Global Issues: Alternate Energy Sources

By Michael W, Michael M, Gurshaan

WIND POWERMICHAEL MCGRANDLE

Definition Wind power is

extracted from air flow using wind turbines or sails to produce mechanical or electrical power.

In 1887, Professor James Blyth of Anderson’s College in Glasgow Scotland, was the first person to produce electricity. He used this electricity to power lighting in his cottage.

ADVANTAGES OF WIND POWER Wind power is renewable, plentiful, clean, produces no greenhouse gas

emissions during operation, widely distributed and uses little land. Generates new jobs, economic development and clean electricity Although there is the ‘up front’ costs of building and maintaining wind

power, there are no fuel costs. Thus, the price of wind power is much more stable than that of fossil fuel sources.

DISADVANTAGES OF WIND POWER

Although wind power is fairly consistent from year to year, over shorter time periods there may be significant variations. During low wind periods it must be subsidized or replaced with other power sources.

Some people believe that wind power is not aesthetically pleasing and thus, do not fully support it

IMPACTS

Impact on local level Impact on Global level

In Canada, wind energy/power is providing: New municipal tax revenues (which

promotes economic and social benefits)

Stable income for landowners (through land lease agreements) and farmers

Direct employment as well as ‘spin-off’ jobs (like construction, transportation, etc.) Additionally, many of the raw materials used in construction are sourced locally.

In 2014, 40% of Denmark’s electricity has been powered by wind

A report from Greenpeace and the Global Wind Energy Council suggests that by 2030, wind energy could account for 1/5 of the world’s energy needs.

CURRENT TRENDS/SOLUTIONS• Wind energy is the fastest growing major sources of new electricity

around the world• Currently there are over 150 000 wind turbines, in over 90 countries,

operating around the world• Gansu Wind Farm, in China, is the largest collective wind farm in the

world, and has several thousands of turbines.• For the most part, Europe and other countries strongly support wind

power (approx. 80% of Europe)• Some wind farms, such as the Whiteless Wind Farm in Glasgow (Below),

have become tourist attractions.

GEOTHERMAL ENERGYMICHAEL WORTH

Definition Electrical energy generated through heat from the Earth’s heat and its

manipulation Used to heat homes, greenhouses (farming) to produce food during

winter, fish farms, and various areas of industry.

ADVANTAGES OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

When used in heating, the steam or water can be pumped back into the ground and reheated. Produces no greenhouse gases that would normally be produced by fossil fuels. Easy on the environment as it doesn’t need land to be cleared, rivers dammed or any mining. Inexpensive once installed and little maintenance as there are very few moving parts.

DISADVANTAGES OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

High installation cost, can eventually run out of steam. Only suitable in regions with hot rocks below. Sometimes these sites can accidentally release harmful gases. The energy is not easily transported once extracted.

IMPACTS

Impact on local level

Delta school district’s Geo-Exchange program, converting select school heating systems so that they are powered by geothermal energy.

CURRENT TRENDS/SOLUTIONSWhich Countries are using geothermal? • United States – 3442 MW capacity• Philippines – 1902 MW Capacity• Indonesia – 1333 MW Capacity• Mexico – 1005 MW Capacity• Italy – 901 MW Capacity• New Zealand – 895 MW Capacity• Iceland – 664 MW Capacity• Japan – 537 MW Capacity

MW = Megawatts

Canada’s largest geothermal resources are in BC, Alberta and The Yukon. It was estimated in 2007 that geothermal energy could produce one half of BC’s energy requirements.

SOLAR ENERGYGURSHAAN BRAR

Definition Solar energy is radiant light from the sun harnessed using a range of ever-

evolving technologies such as solar heating, photovoltaic cells, solar thermal energy, solar architecture and artificial photosynthesis.

Solar power is an important source of renewable energy. In 1839 Alexandre Edmond Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect

which explains how electricity can be generated from sunlight.

Who?Top five countries that use solar energy:

Germany: produced 35.5 gigawatts in 2014. It is the biggest producer of solar energy to date.

China: produced 18.3 gigawatts in 2014. Italy: produced 17.6 gigawatts. 7.8% of Italy’s total energy production is solar, which is the

highest in the world. Japan: produced 13.6 gigawatts. There have been many govt. and local initiatives to

promote the growth of solar energy. US: produced 12 gigawatts.

ADVANTAGES OF SOLAR ENERGY Solar energy is free although there is a cost in the building of the

collectors. Solar energy is a clean way of getting energy; it doesn’t cause pollution. Solar energy can be used in remote areas. It is estimated that the world’s oil reserves will last for 30 to 40 years..

Solar energy is infinite.

DISADVANTAGES OF SOLAR EMERGY

Can only be harnessed when it is sunny/daytime. Solar collectors are expensive to build. Some places like the UK, it is an unreliable source of energy. Large areas of land are required to capture the suns energy.

IMPACTS

Impact on local level Impact on Global level

Schools in the delta school district use solar power to pre-heat their domestic hot water supply, this system will reduce the districts energy consumption, resulting in over $5000 of natural gas savings, and 12 tons of greenhouse gas emission reduction annually.

Burnsview, Delta and Seaquam secondary have this system.

Third world countries such as countries from Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Somalia and South Africa use solar power for one of their sources of energy.

By increasing solar energy, third world countries will not depend on expensive imported fuels.

Worldwide growth of photovoltaics is extremely dynamic and varies strongly by country.

CURRENT TRENDS/SOLUTIONS The state of the solar industry is strong. US installation are soaring, and short term predictions of further growth

are well for the future. Germany and Spain have increased solar energy greatly in recent years.

With supportive govt. policies. Locally, elementary and high schools are integrating solar power into their

energy source. Countries are willing to spend a lot of money for solar power

– Japan invested $9 billion in solar energy in 2009, and the PM also announced a plan to install solar power at 32,000 public schools.

More countries are counting on solar power to be an alternate source of energy to move towards clean energy.