Category: Science- Renewable resources & The water cycle

Renewable Resources:

Wind Power:

Wind power is one of the few renewable sources that exist, this is very useful because the component that makes it spin is one of our most frequent sources on earth (wind). Historically wind power has been used in wind sails, windmills and wind pumps, and these were commonly used by farmers and windsailers. It depends on the scale of the wind turbine, but the cost varies from 1.3 million to 2.2 million per MW of capacity installed. Normally commercial- installed turbines consist of 2 MW and cost around 3- 4 million. Research shows that Wind power is not very reliable because the wind does not always blow (strong enough) which means that the wind turbines do stop. When wind turbines stop every wind farm must have fossil power plant if the turbines do stop.

Solar Power:
Solar power is the conversion of sunlight to electricity, this must go through a process to be able to be electricity. This is a very useful source because it converts something with the lightest be converted into something crucial for us, electricity. Solar power uses Photovoltaic cells to capture the sunlight. Although Solar is renewable whilst operating, it uses materials that release gases into the atmosphere when the actual panels are being made, so there are some cons too. When you get extra sunlight, it goes back to the grid for everyone, that means that the government pays you a couple of cents depending on how much goes to the grid. The cost depends on how many solar panels you install, and the most popular solar system is KWh (for Australia), and the cost is $5,130 and to install them it costs $1,040 (in Australia). Research shows that Solar Power is one of the most reliable renewable sources. A recent experiment from NREL shows that solar panels have the failure rate of only %0.05. Although they are secure and reliable resource, when it is a day with bad weather, people will rely on fossil fuels, which means that in Winter people will use twice as much fossil fuel energy.

Tidal Power:
Tidal power is harnessed by converting the power of tides into energy. Tidal power is a predictable form of renewable energy and is also harnessed by capturing kinetic energy of the ocean that is released when the moon orbits around the sun. A tide is caused by gravitational movements caused by this. Tidal power is the most reliable renewable resource, this is because tides happen twice a day which means they make a lot of energy. The reason it is the most reliable is because it is not reliant on natural currents like wind and weather patterns. The cost of tidal power is $382 per KWh, the electricity it produces varies between $0.04 to $0.12 per KWh. This is a very reasonable price for a station that generates electricity.

Water cycle:

Oils Spills:

An oils pill is a release of liquid petroleum hydrocarbon, this is normally released into the ocean and causes many living and thriving animals, plants and whole ecosystems to die, this happens when the oil gets under their fun or feathers and it exposes them to harsh elements. This can occur naturally or accidentally by humans. The effect this has on water cycles is; if the oil got into human drinking water, this would end in drastic matters. Oil spills trigger Acid rain, this is because acid rain is made up of wet and dry deposited material from the atmosphere that contains higher amounts of acids (Nitric and sulfuric). This is also very bad because the oil goes through the Seep Conduit in the sea bed deep into the ground where all the oil is stored/ put, and releases more methane into the atmosphere and the ocean water.

Dams:

A dam is a big structure to alter the flow of the water. They are used in many countries and are very important because they provide water for many purposes. These purposes are (Domestic, Industry, Irrigation). Dams also provide Hydroelectric power and river navigation. Dams are crucial for everyday activities (Domestic), these include cooking, drinking, washing/ bathing and garden watering (lawn and plants). Dams can slow down rivers and alter their flows/ currents. A Dam’s irregular releases damage natural seasonal flow, this then triggers natural growth and reproduction cycles for many species.

Grey Water:

Grey water is a system where you reuse the water from bathing, the washing machine and laundry trough to look after your garden. This all goes into a stream except for toilet wastewater. Grey water is basically a way to reuse the water you have already used so that we save water rather than only using it once. Grey water is a domestic wastewater system that is generated in households and offices from streams without contamination (fecal). A good impact grey water has on the water cycle is that it uses much less water and decreases what we use every day. In an untreated grey water system, the grey water is collected in a storage tank and pumped in a deep filtration bed, this consists of a layer of sand and gravel. The grey water then filters through a filtration bed an is tended to through this process.