Alternative Energy Flip Book Bronwyn Thomas 3 (1)

Alternative
Energy

Bronwyn Thomas



Solar Energy

● solar panels turn light energy into electricity, wherever there is
sun this renewable energy source will be available

● used to power homes and businesses, even cars
● thermal solar energy is used the most, often for indoor water

tanks and swimming pools
● solar energy accounts for > 1% of US energy, popular on West

Coast
● Germany leads with 6.2 - 6.9% of their energy coming from

the sun



Benefits Drawbacks

● renewable energy ● costly
● reduce electricity bills ● weather dependent
● can be used for many ● uses a lot of space
● associated with pollution
purposes/ to power a
variety of things
● low maintenance costs



Wind Energy

● kinetic energy from wind is transformed by a generator to
mechanical energy which is distributed as electricity by
transformers

● used to power homes, businesses, and schools
● Iowa and South Dakota use the most wind energy of the 50

States
● 4% of US energy is from wind
● contributes 33.6% to world wind power capacity



Benefits Drawbacks

● sustainable ● good wind systems tend to
● cost-effective be in rural areas, so there
● clean fuel would be difficulty getting
● wind turbines can be the electricity to a city

incorporated on ● turbine blades kill birds
pre-existing farms and ● noise
ranches



Geothermal Energy

● reservoirs below the Earth’s surface produce steam, this
thermal energy is transformed, by a generator, into electricity

● used directly to heat or cool homes, electricity
● California has the most geothermal power generation in the

states
● the US harnesses most of the world’s geothermal energy



Benefits Drawbacks

● renewable and clean ● can cause earthquakes in
energy extreme circumstances

● able to meet energy ● geothermal power plants
demands can be costly

● doesn’t take up much
space

● available everywhere



Tidal Energy

● generator transformers kinetic energy of water movement into
electricity

● electricity from tidal energy is not as widely used
● used to power cities
● Maine and New York are some of the first states in US using

tidal energy
● South Korea and France lead the way in tidal energy with

more than a few tidal power stations between the two



Benefits Drawbacks

● effective even at low water ● expensive
speeds ● close to land
● undetermined environment
● renewable
● clean fuels effects