LESSON 2

ELECTRICITY

 Is the flow of tiny particles called electrons and protons.

 The flow of charge
 Copper has the same number of electrons
 Example:
o Turning on the light switch-Electrons move through conductor wires

ADVANTAGES OF ELECTRICITY

 Accessible and very easy to produce

o Electricity can be generated from wide variety of energy sources, both renewable and non-renewable.
 Manageable and easy to transport
o Electricity can be transported over long distances and on a large scale through transmission and
distribution networks.
 Versatile and easy to transform
o Electricity can also be transformed into other types of energy such as light (lighting a light bulb), heat
(lighting an electric radiator), or motion (using an engine).

HOW IS ELECTRICITY GENERATED?

While it is true that electricity is present in nature, for example, as lightning and thunderstorms, the reality is
that this type of energy is difficult to store. As a result, we need power plants that are constantly producing the
electricity we use. Have to find ways to store electricity.

Two major groups:

RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY GENERATION

Renewable energy comes from a natural source such as wind power, water power, or the heat of the sun. They are
therefore inexhaustible sources of energy and are more environmentally friendly. Some examples of renewable
sources are:

1. Wind energy: Wind farms, utilizing wind turbines, use air currents to transform the kinetic energy of the wind
into electricity. It's an inexhaustible source but somewhat unstable as it is subject to atmospheric conditions.
Kinetic energy- wind is form of kinetic energy. Example, wind mills. It circles the wind and should be stable.
-Wind farms are stable for atmospheric. However, if it is unstable, the wind is polluted.
-It supplies electricity in farm.
-It is renewable that is why there is a payment.

TYPES OF WIND ENERGY

Onshore wind energy

 When we are driving, it is common to see windmill-like structures. These are called wind turbines and, as we
saw before, they are responsible for generating electrical energy using the force of the wind. Likewise, wind
farms are facilities made up of a group of high-power wind turbines connected to the power grid. They are
located in places that usually have a sufficient amount of wind, such as large steppes or coastal areas.
 As part of onshore wind energy, it is also worth mentioning, which, generally, is intended for. Micro-wind
energy is harnessed through wind turbines with power lower than 100 KW. As such, they are small-scale
structures that are usually used in isolated areas and far from the power grid, such as country houses, nature
reserves or alpine refuges. These installations are complemented by solar energy, resulting in wind-solar hybrid
systems.

Offshore wind energy

 Offshore wind energy is produced in a very similar way to onshore energy by using wind turbines that harness
the force of the wind to produce electricity. The only difference is that for offshore energy the wind turbines are
installed in the middle of the ocean to take advantage of the powerful winds that blow offshore.
 In the middle of the ocean, the wind is uninterrupted and more regular. This makes offshore wind more
productive than onshore wind, as it is stronger and hits the turbine blades with more force.
USES AND IMPLICATIONS OF WIND ENERGY

1. Electrical energy production: Through the use of wind turbines, the wind's kinetic energy can be transformed into
mechanical energy and this, in turn, into electrical energy.

2. Pumping water: Wind energy can be used to extract water from the ground using wind pumps, which are turbines
capable of pumping up to six hundred liters per hour, which is enough to meet the needs of a small farm.

3. Renewable hydrogen: Wind energy is used to produce the continuous electrical current that is needed to produce
renewable hydrogen. This type of hydrogen is used, for example, to produce synthetic fuels or eco-fuels.

ADVANTAGES OF WIND ENERGY

 Non-pollutant
o Wind energy is a renewable energy source that comes from the wind and helps in reducing
CO2 emissions being released into the atmosphere.
 Low environmental impact
o Wind farms can be easily dismantled once they are no longer needed, without leaving an environmental
footprint, so the land can be reused for other purposes.
 Renewable energy
o It comes from a natural source, the wind, which makes it 100% renewable.
 Indigenous
o The wind is found all over the world, so wind power means countries can generate energy
independently.
 Contributes to sustainable development
o By reducing energy imports, it contributes to the development of local employment and wealth
creation.
 Affordable
o Technological advances have made it possible to lower the cost of generating wind power.

HYDROPOWER

Hydropower, also known as hydroelectric power, harnesses the force of moving water to produce electricity. The use of
water resources as a source of energy is an age-old practice. In the fourth century BC, the Persian empire was already
using water wheels to irrigate fields and water mills for grinding grain.

Its heyday of development would come with the industrial revolution in Great Britain when it was used as an energy
source for new inventions. Specifically, at the end of the 19th century, James B. Francis managed to develop a highly
efficient hydraulic turbine, giving rise to the Francis turbine, capable of transforming the potential energy of water into
rotational energy applied to a shaft. At present, the Francis turbine is the most widely used in renewable hydropower
generation plants.

We must not confuse hydropower with tidal power, which is harnessed from the movement of sea waters caused by the
tides, nor with wave power, which makes use of the movement of ocean waves to capture energy.

TYPES OF HYDROPOWER

Hydropower plants based on water flow

 Storage hydropower plants: This is the most widespread system. By building one or more dams, reservoirs are
formed that store large amounts of water and, in this way, regulate the flow that passes through the turbines to
generate electricity. This means energy production can be stable throughout the year.
 Run-of-river hydropower plants: These plants are used in rivers with a steady flow that passes down very steep
inclines, diverting the water towards the turbines that generate the current. Once the electrical energy is
obtained, the diverted water is returned to the river.
 Pumped-storage hydropower plants: They operate in a very similar way to a large rechargeable battery. The
plant has two reservoirs at different heights which are connected to each other. When electricity consumption is
low, the excess energy is used to pump the water from the lower-level reservoir to the upper reservoir using a
hydraulic pump. During times of high energy demand, the plant works like a regular hydropower plant.

ADVANTAGES OF HYDROPOWER
  Contributes to sustainable development
o it is a renewable and clean energy, the energy is obtained from falling water which is rain water, so it
doesn’t consume resources and is non-pollutant.
 Reduces external energy dependence
o This type of energy offers an excellent way to reduce external energy dependence since it is an
abundant resource in our country.
 Efficient
o Technological advances have made it possible to adapt the water flows from the power plants to the
demand to guarantee supply at all times.
 Driver of development
o As an indigenous energy source, it promotes economic development and the generation of local
employment.
 Affordable
o The construction of hydroelectric dams represents a significant initial investment, however, once in
operation, they are very affordable and efficient production plants.

SOLAR POWER

 Sun’s heat
 Sun’s energy

SOLAR ENERGY

 Solar energy is harnessed from the sun in the form of electromagnetic radiation (light, heat, and ultraviolet
rays). By installing solar panels or collectors, it can be used to capture thermal energy (photothermal) or to
generate electricity (photovoltaic).
 Solar energy is one of the main types of renewable energy, and it plays a key role in the transition. It helps
promote cleaner economies that protect the environment, improve people’s well-being, and ensure the
sustainability of companies.
 Technological breakthroughs have transformed solar energy into one of the most efficient and affordable in the
renewable sector. This unlimited energy source, in addition to contributing to the sustainability of the planet,
attracts investment, creates jobs, and increases the competitiveness of companies.

TYPES OF SOLAR ENERGY

Photovoltaic solar energy

 This type of energy is harvested using a photovoltaic system, which is an installation that produces electrical
energy using photovoltaic modules, capable of transforming solar radiation directly into electrical energy. Solar
panels contain photovoltaic cells that when they receive direct light, they ionize and release electrons that
interact with each other and generate an electrical current.
 PV solar energy has gained significant momentum in recent years with the arrival of solar communities and the
energy savings brought about by the new solar self-consumption installations.

Thermal solar energy

 Solar thermal equipment uses solar collectors to convert solar radiation into heat. These collectors are used to
collect and store solar radiation to heat water that is later used to support heating or hot water systems for
hygienic, residential, or industrial use.
 There’s another option called Concentrated Solar Power (CSP). In this case, the system works with a series of
lenses or mirrors that concentrate sunlight on a specific surface. The energy generated by this process is used to
produce electricity by using the heat to boil water to produce steam and power, for example, the turbines of a
generator.

Passive solar energy

 In the case of passive solar energy, the sun's energy is harnessed directly by means of materials and construction
solutions, without the need to transform it into other types of energy, as we have seen in previous cases (which
could be considered active). Passive solar technology is a fundamental part of ecodesign and bioclimatic
architecture, and its main use is the heating of living spaces. Natural lighting, either direct or by means of light
tubes (with mirrors inside), can also be considered an example of a passive application of solar energy.

Hybrid solar energy

  In this last case, any of the aforementioned types of solar energy is combined with other energies, mainly
renewable ones, in order to achieve a greater energy supply.

 The most common example is the combination of solar and wind energy. Hybrid photovoltaic and wind systems
combine solar panels with wind turbines, making the most of the sun and wind resources.

ADVANTAGES OF SOLAR ENERGY

 Unlimited
o Solar energy is a source that’s totally renewable as it comes from a long-lasting and unlimited source:
the sun.
 Clean
o Solar energy doesn’t release carbon dioxide into atmosphere or waste therefore it’s a 100% clean
source.
 Completely silent
o It is a type of energy that doesn’t produce any noise pollution as it’s generation process is completely
silent.
 Accessible
o Lastly, solar energy systems are easy to install and adapt to any place, even in geographically remote
areas.