ENERGY SOURCES

Group 14 – Nikita Arora, Himanshu Gupta, Tayyab

Pirzada, Bhumika Singh & Cathy Zeng

INTRODUCTION This presentation covers Concentrated solar

power (CSP) technology Concept of focusing large amounts of solar energy

on a small area Lenses/mirrors used to track the sun and

concentrate it onto one place Includes many different thermal concentration

technologies, of which parabolic trough was found to be the best

This presentation compares CSP to other renewable sources of energy in terms of ability to generate electricity in a 50 MW plant Solar panels Hydro power Wind Bio Fuels

CONCENTRATED SOLAR POWERParabolic Trough

GENERAL INFORMATION Curved trough: reflects solar

radiation to an absorber pipe in the centreHeat transfer fluid passes through absorber

(e.g. molten salt or synthetic oil)Heat transferred to steam through heat

exchangersSteam powers a turbine which generates

electricity 500 troughs needed to generate 50 MW Plant size: 10 km2

ADVANTAGES Temperatures can go as high as 700-800°C

Concentration allows for heat storage via molten salt, meaning that CSP plants can generate electricity after sunset

Back-up system can be used in case sun’s heat unreliable (mostly reliable in deserts)

Creates thousands of jobs for construction & maintenance

Completely environmentally clean Except for petrol required for maintenance and driving

around plant Systems easy to operate Single-axis tracking system:

Machinery is not as complex; when tracking the sun, they only have to move one way, because they are curved When the sun is perpendicular to trough, it tilts to maintain focus When the sun is parallel, it doesn’t have to move

DISADVANTAGES

Extremely high start-up costs A lot of space needed to make large-

scale plants: 10 km2

Won’t function in northern areas Needs a temperature of at least

25°C to work

EFFICIENCY Can attain 76% + thermal efficiency

Concentrate solar energy equivalent to 600 suns

START-UP COSTSPurpose CostMaterialsConstruction Materials (concrete etc.) $2,519,655Materials Subtotal $2,519,655LaborSitework and Infrastructure $12,479,356Field Erection $7,501,281Support Structures $8,133,096Pipes $3,741,172Electronics $4,724,777Labor Subtotal $36,579,682Construction Subtotal $39,099,337

Equipment CostsMirrors $25,807,486Thermal Energy Storage Tanks $6,023,408Heat Exchangers $6,016,129Heat Transfer System Equipment $2,243,962Heat Transfer and Storage Fluids $16,212,166Steam Turbines & Generators $12,261,577

Miscellaneous Electrical & Solar Equipment (e.g. pumps, motors)$12,679,033Water Treatment $449,291Metal Support Structures $25,022,688Interconnection Piping $2,788,648Electronic Controls $5,398,091Balance of Plant $2,310,442Equipment Subtotal $117,212,918

Other CostsFreight & Transportation $4,004,157Engineering & Project Management $26,894,714Owner Costs $5,642,248Other Subtotal $36,541,118Subtotal $195,373,027Sales Tax $29,305,953.98TOTAL $224,678,980.48

MAINTENANCE COSTS

Purpose CostPersonnelOperations $506,086Administrative Costs $272,701Power Plant General Maintenance $326,880Field Maintenance $454,099Personnel Subtotal $1,559,765Materials and ServicesWater $66,830Water Treatment $67,312Misc. Services $169,425Fuel $15,330Field Parts/Materials/Equipment$1,157,799Misc. Supplies & Equipment $431,865Materials and Services Subtotal $1,908,560TOTAL $3,468,325

ULTIMATE PRICE

= $0.06/kWh

CONCENTRATED SOLAR POWER (CSP)Power Tower

GENERAL INFORMATION High-temperature collectors (heliostats)

concentrate heat onto a central tower with a receiver on it

Heat exchangers change the heat to steam, which powers a turbine that generates electricity

Plant size: 15 km2

ADVANTAGES

Higher concentration than parabolic trough, since the energy is only concentrated onto one thing, as opposed to many absorbers

Back-up system can be used in case sun’s heat is unreliable (mostly reliable in deserts)

Creates thousands of jobs for construction & maintenance

Completely environmentally cleanExcept for petrol required for maintenance and

driving around plant Heliostats are flat which makes them easier

to install and manufacture

DISADVANTAGES Dual-axis tracking system:

Has to move two ways to track the sun, which is more expensive to construct and maintain as well as difficult to program Requires more monitoring by humans

More materials required due to the involvement of a tower and receiver

Takes up even more space than parabolic trough plant: 15 km2

EFFICIENCY 50 % efficiency

START-UP COSTSMaterials Total CostReinforced Concrete (for tower) $2,205,360 Heliostats $85,554,000 Water $4,247,360 Total $92,006,720

Workers/ BuildersBuilders $17,687,200 Permanant Workers $204,400 Yearly Total Cost $17,891,600

Other CostsFreight & Transportation $9,137,915 Engineering & Project Management $61,376,619 Owner Costs $12,876,214 Other Subtotal $83,390,748

Construction CostsSitework and Infrastructure $28,479,229Field Erection $17,118,727Support Mechanisms $18,560,597Pipes $8,537,754Electrical Mechanisms $10,782,447Construction Subtotal $83,478,754

TOTAL without tax $276,767,822 TAX 41,515,173TOTAL $318,282,995

MAINTENANCE COSTS

Purpose CostPersonnel Operations $1,012,171Administrative Costs $250,000

Power Plant General Maintenance $653,760Field Maintenance $1,000,102Personnel Subtotal $2,916,033Materials and Services Water $133,659Water Treatment $134,624Misc. Services $338,850Fuel $30,660

Field Parts/Materials/Equipment $2,315,597

Misc. Supplies & Equipment $1,200,530

Materials and Services Subtotal $4,153,920Total $7,069,953

ULTIMATE PRICE $0.07 cents/kWh

SOLAR PANELS

GENERAL INFORMATION Converts the Sun’s light energy into electrical energy using the photovoltaic effect The ‘photovoltaic effect’

2 layers of semi-conducting material (i.e. silicon) When exposed to light, photons are absorbed by the material and excites the electrons Electrons then ‘jump’ from one layer to another This ‘jumping’ generates electricity Conductive metal strips are attached to the cells to

take the electrical current and power an electrical load

ADVANTAGES

Renewable energy source Environmentally friendly as it does not release any

emissions (i.e. CO2, SO2) After initial investment in equipment, there is a very

low ongoing maintenance cost Since there are no moving parts in the solar cell, it is

virtually impossible to damage it No noise is made by the solar cells Can harness energy in remote locations

Minimizes the need for wires which have to be maintained, and also the cost of transmission

Electrical companies find it dangerous and costly to construct an electrical grid extending to mountainous areas

Governments offer tax incentives for taking the initiative to become environmentally-friendly

DISADVANTAGES Initial capital investment may be too much Solar power cannot be harnessed during a storm or

on a cloudy day Solar panels are ineffective at night because there

is no sunlight A backup supply or energy storage system is

needed since solar power is not reliably available at all times of the day

A large area of land is generally used to improve efficiency, thus land resources for humans are reduced

Can’t concentrate large amounts of energy Generates electricity which cannot easily be stored

It is easier to store heat energy than electricity

EFFICIENCY

Dust can reduce the efficiency of a solar panel system4 grams of dust per 0.34 square meters can

reduce the efficiency by 40% A large area is required for the solar

panels to be truly efficient The efficiency relies on the location of

the panelsObstructions such as buildings will not allow

much sunlight to reach the solar panels Typical photovaltaic cells convert 15% of

sunlight into electricity

COSTS AVA Solar Inc. produces solar panels using glass

coating with a cadmium telluride thin film Half of the cost is for solar panels. At Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.

In Ontario, Canada, California’s OptiSolar will construct a 365-hectare solar plant near Sarnia Can power 10000-15000 homes on sunny days 40-megawatts Estimated to be $300 million

China’s Suntech Power is going to build a plant in Arizona, USA The actual solar cells will be manufactured in China and

imported into USA where they will be assembled by factory workers into grids

An initial budget of $10 million, but increases over time Maintenance costs, assuming some government

subsidy: $ 4.38 million

ULTIMATE PRICE In Colorado, USA, AVA Solar Inc., the

price is $2/watt for the consumer In Sarnia, Ontario, the price for the 40

MW plant is $0.42/kilowatt hour

HYDRO POWER

GENERAL INFORMATION Energy that is taken from the force of

moving waterE.g. Niagara Falls

ADVANTAGES More reliable than other renewable

energy sources in that water never stops flowing/falling

Long lifespan Electricity generation can be stopped

and started according to level of demand

Lake’s water can be used for irrigation Completely clean electricity generation

after dam is builtNo environmental implications

DISADVANTAGES Dams are very expensive to build

High start-up costs Natural ecosystems in the body of water

are destroyed Can cause geological damage

Hoover dam in the USA caused numerous earthquakes

Dams might break down under the water pressure of the flow of waterConsequence: human & animal deaths,

flooding

EFFICIENCY 80% efficiency for an average plant

However, efficiency varies from 60-90% depending on water flow and structure

START-UP COSTS $150 million

Inclusive of investments & land purchase

MAINTENANCE COSTS $1 011 000/year

ULTIMATE PRICE $0.85/kWh

WIND POWER

GENERAL INFORMATION Wind is converted into reusable energy Wind Turbines – A machine in which kinetic energy is

converted into mechanical energy which is usually further converted into electrical energy

Wind Mills – Devices in which wind energy is converted by vanes on the windmill which move in a circular motion (called sails) into kinetic energy which allows for the grinding of a substance

Wind Pumps – Devices used to pump out water using kinetic energy from the wind to power the pumping out of water from bodies of fresh water such as lakes, streams or wells

Sails – Apparatus used to create thrust (Reaction force described by Newton’s 2nd and 3rd laws in which a system accelerates mass in one direction and a proportional, opposite force will go against the same system) while in wind

80 countries around the world are using wind power commercially

2009: Global wind power increased 27,051 MW 42% of new US fuel generators used wind power

ADVANTAGES Clean Energy Source – No pollution or radioactive waste

produced by wind power  Self-Sufficient Energy – No need for third party materials

or fuel Electricity will not be cut off if external power lines are cut off 

Large Amount of Power – Large wind turbines may be connected to a power grid, resulting in a large amount of people to benefit from the electricity produced. 

No Non-Renewable Fuels – Wind power does not consume any non-renewable fuels such as coal, oil, or natural gas.

Plentiful Wind – Wind itself is very bountiful in the earth. Non-Dispatchable – All output of wind turbines are taken

when available as opposed to other sources of energy such as hydropower in which load management techniques must be employed to keep an equilibrium for supply with demand Wind turbines may be dispatched on and off upon demand,

without any wait time.

DISADVANTAGES Undesirable Appearance – Very tall

apparatuses that some people regard as unsightly Easily Damaged in Thunder-Storms – Wind

turbines are easily damaged in thunder storms due to their overall tall, slim shape

Damaging to Birds – The blades of a wind turbine may hit birds flying in the general vicinity

Noise – Make a lot of noise: can be harmful to epileptics 

Cost – The overall cost for building and maintaining wind turbines is much more than other energy sources, second only to solar power

EFFICIENCY Wind power is generally very efficient as

they usually function at a medium voltage34.5 kVResult: surplus energy

Endless supply of wind and it is completely free

20% efficiency

START-UP COSTS $65 393 400 for 50 MW plant:

Levelized cost: $149.3 per MWh *8760 h/yr

$1 307 868 per MW/yr *50 MW

$ 65 393 400

MAINTENANCE COSTS 10% of levelized costs: especially for

new turbines$ 6 539 340/yr

ULTIMATE PRICE $0.06/kWh

BIOFUELS

GENERAL INFORMATION Sugar & starch crops are fermented

Enzymes & microorganisms are used to break down the energy stored in these plants

Corn is most common source of biofuel

ADVANTAGES Reduce dependence on foreign oils Much more environmentally friendly that

fossil fuels Contributes to global warming much less

Bio-degradable The carbon dioxide they release when burnt

is equal to the amount that the plants absorbed out of the atmosphere

Does not require radical changes to machinery or new technology to accommodate this energy source Bio-fuels can be used in cars or in replacement

for anything fossil fuels were used for

DISADVANTAGES Extremely land-consuming

More farming land will have to be developed to produce bio-fuels

Food prices would rise Bio fuels are currently not readily

available which reduces their appeal Production uses massive amounts of

water which could strain local water reserves

$

EFFICIENCY Not very efficient because:

Diesel fuel used in the tractors for cultivation and harvest

Massive energy consumption of a typical ethanol production plant (much of which comes from coal-fired power plants)

Fertilizers used are largely synthesized from petroleum

Overall yield: 10% greater than the amount of fossil fuel used in production Fossil fuel plants typically have a 50% efficiency,

meaning biofuels have 60% efficiency

START-UP COSTS $719 million

MAINTENANCE COSTS The total costs to the consumer in

subsidizing ethanol and corn production: $8.4 million/yrProducing the required corn feedstock

increases corn pricesEthanol production adds more than $1

billion to the cost of beef production/yr Overall: market cost of biofuels are

similar if not somewhat higher due to the increased food prices

ULTIMATE PRICE Total ethanol subsidies = $0.79/ litre

Ethanol = 66% as much energy per litre as gasoline Corn ethanol costs $1.88/kWh Gasoline costs $ 0.33/kWh

CONCLUSION

Para-bolic

Trough

Power Tower

Solar Panels

Hydro Power

Wind Power

Biofuels0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

Start-up Costs of a 50 MW Electricity Generation Plant From Different Energy

Sources

Type of Electricity Generation Technology

Sta

rt-u

p C

osts

($

) in

Million

s

Parabolic Trough

Power Tower

Solar Panels

Hydro Power

Wind Power

Biofuels0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Maintenance Costs of a 50 MW Electric-ity Generation Plant From Different

Energy Sources

Type of Electricity Generation Technology

Main

ten

an

ce C

ost

($)

in M

illion

s

Para-bolic

Trough

Power Tower

Solar Panels

Hydro Power

Wind Power

Biofuels0

0.20.40.60.8

11.21.41.61.8

2

Ultimate Cost to the Consumer For Electricity Generated From Various

Energy Sources

Electricity Generation Technology

Cost

($)

per

kW

h

Para-bolic

Trough

Power Tower

Solar Panels

Hydro Power

Wind Power

Biofuels0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Efficiency of Conversion of Energy to Electricity of Various Electricity

Generation Technologies

Types of Electricity Generation Technologies

Effi

cie

ncy (

%)

CSP – PARABOLIC TROUGH: WHY? As shown in previous graphs, the parabolic trough technology

may not be the best in ALL aspects, but it overall is the best choice as it has the most potential to improve

Overall lower start-up costs Low maintenance costs due to the single-axis tracking

system and relatively self-sufficient functioning of all mechanisms

High storage abilities Through usage of molten salt tanks to store heat

Low cost per kWh, and as technology is developed, costs are projected to decrease

Completely environmentally clean If back-up fossil fuel system is required, it can reuse

concentrated solar energy Extremely high efficiency Extremely abundant energy source: 3850 ZJ/yr of solar

energy available to earth

COMPUTER SIMULATION OF CSP PLANTPARABOLIC TROUGH

INTERNATIONALISM Many countries have already adopted CSP technology

Solar Energy Generating Systems – California Nevada Solar One – Nevada Plataforma Solar de Almería – Spain Australian National University’s Big Dish – Australia

Reduces the impact of electricity generation on global warming as usage of renewable energy sources is environmentally stable

Creates thousands of jobs: labour, construction, importing equipment, programmers, maintenance managers Stimulates economy

Increases public trust in governments Cheaper than many fossil fuel alternatives in the

long-run

IMPLICATIONS Moral/Ethical/Environmental

Public can use electricity while knowing that they are not polluting their environment

Does not destroy ecosystems Plants can be built on unused land such as many vast deserts (no

interference with humans either) Although installing CSP systems requires huge capital

investments from governments, it is a safer and more responsible way of using public money

Social As each country converts to CSP for electricity generation, it

puts global pressure on other countries to do the same More scientists would research and develop this technology

Economic Create thousands of jobs Consumption of raw materials would increase Many companies are involved in the

construction/maintenance of one CSP plant

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