I wonder my thigh director for partnerships for the women's
entrepreneurship in renewable energy in this lesson we'll learn about
technologies that allow us to power our homes industries in agriculture using
cleaner energy and finally the way is that each of you can get involved in
this important movement
I'm a change is a matter of life and death
this is how my mother nobel peace prize winner one guy math I describe the
potential devastating impacts of a changing climate on Africa but she also
had a strong sense of optimism that our generation their first to really feel
the impact of climate change will also be the first to do something about it
a threat of climate change to Africa and the world is very real but they are ways
to stem and even reverse the dangerous path were on as we discussed in previous
lessons energy sources take many forms including yourself fuels like oil and
gas and corn and renewable sources like solar wind and hydropower these primary
energy sources are converted into electricity as secondary source which
then flows through power lines to our homes and businesses today for fifth of
all electricity southern and eastern africa is generated from fossil fuels
and as we learned burning these fuels produces carbon dioxide emissions which
trap the sun's energy and this makes our earth to warm and contributes to extreme
weather but other types of cleaner energy known as renewable energy sources
of a tremendous potential with the right infrastructure half of all electricity
in southern and eastern africa could come from clean cost-effective
renewables by 2030 we would then see a substantial reduction in carbon dioxide
emissions now let's examine some of these renewable sources in
detail solar energy this is simply the light and heat that comes from the Sun
it is the most abundant energy resource on earth the amount of solar striking
the earth each day is more than 10,000 times the world's total energy there are
two common ways to convert solar energy to electricity portable take and solar
thermal technologies when sunlight hits photovoltaic cells made of silicon or
other materials a chemical reaction occurs this results in the release of
electricity these cells can then be packaged together to make solar panels
and solar thermal technologies concentrate the sun's rays with mirrors
to heat a liquid and create steam this team is then used to power a generator
and create electricity the wind like the Sun is also a clean and renewable energy
source for thousands of years people have used windmills to grind grain and
pump water today modern machines called wind turbines I used to make electricity
to produce electricity on a large scale many winter minds can be placed together
on wind farms and this is catching on wind power has been the fastest growing
energy source in the world since 1990 and finally the energy inherent in water
and steam can also produce electricity if you've ever stood in a fast-moving
stream and our waterfall on the ocean shore as waves come crashing when you
felt the power of moving water at this power is captured through hydroelectric
power plants which was flowing water wheels or rotors no Nestor lights and
that produces energy another source of energy is the heat built up inside the
earth itself if you dig a deep hole straight down into the earth and you
encounter what is known as geothermal energy geothermal power plants wells are
drilled one two three kilometers into the earth to pump steam or hot water to
the surface to make it
that these renewable sources are not only exciting but they offer tremendous
potential for Africa think about it our continent contains bountiful solar and
wind resources and some of the world's largest hydropower and geothermal
resources much of this energy is an tapped and the world bank estimates that
only seven to eight percent of Africa's hydropower potential is currently
utilized the good news is that many African countries are starting efforts
to use these clean and renewable resources Kenya was the first African
nation to begin drilling for geothermal power in other countries like South
Africa wind farms are beginning to produce energy but we have only began to
unlock the potential of our continents clean renewable resources they so much
more to be done to ensure that our generation and future generations can
benefit from this clean energy
I each of you to get involved and join this environmental movement which is so
important for all of us and our beloved continent Africa reach out and join some
of the many community and national organizations that are working to
promote clean energy sources and preserve Africa's forest or gather your
friends and peers and start your own and just as important to encourage each of
you to help educate your communities about the challenge of climate change
and the solutions that we need to adopt share these lessons with appears friends
and colleagues and encourage conversation on this very important
topic that's my mother once said you cannot protect the environment unless
you empower people you inform them and you help them understand that these
resources are there all and they must protect them now is the time to put
those words into action