Overview

In this section you will find materials that support the implementation of EarthComm, Section 1: Electricity and Your Community.

Learning Outcomes

• Analyze and interpret data to determine global trends in energy sources used to generate electricity.
• Analyze and interpret data to determine the major energy sources used to produce electricity in your state.
• Obtain and evaluate information about the advantages and disadvantages of energy sources used to generate electricity.

Using Technology

Part B: Investigating Electricity Generation in Your State

To visit the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration Web page and to obtain your state electricity profile, visit the following web site:

State Electricity Profiles, U.S. Energy Information Administration
Lists state electricity profiles for all 50 states.

Inquiring Further

1. To learn more about storage of solar energy, visit the following web sites:
   
   Solar Energy Technologies, U.S. Department of Energy
   Describes solar energy technologies that provide electricity for homes, businesses, remote power needs, and for contribution to the electric power system.
   
   Battery Power for Your Residential Solar Electric System, U.S. Department of Energy
   Examines types of batteries that can be used for residential solar electric systems.
    
2. To learn more about energy from the oceans, visit the following web sites:
   
   Ocean Energy Technologies, U.S. Department of Energy
   Examines technologies for capturing ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC), tidal energy, and wave energy.
   
   Ocean Energy, European Ocean Energy Association
   Reviews the basics of ocean energy, including wave energy, tidal energy, current energy, salinity power, and ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC). Includes how they work and the advantages and disadvantages of using the oceans as an energy resource.
   
   Ocean Wave Power, European Commission
   Explains the complexities of wave energy systems.
    
3. To learn more about other methods of generating electricity, visit the following web sites:
   
   Photovoltaics
   
   Photovoltaics, U.S. Department of Energy
   Looks at photovoltaic materials and devices and how they convert sunlight into electrical energy.
   
   Solar photovoltaic, European Commission
   Describes photovoltaic technology and photovoltaics as an industry.
   
   Geothermal
   
   Geothermal Technologies, U.S. Department of Energy
   Examines geothermal technologies and how geothermal energy can be converted into electricity.
   
   Geothermal Power, European Commission
   Overview of how geothermal energy is created and the geothermal energy sector.
   
   Geothermal Basics, U.S. Department of Energy
   Introduces the use of geothermal heat as an energy resource.  
   
   Solar Thermal
   
   Solar Heating and Cooling, European Commission
   Describes solar-thermal systems, including technology and the potential for the solar-thermal industry.
   
   Thermal Storage Systems for Concentrating Solar Power, U.S. Department of Energy
   Provides descriptions of thermal energy storage technologies.

Resources

To learn more about this topic, visit the following web sites:

Generating Electric Energy

Electricity Supply and Demand, U.S. Department of Energy
Reviews the current issues facing electricity generation in the United States and explains how industry deals with these issues.

Electric Power Industry Overview,  U.S. Energy Information Administration
Contains links to pages that give information on various aspects of the electric power industry.

Fossil Fuels and Nuclear Energy

Coal – Our Most Abundant Fuel,  U.S. Department of Energy
Explains how coal is used and how fossil fuels are formed.

Uranium Quick Facts, U.S. Department of Energy
Explains the nuclear fuel cycle and includes several facts about uranium and its use as a source of nuclear power.

Hydroelectric Power

Hydropower Basics, U.S. Department of Energy
Introduces the use of water as an energy resource, including its benefits and historical use.

Hydropower Technologies, U.S. Department of Energy
Provides background information on hydroelectric power, including the history of its use, how it works, and the different types of hydropower plants.

Other Resources Used to Generate Electricity

Biomass, U.S. Department of Energy
Introduces the use of biomass as an energy resource.

Wind Energy Basics, U.S. Department of Energy
Introduces the use of wind as an energy resource.

Geothermal Basics, U.S. Department of Energy
Introduces the use of geothermal heat as an energy resource.

Solar Energy Technologies, U.S. Department of Energy
Introduces the use of the Sun as an energy resource.

Ocean Energy, European Commission
Reviews the basics of ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) and wave power plants, including how they work and the advantages and disadvantages of using the oceans as an energy resource. Includes illustrations of the different type of ocean-powered plants.