Alternative Sources of Energy

Marco Santo Danesi Marco Santo Danesi University of Michigan

ELI 330

Fall 2007

Sugar CaneSugar Cane

What is Ethanol?What is Ethanol?•• a primarily planta primarily plant--based fuel based fuel

•• a flammable alcohol that can be made a flammable alcohol that can be made from crops such as sugar cane, wheat and from crops such as sugar cane, wheat and corn. corn.

Advantages of EthanolAdvantages of Ethanol

•• Cleaner environmentCleaner environment

•• Greater independence from the whims of Greater independence from the whims of the oil marketthe oil market

•• Higher energy density than some other Higher energy density than some other alternative fuelsalternative fuels

•• More improvement of More improvement of

agricultural economiesagricultural economies

Disadvantages of EthanolDisadvantages of Ethanol

•• Higher prices for many products derived Higher prices for many products derived from raw materialsfrom raw materials

•• Very corrosiveVery corrosive

•• Lower fuel efficiencyLower fuel efficiency

•• Generating waste productsGenerating waste products

The possibility of development The possibility of development for Ethanolfor Ethanol

HydropowerHydropower

•• Types of water powerTypes of water power

•• The water cycleThe water cycle

•• Relationship with the environmentRelationship with the environment

Forms of water powerForms of water power

●● Hydroelectricity powerHydroelectricity power

●● Tidal powerTidal power

●● Wave powerWave power

● Solar energy heats water on the surface, causing it to evaporate.

● This water vapor condenses into clouds and falls back onto the surface as precipitation.

● The water flows through rivers back into the oceans, where it can evaporate and begin the cycle over again

How hydropower works?How hydropower works?

Hydropower and the Hydropower and the environmentenvironment

•• Discussion:Discussion:Discussion:Discussion:Discussion:Discussion:Discussion:Discussion:

•• Advantages: Renewable, Advantages: Renewable,

No waste and pollution, etc.No waste and pollution, etc.

•• Problems: Disturb the natural Problems: Disturb the natural

habitatshabitats

Advantage and Advantage and disadvantage of disadvantage of wind energywind energy

What is Wind EnergyWhat is Wind Energy

•• A wind turbines A wind turbines works the opposite works the opposite of a fanof a fan

•• Wind Wind �� turns turns blades blades �� spin shaft spin shaft �� generator generator ��electricityelectricity

Advantages of Wind EnergyAdvantages of Wind Energy

•• Pollution free energyPollution free energy

•• Small size of plantSmall size of plant

•• More efficient than beforeMore efficient than before

•• Cost free for generatingCost free for generating

•• Free from location (such as mountain)Free from location (such as mountain)

Disadvantages of Wind EnergyDisadvantages of Wind Energy

•• Irregular winds Irregular winds strengthstrength

•• Generate low energyGenerate low energy

•• High cost of High cost of installationinstallation

•• Impact on wildlifeImpact on wildlife

•• Noise pollutionNoise pollution

•• Spoil the landscapeSpoil the landscape

(aesthetics)(aesthetics)

ReferenceReference

•• http://www.cleanhttp://www.clean--energyenergy--ideas.com/index.htmlideas.com/index.html

•• http://www.alliantenergykids.com/stellent2/http://www.alliantenergykids.com/stellent2/groups/public/documents/pub/phk_001537groups/public/documents/pub/phk_001537.hcsp.hcsp

•• http://http://wikipedia.orgwikipedia.org//

•• 99.9% of available flow of renewable energy99.9% of available flow of renewable energy

•• Solar Energy = to convert sunlight into electricity Solar Energy = to convert sunlight into electricity

•• ApplicationsApplications

•• Atmosphere Atmosphere �� 6% of insolation is reflected6% of insolation is reflected

16% is absorbed16% is absorbed

•• 20% of the electricity used in the USA 20% of the electricity used in the USA

is for lightingis for lighting

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HeatHeatLightingLightingElectricity generationElectricity generationTransportationTransportationDesalinationDesalinationBiomassBiomassClothes dryingClothes dryingPhotosynthesisPhotosynthesis

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••Water heatingWater heating

••Heating, cooling and ventilationHeating, cooling and ventilation

••CookingCooking

••DesalinationDesalination

••DisinfectionDisinfection

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•• 1954: researchers at 1954: researchers at Bell LaboratoriesBell Laboratories developed a developed a photovoltaic cellphotovoltaic cell (it converts light into electricity)(it converts light into electricity)

•• 1960s: 1960s: 1 watt = $ 1001 watt = $ 100

•• 1970s: 1970s: 1 watt = $ 201 watt = $ 20

•• 1990s: 1990s: 1 watt = $ 7.501 watt = $ 7.50

•• 2005:2005: 1 watt = $ 41 watt = $ 4

•• Thanks to nanotechnology Thanks to nanotechnology ��

energy cost = 5 energy cost = 5 ¢¢/kWh, /kWh,

sold for $ 0.36/W (2007)sold for $ 0.36/W (2007)

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•• Solar Solar carcar (World Solar Challenge) 90km/h(World Solar Challenge) 90km/h

•• HeliosHelios aircraftaircraft (record 2001: altitude of (record 2001: altitude of 29,250 m. Then it fell into the Pacific 29,250 m. Then it fell into the Pacific Ocean)Ocean)

•• Solar Solar boatboat (1975, England. (1975, England.

Crossing of the Atlantic Crossing of the Atlantic

ocean in 2006)ocean in 2006)

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•• Energy storage (thermal mass or batteries)Energy storage (thermal mass or batteries)

•• Not economically competitive with fossil fuelsNot economically competitive with fossil fuels

•• Solar industries needs government sponsorship Solar industries needs government sponsorship and incentives to help generate momentum in the and incentives to help generate momentum in the marketplacemarketplace

•• Consumers need more incentives Consumers need more incentives

at the federal and state levels at the federal and state levels

(i.e. partial copayment,(i.e. partial copayment,

government tax subsidies)government tax subsidies)