Alternative Energy & Non-Renewable

Resources

By: Zach Battaglia, Emmaly Harrell, and Jacob Gianakopoulos

It is a different option to using natural resources for power such as oil

It creates little to no CO2 emissions It is renewable Ex. Hydroelectricity, wind power, and solar

power

What is Alternative Energy?

Wind Power Water Power

Solar Power

They are sources of energy that we use that are found in nature

Creates CO2 emissions Are usually non-renewableEx. Coal and Petroleum

What are Non-renewable Resources?

CoalPetroleum

Pros and Cons of Hydroelectricity

Pros- Creates no emissions except for

when its being built Most renewable source of energy in

the world We can adjust how much energy

we need by reducing or increasing flow output

Cons- Expensive If droughts happen, people

may lose power There are limited reservoirs,

but more are being built

Pros- No emissions One wind turbine can produce enough energy to power 600 homes Prices to build turbines are dropping Renewable

Cons- Can be a threat to wildlife Expensive The wind is unpredictable

Pros and cons of Wind Power

Pros- Renewable Sunlight is abundant It is environmentally friendly Reduces energy costs Low maintenance

Cons- Expensive Requires a lot of spaceNeeds exotic materials to make them Energy storage is expensive

Pros and Cons of Solar Power

Pros- Has a higher energy density (one kilogram of burnt oil can give off

10,000 kilocalories) Abundant Cheap to extract Used to move vehicles longer and faster than other energy sources

Cons- Pollution It is possible that it can run out in the coming decades It is non-renewable If spilled, can cause a major environmental disaster

Pros and Cons of Petroleum

Pros- Abundance Low Capitol investment High Load Factors

Cons- Pollution People die mining it Devastation of nature around the coal mines Thermal Plants (where they use coal), give off

deadly gases such as sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, mercury, selenium, and arsenic

Pros and Cons of Coal

Hydroelectricity- $2.12M for a 500kW dam

Wind Power- $50,000-$80,000 for a 10kW turbine (can power a large home)

Solar Power- $50,000 for a 6.5 kW system

Costs for Alternative Energy

Petroleum- currently $59.60 per gallon

Coal- $46.97 for one short ton (2000 Ibs)

Cost of Non-renewable energy

Fuels such as petroleum are running out and we need an alternative. The question is which alternative do we use? We can either switch over to coal which gives of pollution but is very cheap or, we can switch to a renewable source of energy that has no emissions but is expensive. Each have benefits but also have a cost to using them.

Problems for Us

"Alternative Energy." - Wind, Solar, Hydro and Other Alt Energy Sources for Home Power. Alternative Energy, 2015. Web. 12 May 2015.

"How Hydropower Dams Work." QUEST. N.p., 14 Nov. 2014. Web. 13 May 2015.

"Hydroelectric Power: How It Works." Hydroelectric Power: How It Works, USGS Water-Science School. USGS, 12 May 2015. Web. 13 May 2015.

Maehlum, Mathias A. "Hydroelectric Energy Pros and Cons - Energy Informative." Energy Informative. N.p., 21 Feb. 2014. Web. 13 May 2015.

"Xcel Energy." - Home. Xcel Energy Inc, 2015. Web. 14 May 2015. "Apecsec.org." Apecsecorg. APECSEC.org, 2014. Web. 14 May 2015. "Coal Advantages and Disadvantages – Pros of Coal Winning Despite

Dangerous Cons." Green World Investor RSS. Green World Investor, 2015. Web. 14 May 2015

"Hydropower." How Much Does a Hydropower System Cost to Build?Renewables First, 2015. Web. 14 May 2015.

Citations