Energy

1. Energy Is the ability to do work. In the last handout, heat was listed as a form of energy There are different forms of energy: Chemical – stored energy such as in coals and in batteries Electrical Nuclear – the energy that exists within the nucleus of an atom Mechanical – energy an object has when in motion Sound Heat Light

2. Energy can be classified as mechanical or non-mechanical • Mechanical energy includes kinetic energy (the energy of a moving body) and potential energy (stored energy). Potential energy may be classified as chemical, gravitational, or elastic • Non-mechanical energy includes light, heat, sound, electrical, and nuclear

3. Is it possible? • To use one type of energy to get another type? • The answer is yes… we use chemical energy (fuel) to make electricity and then this is converted to light energy or even sound energy.

4. Energy can be changed from one form to another. At times we have a form of energy but it is not the one convenient for use. Therefore, we must convert it to another form. But energy can neither be created nor destroyed but can be converted from one form to another

5. CHOGM was a major event. Most people are on a high priority about excess global warming.

6. Can Trinidad and Tobago become more environmentally efficient and friendly?

7. What is our major source of fuel used? • Oil • Natural Gas • Coal

8. What these do? • ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9. Why do we need it? • To power our devices and perform daily activities

10. What do you think non-renewable and renewable energy sources mean? (research before you answer this). _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

11. What else is there? Comparable in cost for set up to fossil fuel? Renewable? Clean and safer for the environment? Let’s look at 3 alternatives…

12. Solar - light can be converted to electrical energy using solar panels and photovoltaic cells - heat can be used for solar water heaters, solar stills, solar crop driers

13. Issues • Costly panels • Amount of light/heat received variance

14. Wind - Clean • Indigenous • Renewable -NE trade winds are the primary regional wind systems in Caribbean, greatest in Northern Caribbean and lowest in western Caribbean and Bahamas, 9am to 4pm

15. Wind - windmills used in Caribbean islands for electricity grids: Cuba, Curacao, Guadeloupe and Jamaica (Montseratt put out of commission because of volcanic activity Installed but non-operational in Antigua, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago • Can be used for water pumping in Aruba, Bonaire, Cuba, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Guyana and Jamaica

16. Wind – out of the Caribbean • Argentina • Brazil • Costa Rica (region’s largest plants) • Peru • Mexico

17. Environmental issues • Acoustic noise emission (but with new technology blades are less noisy) • Visual impact • Electromagnetic interference influencing the reception of radar, radio and television signals

18. Hydro-power • Hydro electric power plants are popular in places like Canada, Venezuela (leading Latin America) and Dominican Republic. • Hydropower plants are actually based on a rather simple concept -- water flowing through a dam turns a turbine, which turns a generator • … there are above ground plants and underground plants (such as in China)

20. Issues • The displacement of floodplain residents • The loss of the most fertile and useful land in a given area • High initial cost

21. Activity Can Trinidad and Tobago use alternative energy sources to provide power? • In groups quickly answer the following questions • What are some options available? • Using the information provided, decide on one alternative source that may be suitable for Trinidad or Tobago. • What may some disadvantages of your choice? • Evaluate the impact this will have on the environment and the inhabitants.