Alternate Energy Sources for the 21st Century - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

1 / 17
About This Presentation
Title:

Alternate Energy Sources for the 21st Century

Description:

Solar Electric ... instead of electric lights. Solar Cookers ... Solar Cars? Hybrid and Electric cars are coming. Why not solar charge them? Water Energy ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

Number of Views:521
Avg rating:3.0/5.0
Slides: 18
Provided by: michae224
Category:

less

Transcript and Presenter's Notes

Title: Alternate Energy Sources for the 21st Century


1
Alternate Energy Sources for the 21st Century
  • Mike Ewert
  • Houston Renewable Energy Group

2
Problem Opportunity
  • Several Problems
  • Air water pollution
  • Health effects of pollution
  • Oil depletion/ imports
  • Global warming from CO2
  • One Solution
  • Renewable energy sources cause minimal pollution,
    dont cause global warming and are locally
    available

3
Pollution
  • US power plants emit 18 million tons of SO2 per
    year NOx, particulates, carbon monoxide,
    mercury and lead
  • Energy production use also contribute to Water
    pollution
  • Houston has been in violation of federal air
    quality standards since they began in the 1970s
  • The Houston/Galveston area must be in compliance
    by 2007 because we were designated as a "severe"
    ozone area.

4
Some Energy Statistics
  • The US uses ΒΌ of the worlds energy
  • The US pays more than
    5 billion for imported oil
    each month

5
Global Warming
  • Throughout history, the earth has been much
    colder, and at times warmer, than it is now
  • But climate change is occurring 100s of times
    faster than these natural changes
  • CO2, CH4, N2O, O3 and soot all cause warming
  • Global average air temperature has risen 1F in
    the past 50 years
  • But, this has already resulted in melting ice
    sheets, migration of animals and more severe
    weather

6
Whats the Alternative?And whats the hold up?
  • Renewable energy generally cost more than
    conventional fossil fuel energy systems
  • Solar 11 - 40 /kWh depending on the technology
  • Wind 5 - 15 /kWh from large wind turbines

But what if you consider the big picture?
7
There are lots of Alternatives
  • Nuclear
  • Hydroelectric
  • Wind
  • Solar
  • Wave
  • Tidal
  • Geothermal
  • Bio-mass
  • Helium 3 (from the moon)

RENEWABLE
8
Wind
  • Wind turbines modern windmills have become
    quite efficient and cost effective in windy areas

9
Solar Electric
  • Solar Photovoltaic (PV) panels generate
    electricity directly from sunlight with special
    materials
  • Solar electricity can also be generated from the
    suns heat instead of burning fossil fuels

10
Solar Thermal
  • Heat from the sun can be used to heat water,
    houses, pools, in industry and to generate
    electricity

11
Passive Solar
  • Uses sun angles, shading and thermal storage
  • Daylighting is using natural sunlight instead of
    electric lights

12
Solar Cookers
  • Many different designs
  • Can improve health reduce deforestation in
    developing countries

13
Solar Cars?
  • Hybrid and Electric cars are coming
  • Why not solar charge them?

14
Water EnergyHydro-electric, wave, tide
15
Geothermal Bio-mass
16
A Future Hydrogen Economy?
  • Solar energy can split water into hydrogen
    oxygen
  • A fuel cell can make electricity from hydrogen
    and oxygen, making water
  • A completely clean, renewable cycle

17
2 Last Thoughts
Don't forget about energy efficiency and
conservation!
It has been estimated that we can improve the way
we use energy by a factor of 4!
  • ELECTRIC CHOICE
  • You now have a choice of electric providers in
    Texas
  • Providers must provide an electricity facts
    label, so the source is something you can
    consider
  • www.powertochoose.com
Write a Comment
User Comments (0)
About PowerShow.com