2011 NC Clean Energy Data Book Released!

The NC Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA), a membership organization representing individuals, businesses, government and non-profits that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency, has compiled the “first-ever” 2011 NC Clean Energy Data Book (pdf).   For each region of the state you can get information about Existing Commercial and Government Energy Efficiency, Potential for Residential Energy Efficiency, Registered Renewable Energy Facilities, Training, Support, and Community College Assets, and Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats pertaining to renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Links to high resolution maps and images from the book will also be available on the companion website soon.

Nature Inspired Wave and Tidal Energy Technologies

Australian based BioPower Systems BioStream technology generates electricity from tidal currents and was inspired by the Thunniform locomotion exhibited by shark and tuna species.

Their BioWave technology generates electricity from wave energy and was inspired by the motion of underwater plants (think kelp fronds!) that are anchored to the sea floor.  Read more about both technologies here.

Similarly inspired, Carnegie Wave Energy Limited’s CETO wave power converter produces high pressure seawater from the power of waves that can then power a turbine for electricity generation.

“The beauty of these wave-power technologies is that they move with the power of the ocean rather than putting themselves in confrontation with it.”-Ocean Energy Council

Wave Energy

According to the US Department of Energy, wave energy off the coast of the United States is an estimated 252 billion kilowatthours a year, about 7% of the United States’ electricity consumption in 2008.  The West Coast of the US appears to be particularly good for harnessing wave energy.  Learn about and view images of all the technologies under development at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Marine and Hydrokinetic Technology Database.

Also, Pelamis Wave Power’s website contains videos and interactive models of The Pelamis Wave Energy Converter which was “the world’s first commercial scale machine to generate electricity to the grid from offshore wave energy and the first to be used commercially.”

About Small (Micro-) Hydropower

According to Greg Pahl, author of the Citizen-Powered Energy Handbook: Community Solutions to a Global Crisis, “there are undoubtedly thousands of potential micro-hydro sites that have been overlooked by most state and national planners…..However, these sites offer a lot of potential for individuals and groups to harness the energy of falling water that is presently being wasted. “

It would be interesting to have your students evaluate the potential for a micro-hydro site at their school or in their community.  An 8 page publication from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory contains information and graphics about small hydropower systems in addition to a resource section for more information.

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Resources

OTEC, or ocean thermal energy conversion,  takes advantage of the ocean’s natural thermal gradient to convert solar radiation to electric power.   This technology could be addressed with your students in the context of thermohaline circulation and the role of water as an energy agent.

The following organizations have some teacher-friendly OTEC resources:

NREL website includes an OTEC thermal resource map, showing where OTEC potential is greatest.

NOAA website also has diagrams and fact sheets available for download.

US Dept of Energy website includes information on the types of OTEC systems and the environmental and economic challenges of OTEC.

A 4 minute video about OTEC is available from the Ocean Energy Council’s website.  A poster highlighting major ocean energy technologies is also available for download.

Types of Hydropower

The US Energy Information Administration Energy for Kids site contains a useful overview of hydropower, including ocean energy technologies.
The US Department of Energy also has a useful overview of the different kinds of hydropower plants.

How does moving water generate electricity?

Hydroelectric plants generate electricity from moving water.  To help your students learn more about this process check out these resources/animations:

USGS Water Science for Schools: Hydroelectric Power: How it works

Progress Energy’s The Power of Water Brochure includes a colored, labeled diagram of a hydroelectric plant.

NC Dam Inventory

Updated as recently as August 2010, this inventory of all NC dams could be used by students to find a local dam to investigate further.  Activity 3 of the NEED Project’s Exploring Hydroelectricity Curriculum (see below) has students investigate a local dam of interest.

The NEED project’s Exploring Hydroelectricity for Secondary Grades contains many activities that require little to no materials and lots of student thinking!

ACTIVITY 3––DAMS AND THEIR USES

Teacher Guide and Student Guide

Tidal Energy Resources

Did you know there are five types of renewable ocean energy technologies? One of these is Tidal Energy, harnessing the power of the ocean’s predictable tides with undersea turbines.

Read about the World’s Largest Tidal Turbine, unveiled  in Scotland in August 2010.   The turbine could generate one megawatt (MW) of power, enough electricity for about 1,000 homes.

Also read about the SeaGen by Marine Current Turbines, Ltd. This prototype was installed in May 2008 in Northern Ireland.  This website contains images and an animation of the SeaGen that would be useful in the classroom.

Verdant Power has demonstration projects in the East River, New York and St. Lawrence River at Cornwall Ontario, Canada.  This website also contains images of tidal turbines and an animation.

To read more about Tidal Energy check out these resources:

US Department of Energy

US Energy Information Administration

Ocean Energy Council

Outer Banks Ocean Energy Corporation

Renewable Energy Technology Resource Maps for the United States

These Renewable Energy Technology Resource Maps for the United States are available form the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) as PowerPoint slides: slides are available that show the theoretical potential for renewable energy resources in the US including solar, wind, biomass, and hydropower.

In addition, maps showing the county-level distribution of various biomass resources (crop residues, urban wood waste etc.) are also available.