Env Sci CA 4 Week 9 Review. Renewable Energy, Recycling, EPA

What two sources of renewable energy have been growing the fastest over the past decade?

• hydroelectric and coal

• wind and solar

• biomass and geothermal

Even though solar has grown the fastest of all renewable sources, it still only accounts for ______ percent of the nation's total energy production (2018)?

• 1%

• 33%

• 60%

Solar panels work as light's photon particles hit a silicon cell, knock an electron from its bond, & cause movement of electrons through a circuit.

So, do any parts inside the solar cell get worn out or used up?

• yes, solar panels internally break down often

• no, solar panels can last for decades

Would it be possible to power the entire world with today's solar technology (assuming funding was available for infrastructure and there were ways to obtain sunlight on cloudy days)?

• Yes, the earth intercepts 10,000 x more solar power than the planet's population uses

• No, there isn't enough light from the sun to provide power for every country

If wind blows twice as quickly as usual, there is how many times more energy available for a wind turbine to harvest?

• 3x

• 1x

• 8x

True or false: A gentle breeze is often enough to make the blades of a wind turbine spin?

• true

• false

Can you link many windmills together into a wind farm and link wind farms into an international power grid?

• no, they can not be connected

• yes, this helps overcome the unpredictability of wind

What type of renewable energy source is the most energy efficient, cost effective, and environmentally clean system for TEMPERATURE CONTROL in the home?

• wind

• hydro

• geothermal

What geographic regions is geothermal energy confined to?

• places closer to the equator which receive more warmth from the sun

• near tectonic plate boundaries where earthquakes and volcanoes concentrate

• Areas with water moving quickly through a confined space and underground water sources

Which of these options is the most reliable energy source (runs 24 hours a day)?

• geothermal

• wind

• solar