Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Renewable Energy

Wind Power
Using the wind to create electricity has been around for a long time you've probably seen windmills on farms. When the wind turns the blades of a windmill, it spins a turbine inside a small generator to produce electricity, just like a big coal power plant. A windmill on a farm can make only a small amount of electricity enough to power a few farm machines. To make enough electricity to serve lots of people, power companies build "wind farms" with dozens of huge wind turbines. Wind farms are built in flat, open areas where the wind blows at least 14 miles per hour. How a wind turbine works: A wind turbine works the opposite of a fan. Instead of using electricity to make wind, a turbine uses wind to make electricity. The wind turns the blades, which spin a shaft, which connects to a generator and makes electricity. The electricity is sent through transmission and distribution lines to a substation, then on to homes, business and schools.
Solar Power
“Solar” is the Latin word for “sun” and it’s a powerful source of energy. In fact, the sunlight that shines on the Earth in just one hour could meet world energy demand for an entire year. We can use solar power in two different ways: as a heat source, and as an energy source. People have used the sun as a heat source for thousands of years. Families in ancient Greece built their homes to get the most sunlight during the cold winter months. In the 1830s, explorer John Herschel used a solar collector to cook food during an adventure in Africa. You can even try this at home. Today we can use solar collectors for heating water and air in our homes. If you’ve seen a house with big shiny panels on the roof, that family is using solar power. We can also use solar energy to make electricity. The process is called photovoltaics. If you have a solar powered watch or calculator, you’re using photovoltaics. In 1954, scientists at Bell Telephone discovered that silicon (an element found in sand) created an electric charge when it was exposed to lots of sunlight. Just a few years later, silicon chips were used to help power space satellites.
Wave Power
Waves are caused by the wind blowing over the surface of the ocean. In many areas of the world, the wind blows with enough consistency and force to provide continuous waves. There is tremendous energy in the ocean waves. Wave power devices extract energy directly from the surface motion of ocean waves or from pressure fluctuations below the surface. Wave power varies considerably in different parts of the world, and wave energy can't be harnessed effectively everywhere. Wave power rich areas of the world include the western coasts of Scotland, northern Canada, southern Africa, Australia, and the northwestern coasts of the United States.
Hydro Power

When it rains in hills and mountains, the water becomes streams and rivers that run down to the ocean. The moving or falling water can be used to do work. Energy, you'll remember is the ability to do work. So moving water, which has kinetic energy, can be used to make electricity. For hundreds of years, moving water was used to turn wooden wheels that were attached to grinding wheels to grind (or mill) flour or corn. These were called grist mills or water mills. Water can either go over the top of the wheel, or the wheel can be placed in the moving river. The flow of the river then turns the wheel at the bottom. Today, moving water can also be used to make electricity. Hydro means water. Hydro-electric means making electricity from water power. Hydroelectric power uses the kinetic energy of moving water to make electricity. Dams can be built to stop the flow of a river. Water behind a dam often forms a reservoir. Dams are also built across larger rivers but no reservoir is made. The river is simply sent through a hydroelectric power plant or powerhouse. Hydro is one of the largest producers of electricity in the United States. Water power supplies about 10 percent of the entire electricity that we use. In states with high mountains and lots of rivers, even more electricity if made by hydro power.

All of there are very efficient ways to save and conserve energy. I think they all work really well but for some reason solar and wind power stick out to me the most as in they would be the most effective ones to use. I think they would produce the most amount of electricy or "power".

12 comments:

cst.onge said...

you have done a very great job on this weeks post. i enjoyed reading about the different kinds of energy that we can use over and over again. i wonder what kinds of energy we will come up with in the future that we can recycle. i can't wait to read your next topic, next week.

RachelA said...

Nick, I had to wait to read your blog, but it was worth the wait. I totally learned a lot from your blog this week. In addition, I really enjoyed your opinion at the end of your blog. The set-up of your blog this week was fantastic!

Rachel

jb7645 said...

Great post Nick! 1 I wish you would have started with an introduction, even though they are not required (surprisingly). 2 You had a good choice of the different kinds of renewable resources. 3 The information was good and there was enough of it. 4 You finished good with the conclusion.

Jake

Lindsey said...

Nick,
Your post was really excellent this week and was probably your best yet. It showed your personality more than your other posts and it was explained really well. I enjoyed your comparison of a wind turbine being the opposite of a fan. It really clarifies the purpose of a wind turbine. I enjoyed how you began your section on solar power. However, I was surprised that it was not derived from a Greek root. It was really great how you included examples of solar energy uses such as solar panels, calculators, watches, and others. You also included a lot of very educational information on hydro power. It was enjoyable to read your conclusion as well. It really demonstrated your personality and your opinion. I really enjoyed your post this week and cannot wait until next week!
~Lindsey~ :)

Keri said...

Nick,

That was a fantastic blog. I especially enjoyed reading your thoughts on the subject. You did very well researching the topic this week. Keep up the good work and I cant wait to read your post next week.

Keri

Doobinator said...

That was a very nice post Nick. It had plenty of very nice information. And very nice typing. I liked it very nicely.

-Dusitn

Jme said...

Little Nicky,

Wind power is the one type of energy that really interests me. It seems so easy to harness. You picked the same 4 topics that I picked. So basically I've already read your post. But on the contrary you brought up points that I didn't in my own post so way to do your research fella.

bill0702 said...

Nick,

Wow, you have a ton of information in this weeks post. You really out-do yourself every week. How do you do it? I agree with you, there is a great deal of power that can be gained from solar and wind power. But from reading everyone else's blog, it seems like hydropower is one of the greater sources of power, though.

Billy

Haileyrose said...

hey, nick, i really liked your post because it seemed like you put a lot of your own knowledge into it. I really liked how you described how things worked, it really made it clear. I also liked how you pointed out the origin of some of the words. But overall it was very detailed.

SarahAnn said...

nice post nick! you seem extremely smart when you are talking about renewable resources...but it was very good! i like the way your information was easy to read and understand. i wonder if these types of energy will replace the ones we have now...? only time will tell!
SarahAnn

MHellTull30 said...

Nick, Great job again! Always a lengthy read, but always worth it. Your coverage of the topic is impeccable. I do agree that wind and solar power will be the best universal source of power. Because the tidal energies can only be used costally for now. The wind energy is everywhere and so is the sun. Hopefully we can figure out a way to harness the energy soon.

Fabulously yours,
Megan

MHellTull30 said...

Nick, Great job again! Always a lengthy read, but always worth it. Your coverage of the topic is impeccable. I do agree that wind and solar power will be the best universal source of power. Because the tidal energies can only be used costally for now. The wind energy is everywhere and so is the sun. Hopefully we can figure out a way to harness the energy soon.

Fabulously yours,
Megan