Egan.Govoni.energy.water.spring.2010

=__Alternatives To Oil__=

What is the problem at hand? -Uses up limited natural resources -Causes damage to enviornment and creates large amounts of polution -Waste created is hard to dispose of and has its own harful affects -Makes destruction of earth and natural wonders more common and is just a general sore sight The large dependence on fuel oils, the lack of knowlege of the subject and great lack of concern (mainly by large groups) is driving the problem deeper and deeper making it harder to dig ourselves out and create greater, cleaner and more efficient methods of enery creation and consumption. Though people are doing small things such as using hybrid and electric cars, making small, homesized methods of alternative enegy and trying to decrease fuel consumtion more is needed. Things must be done on a larger scale and large government gruops and conpanies must invest and develop new way of energy creation and consumption to help. No matter how hard we try there will always be a small dependence on fuel oils but it could be cut down.
 * What is the driving force of the problem?
 * What are people currently doing/not doing to solve the problem?

([]) Important Equations in Fuel Burinng Process

__Wind Power__
Air flows over the blades of the turbine which causes the rotor to spin. The rotor spins the shaft of the generator creating electricity. That electricity is then sent out to substations to be turned into voltage. "In 2006, wind power supplied 0.6% of US electricity but reduced CO2 emission from electricity production by a full 1%. This amounted to a 0.4% reduction in CO2 emissions from all fossil energy use, and a 0.36% reduction in total US GHG emissions. The wind industry is hoping to produce 20% of US electricity by 2030, which would result in a 13% reduction in CO2 relative to 2030 levels without wind. This would not be enough to hold CO2 emissions constant". Amount of water generated/purified:** No water is generated/purified with wind power. Instead wind power consumes a small amount of water. []
 * How Does it Work?**
 * CO2 production/inhibition:**
 * []
 * WATER CONSUMPTION--WIND ||
 * **Technology** || **gallons/kWh** || **liters/kWh** ||
 * Wind || 0.001 || 0.004 ||


 * Best Aspects:**
 * No pollution || Reduces costs on air pollution ||
 * Least expensive of renewable energy || Minimal to no maintenance ||
 * Wind is free || Reliable ||
 * Quickly constructed || Costs are expected to drop ||

Wind power deals with many critics. People who live along the coast feel that wind farms offshore are visually unappealing. Fisherman say they would affect their jobs. Others say that wind turbines affect flying animals like birds. Some birds may fly into the turbines, but this is not a significant cause in the birds death. Some say that noise can be a problem. Earlier models of wind turbines were the main culprit, but the new designs have changed the noise problem for the most part. This problem only occurs in residential areas, but "a wind turbine 300 meters away is no noisier than the reading room of a library" [].
 * What would critics say?**
 * Does it make alot of the worlds enegy? Why or Why not.**

[]

" Wind turbines do not displace fossil generating capacity on a one-for-one basis. But it is unambiguously the case that wind energy can displace fossil fuel-based generation, reducing both fuel use and carbon dioxide emissions". [] In 2009, 157,889 Megawatts were produced from wind power world wide. On average 1 MW can power 1000 homes. So 157,889 MW can power around 157,899,000 homes. Wind power can be done on a large scale, but the effects off large scale wind power is still being looked into. To use wind power on a large scale many wind farms need to be built in open plains and offshore in the ocean. Many countries use wind power. Over 39 nations including the European Union, the United States, and China use wind power. The reason these nations are turning to wind power is to lesson their dependence on fossil fuel and reduce CO2 emmissions. It is also free energy. The countries that have plenty of constant blowing wind are lucky to use this free, renewable resource.
 * How can it help or hurt?**
 * How can it be done on a larger scale?**
 * Who uses/doesn't use it and why?**

([])

__Hydro Power__
Using the natural flow of water from either bodies or streams a "mill" is spun by the motion which in turn causes a rotation in a generation which generates electricity and from there it taken out by power lines for the consumtion of the public or any other means needed. There is no exact measure as of the moment due to the inablity of measurement of creation and causes of less coal/oil burning, but it is causing a lesser creation of CO2 and has no real polutants such as the gas. Due to it being a renewable resources and has not consumption of water with use it neither generates nor uses any water. As for purification, it does not purify water but can possibly affect its quality from the metal in the machinery. -little to no polution -source of water provided by nature (so essential the continuing fuel is free) -low operation and maintenance cost, after initial production cost. -basic technology allows for easy changes and great reliability The main problem according to critics is the amount of space it takes up and the change in the local enviornment. Though very clean, the creation of dams and changes in flow of water can corrupt everything from fish population to possible problems of irrigation for farms. But, as of the monemnt the pros outwiegh the cons and hydropower in greatly prefered. Hydropower makes up less than 10% of US energy due to the high initial cost and limited locations for placement. Though very effcient the need for a resivoir or stream causes problems with placement due to the fact it takes up large amounts of space and has strange specifics that must be met in order for operation. It can help by cutting CO2 emmisions and allowing for cleaner energy production. But, can cause harm to local ecosystems and wildlife around the hydro-plant. If tides and currents could be harnessed as possible production means, along with waterfalls and other large bodies of water than the source could be used for greater energy production. -High investment costs -Dependant on rain and outside water sources. -Affects wildlife and enviornment such as fish, local animals and ecosystem. -changes in reservoir and stream water quality -possibilities of dam leakage or breaks How could we change it?
 * How Does it Work?**
 * CO2 production/ihibition:**
 * Amount of water generated/purified:**
 * Best Aspects:**
 * What would critics say?**
 * Does it make alot of the worlds enegy? Why or Why not.**
 * How can it help or hurt?**
 * How can it be done on a larger scale?**
 * Who uses/doesn't use it and why?**

([])

Sources @http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/wuhy.html [] [|**http://zfacts.com/p/416.html**] []