Circular Energy Systems
Circular Energy Systems - Related Videos
11:15
Determining the Contribution of the Energy Systems During Exercise
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Cited by 59 •
2012
This protocol allows researchers focused on exercise and sports sciences to determine the relative contribution of three different energy systems to the total energy expenditure during a large variety of exercises.
01:11
Energy of a Satellite in a Circular Orbit
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2023
Thousands of artificial satellites orbit the Earth every day at various distances from the Earth. Satellites that orbit the Earth below an altitude of 1,600 km are considered to be orbiting in low-Earth orbit (LEO). Research satellites and Earth observation satellites are usually placed in LEO, and mostly orbit the Earth in elliptical orbits. Navigation satellites are placed in medium-Earth orbit (MEO), ranging from 2,000 km to 36,000 km from the surface of the Earth. Meanwhile, communication...
00:23
Kinetic Energy
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2019
Kinetic energy is the ability of an object in motion to do work or enact change. It can take on many forms. For instance, water flowing down a waterfall has kinetic energy. In biological systems, particles of light travel and are absorbed by plants to create chemical energy. Animals consume the chemical energy and give off molecules that carry their scent through the air. They also generate kinetic energy when they run away from predators. Entire systems also possess kinetic energy, like the...
04:10
What is Energy?
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2020
The universe is composed of matter in different forms, and all forms of matter contain energy. The different forms of energy on Earth originate from the Sun — the ultimate energy source. Plants capture light energy from the Sun, and, via the process of photosynthesis, convert it into chemical energy. This stored energy from plants can be harnessed in many ways. For example, eating plant products as food provides energy for our body to function, and burning wood or coal (fossilized plants)...
01:21
Free Energy
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2019
Free energy—abbreviated as G for the scientist Gibbs who discovered it—is a measurement of useful energy that can be extracted from a reaction to do work. It is the energy in a chemical reaction that is available after entropy is accounted for. Reactions that take in energy are considered endergonic and reactions that release energy are exergonic. Plants carry out endergonic reactions by taking in sunlight and carbon dioxide to produce glucose and oxygen. Animals, in turn, break down the...
FAQs
Resource cascading directs an output from one process toward another use rather than treating it as waste. In practice, this can link waste heat, biogas, or renewable electricity with other energy needs. The environmental value comes from using available resources more fully, which can improve efficiency and reduce waste and associated environmental impacts.
Demand management helps align energy use with available generation, conversion, storage, and recovery options. By influencing when and how energy is consumed, it can reduce mismatches within the system and support more efficient use of renewable electricity or recovered energy. This coordination strengthens resource efficiency while helping reduce reliance on finite fuels.
Considering these functions together reveals how energy can move through a connected system instead of being managed as isolated activities. Generation may provide electricity, conversion may produce another useful form, storage can retain availability, and consumption determines demand. Coordinating them allows useful outputs to support additional processes and reduces avoidable losses or waste.
Integrated infrastructure creates the physical and organizational connections needed to transfer energy and useful by-products among processes. Energy recovery then captures outputs such as waste heat or biogas for further use. Together, these mechanisms can improve overall efficiency, reduce discarded resources, and contribute to lower greenhouse-gas emissions in linked facilities or communities.
Design begins by examining energy inputs, outputs, conversion points, storage needs, consumption patterns, and opportunities for recovery. Planners can then connect compatible processes through integrated infrastructure, apply resource cascading, and incorporate demand management. Evaluating the resulting system against efficiency, finite-fuel dependence, greenhouse-gas emissions, and resilience helps guide practical choices.
The framework can guide industrial networks, renewable-energy projects, buildings, and communities. Each setting can connect generation, conversion, storage, consumption, and recovery in ways suited to its available resources and energy demands. This broad applicability makes the approach relevant to both individual facilities and larger networks seeking more resource-efficient and resilient energy use.
Assessment can focus on whether the system improves energy efficiency, reduces dependence on finite fuels, lowers greenhouse-gas emissions, and limits waste or other environmental impacts. Researchers can also consider resilience, particularly when connected infrastructure and multiple energy pathways help maintain useful energy flows across buildings, industrial networks, renewable projects, or communities.