Aqua-Sol-Viente Essay Hart-Ransom School, Modesto, California

Aqua-Sol-Viente Essay Hart-Ransom School, Modesto, California

Our planet is facing a serious problem. We consume approximately 14 trillion watts of power annually and most of it (about 83%) is generated with non-renewable fossil fuels. Only 8% of our power is generated using alternative, renewable and environmentally friendly sources like wind and sun.

Not only are we running out of fossil fuels, but the fossil fuels we consume harm our environment. The engineers who designed and built Aqua-Sol-Viente created a virtually perfect solution to this problem, a city that generates and utilizes only renewable, environmentally friendly energy sources for its needs. Our planners were so committed to this ideal they even named our city to reflect it: Aqua-Sol-Viente translates to Water-Sun-Wind.

Our city is located on the Pacific Ocean along the south central coast of California. In the year 2162 800,000 residents live, work, shop and play in our accessible and pristine city. Aqua-Sol-Viente’s geographical location allowed our engineers to design a power generation system that relies on the untapped potential energy of the ocean, as well as solar and wind that naturally occur more consistently in marine environments. Oceans cover over 70% of the Earth’s surface. They are the world’s largest collector and retainer of the sun’s solar energy and the wind over the ocean is stronger than wind over the land. In addition, we can generate power using the ocean’s waves, currents and temperature.

While Aqua-Sol-Viente relies on a number of renewable energy sources for its power, our unique solution is a series of man-made islands anchored about 1 mile from shore. We call our solution, “REGI” - short for Renewable Energy Generation Island. Each REGI is 160 feet in diameter and its surface is covered with solar panels which harness energy from the sun. REGIs are also receiving stations for solar power transmitted from panel farm satellites in geosynchronous orbit. Six massive telescopic wind turbines project from REGIs protective dome. The dome is made of a transparent nanomaterial that covers and protects the solar panels as well as focuses the sun’s rays, maximizing the amount of power each panel produces. During storms each telescopic wind turbine can retract into the dome to prevent damage to the turbines or REGI.

Aqua-Sol-Viente Essay

Tethered on the ocean floor directly below each REGI are a dozen fan shaped Wave Electricity Generators called WEGs. Waves move the fan blades of each WEG back and forth, turning a power turbine and thus generating a current. WEGs are very sturdy and are programmed to lie flat on the ocean floor during storms to prevent damage.

All three energy generating components, the wind turbines, solar panels and WEGs are connected to Aqua-Sol-Viente via superconductive nanotubes which transmit the power to underground substations located onshore. Nanotubes are composed of individual carbon atoms bonded together in a tubular pattern, making them incredibly strong. Normally a significant amount of power is lost during transmission due to friction (which causes heat), but the use of nanotubes decreases friction and heat by 90% allowing more energy to reach its final destination. Distribution to individual customers is accomplished via an underground grid of tunnels containing lines and substations that reduce the voltage to usable levels. The rest of our utilities- water, wastewater, communications, and some transportation- also share this underground grid eliminating the need for above-ground structures.

Each REGI is quite reliable however the sources that they use are not consistently available. Even with an abundance of sunshine, waves and wind a backup system is in place to ensure that our power supply always equals our demand. We utilize our dual elevation reservoir. When there is an abundance of power water is pumped to the upper reservoir (stored energy). At night, or when power is needed water passes from the upper reservoir to the lower reservoir through a generator. In addition we have other

Aqua-Sol-Viente Essay

completely renewable eco-friendly power sources - including biomass, geo-thermal, and emerging technologies like cold fusion and ocean thermal. Maintenance of REGIs is easily done onshore as the units can be detached from the ocean floor and ferried in for repair. Aqua-Sol-Viente also has several REGIs available to replace units being serviced so as not to disrupt power generation.

One of the possible environmental impacts of REGIs is they might disrupt the ocean’s ecosystem. However, our city’s aquatic engineers studied the behaviors of fish around the WEGs and did not notice any significant harm to fish or changes in their behaviors. WEGs were designed to look like seaweed and the fish move among them naturally. Wind turbines are always a risk with birds. REGIs’ wind turbines are surrounded by wire cages that allow maximum wind flow into the turbines but prevent large birds from flying into them. Smaller birds rarely venture that far from shore.

Many different types of engineers were involved in the development of REGIs. Mechanical engineers designed the wind turbines, the wave generators and other moving parts. Electrical engineers developed the most efficient way to convert kinetic energy into electricity as well as manage distribution of the current. Structural engineers specializing in ocean environments designed the body of REGI and all of its protective components. All of our engineers worked together using their combined specialties to design and create our efficient and eco-friendly solution.

Aqua-Sol-Viente uses renewable, non-polluting energy sources to supply our city. 100% of the power used comes from these multiple, eco-friendly sources - the ideal solution to our current dependence on fossil fuels. Energy will always be needed no matter its form; our city meets the needs of our citizens completely without any negative impact on the environment.

Word Count: 1000 including graphs

Aqua-Sol-Viente Essay

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Aqua-Sol-Viente Essay

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Aqua-Sol-Viente Essay

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Aqua-Sol-Viente Essay

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