accustomed Western society has become to fossil fuel energy. Many arguments have been put forth against and for alternative energy sources, such as hydroelectricity, solar power, and wind energy. Despite these arguments, it is evident that each alternative energy source is suited to specific countries, and in the long-term, will be worth the switch from fossil fuels....
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...Assignment #1 Energy Student: Instructor: Course: Introduction to Physical Science Date: First discuss how energy can be converted from one form to another, giving specific examples. Energy can’t be created or destroyed but it can be converted from one form to another. It can also be transferred from one object to another (Phun Physics). An example would be a car accelerating. When a car accelerates the gasoline has energy stored in it that is released as heat by burning it inside the engine. At least 10% of the heat energy is converted into the cars energy of motion. The rest stays in the form of heat which is released by the cars exhaust (Phun Physics). Another example could be when two cars collide in a traffic accident. When the two cars collide they release an energy that can be transferred from one to the other (Phun Physics). Define what we mean by fossil fuels and explain why they are an attractive source of energy. Fossil fuels are natural resources that can be converted into energy by a simple combustion process. The main types of fossil fuels used are coal, natural gas, and petroleum (Oracle). Some of the advantages of fossil fuels are that they are easily distributed, relatively inexpensive, are readily available, and can be converted through a simple combustion process (Oracle). Coal is a fossil fuel and is the altered remains of prehistoric vegetation that originally accumulated in swamps and peat bogs (Word Coal Association). ...
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...First discuss how energy can be converted from one form to another, giving specific examples. The seven major forms of energy are: sound, chemical, radiant (light), electrical, atomic (nuclear), mechanical, thermal (heat). Remembered as “SCREAM Today” The two states of energy are potential and kinetic. (Clarkson, edu.2008). Energy can be converted to useful forms by various means. Energy and its conversion between forms can be expressed quantitatively. When converting energy, a significant fraction of that energy can be lost from the system (in the form of heat, sound, vibration, etc.) For example: in a power plant burning coal will produce heat energy, heat energy transfers to the water causing water to turn into steam, steam move the turbine due to pressure, energy is now transfer from heat to mechanical energy, then mechanical energy is converted to electrical by the generators, here we have a good example of energy converted to another form. Another example: leave a stone from a certain height and it will fall straight down. all the potential energy has been converted into kinetic energy. (YahooAnswers.com, 2012). Define what we mean by fossil fuels and explain why there an attractive source of energy. Fossil fuel consists of the remains of organisms preserved in rocks in the earth's crust with high carbon and hydrogen content. They are attractive because they are or were, readily available, can be easily transported and can be refined to several...
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...Since the beginning of time, mankind has been using energy and converting it to different forms. This conversion of energy from one form to another is known as Thermodynamics. Energy conversion takes place in our every day lives. Many conversions of energy are possible, such as chemical to heat, heat to mechanical, hydraulic to electrical or mechanical. Almost all energy can be converted from one form to another (Kehmani, 2010). Examples of energy conversion can be seen in day to day life. For example, in cars, the chemical energy of fuel is converted into the mechanical energy of the vehicle; in motor electrical energy is converted into mechanical energy, in hydro power plants the hydraulic energy of water is converted into electrical energy, in nuclear power plants the nuclear energy is converted into electrical energy etc. With the Green movement we are seeing increased use of solar energy, such as solar water heaters and solar cookers where solar energy is converted to heat energy (Kehmani, 2010). While mankind has learned to harness energy and convert it to useful forms, Thermodynamics is governed by scientific laws. The first law of Thermodynamics is that energy can’t be created or destroyed (Kehmani, 2010). The second law states that heat energy can only be transferred from a body of higher temperature to a body of lower temperature. The third law refers to the law of absolute zero on the Kelvin temperature scale, stating that entropy of the body at absolute...
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...Assignment #1 ASSIGNMENT #1 Energy can be converted from one form to another by one form of energy decreases, other forms increasing, because the total energy has to stay constant and that’s only if you're looking at an isolated object. Potential energy can be converted to Kinetic and kinetic can be converted to potential. (Tillery, Enger, & Ross, 2009, p. 67). Energy can be converted in three basic ways through 3 actions of forces. Gravitational Forces is when gravity accelerates a falling object, its converts its potential energy to kinetic energy. Electric and Magnetic Force Fields can convert charged particles, which electrical fields use forces, possess potential energy of an electric field in a way similar to that of an object in a gravitational field. Frictional Forces can be converted into thermal energy, which is heat, whenever the object slides against another object. An example of an energy being converted from one form to another is a lightbulb. It converts electrical energy to radiant energy. A car can covert chemical energy to mechanical energy. A solar cell converts radiant energy to electrical energy to mechanical energy. A fuel converts to chemical energy to heat energy. What we mean by fossil fuels is that Fossil fuels are energy resources that come from the remains of plants and animals. These remains are millions of years old. Fossil fuels, like coal, oil, and natural gas, provide the energy that powers our lifestyles and our economy. Fossil...
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...Abstract Years to come, coal will not always be the main source of energy. It will soon run out and other ways to produce energy will be needed. There are different ways to produce this type of energy, such as solar power, wind power, and hydroelectric power. If corrected and created now, then ways to get energy other than coal in the far future will be one less thing to worry about. Alternative Source of Energy Source of Energy A big discussion today is what humans can turn to now and in the future for energy. Everyone knows that coal will not last forever and in the meantime it is crucial to find an alternative to produce the amount of energy the world needs to survive. The faster our nation starts on alternative sources of energy and understands that fossil fuel hurts the nation and makes the country weaker, the better chance our nation will have in the time to come. There are different ideas of how to produce this energy such as solar power, wind power, and hydroelectric power. Solar power is the energy used from the sun and is turned into thermal and electrical power (Winteringham, 1992). It is a very reliable source that can be used to produce energy. The sun has been around for a very long time and it is a source of energy that people can rely on in many places around the world. There are many advantages to solar energy. The main motive for most people is that solar power is free. Unlike coal, supplies for it are unlimited to use. Solar is efficient...
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...of the world, one can see the beauty of wind power being harnessed by the wind turbines that line the fields. When thinking about renewable alternative energy and places that are successfully incorporating the energy into daily lives, Texas immediately came to mind. Texas is ranked number one in the nation for wind energy capacity (Texas wide open for business, 2014). If one were to look at Texas as a country, it would rank number 6 on a global scale for installed wind energy capacity (Texas wide open for business, 2014). Wind turbines are used to generate electricity from wind. What is interesting about wind energy is that it is a form of solar energy, caused by the uneven heating of the atmosphere by the sun (Wind Energy Development, n.d.). There are advantages and disadvantages to wind energy. First to discuss a few advantages. Wind energy is friendly to the environment and does not use fossil fuels while generating electricity from wind energy (Clean Energy Ideas, 2007-2015). Turbines are a great way to generate energy in remote location and they can be different sizes to support different population sizes (Clean Energy Ideas, 2007-2015). When wind power is combined with solar electricity it is great for developed and developing countries in providing a steady, reliable supply of electricity (Clean Energy Ideas, 2007-2015). Finally, wind is free, and new technologies are making this more efficient to harness wind power (Clean Energy Ideas, 2007-2015). Next, to discuss a few...
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...WORLD ENERGY OVERVIEW Most countries have set high goals for the utilization of renewable energy by the middle of the century, but present day usage of alternative sources of energy is dominated by the developed nations such as the United States, Germany, Spain and Denmark, with Brazil and China leading the leading nations. * Cause of using Possible Alternative Energy all over the World: * It does not seem quite sensible to keep on utilizing the same dirty sources of energy every time, and also keep worrying about them running out. If we think over this, we will come as funny. If we could tame the energy of the water, wind and the sun, we would be living in a world that had an inexhaustible and infinite source of energy. In addition to all these, the energy obtained would also be clean. Also, there would be no potential risks for the environment, and we could live in a world that would be completely free from any detrimental impact on the environment. It is our call to keep the pollution under check, since it is us who ever started the pollution in the first place. The technology that we created earlier was intended to make the energy sources we have now work for us. It is therefore now our responsibility to take proper care of the ecosystem. * The technology that is essential for the utilization of the alternative sources of energy has become quite affordable in these times. This is because more and more number of people is now using it. And for those who...
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...lives of many species. Your energy sources are a major cause of the pollution. By running on fossil fuels your releasing harmful greenhouse gases into the environment. But don’t fret because you can help. Instead of using fossil fuels, you can switch to biofuel paired with wind energy in your town, Algona, Iowa! Biofuel will supply fuel to your vehicles, while wind energy will provide electricity to your needs. Both sources are ecofriendly. Wind energy uses a generator within the turbine to convert motion energy into electricity, which produces no carbon emission. Biofuel produces small amounts of carbon dioxide in the production and usage, but when new crop...
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