Renewable Resources

Learning Outcomes

Renewable resources are those that are typically replenished at timescales of years to decades and include harvestable resource (including food, water, biota and some energy resources) and ecosystem services.
Ecosystems provide a range of renewable resources, including provisioning services (including food, water, timber), regulating services (including carbon sequestration, climate control) and supporting services (including nutrient, air and water cycling.
The abundance of a renewable resources and how readily it can be replenished influence the rate at which it can be sustainably used at local, regional and global scales.
The cost-effective use of renewable energy resources is constrained by the efficiency of available technologies to collect, store and transfer the energy resource.
Decisions to invest in energy technologies that harness Earth's internal geothermal heat are informed by environmental, economic, political considerations (SHE).

Success Criteria

Renewable resources
- - Define e.g. those resources that if carefully managed will be replenished after use.
  - Replenishment time: years to decades.
  - Sustainable development: development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
  - Ecosystems
    - - Provisioning services.
      - Regulating services.
      - Supporting services.
  - Renewable energy
    - - Define.
      - Collection.
      - Storage.
      - Transfer.
  - Environmental considerations.
  - Economic considerations.
  - Political considerations.

Renewable resources

Natural resources that replenishes at the rate that is easier than or equal to the rate of its consumption.
- - Replenished by the environment over a relatively short period of time.
  - Able to to used today without compromising requirements of future generations.
Renewable resources are divided into three main categories, depending on the rate at which they are replenished:

Managed resources.
Ecosystem services.
Renewable energy resources.

Managed Resources

Managed renewable resources are natural resources that can be replenished through natural processes, such as solar radiation, wind, water, and biological processes. These resources are managed to ensure that their use does not exceed the rate at which they are replenished.
- - For example, forests are a managed renewable resource because trees can be replanted and grown over time, and timber can be harvested in a sustainable way without degrading the forest ecosystem. Similarly, fish stocks are a managed renewable resource because they can be sustainably harvested at a rate that allows the population to reproduce and replenish itself.
  - WA fishing industry, ensuring sufficient spawning fish remain to produce the next generation, while still enabling the fishing industry to continue.
Managed renewable resources are important because they provide essential goods and services to people, including food, fiber, clean water, and renewable energy. However, overuse or mismanagement of these resources can lead to depletion, degradation of ecosystems, and loss of biodiversity. Therefore, it is important to manage renewable resources sustainably, ensuring that their use meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
- - Another example is seen in the native forest of WA. Trees are replanted to replace those that were harvested for timber. Timber harvesting is also rotated within a region to ensure there is adequate habitat remaining for the local organisms and that vegetation corridors are maintained to enable faunal movement between habitats - preventing habitat fragmentation.

Ecosystem Services

Are the benefits that humans derive from natural ecosystems. These services can be divided into four broad categories:

Provisioning services: These are the goods that humans obtain from ecosystems, such as food, water, timber, and fiber.
Regulating services: These are the services that ecosystems provide to regulate natural processes, such as climate regulation, water purification, pollination and flood regulations.
Cultural services: These are the non-material benefits that humans derive from ecosystems, such as recreation, tourism, and cultural heritage.
Supporting services: These are the services that are necessary for the production of all other ecosystem services, such as nutrient and water cycling, soil formation, and photosynthesis.

Ecosystem services are essential to human well-being, and their value is often not fully appreciated until they are lost or degraded. However, human activities, such as deforestation, land-use changes, and pollution, can have negative impacts on ecosystems and their services, which can in turn affect human well-being. Therefore, it is important to manage ecosystems in a sustainable way that balances human needs with the need to maintain healthy and resilient ecosystems.

Swan River

Provision services: water for drinking.
Supporting services: trees absorbing carbon dioxide = oxygen production.
Regulating services: bacteria = soil - break down of waste.
Culture services: significance to the Noongar people.

Renewable Energy Resources

Geothermal energy is thermal energy generated and stored in the Earth.
Heat energy flows from regions of high temperature to low temperatures by convection or radiation depending on the
These resources can theoretically be used indefinitely as they are constantly replenished.
Primarily a consequence of natural processes and include geothermal. solar, wind, water and bioenergy = converted into human use through solar photovoltaic cells while emerging technologies such as direct use of thermal energy are developing range of energy types.

Geothermal energy harnesses the heat stored in the earth's core to generate electricity. This energy is derived from the earth's natural heat, which is produced by the decay of radioactive materials and the residual heat from the planet's formation.
There are several methods of harnessing geothermal energy, but the most common is through the use of geothermal power plants. These plants typically use wells to access hot water and steam from deep underground, which is then used to drive turbines that generate electricity.
Is considered a clean and sustainable energy source because it does not emit greenhouse gases or other pollutants into the atmosphere. However, the construction and operation of geothermal power plants can have environmental impacts, such as land use and water usage.
Despite these challenges, geothermal energy has the potential to play an important role in our transition to a more sustainable energy future, particularly in areas with high geothermal potential such as Iceland, New Zealand, and parts of the United States.

Solar Energy

Is a type of renewable energy that harnesses the power of the sun to generate electricity. It is one of the fastest-growing sources of energy in the world, and its popularity continues to increase as the technology improves and becomes more affordable.
It's captured using solar panels, which are made up of photovoltaic cells that convert sunlight into electricity. When sunlight hits the panels, it creates an electric field that allows electrons to flow, generating a direct current (DC) of electricity. This DC electricity is then converted to alternating current (AC) using an inverter, which is the form of electricity that is used to power homes and businesses.
Solar energy is considered a clean and sustainable energy source because it does not produce greenhouse gas emissions or other harmful pollutants. However, the production of solar panels can have environmental impacts, such as the use of rare earth metals and other materials that are required for their manufacture.
Despite these challenges, solar energy has the potential to play a significant role in our transition to a more sustainable energy future, particularly in areas with high levels of solar radiation such as deserts and sunny regions. Additionally, the decreasing cost of solar panels and the increasing efficiency of the technology are making solar energy an increasingly viable option for homes, businesses, and utilities around the world.

Wind

Is generated by harnessing the power of the wind. This energy is converted into electricity using wind turbines, which are large towers with blades that spin in response to the wind.
The basic principle behind wind energy is simple: as wind blows across the blades of a wind turbine, it causes them to spin. This rotational energy is then converted into electrical energy through the use of a generator. Wind turbines can be designed to capture energy from a variety of wind speeds, ranging from very low winds to high-speed gusts.
Wind energy has a number of advantages Firstly, wind energy is abundant and widely available, especially in coastal and mountainous areas where winds are stronger and more consistent. Secondly, wind energy is clean and produces no greenhouse gas emissions or other pollutants, which makes it a highly sustainable energy source. Finally, wind energy is highly scalable and can be used to generate electricity for everything from small rural communities to large cities and industrial complexes.
Despite its many advantages, there are also some challenges associated with wind energy. For example, wind turbines can be noisy and some people may find them visually intrusive. Additionally, wind speeds can be highly variable and unpredictable, which can make it difficult to maintain a consistent supply of electricity. Finally, wind turbines can pose a risk to birds and other wildlife, although this risk can be minimized through careful siting and design.
Despite these challenges, wind energy has become an increasingly important source of renewable energy around the world. As technology continues to improve and costs continue to decline, wind energy is expected to play an even greater role in meeting the world's energy needs in the years to come.

Water

Also known as hydropower, is a form of renewable energy that is generated by using the power of flowing water to turn turbines, which in turn drive generators to produce electricity. Using currently available technology, potential, kinetic and thermal energy can be harnessed from water.
Most hydroelectric power comes from the potential power comes from the potential energy of dammed water driving a water turbine and generator.
There are different types of hydropower systems, including:
- - Run-of-river hydropower: This system uses the natural flow of a river to generate electricity. A portion of the river's flow is diverted through a turbine, which drives a generator to produce electricity.
  - Storage hydropower: This system involves building a dam to create a reservoir. Water is released from the reservoir through a turbine, generating electricity. The stored water can also be used for irrigation, drinking water, or flood control.
  - Pumped-storage hydropower: This system involves pumping water from a lower reservoir to a higher reservoir during times of low electricity demand. When electricity demand is high, water is released from the upper reservoir to the lower reservoir, generating electricity.
Water energy is a reliable and renewable source of energy that does not produce greenhouse gas emissions, making it a clean energy source. It is also highly efficient, with the potential to generate large amounts of electricity from a single facility. However, the construction of dams and reservoirs can have significant environmental impacts, including changes to river ecosystems and impacts on fish populations. Additionally, water scarcity in some areas can limit the potential for hydropower generation.
Ocean energy is generated from wave, tidal, and thermal sources. These sources of energy are harnessed from the ocean to generate electricity. Wave energy is generated from the kinetic energy of ocean waves, tidal energy is generated from the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun on the Earth's tides, and thermal energy is generated from the temperature difference between warm surface water and cold deep water. All of these sources of energy are considered forms of ocean energy and have the potential to contribute to a more sustainable energy future.

Bioenergy/ Biomass Energy

Bioenergy is a form of renewable energy that is derived from biological sources, such as plants and waste materials. Bioenergy can be used to produce heat, electricity, and transportation fuels.
There are several types of bioenergy technologies, including:
- - Biomass combustion: This technology involves burning organic matter, such as wood, agricultural waste, and urban waste, to generate heat and electricity.
  - Biogas production: This technology involves the decomposition of organic matter in the absence of oxygen to produce biogas, which is a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide. Biogas can be used to generate electricity or as a transportation fuel.
  - Biofuels: This technology involves the conversion of biological material into liquid fuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, which can be used as transportation fuels.
  - Bioenergy has several advantages as a source of renewable energy. It is a reliable and widely available source of energy that can be produced from a variety of organic materials. Additionally, bioenergy can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by displacing fossil fuels in the energy mix.
However, there are also several challenges associated with bioenergy. The production of bioenergy can require large amounts of land, water, and other resources, which can compete with other land uses, such as food production. Additionally, the production of bioenergy can have environmental impacts, such as deforestation, habitat loss, and water pollution. Therefore, the sustainable production of bioenergy requires careful management of these resources and minimizing the environmental impacts.

Efficiency of Renewable Energy Resources

As with any emerging technology, there are advantages and disadvantages to the use of each of the renewable energy resources. See the below table.

There are many challenges to all renewable energy resources including maintaining a continuous flow of energy, storing the power generated for when it is required, and cost efficiencies in unit production, particular for a small units. These are managed in the following ways:

Hybrid technologies

Refer to systems that combine two or more different technologies or sources of energy in order to achieve a desired outcome, such as increased efficiency, reduced emissions, or improved performance. In the context of energy, hybrid technologies typically involve the integration of renewable energy sources with traditional fossil fuel-based technologies.
Some examples of hybrid technologies include:

Hybrid electric vehicles: These vehicles combine a gasoline or diesel engine with an electric motor and battery in order to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.
Hybrid renewable energy systems: These systems combine two or more renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, in order to provide a more consistent and reliable source of energy.
Hybrid power plants: These plants use a combination of different types of power generation technologies, such as natural gas and solar power, to provide a more reliable and cost-effective source of electricity.
Hybrid heating and cooling systems: These systems combine different heating and cooling technologies, such as geothermal and air-source heat pumps, to provide more efficient and cost-effective heating and cooling.

Hybrid technologies can offer a number of benefits, including improved efficiency, reduced emissions, and increased reliability. However, they can also be more complex and expensive than traditional technologies, which can be a barrier to adoption for some individuals and businesses.

Energy storage

Is the ability to store excess energy for later use, which can help to address some of the challenges associated with renewable energy sources, such as their intermittent nature.
Energy storage technologies can be used to store energy from a variety of sources, including solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, as well as from traditional fossil fuel-based power plants. Some examples include;
- - Batteries: Battery storage systems are becoming increasingly popular for residential and commercial use. These systems can store excess energy generated by renewable sources and then release it when it is needed, such as during periods of high demand or when the renewable source is not producing enough energy.
  - Pumped hydro storage: This technology involves pumping water uphill during periods of low energy demand and then releasing it to generate electricity when demand is high.

Energy storage offer a number of benefits, including:

Improved reliability: Energy storage systems can help to smooth out fluctuations in energy supply and demand, making the grid more stable and reliable.
Increased efficiency: By storing excess energy for later use, energy storage systems can help to reduce waste and increase efficiency.
Reduced emissions: Energy storage can help to integrate renewable energy sources into the grid, which can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel-based power plants.
Cost savings: Energy storage systems can help to reduce energy costs by allowing users to draw on stored energy during periods of high demand, when electricity prices are typically higher

Scale

Research into increased use of newables focusses on improving efficencies and to reduce upfront costs.
Australia does have huges advantages but it is generally more efficient to build technologies at a large scale.
This relies heavily on commercialisation of large-scale technologies, but also large scale investment and political support.

Human Activity and the Natural Environment

Our natural resources are vital sources of renewable energies including ecosystems services and renewable energy sources.
The human impacts especially here in Australia has seen more than half of the native forests have been cleared during the last 220 years therefore seeing many native animals and plants on the threatened species list. Urban areas are encroaching into rural and native bushland.
This at the same time causes increase demand of good and water which is leading to soil degradation and competition for these resources between native animals and the rest of us.

Habitat destruction and loss

Refers to the widespread alteration or destruction and loss of biodiversity. Habitat destruction can occur as a result of a range of human activities, including deforestation, urbanization, and agriculture.
The greatness rates of species loss globally are occuring in the tropical rainforest which are some of the most biodiverse areas on earth.
They are characteristically have high rainfall and temperatures with little season changes throughout the year.
They are located close to the equator and where we see convergence of major trade winds.
- - These forest only cover 6% of the earth surfaces and contain 50% of plant species.
  - Forest are being destroyed at a rate of 1.8% each year. If this continues for another 50% we will loose 50% of these forest.
  - Around 27,000 species are lost from tropical rainforest every year.

The Modern Mass Extinction

The modern mass extinction, also known as the sixth mass extinction, refers to the ongoing extinction of species caused primarily by human activities, such as habitat destruction, climate change, pollution, overhunting, and introduction of invasive species. It is estimated that the rate of extinction is currently 100 to 1,000 times higher than the natural background rate of extinction, which is causing a significant loss of biodiversity.
This is different from the previous mass extinctions in Earth's history, because it is caused by human actions rather than natural events. This means that it is largely preventable, and conservation efforts are essential to slow down or even reverse the current trend.

The arrival of the first people in North America is a subject of ongoing debate among archaeologists and anthropologists. However, most evidence suggests that the first humans arrived in North America at least 12,000 years ago, possibly earlier, during the last ice age.
The environment would have been vast grasslands with herds of bison, antelope and mammoths.
The pleistocene was a time of climate change which sure these people experience multiple cycles of glacial advancement and retreats. During times of glacial advancement saw large areas of prairies lost which put pressure on large mammals leading to their extinction.

Ecological Footprint

Ecological Footprint is a measure of human impact on the natural environment, which estimates the amount of land and resources required to sustain a given population's consumption patterns and waste production.
The ecological footprint is usually expressed in terms of the total land area required to produce the food, fiber, and other resources consumed by a population, as well as the area required to absorb the waste and pollution generated by that population. The footprint calculation takes into account a range of factors, including energy consumption, transportation, housing, and other aspects of daily life.
Australia in 2015 has one of the greatest per capita ecological footprint of any nations, while Haiti had one of the smallest.
It is estimated (2010) that the global ecological footprint was 18 billion hectares of productive land to support the world's population. Unfortunately only 12 billion hectares were available, which means that people used 50% more resources than the Earth could regenerate in that year.

Life Cycle Approach

Ecological life cycle approach is a framework used to assess the environmental impact of a product or service throughout its entire life cycle, from the extraction of raw materials to disposal at the end of its useful life.
This approach considers the environmental impact of all stages of the product's life cycle, including production, use, and disposal, and seeks to identify opportunities to reduce the overall environmental impact.

Protecting the Environment

we are much more concerned about our impact on the natural environment, therefore there is a need to find a balance between our effect on the natural world and human progress.
In Australia there is legislative tools, recommendations and guidelines used to protect the environment and to ensure good environmental management is applied to minimise impact.

Conservation Strategy

Is a legislative means to protect a particular ecosystem or ecosystems. Conservation strategies range from restrictions and recommendations.
One stage in the development of a conservation strategy is to produce an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Refer back to environmental Considerations. It is a process used to identify and evaluate the potential environmental effects of a proposed project, plan or policy. The objective of an EIA is to identify and mitigate the negative impacts of a proposed activity on the environment, and to promote sustainable development.
The EIA is compiled in a document called the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). It is complied prior to the commencement of the development, and enables public consultation on the project, and identification of potential issues.
Once it is completed the 'precautionary and polluter pays principles maybe applied to prevent, limit or require strict liability or insurance coverage, based on its likely harms.

The EIA conducted in Western Australia for the Gorgon Liquefied Natural Gas project.

The Gorgon Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project is a major gas development located off the coast of Western Australia, "Barrow Island'. The project involved the construction of a liquefied natural gas plant, three gas processing facilities, a carbon dioxide injection facility, and a pipeline network to transport gas to the plant.
An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was conducted for the Gorgon LNG project in accordance with the Western Australian Environmental Protection Act 1986. The assessment was carried out by an independent consultant and overseen by the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).
It is a class A Nature Reserve and so is rated as one of the most important wildlife regures in the world.
Detail conditions for monitoring, and conservation planning, and restrictions to minimise the impact of activities on coral reef outcrops and on endangered flatback turtles.
- - Amongst the environmental management procedures, they're require the project to minimise artificial light form the gas plant to protect the turtle breeding grounds.

Integrated Water Catchment Management

Is an example of an environmental management structure that includes a wide range of stakeholders.
Swan-Avon Catchment WA - Activities include:
- - Wheat and sheep farming.
  - Industrial activities.
  - Recreation activities.
Groups (private land owners, federal, state and local government and land managers within the catchment area work together to ensure water quality is maintained.
- - Recognise pollutants.
  - Impacts upstream and downstream users.

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