Energy Resources: conservation and utilization

1.1 Introduction:
Energy conservation is the decision and practice of using less energy. Turning off
the light when you leave the room, unplugging appliances when they're not in use
and walking instead of driving are all examples of energy conservation.
An Energy Utilization system helps maximize energy efficiency once it is produced
in the core generation system and distributed.

Energy Utilization Products:

Heating/Cooling Coils
Plate and Frame Heat Exchangers
Shell and Tube Exchangers
Water Heaters
Steam Humidifiers
Vacuum Systems
Condensers
Steam Traps
Wireless Steam Trap Monitors
Tube Bundles
Unit Heaters
Strainers
Air Vents
Liquid Drainers
Heat Transfer Packages
Digital Water Mixing Valves
Steam Filters
How is energy utilized?
Heating and cooling our homes, lighting office buildings, driving cars and moving
freight, and manufacturing the products we rely on in our daily lives are all
functions that require energy.

1.2 types of energy resources:

Primary energy sources take many forms, including nuclear energy, fossil energy --
like oil, coal and natural gas -- and renewable sources like wind, solar,
geothermal and hydropower.
others are Tidal energy, Ocean Thermal energy conversions(OTEC), wave energy,
Biomass energy, Biofuel, Fuel Cells.

1.3 Renewable energy sources:

They are natural and self-replenishing, and usually have a low- or zero-carbon
footprint. Examples of renewable energy sources include wind power, solar power,
bioenergy (organic matter burned as a fuel) and hydroelectric, including tidal
energy.

Here are a few common sources of renewable energy:

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SOLAR ENERGY

Solar energy is the most abundant of all energy resources and can even be harnessed
in cloudy weather. The rate at which solar energy is intercepted by the Earth is
about 10,000 times greater than the rate at which humankind consumes energy.

Solar technologies can deliver heat, cooling, natural lighting, electricity, and
fuels for a host of applications. Solar technologies convert sunlight into
electrical energy either through photovoltaic panels or through mirrors that
concentrate solar radiation.

Although not all countries are equally endowed with solar energy, a significant
contribution to the energy mix from direct solar energy is possible for every
country.

The cost of manufacturing solar panels has plummeted dramatically in the last
decade, making them not only affordable but often the cheapest form of electricity.
Solar panels have a lifespan of roughly 30 years, and come in variety of shades
depending on the type of material used in manufacturing.
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WIND ENERGY

Wind energy harnesses the kinetic energy of moving air by using large wind turbines
located on land (onshore) or in sea- or freshwater (offshore). Wind energy has been
used for millennia, but onshore and offshore wind energy technologies have evolved
over the last few years to maximize the electricity produced - with taller turbines
and larger rotor diameters.

Though average wind speeds vary considerably by location, the world’s technical
potential for wind energy exceeds global electricity production, and ample
potential exists in most regions of the world to enable significant wind energy
deployment.

Many parts of the world have strong wind speeds, but the best locations for
generating wind power are sometimes remote ones. Offshore wind power offers
tremendous potential.
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GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

Geothermal energy utilizes the accessible thermal energy from the Earth’s interior.
Heat is extracted from geothermal reservoirs using wells or other means.

Reservoirs that are naturally sufficiently hot and permeable are called
hydrothermal reservoirs, whereas reservoirs that are sufficiently hot but that are
improved with hydraulic stimulation are called enhanced geothermal systems.

Once at the surface, fluids of various temperatures can be used to generate

electricity. The technology for electricity generation from hydrothermal reservoirs
is mature and reliable, and has been operating for more than 100 years.
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HYDROPOWER

Hydropower harnesses the energy of water moving from higher to lower elevations. It
can be generated from reservoirs and rivers. Reservoir hydropower plants rely on
stored water in a reservoir, while run-of-river hydropower plants harness energy
from the available flow of the river.

Hydropower reservoirs often have multiple uses - providing drinking water, water
for irrigation, flood and drought control, navigation services, as well as energy
supply.

Hydropower currently is the largest source of renewable energy in the electricity

sector. It relies on generally stable rainfall patterns, and can be negatively
impacted by climate-induced droughts or changes to ecosystems which impact rainfall
patterns.

The infrastructure needed to create hydropower can also impact on ecosystems in

adverse ways. For this reason, many consider small-scale hydro a more
environmentally-friendly option, and especially suitable for communities in remote
locations.
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OCEAN ENERGY

Ocean energy derives from technologies that use the kinetic and thermal energy of
seawater - waves or currents for instance - to produce electricity or heat.

Ocean energy systems are still at an early stage of development, with a number of
prototype wave and tidal current devices being explored. The theoretical potential
for ocean energy easily exceeds present human energy requirements.
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BIOENERGY

Bioenergy is produced from a variety of organic materials, called biomass, such as

wood, charcoal, dung and other manures for heat and power production, and
agricultural crops for liquid biofuels. Most biomass is used in rural areas for
cooking, lighting and space heating, generally by poorer populations in developing
countries.

Modern biomass systems include dedicated crops or trees, residues from agriculture
and forestry, and various organic waste streams.

Energy created by burning biomass creates greenhouse gas emissions, but at lower
levels than burning fossil fuels like coal, oil or gas. However, bioenergy should
only be used in limited applications, given potential negative environmental
impacts related to large-scale increases in forest and bioenergy plantations, and
resulting deforestation and land-use change.

1.4 Solar energy:

Solar power is energy from the sun that is converted into thermal or electrical
energy. Solar energy is the cleanest and most abundant renewable energy source
available
There are three main ways to harness solar energy: photovoltaics, solar heating &
cooling, and concentrating solar power. Photovoltaics generate electricity directly
from sunlight via an electronic process and can be used to power anything from
small electronics such as calculators and road signs up to homes and large
commercial businesses. Solar heating & cooling (SHC) and concentrating solar power
(CSP) applications both use the heat generated by the sun to provide space or water
heating in the case of SHC systems, or to run traditional electricity-generating
turbines in the case of CSP power plants.

Photovoltaics:
Photovoltaic (PV) devices generate electricity directly from sunlight via an
electronic process that occurs naturally in certain types of material, called
semiconductors. Electrons in these materials are freed by solar energy and can be
induced to travel through an electrical circuit, powering electrical devices or
sending electricity to the grid

Photons strike and ionize semiconductor material on the solar panel, causing outer
electrons to break free of their atomic bonds. Due to the semiconductor structure,
the electrons are forced in one direction creating a flow of electrical current.
Solar cells are not 100% efficient in crystalline silicon solar cells, in part
because only certain light within the spectrum can be absorbed. Some of the light
spectrum is reflected, some is too weak to create electricity (infrared) and some
(ultraviolet) creates heat energy instead of electricity.

Other Types of Photovoltaic Technology:

In addition to crystalline silicon (c-Si), there are two other main types of PV
technology:
Thin-film PV is a fast-growing but small part of the commercial solar market.
Many thin-film firms are start-ups developing experimental technologies. They are
generally less efficient – but often cheaper – than c-Si modules.
In the United States, concentrating PV arrays are found primarily in the desert
Southwest. They use lenses and mirrors to reflect concentrated solar energy onto
high-efficiency cells. They require direct sunlight and tracking systems to be most
effective.
Building-integrated photovoltaics serve as both the outer layer of a structure
and generate electricity for on-site use or export to the grid. BIPV systems can
provide savings in materials and electricity costs, reduce pollution, and add to
the architectural appeal of a building.

History of Photovoltaic Technology:

The PV effect was observed as early as 1839 by Alexandre Edmund Becquerel, and was
the subject of scientific inquiry through the early twentieth century. In 1954,
Bell Labs in the U.S. introduced the first solar PV device that produced a useable
amount of electricity, and by 1958, solar cells were being used in a variety of
small-scale scientific and commercial applications.

The energy crisis of the 1970s saw the beginning of major interest in using solar
cells to produce electricity in homes and businesses, but prohibitive prices
(nearly 30 times higher than the current price) made large-scale applications
impractical.

Industry developments and research in the following years made PV devices more
feasible and a cycle of increasing production and decreasing costs began which
continues even today.

Modern Photovoltaics:

The cost of PV has dropped dramatically as the industry has scaled up manufacturing
and incrementally improved the technology with new materials. Installation costs
have come down too with more experienced and trained installers. Globally, the U.S.
has the third largest market for PV installations, and is continuing to rapidly
grow.

Most modern solar cells are made from either crystalline silicon or thin-film
semiconductor material. Silicon cells are more efficient at converting sunlight to
electricity, but generally have higher manufacturing costs. Thin-film materials
typically have lower efficiencies, but can be simpler and less costly to
manufacture. A specialized category of solar cells - called multi-junction or
tandem cells - are used in applications requiring very low weight and very high
efficiencies, such as satellites and military applications. All types of PV systems
are widely used today in a variety of applications.

There are thousands of individual photovoltaic panel models available today from
hundreds of companies. Compare solar panels by their efficiency, power output,
warranties, and more on EnergySage.