EARTH SCI | Energy Resources

Renewable Energy Sources

1. Biomass

2. Solar

3. Wind

4. Hydro

5. Geothermal

6. Ocean

RA 9513

Also known as the Renewable Act of 2008, it governs the development, utilization, and commercial of energy resources in the Philippines

Hydroenergy | Definition

it utilizes kinetic energy of falling or running water to turn a turbine generator and generate electricity; it is affected by the available flow and height from where the water flows from

Hydroenergy | Pros

nonpolluting

Hydroenergy | Cons

requires a dam and reservoir; obstructs fish migration; affects natural water systems; affects nearby wildlife and agricultural lands; displacement of human population

Dam

reservoir of large amount of water, where gravity transforms potential energy to mechanical energy where it falls through a penstock

Process of Creating Hydroenergy

1. Moving water strikes the rotary blades of the turbine

2. Shaft turns in the electric generator

3. Current passes through a transformer

4. Power carries through transmission cables

Ocean Power | Definition

produces electricity provided by waves, tides, and the temperature fluctuations

Ocean Power | Pros

Free; nonpolluting; requires little land space; many ways to harness; widely available

Ocean Power | Cons

high cost; vulnerable to storms; metals parts easily corroded by saltwater; suitable in certain locations only; creates hazards to marine ecosystem; unpleasant visuals

Tides in Ocean Power

if the difference in water heights is large enough, the kinetic energy in the flowing water can be used to turn turbines. Electricity is generated as the tides move in both directions.

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion | Definition

It uses temperature differences between surface water and deep ocean water. Surface water vaporizes a low-boiling point fluid. After the the vapor expands and spins a turbine, it is condensed back into liquid by deep ocean water.

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion | Pros

available all the time, offers products like freshwater, nutrient rich, cold water, and chilled water

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion | Cons

high cost and not feasible everywhere

Geothermal Energy | Definition

uses the geothermal gradient which has a direct relationship between the rates of increase in temperature with respect to the increase in depth of the Earth’s interior

Dry Steam

directly uses geothermal steam, one of the simplest and oldest designs; after steam powers the turbine, a condenser cools it back down

Flash Steam

most common type; hot water from underground is pumped into a cooler temperature flash tank, creating a sudden change in temperature. This creates flash steams that power the generator. After it passes by the generator, a condenser cools the steam back down into the surface

Binary Steam

used if water that reaches the surface is not hot enough to produce steam. Geothermal fluid enters and exit a heat exchanger, which helps heat a working fluid (which has a lower boiling point) into vapor to power the turbine. The vapor is condensed back into liquid to repeat the cycle.

Geothermal Energy | Pros

minimal land and fresh water requirements; nearly zero emission

Geothermal Energy | Cons

some materials may cause environmental damage, as the geothermal steam and fluid bring harmful materials like boron, hydrogen sulfide, etc

Solar Energy | Definition

• can be converted into electricity by solar/photovoltaic cells made out of semicinductor materials such as silicon

• can also be harnessed using concentrated solar power or solar thermal system

• uses sun’s energy as a heat source (i.e. to boil water to drive a steam turbine)

Solar Energy | Pros

limitless and free; noise-free; little maintenance

Solar Energy | Cons

inconsistent during the rainy season or at night, costly, spacious area is needed, uses environmental pollutants like cadmium and lead

Wind Energy | Definition

secondary form of solar energy, where air is set in motion by pressure gradient force formed air flows from high pressure to low pressure from the warming and cooling of air

Grid-connected wind turbine generators

wind rotates the blades to power the generator that produces electricity

Wind hybrid systems

it uses other sources like solar panels to store power through batteries and is used in small remote grids

Wind pumps

transforms kinetic energy from the wind to suck water upwards

Wind Energy | Pros

unlimited supply, readily available, does not produce green house gases, low maintenance and running cost

Wind Energy | Cons

high investment and affects bird population that may die from colliding with the blades

Nonrenewable energy

coal, natural gas, petroleum

Coal

• from organic material-based sedimentary rock and plant remains

• most sought after energy source

• Philippines is one of the world’s minor coal producers

Coal Energy | Process

Coal is burn in the boiler furnace, which produces heat from combustion. It boils the water to produce high pressure steam to move the turbine that rotates the generator

Coal Energy | Cons

it contributes to the degradation of the atmospheric quality, releasing sulfur oxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon dioxide, and ash; this leads to smog, acid rain, and global warming

Natural Gas | Definition

a mixture of naturally-occurring light hydrocarbons composed of mostly methane; produces CO2 and water, cleanest of all the fossil fuels

Natural Gas | Formation

forms from the remains of ancient organisms, and plant and animal matter that are trapped in rock formations; the matter undergoes chemical transformation due to high heat and pressure which turns into oil and natural gas

Hydraulic Fracturing

process of drilling straight down to where the natural gas is predicted to be; can cause small earthquakes and can contaminate other sources of water due to the high pressure water and chemical used to split the rock

Natural Gas | Function

used for heating and cooking, can be burned to generate electricity, can be in liquid form called liquefied natural gas (LNG) which takes up less space

Petroleum

Diatoms are source of oil, that when die and buried, form kerogen and bitumen (a black tar-like substance). Higher temperature and pressure leads to complete “cracking” to break carbon-carbon bonds and form lighter and smaller hydrocarbons while cooler temperatures causes the plankton to remain trapped

Formation of Petroleum

it requires a source rock rich in organic material, a porous and permeable reservoir rock to accumulate oil, and a cap rock to prevent the oil from reaching the surface

Refining of Oil

done to separate and purify the components of the oil through fractional distillation, where the crude oil passes through a fractionating column, where components with lower boiling points move to the top of the column while the heavier components with higher boiling points stay on the bottom

Vacuum Distillation

used to separate heavier components in forming petroleum, such as residual fuel oil and asphalt

Cracking

process of breaking carbon-carbon bonds, usually common in the change of heavier components into lighter hydrocarbons

Refinery products

all products of fractional distillation undergo further refining and are in the form of light, middle, and heavy distillates

Light distillates

includes liquefied pertoleum gas, naphtha, gasoline, and all hydrocarbons from pentane to octane

Middle distillates

includes kerosene, diesel, and all hydrocarbons from nonane to hexadecane

Heavy Distillates

includes fuel oil, lubricating oil, waxes, tar, and hydrocarbons heavier than hexadecane

RA 8749

Also known as the Philippine Clear Air Act of 1999, it promotes the right of the people to a balanced and healthy ecology, including air pollution prevention and management