Renewable Energy Resources

A collection of flashcards summarizing key concepts from the lecture on renewable energy resources.

What is a key characteristic of renewable energy resources?

They regenerate in a short time and can be sustained indefinitely.

What are fossil fuels considered in terms of resources?

Fossil fuels are considered nonrenewable because they are finite resources that will eventually dwindle.

Name the world's largest hydroelectric plant.

The Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River in China.

How does hydropower energy work?

It involves using the potential energy of water, which is converted to kinetic energy as it flows, turning turbine blades to generate electricity.

What is the main advantage of hydropower energy?

It is clean and does not release chemical or radioactive pollutants.

What are some disadvantages of hydropower energy?

Damming rivers can flood upstream areas, disrupt ecosystems, and reservoirs may trap sediment and nutrients.

What is biomass energy made from?

Biomass energy is made from organic materials such as wood, crops, manure, and garbage.

How do photovoltaic (PV) cells generate electricity?

PV cells generate electricity directly from sunlight via a natural electronic process in certain semiconductors.

What defines geothermal energy?

Geothermal energy comes from the Earth's internal heat, typically located near tectonic plate boundaries.

What are the benefits of using solar energy?

Solar energy is clean, abundant, and environmentally friendly.

What are some drawbacks of solar energy?

The amount of sunlight varies by location, time of day, season, and weather; a large surface area is needed to collect significant energy.

What types of geothermal applications exist?

Electricity production from geothermal power plants and geothermal heat pumps for heating.

What are the three types of geothermal power plants?

Dry steam, flash steam, and binary cycle.

What are the environmental effects of geothermal energy?

Direct-use applications and geothermal heat pumps have minimal negative effects, while geothermal power plants have low emissions.

How do wind turbines generate electricity?

Wind turbines use blades to capture wind's kinetic energy which spins a rotor that turns a generator.

What is one major environmental concern associated with wind energy?

Wind energy can impact wildlife, particularly birds and bats.