Types of Energy Sources Nadia Reese

Energy: What is it used for? Heats our homes Makes electricity Fuels cars, trucks, buses and planes Products made from oil and gas Backpacks Toys Glasses Clothing The speaker can set the scene. Ask the students to point out additional items that are made from petroleum products that they use every day.

Energy: Where Would We Be Without It? No heat in our homes No electricity No fuels for cars, trucks, buses and planes No products made from oil and gas Backpacks Toys Glasses Clothing NO The speaker can set the scene. Ask the students to point out additional items that are made from petroleum products that they use every day. NO

Non-Renewable and Renewable Energy sources that are NOT replaced by nature as quickly as they are used. Examples: oil, gas, coal (fossil fuels) and nuclear energy Renewable Energy sources that are easily and quickly replaced by nature. Examples: hydropower, solar, wind, geothermal biomass

Nuclear Energy Nuclear energy is energy that comes from the nucleus of a U-235 atom. U-235 is split through fission and it releases energy. Uranium is mined from the ground.

Nuclear Power Plant

Where Are the “Fossils” In Fossil Fuels? Fossil fuels were formed from decayed organisms a long time ago under tremendous pressure. Speaker notes: Oil was formed from the remains of sea plants and animals that lived a long, long time ago! The sea plants and animals died and were buried on the ocean floor under layers and layers of mud (sand). Over time, their remains were buried deeper and deeper. Enormous heat and pressure from these layers helped turn the dead sea plants and animals into oil and gas. That’s why oil and gas are called “fossil” fuels!

Where Are the “Fossils” In Fossil Fuels? Fossil fuels are the remains of once living organisms that have been buried and compressed under many layers of sediment. Fossil fuels were forming way before dinosaurs lived Speaker notes: Even though fossil fuels were used thousands of years ago, mass consumption of oil and gas began only “recently.” Energy Timeline 1701 Coal discovered near Richmond, Va. Mid-1800s Kerosene replaced whale oil as lamp fuel. 1859 “Colonel” Edwin Drake drilled the first commercial well and discovers oil and natural gas near Titusville, Penn., 69 feet below the Earth’s surface. 1882 First coal-fired electric generating station began operating in New York City to supply electricity for household lights. Pre-1885 Wood was the primary source for cooking, warmth, light, trains and steamboats. 1890 Cars were mass produced, creating gasoline demand. 1910 Most rural homes still heated with wood. In towns, coal was displacing wood in homes. 1940s –1960s A massive expansion of the U.S. pipeline network began, which led to rapid growth of natural gas markets. Today, this interstate pipeline network, laid end-to-end, would stretch almost 12 times around the earth. 1950 – present Oil became most-used energy source because of automobiles. 1957 The first commercial nuclear power plant began operating. 1993 forward The U.S. imported more oil and refined products from other countries than it produced. More and more imports have been needed because of growing petroleum demand and declining U.S. production. 2001 Of every 10 barrels of petroleum consumed in the United States, more than 4 barrels were consumed in the form of gasoline. Transportation needs accounted for two-thirds of all petroleum used in the United States.

Coal Coal is a solid fossil fuel formed from dead PLANT matter. Coal is removed from Earth through mining.

Coal Power Plant

Petroleum (Oil) Petroleum or crude oil is a liquid fossil fuel formed from dead plants AND animals. Petroleum must be pumped up from underground with drill rigs. Petroleum has to be refined before it can be used.

Petroleum Refinery

Natural Gas Natural gas is a gaseous fossil fuel. Natural gas forms on top of petroleum and is collected by drilling wells.

Natural Gas

Hydroelectric Power Hydroelectric energy is energy that comes from moving water to create electricity.

Wind Energy Wind energy is energy from moving air to create electricity.

Solar Energy Solar energy is energy that comes from the sun. Solar energy can be used create heat OR to create electricity.

Biomass Biomass is organic material made from plants and animals. Biomass contains stored energy from the sun. Source: The National Energy Education Project

Biomass Plant

Geothermal Energy Geothermal energy is heat from within the Earth. The heat as steam or hot water and is used heat buildings or generate electricity.

Geothermal Plant