Wind, Solar,

and
Hydroelectric
By: Jessica Wilson, Spencer Buebel, Scott O'Brien,
Jaylon Brooks
World Wide
Hydroelectric power is the most popular source of renewable energy,
providing 16.6% of the worlds electricity. The popularity likely
stems from its versatile application, consistent output, and creation
of useful reservoirs.

Wind power is tiny in comparison, producing 3.7% of the worlds

electricity, but still comes in as the second biggest renewable
energy source.

Solar weighs in at the fourth biggest source at 1.2% of electricity

generated, but is expected to grow to above 15% by 2050 as
advancement makes manufacturing less expensive.
 United States
United States
Reflecting the worldwide trend, hydropower is the biggest source
of renewable energy in the US, producing 2.475% of our
electricity.

Wind energy lags not too far behind hydropower due to heavy
investment in windy areas like Texas, producing 1.881% of our
electricity.

Once again, solar is the fourth largest renewable source, at

0.495% of US electrical production.

Overall, the US follows general trends but lags behind in

percentage of production, at 9.9% total renewable with the
world total being 23.7% renewable.
North Carolina
Hydroelectric is our second largest source of renewable
energy, if you count nuclear as renewable. It
produces 6.4% of our electricity.

Breaking trend once again, solar outpaces wind in NC,

at 4.59% of electrical generation.

Wind farms have only started seeing development in

North Carolina this year, and are facing opposition in
the General Assembly. In any year with published
statistics, wind generates 0% of our renewable
energy.
Future
FutureSupply
Supply
Wind: Fastest Growing renewable source of energy, will continue to
increase in the next fifty years.

Water: Will likely only grow due to small local projects and improving
current systems.

Solar: Is growing but due to high cost it is not growing very fast. Unless
cost decreases solar energy will not grow very fast.
 Electricity Generation:
Wind Power
A wind power uses a large turbine to capture kinetic energy from wind
and turn it into mechanical energy via the spinning of the blade. Blades
on the turbine are shaped in a way such that wind flowing perpendicular
to a turbines spin accelerates the spin. Once the turbine is spinning, this
mechanical energy is turned into electrical energy by spinning a motor
in reverse. By rotating a magnet within coils of conductive wire, an
electrical current is created to oppose the changing magnetic field of
the spinning magnet. This induced current can be stored or used to do
work.
Electricity
Energy Generated Generation: from
Hydroelectric
Hydroelectric
Hydroelectric
Power
Power
generators produce electricity in a similar fashion as wind
turbines. Instead of using air to turn a propellor, hydroelectric power
plants use water. Typically, turbines will be placed in the middle of a
river or somewhere that allows for the throughput of water to be
controlled. Once the turbine is spinning, this mechanical energy can be
transferred to electrical energy using the same methods as wind
turbines utilize.
 Electricity Generation:
Solar Power
Solar panels produce electricity a little differently. Solar panels use the energy of
incoming photons to knock loose electrons and make them jump across an energy
potential. Once these electrons are loose, they can be either stored or used to do
work. Typically, solar panels are comprised of two main layers of silicon. One is p-
doped (phosphorus) and the other is n-doped (nitrogen). The properties of these
materials allow for relatively low energy photons to knock electrons loose.

Solar heat can also be used to create electricity. By concentrating the suns beam
(either with a lens of hundreds of mirrors), very high temperatures can be achieved.
Typically, a heating chamber will hold a material with very high specific heat
capacity which will boil water or some other liquid. The rising vapors and heat will
spin a turbine which will produce electricity just like wind power and hydroelectric
power.
Current/Future Methods for
becoming more efficient: Solar
Many professors are dedicated to improving solar

Multijunction cells use different layers to improve efficiency

Different materials are able to more efficiently convert different

photons to electrical energy

The stacking of different materials is a huge research field

Cost effectiveness is also very important to consider ($ / Watt

vs overall efficiency)

Some researchers have experimented with using organic

materials and dyes to create solar cells (very low cost and
efficiency)
Current/future Methods for
becoming more efficient:
Wind power is pretty simple - motor and blade
Wind
Not much room for efficiency boost

Most efficiency boost rests within location of the

turbine

Offshore turbines are currently being developed to

boost efficiency

By increasing the relative elevation of a turbine,

efficiency is often increased

Optimization of blades is big - blade size and shape are

both factors
Current/future Methods for
becoming
Updating old systemsmore efficient:
with new ones

Water
Gathering more data to improve systems

Working to better understand declines in electricity

generation, capacity factors, and facility availability

Investing in advanced, integrated analytical tools, known as

the Water-Use Optimization Toolset

Tools include things like hydrologic forecasting, seasonal

hydro-systems analysis, day-ahead scheduling, real-time
operations, and environmental performance operations
 Pros
Hydro- Creates reservoirs many rely on for drinking water
Produces a large amount of power
Lowers impact of/prevents damage from small floods
Provides many job

Wind- High potential in the US and offshore

Versatile placement
More reliable, less expensive than solar

Solar- Applicable virtually everywhere in the world

Unintrusive
Relatively predictable output
 Cons
Wind- Many people find wind turbines aesthetically unappealing , Only
produces power when the wind is blowing
It is expensive to transport the energy

Water- Most opportunities have been developed

Environmental and Social Concerns

Solar- Only produces power when the sun is shining

Very expensive
Inefficient
Works Cited
"News." How Does a Wind Turbine Generate Electricity - GoldPower. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2017.

"U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis." EIA - State Electricity Profiles.
N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2017.

"Renewable Energy." IER. Institute for Energy Research, n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2017.

"Renewable Energy." RENEWABLES 2016 (n.d.): n. pag. Web.

"Wind Energy." Wind Energy. NC State, 13 Mar. 2017. Web.

"Wind in Numbers." Global Wind Energy Council, 10 Feb. 2016. Web.

"Solar Power." Solar Power. Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, 4 May 2015. Web.

"World Energy Council." Hydropower. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2017.