Powering Recovery After Natural Disasters: Examining Generator Emissions and Renewable Alternatives
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
In Person or Zoom Presentation
In-Person
Campus
Daytona Beach
Status
Student
Faculty/Staff Department
Honors
Student Year and Major
Junior, Meteorology
Invited Speaker Institution/Department
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University/Honors Program
Presentation Description/Abstract
The United States is impacted by numerous natural disasters each year that leave communities devastated and disrupt essential infrastructure, including electrical power systems. When disaster strikes, prolonged power outages force residents to resort to generators to power their homes and necessary appliances. This study examines scholarly literature and existing atmospheric data to evaluate the impact of gas-powered generators used in residential and commercial settings on environmental and public health, and explores solar energy as a potential alternative for emergency power generation. The analysis will focus on emissions of carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and other pollutants before, during, and after natural disasters that involve widespread generator usage. A single gas-powered portable generator can emit the same amount of carbon monoxide as hundreds of cars, resulting in the deaths of almost 100 people annually due to CO poisoning. Compounds like nitrogen oxides contribute to atmospheric chemical reactions that form additional pollutants and degrade air quality. Solar-powered and hybrid generators will be evaluated as potential alternatives based on their emissions, reliability, cost, and ability to meet emergency power demands. As natural disasters become more prevalent, an increased reliance on solar energy to power rechargeable batteries and generators can help reduce the output of emissions and reduce the risk of death following regional natural disasters, particularly in the wake of hurricanes. Together, these benefits demonstrate the potential of renewable energy to provide reliable emergency power while also mitigating the environmental and public health risks associated with gas-powered generators.
Keywords
Disasters, Generators, Electricity, Emissions, Sustainability, Renewable, Solar, Emergency Management
Powering Recovery After Natural Disasters: Examining Generator Emissions and Renewable Alternatives
The United States is impacted by numerous natural disasters each year that leave communities devastated and disrupt essential infrastructure, including electrical power systems. When disaster strikes, prolonged power outages force residents to resort to generators to power their homes and necessary appliances. This study examines scholarly literature and existing atmospheric data to evaluate the impact of gas-powered generators used in residential and commercial settings on environmental and public health, and explores solar energy as a potential alternative for emergency power generation. The analysis will focus on emissions of carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and other pollutants before, during, and after natural disasters that involve widespread generator usage. A single gas-powered portable generator can emit the same amount of carbon monoxide as hundreds of cars, resulting in the deaths of almost 100 people annually due to CO poisoning. Compounds like nitrogen oxides contribute to atmospheric chemical reactions that form additional pollutants and degrade air quality. Solar-powered and hybrid generators will be evaluated as potential alternatives based on their emissions, reliability, cost, and ability to meet emergency power demands. As natural disasters become more prevalent, an increased reliance on solar energy to power rechargeable batteries and generators can help reduce the output of emissions and reduce the risk of death following regional natural disasters, particularly in the wake of hurricanes. Together, these benefits demonstrate the potential of renewable energy to provide reliable emergency power while also mitigating the environmental and public health risks associated with gas-powered generators.