NAME: REYNA, BARLEN LOUIE B.

DATE: DECEMBER 13, 2022

COURSE/YEAR: BSEM- 3 ENGR. NATHANIEL D. TIU

ACTIVITY # 9
1. How much of the United States energy production is from renewable sources?
Around 12% of the nation's overall energy usage and 20% of the nation's electricity production in
2020 came from renewable sources.

2. What are the two major issues with our reliance on nonrenewable energy sources?
When nonrenewable energy sources are exploited, pollution levels rise. In the future, fossil fuels
might become scarce. Non-renewable resources, however, have the potential to spark political
unrest. Fossil fuel combustion is harmful to human health.
Non-Conventional Fossil Fuels
3. Define each of these non-conventional fossil fuels:
a. Tar sands
A deposit of loose sand or partially-consolidated sandstone that has been soaked with extremely
viscous bitumen is known as tar sand, sometimes known as bituminous sand. Synthetic crude, the
name given to the oil extracted from tar sands, is a potentially important type of fossil fuel.
b. Oil shale
Shale oil can be produced from oil shale, a fine-grained sedimentary rock with kerogen that is rich
in organic material.

4. What is the problem with non-conventional fossil fuels?

Fossil fuels are the main causes of global warming and climate change because when they are
burned, they emit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that trap heat in our atmosphere.
Hydroelectricity
5. How do hydroelectric plants generate electricity?
Electricity is produced by hydropower facilities by harnessing the energy of falling water. The
kinetic energy of falling water is transformed into mechanical energy by a turbine. The
mechanical energy from the turbine is then transformed into electrical energy via a generator.

6. Describe how dams impact each of these aspects of the surrounding ecosystem:
a. Reservoir
The physical structure that contains the water as well as the water itself are often frequently referred
to as "dams." Throughout this chapter, the term "dam" will only be used to describe the actual
building (such as a weir), whereas the term "reservoir" will be used to describe the man-made body
of water. Therefore, a dam is described as a wall that prevents the water flow and builds a reservoir.
Receptacles are also referred to as impoundments. Reservoirs are built to accommodate a certain
community's needs:
b. Sedimentation
Behind-the-dam reservoirs collect sediment and release abnormally clean water, depriving the
downstream river of materials necessary to preserve channel shape and sustain the riparian
environment.
 c. Fish migration
Dams can obstruct or impede migration and have occasionally flooded or restricted access to key
spawning habitat by creating deep pools of water. Low water speeds in large reservoirs can also
impede salmon migration and expose fish to disease and hot water.

7. What are fish ladders?

A fish ladder is a device that provides migratory fish with a way to cross a river's obstruction or get
around it. A fish ladder, also called a fish way, offers a diversion path for migrating fish through a
specific river barrier.

8. How is a pumped storage hydroelectric plant different than a traditional one?

A pumped-storage plant produces power by allowing water to pass through a turbine generator,
much like any other hydroelectric facility. But unlike typical hydroelectric plants, the pumped-
storage plant may then pump that water from its lower reservoir to its upper reservoir after
producing electricity.
Wind Power
9. How do wind turbines generate electricity?
By revolving blades that resemble propellers around a rotor, wind turbines transform the energy in
the wind into electricity. The drive shaft is turned by the rotor, and the generator generates
electricity. Wind speed, air density, and swept area are the three main variables that determine how
much energy a turbine can extract from the wind.

10. What are wind farms?

A collection of wind turbines used to generate electricity in one location is referred to as a wind
farm, wind park, wind power station, or wind power plant. The number of wind turbines in a wind
farm can range from a few to hundreds, covering a large area. Onshore or offshore wind farms are
also possible.
11. What are the three potential ecological impacts of wind power?
a. Wind Speed

b. Air Density

c. Blade Radius
Geothermal Power
12. How does geothermal power generate electricity?
Steam is used in geothermal power plants to create energy. The hot water reservoirs that produce
the steam can be found many miles or more below the surface of the planet. A turbine is rotated by
the steam enables a generator to start producing electricity.

13. Explain what each of these wells at a geothermal plant do.

a. Injection well:
To inject fluid underground into porous geologic formations, a well is employed. These
subterranean structures might be anything from a modest soil layer to thick sandstone or limestone.
Water, wastewater, brine (salt water), and water that has been combined with chemicals are all
examples of injected fluids.
 b. Production well:
A "production well" is a well that is used to draw oil or gas from underground sources. Production
wells are dug thousands of feet down into the soil to reach oil or gas-rich formations below.

14. What is a drawback of geothermal electricity?

The fact that geothermal energy is location-specific is its biggest drawback. Because geothermal
plants must be constructed where the energy can be accessed, some areas are unable to use this
resource effectively.
Solar Power
15. Why is solar power so difficult to harness if there is so much of it?
Although the sun generates virtually enough energy to sustain our global economy for a whole year,
it is difficult to harvest since it is dispersed widely across the surface of the world. Sunlight is a
limited resource that is challenging to catch and use because it only shines on half of the world at
once.

16. How does parabolic solar collection convert sunlight into electricity?
A turbine is spun as a result of the heat being absorbed and utilized to boil water into steam. through
the direct conversion of solar energy into electrical currents.

17. How do photovoltaic cells generate electricity?

A semiconductor substance is used in a photovoltaic cell to capture photons released by the sun
and convert them into an electron flow. when photons collide with a semiconductor substance like
silicon. A semi-conducting substance is silicon. they let go of its atoms' electrons, creating a void
in their wake.
Challenges of Renewable Energy
18. Which renewable energy source has the highest cost? The lowest?
By figuring out the expenses of the fuel, the production, and the environmental harm, we can
determine which of these renewable energy sources is the most effective. Over all the other sources,
wind triumphs by a huge margin. Then come geothermal, hydro, nuclear, and solar energy in that
order.

19. Shade in areas of this map of the United States that would be ideal for solar, hydropower,
wind, and geothermal energy collection.
Heat
20. What is biomass?
Organic material that is renewable and comes from both plants and animals is known as biomass.
The chemical energy from the sun that has been stored in biomass. Plants produce biomass through
a process called photosynthesis. A variety of methods can be used to convert biomass into
renewable liquid and gaseous fuels or to burn it directly for heating purposes.
21. What are the two downsides of using biomass as a source of heat?
a. Huge amount energy cannot be obtained at once.

c. It causes air pollution by release of smoke.

22. How do passive solar heat structures gather heat from the sun?
In layman's words, a passive solar home absorbs heat from the sun as it enters through south-facing
windows and stores it in thermal mass—materials that can hold onto heat.

23. How do active solar heat structures gather heat from the sun?
Buildings are heated using a straightforward method called transpired air collectors. The collectors
are mounted over a building's south-facing wall and are made of black, perforated metal panels.
The air passing through the collectors is warmed by up to 40°F by the solar energy they have
collected.
Fuel for Transportation
24. What are biofuels made from?
Biofuels are alternative fuels created from resources found in or obtained from plants. ... Cellulose
(starch), which is mostly obtained from maize and sugar cane, is fermented to make bioethanol, the
main fuel used as a substitute for gasoline in road transport vehicles.

a. What is the biggest source of biofuel currently? Why is this a problem?

 Grain-based ethanol, which is typically produced in the United States from corn, is the most
common type of biofuel currently in use. Under the terms of the federal Renewable Fuel Standard,
it now makes up around 10% of America's gasoline supply and is anticipated to keep doing so in
the foreseeable future (RFS).

25. What do hydrogen fuel cells do to generate electric current in a vehicle?

Grain-based ethanol, which is typically produced in the United States from corn, is the most
common type of biofuel currently in use. Under the terms of the federal Renewable Fuel Standard,
it now makes up around 10% of America's gasoline supply and is anticipated to keep doing so in
the foreseeable future (RFS).
a. What is the disadvantage of using hydrogen for fuel?
Because hydrogen is a lot lighter gas than gasoline, it is challenging to store and move about. It
must be compressed into a liquid and kept at a low temperature in order to be stored. Hydrogen is
an arduous fuel to transport in big quantities due to the high pressures required to store it.

26. What is the biggest advantage of using electric cars instead of internal combustion?
The main benefit of an electric vehicle is its environmental friendliness. Since their engines are
powered by electricity, electric cars are completely environmentally benign. Since it uses a clean
energy source to power itself, it doesn't release any harmful fumes or smoke into the air.

a. Why are electric cars so expensive?

Demand currently exceeds supply, which is one factor contributing to the price's high level.
Although the cost of battery technology and its energy efficiency have decreased in recent
years, more research and development is still required to produce an electric automobile that
is actually affordable.
Promoting Renewables and Efficiency
27. What is energy efficiency a measurement of?
The energy obtained (useful energy or energy output) is divided by the original energy to determine
energy efficiency (energy input). For instance, a refrigerator uses between 20 and 50 percent of its
energy, a wind turbine at most 59%, an LED lamp over 30%, and an incandescent bulb around 5%.
overall strength

28. Define each of these methods used to encourage renewable energy use by consumers:
a. Distributional surcharges
all utility users are subject to a minor fee to assist pay for development and research.
b. Renewable portfolio
This energy strategy mandates that energy providers utilize a predetermined minimum of
renewable energy to run buildings and houses.
c. Green pricing
Plans in which consumers can voluntarily pay a premium price for renewable energy.

29. What is the purpose of the federal energy star program?

The ENERGY STAR program is a joint effort between the Department of Energy and the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (DOE). Its goal is to encourage businesses, industries,
and consumers to use energy-efficient goods and practices in order to save money and protect the
environment.