Renewable Energy
Biomass
The sun shines on plants.
Biomass
The sun shines on plants. Plants use energy from the sun to grow.
Biomass
Some of the energy is stored in the plant.
Biomass
When the plant is burnt the energy is released.
Biomass
We can use this energy to heat homes, make electricity or power vehicles.
Biomass
We need to do things to these plants to make the energy easier for us to use.
Biomass
Trees can be cut into logs.
Biomass
Trees can be turned into wood chip.
Biomass
Plants like elephant grass can be cut up, dried and turned into pellets.
Biomass
Some plants have lots of oil inside. The oil can be squeezed out.
Biomass
This car runs on vegetable oil instead of diesel.
Biomass
Some plants can be chopped up, mixed with water and heated to make a fuel called ethanol
Biomass
Ethanol can be used to power cars.
Hydro
There is energy in water flowing down hill.
Hydro
Flowing water can be used to turn a water wheel.
Hydro
When the water wheel turns it can make machines do work.
Hydro
Flowing water can also turn a water turbine
Hydro
The water turbine then turns tightly coiled wires inside a magnet.
Hydro
The wire turning inside the magnet makes electricity.
Hydro
We can use the electricity in our homes.
Solar
Solar panels can be used to make hot water or electricity.
Solar
Matt black objects can soak up the most heat.
Solar
Water is pumped through the solar panel and it soaks up the heat.
Solar
The hot water is then stored in a tank ready for use.
Solar
Photovoltaic panels make electricity from light.
Solar
They are used to power calculators
Solar
As well as houses.
Wind
The sun warms the air causing the wind to blow.
Wind
The wind causes the rotor on the wind turbine to turn.
Wind
The rotor on the turbine turns tightly coiled wires inside a magnet.
Wind
The electricity is sent to our homes through cables.
Wind
We can then use the electricity.
Solar Energy
Look up the words photo and voltaic. Write down what they mean in your workbook. (Solar panels are sometimes called pv panels).
Activities
Biomass
Plant three seeds. Put one pot by the window, one in the corner of the room and one in a dark cupboard. Which one grows best?
Biomass
Look in a dictionary to find out what these words mean, write down the meanings in your workbook. Oil,Coal,Gas,Biomass
Biomass
Do a survey of how the people in your class heat their homes.
Show your results as a bar graph.
Biomass
What happens to a tree before we can use it for heating our homes?
Show each step in a flow chart
Biomass
What is the good thing about using plants as fuel?
Biomass
What is the problem with growing plants for fuel?
Biomass
Find out what the word coppice means.
Write it down.
Biomass
Ask your teacher if your class can visit a coppiced wood.
Biomass
Make a picture that shows each stage what happens to the trees there.
Biomass
Design a garden area for your school.
Include plants which could be used as fuel or food.
Hydro Activities
Why does the water keep running down the hill?
Hydro activities.
The water cycle stores energy for us. Can you explain how water is lifted up to the top of a hill again and again?
Hydro
Lift a bucket of water up and hold it there. It takes energy to hold it up. If you tip the water out you will feel and hear some of the energy stored by lifting water.
Hydro
Put the flat of your hand under a fast flowing tap. What happens to your hand? Which types of energy are being produced?
Hydro
Design and build a water wheel to run under a tap. Think about the parts you use and the water, can it be reused or recycled after you have finished?
Solar energy
Draw a plan of your school.
Use a compass to find North.
Orientate your plan and mark on North, South, East and West.
Solar Energy
Push a stick into the ground. Mark the position of the stick’s shadow throughout the day.
What do you notice about your marks?
Solar energy
Experiment: find two plastic bottles, paint one black and then fill them both with water. Leave them both in the sunshine. Measure and compare the temperature of the water
Solar Energy
Think of ways to help the water in your bottle get as hot as possible. Use the picture of a section through a hot water panel to help you.
Solar power
Find a calculator with a solar panel (photovoltaic panel) what happens if you cover up the pv panel?
Solar Power
PV can bring electricity to villages many miles from mains electricity.
How could getting electricity for the first time improve peoples’ lives?
Wind Energy
Collect information about how we have converted wind energy into useful energy in the past.
Wind Energy
Use your information to build a wind machine. Think about how your materials can be reused or recycled when you are finished with them
Wind Energy
Lots of wind turbines together are called a wind farm. Ask your teacher if you can visit a wind turbine farm. Or get a wind turbine for your school.
Wind Energy
Draw a picture and map of your local area. Think where it is windy and where the best place to put a wind turbine is.
Wind Energy
Discuss with your class what it would be like to have a wind turbine near your school. Count people who like it and those who don’t.