Andy Darvill’s Energy Resources - Review
English Science Teacher Andy Darvill has created a very informative website about several sources of renewable energy. While the site is intended for a school audience, it doubles as a useful public information resource. Andy’s well-organized (and colourful) site includes quizzes, worksheets, and links to great online information. In each category he uses simple and clear language to explain how each technology works and then summarizes the pros and cons of each.
An excellent collection of information for anyone wanting to get a general overview of alternative energy technologies.
Andy Darvill’s Highlights:
Biomass - The fuel is burned, which heats water into steam, which turns turbines, which in turn drive generators, just like in a fossil-fuel power station.
Fossil Fuels - Coal is crushed to a fine dust and burnt. Oil and gas can be burnt directly.
Geothermal - Hot rocks underground heat water to produce steam.
We drill holes down to the hot region, steam comes up, is purified and used to drive turbines, which drive electric generators.
Hydro - A dam is built to trap water, usually in a valley where there is an existing lake. Water is allowed to flow through tunnels in the dam, to turn turbines and thus drive generators.
Nuclear - Nuclear power stations work in pretty much the same way as fossil fuel-burning stations, except that a “chain reaction” inside a nuclear reactor makes the heat instead.
Pumped Storage - Water is pumped up to the top reservoir at night, when demand for power across the country is low.
Solar - Solar energy is free - it needs no fuel and produces no waste or pollution.
Tidal - The ebb and flow of the tides can be used to turn a turbine, or it can be used to push air through a pipe, which then turns a turbine.
Wave - There are several methods of getting energy from waves, but one of the most effective works like a swimming pool wave machine in reverse.
Wind - We can use the energy in the wind by building a tall tower, with a large propellor on the top.
Andy Darvill is listed in the alternative energy directory.