Deck 13: Energy

Question 1

What is Desertech, and how will it help Europe meet its energy needs?

Answer 1

Desertech is a plan to develop solar energy in northern Africa and to transport the energy by high-voltage, direct current cables to Europe. This power source would be integrated with a number of other wind, solar, biomass, and other energy sources.

Question 2

We have discussed a number of different energy sources and energy technologies in this chapter. Each has advantages and disadvantages. If you were an energy policy analyst, how would you compare such different problems as the risk of a nuclear accident versus air pollution effects from burning coal?

Answer 2

The photovoltaic cell:
In general the photovoltaic cell is a convertor, which converts solar energy into electric energy. The photovoltaic cells are those devices that lock-up the solar energy and converted it directly into electric current.
The photovoltaic cells work by capturing the electrons form the solar energy and transport the captured electrons by one-way electrostatic barrier formed in between the two different types of semiconducting materials.

Question 3

Define energy , power , and kilowatt-hour (kWh).

Answer 3

Energy: The capacity to do any work is called energy.
Power: Power is the amount of energy consumed per unit time; it means it is the rate of energy flow or rate of work done.
Kilowatt-hour (kWh): Powers unit is watt (W) it means one joule energy consumed in one second. The meaning of kilowatt-hour (kWh) means the one kilo joule energy consumed in one hour.

Question 4

If your local utility company were going to build a new power plant in your community, what kind would you prefer? Why?

Question 5

What are the major sources of global commercial energy?

Question 6

The nuclear industry is placing ads in popular magazines and newspapers, claiming that nuclear power is environmentally friendly because it doesn't contribute to the greenhouse effect. How do you respond to that claim?

Question 7

How does energy consumption in the United States compare to that in other countries?

Question 8

How would you evaluate the debate about net energy loss or gain in biofuels? What questions would you ask the experts on each side of this question? What worldviews or hidden agendas do you think might be implicit in this argument?

Question 9

Why don't we want to use all the coal in the ground?

Question 10

It clearly will cost a lot of money to switch from fossil fuels to renewables. How would you respond to someone who says that future costs from climate change are no concern of theirs?

Question 11

Where is most liquid oil located? How long are supplies likely to last?

Question 12

What are tar sands and oil shales ? What are the environmental costs of their extraction?

Question 13

How are nuclear wastes now being stored?

Question 14

Explain active and passive solar energy.

Question 15

If you were the energy czar of your state or country, where would you invest your budget? Why?

Question 16

How do photovoltaic cells work?

Question 17

Personal Energy Use
For many college students, a car and a computer are essentials of life. Cars are also one of our most important single uses of energy, so differences in efficiency can greatly affect your energy consumption (and energy costs). This exercise asks you to modify an Excel spreadsheet in order to evaluate the impact of vehicle efficiency on energy use.
Suppose you were to buy a very efficient car, such as the Honda Insight, rather than a sport utility vehicle, such as a Ford Excursion. How much energy would that save, and how long could you run your computer with that energy? Go to Connect to find a spreadsheet that explores these questions, and to answer questions about personal energy use.