ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES REPORT
This site is designed as an accompaniment to the "Report Guidelines" Handout. Refer to the handout for complete instructions
Photo by Karsten W. Rohrbach. CC/BY/NC/SA
Day 1 - Investigate it Further
1. Watch a video explaining the science behind an energy source:
Wind: https://youtu.be/EYYHfMCw-FI
Solar PV: https://youtu.be/0elhIcPVtKE
Solar CSP: https://youtu.be/rO5rUqeCFY4
Hydro: https://youtu.be/tpigNNTQix8
Geothermal: https://youtu.be/mCRDf7QxjDk
BioFuel: How It Works: Generating Power from Biomass. https://youtu.be/WkgcAoVsix8
Nuclear: How It Works: Nuclear Power Generation - https://youtu.be/PQe3atPnzCI
Coal: How It Works - Generating Power from Fossil Fuels (Coal) - https://youtu.be/bEeUIa9EeBw
1. Watch a video explaining the science behind an energy source:
Wind: https://youtu.be/EYYHfMCw-FI
Solar PV: https://youtu.be/0elhIcPVtKE
Solar CSP: https://youtu.be/rO5rUqeCFY4
Hydro: https://youtu.be/tpigNNTQix8
Geothermal: https://youtu.be/mCRDf7QxjDk
BioFuel: How It Works: Generating Power from Biomass. https://youtu.be/WkgcAoVsix8
Nuclear: How It Works: Nuclear Power Generation - https://youtu.be/PQe3atPnzCI
Coal: How It Works - Generating Power from Fossil Fuels (Coal) - https://youtu.be/bEeUIa9EeBw
3. General Research
Use the links below (and others you find online) to learn how your source of energy works. Complete the note taking
sheet as you do so.
Energy Kids from the US Energy Information Association
Natural Resources Canada's Energy Sources and Distribution
Energy IQ, a web project created by Canadian Geographic Magazine provides a range of information
including videos on energy and electricity production.
The US Geological Survey's Water Science web project provides a fabulous animation and detailed
information on its page " How Hydro Power Works."
4. Mapping Your Energy Source in Canada
Canadian Geographic's Energy IQ project offers this interactive map of Canada's electrical energy
production. The Canadian Electricity Corporation offers another interactive map here
The Energy and Mines Ministers conference paper (2013), Canada -- A Global Leader in Renewable Energy:
Enhancing Collaboration on Renewable Energy Technologies provides a map indicating where, how
much, and the type of electrical energy generated in Canada. Scroll to page five.
The Canadian Electricity Association's Power for the Future website offers statistics on electricity
generation in Canada. Click here to access the CEA's Data World page.
Factors that influence where Energy Sources are Developed
Map of Wind Generating Facilities in Canada http://canwea.ca/wind-energy/installed-capacity/.
This interactive PV map from Natural Resources Canada.
Map Indicating Nuclear Energy Plants in Canada
Electricity Storage
"Electricity Storage: Location, Location, Location...and cost." The United States Energy
Administration provides a simple explanation of the challenges and solutions ahead
Here's an example of how governments are investing in innovative applications aimed at solving the
storage challenge http://www.pembina.org/blog/cowessess-wind-energy-storage-project-a-sign-
of-things-to-com
BC Hydro's energy storage project in Field a Canadian First.
Use the links below (and others you find online) to learn how your source of energy works. Complete the note taking
sheet as you do so.
Energy Kids from the US Energy Information Association
Natural Resources Canada's Energy Sources and Distribution
Energy IQ, a web project created by Canadian Geographic Magazine provides a range of information
including videos on energy and electricity production.
The US Geological Survey's Water Science web project provides a fabulous animation and detailed
information on its page " How Hydro Power Works."
4. Mapping Your Energy Source in Canada
Canadian Geographic's Energy IQ project offers this interactive map of Canada's electrical energy
production. The Canadian Electricity Corporation offers another interactive map here
The Energy and Mines Ministers conference paper (2013), Canada -- A Global Leader in Renewable Energy:
Enhancing Collaboration on Renewable Energy Technologies provides a map indicating where, how
much, and the type of electrical energy generated in Canada. Scroll to page five.
The Canadian Electricity Association's Power for the Future website offers statistics on electricity
generation in Canada. Click here to access the CEA's Data World page.
Factors that influence where Energy Sources are Developed
Map of Wind Generating Facilities in Canada http://canwea.ca/wind-energy/installed-capacity/.
This interactive PV map from Natural Resources Canada.
Map Indicating Nuclear Energy Plants in Canada
Electricity Storage
"Electricity Storage: Location, Location, Location...and cost." The United States Energy
Administration provides a simple explanation of the challenges and solutions ahead
Here's an example of how governments are investing in innovative applications aimed at solving the
storage challenge http://www.pembina.org/blog/cowessess-wind-energy-storage-project-a-sign-
of-things-to-com
BC Hydro's energy storage project in Field a Canadian First.
Day Two - REFINING & EVALUATING
A. Finding Articles from Selected Sources with Site Specific Searches
The best way to find articles from specific sources online is to conduct a site specific search of various reputable organisations. Just type in your search query. Then tell the Google Bots to do their magic by following the query with site:. and the URL of the news source.
Start with a very general search. Then as you learn more, you can expand your search string. Try a variety of sources and domains. Here are some examples:
wind energy site:.nytimes.com (reputable newspaper)
wind energy site:.pembina.org (non-profit organisation focused on clean energy alternatives)
wind energy site:.gc.ca (government of Canada websites)
wind energy site:.bchydro.com (BC Crown Corporation mandated to produce electrical power)
These searches will help you get a well rounded understanding of the accomplishments and challenges connected to the electrical generating source you are studying.
Find copyright friendly images on Flickr using the Creative Commons filter here.
See how to write a credit line here:
A. Finding Articles from Selected Sources with Site Specific Searches
The best way to find articles from specific sources online is to conduct a site specific search of various reputable organisations. Just type in your search query. Then tell the Google Bots to do their magic by following the query with site:. and the URL of the news source.
Start with a very general search. Then as you learn more, you can expand your search string. Try a variety of sources and domains. Here are some examples:
wind energy site:.nytimes.com (reputable newspaper)
wind energy site:.pembina.org (non-profit organisation focused on clean energy alternatives)
wind energy site:.gc.ca (government of Canada websites)
wind energy site:.bchydro.com (BC Crown Corporation mandated to produce electrical power)
These searches will help you get a well rounded understanding of the accomplishments and challenges connected to the electrical generating source you are studying.
Find copyright friendly images on Flickr using the Creative Commons filter here.
See how to write a credit line here:
| microsoft_word_-_2009_mla_updated_credit_lines_for_images.pdf |
Further Reading
Further Reading"How does the production of renewables contribute to climate change?" Click here to read the article on the Canadian Geographic website project Energy IQ.
"Fuelling Canada" from Canadian Geographic http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas/themes.aspx?id=fuelingcanada&lang=En
BC Hydro offers a web page outlining the options for electrical energy in B.C. Scroll down the page to see a list titled "
A look at our options for meeting electricity demand," and click on the link that interests you. Here's the link: https://www.bchydro.com/energy-in-bc/meeting_demand_growth/generation-options.html#pumped storage
Further Reading"How does the production of renewables contribute to climate change?" Click here to read the article on the Canadian Geographic website project Energy IQ.
"Fuelling Canada" from Canadian Geographic http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas/themes.aspx?id=fuelingcanada&lang=En
BC Hydro offers a web page outlining the options for electrical energy in B.C. Scroll down the page to see a list titled "
A look at our options for meeting electricity demand," and click on the link that interests you. Here's the link: https://www.bchydro.com/energy-in-bc/meeting_demand_growth/generation-options.html#pumped storage