Hydro-Solar Energy Project

Transcription

1 Hydro-Solar Energy Project Samantha Billings Oroville High School 1535 Bridge Street, Oroville CA Phone: (530) Supervising Teacher: Julie Decker

2 Personal Statement My lifelong passion for helping others has molded the person I am today, including my aspirations to help people through the science of medicine and environmental advancement. I hope to give back to the families and communities of California by advocating for the resolution of medical and environmental health issues.

3 California Has a Few Problems! California is overly dependant on nonsustainable energy sources. These energy sources are harmful to California s natural resources, including our soil, water, and air! California s sustainable energy is not being utilized to its full potential.

4 Available Resources California owns areas of land that contain seasonal streams and rivers. These waterways are of no use to business or private land owners, which is why the state maintains control over them. These waterways are valuable resources that are being overlooked by the state. The state has the ability to create an economic and environmental profit off this land!

5 An Overlooked Solution? I believe that California s untouched waterways contain valuable potential in regards to clean, renewable energy. How, you ask?? Consider the sustainability of both hydropower and solar- power

6 Solar and Hydro Power Energy PROS AND CONS Pros: Sustainable, clean energy, creates excess energy for resale purposes, utilizes natural resources, creates new jobs. Cons: Potentially expensive to build and maintain.

7 With Those Factors In Mind I m proposing the creation of a system in which the state of California utilizes untouched rural waterways to produce solar and hydropower energy for use throughout the state. At the heart of this plan is the development and implementation of a new and unique energy production unit.

8 The Unit Would Include Two Parts: 1. Kinetic Reaction Turbines, lowered into the flowing portion of the waterway, would create hydro-power energy. 2. Solar Panels, attached to the upper frame of the turbines, would capture sunlight for solar energy-production.

9 How Solar Panels Work Solar modules are typically attached to mounting racks and tilted at an angle which captures the most direct sunlight during the day.

10 Kinetic energy turbines utilize the natural flow of waterways, such as rivers and streams, to create energy. Because these turbines are placed directly in flowing water, they are thought to be the most practical turbine choice for natural, nonmanmade waterways. How Turbines Work

11 The Main Idea! My idea is to create a system that combines the solar panel and the kinetic energy turbine into a single, dual function unit. Solar panels will be mounted to the tops of turbines designed specifically for the state s naturally occurring waterways. As the system produces electricity from the natural flow of water, it will also be collecting and producing electricity from the sun.

12 The Hydro-Solar System would create a substantial amount of clean energy for the state. The land needed to proceed with the plan is already owned by the state. Because the plan utilizes waterways in their natural condition, there would be few additional costs for land modifications.

13 Come Together, Right Now Over Green! To accomplish this goal on a large scale, the state will need to establish a division for project oversight. The state will need to implement the project on a local level by partnering with each of the 58 counties throughout the state. These partnerships will determine ongoing supervision and evaluation of the project.

14 The Big Question: FUNDING? The state will need to develop an oversight committee to supervise project implementation and explore funding opportunities. Committees at both state and county levels will need to collaborate to execute the project on a local level. Funding will be difficult due to current economic conditions, but it s important for the state to invest in renewable energy that will ensure the sustainability of our state for generations to come.

15 Clean, renewable energy is not only good for the economy It s good for every man, woman, and child of California.

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17 Sources of Information Research information provided by the U.S. Department of Energy at_plate_pv_balance.html ne_types.html