Solar and Wind Power The Future of Clean Energy

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Solar and Wind PowerThe Future of Clean Energy
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The Problem with Non Renewable Energy Sources

• Examples of non renewable energy sources coal,
  fossil fuels, etc
• They will run out eventually
• Bad for the environment
• Negative health effects

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Solar Power
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What is Solar Power?

• A renewable energy source
• The conversion of solar power from the sun into
  heat or electricity
• Uses solar panels
• There are three main methods of obtaining solar
  power
• Best suited for areas where there is low cloud
  cover that will block out the sunlight

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How Does it Work?
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Methods of Using Solar Energy

• Photovoltaic cells
• Consists of semi-conductors
• As light hits the surface, energy is produced
• Solar Thermal Electricity
• A mirror is used to reflect the sunlight to a
• central receiver
• A fluid is circulated that drives a generator
• The generator produces electricity
• Solar Thermal Heater
• Solar panels on roof absorbs sunlight
• Sunlight is converted into energy that heats
• the house

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Advantages

• Renewable
• Produces no pollution or waste
• If the area is sunny, solar energy can be used in
  remote areas where no other energy source is
  available
• Require very little maintenance
• Although expensive in the beginning, you will
  save a lot money in the long-term

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Disadvantages

• Doesn't work at night
• Solar cells/panels can be very expensive
• Can be unreliable unless you're in a very sunny
  climate. For example, it wouldnt be very
  effective in the United Kingdom
• Solar power isn't much use for high-power
  applications. It may just be enough to heat your
  house. To obtain decent amounts of solar power,
  you need a large area of solar panels.

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The Effects of Solar Power on the. . .

• Atmosphere No release of pollutants
• Lithosphere No effect because solar panels are
  usually just installed on pre-existing buildings
• Hydrosphere No effect
• Biosphere Light is reflected off the panels.
  This light can distract birds and even airplane
  pilots. This can be dangerous.

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Example of Solar Power around the World
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Argentina

• Solar power is being used to improve the lives of
  villagers in a small community in Argentina
• The EcoAndina Foundation introduced solar powered
  stoves to the villagers so that they could cook
  food easily
• Before the solar power cooking stoves were
  available, the villagers had to use fire wood
• Since Argentina receives a good amount of sun, it
  definitely comes in handy

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India

• Currently, India relies on coal to provide power
• The goal of the plan is to have 20 gigawatts of
  solar energy by the year 2022.
• The entire project is estimated to cost about 20
  billion.

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SwitzerlandSolar Impulse Plane

• The wings hold 11,628 solar cells.
• The propellers are powered by four 100 kilogram
  lithium batteries.
• The goal is to make the plane fly for 36
  continuous hours

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Solar Energy Power Plants

• Solar Power

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Wind Power
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What is Wind Power?

• It is a renewable energy source
• The use of the wind to produce electricity
• Wind energy is the fastest growing energy source
  on earth
• The rate at which technology is improving is
  making wind power more and more appealing
• Most effective in areas that receive a decent
  amount of wind

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How Does it Work?
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Advantages

• The wind is free
• Does not cause green house gases or other
  pollutants.
• Although wind turbines can be very tall, they
  only take up a small plot of land. Therefore, the
  land below can still be used (example for
  agriculture)
• Wind farms are appealing to the landscape.
• Remote areas that have no other energy source
  available can use wind turbines to produce their
  own supply.

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Disadvantages

• The amount of wind available always varies. There
  will be times when they produce no electricity at
  all.
• Wind turbines can be noisy. It can be equivalent
  to the noise of a car traveling at 70 mph.
• Because wind turbines have to be anchored to the
  ground this could possibly impact soil structure.
• They do not produce enough electricity to power
  large amounts of homes.
• Birds and bats are threatened because they can
  get caught in the turbines.

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The Effects of Wind Power on the. . .

• Atmosphere No release of pollutants
• Lithosphere The anchorage on the ground may
  affect the soil structure
• Hydrosphere No effect
• Biosphere Birds/bats get caught in the wind
  turbines. This could threaten the population of
  the birds.

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Examples of Wind Power Around the World
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Malawi

• William Kamkwamba decided to build several wind
  mills in his small village
• Using anything he could find in the junkyard, he
  was able to build five windmills, the biggest
  being about 37 feet tall
• The windmills provide electricity and pump water
  in the small village

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Vancouver

• Wind turbine built on Grouse Mountain
• Will provide the mountain with up to 25 of its
  power
• The windmill will attract lots of tourists, which
  will create revenue for the mountain

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The Good and Bad of Wind Power

• Wind Power

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Conclusion

• Investing in renewable energy sources such as
  wind and solar power is very important
• Solar and wind power provide clean energy
• Both methods come with advantages and
  disadvantages
• Hopefully, with rapidly growing technology, these
  two power sources will become used all over the
  world and replace non renewable sources

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The End
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Bibliography

• http//www.aboutmyplanet.com/alternative-energy/so
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  http//www.aboutmyplanet.com/alternative-energy/so
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• http//www.whywind.org/pb/wp_643568b8/wp_643568b8.
  html
• http//windpowerbuzz.net/the-advantages-of-wind-po
  wer-generation
• http//www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/coalvswind
• http//edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/10/05/mal
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• http//www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/coalvswind/
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• http//www.aweo.org/ProblemWithWind.html
• http//videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/30088-re
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• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vlfSaJW6m680