Physical Science 12

How is Energy is Produced and

Managed
3rd Quarter
Week 7

Competency:
o Describe how energy is harnessed from different sources:
a. Fossil fuels
 b. Biogas
c. Geothermal
d. Hydrothermal
e. Batteries
f. Solar cells
g. Biomass

Objectives: At the end of the week, you shall have:

o describe the different sources of energy;
o give a brief summary of how energy is produced from different sources;
o differentiate between renewable and non-renewable sources of energy; and
o outline the pros and cons of the different sources of energy.

Learner’s Tasks

Lesson Overview

Energy is defined as the ability to do work. When work is done, energy is transferred from one
object to another. Energy exists from different forms such as electrical and chemical energy. Most
forms of energy can be classified as kinetic energy and potential energy. Kinetic energy is the energy
of moving matter. Things with kinetic energy can do work. Kinetic energy depends on the object’s
mass and velocity. Potential energy is the energy stored in an object because of its position or shape.

A power plant is an industrial facility that generates electricity from primary energy. Most
power plants use one or more generators that convert mechanical energy into electrical energy in
order to supply power to the electrical grid for society's electrical needs. The exception is solar power
plants, which use photovoltaic cells (instead of a turbine) to generate this electricity.

The type of primary fuel or primary energy flow that provides a power plant its primary
energy varies. The most common fuels are coal, natural gas, and uranium (nuclear power). A
substantially used primary energy flow for electricity generation is hydroelectricity (water). Other
flows that are used to generate electricity include wind, solar, geothermal and tidal.

Electrical sources can be broken down to two major groups: renewable and non-renewable
sources. Renewable source is produced from sources that do not deplete or can be replenished within a
human's life time. The most common examples include wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, and
hydropower. This is in contrast to non-renewable source which is a natural resource that cannot be
readily replaced by natural means at a quick enough pace to keep up with consumption.

Renewable Sources

A. Geothermal

Geothermal power utilizes the heat energy

from the earth’s crust. This heat energy heats up
rocks which, in turn, heats up nearby groundwater.
The Malitbog Geothermal Power Station is a 232.5
MW geothermal power plant or an earth steam
turbined electric generator--the world's largest
geothermal power plant under one roof located in
Malitbog, Kananga, Leyte, Philippines. The power
plant is one of four operating in the Leyte
Geothermal Production Field.
 Geothermal energy is produced by the heat of Earth's molten interior. This energy is harnessed
to generate electricity when water is injected deep underground and returns as steam (or hot water,
which is later converted to steam) to drive a turbine on an electric power generator that produces
electricity. Geothermal energy is less of an environmental hazard compared to fossil fuels though it
still has some emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and sulfur dioxide.

Some of the operational geothermal power

plants in the Philippines are:
 Malibarara Geothermal Power Plant in
Sto. Tomas, Batangas
 Makban Geothermal Power Plant and
Makban Binary Geothermal Power
Plant in Bay, Laguna
 Tiwi Geothermal Power Plant in Tiwi,
Albay
 Bacon Manito Geothermal Power
Plant in Sorosogon
 Unified Leyte Geothermal Power Plant
Tongonan Geothermal Power Plant in
Leyte
 Southern Negros Geothermal
Production Field – Nasulo Geothermal Power Plant and Palinpinon Geothermal Power Plant
in Valencia Negros Occidental

B. Hydroelectric

Hydroelectric power (hydropower) is derived from the energy of falling or moving water to
generate electricity. Among other purposes, water is widely used to produce electricity. Hydropower
is a proven, mature, predictable, and price competitive technology. A number of on- and off-grid
hydropower plants have been built throughout the country, including impounding dams and run-of-
river types. Impounding dams are able to supply energy during peak and off-peak hours while run-of-
river types supply electricity whenever capable, depending on the volume of water that is discharged
from the watersheds.

A turbine converts the kinetic energy of falling water into mechanical energy. Then a
generator converts the mechanical energy from the turbine into electrical energy. The generator power
is stepped up to a higher voltage from the substation,
and then exported for transmission.

Some of the operational hydroelectric power plants in

the Philippines are:
 Palakpakin Hydroelectric Power Plant in San
Pablo, Laguna
 Balugbog Hydroelectric Power Plant in Narcarlan,
Laguna
 Cantingas Hydroelectric Power Plant in San
Fernando, Romblon

C. Wind Power
While an electric fan uses electricity to produce
wind, a wind turbine uses wind to produce electricity. A
wind turbine can generate megawatts of power, depending
on the weather conditions. In fact, an indicator for a
potential wind farm site is the presence of flagging trees or
trees that are bent like how a flag would look like due to
strong winds. Because of the vast land area a wind farm
occupies, unused areas can be co-located with agricultural
crops or even a solar farm.
 Wind has been used in centuries to move ships and pump water. Wind turbines are installed in
strategic locations to harness the mechanical energy from wind. Some of the most recent
developments are the Bangui Wind Farm, Burgos Wind Farm, and Caparispisan Wind Farm in Ilocos
Norte, the Wind Energy Power System in Oriental Mindoro, San Lorenzo Wind Farm in Guimaras,
Nabas Wind Farm in Aklan and Pililla Wind Farm in Rizal.

D. Solar Cells

If plants photosynthesize using sunlight, electric-

powered technologies can also use sunlight for energy.
Solar power is a variable energy source that is dependent
on the cycle of the sun. The Philippines, being situated
near the equator, has many potential sites where solar
energy may be harnessed.

With recent technology, solar power systems can

be both applied to on- and off-grid areas. Aggressive economic growth for the country is not far
behind. As long as there is sunlight, solar power will always be available. Solar power technology
may not generate energy at night but it is capable of supplying electricity to the grid at daytime.

A solar cell, or photovoltaic cell, is an electrical device that converts the energy of light
directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect, which is a physical and chemical phenomenon. It is
a form of photoelectric cell, defined as a device whose electrical characteristics, such as current,
voltage, or resistance, vary when exposed to light. Individual solar cell devices are often the electrical
building blocks of photovoltaic modules, known colloquially as solar panels.

Some of the operational solar power plants in the Philippines are:

 Lian Sola Power Project and Calatagan Solar Power Project in Calatagan, Batangas
 Cavite Economic Zone Solar Power Project in Rosario and General Trias, Cavite
 CW Home Depot Solar Power Project and Central Mall Binan Solar Power Plant in Biñan
City, Laguna

Solar energy is also known as “The People’s Power,” referring to the easy deployment of
solar panels and the introduction of “community solar gardens” where energy is shared among
owners.
 Solar energy is abundant, requires low maintenance, and is environmentally-friendly.
 Emissions associated with the manufacture of solar panels are present but very minimal
compared to pollution caused by burning fossil fuels.
 Two of the harmful emissions from the manufacture of solar panels are nitrogen
trifluoride and sulfur hexafluoride.
 Both are potent greenhouse gases.
 Some disadvantages of solar energy are: it is expensive, requires rare metals, and requires
a good amount of space. Thankfully, the technology is continuously improving.

E. Biomass
Biomass refers to organic matter from plants and animals (microorganisms). Organic wastes
such as crop remains, manure, and garbage usually left to rot, can be used for electricity generation.
Rice husks and/or bagasse are burned as fuel to boil water. The steam from the boiling water is used
to run steam turbines, which in turn drive generators to
produce electricity.
 Wood is also a biomass fuel
 As long as we replenish the trees that we cut,
biomass can be a sustainable energy source.
 Biomass is used to create methane and alcohol
which are fuels useful in energy production and
in powering automobiles.
  Production of biogas or biofuels involves the action of microorganisms that break down
organic matter in a multi-step process.
 Technologies utilizing biomass are continuously evolving in order to improve efficiency.

Non-renewable Sources
A. Fossil fuels
Coal, oil and gas are fossil fuels, which have been formed over the last 600 million years.
Coal is the fossilized remains of huge forests which covered many parts of the world in prehistoric
times and hence contains biomass. As the trees and plants died, they were covered in layers of silt and
sand and, under great pressure, gradually became formed into coal deposits.
• Coal is the world’s most abundant fossil fuel. It is relatively inexpensive and is readily
available.
• The formation of fossil fuels is due to a series of
geologic processes where the remains of organic
life are accumulated in the ocean bottom and are
buried to eventually become part of the geosphere.
• They are buried to depths having high temperature
and pressure where they are converted to oil,
natural gas, or coal.
• In the Philippines, around 69% of our electricity is
derived from fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas,
biomass).
• In the world, around 75% of our energy is
generated by combustion of fossil fuels.
• Power plants burn fossil fuels and the heat generated during this process is used to turn water
into steam and this turns the turbines.
B. Electrochemical (batteries)
A battery is a device that stores
chemical energy and converts it to electrical
energy. The chemical reactions in a battery
involve the flow of electrons from one material
(electrode) to another, through an external
circuit. The flow of electrons provides an
electric current that can be used to do work.
There are three main components of a battery:
two terminals made of different chemicals
(typically metals), the anode and the cathode;
and the electrolyte, which separates these
terminals. The electrolyte is a chemical medium
that allows the flow of electrical charge between
the cathode and anode.
Batteries, compared to other sources,
have low intensity but they are commonly used since they are portable and efficient.

Activity 1. Table Summary

Direction: Summarize your understanding about the different sources of energy by filling out the table
below. Use a separate sheet of paper for your answer.
Type of Electrical Source Example
Fossil Fuel
Electrochemical
Geothermal
Hydroelectric
Wind
Biomass

Activity 2 Construct a Venn Diagram

Direction: Point out the similarities and differences between renewable and non-renewable sources of
energy by using a Venn diagram on a separate sheet of paper.

Activity 3
Direction: Provide a solution to the situation below by defining the best catalyst to be used and how it
affects the reaction rate.

 Stains in clothes

Formative Test

Answer the following questions in the answer sheet. Write the letter of the correct answer.

1. Which of the following is being described by this phrase, “It can be converted in form, but not
created nor destroyed.”
a. atom c. force
b. energy d. matter

2. Energy that comes from sources that will run out or will not be replenished in our lifetimes—or
even in many, many lifetimes.
a. kinetic c. potential
b. non-renewable d. renewable

3. It refers to the organic matter from plants and animals (microorganisms).

a. battery c. geothermal
b. biomass d. wind power

4. This form of energy includes hydrocarbons such as coal, oil, and natural gas that comes from
organic remains of prehistoric organisms.
a. batteries c. natural gas
b. fossil fuels d. solar power

5. This source of energy is also known as “The People’s Power” referring to the easy deployment of
solar panels and the introduction of “community solar gardens” where energy is shared among
owners.
a. biofuel c. hydroelectric
b. geothermal d. solar energy

6. This renewable energy utilizes moving water to turn turbines.

a. biomass c. hydroelectric
b. geothermal d. solar wind
7. This source of energy is less of an environmental hazard compared to fossil fuels.
a. batteries c. geothermal
b. biomass d. hydrothermal

8. The energy that comes from fossil fuels came from the sun through this process when the
prehistoric plants were still alive.
a. cytokinesis c. mitosis
b. meiosis d. photosynthesis

9. Which of the following converts the kinetic energy of falling water into mechanical
energy?
a. generator c. turbine
b. steam d. wind

10. Below are the operational geothermal power plants in the Philippines EXCEPT
a. Balugbug c. Malikban
b. Malibara d. Tiwi

References

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OpenStax. 2016. "Factors Affecting Reaction Rates." Chemistry. June 20. Accessed April 26, 2020.
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2018. "Catalysts Speed It Up." Chem4Kids.com. Accessed April 26, 2020.

http://www.chem4kids.com/files/react_catalyst.html.

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2020. "Catalysis facts for kids." Kiddle Encylopedia. April 18. Accessed April 26, 2020.
https://kids.kiddle.co/Catalysis.2020. "Rates of Reaction." BBC. Accessed April 26, 2020.
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