EE535: Renewable Energy: Systems, Technology & Economics

Session 2: Energy & Power

EE535

Stephen Daniels, Oct 2009

Terminology
SI unit of power is the Joule (J) Much of our fuel consumption is based on fossil fuels, so values of energy consumption are often expressed in terms of tonnes of oil equivalent (toe or Mtoe) 1 toe = 42 GJ Rate of energy consumption is the watt (W), equivalent to a joule/s Electrical energy is more usually expressed in kilowatt hours (kWh) 1 kWh = 3600 kJ
1 kJ 1 MJ 1 GJ 1 TJ 1 PJ 1 EJ kilojoule megajoule gigajoule terajoule petajoule exajoule 103J 106J 109J 1012J 1015J 1018J

Worldwide energy consumption in 2006 was estimated to be equivalent to 10879 million tons of oil equivalent = 10879 x 106 x 42 x 109 J = 457 EJ

The kilowatt hour / day (kWh/d) is a useful measure of the rate we use/produce power
EE535 Stephen Daniels, Oct 2009
How much does a kWh of electricity cost a domestic user in Ireland?

Forms of Energy (I)

Gravitation Potential
E = mgh Example: Energy stored in a reservoir

Mechanical: Kinetic Energy of a moving body

E = mv2 Example: Rotational kinetic energy (e.g. turbo-generator) Flow of water to a turbine or wind-energy machine Flow of air through windmill blades Tidal flow

Thermal: The energy stored as heat in a body

Energy = mass x specific heat capacity x rise in temperature Energy is due to an increase in kinetic energy of atoms/molecules Examples: burning fossil fuels, nuclear reaction, solar thermal collector

EE535

Stephen Daniels, Oct 2009

Forms of Energy (II)

Chemical: Energy released in a chemical reaction
Example: burning of fuel often expressed in kJ/kg

Electrical: The energy in joules is given by the product of power (P = VI watts), and time (s) Radiation
Photon energy E= hv = hc/ Examples: solar photovoltaic conversion, photosynthesis of sunlight to biomass

Atomic Energy
E = mc2
EE535

Question for class: Is atomic energy a renewable resource? Stephen Daniels, Oct 2009

Energy Resources of the Earth*

Renewable Direct Conversion Pyrolysis Fermentation Digestion Gravitational Salination Evaporation Waves Currents Thermal Difference Osmotic Non-Renewable Photo Synthesis

Fossil

Solar

Limnic

Coal Oil Gas Shale

Oceanic

Mineral

Fission Fusion

Direct Conversion Geothermal Gravitational

EE535 Stephen Daniels, Oct 2009
* Source : Renewable Energy Focus Handbook, Elesevier 2009

Planetary Energy Balance *

Solar Radiation (173,000TW) Direct Reflection Direct Conversion to Heat Evaporation of Water Wind & Waves Photosynthesis Tides Geothermal Volcanos & Hot Springs Rock Conduction 52,000 TW (30%) 78,000 TW (45%) 39,000 TW (22%) 3,600 TW (2%) 40 TW 3TW 0.3 TW 32 TW

Equilibrium between incoming and outgoing energy is oscillatory in nature

EE535 Stephen Daniels, Oct 2009
* Source : Renewable Energy Focus Handbook, Elesevier 2009

Sustainable Energy
Sustainable energy energy production without compromising the production capability of future generations Nuclear: is it reasonable to include fossil fuels and nuclear fission as transitional sources while technology develops? Strictly: energy sources which are not expected to be depleted in a time frame relevant to the human race.
EE535 Stephen Daniels, Oct 2009

Can We Live On Renewables?

How much energy do we use? What is the maximum potential of the renewable resources? What about economic, social, and environmental constraints?

EE535

Stephen Daniels, Oct 2009

40W Light Bulb

If left on all the time, uses almost 1 kWh per day Circa 538g of CO2 released into the atmosphere 1 kWh cost circa 0.1455 cents

EE535

Stephen Daniels, Oct 2009

Terminology
Capacity Factor / Load Factor = (average power output ) / (maximum output) Peak Power Storage Capacity

EE535

Stephen Daniels, Oct 2009