Renewable Energy Sources

Renewable Sources

• Renewable Energy Source:– An energy source that can be replaced in a

relatively short period of time.– Examples:• hydro-electric, wind, solar,

biomass and geothermal

Hydroelectric Generation:• the energy of falling water is used to move

the large blades of turbines connected to generators.

• Many use the water stored behind a dam to generate electricity.

• The dam controls to flow of water.• There are 180 hydro-electric

generating stations in Ontario.

Advantages Disadvantages•Does not release pollution into the air or water

•Disrupts natural flow pattern

•Restrict fish movement

•Habitat loss

•Expensive to build.

•Difficult to find a good location

Niagara Falls Power

Photovoltaic Generation:

• Changes light energy from the Sun directly into electrical energy.

• Uses photovoltaic cell to convert the energy

Advantages/Disadvantages of Photovoltaic Generation:

Advantages Disadvantages•Free and readily available

•Can be installed anywhere

•Does not create pollution

•Expensive and inefficient

•Can only work during the day.

Wind Generation:• A modern wind turbine is made up of large

blades mounted on a tall tower.• As the wind blows, the blades of a turbine

turn.• The turbine is connected to a generator.

Advantages/Disadvantages of wind

Advantages Disadvantages•Wind is free•Building and maintaining wind farms is less expensive then fossil fuels or uranium

•Disrupts scenic views

•Need large areas

•Noise pollution

•Disrupts migrating birds.

Thermal Generation Using Biomass:• Biomass, or biofuel, is any form of bacterial,

plant, or animal matter.• Biomass is burned to produce thermal

energy.• This heats water into steam that can turn a

turbine connected to a generator to produce electricity.

Advantages/Disadvantages of Using Biomass:

Advantages Disadvantages•renewable •Produces greenhouse

gases

•Using crops as fuels results in lower food production.

Geothermal Generation:• Geothermal generation uses wells drilled

deep underground to access thermal energy.• Hot geothermal gases are then piped to a

generating station, where the thermal energy turns water into steam.

Advantages/Disadvantages of Geothermal:

Advantages Disadvantages•Energy always present deep in earth’s crust.

•Can be reheated and reused.

•No greenhouse gases

•Suitable areas are rare.

•Generating stations are difficult and expensive to build.

What Does the Future Hold?

• In Ontario, about 26% of all electrical energy comes from burning coal and natural gas, 52% from nuclear sources.

• This means that 78% of Ontario’s electrical energy is produced using non-renewable energy sources.

• Therefore, we need to develop ways to use less electrical energy!!! Jack Lay

ton's house