Download Committee: Environment Committee Question of

Committee: Environment Committee
Question of: Renewable Energy
Students Officer: Piraye Hatemi
Introduction:
Renewable energy is made from resources that can be renewed by the nature itself.
There are different types of renewable energies that we could use. Most renewable energy
comes either directly or indirectly from the sun. Sunlight, or solar energy, can be used directly
for heating and lighting homes and other buildings, for generating electricity, and for hot
water heating, solar cooling, and a variety of commercial and industrial uses.
The sun's heat also drives the winds, whose energy is captured with wind turbines.
Then, the winds and the sun's heat cause water to evaporate. When this water vapor turns into
rain or snow and flows downhill into rivers or streams, its energy can be captured
using hydroelectric power.
Most of the MEDCs (More Economically Developed Country) currently rely heavily
on coal, oil, and natural gas for its energy. Fossil fuels are non-renewable, that is, they draw
on finite resources that will eventually dwindle, becoming too expensive or too
environmentally damaging to retrieve. In contrast, the many types of renewable energy
resources such as wind and solar energy-are constantly replenished and will never run out.
The Issue:
Since there are a lot of countries that rely heavily on coal, oil, and natural gas for its
energy, fossil fuels are nonrenewable, that is, they draw on finite resources that will
eventually dwindle, becoming too expensive or too environmentally damaging to retrieve. In
contrast, renewable energy resources—such as wind and solar energy—are constantly
replenished and will never run out.
Solar Energy:
The sun has produced energy for billions of years. The energy in the sun's rays that
reaches the earth (solar radiation) can be converted into heat and electricity. When converted
to thermal energy, solar energy can be used to heat water for use in homes, buildings, or
swimming pools; to heat spaces inside homes, greenhouses, and other buildings; and to heat
fluids to high temperatures to operate turbines that generate electricity. There are two ways to
convert Solar energy to electricity. One of them is by using Photovoltaic or solar cells to
change sunlight directly into electricity. The other way is to use thermal power plants. They
generate electricity by concentrating solar energy to heat a fluid and produce steam that is
then used to power a generator.
The benefits of using solar energy is that they don’t produce air pollutants or carbon
dioxide. Also when located on buildings and houses they have minimal impact on the
environment. Even though Solar energy could be very useful the amount of sunlight that
arrives at the earth's surface is not constant. The amount of sunlight varies depending on
location, time of day, time of year, and weather conditions. Thus limits the usage of Solar
Energy.
Wind Energy
Wind is caused by the sun’s uneven heating of the earth's surface. Since the earth's
surface is made up of different types of land and water, it absorbs the sun's heat at different
rates. One example of this uneven heating is the daily wind cycle.
Today, wind energy is mainly used to generate electricity, although water-pumping
windmills were once used throughout the United States of America and some other countries.
Wind turbines, like aircraft propeller blades, turn in the moving air and power an electric
generator that supplies an electric current. Simply stated, a wind turbine is the opposite of a
fan. Instead of using electricity to make wind, like a fan, wind turbines use wind to make
electricity. The wind turns the blades, which spin a shaft, which connects to a generator and
makes electricity.
Wind energy is a free, renewable resource, so no matter how much is used today,
there will still be the same supply in the future. Wind energy is also a source of clean, nonpolluting, electricity. Unlike conventional power plants, wind plants emit no air pollutants or
greenhouse gases. Even though the cost of wind power has decreased dramatically in the past
10 years, the technology requires a higher initial investment than fossil-fueled generators.
Roughly 80% of the cost is the machinery, with the balance being site preparation and
installation.
The major challenge to using wind as a source of power is that it is intermittent and
does not always blow when electricity is needed. Wind cannot be stored (although windgenerated electricity can be stored, if batteries are used), and not all winds can be harnessed to
meet the timing of electricity demands. Further, good wind sites are often located in remote
locations far from areas of electric power demand (such as cities). Finally, wind resource
development may compete with other uses for the land, and those alternative uses may be
more highly valued than electricity generation. However, wind turbines can be located on
land that is also used for grazing or even farming.
Geothermal Energy:
Geothermal energy is heat within the earth. People can use this heat as steam or as hot
water to heat buildings or to generate electricity. Geothermal energy is a renewable energy
source because the heat is continuously produced inside the earth.
The slow decay of radioactive particles in the earth's core, a process that happens in
all rocks, produces geothermal energy. The earth's core is hotter than the sun's surface.
The earth has a number of different layers:
•
The inner core is solid iron and is surrounded by an outer core of hot molten rock called
magma.
•
The mantle surrounds the core and is about 1,800 miles thick. The mantle is made up of
magma and rock.
•
The crust is the outermost layer of the earth. The crust forms the continents and ocean
floors. The crust can be 3 to 5 miles thick under the oceans and 15 to 35 miles thick on
the continents.
The earth's crust is broken into pieces called plates. Magma comes close to the earth's
surface near the edges of these plates, which is where many volcanoes occur. The lava that
erupts from volcanoes is partly magma. Rocks and water absorb heat from magma deep
underground. The rocks and water found deeper underground have the highest temperatures.
People around the world use geothermal energy to heat their homes and to produce electricity
by drilling deep wells and pumping the hot underground water or steam to the surface. People
can also use the stable temperatures near the surface of the earth to heat and cool buildings.
Hydropower Energy
Understanding the water cycle is important to understanding hydropower. The water
cycle has three steps:
•
Solar energy heats water on the surface of rivers, lakes, and oceans, which causes the
water to evaporate.
•
Water vapor condenses into clouds and falls as precipitation (rain, snow, etc.).
•
Precipitation collects in streams and rivers, which empty into oceans and lakes, where it
evaporates and begins the cycle again.
The amount of precipitation that drains into rivers and streams in a geographical area
determines the amount of water available for producing hydropower. Seasonal variations in
precipitation and long-term changes in precipitation patterns, such as droughts, have a big
impact on hydropower production.
Advantages of Renewable Energy:
Renewable energy facilities generally require less maintenance than traditional
generator. Their fuel being derived from natural and available resources reduces the costs of
operation. Even more importantly, renewable energy produces little or no waste products such
as carbon dioxide or other chemical pollutants, so has minimal impact on the environment.
Renewable energy projects can also bring economic benefits to many regional areas,
as most projects are located away from large urban centers and suburbs of the capital cities.
These economic benefits may be from the increased use of local services as well as tourism.
Disadvantages of Renewable Energy:
It is easy to recognize the environmental advantages of utilizing the alternative and
renewable forms of energy but we must also be aware of the disadvantages. One disadvantage
with renewable energy is that it is difficult to generate the quantities of electricity that are as
large as those produced by traditional fossil fuel generators. This may mean that we need to
reduce the amount of energy we use or simply build more energy facilities. It also indicates
that the best solution to our energy problems may be to have a balance of many different
power sources.
Another disadvantage of renewable energy sources is the reliability of supply.
Renewable energy often relies on the weather for its source of power. Hydro generators need
rain to fill dams to supply flowing water. Wind turbines need wind to turn the blades, and
solar collectors need clear skies and sunshine to collect heat and make electricity. When these
resources are unavailable so is the capacity to make energy from them. This can be
unpredictable and inconsistent. The current cost of renewable energy technology is also far in
excess of traditional fossil fuel generation. This is because it is a new technology and as such
has extremely large capital cost.
Non-Renewable Energy
Non-renewable fossil fuels (crude oil, natural gas, coal, oil shales and tar sands)
currently supply Australia with more than 95 percent of our electrical energy needs. Nonrenewable energy is the energy that is produced by burning fossil fuels such as coal. They are
non-renewable because there are finite resources of fossil fuels on the planet. If they are
continually used, one day they will run out.
Advantages of Non-Renewable Energy
The main advantages of non-renewable energies are that they are abundant and easy
to afford. As an example, oil and diesel are used choices for powering vehicles. Nonrenewable energy is cost effective and easier to product and use. The main factor, which
distinguishes a sought after fuel from other is its accessibility and for all kinds non-renewable
energy sources the main point of attraction, is its affordability and accessibility. Also it is
available throughout the year unlike the renewable sources which are either season bound
rainfall, sunlight availability or commercial viability.
Disadvantages of Non-Renewable Energy
On the other side are the disadvantages to non-renewable energy. Mining coal,
searching for oil, and building drills and pipes to extract and transport natural gas, are all very
time consuming processes that takes up a lot of manpower to do.
Burning coal, oil and natural gas releases large amounts of carbon dioxide and carbon
monoxide, which are major contributors to global warming. These chemicals destroy the
ozone layer, make the oceans acidic and saturated with carbon, and make the air more
difficult for animals to breathe and plants to flourish in. By creating a ‘mantle’ of carbon rich
air in the atmosphere, moreover, these chemicals trap the sun’s rays and make the atmosphere
around the earth much warmer: this is the so-called greenhouse effect. It is called the
greenhouse effect because it makes the atmosphere like a giant warm greenhouse. Also
burning fossil fuels releases oxides, which cause rain to become acidic. This is very harmful
to wildlife and also erodes buildings. Lastly, once the sources of non-renewable energies are
gone or used up they can't be replaced or revitalized.
Key Events
Hydrogen Fuel Initiative to Promote The Hydrogen Fuel Initiative (HFI) increased
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Development
federal funding for hydrogen and fuel cell
research, development, and demonstration
February, 2003
(RD&D) to $1.2 billion over five years. With
this increase in funding, the HFI accelerated the
pace of RD&D efforts focused on achieving
specific targets that would enable hydrogen and
fuel cell technology readiness in the 2015
timeframe.
Plan of Build FutureGen, the Worlds First FutureGen was announced as a cost-shared
Zero Emissions Coal Power Plant
project between DOE (Department of Energy)
and industry to create the world's first coalFeb. 27, 2003
fired, zero emissions electricity and hydrogen
production power plant. The production of
hydrogen was to support the President's
Hydrogen Fuel Initiative to create a hydrogen
economy for transportation. The original
FutureGen plant was planned to operate at a
commercial scale as a 275 megawatt IGCC
(Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle)
facility that would capture and store at least 1
million metric tons of CO2 per year.
Later on January 2008, US Secretary of Energy
Samuel W. Bodman announced a "restructured"
approach to the FutureGen project that focused
on carbon capture and storage (CCS)
technology and excluded hydrogen production
as part of the project.
Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
was released
Change (IPCC) released its "Climate Change
2007: Synthesis Report," the fourth and final
November, 2003
volume of its Fourth Assessment Report (AR4)
on Global Climate Change. This Synthesis Report, (adopted in Valencia,
Spain, on 17 November 2007, completes the
four-volume AR4, which was released in
various steps throughout the year under the title
'Climate Change
2007'
It confirms that climate change is occurring
now, mostly as a result of human activities; it
illustrates the impacts of global warming
already under way and to be expected in future,
and describes the potential for adaptation of
society to reduce its vulnerability; finally it
presents an analysis of costs, policies and
technologies intended to limit the extent of
future changes in the climate system.
EPA Proposes First Ever Rules to Reduce The Environmental Protection Agency
Carbon Emissions from Existing Power proposed a rule designed to cut carbon dioxide
Plants
emissions from existing coal plants by as much
as 30 percent by 2030, compared with 2005
June 2, 2014
level. Existing power plants are the largest
source of the nation’s carbon dioxide
emissions, accounting for 38 percent.
•
According to the EPA, by 2030 the
rules will: •
Cut carbon emission from the power
sector by 30 percent nationwide below
2005 levels, which is equal to the
emissions from powering more than
half the homes in the United States for
one year;
•
Cut particle pollution, nitrogen oxides,
and sulfur dioxide by more than 25
percent as a co-benefit;
•
Avoid up to 6,600 premature deaths,
up to 150,000 asthma attacks in
children, and up to 490,000 missed
work or school days—providing up to
$93 billion in climate and public health
benefits; and
•
Shrink electricity bills roughly 8
percent by increasing energy efficiency
and reducing demand in the electricity
system.
Previous Attempts to Solve the Issue
United Nations
The United Nations General Assembly unanimously declared the decade 2014‑2024 as the
Decade of Sustainable Energy for All, underscoring the importance of energy issues for
sustainable development and for the elaboration of the post-2015 development agenda.
In adopting the resolution, the General Assembly reaffirmed its determination to make
sustainable energy for all a reality. The text calls upon Member States to galvanize efforts to
make universal access to sustainable modern energy services a priority, noting that 1.3 billion
people are without electricity and 2.6 billion people in developing countries rely on traditional
biomass for cooking and heating. It expressed concern that even when energy services are
available, millions of poor people are unable to pay for them.
The resolution stressed the need to improve access to reliable, affordable, economically
viable, socially acceptable and environmentally sound energy services and resources for
sustainable development. To that end, it also highlighted the importance of improving energy
efficiency, increasing the share of renewable energy and cleaner and energy-efficient
technologies.
Kenya
As of 2010, an estimated 3 million households get power from small solar PV
systems. Kenya is the world leader in the number of solar power systems installed per capita.
More than 30,000 very small solar panels, each producing 12 to 30 watts, are sold in Kenya
annually. Some Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are also turning to solar power to
reduce their costs and increase their sustainability.
United States of America
13 Republicans and 9 Democrats introduced H.R. 5890, the American-Made Energy
Freedom Act. This bipartisan bill would provide short-term relief while funding a long-term
solution for energy freedom. The aim is to accomplish this by opening just 2,000 acres of the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to exploration and investing the federal share of the
lease and royalty revenue into an energy trust fund. This trust fund would be used to pay for
numerous renewable, alternative, and advanced energy programs. At $40 billion over 30
years, this trust fund would be the largest investment in renewable, alternative, and advanced
energy in our nation's history -- all at no cost to the taxpayer. Within the first two years of
enactment of H.R. 5890, numerous renewable energy programs would receive billions of
dollars in much needed investment. This would include an infusion of investment into the
next generation of ethanol (cellulosic), an expansion of the use of solar and fuel cell
technology, and significant growth in the biofuel energy production industry. Moreover, the
bill funds numerous renewable energy provisions that were originally authorized in the
Energy Policy Act and have yet to receive significant funding. These federal investments are
needed to ensure breakthroughs in biotechnology, new feed stocks, harvesting, storage,
transportation, and processing to produce a sustainable transportation fuel at a price
competitive with fuel from the mature petroleum industry. Furthermore, enhancing federal
consumer tax credits are necessary to ensure that every home owner or small business has the
opportunity to participate in our energy freedom by installing alternative energy systems that
are economically viable and environmentally sensitive. Indeed, the proposals put forth in H.R.
5890 will have numerous benefits. First, it will assist us in meeting Renewable Portfolio
Standards, which have been set by many states. Second, it will significantly reduce
greenhouse gas emissions. Third, it will incubate technology rather than subsidize an industry.
Finally, it will bridge the gap in our efforts to transition to homegrown energy and reduce our
dependence on foreign oil.
Possible Solutions
•
Developing a fair and stable federal tax policy for renewable energy that will
attract new investments and maintain the strong growth that renewables have
experienced in recent years. The Production Tax Credit (PTC)—a federal
incentive that provides crucial financial support for the first ten years of a
renewable energy facility's operation—offers a striking example of the
benefits, and challenges, of establishing smart government policies for
renewable energy.
•
Developers must find publicly acceptable sites with good resources and with
access to transmission lines. Potential wind sites can require several years of
monitoring to determine whether they are suitable.
•
In the past, individuals had no choices about the sources of their electricity.
But electricity deregulation has opened the market so that customers have a
variety of choices. Start-up companies must communicate the benefits of
renewables to customers in order to persuade them to switch from traditional
sources. Public education will be a critical part of a fully functioning market
if renewables are to succeed.
•
Workers must be trained to install, operate, and maintain new technologies,
as well as to grow and transport biomass fuels. Some renewables need
operating experience in regional climate conditions before performance can
be optimized. For example, the optimal spacing of wind turbines is likely to
be different on New England ridgelines than on agricultural land in the
Midwest.
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