Energy+Sources

Energy Sources Proposals

My vast experience as an engineer, as well as further research, tells us that hydroelectricity plants require a fast moving water system in order to generate electricity (Alford, 2011). Geographic investigation has shown that the western rivers of the Island receive the heaviest rainfall and are fast flowing due to steep terrain.

-Engineer Bill 11-08-11 _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Research carried out into geo thermal energy shows it will be a valuable means of producing energy. Unfortunately this is not a viable option for our Island at this stage as Task Force Command has stated … “Unfortunately we haven't had a chance yet to analyse the geological data collected on the reconnaissance trip. But we do know that The Island was thought to have formed by volcanic episodes sometime during the Cretaceous period (120 million years ago) followed by a period of carbonate sedimentation. The volcano is now extinct. The main rock types on The Island are basalt and pumice. A recent tunnelling project in Iceland has taken two years using heavy tunnelling equipment to build a nine mile long tunnel through basalt rock.”

The lack of geological data means that pursuing an energy source program based on volcanic sediments is not an option worth pursuing until further knowledge comes to light. -Engineer Bill 21-08-11

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ A significant natural resource available to The Islands inhabitants is that of off shore oil deposits. However, as an engineer, I suggest we do not pursue this resource for two reasons. Firstly Task Force Command has commented that ... “The offshore oil deposits are significant and well worth the investment in establishing an oil field. Because it is offshore, then deep ocean oil rigs would need to be developed - similar to the ones that BP have in the Gulf of Mexico, or in the North Sea. The ocean where the oil is located is deeper than any other ocean oil field currently under development. This may add to the cost. However, as the price of oil rises in the future as supply is used up, it may be more economical to exploit.” As explained by Task Force Command the depth of the oil deposits is beyond the capabilities of any technology currently available globally. Secondly, it would be ill-conceived to attempt such a feat due to the high potential for environmental disaster such as the events created by the BP corporation in the Golf of Mexico. In addition, funding would be a significant issue due the high cost of such a venture. Whist the Island does have a strong economic system as well funding from the UN for five years, it would still be a matter of huge controversy to spend such a large sum of money on a non-sustainable energy source.

-Engineer Bill 21-08-11 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________  Put simply, energy that is produced from the sun gets transformed to thermal energy, mostly to heat things. (EIA Energy Kids, n.d). If we were to place a solar plant on the Island it would be best located on the eastern side of the island where there is a large amount of sun exposure - This is not to say that smaller solar panels could not be placed on all houses, businesses etc. -Engineer Bill 21-08-11 _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

It has been decided that we shall pursue two forms of power sourcing on our Island. Hydro electricity and wind farming have been selected as they meet our requirements of being sustainable and suitable for the environment. See above for commentary on how and why this decision was reached. -The Bandaids 21-08-11 <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 45px;">Back to Home Page