for the instructorEnergy part 4 covers alternative ways to

generate electricity using solar and bio-fuelsthe slide show starts with the next slide

Energy

Electrical Energy Alternatives Solar Energy I

Existing form of electricity production, producing <0.1% of electricity for the U.S.

Advantages:Existing form of energy productionDoes not produce CO2Can be done on small scale and large scale

effectivelyEnergy can be collected by several different

methods; photovoltaic (PV), concentrating solar power, thermal and water heating

Electrical Energy Alternatives Solar Energy IAdvantages:

Existing form of energy productionDoes not produce CO2Can be done on small scale and large scale

effectivelyEnergy can be collected by several different

methods; photovoltaic (PV), concentrating solar power, thermal and water heating

Disadvantages:Relatively costly to build & cost to operate

is variableHas intermittent energy production (though

this is generally predictable)Large solar farms can have environmental

impacts

Electrical Energy Alternatives Solar Energy II – Solar Radiation

Not all regions in the U.S. receive equal amounts of solar radiation.

The figures to the right indicate variations in solar radiation for summer and winter on a monthly basis for continental U.S.

KWh/m2/day is kilowatt hours per meter-squared per day

Electrical Energy Alternatives Solar Energy III - Photovoltaic

Photovoltaic's (PV) involves the creation of voltage in a material as a result of electro-magnetic radiation exposure (sunlight).

Electrical Energy Alternatives Solar Energy III - Photovoltaic

Photovoltaic's are relatively costly to install but have low operational costs.

It is believed that current PV cells will operate well for approximately 30 years, and generally have warranties for 20-25 years.

Electrical Energy Alternatives Solar Energy IV – Concentrating Solar Power

Concentrating solar power (CSP) utilizes mirrors and lenses to focus light onto PV surfaces or to heat fluids to generate electricity.

Electrical Energy Alternatives Solar Energy IV – Concentrating Solar Power

This type of operation is relatively costly to build and but have moderate operational costs.

To be operationally cost-efficient these plants are, and will probably remain, restricted to the western U.S. & Florida.

Electrical Energy AlternativesBiomass/Algae I

Existing form of energy production, producing ~3.6% of overall power for the U.S.

Advantages bio-materials for energy:It more efficiently utilizes solar radiation to

generate energyRecycles CO2 in the atmosphere (carbon-neutral; efficiency of recycling varies based on which bio-material is used)

Can be used for fuel and to generate electricityTheoretically, should be cheaper than oil as an

energy source

Electrical Energy AlternativesBiomass/Algae I

Advantages bio-materials for energy :It more efficiently utilizes solar radiation to

generate energyRecycles CO2 in the atmosphere (carbon-neutral; efficiency of recycling varies based on which bio-material is used)

Can be used for fuel and to generate electricity

Theoretically, should be cheaper than oil as an energy source

Disadvantages bio-materials for energy :Produces CO2 as a wasteMay increase cost for some agricultural

productsMay increase deforestation in tropical regions

Electrical Energy AlternativesBiomass/Algae II

Use of biofuels to generate electricity is still not a large contributor in the U.S.

Largest source of electricity from biofuels is landfill gas (methane, ethane & propane generated from the decomposition of trash)

UNH, New Hampshire

Seneca Meadows, NY

Electrical Energy AlternativesBiomass/Algae III

Onondaga county utilizes trash incineration to dispose of solid waste.

The incineration process produces electricity for over 25,000 homes in the area.

Trash to Energy facility located off Rock Cut Road in Syracuse

Electrical Energy AlternativesBiomass/Algae IV

Other existing sources of electricity from biomass include:Wood burning

stoves/hot water heating systems

Waste wood product for industrial electricity generation

Manure gas generation

Chicken manure plant in the Netherlands, produces electricity for 80,000 homes

Electrical Energy AlternativesBiomass/Algae V

Another possible source of biomass energy for both fuel and electricity generation is algae.

Current research is preliminary.