Perspectives on Alternative Energy By David Bennett, Obi Nwachuku

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Perspectives on Alternative EnergyBy David
Bennett, Obi Nwachuku Wei Chieh Wong
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What we wish to learn

• What are the pros and cons of both renewable and
  nonrenewable energy?
• Is the implementation of renewable energy in
  modern society realistic?
• We will use coal as an example of renewable
  energy solar and wind power for nonrenewable
  energy

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World Energy Use

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Coal Pollutes

• Coals combustion adds more carbon dioxide
  emissions to the atmosphere than any other
  resource (38.2 of ALL CO2 IN THE WORLD from coal
  plants in 1999)
• Coal plants also emit toxins such as sulfur
  dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide,
  hydrocarbons, and the list goes on

www.ecolo.org
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Coal Health Effects
http//english.people.com.cn/200510/04/eng20051004
_212470.html
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Coal Health Effects

• Coal mining deaths are common
• In 2004, 6,434 Chinese miners died on the job
• The pollution from nearby factories often enters
  houses and gets trapped inside due to poor
  ventilation

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Coal Pros

• The only thing that keeps some countries, such as
  China, using coal is because its
• A) Cheap about 4 cents for every kilowatt-hour
  of energy produced, or 3,600,000 J
• B) Efficient when coal is burned, about 40 of
  its energy is converted into electricity

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So, is coal worth it?

• Pros
• Its cheap
• Its efficient

• Cons
• It pollutes
• It releases lots of CO2 lots of global warming
• Mining it is dangerous
• Strip mining destroys the environment
• Its non-renewable

arts.no
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Clearly,

• an alternative form of energy is called for!

www.juliantrubin.com
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Wind Power?

• While coal is terrible for the environment, wind
  power is not only a renewable resource, but it
  also doesnt pollute!

nebardi.wordpress.com
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Wind Power?

• In fact, wind is also pretty cheap its only
  3-4.5 cents/kilowatt-hour (kWh)
• BUT, thats because its making its money back
  over timethats the bonus of renewable energy
• Of course, it is expensive to install in the
  first place, around 800,000 for a big 750 kW
  turbine
• But over time, itll get even more back

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Wind Power?

• Wind power has about 20 conversion
  efficiencyonly about half as much as coal power
• There are two
• factors in
• determining how
• much power youll
• get wind speed,
• and wind consistency

www.bpa.gov
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Wind Power?

• Of course, wind power does have its drawbacks
• A) Wind farms take up a lot of space
• B) They can dominate a landscape that might
  otherwise have aesthetic value
• C) They can kill birds or interfere with
  television reception

www.smh.com.au
www.bobnewell.net
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So what?

• Overall, wind power looks good!
• But, its hard to implement in a rapidly
  developing country without much money (like China
  or India)
• And, wind power probably wouldnt be able to meet
  such huge power demands
• However, implementing it little by little, and
  hoping that it becomes more efficient and cheaper
  FAST seems logical

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How aboutSolar Power?

• Solar power is also a renewable form of energy

earthweek.berkeley.edu
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Solar Energy?

• But, its a little more expensive than the
  others, at 30 cents/kWh
• In addition, while coal and wind power could
  operate all day (and night) long, solar energy is
  only effective during a few hours in the day

profile.myspace.com
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Solar Energy?

• The suns energy is typically harnessed through
  photovoltaic cells to convert the suns power
  into usable energy
• These cells convert the suns energy into
  electricity at 10-15 (not the best)
• Large, flat expanses of land are usually needed,
  BUT they can also be conveniently placed
• on rooftops

www.gia.hu
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Solar Energy?
The good news is, theres great payback over time!
So dont sell it short
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Solar Energy?

• A common use of solar energy is to heat homes

www.greenenergy.org.uk
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Solar energy, good stuff?

• It might be a little too expensive and not
  cost-effective enough to replace coal power in
  developing countries yet, but theyre working on
  it!

oz.irtc.org
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So, which is the best?For price, its two
against one.
http//www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/ieo/ieohecon.html
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So, which is the best?However, when we project
into the future, things get closer!
http//www.worldenergy.org/wec-geis/images/pubs/tech_papers/17th_congress/1_4_2203.gif
www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/clean_energy/ACFF6
pMpQ.pdf
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BUT

• Whats important is that we STOP global carbon
  dioxide emissions, saving our lungs and stopping
  global warming.
• We made a projection as to how much the carbon
  dioxide levels will go down as we start using
  more renewable energy

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As we use more renewable energy, carbon dioxide
concentration goes down!
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Conclusion

• Its not easy to quantify exactly which renewable
  resource is bettereach has its pros and its cons
• The fact is anything is better than coal!
• Renewable energy may not replace fossil fuels
  overnight, but a push towards them is mandatory
  if we are to stop global warming