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Charles E. Ophardt, Professor of Chemistry, Elmhurst College, Elmhurst, IL 60126, charleso@elmhurst.edu, Copyright 2004

TOPIC 7: ALTERNATE ENERGY RESOURCES

Use CHAP 13 as a first resource, but the online sources are also very good.

1. Conservation

A. Fossil Fuel Energy Reserves (text p.386-388)	When will the Oil run out? Gives some information and scenarios about how long oil supplies may last. Future Scenarios on Oil Supplies
B. Use less energy and improve efficiencies of existing devices - more energy efficient automobiles? energy efficient furnaces, new types of fluorescent light bulbs, energy efficiency ratings on new appliances. (text p. 389)	Links to Energy Efficiency sites Residential Energy Efficiency - Check List Appliance Standards -

Pick one of the following two questions. QUES. 1: Should oil drilling be permitted in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge? Some in Congress have tried to pass laws permitting this, but so far unsuccessfully. Currently the energy bill passed by the House has the ANWR oil drilling included. The Senate bill does not have this provision.

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Introduction Arctic Nat. Wild. Refuge- Intro US Fish and Wildlife Wikipedia Article - many links on bottom Debate - has both yes and no sides. Oil on Ice - Check out explore the issue - more on no side ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE -This site supports the YES side. From the home page, check out Background. Also has some 10 top reasons to permit drilling. Also check Native Alaskans that are pro development. Issue Brief for Congress Latest report for Congress on ANWR Pres. Bush Radio Address on Energy Security

QUES. 2: Should the US raise CAFE (Corporate Automobile Fuel Efficiency) standards for light trucks and SUVs? Last year, bills were introduced in the U.S. House (HR 1815) and in the Senate (S 804) that would gradually raise the CAFE standards for light trucks to 27.5 mpg by 2007. The House rejected this part of the energy bill.

CAFE Issue - Skip down to the Yes and No internet sites.

QUES. 4: Each student is required to do ONE of the following alternative energy sources. First look at the Chemistry Discussion Board to select any that are not already taken. At this time you may reserve a topic and post it after doing the research. Then you may double up and add to the first report. Use the extensive internet sources which follow below. Report on ALL of the following: 1. The science behind how it works, 2. benefits, 3. drawbacks, 4. environmental effects to secure the resources (where do the materials come from to make the device?), 5. environmental effects during use or pollution or other side effects. You may not find written or visual info on all of the items, but think about it anyway. Five paragraph brief summaries of each energy source. Do not write a term paper on each. These may appear again as part of the next exam and may serve as a resource.

Solar Houses - Active Solar Houses - Passive Photovoltaic Solar Power Towers or "farms" Solar Ponds Ocean Thermal Biomass - wood or wastes Biomass - Ethanol Geothermal - hot or dry steam Geothermal - Ground heat pumps Coal to liquids Coal gasification Natural gas alternative reserve sources Wind Hydroelectric Tides Hydrogen - direct Batteries Fuel Cell - cars Fuel Cell - power plants Electric cars (may do several of these - include electric battery, hybrid)

General Internet Resources on Alternate Energies: Specific sites are listed under each subtopic heading below. Physics 162 U. of Oregon - On-line Class on Alternate Energies Comparison of Alternate Energy Sources - Lecture from the U. of Oregon

Renewable Energy Basics Renewable Energy - many links - Crest.org

2. Solar Energy - Text p. 395-400

Introduction type solar energy internet sites:	Solar Index Menu Solar Technologies Program - DOE Solar Energy Basics
A. Passive house designs	Passive Solar Energy Earth Sheltered Homes - look at  An Earth Sheltered FAQ; Why Earth Sheltered?
Active house designs	Solar Water Heating Active Solar Heating
B. Solar Photovoltaic Cells- Materials, how they work	U.S. Department of Energy Photovoltaics Program - quite a few sub menus from both right and left sides of the pages. Energy Fact Sheet - Photovoltaics
C. Solar Power Towers	Solar Power Towers - and other solar systems
Solar Pond thermal energy conversion	Solar Gradient Ponds -

3. a. Water - Hydroelectric (including "pumped storage") text p. 402	Hoover Dam Wind and Hydropower topics ProfONotes: Hydroelectric at Niagara Falls, NY Hydroelectric and Pumped Storage Three Gorges Dam in China CNN report Three Gorges Wash. Post -Three Gorges
3. b. Tides text p. 402	Tidal Energy
4. Ocean Thermal Energy	OTEC - National Renewable Energy Program
5. Wind text p. 400	Wind Power Index Wind Energy Program - DOE Wind Turbine- How it works - animation DOE Wind Power- video/animation ProfONotes: Windmills and wind turbines
6. Biomass - Energy from wood, agricultural and urban wastes, - Conversion to methanol, ethanol, or methane gas	Biomass Index Bioenergy - National Renewable Energy Program Bioenergy - Info resources Methane from Cows - convert to electiricity Biomass Energy
7. Geothermal - dry steam or hot water deposits Ground Source Heat Pumps text p. 401	What is Geothermal Energy? Geothermal Index menu Geothermal Energy Fact Sheet Geothermal Heat Pumps
8. Hydrogen - direct use or use of a fuel cell Text p. , 403	ProfO Notes: Hydrogen Energy Cycle graphic  Hydorgen Basics Facts about Hydrogen - American Hydrogen Association Hydrogen Synthesis methods - Hydrogen Economy
9. Batteries - Text p. 202-207 Fuel Cells - Text p. 403-405	ProfO Notes: Hydrogen/Oxygen Fuel Cycle graphic Fuel Cells - EREN How fuel cells work Third Orbit Power Systems - Fuel Cells Nickel Metal Hydride Battery - In cars
10. Electric Automobiles - Text p. 274-75	Electric Vehicles- Includes a variety of types How hybrids Work - Toyoto Prius - Hybrid Synergy Drive - how it works Hybrid Electrics - Honda Electric Car Electric Car Links

11. Clean Fuels Text p. 400	Vision21
Natural gas in remote locations is difficult to bring to the market place for use. Methane is trapped as a hydrate in a frozen state.	Natural gas to Liquids Methane Hydrates
Coal and other solids may be changed to gases	Coal Gasification How Gasification Plants work