Energy Resource Challenges

Essay by creep69A, January 2009

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Describe all of the renewable energy alternatives presented in the video.

1. Wind power- the use of large wind turbines are used to create electricity.

2. Solar power- solar panels (cells) are used to collect energy from the suns rays.

3. Biomass fermentation- leftovers of corn after harvesting (stalks and stubble). Organic materials that have no substantial use (wood chips, straw or grains).

What are some challenges with using and managing these alternative, renewable energy resources?The main challenges that wind power industries face is, people. Which includes; identifying, attracting, hiring and training people to support the growth in wind power? The other big challenge is obtaining the turbines and associated equipment to build and operate wind farms.

Solar power challenges include; does not work at night, expensive to build solar power stations and solar cells cost a great deal compared to the amount of electricity they will produce in their lifetime.

Solar power can be unreliable unless you live in a very sunny climate.

Solar energy is free; it needs no fuel and produces no waste or pollution. In sunny countries, solar power can be used where there is no easy way to get electricity to a remote place.

Many biomass crops that are sustainable on land, are not suitable for annual crops. Crop residues from existing crops, mainly corn and wheat could also provide significant amounts of biomass, because residue mass roughly equals the volume of the crop. Producing ethanol from processes other than crop fermentation has not been adopted, because the profit picture has not been favorable.

Name at least one other renewable energy resource not presented in the video.

There are two other forms of renewable energy; geothermal and hydro (water).

1. Geothermal- Is the earth's interior, providing heat energy from nature. This heat (lava and/or underground...