Exploring Energy Technology

People have harnessed the formidable power of moving water for millennia, but they have only used it to generate electricity since the late nineteenth century. Since that time, it has become an important alternative energy source to fossil fuels. In fact, more electricity is produced by waterpower than by any other renewable energy source in the United States. This book offers an in-depth look at the turbines used to generate hydroelectricity. It explains which locations are best for generating hydroelectricity and explores the cultural and environmental concerns raised by the building of dams. The focus is on hydroelectric plants, but this book also discusses pumped hydro storage, tidal power, and wave energy.

Farms of massive wind turbines, often framed by majestic mountains or with their bases lapped by ocean waves, have become one of the most recognizable images of alternative energy. This book covers the history of wind power, today's advanced turbines and wind farms, and the advantages and disadvantages of this fast-growing energy technology. It even presents a substantive but easy-to-understand explanation of how and where winds form. It's a great resource for the study of science and technology, as well as those curious about the possible solutions to the problems arising from the global consumption of fossil fuels.

Coal, oil, and natural gas supply the vast majority of the energy that we use in modern life, whether that means generating electricity for lights and computers or fueling the engines that power our cars, buses, and airplanes. Readers will learn how these ancient fuels formed, as well as how human beings extract them from the ground for our use. They'll also learn about the downsides of fossil fuels, such as their limited supply and the environmental damage that burning them produces. Photographs from around the world and maps and diagrams from Encyclopedia Britannica add a compelling visual learning element.

Many people associate geothermal energy with watching dramatic geyser eruptions or relaxing in a steaming natural hot spring. However, heat from within the Earth can also be used to generate electricity and heat buildings. Readers learn about the past, present, and future of geothermal power through this informative book. Topics covered include how geothermal heat is created and brought up to Earth's surface, the surface features, such as lava flows, hot springs, geysers, and fumaroles, that are signs of it, and how geothermal heat pumps and geothermal power plants work. The need for renewable energy sources such as geothermal energy is addressed, as is the need to manage geothermal resources sustainably.

Although the sun beams out more than enough energy to meet the needs of all of Earth's population, at the moment only a small percentage of the power we use is generated through the use of solar energy technologies. This volume examines the factors that have limited the role of solar power in the past and discusses some of the developments that promise to make it more significant in the future. Readers will learn about various methods for collecting solar power, such as concentrating collectors, flat-plate collectors, and photovoltaic cells. The opening chapter focuses on the sun itself, explaining the thermonuclear reactions that produce energy there.