KWL+chart+-+energy+and+transport

Energy: Wind Turbines Wave Turbines Solar Advantages: Disadvantages: Wind turbines: Advantages: Disadvantages: Wave turbines: Advantages: Disadvantages: Solar: Advantages: * Solar energy is free - it needs no fuel and produces no waste or pollution.
 * What we know: || What we want to know: || What we have learnt: ||
 * Geothermal/ hydrothermal energy:
 * "Geothermal energy is heat energy available from the earth." (energex, n.d., p.1)
 * "Geothermal energy is considered a sustainable resource in that the heat generated in the earth will still be around for millions of years. Heat is conducted from the earth’s core, which has a temperature of about 6000 degree Celsius. Some of the heat in the earth comes from the sun which will also continue to burn for billions of years."(energex, n.d., p.1)
 * "The main form of geothermal power is where bodies of water, either above or below the earth's surface, are converted to steam by the earth's heat. The steam is collected, and used to power a turbogenerator just like in a regular coal fired power station."(energex, n.d., p.1)
 * "Wind power involves converting wind energy into electricity by using [|wind turbines]. A wind turbine is composed of 3 propellers-like blades called a //rotor.// The rotor is attached to a tall //tower//." (Energy Matters, 2011, p.1)
 * "Kinetic energy (movement) exists in the moving waves of the ocean. That energy can be used to power a turbine." (Bellis, 2011, para.4.)
 * "Solar energy can be converted to electricity in two ways:
 * **Photovoltaic (PV devices) or “solar cells”** change sunlight directly into electricity. Individual PV cells are grouped into panels and arrays of panels that can be used in a wide range of applications ranging from single small cells that charge calculator and watch batteries, to systems that power single homes, to large power plants covering many acres.
 * **Solar Thermal/Electric Power Plants** generate electricity by concentrating solar energy to heat a fluid and produce steam that is used to power a generator."(US EIA, n.d. para.1) || * What sustainable energy type is the easiest/ most cost efficient to errect?
 * Which causes least damage to the environment?
 * Advantages and disadvantages of each energy source.
 * How much energy can be produced by each energy source, is this going to be enough energy for the amount of people we need to cater for? || Geothermal energy:
 * "Geothermal energy does not produce any pollution, and does not contribute to the greenhouse effect." (Darvill, 2011, p.1)
 * "The power stations do not take up much room, so there is not much impact on the environment."(Darvill, 2011, p.1)
 * "No fuel is needed."(Darvill, 2011, p.1)
 * "Once you've built a geothermal power station, the energy is almost free. It may need a little energy to run a pump, but this can be taken from the energy being generated." (Darvill, 2011, p.1)
 * "The big problem is that there are not many places where you can build a geothermal power station. You need hot rocks of a suitable type, at a depth where we can drill down to them. The type of rock above is also important, it must be of a type that we can easily drill through."(Darvill, 2011, p.1)
 * "Sometimes a geothermal site may "run out of steam", perhaps for decades." (Darvill, 2011, p.1)
 * "Hazardous gases and minerals may come up from underground, and can be difficult to safely dispose of." (Darvill, 2011, p.1)
 * "Wind is free, wind farms need no fuel."(Darvill, 2011, p.1)
 * "Produces no waste or greenhouse gases."(Darvill, 2011, p.1)
 * "The land beneath can usually still be used for farming."(Darvill, 2011, p.1)
 * "Wind farms can be tourist attractions."(Darvill, 2011, p.1)
 * "A good method of supplying energy to remote areas."(Darvill, 2011, p.1)
 * "The wind is not always predictable - some days have no wind." (Darvill, 2011, p.1)
 * "Suitable areas for wind farms are often near the coast, where land is expensive."(Darvill, 2011, p.1)
 * "Some people feel that covering the landscape with these towers is unsightly."(Darvill, 2011, p.1)
 * "Can kill birds - migrating flocks tend to like strong winds.However, this is rare, and we tend not to build wind farms on migratory routes anyway."(Darvill, 2011, p.1)
 * "Can affect television reception if you live nearby."(Darvill, 2011, p.1)
 * "Can be noisy. Wind generators have a reputation for making a constant, low, "swooshing" noise day and night."(Darvill, 2011, p.1)
 * Once you've built it, tidal power is free.
 * It produces no greenhouse gases or other waste.
 * It needs no fuel.
 * It produces electricity reliably.
 * Not expensive to maintain.
 * Tides are totally predictable.
 * Offshore turbines and vertical-axis turbines are not ruinously expensive to build and do not have a large environmental impact.
 * A barrage across an estuary is very expensive to build, and affects a very wide area - the environment is changed for many miles upstream and downstream. Many birds rely on the tide uncovering the mud flats so that they can feed. Fish can't migrate, unless "fish ladders" are installed.
 * Only provides power for around 10 hours each day, when the tide is actually moving in or out.
 * There are few suitable sites for tidal barrages
 * In sunny countries, solar power can be used where there is no easy way to get electricity to a remote place.
 * Handy for low-power uses such as solar powered garden lights and battery chargers, or for helping your home energy bills.

Disadvantages: || Transport:
 * Doesn't work at night.
 * Very expensive to build solar power stations, although the cost is coming down as technology improves. In the meantime, solar cells cost a great deal compared to the amount of electricity they'll produce in their lifetime.
 * Can be unreliable unless you're in a very sunny climate. In the United Kingdom, solar power isn't much use for high-power applications, as you need a large area of solar panels to get a decent amount of power. However, technology has now reached the point where it can make a big difference to your home fuel bills..
 * Above: all advantanages and disadvantages retrieved from Darvill, 2011
 * Know || What || Learn ||
 * Sustainable modes of transport include:
 * walking
 * cycling
 * green vehicles || * What is a green vechile?
 * Is it possible to ride cycles from town to town?
 * What effects would bike/walking tracks have on the environment?
 * What types of roads/infastructure have the least impact on the environment? || "A **green vehicle** or **[|environmentally friendly] vehicle** is a road [|motor vehicle] that produces less harmful impacts to the [|environment] than comparable conventional [|internal combustion engine] vehicles running on [|gasoline] or [|diesel], or one that uses [|alternative fuels]." (Wikipedia, 2011, p.1)

"Green vehicles are powered by [|alternative fuels] and advanced vehicle technologies and include [|hybrid electric vehicles], [|plug-in hybrid electric vehicles], [|battery electric vehicles], [|compressed-air vehicles], [|hydrogen] and [|fuel-cell vehicles], [|neat ethanol vehicles], [|flexible-fuel vehicles], [|natural gas vehicles], [|clean diesel] vehicles, and some sources also include vehicles using blends of [|biodiesel] and [|ethanol fuel] or [|gasohol]." (Wikipedia, 2011, p.1) ||

References: energex. (n.d.). //Geothermal Energy.// Retrieved 28th July 2011 from []

Energy Matters. (2011). //How a wind turbine works.// Retrieved 28th July 2011 from []

Bellis, M. (2011). //How tidal power plants work.// Retrieved 28th July 2011 from []

US energy information administration. (n.d.). //Solar.// Retrieved 28th July 2011 from []

Darvill, A. (2011). //Geothermal Power.// Retrieved 28th July 2011 from []

Darvill, A. (2011). //Wind Power.// Retrieved 28th July 2011 from []

Wikipedia (2011). //Green Vehicles.// Retrieved 03rd August 2011 from []