The Ohio State University

Abstract 

This seminar will review some of the renewable energy sources available, wind, hydropower, biomass, solar, and also technologies that make use of the heat wasted by conventional processes.  We will introduce the criteria used to measure how "renewable" these sources really are once one considers their complete lifecycle.  This involves estimating not only their efficiency, but also the amount of fossil fuel used to contruct and maintain their infrastructure, and to dispose of them. A subsequent fraction of the seminar will be devoted to an overview of thermoelectric energy conversion technology and it's applications to the recovery of the heat wasted in transportation applications.