De basura a energía
Por medio de una tecnología basada
en avances hechos originalmente
por la NASA que elimina
desperdicios sin soltar emisiones
contaminantes 65 mil casas en
España tendrán luz gracias a la
basura. Los desperdicios no
soltarán emisiones contaminantes y
generarán un gas sintético con el
cual se pueden mover turbinas
eléctricas.
La empresa Solena Group empezará
a construir la planta en el mes de
marzo y tendrá un costo de 61.5
millones de Euros. La energía se
produce calentando basura a 5 mil
grados centígrados sin generar
combustión.
Ahora, si la tecnología llegará a
funcionar eliminaría 6 toneladas de
basura industrial y orgánica por hora
que las transforma en 15
megavatios de electricidad por hora
.
Energia Eolica
Según un estudio de Greenpeace, la
energía eólica así como la que
producen las olas son las
tecnologías de generación
renovables «más favorables» y
económicamente menos costosas
de desarrollar en el Euskal Herria. Es
decir, que aparte de ser infinitamente
más ecológicas, estas medidas
serian más que viables
económicamente.
Encima, y como explicaba López de
Uralde, director de Greenpeace en el
estado español, los actuales
modelos de generación energética,
como las centrales de ciclo
combinado, se irán encareciendo
debido a que dependen de recursos
limitados. Mientras tanto, las
renovables no tienen límite y son
limpias.
De esta manera, las energías
renovables, aparte de ser mucho
mejores medioambientalmente
también lo son económicamente
para dar una solución eficaz al
problema de la demanda energética.  
El estudio concluye además que
tanto la electricidad procedente de
los molinos así como la geotérmica,
resultaría más económica que lo que
cuesta hacerlo con centrales
térmicas de ciclo combinado tanto en
Guipúzcoa como en Euskal Herria.
La energía solar termoeléctrica
también se presenta como favorable.
Esperemos que los dirigentes tomen
nota, le den el empujón necesario a
las energías renovables y limpias, de
manera clara y concisa. La alternativa
energética existe, está en nuestras
manos.
Energia Hidraulica
Se denomina energía hidráulica o energía hídrica a aquella que se
obtiene del aprovechamiento de las energías cinética y potencial de la
corriente de ríos, saltos de agua o mareas. La energía hidráulica es una
energía renovable y bien utilizada una energía sostenible y a la vez de un
alto rendimiento energético. Por ello, la energía hidráulica debe causar
un impacto ambiental mínimo, utilizándola siempre sin represarla
cuando ello conlleve aún el menor impacto ecológico. Nos hemos
acostumbrado a las presas, muchas de ellas gigantescas, pero el
impacto medioambiental de estas es enorme, pues resultan una
barrera infranqueable para el ciclo biológico de muchas especies,
cortan o menguan el cauce ecológico de los ríos, inundan tierras de alto
valor ecológico, inducen microclimas diferenciados en sus
emplazamientos y causan una severa alteración del paisaje entre otros
problemas.
Central solar
fotovoltaica
En este tipo de central se aprovecha
la luz solar, pero en ella el proceso
de obtención de la energía eléctrica
es directo a partir de paneles solares
fotovoltaicos.
Algunos materiales emiten
electrones cuando incide luz sobre
ellos. La circulación de estas cargas
eléctricas crea una corriente
eléctrica. A este fenómeno se le
llama efecto fotoeléctrico. Estos
materiales forman las células
solares o fotovoltaicas. Un panel
solar está formado por varias células
solares.
Los paneles fotovoltaicos generan
corriente continua, pero la
electricidad que se consume en
nuestras casas es de corriente
alterna.
Para transformar la corriente
continua en corriente alterna se
utiliza un elemento que se llama
convertidor.
La corriente eléctrica generada por
los paneles fotovoltaicos puede
consumirse en el momento o
acumularse en un sistema de
baterías. Así se podrá disponer de la
energía eléctrica fuera de las horas
de Sol. Para mejorar el rendimiento
de los paneles fotovoltaicos suelen
colocarse sobre un elemento que se
orienta con el Sol siguiendo su
trayectoria, desde el amanecer hasta
el anochecer, con el fin de que los
rayos siempre incidan
perpendicularmente al panel y
obtener así un mayor rendimiento.
Energía marina o “de las olas”
Cuando hablamos de energía marina nos referimos a la energía
generada por el movimiento de las olas y las mareas, que se puede
convertir en energía eléctrica, es una forma de aprovechar el potencial
energético de los océanos al igual que la energía termo-oceánica. Para
que este proceso sea efectivo, es necesario que la amplitud de la
marea sea como mínimo de cinco metros, así que es importante la
profundidad del océano, por lo que sólo existe un número limitado de
lugares en todo el mundo en que las condiciones de la marea son
adecuadas para su explotación energética. En muchos lugares del
mundo y especialmente en Asia donde la demanda de electricidad
crece rápidamente cada año, se están desarrollando diversos planes
para la construcción de centrales eléctricas que utilizan energía marina.
En el 2000, se instaló en Escocia la primera central eléctrica comercial
que producía energía a partir de las olas de marea. Corea del Sur
espera terminar la “Central Eléctrica de Marea Sihwa” para el 2009,
será la central más grande del mundo los países de rápida expansión
tales como China e India también se encuentran entre los que
investigan el uso comercial de la energía generada por las olas y la
marea. El Centro Europeo de Energía Marina (EMEC) se inauguró en
Orkney en Escocia en el 2004 y se encarga de evaluar potenciales
generadores de energía de olas. Para el 2010, los funcionarios de la
UE estiman que la energía obtenida del mar generará electricidad
suficiente para abastecer casi un millón de hogares en el mundo
industrializado. España no se queda atrás, la localidad cántabra de
Santoña es pionera en la investigación de esta energía, al haberse
instalado allí una de las primeras plantas de energía de las olas de
Europa. La comunidad autónoma española con mayor potencial en
este tipo de energía es Galicia. La energía marina tiene múltiples
ventajas ambientales, porque los mecanismos no se colocarían donde
se desarrolla la actividad pesquera, sino más lejos y tampoco tiene
efectos negativos para las aves acuáticas además no afea el paisaje
porque los aparatos que se utilizan están colocados a gran distancia
de la costa. Aunque hace mucho tiempo que los ingenieros son
conscientes del potencial que ofrece la energía generada por el mar,
ésta no se ha desarrollado del mismo modo que otras energías
renovables como por ejemplo la energía eólica. En los últimos
tiempos, ha habido un gran progreso en este campo y la operación
avanza, pero el proceso es bastante lento, se espera que en un plazo
de entre cinco y diez años se pueda comercializar este tipo de energía.
CIGCO CAMOVER INTERNATIONAL GROUP CO
What is energy?
Energy is the ability to do work, the ability to exert a force on an object
to move it.
What are the sources of energy?
What are renewable and non-renewable sources of energy?
Renewable sources of energy are those which are not exhaustible,
such as solar energy, wind energy and tidal energy.
Non-renewable sources of energy can be used up or depleted; they
include the fossil fuels and nuclear energy sources.
Renewable sources of energy
- energy from the Sun
Most sources of energy, with the exception of nuclear energy, are
derived from the Sun, or solar radiation.
- energy from the rivers
Hydraulic or water energy results from the water cycle and can be
used to run mills (water wheel or turbine) and to produce electricity,
as at Churchill Falls, Newfoundland, or the Carillon Hydroelectric
Power Station on the Ottawa River.
- energy from winds
Wind energy is obtained from moving air and is used in
transportation, irrigation and power generation. The windmill was
used for grinding grain.
- energy from the tides
Tidal energy can be harnessed and used for generating electricity,
using reversible turbines such as those at Annapolis Royal, Nova
Scotia.
- energy from hot springs
Geothermal energy comes from the heat within the Earth. It is used to
generate electricity and for residential and commercial heating in
certain locations (e.g., Iceland and Japan).
-energy from biomass
Biomass energy is solar energy that has been captured by vegetation
and stored in the form of matter that can be used as fuel. For
example, wood, wood chips, even garbage can be incinerated and
the heat used to produce steam to heat office buildings, as in
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
Non-renewable sources of energy
- energy from fossil fuels
coal: Formed from land vegetation living hundreds of millions of
years ago that becomes a sedimentary rock containing 60-90%
carbon. In Canada, coal is found in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick,
Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.
petroleum: Formed from organic deposits (lipids) rich in hydrogen
that become hydrocarbons under the effects of accumulated
sediments and growing temperatures; it takes tens of millions of
years to form. The Alberta Oil Sands produce petroleum in Canada.
natural gas: A continuation of the petroleum-making process over
tens to hundreds of millions of years results in natural gas. In
Canada, natural gas is produced at the Sable Offshore Energy
Project off the coast of Nova Scotia.
- energy from nuclear fission
Nuclear energy results from the fission, or splitting, of heavy atoms
like uranium or plutonium. This atomic splitting releases energy. The
CANDU reactor first used at Rolphton, Ontario, and now also used
throughout Ontario, as well as in Quebec, New Brunswick and six
other countries, is used to produce electricity from nuclear energy.
What is the water cycle?
Water is always in motion. It evaporates into the air in the form of
water vapour. Warm air (heated by the Sun's energy) can hold more
water vapour than cold air. As warm air rises from a body of water it
takes a lot of water vapour with it. Sooner or later this warm,
water-laden air cools, and the water vapour turns into rain. The rain
falls on the Earth, flows down creeks and rivers to lakes, and
eventually is either evaporated again or returns to the oceans. This
water cycle is repeated over and over again.
Hydraulic energy from flowing rivers can be harnessed by dams and
used to run mills (turbines); electricity can be produced by
hydro-electric generating stations such as those at Gull Island in
Newfoundland or the James Bay River Project in Quebec.
The process of hydraulic energy includes prime movers:
water wheel (the most ancient) turbines (water turbines were
invented in the early 19th century) Both the water wheel and the water
turbine can be seen today still in motion in historic mills.
Until the end of the 18th century, the water wheel was the principal
source of motive power.
The Water Cycle
What are potential and kinetic energy?
Potential energy
Lift a small block in the air. The block has the potential to do work by
virtue of its position in the air. It possesses potential energy. The
potential energy of the block is due to gravity. Other examples of
potential energy are a wound spring, a taut bowstring, a stretched
rubber band and an inflated balloon.
Kinetic energy
Let the block fall. The block has kinetic energy, the energy of
movement as it falls, and has the ability to do work. Potential energy
is converted into kinetic energy. The kinetic energy in this example is
also due to the force of gravity.
What are the different forms of energy?
Some examples of forms of energy are as follows:
mechanical energy - the moving force behind machinery
chemical energy - derived from wood, coal, oil, food, etc., all of which
undergo chemical reactions to provide us with heat or sustenance
muscular energy - derived from the chemical energy of the food we
eat
thermal energy - the steam in a steam engine or heat of exploding
gases in a gas engine
light energy - plants draw their energy from sunlight by a process
called photosynthesis, or photocells
electrical energy - associated with water power, magnets, electrical
currents and combinations of these
nuclear energy - energy released by atoms and converted to heat
and then to electrical energy.
What forms of energy are used in transportation?
Sailboat: mechanical energy (source: wind)
Walking, roller skating, cycling, canoeing: muscular energy (source:
food)
Train: chemical energy (source: fossil fuels) or electrical energy
Car: chemical energy (source: fossil fuels and, in future, Ballard
hydrogen fuel cells)  
The most efficient means of transportation in terms of energy
utilization is the bicycle. To cover one kilometre, a cyclist expends 20
to 100 times less energy than a car driver.

What are some examples of energy transformation or
conversion?
In every situation, the transformation of energy is inefficient because
we are unable to harness all the energy available. It is not possible,
for example, to convert the chemical energy of coal directly into
electrical energy. It must first be burned in order to heat water and
create steam, which then turns a turbine to produce electricity. In
such a transformation, energy efficiency is reduced. Old-fashioned
steam engines had an efficiency of 6 to 7%, due to heat loss from the
sides of the locomotive and loss of steam and heat up the stack. Ask
your students to think of other ways energy is lost.  
There are various transformations of energy in a steam-driven
locomotive. The chemical energy released from the burning coal is
used to heat water and produce steam. The steam drives the pistons
that make the wheels turn (mechanical energy). Part of the driving
motion of the pistons is used to power generators that create
electrical energy for heat and light. Surplus electrical energy is fed
back into storage batteries, converted to chemical energy and stored
to be reconverted to light and heat.
The water cycle and hydro-electric power production are other
examples of energy transformation. Heat energy from the Sun
evaporates the water in lakes and oceans. The water vapour collects
into clouds and falls as rain. The water flows downhill and can be
restrained by a dam (potential energy). It is then released (kinetic
energy) to turn turbines, in the production of electricity used to
perform a variety of tasks in homes and industries.
To measure the effects of energy conversion and its efficiency, the
transmission and consumption of energy are also very important.
How efficient is the transformation of energy?
The transformation of energy is never 100% efficient because we
cannot usefully capture all the energy supplied by one source.
For some operations, energy conversion from one form to another
may approach 100% efficiency (e.g., the conversion of mechanical
energy from a generator's rotor into electrical energy is 95-99%
efficient).
For most operations, however, efficiency is reduced: it is impossible,
for example, to convert coal's chemical energy directly into electrical
energy. The coal must first be burned to heat water and produce the
steam that turns a turbine to generate electricity. Up to 80% of the fuel
could be dispersed in the form of heat and noise.
All machines lose efficiency because of friction. What does friction
produce? Heat and sound. What does the burning fuel produce?
Heat and sound. What does the spinning turbine do to the water
passing through? It slows the water and expends energy heating it.
Low-grade heat and noise, therefore, account for the apparent loss of
energy in transformations. Most of the heat is not usable, however,
but is dispersed. Energy must be able to flow or be transferable in
order to do work. It is not usable when such a transfer is no longer
possible.
What does conservation of energy mean?
Experiments on the transfer of energy were performed by the Dutch
scientist Christian Huygens (1629-1695). He studied the effects of
collisions between billiard balls and found that the sums of the
kinetic energies of two billiard balls before and after collision are the
same. Although one ball may slow down, the other will speed up.
Huygens concluded that, while energy may be transferred, it will not
be lost. These ideas laid the ground work for a fundamental concept
in physics, the Law of Conservation of Energy.
What is the Law of Conservation of Energy?
The Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy in the universe
can be neither created nor destroyed. This law was formulated in the
1840s by the German scientists Hermann Von Helmholtz and Julius
Robert Von Mayer, and by the British scientist James Prescott Joule.
Energy and the environment
It is impossible to collect or to consume energy without causing
certain changes to the environment. The effects of recovering and
using energy are far-reaching and can be seen at each stage of the
energy cycle, from methods of extracting resources to the ways in
which these resources are transported and used for heating, lighting,
transportation and manufacturing.
Environmental Effects of Different Sources of Energy
Petroleum
The carbon dioxide that is released in the combustion of fossil fuels,
including petroleum, contributes to the greenhouse effect. Other
gases released in this way may be toxic and/or carcinogenic (e.g.,
carbon monoxide, certain hydrocarbons, benzene). Subsequent
chemical transformations of these gases produce low-altitude ozone
and nitrous oxides, etc. The transportation of petroleum is hazardous
to the environment, especially when tanker vessels run aground,
producing massive oil spills. Research is being conducted with the
aim of increasing the efficiency of petroleum and decreasing its
emissions.
Coal
The gases released by the combustion of coal contribute to the
greenhouse effect (carbon dioxide) and to the formation of acid rain,
which damages lakes, forests, crops and buildings. There are now
ways to effectively control acid gas emissions. Additional means of
reducing other emissions that are dangerous to the environment,
such as carbon dioxide, are now being developed. Coal recovery
through open-pit mines also has a considerable impact on the
environment.
Natural Gas
Currently, natural gas is the least harmful fuel in terms of the
environment since it releases less carbon dioxide and other noxious
gases during combustion (though it does release some CO2). The
construction and presence of large pipeline networks for transport of
this fuel have an impact on the immediate environment.
Nuclear energy
A problem for the environment is the production of long-life
radioactive wastes, i.e. thousands of years, in the form of used-up
fuel bundles and remainders of old, dismantled nuclear power
stations that produce electricity for approximately 40 years. The
advantage of nuclear fuel is that it requires very little space. The
power from nuclear fuel the size of a volleyball would provide all the
energy required by a Canadian for his or her entire life! There is no air
pollution.
Hydro-electricity
A problem for the environment is the flooding of immense expanses
of land that profoundly affects the ecosystems. In newly created
reservoirs, chemical reactions release the mercury naturally present
in the soil. Use of PCBs as an insulator in transformers, even though
they were banned in the 1970s, poses a serious environmental
hazard.
Wind and solar energy
Windfarms and solar batteries require space and result in visual
pollution in the landscape. They are, however, a "clean" energy (no
waste produced).
Geothermal energy
A problem for the environment is the potential release of gas or water
containing toxic products from underground deposits. There is noise
pollution (release of high-pressure steam). With the release of heat,
there are considerable local climatic changes.
Biomass Energy
Misuse of plants and trees (forests, peat, etc) might locally render the
soil sterile by increasing surface run-off and encouraging wind
erosion. Plant combustion releases carbon dioxide into the
atmosphere, contributing to global warming. Biomass energy also
means reducing the quantity of plants that can absorb carbon
dioxide, thereby increasing the greenhouse effect.