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Why Now?Sustainable Choices We Sustainable Choices We

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Wind Ethanol

Wind Ethanol

Combustion of fossil fuels releases 3,700,000,000,000 tons of CO2 into our atmosphere

Foreign dependence jeopardizes American energy security

Fossil fuels are now more dangerous, more expensive to tap because most accessible deposits are depleted

Combustion of fossil fuels releases 3,700,000,000,000 tons of CO2 into our atmosphere

Foreign dependence jeopardizes American energy security

Fossil fuels are now more dangerous, more expensive to tap because most accessible deposits are depleted

Wave Solar

Wave Solar

Ethyl Alcohol or Grain AlcoholCombusts with oxygen to form CO2 and H20

– Ethanol production emits a similar amount of CO2, but less CO than gasoline. Emission of CO2 is said to be offset by the photosynthesis of plants used in ethanol production.

U.S. Department of Energy concluded "the net energy balance of making fuel ethanol from corn grain is 1.34; that is, for every unit of energy that goes into growing corn and turning it into ethanol, we get back about one-third more energy as automotive fuel.“

Corn, Corn,

……and moreand more corncornEthanol can be made from such feedstock as corn, sorghum, switchgrass, sugarcane, and sugar beetMore than 90% of the ethanol produced in the U.S. comes from corn How it’s done:1. Refining into starch2. Liquification3. Hydrolysis of starch into glucose4. Fermentation, distillation,

dehydrationIncreasing demand for feedstock, along with the soil to grow these crops, means possible deforestation and decline in soil fertilityEthanol results in lower fuel economy than gasoline, meaning cheaper prices may be offset

Current Ethanol-Current Ethanol-Gasoline BlendsGasoline Blends

E10 (10% ethanol, 90% gasoline)

• Compatible with any automobile sold in the U.S.

• In 2004, 1/3 of our gasoline was blended as E10

E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline)

• Used in “Flexible Fuel Vehicles” (FFVs)

– FFVs can operate on gasoline alone, or on ethanol blends of up to 85%

• High prices limit practicality

– “Until the price of E85 drops to 72% the price of gasoline, consumers won't see any savings in fuel costs per mile.”

Solar PowerSolar Power

• Photovoltaics (PV) striking the atoms of a semi-conducting solar cell free it's electrons, creating an electric current.

• Two main types of silicon cells used for solar power, crystalline and thin-film.

• Crystalline silicon cells are more efficient and last longer, but also more expensive to manufacture.

• Photovoltaics (PV) striking the atoms of a semi-conducting solar cell free it's electrons, creating an electric current.

• Two main types of silicon cells used for solar power, crystalline and thin-film.

• Crystalline silicon cells are more efficient and last longer, but also more expensive to manufacture.

Solar Power Benefits

Improves health in rural villages by reducing fumes from kerosene lamps. The world bank estimated that 780 million women and children breath in the equivalent amount smoke as smoking two packs of cigarettes a day.

Improves fire-reduction because solar electricity is with out an open flame.

People otherwise cut off from electronic information (news, internet) would now be capable of reaching it.

Conserves foreign exchange. 90% of export earnings of some developing countries are used to pay for imported oil, most of which is used for power generation.

Reduces maintenance. Kerosene lamps and diesel generators must be filled several times a day which requires purchasing and transporting much fuel which is inconvenient and expensive.

It is renewable.

Using Solar Power

– California State University, installed a Solar Roof System which generates enough electricity to power 1,000 homes and saves about $200,000 annually while delivering 30% of the campus’ electricity and reduces CO2 emissions by 8,900 tons over 30 years.

Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District installed solar power systems on their buildings. They save about $170,000 annually. They are also able to reduce their CO2 emissions by 9,900 tons in 30 years.

A solar power system installed at OK Produce provides 50% of the required power for the facility which is $65,000 in annual savings, or $1.6 million over the next 25 years. They are also able to cut back on their CO2 emissions by 2,000 tons in 30 years

Wave Power

Viable source of renewable energy We live on an island Many large cities are positioned on the water front, and can

benefit from the power harvested from the ocean

Wave power is the energy of the oceans waves, and the harnessing of that energy. In general, large waves are more powerful, and power is determined by wave height, wave speed, and wavelength.

Wave power could produce the base load of electricity for most coastal regions, alleviating up to 16% of the world's needs, in the future. Unfortunately, harvesting wave power is a difficult process.

Generating OptionsGenerating Options• Oscillating Water Column (OWC).

– The OWC traps the incoming wave, and forces it into a narrow chamber. The resulting air pressure above the water in the pipe drives a Wells Turbine. Thus harvesting power from both the incoming pressure, and the outgoing suction created in the chamber by the wave.

• Flapper– Deployed offshore in a string of pontoons. Each

pontoon is essentially a cam, which rotates partially, from the wave passing over it. This effect drives hydraulics, which converts the resulting pressure to electricity.

– A newer device, called the Pelamis, is placed perpendicular to the waves instead, and achieves its pumping action using the "slithering” motion of the pontoons created by the waves. Its potential is limited by its pumping capacity and the wave’s height.

• Oscillating Water Column (OWC). – The OWC traps the incoming wave, and forces

it into a narrow chamber. The resulting air pressure above the water in the pipe drives a Wells Turbine. Thus harvesting power from both the incoming pressure, and the outgoing suction created in the chamber by the wave.

• Flapper– Deployed offshore in a string of pontoons. Each

pontoon is essentially a cam, which rotates partially, from the wave passing over it. This effect drives hydraulics, which converts the resulting pressure to electricity.

– A newer device, called the Pelamis, is placed perpendicular to the waves instead, and achieves its pumping action using the "slithering” motion of the pontoons created by the waves. Its potential is limited by its pumping capacity and the wave’s height.

Most ViableMost Viable The final system is the Heaving

buoy-Pump. The design requires large buoys placed offshore which, through their bobbing motion, drive an underwater piston. The resulting hydraulic pressure is converted to electricity.

A buoy, at an average output of 20 kilowatts, could produce enough power for 20 homes.

A Power Buoy anchored north of Kane'ohe (right) Marine Corps Base already produced electricity, even during a period of relatively calm seas during testing in September

The final system is the Heaving buoy-Pump. The design requires large buoys placed offshore which, through their bobbing motion, drive an underwater piston. The resulting hydraulic pressure is converted to electricity.

A buoy, at an average output of 20 kilowatts, could produce enough power for 20 homes.

A Power Buoy anchored north of Kane'ohe (right) Marine Corps Base already produced electricity, even during a period of relatively calm seas during testing in September