A Look at Energy Welcome to SCI 204, Environmental Science In this presentation we will look at Fossil Fuels Transition Fuels Alternative Fuels Renewable Sources of Energy Which fuel source is best

What is the primary source of energy for human civilization? is the burning of fossil fuels recovered from under the earth’s surface Fossil Fuels are composed of Hydrocarbons They found in solid, liquid and gaseous states Solid hydrocarbon fuels is mined as coal Liquid hydrocarbon fuels is drilled as petroleum Gaseous hydrocarbons is piped as methane In addition, Fossil Fuels can be processed as into alternative physical states as syn fuels, including Coal liquification and gasification Petroleum from oil shale and tar sands Methane transported as liquid natural gas

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of using Fossil Fuels for Energy? The advantages of fossil fuels are Bang for the buck Transportability as energy Versatility as a fuel A long standing tradition An existing superstructure The disadvantages of fossil fuels are Processing creates supply limitations Resource may be limited Burning fossil fuels produce an undesirable by product of greenhouse gases Mining fossil fuels produces significant quantities of hazardous and toxic waste Strip mining of fossil fuels destroys entire ecosystems As a chemical released into the evironment (i.e. oil spills, leaking methane and coal dumps) it is a toxic pollutant

Crude oil released into the environment through oil spills is an insoluable toxic sludge— —which kills wildlife by covering them with an immobilizing, insoluable coating; poisoning them when ingested, and asphyxing them by clogging air ways. The toxic residue can remain for generations.

Are there Alternative Energy Forms which could Replace Fossil Fuels? There are many alternative energy forms which could replace Fossil Fuels Bio-fuels (including alcohols and biodiesel fuels) Geothermal energy Nuclear energy Solar energy Wind Power Alternative Fuels can be classified as Non-renewable Renewable Pertpetual

What is a non-renewable fuel? A non-renewable fuel is A fuel which cannot be replaced in a meaningful time A fuel, which, having been consumed, it is unavailable for an indefinite length of time A fuel whose conumption rate is greater than its rate of its production Examples of non-renewable fuels include Liquid fossil fuels, like heavy crude oil Solid fossil fuels, such as bituminous coal, and uranium Aging fossil fuels, including peat Gaseous fossil fuels, like Methane gas deposits

What is a Renewable Fuel? A renewable fuel is A fuel which can be replaced in a relatively short time A fuel, which, having been consumed, it becomes available again through natural processes A fuel whose replacement rate is greater than or equal to the rate of its consumption Examples of renewable fuels include Alcohols, such as ethanol, are produced from plant sugars using corn, sugar beets, soy or sugar cane Other biofuels, like biodiesel fuels, use processed plant by products such as vegetable or wood oils Methane, also called natural gas, can be created from decomposing animal waste, land fill settling, and microbe cultures Breeder reactors, which produce plutonium as a waste

What is a perpetual fuel? A perpetual fuel is A fuel which is continuous available A fuel, which, having been consumed, it remains immediately available through natural processes A fuel whose replacement rate is greater than or equal to the rate of its consumption with no time factor to be considered Examples of perpetual fuels include Solar energy Wind power Hydro power, including hydroelectric dams, tidal stations and river generators Natural earth heat sources, such as geothermal energy

Wind power can be generated from a single propeller tower built on home lots only 35 feet in height— —Or it can be generated from multiple propellers suspended in 150 mph gulfstream winds at a height of 35,000 feet.

What is a clean fuel? A clean fuel is one which When used, does not produce a polluting by product When processed, does not produce a polluting by product When processed or used, the by products are considered harmless Examples of clean fuels include Hydrogen, in which its use produces waste water Solar power, in which its use produces excess heat Hydropower, where the use has no by products Wind power, where the use has no by products

Some fuels are controversial Particular fuels whose use is controversial are Fissionable Uranium, used in nuclear burning reactors, does not produce greenhouse gas waste—however, it does produce relatively small amounts of radioactive waste as a by product Fissionable Plutonium, used in nuclear breeder reactors, does not produce greenhouse gas waste and can be processed and reused—however, its form is such that it can be used for the production of nuclear weapons & explosives Hydroelectric Dams, used to generate hydroelectric power from the flow of water, produces no by products—however, the reservoirs require sizable acres of land to be permanently covered in water, and significant amounts of greenhouse gas are produced in the making of concrete Synfuels, burn cleaner than regular fossil fuels—however, their mining requires major ecosystem destruction Hydrogen fuels have a by product of water—however, it requires more energy to process than is released in its use

Give all the advantages and disadvantages of the different fuel sources, which one is best? It is a general consensus among environmentalists and industrialists concentration on one single source as a fuel is not wise because The massive growth rate in energy consumption will make any single source of energy into a nonrenewable environmental problem The massive growth rate in energy consumption will make it impossible for the energy industry to keep pace if has only one fuel source which can be processed The industrial economy would be held hostage by a virtual monopoly of fuel source providers It is the general consensus that all energy fuels should be considered on an individual basis, and that the energy source selected should match the need of the interested consumer