Energy
This section is for developing exhibits on energy, in particular, renewable energy.
To have subtopics added please contact us via: http://thetechvirtual.org/help/contact-info
Current subtopics include:
Battery technology
Biofuels
Efficiency
Environment
Geothermal
Hydrogen
Hydropower
Natural gas
Nuclear
Petrolium
Smart grid
Solar
Vehicles
Wind
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LIST OF RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIESBiofuels: Biogas / Closed-Loop Second-Generation
Biogas: the electric energy generated from the fermentation of organic materials can be utilized to supply the public power grid.
Biofuels: turn cow manure and other wastes into a gasified energy source.
Biogas and closed-loop biofuel can be made from many types of solid and liquid wastes. As such it has great energy production capacity.
Closed-loop process results in few emissions
Safely eliminates garbage, manure, landfill gases and other waste substances
Reduces carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by more than 61% when
compared to the lifecycle of traditional gasoline production
Educational Value
Recommended Partners
ompany imeline nvolvement in Technology
Allied Waste Available now - Allied Waste has 57 landfill biogas-to-energy projects operating at
(National) company landfills around the country with 18 additional projects in
various stages of development.
Existing landfill biogas projects provide sustainable energy for a
wide variety of uses ranging from electricity production to powering
manufacturing facilities.
General Electric Available now - There are presently 457 GE Jenbacher gas engines running on
(National) biogas, with a total installed capacity of 285 MW. The captured gas
is used to generate 2.28 million megawatt-hours of electricity each
year.
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Biofuels: First-Generation
First-generation biofuels are made from starch-or sugar-based products.
Feedstock such as corn and sugar cane are used to create ethanol, while oils
such as canola, palm, and soybean are used to create biodiesel.
US government is requiring that 7.5 billion gallons of the nation's fuel come
from ethanol and biodiesel by 2012.The DOE suggested that the United States
can produce enough ethanol (60 billion gallons / year) to displace about 30% of
our current gasoline consumption by 2030.
Ethanol blends of 10% reduce global GHG emissions by 12-19% compared to
conventional gasoline, at the cost of affecting food prices / availability.
Educational Value
Recommended Partners
ompany imeline nvolvement in Technology
Archer Daniels
Midland (National)
Available now - Largest producer of fuel ethanol in the United States
Derives core ingredient of biodiesel, methyl ester, from the supply of
vegetable oils provided by the company’s food operations
Pacific Ethanol
(Sacramento, CA)
Available now - Leader in producing and marketing low-carbon ethanol
Destination model and state-of-the-art production practices allows it
to produce ethanol that reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 40
percent compared to conventional gasoline
Could create an exhibit / lab that compares first-generation ethanol production to second-generation ethanol production
Exhibit / Lab
Use exhibit to highlight tradeoff between first-generation biofuels and feedstock such as corn, sugarcane, and vegetable oil
Potential
Relevance to
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Biofuels: Second-Generation
Second-generation biofuels are made from nonfood sources such as
switchgrass, forest and agricultural residues, municipal solid waste, and new
energy crops. Cellulosic materials are difficult to break down, though research
is underway to develop enzymes / genes that will enable commercial production.
US DOE says that farmers could produce the equivalent of 7.9 million barrels of
oil daily by 2050 through the development and use of cellulosic biofuels.
Can produce more gallons of fuel per crop acre and requires much less water,
fertilizers, and energy than corn
When widely available, could reduce GHG emissions by 90% over petrol
Has the potential to create chemistry labs for more advanced biology courses
Videos on production process
Displays / videos describing the types of nonfood sources being used to produce second-generation biofuels today
Because the technology to commercially produce second-generation biofuels has not been fully developed, the patrons of the
museum are less likely to be aware of the technology. However, because the availability of first-generation biofuel feedstock
is affecting the price of food, this sector will likely boom once the technology has been developed.
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Clean Vehicles: Electric Vehicles (EV)
Electric Vehicles use electric motors to for propulsion. The main fuel source is
electricity, which can be provided by a battery or a generator.
EVs are estimated to be 94% efficient compared to gasoline counterpart s,
which are 27% efficient. Tesla Sedan will have the capacity to go 225 miles
before recharging.
Well-to-wheel emissions of an EV are estimated to be 65% less than standard
gasoline cars. But there is a higher cost for cleaner better batteries.
Possibly display a plugged in model car
Potential lab activity is to build a small electric motor to power a toy car
Potential
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Clean Vehicles: Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV)
PHEVs take the EV one step further by providing battery capacity that can be
charged in your home. This battery stores electricity and can operate the
vehicle independent of gasoline.
Capacity
Studies estimate that if all light duty vehicles in the US were PHEVs, the
demand for crude oil would reduce by about 60% and the demand for
electricity would increase 24%.
Well-to-wheel emissions of a PHEV are estimated to be 65% less than
standard gasoline cars. But lead-acid battery disposal is still a huge problem.
Can store energy, giving power back to the grid during peak times
Possible display model of car and PHEV conversion kit
Potential video illustrating a PHEV conversion
Could build a toy electric motor in lab
PHEVs have a direct impact on daily life as most consumers experience the rising cost of transportation. This technology
resonates equally to children and adults.
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Energy Management & Storage: Lithium Ion Batteries
These rechargeable batteries are commonly used in consumer electronics, with
great energy-to-weight ratios, no memory effect, and a slow loss of charge when
not in use.
These batteries can hold up to two times the energy as nickel metal hydride
batteries. The challenge is making a Li-ION physically large enough for energy
storage in a vehicle.
Li-ION batteries tend to heat up very quickly, causing a safety hazard if not
properly charged or exposed to too much heat.
The life of a Li-ION battery is short, necessitating frequent replacement.
Educational Value
Interactive
Potential to do a lab on one of the ways electricity is created
Chemistry lab could teach battery properties
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Energy Management & Storage: Smart Grid / Smart Appliances
Advanced digital communication system that integrates smart appliances, clean
technologies and energy management. With smart grid, utilities will be able to
detect grid issues quickly and influence electric demand by communicating to
appliances to either shutdown, sleep or reduce voltage.
Capacity - EPRI estimates a $160 billion investment to make the US Smart Grid capable by
2025.
Trade-Offs
In a Gridwise study conducted by PNNL, participants using smart grid technology
reduced their consumption by 10%.
Estimated savings equal to $70 billion in coal
Educational Value
Interactive
Feature Xcel Energy’s Smart City or Gridwise community showing what a smart grid system does.
Exhibit / Lab
Potential trade-offs game: pick the correct appliance to stuff off to prevent an outage
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Energy Management & Storage: Ultra-capacitors
Also called electric double layer, ultracapacitors are energy storage devices.
Conventional batteries store charges chemically, whereas ultracapacitors store
them electrostatically.
Can charge in minutes and has limitless use (over 1 million cycles)
Challenge is developing a battery that can hold enough energy before needing
to be recharged
Essentially endless use once developed with almost no disposal or pollution
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Energy Management & Storage: Vanadium RedoxBatteries (VRB)
A flow system where liquid electrolytes are pumped from external tanks into a
stack where the electric-generating reduction-oxidation process occurs. Can
compliment solar and wind energy.
Capacity is limited to the size of the tanks
Can go through 10,000 cycles (20x current lead-acid batteries) reducing
disposal and pollution of material
Very costly technology currently ($500 / kw) and a warehouse is needed
because of size
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Fuel Cells
Fuel cells can convert hydrogen directly into electricity for both transport and
stationary-power applications. The process captures the electricity that is
generated when hydrogen and oxygen combine to form water.
The goal is “technology readiness” of hydrogen production, delivery, storage,
and fuel cell technologies, to enable energy companies to opt for commercial
availability of fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen fuel infrastructure by 2020.
Only byproduct is pure water.
Infrastructure necessary to popularize fuel cell transportation fuel would take
years and billions of dollars to build
Applications of fuel cell technology could make interactive and engaging exhibits (Honda’s Home Energy Station, mobile
military products, etc.).
Actual use of hydrogen would be unsafe and not fit for lab work
The media often speaks of a hydrogen-powered world, though the world is at least 20 years away due to infrastructure
constraints.
Could highlight use of fuel cell vehicles (FCV) for future use
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Geothermal: Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS)
Using unproductive heat (hot rocks) from the earth to produce electricity by
pumping water through the rocks to create steam to turn turbines.
Studies estimate that geothermal energy has the potential to supply 10% of the
US electric supply by 2050 once the infrastructure is put in place to extract this
energy.
Almost no emissions. Possible natural habitat disruption since plant locations
are limited to areas with high heat content the in ground.
No limitations on production– not dependent on extraneous factors, but costly.
Applicable to geology and chemistry labs. Potential to show video showing process of EGS.
Exhibit / Lab
Potential to show in physics lab – mechanics of steam powered turbine.
Interactive display to show mechanics of EGS. Visitors pour water into a pipe while is steam released through another pipe.
Relevance to
California is a prime state for EGS and currently has the largest geothermal dry steam plants in the world. Geothermal
Daily Life energy is energy that leverages the heat of the earth’s soil, highlighting diverse energy sources.
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Geothermal: Steam
Using hydrothermal resources (i.e. hot springs) to push turbines to generate
electricity by extracting steam from wells or creating steam using heat water
Currently geothermal energy supplies less than 1% of the US energy demand
even though the US produces 90% of the world’s geothermal energy.
Research is taking place to extend the life of geothermal plants.
Almost no emissions. There is possible natural habitat disruption since plant
locations are limited to areas with high heat content the in ground.
Limitations on production–testing use of recycled water in plants
Applicable to geology and chemistry labs. Potential to show video showing process of hydrothermal energy.
Exhibit / Lab
Potential to show in physics lab – mechanics of steam powered turbine
- California currently has the largest group geothermal dry steam plants in the world. Geothermal energy is energy that
leverages the heat of the earth’s soil, highlighting diverse energy sources.
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Hydropower
A commonly known source of energy, hydropower uses the force or energy of
moving water to turn turbines to create electricity. This technology is usually
associated with dams.
Currently hydroelectricity supplies 10% of the US energy demand but
hydropower is estimated to decline because of the natural habitat disruption
caused these generation plants
On demand energy but capacity is dependent on water flow. As no-emission
and no-cost fuel, hydroelectricity is an ideal energy source.
Large hydropower often causes significant habitat disruption,
Hydropower provides significant amounts of power in California. Currently being developed in China, the Three Georges
Dam is largest hydropower facility in the world , and has displaced a record 1.13 million people. Makes trades off theme
applicable to world events
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Hydropower: Wave Energy
Wave energy uses the up and down movement of waves to move turbines to
create electricity by placing several flexible floating figures in the ocean.
Studies estimate that ocean energy could supply 6.5% of the US energy
demand. *CPUC recently decided that CA coast did not have enough wave
power to make wave farm cost-effective.
Zero emissions but possible marine life disruption.
High cost technology because of need to use materials resistant to salt-erosion.
Energy is not constant or controlled unless coupled with a battery system.
Educational Value
Interactive
Could create an interactive display wherein the participant creates waves to form energy.
Exhibit / Lab
Could be a tool for a lab on electricity and physics
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Natural Gas
A combustible mixture of hydrocarbons that burns cleaner than other fossil fuels
Can be stored on board a vehicle in tanks as compressed natural gas (CNG) or
cryogenically cooled to a liquid state, liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Made up 23% of the US energy supply in 2007, and is expected to increase
Compared to other fossil fuels, natural gas is clean burning and emits lower
levels of potentially harmful byproducts into the air.
Natural gas is a non-renewable resource that takes thousands and possibly
millions of years to form.
Infrastructure is already in place for wide-scale distribution
Educational Value
Interactive
Because natural gas is used in a variety of ways for residential, commercial, utility, transportation, and industrial applications,
Exhibit / Lab this energy source has great potential for interactive exhibits
Natural gas is widely used by many US households. From gas stoves, to heating / cooling units, to propane tanks, natural
Daily Life gas is a common energy in the average person’s life
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Nuclear
The fissure of uranium creates electricity
The US currently gets 19% of its electricity from nuclear energy
Cleaner than electricity generated by fossil fuels
Produces no air pollution or carbon dioxide
The uranium used (U-235) is relatively rare and must be mined and refined
before it can be used as fuel
The waste from the reaction is highly radioactive and must be carefully stored;
the potential health risks are large
Could do a chemistry lab on uranium and other particles
Could have displays of equipment used in the power generation process
Portion of the exhibit could explain how Yucca Mountain is being used
Nuclear is already used widely across the US and California, and is widely publicized as an alternative energy
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Solar: CIGS Photovoltaic
Copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) has among the highest absorption
coefficient and current densities of any semiconductor material. These films
retain their performance properties better than most semiconductors, and CIGS
is amenable to large-area, automated production.
Large-scale manufacturing is still in beginning phases
Zero emissions, completely renewable
Being able to integrate nanotechnologies into all types of products would greatly
decrease manufacturing waste; doesn’t rely on silicon.
Sun doesn’t always shine, so energy generation is intermittent
Educational Value
Interactive
Could potentially do comparison labs across different types of solar energy (possibly for chemistry students).
Exhibit / Lab
Interactive exhibit could show tubular CIGS solar panels to demonstrate how the direct, diffuse, and reflected sunlight is
captured.
- Interactive exhibit could demonstrate how PV “ink” can be “painted” onto different types of materials.
Relevance to
- Residential, commercial, and utility-scale solar projects have been very popular in recent media.
Provides children and parents information about their available “choices” for solar energy.
Nanosolar ~ 5 years for - Using a promising, yet unproven, thin-film technology (CIGS), along
(San Jose, CA) commercial with nanoparticles and patented process technologies to create a
availability "photovoltaic ink" that can be "printed" onto flexible materials in a
continuous-flow process similar to that used by a printing press.
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Solar: Concentrated Photovoltaic (CPV)
Rays from the sun are concentrated on solar cells to raise conversion efficiency
and reduce materials usage.
Highest reported conversion efficiency is 20%.
The electricity needs of the entire U.S. could be met by a PV array of100
square desert miles.
Zero emissions, completely renewable.
Dramatically reduces the amount of expensive and often supply-constrained
solar material used in conventional solar energy systems.
Sun doesn’t always shine, so energy generation is intermittent
Could potentially create comparison labs across different types of solar energy (possibly for chemistry students).
Exhibit already contains example of concentrated PV in the “Tower of Energy,” but another portion of the exhibit could
highlight different methods companies are using to concentrate solar energy.
Residential, commercial, and utility-scale solar projects have been very popular in recent media.
Provides children and parents information about their available “choices” for solar energy.
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Solar: Silicon-Based Photovoltaic
Most abundant form of solar electricity. Standard solar panels are assembled
from arrays of photovoltaic cells made from silicon. These cells absorb photons
in light and transfer their energy to electrons, which form an electrical circuit.
The electricity needs of the entire U.S. could be met by a PV array of 100
square desert miles.
Zero emissions, completely renewable
Thin-cell PVs use significantly less materials than the older conventional silicon
PV technology, but still rely on the price / availability of silicon
Sun doesn’t always shine, so energy generation is intermittent
- Exhibit already contains silicon PV and thin film PV cells, but has the potential to do comparison labs across different types
of solar energy (possibly for chemistry students).
- Residential, commercial, and utility-scale solar projects have been very popular in recent media.
- Choices possible at household level
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Wind Energy
Uses wind turbines to generate electricity. Turbines are available in different
sizes to meet commercial and private needs. Variable-length turbine blades
adjust according to wind speed (increasing efficiency). Buildings are being
developed with wind power generation systems built into the architecture.
DOE believes wind could displace 20% of US energy consumption by 2030.
Wind Energy Capacity is projected to reach 40.15 GW by 2030.
Bird and bat safety is a concern, but larger turbines have proven less of a threat
due to the slower rotation of the blades.
Wind does not always blow consistently, so energy generation is intermittent
Though there is already a wind energy exhibit in the museum (as part of the Tower of Energy), other aspect of the
technology could be highlighted, such as the variable-length blades of the new turbines and the integration of wind power
generation systems into the architecture of new buildings
T. Boone Pickens’ energy plan (“The Pickens Plan”) has rocketed wind energy into the media, delivering it to the forefront
of clean technology solutions across the nation.
Generating electricity through GE's current installed base of on-and
off-shore wind turbines keeps as much as 11.4 million tons of
greenhouse gases from being emitted each year, and provides
enough energy to power about 1.5 million U.S. households.
Interactive Designers - Review & Meeting
