1. Chapter 16 Nonrenewable Energy

2. Core Case Study: How Long Will the Oil Party Last?  Saudi Arabia could supply the world with oil for about 10 years.  The Alaska’s North Slope could meet the world oil demand for 6 months (U.S.: 3 years).  Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge would meet the world demand for 1-5 months (U.S.: 7-25 months).

3. Core Case Study: How Long Will the Oil Party Last?  We have three options: Look for more oil. Look for more oil. Use or waste less oil. Use or waste less oil. Use something else. Use something else. Figure 16-1

4. TYPES OF ENERGY RESOURCES  About 99% of the energy we use for heat comes from the sun and the other 1% comes mostly from burning fossil fuels. Solar energy indirectly supports wind power, hydropower, and biomass. Solar energy indirectly supports wind power, hydropower, and biomass.  About 76% of the commercial energy we use comes from nonrenewable fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal) with the remainder coming from renewable sources.

5. TYPES OF ENERGY RESOURCES  Nonrenewable energy resources and geothermal energy in the earth’s crust. Figure 16-2

6. TYPES OF ENERGY RESOURCES  Commercial energy use by source for the world (left) and the U.S. (right). Figure 16-3

7. TYPES OF ENERGY RESOURCES  Net energy is the amount of high-quality usable energy available from a resource after subtracting the energy needed to make it available.

8. Net Energy Ratios  The higher the net energy ratio, the greater the net energy available. Ratios < 1 indicate a net energy loss. Figure 16-4

9. OIL  Crude oil (petroleum) is a thick liquid containing hydrocarbons that we extract from underground deposits and separate into products such as gasoline, heating oil and asphalt. Only 35-50% can be economically recovered from a deposit. Only 35-50% can be economically recovered from a deposit. As prices rise, about 10-25% more can be recovered from expensive secondary extraction techniques. As prices rise, about 10-25% more can be recovered from expensive secondary extraction techniques. This lowers the net energy yield.This lowers the net energy yield.

10. OIL  Refining crude oil: Based on boiling points, components are removed at various layers in a giant distillation column. Based on boiling points, components are removed at various layers in a giant distillation column. The most volatile components with the lowest boiling points are removed at the top. The most volatile components with the lowest boiling points are removed at the top. Figure 16-5

11. OIL  Eleven OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) have 78% of the world’s proven oil reserves and most of the world’s unproven reserves.  After global production peaks and begins a slow decline, oil prices will rise and could threaten the economies of countries that have not shifted to new energy alternatives.

12. OIL  Inflation-adjusted price of oil, 1950-2006.  2-25-2015 $49.20 per barrel Figure 16-6

13. Case Study: U.S. Oil Supplies  The U.S. – the world’s largest oil user – has only 2.9% of the world’s proven oil reserves.  U.S oil production peaked in 1974 (halfway production point).  About 60% of U.S oil imports goes through refineries in hurricane-prone regions of the Gulf Coast.

14. OIL  Burning oil for transportation accounts for 43% of global CO 2 emissions. Figure 16-7

15. CO 2 Emissions  CO 2 emissions per unit of energy produced for various energy resources. Figure 16-8

16. How Would You Vote?  Do the advantages of relying on conventional oil as the world’s major energy resource outweigh its disadvantages? a. No. The environmental, political, and economic costs of petroleum are too high. a. No. The environmental, political, and economic costs of petroleum are too high. b. Yes. Petroleum is needed until suitable alternatives can be developed and commercialized. b. Yes. Petroleum is needed until suitable alternatives can be developed and commercialized.

17. Heavy Oils from Oil Sand and Oil Shale: Will Sticky Black Gold Save Us?  Heavy and tarlike oils from oil sand and oil shale could supplement conventional oil, but there are environmental problems. High sulfur content. High sulfur content. Extracting and processing produces: Extracting and processing produces: Toxic sludgeToxic sludge Uses and contaminates larges volumes of waterUses and contaminates larges volumes of water Requires large inputs of natural gas which reduces net energy yield.Requires large inputs of natural gas which reduces net energy yield.

18. Heavy Oils  It takes about 1.8 metric tons of oil sand to produce one barrel of oil. Figure 16-10

19. NATURAL GAS  Natural gas, consisting mostly of methane, is often found above reservoirs of crude oil. When a natural gas-field is tapped, gasses are liquefied and removed as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). When a natural gas-field is tapped, gasses are liquefied and removed as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).  Coal beds and bubbles of methane trapped in ice crystals deep under the arctic permafrost and beneath deep-ocean sediments are unconventional sources of natural gas.

20. NATURAL GAS  Russia and Iran have almost half of the world’s reserves of conventional gas, and global reserves should last 62-125 years.  Natural gas is versatile and clean-burning fuel, but it releases the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide (when burned) and methane (from leaks) into the troposphere.

21. NATURAL GAS  Some analysts see natural gas as the best fuel to help us make the transition to improved energy efficiency and greater use of renewable energy. Figure 16-11

22. COAL  Coal is a solid fossil fuel that is formed in several stages as the buried remains of land plants that lived 300-400 million years ago. Figure 16-12

23. Fig. 16-13, p. 369 Waste heat Coal bunker Turbine Cooling tower transfers waste heat to atmosphere Generator Cooling loop Stack Pulverizing mill Condenser Filter Boiler Toxic ash disposal

24. COAL  Coal reserves in the United States, Russia, and China could last hundreds to over a thousand years. The U.S. has 27% of the world’s proven coal reserves, followed by Russia (17%), and China (13%). The U.S. has 27% of the world’s proven coal reserves, followed by Russia (17%), and China (13%).

26. COAL  Coal is the most abundant fossil fuel, but compared to oil and natural gas it is not as versatile, has a high environmental impact, and releases much more CO 2 into the troposphere. Figure 16-14

27. COAL  Coal can be converted into synthetic natural gas (SNG or syngas) and liquid fuels (such as methanol or synthetic gasoline) that burn cleaner than coal. Costs are high. Costs are high. Burning them adds more CO 2 to the troposphere than burning coal. Burning them adds more CO 2 to the troposphere than burning coal.

28. COAL  Since CO 2 is not regulated as an air pollutant and costs are high, U.S. coal- burning plants are unlikely to invest in coal gasification. Figure 16-15

29. NUCLEAR ENERGY  When isotopes of uranium and plutonium undergo controlled nuclear fission, the resulting heat produces steam that spins turbines to generate electricity. The uranium oxide consists of about 97% nonfissionable uranium-238 and 3% fissionable uranium-235. The uranium oxide consists of about 97% nonfissionable uranium-238 and 3% fissionable uranium-235. The concentration of uranium-235 is increased through an enrichment process. The concentration of uranium-235 is increased through an enrichment process.

30. NUCLEAR ENERGY  After three or four years in a reactor, spent fuel rods are removed and stored in a deep pool of water contained in a steel-lined concrete container. Figure 16-17

31. NUCLEAR ENERGY  After spent fuel rods are cooled considerably, they are sometimes moved to dry-storage containers made of steel or concrete. Figure 16-17

32. Fig. 16-18, p. 373 Decommissioning of reactor Fuel assemblies Reactor Enrichment of UF 6 Fuel fabrication (conversion of enriched UF 6 to UO 2 and fabrication of fuel assemblies) Temporary storage of spent fuel assemblies underwater or in dry casks Conversion of U 3 O 8 to UF 6 Uranium-235 as UF 6 Plutonium-239 as PuO 2 Spent fuel reprocessing Low-level radiation with long half-life Geologic disposal of moderate & high-level radioactive wastes Open fuel cycle today “Closed” end fuel cycle

33. Nuclear Power?  After more than 50 years of development and enormous government subsidies, nuclear power has not lived up to its promise because: Multi billion-dollar construction costs. Multi billion-dollar construction costs. Higher operation costs and more malfunctions than expected. Higher operation costs and more malfunctions than expected. Poor management. Poor management. Public concerns about safety and stricter government safety regulations. Public concerns about safety and stricter government safety regulations.

34. NUCLEAR ENERGY  In 1995, the World Bank said nuclear power is too costly and risky. Figure 16-19

35. Fig. 16-19, p. 376 Trade-Offs Conventional Nuclear Fuel Cycle AdvantagesDisadvantages Large fuel supply Cannot compete economically without huge government subsidies Low environmental impact (without accidents) Low net energy yield High environmental impact (with major accidents) Emits 1/6 as much CO 2 as coal Catastrophic accidents can happen (Chernobyl) Moderate land disruption and water pollution (without accidents) No widely acceptable solution for long-term storage of radioactive wastes and decommissioning worn-out plants Moderate land use Low risk of accidents because of multiple safety systems (except for 15 Chernobyl-type reactors) Subject to terrorist attacks Spreads knowledge and technology for building nuclear weapons

36. As of February 2015--- The USA is the world's largest producer of nuclear power, accounting for more than 30% of worldwide nuclear generation of electricity. The country's 100 nuclear reactors produced 798 billion kWh in 2014, over 19% of total electrical output. There are now 99 units operable (98.7 GWe) and five under construction. Following a 30-year period in which few new reactors were built, it is expected that six new units may come on line by 2020, four of those resulting from 16 licence applications made since mid-2007 to build 24 new nuclear reactors.

37. However, lower gas prices since 2009 have put the economic viability of some existing reactors and proposed projects in doubt. Government policy changes since the late 1990s have helped pave the way for significant growth in nuclear capacity. Government and industry are working closely on expedited approval for construction and new plant designs.

38. NUCLEAR ENERGY  A 1,000 megawatt nuclear plant is refueled once a year, whereas a coal plant requires 80 rail cars a day. Figure 16-20

39. NUCLEAR ENERGY  Terrorists could attack nuclear power plants, especially poorly protected pools and casks that store spent nuclear fuel rods.  Terrorists could wrap explosives around small amounts of radioactive materials that are fairly easy to get, detonate such bombs, and contaminate large areas for decades.

40. NUCLEAR ENERGY  When a nuclear reactor reaches the end of its useful life, its highly radioactive materials must be kept from reaching the environment for thousands of years.  At least 228 large commercial reactors worldwide (20 in the U.S.) are scheduled for retirement. Many reactors are applying to extent their 40- year license to 60 years. Many reactors are applying to extent their 40- year license to 60 years. Aging reactors are subject to embrittlement and corrosion. Aging reactors are subject to embrittlement and corrosion.

41. NUCLEAR ENERGY  Building more nuclear power plants will not lessen dependence on imported oil and will not reduce CO 2 emissions as much as other alternatives—specifically increased efficiency. Wind turbines, solar cells, geothermal energy, and hydrogen are all potential options. Wind turbines, solar cells, geothermal energy, and hydrogen are all potential options.

42. NUCLEAR ENERGY  Scientists disagree about the best methods for long-term storage of high-level radioactive waste: Bury it deep underground. Bury it deep underground. Shoot it into space. Shoot it into space. Bury it in the Antarctic ice sheet. Bury it in the Antarctic ice sheet. Bury it in the deep-ocean floor that is geologically stable. Bury it in the deep-ocean floor that is geologically stable. Change it into harmless or less harmful isotopes. Change it into harmless or less harmful isotopes.

43. New and Safer Reactors  Pebble bed modular reactor (PBMR) are smaller reactors that minimize the chances of runaway chain reactions. Figure 16-21

44. Fig. 16-21, p. 380 Each pebble contains about 10,000 uranium dioxide particles the size of a pencil point. Pebble detail Silicon carbide Pyrolytic carbon Porous buffer Uranium dioxide Graphite shell Helium Turbine Generator Pebble Core Hot water output Recuperator Reactor vessel Water cooler Cool water input

45. New and Safer Reactors  Some oppose the pebble reactor due to : A crack in the reactor could release radioactivity. A crack in the reactor could release radioactivity. The design has been rejected by UK and Germany for safety reasons. The design has been rejected by UK and Germany for safety reasons. Lack of containment shell would make it easier for terrorists to blow it up or steal radioactive material. Lack of containment shell would make it easier for terrorists to blow it up or steal radioactive material. Creates higher amount of nuclear waste and increases waste storage expenses. Creates higher amount of nuclear waste and increases waste storage expenses.

46. NUCLEAR ENERGY  Nuclear fusion is a nuclear change in which two isotopes are forced together. No risk of meltdown or radioactive releases. No risk of meltdown or radioactive releases. May also be used to breakdown toxic material. May also be used to breakdown toxic material. Still in laboratory stages. Still in laboratory stages.  There is a disagreement over whether to phase out nuclear power or keep this option open in case other alternatives do not pan out.