Alternate Energy

Sources for the 21st

Century
Mike Ewert
Houston Renewable Energy Group

Problem & Opportunity

Several Problems
Air & water pollution
Health effects of pollution
Oil depletion/ imports
Global warming from CO2

One Solution
Renewable energy sources
cause minimal pollution,
dont cause global warming
and are locally available

Pollution

US power plants emit 18 million tons of SO2 per year +

NOx, particulates, carbon monoxide, mercury and lead

Energy production & use also contribute to Water

pollution

Houston has been in violation of federal air quality

standards since they began in the 1970s

The Houston/Galveston area must be in compliance by

2007 because we were designated as a "severe" ozone
area.

Some Energy Statistics

The US uses of
the worlds energy
The US pays more
than
$5 billion for
imported oil
each
month

Global Warming

Throughout history, the earth has been

much colder, and at times warmer, than it
is now
But climate change is occurring 100s of times
faster than these natural changes
CO2, CH4, N2O, O3 and soot all cause warming

Global average air temperature has risen

1F in the past 50 years
But, this has already resulted in melting ice
sheets, migration of animals and more
severe weather

Whats the Alternative?

And whats the hold up?

Renewable energy generally

cost more than conventional
fossil fuel energy systems

Solar 11 - 40 /kWh
depending on the
technology

Wind 5 - 15 /kWh from large

wind turbines

But what if you consider the big picture?

There are lots of

Alternatives

Nuclear
Hydroelectric
Wind
Solar
Wave
Tidal
Geothermal
Bio-mass
Helium 3 (from the moon)

Wind

Wind turbines modern windmills

have become quite efficient and cost
effective in windy areas

Solar Electric

Solar Photovoltaic (PV)

panels generate electricity
directly from sunlight with
special materials

Solar electricity can

also be generated from
the suns heat instead
of burning fossil fuels

Solar Thermal

Heat from the sun can be

used to heat water, houses,
pools, in industry and to
generate electricity

Passive Solar

Uses sun angles,

shading and
thermal storage

Daylighting is using
natural sunlight
instead of electric
lights

Solar Cookers

Many different
designs

Can improve health &

reduce deforestation in
developing countries

Solar Cars?

Hybrid and Electric

cars are coming
Why not solar
charge them?

Water Energy

Hydro-electric, wave, tide

Geothermal & Bio-mass

A Future Hydrogen
Economy?

Solar energy can

split water into
hydrogen & oxygen
A fuel cell can make
electricity from
hydrogen and
oxygen, making
water
A completely clean,
renewable cycle

2 Last Thoughts
It has been
estimated that we
can improve the
way we use energy
by a factor of 4!

ELECTRIC CHOICE
You now have a choice of electric providers in
Texas
Providers must provide an electricity facts label,
so the source is something you can consider
www.powertochoose.com