4. Unconventional
Alternative Energy
By: Jimbo Ruiz

5. Overview
You will learn about the…
Fun
Fantastic
Sassy
New
…Of alternative energy

6. What makes it
unconventional?
Still in developmental stages
Not well known
Not economically viable at the moment

7. Guinea Pig Power?

8. Osmotic Power
Desalination of water requires a ton of energy
The reversal of the process produces energy

9. Osmotic Power
Harvests energy through a natural phenomenon
Uses osmosis to generate hydroelectric power
Osmosis: a fluid diffusing through a semipermeable
membrane from a low solute concentration to

10. How it works

11. Pros
Plants can be constructed at any estuary
98% efficient (output/input)
ZERO emissions and noise

12. Cons
Membrane technology is still under development
Unknown long-term impact of the process on marine
life

13. New Tidal Energy

14. The Apple

15. The grapes
New way of harvesting tidal energy
Taking big and obtrusive turbines out of the ocean
Replaced by multiple tidal kites

16. Tidal Kite

17. How they work
Neutrally buoyant kite
Lifted by currents
Flies in a figure eight patter

18. Advantages
Generates electricity at low velocities in deep ocean
Large number of possible sites
Low maintenance
20 year lifespan
Minimal visual and environmental impact

19. Challenges
Still in developmental stage
Engineering challenge: installed at low depths
requires deep drilling, currents must be slack

20. Storable Solar Energy

21. Helioculture
A process that uses genetically altered
microorganism that take CO2 and grey water, and
converts them into commercial grade fuel through
photosynthesis

22. Advantages
Storable solar energy
More efficient than corn based ethanol (why use
food)
Products can be further refined to jet fuel and
gasoline
Turns waste into usable energy

23. Biogas
Turning manure into more than just fertilizer

24. How it works
Cow poops
Poo is transported to a anaerobic digester
Bacteria munch on the boo boo
Methane is released by the bacteria
Methane is collected and refined
Gas is burned to generate electricity

26. Environmental benefits
Methane is 21 times more harmful to the
environment than CO2
Feces collection prevents water contamination from
runoff
Reduces odor

27. Economic Benefits
Byproduct of the digester makes excellent fertilizer
Can also be used in construction material
Manufacturing and installation the equipment will
bring jobs to rural areas
Cattle feed lots can become self sustained

28. Pros
Harmful methane is converted to less harmful CO2
95% less odor
Cleaner living quarters for farm animals
Useful or at least less harmful byproduct

29. Cons
CO2 by product

30. In Conclusion
These are just few innovations in alternative energy
There is so much nature can teach us
Tell your friends…or at least the engineers