Homework answers / question archive / ESR 173 Lab 11: Renewable Energies Exploration of NOVA Energy Lab Purpose: Utilize a virtual tool to examine pros and cons of renewable energy systems Reinforce an understanding of different types of renewable energies Describe the advantages and disadvantages of alternative energy resources, specifically wind, hydroelectric, solar, geothermal, and biomass energy Background: Introduction to NOVA’s Energy Lab - Video The world’s energy consumption is predicted to grow by 56% in the next 25 years (Projected by The U

ESR 173 Lab 11: Renewable Energies Exploration of NOVA Energy Lab Purpose: Utilize a virtual tool to examine pros and cons of renewable energy systems Reinforce an understanding of different types of renewable energies Describe the advantages and disadvantages of alternative energy resources, specifically wind, hydroelectric, solar, geothermal, and biomass energy Background: Introduction to NOVA’s Energy Lab - Video The world’s energy consumption is predicted to grow by 56% in the next 25 years (Projected by The U

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ESR 173 Lab 11: Renewable Energies

Exploration of NOVA Energy Lab

Purpose:

• Utilize a virtual tool to examine pros and cons of renewable energy systems
• Reinforce an understanding of different types of renewable energies
• Describe the advantages and disadvantages of alternative energy resources, specifically wind, hydroelectric, solar, geothermal, and biomass energy

Background:

Introduction to NOVA’s Energy Lab - Video

The world’s energy consumption is predicted to grow by 56% in the next 25 years (Projected by The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). As the demand for energy swells, the stores of fossil fuels we currently depend on are dwindling and becoming more costly to obtain. The burning of these fossil fuels also discharges carbon, which has long-lasting negative effects on the environment. For these reasons, researchers and engineers are working to find efficient and cost effective ways to harness energy from renewable sources like solar and wind.

 

In the Energy Lab, you’ll design a city’s renewable energy system by analyzing the same data as the experts. Just like these energy engineers, you’ll need to weigh the pros and cons of each energy source, assess the availability in that area, and consider the needs of the location.

 

 

 

Local potential energy maps will help you design a renewable energy system.

THE CHALLENGE

You’ll be presented with energy profiles for five different cities across the United States.  Based on data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), city officials, and local utility companies, these profiles will give you a snap shot of the city’s current energy needs and resources. You’ll be given a budget and a renewable energy production target. Your challenge will be to design a system that meets this target as cheaply as possible.

DESIGN

Depending on a location’s resources, your renewable energy system design may include solar, wind, geothermal, or biomass power. To help inform your design, you’ll study energy potential maps created for NOVA Labs by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Using sliders, you can select the types of energy you want and how much of each you want. As you move the sliders, you’ll instantly see how your choices impact your budget.

 

TEST YOUR SYSTEM

When you have designed your system, you can test it against yearly historical data.  During the test you’ll be given feedback and the opportunity to redesign your system.

 

POWER UP

When the test is complete, you’ll power up your renewable energy system and find out if you met your production goals. Your system simulation is powered by real-time weather and solar data captured directly from NREL stations located in each city.

You'll see instant feedback as you design your system.

Videos

The Energy Lab also includes eight short videos about what energy is, how we can produce and store it more efficiently, and what our renewable energy alternatives to fossil fuels are. These videos can be viewed in the NOVA Labs Video Library or in the list below.

 

Growing Appetites, Limited Resources – explores the impacts of energy use, the issue of dwindling resources, and the need for alternatives.

Energy Defined – covers the basics of this abstract property, what energy is, how it's conserved, and what makes some forms more useful than others.

Putting Energy to Use  – explains that making use of energy often involves converting it into other forms.

A Never-Ending Supply – explains what makes a renewable a renewable and explores some of the more promising alternative energy sources available.

Solar Power – covers the basics of capturing the enduring energy of the Sun and converting it into other forms, especially electrical energy.

Wind Power – explains how wind can be captured and transformed into electrical energy and explores some of the challenges of using wind to power cities.

Solving the Storage Problem – explores the need for storage, namely the intermittent nature of many renewable resources and explains why this is not an easy problem to solve.

Toward a Smarter Grid – looks at the state of the current electric power grid and explains how making the grid "smarter" will make it both more reliable and more efficient.

Types of Alternative Energy Sources:

Instructions:

• Navigate to https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/labs/lab/energy/ using a web browser and Select “Play Game” to explore the NOVA Energy Lab.
• Follow prompts in the virtual lab and included in this worksheet packet to explore ways to design energy systems, specifically utilizing various renewable sources.
• Reflect on your findings in responses for your final Lab Reflections discussion (found in D2L)

Questions & Reflections:

1. Start by selecting the city Tucson, AZ (Challenge Level 1):

 

1. 1. For this challenge, the goal is to generate the most energy for the lowest cost. Test up to three different combinations of area and efficiency (3 points)

 

Area km2	Efficiency (%)	Outcomes					Feedback received (pop up windows)
		Temperature (F)	Wind Speed (m/s)	Solar Intensity (W/m2)	Tons of CO2 saved	Cost per Ton ($)

 

 

1. 2. Did any of your designs “fail”, and if so why? (1 point)

 

 

 

 

1. 3. Which design would you rank the best and why?  (1 point)

 

 

 

 

1. 4. When considering the criteria of cost and output, what other ways might we approach this design that also factor into the need for alternative energy sources, or environmental impact of current practices? (2 points)

 

 

 

 

2. Start by selecting the city Boulder, CO (Challenge Level 2):

 

 

In Boulder, CO, you have the option to explore the utilization of both solar and wind system designs.

 

1. 1. Test up to three different combinations of area and efficiency (Solar), and Diameter and # (Wind) (3 points)

 

Solar		Wind		Outcomes					Feedback received (pop up windows)
Area km2	Efficiency (%)	Diameter (m)	#	Temperature (F)	Wind Speed (m/s)	Solar Intensity (W/m2)	Tons of CO2 saved	Cost per Ton ($)

 

 

1. 2. Did any of your designs “fail”, and if so why? (1 point)

 

 

1. 3. Which design would you rank the best and why? (1 point)

 

 

 

 

 

3.  Consider the criteria established, and variables associated with employing two different renewable energy systems versus one. What recommendations might you provide citizens or elected officials of Boulder, CO regarding the optimal systems to explore, and trade-offs to consider (2 points)? 

 

 

 

 

 

4.  As a basic exploration of renewable energy designs and challenges associated with large scale production of renewable energy, was this tool helpful to you? Why or why not? (1 point)