Clean Energy Solutions: Offsetting CO2 Emissions

1. Offsetting CO2 Emissions

2. Different Types of Energy • Fossil fuels make up large amounts of our daily energy use • However, there are energy that can take large chunks out of our fossil fuel use • Many of these produce energy with little or no CO2

3. Different Types of Energy • The following methods can produce energy with no CO2 emissions • Nuclear Power • Solar Power • Wind Power • Hydropower

4. Why Nuclear Energy? • Nuclear power has a very good balance of safety, reliability, environmental friendliness and cost effectiveness • The balance is often considered one of the best ways to produce energy

5. Why Nuclear Energy? • However, if nuclear power has a problem there is a much larger risk for a large amount of people • This risk is generally small • It makes nuclear energy overall one of the safest energy sources

6. Why Nuclear Energy? • Inside the US we currently have 103 operating nuclear power plants • These plants provide around 20% of electrical power • This power is mostly used to power the public

7. How It Works • Nuclear energy involves chances at the atomic level through one of two basic processes • Fission – One large atom of an element is split to produce two smaller atoms • All power plants currently use fission

8. How It Works • Fission creates two completely different elements out of the original large element • This also releases a large amount of energy and free neutrons • This energy is the energy harnessed

9. How It Works • Fusion is the combination of two small elements (mostly hydrogen) • Fusion takes two smaller elements and creates a larger element • This is not currently used by power plants but is being researched

10. How It Works • Generally two small molecules (Hydrogen 2 and Hydrogen 3) are combined to produce Helium • This combination creates one element out of two elements • This also produces a great deal of energy • It is also the source of energy that powers our sun

11. Nuclear Power • The goal of nuclear power is to slowly control a nuclear reaction • Controlling a slow nuclear reaction allows humans to use the energy that is produced • This energy has to be transformed into a secondary source of power

12. Nuclear Power • Slow sustained nuclear reactions are used to create electricity through steam • The energy produced from these reactions is heat • The heat can be harnessed by boiling water

13. Nuclear Power • High pressure steam is created by boiling water surrounding the reactions • This water is used to power turbines that will generate electricity • This process is not unlike using coal to power turbines

14. Solar Energy • The energy delivered from the sun is vast • The Sun’s rays have so much energy we could replace fossil fuels for a year if we captured all the energy hitting the US for 40 minutes • The sun delivers 10,000 times the energy used by humans every year

15. Solar Energy • Although it is an abundant source, it is also a diffuse source • A diffuse source of energy is a source of energy that is widely scattered and can vary • Think about the seasons and area needed to capture the sun • Most energy from the sun needs to be collected over time and stored before it can be used

16. Solar Energy • Heating water with Solar energy can be done with flat-plate collectors • Flat-plate collectors are wide shallow boxes faced towards the sun • The bottoms are painted black to collect the suns rays • This lets solar energy heat the water in the box

17. Solar Energy • These are popular in warmer climates • In temperate climates (where the water might freeze) they can be modified to work in the winter • The only deterrent to these boxes is the initial cost

18. Solar Energy • The same principals to heating water can be used to heat small spaces • These spaces can be used to heat large areas, like a home • The heating of air through the use of solar energy is called solar space heating

19. Solar Energy • The energy from the Sun can be captured and converted into electricity • This is done though photovoltaic cells and solar-trough collectors • These methods of energy clean and renewable

20. Solar Energy • A photovoltaic cell is a small 4 x 4 inch piece of material that convert sunlight directly into electricity • They are hooked together to form large panels • 40 PV cells can power one light bulb

21. Video • http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/solar-power

22. Wind Power • The power of the wind had been harnessed throughout history • This power has been generated by windmills • These windmills apply physical work when the wind blows

23. Wind Power • The windmill still is used in today’s world, but it has a much different function • The windmill is actually a large turbine that generates electricity • These turbines can generate large amounts of electricity when ever the wind is blowing

24. Wind Power • Wind Power is the second fastest growing form of energy • Behind Solar • This is because it is a cheap and renewable form of energy • There are currently 7 different countries that are planning to have the largest wind farm in the world

25. Wind Power • Wind energy does have its drawbacks • It is a fairly intermittent source • Energy is only produced when you have wind • Storing energy for these farms is a large issue

26. Wind Power • However, wind power has many advantages • If wind turbines are placed in windy areas they can generate more than enough electricity to power large cities or towns

27. Wind Power • There are cases when customers are paid to use electricity when it is a particularly windy time • This is because so much electricity is being produced that there is no where to put it

28. Video • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llIbjC49Fjs

29. Hydropower • Early in history it was learned that water was a moving force and could be used to perform mechanical actions • Early uses of hydropower are mills and lumber mills • These all used large paddle devices that were powered by moving water

30. Hydropower • While the technology has changed, the idea has not • Hydropower is mainly based on the predictable patterns of flowing water • This moving water can be used to generate electricity

31. Hydropower • The moving water is used to push modified turbines • These turbines produce a flow of electrons • The flow of electrons continues as long as the water continues to push

32. Video • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpigNNTQix8

33. More Dams? • Many of the sites that would be suitable for dams have already been filled • These sites already have dams that are producing electricity • The ability for us to build new dams is not as available as in the past

34. More Dams? • While hydropower is a clean, consistent and powerful source of energy it has several drawbacks • In order to use it, dams must be built • These dams flood areas that are often occupied by people or animals

35. Tidal Energy • Since most rivers and streams have been used people have started turning to the ocean • In the ocean you can find energy to displace water by using the tide • The energy that is in tides can be harnessed to create energy

36. Tidal Energy • There are several different ways to generate power using tidal energy • Most of them require a turbine system to be working with sections of water that are tidal • The larger the tidal surge, the more energy that can be created

37. Video • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSBACzRE3Gw