RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT

By : Outmane Marmouzi – Douaa Elatifi

GEER 1
 Introduction:

 Energy, in physics, the capacity for

doing work.

  It may exist in potential, kinetic, thermal, electrical,

chemical, nuclear, or other various forms.

 Why do we need energy ?

 Most of your live is involved with energy.

 Energy powers your lights, smartphones,

computers, cars …

 Energy is why you eat, sleep, go to school

and work.
 Contents:

1. Production of energy.

2. Renewable energy sources.

3. Environmental Impacts of Renewable Energy

Sources.
Production of energy :
• Non-renewable energy is energy derived from finite resources that are not
replaced quickly enough to keep up with the speed of consumption.
 Fossil fuel energy
• Fossil fuels are found in the earth and
formed over millions of years.
• The fossil in fossil fuel coal is
burned which releases heat which
is then used to generate electricity .

• Natural gas is used for heating,

cooking and electricity

• Oil is used for transportation.

 Nuclear energy:

• Nuclear energy originates

from the splitting of
uranium atoms – a process
called fission.

• This generates heat to

produce steam, which is
used by a turbine generator
to generate electricity.
•  Themain renewable energy resources include solar
wind geothermal hydroelectric biomass and ocean.

• This energy is defined as energy from a source that is

not depleted.
IEA, World Energy Balances, 2021.
 • The burning of fossil fuels has a
number of negative externalities –
harmful environmental impacts
where the effects extend beyond the
people using the fuel. The actual
effects depend on the fuel in
question.

CO2 SO2
No CO
CH4
2. Renewable energy resources.
Solar energy:

• Solar energy is derived by capturing

radiant energy from sunlight and
converting it into heat, electricity, or hot
water. Photovoltaic (PV) systems can
convert direct sunlight into electricity
through the use of solar cells
 Wind energy:

• Wind farms capture the energy of wind flow by using turbines and converting
it into electricity.
 Hydroelectric energy:

• Dams are what people most associate when it comes to hydroelectric

power. Water flows through the dam’s turbines to produce electricity,
known as pumped-storage hydropower. Run-of-river hydropower uses a
channel to funnel water through rather than powering it through a dam.
 Geothermal energy:
• Geothermal energy = heat energy from the Earth
• Decay of radioactive elements and residual heat from planetary formation 4.5 billion
years ago
• Water is pumped down into hot rock where it is heated.
• Steam can then be used to heat buildings directly or to generate electricity by
spinning a turbine
 Biomass:

• Bioenergy is a renewable energy derived from biomass. Biomass is organic matter

that comes from recently living plants and organisms.
• Using wood in your fireplace is an example of biomass that most people are
familiar with.
 Hydrogen:
• Hydrogen is an energy carrier that can be used to store, move, and deliver energy
produced from other sources.
• Today, hydrogen fuel can be produced through several methods.
• The most common methods today are natural gas reforming (a thermal process),
and electrolysis.
Environmental Impacts of
Renewable Energy Sources:
Over the next 20 years, policymakers, industry and government
officials will need to 
invest US $2.5 trillion for electricity generation. Electricity from 
renewable energy sources produces between 90-99% less
greenhouse gases (GHGs) compared with coal-fired plants and
causes 70-90% less pollution.
Focusing on renewable energy sources other than fossil fuels and
coals might help in avoiding environmental impacts, specifically
from air pollution and GHGs. Nevertheless, all forms of 
electricity generation have their impacts. To achieve a low-carbon
future, we need to understand the effects of different renewable
energy resources.
 Hydropower’s environmental impacts depend on where the installation is
located.
 For instance, a tropical hydropower installation that is big and shallow can
result in GHG emissions when it swamps and kills vegetation. Carbon dioxide
(CO2) is released in such instances, as well as methane (CH4), a GHG that is
about 30 times more powerful than CO2 at trapping heat within the atmosphere.
 CONCLUSION:
In sum, renewable energy installations has many benefits on
the climate and environment are 
critical to keeping global warming under 2°C, but their
environmental impacts should be studied as rigorously as we
evaluate non-renewables to realize their maximum potential.
Thanks you for your attention