Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Chapter 16

“If the United States wants to save a lot of oil and money and increase national security, there are two simple ways to do it: Stop driving Petropigs and stop living in energy

sieves..”

Amory B. Lovins

Key Concepts

Improving energy efficiency

Types and uses of solar energy

Types and uses of flowing water

Uses of wind energy

Types and uses of biomass

Use of hydrogen as a fuel

Use of geothermal energy

Decentralized power systems

The Importance of Improving Energy Efficiency

Net useful energyLife cycle cost

Least EfficientIncandescent lightsInternal combustion engineNuclear power plants

Efficiencies (fig 16-4 p. 382)

Ways to Improve Energy Efficiency

InsulationElimination of air leaksAir to air heat exchangersCogenerationEfficient electric motors

High-efficiency lightingIncreasing fuel economy

Electric and Hybrid Cars

Rechargeable battery systemsHybrid electric-internal combustion engineFuel cells Fig. 16-10 p. 365

Using Solar Energy to Provide Heat and Electricity

Passive solar heating

Active solar heating

Fig. 16-17 pg 394

Solar thermal systemsPhotovoltaic (PV) cells

Using Solar Energy to Provide High-Temperature Heat and Electricity

Fig. 16-23 p. 398Fig. 16-23 p. 398

Producing Electricity from Moving Water

Producing Electricity from Heat Stored in Water

Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC)

Saline solar ponds

Freshwater solar ponds

Producing Electricity from Wind

Fig. 16-28 pg 402 Fig. 16-28 pg 402

Producing Energy from Biomass

Fig. 16-31, p 404

BiofuelsBiomass plantationsCrop residuesAnimal manureBiogasEthanolMethanol

The Solar-Hydrogen Revolution

Extracting hydrogen efficiently

Storing hydrogen

Fuel cells

Fig. 15-18, p 355

Fig. 16-33 p. 386

Geothermal Energy

Geothermal reservoirs

Dry Steam

Wet Steam

Hot water

Molten rock

Hot dry-rock zones

Fig. 16-36, p 409

Geothermal Reservoirs

Fig. 16-37 p. 410

Entering the Age of Decentralized Micropower

Centralized power systems

Decentralized power systems

Micropower systems

Fig. 16-39p. 411

Fig. 16-40 p. 411Fig. 16-40 p. 411

Solutions: A Sustainable Energy StrategyFig. 16-44, p 414