Ex. 23 Match the types of energy with the definitions.

1. kinetic energy	a. energy from an atom reaction
2. thermal energy	b. energy with substances that can produce a chemical reaction
3. electrical energy	c. for example light emitted from the sun or from a light bulb
4. sound energy	d. energy in the form of noise
5. light energy	e. energy of an electric current
6. chemical energy	f. energy in the form of heat
7. nuclear energy	g. energy in the form of movement

Ex. 24 Learn the new words to Text 3C.

1. available  adj.– доступный

2. blades n.– лопасти

3. hot springs n. – горячие источники

4. pipe  v.– подавать по трубам

5. extract v. - извлекать

6. solid waste n. - твёрдые отходы

7. carbon neutral adj. – углеродно - нейтральный

8. renewable adj. – возобновляемый

9. maintenance n.  - техническое обслуживание

10. derive from v. – быть производным от

Ex. 25 Read Text 3C about alternative power sources and complete the table with the missing information.

Text 3C

Alternative Power Sources

Humanity uses many kinds of energy: renewable and non-renewable. Environmental problems such as the greenhouse effect and air pollution have led scientists to find alternative power sources which are renewable and less polluting. These renewable energy sources have been available to us for years. However, it was not until recently that the public started to notice them. Most common examples of renewable resources are as follows.

Solar Energy

Sunlight can be directly converted into electricity by solar cells made of silicon. Solar cells are usually combined into panels and grouped into arrays. Even if the initial costs can be high, the PV system provides an independent, reliable electrical power source. It can produce energy for more than 15 years and its routine maintenance is simple and cheap. There is one more advantage of solar power: not only it is unlimited, but also its use does not pollute the environment.

 Wind Energy

We have been harnessing the wind's energy for hundreds of years. Wind energy is one of the cheapest renewable technologies available today. The wind turns the blades of giant turbines, producing in this way kinetic energy which is then converted into mechanical power and electricity by a generator. The main disadvantage of wind energy is that there are few suitable wind sites where it is possible to have a constant production of electricity.

Biomass Energy

Biomass is a renewable energy source deriving from plant material and animal waste. When it is burnt, it releases its chemical energy as heat. Biomass energy is a natural process, it is carbon neutral and has low initial costs. It used to be the main source of heating at home in the past and it continues to be highly exploited in the developing world. The use of bio energy has the potential to greatly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. The main disadvantage of biomass is that it has a smaller potential than other energy sources and requires excellent maintenance skills.

Geothermal Energy

In the past, people used hot springs for bathing, cooking and heating. Geothermal energy is based on the fact that the Earth is hotter below the surface. The hot water which is stored in the Earth can be brought to the surface and used to drive turbines to produce electricity or it can be piped through houses as heat. This energy is cheap and has a low impact on the environment, but there are few sites where it can be extracted at low cost.

Hydropower Energy

Water or hydroelectric is a renewable resource that produces the most energy. It is clean and produces zero greenhouse gas emissions. Flowing water creates energy that can be captured and turned into electricity. This is called hydropower. The most common type of hydropower plant uses a dam on a river to store water in a reservoir ['rezəvwɑ:]. Water released from the reservoir flows through a turbine, spinning it, which in turn activates a generator to produce electricity. Drawbacks are: costly to build, can cause flooding of surrounding communities, dams have major ecological impacts on local waters.

Tidal Energy

This alternative power source, which is typically used in coastal areas, turns the potential energy of tides into electricity. Large underwater turbines are placed in areas with high tidal movements and are designed to capture the kinetic energy of rising and falling tides. Tidal power generators use rising and falling tides in much the same manner as hydroelectric power plants. The turbines are driven by the power of the sea both when the tide comes in and when it goes out. The problem with tidal power is that only massive increases in tides can produce energy and there are very few places where this occurs. Moreover, the aquatic ecosystem and the shoreline can be damaged by the changes in the tidal flow.

In conclusion

As energy production accounts for two-thirds of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, reduction of carbon emissions in the energy sector is of paramount importance. The United Nations meeting drew the world’s attention to the importance of the global climate change challenge and the option of a decarbonized future. Renewables is an obvious way to reach the target; electrification is another important way to produce clean and reliable energy.

Renewable resources, though have their disadvantages when compared to fossil fuels, supply the Earth with a clean solution to our pollution problems. The advantages of the use of these resources far outweigh the drawbacks. The more applications available for renewable resources, the less we will have to rely on fossil fuels. The biggest problem with these energy sources is most commonly the price. But technology will continue to be developed and advances are always being made. This is making renewable resources and green energy the energy of tomorrow and today.

One of you might be another Albert Einstein and find a new source of energy. The future is ours but we need energy to get there.

 

Notes to Text 3C

1. harness v. - укрощать

2. to group into arrays v. –собирать в ряды  

3. tidal power n. - приливная энергия

4. require skills v. –требовать умения

5. paramount adj. – первостепенный

6. routine maintenance n. - регулярное обслуживание

7. derive from v. – извлекать из

8. decarbonized adj. – обезуглероженный

9.       reservoir n. – водохранилище

10.       dam n. - плотина

 

 

Type of energy	Advantages	Disadvantages
Geothermal energy
Tidal energy	it is a natural process because it exploits the potential energy of tides
Solar energy		high initial costs
Biomass energy
Wind energy
Water or hydroelectric	produces the most energy

 

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