Renewable and Non Renewable Energy Sources Grade 9 Science

WE DO NOT INHERIT THE EARTH FROM OUR PARENTS, WE BORROW IT FROM OUR CHILDREN.” CHIEF SEATTLE

Earth is a Spaceship. As we orbit the sun through space, we carry with us a limited supply of air, fresh water, coal, oil and natural gas. All of our trash and pollution must stay with us on board our spaceship.

What is Energy Energy is the ability to do work, the ability to exert a force on an object to move it.

What is Renewable Energy What is Renewable Energy? Renewable sources of energy are those which are not exhaustible, such as solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, hydroelectric energy and biomass energy.

What is Non-Renewable Energy? Non-renewable sources of energy can be used up or depleted; they include fossil fuels (coal, petroleum, natural gas) and nuclear energy sources.

What are the benefits of renewable power? Helping to keep our air clean Potential to reduce the production of carbon dioxide -- a leading contributor to global climate change Establishing Canada as a world leader and exporter of renewable power technologies Reducing dependence on imported oil

Sustainability means that we make sure we meet our needs now without preventing future generations from meeting theirs.

Energy and the Environment It is impossible to collect or to consume energy without causing certain changes to the environment. The effects of recovering and using energy are far-reaching and can be seen at each stage of the energy cycle, from methods of extracting resources to the ways in which these resources are transported and used for heating, lighting, transportation and manufacturing.

Major Sources of Energy

Petroleum Formed from organic deposits that become hydrocarbons under the effects of accumulated sediments and growing temperatures It takes millions of years to form Provides high quality source of energy. Refined into gasoline, diesel, and other fuels. Easily transported. Primarily used for transportation, heating, and industrial processes.

Petroleum ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES Cheap Versatile Causes air pollution – contributes to the greenhouse effect Transportation is hazardous to the environment Non-renewable resource

Natural Gas Very high quality energy source used primarily for heating (space and water) and industrial purposes. Natural gas is the primary raw material for nitrogen fertilizer.

Natural Gas ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES Cheap The least harmful fuel in terms of the environment since it releases less CO2 during combustion DISADVANTAGES Difficult / Dangerous to handle Large pipeline networks for transportation have an impact on the environment. Non-renewable

Nuclear Derived from the controlled breakdown of fissionable materials such as uranium. Heat generated from this process drives steam turbines which in turn produce electricity. The CANDU reactor is now used in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and six other countries to produce electricity.

Nuclear ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES Expensive technology Fuel is plentiful Produces no hydrocarbon by-products DISADVANTAGES Expensive technology Produces long-lived radioactive waste

Hydro - Electric                                    This is produced by turbine generators driven by the force of falling water. Hydro-electricity is used for residential. Agriculture and industry needs.

Hydro - Electric ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES Cheap Clean Less versatile Flooding of immense expanses of land profoundly affect the environment. Limited geographically

Solar Solar produces either thermal energy or electricity. Primarily used for space heating and water heating. Current costs high, however new technology in future expected to lower costs.

Solar ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES Very clean – no waste produced Plentiful DISADVANTAGES Undependable (seasonal effects) Non-versatile expensive electricity Visual pollution in the landscape

Wind Wind energy is obtained from moving air. Very clean, but requires a significant investment in equipment “up front”.

Wind ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES Clean – no waste produced “Renewable” Undependable Limited geographically (to windy areas Visual pollution

BioMass Solar energy that has been captured by vegetation and stored in matter can be used as fuel. Wood, wood chips even garbage can be incinerated and the heat used to produce steam to heat office buildings.

BioMass ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES Uses waste products Cheap Plant combustion releases CO2 into the atmosphere contributing to global warming Expensive to transport biomass

GeoThermal This energy technology taps heat from deep below the earth’s surface to superheat steam used to drive turbines.

GeoThermal ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES Clean Limited geographically Noise pollution (release of high-pressure steam Considerable local climatic changes with the release of heat Potential release of toxic products from underground deposits.