Nonrenewable Energy Resources G. Tyler Miller’s Living in the Environment 14th Edition Chapter 17

Key Concepts Available energy alternatives Oil resources Natural gas resources Coal resources Nuclear fission and fusion

Section 1: Evaluating Energy Resources What types of energy do we use? What types of commercial energy does the world depend on? What is the energy future of the United States? How can we evaluate which energy resources to use? What is “net energy?”

What type of energy do we use? About 99% of the energy that heats the earth and our homes comes from the sun, and the remaining 1% comes mostly from fossil fuels. (old solar energy) Without sun -2400C

What type of energy do we use? Sun’s Energy Nuclear Fusion 93 million miles away “Average” Star 99% Hydrogen

Evaluating Energy Resources Non-renewable energy: 84% of world commercial energy (78% from fossil fuels, 6% nuclear) Oil, coal, natural gas, nuclear

Evaluating Energy Resources Renewable Energy Sources: 16% of world’s commercial energy resources. 10% biomass, 5% hydro, and 1% combo of geothermal, wind and solar.

Commercial Energy Use By Source 2002

Important Nonrenewable Energy Sources Fig. 17-2 p. 351

Evaluating Energy Resources Future Energy Availability: the U.S. is the world’s largest energy user. In 2004, 4.6% of world population, yet 24% of world’s energy consumption

Future Energy in U.S. U.S. debate: should we continue our dependence on oil and coal or shift to natural gas, hydrogen, solar cells, and wind. Political, Economic, Energy Companies, Societal Debate

Global Energy Consumption

U.S. Energy Consumption

Shifts in U.S. Commercial Energy Resources

Evaluating Energy Choices Costs Environmental Impacts Availability in near future and long term Governmental Incentives National and Global Security Terrorism

What is Net Energy? NET ENEGY: is the amount of high-quality usable energy available from a resource after subtracting out what is needed to make it usable. Second law of thermodynamics: some energy will be wasted and degraded.

Net Energy Ratios For U.S.

Review Section 1 What types of energy do we use? What types of commercial energy does the world depend on? What is the energy future of the United States? How can we evaluate which energy resources to use? What is “net energy?”

Section 2: Oil Key Ideas What is crude oil? How does crude oil turn into usable products? Where does oil come from? Who has oil? How is oil used? What are problems associated with oil usage? How much longer will we have oil?

Oil Rules!!! What is crude oil? Petroleum, or crude oil is a thick, gooey liquid consisting of many combustible hydrocarbons. Formed over millions of year from decaying organic materials buried under the seafloor and subjected to extreme temperatures and pressure.

Oil Rules!!! What is crude oil? Crude oil and natural gas often found together in deep deposits in pores and cracks. Found using sophisticated equipment. Usually only 30-35% is extractable Higher prices mean more can be extracted.

Oil Rules!!! Transportation How crude oil is transported: Pipelines Trucks Oil Tankers

Refining crude oil. Based upon their boiling points, components are removed in giant distillation column. In US refining accounts for 8% of our energy consumption

1 barrel is 42 gallons

Oil, Who Has It? Eleven OPEC countries contain 78% of world’s proven oil reserves Oil is the world’s largest business. Saudi Arabia 25% Canada 15% Iraq 11%, UAE 9.3%

Oil, Who Has It? U.S.: Uses 26% Produces 2.9% Import 60% (36% in 1973) 2003 $99 billion import bill. 2/3 for transportation

North American Energy Resources Fig. 17-9 p. 357

Offshore oil accounts for 1/4th of U. S. Oil Production Offshore oil accounts for 1/4th of U.S. Oil Production. 9 of 10 barrels come from the Gulf.

Oil, Who Has It? ANWR: Best Estimates: Would meet world’ energy demands for 1-5 months Would meet US energy needs for 7-24 months. Saudi Arabia: Could only supply world for about 10 years.

Oil Petroleum (crude oil) Recovery Refining Transporting Fig. 17-8 p. 356

Today oil is trading about $58/barrel

US Oil Supply and Consumption.

Global Oil Consumption: US, China Japan largest oil consumers.

Conventional Oil: Advantages Relatively low cost High net energy yield Efficient distribution system

Conventional Oil: Disadvantages Running out Low prices encourage waste Air pollution and Greenhouse gases Water pollution World Politics and Trade Imbalances

Oil, What Is Left? Most energy expert believe there are about 1,050 billion barrels left. Peak Production This Decade Rising Demand, Dwindling Supply = Higher Prices

Oil, What Is Left? Ways of extending oil supplies: Increase CAFÉ Find new reserves Taxing Conservation Increased use of other sources.

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Controversy: Trade-offs Would create jobs Oil resources are uncertain Uncertain environmental impacts Drilling controversies

Oil Shale and Tar Sands Oil shale Tar sand

Carbon Dioxide Emissions Per Unit of Energy

Oil Review What is crude oil? How does crude oil turn into usable products? Where does oil come from? Who has oil? How is oil used? What are problems associated with oil usage? How much longer will we have oil?

Natural Gas Key Ideas What is natural gas? Where is it found? How is natural gas used? Who has the world's natural gas supplies? What is the future for natural gas?

What is natural gas? Mainly methane CH4 Also Ethane C2H6 Propane C3H8 Butane C4H10 Formed like oil from buried animals and plants millions of years ago.

Where is it found? Deposits usually found above oil deposits. In past was seen as unwanted waste and burnt off.

Who has natural gas? Russia (31%) and Iran (15%) have almost ½ of world’s reserves. Reserves could last 62-125 years worldwide. Geologist expect to find more.

U.S. Natural Gas U.S. supplies should last 55-80 years depending upon demand. Supplies have been declining for years. Canada???

How is it used? 53% of heat in U.S. homes 16% of electricity and growing quickly Hot water heaters Can be used in vehicles

Advantages of Gas Cleaner burning than coal or oil. Emits far fewer CO2 per energy units More efficient energy producer and plants are cheaper to build

What is gases future? Conventional and Unconventional sources may last up to 200 years. Prices bound to rise Best transition fuel into solar etc.?

What is LNG? At low temperatures natural gas can be shipped around the world as liquid natural gas. Requires very low temperatures and building special infrastructure.

Natural Gas

Natural Gas Review What is natural gas? Where is it found? How is natural gas used? Who has the world's natural gas supplies? What is the future for natural gas?

Old King Coal Key Ideas History of coal use. What is coal? How is it extracted from the ground? How is coal used? How long will it last? What are advantages and disadvantages of using coal?

History of Old King Coal After firewood, coal was the major source of energy. End of 1800s coal is the worlds dominant fuel. Steam Engines Heating Cooking Industry

History of Old King Coal By 1920s, coal provided 80% of US energy. Powered the industrial revolution Caused a great deal of air pollution.

What is coal? Coal is a solid fuel formed in several stages from remains of buried plants and animals. Consists mostly of carbon and trace amounts of sulfur, mercury and radioactive materials.

What is coal? Anthracite is the most desirable form of coal (98% carbon) Takes longer to form More expensive.

Coal Formation and Types

How is coal extracted? Surface Mining: Area Strip Mining Contour Strip Mining Mountaintop Removal Underground Mining Large environmental impact from different mining techniques.

How is coal used? Coal provides 51% of current U.S. electricity. (62% worldwide) Used to make ¾ of worlds steel. A typical 1,000 Megawatt power plant uses 8,000 tons of coal every day…1 mile long train worth of coal every day.

How is coal used? 91% of coal in U.S. is used for power production. Not useful for transportation energy needs.

Where in the world is coal found? U.S. has 1/4th of the world proven reserves. (16% Russia, 12% China) U.S. and China are 2 largest users. U.S. is able to export about 4% a year.

Where is the coal?

How long will coal last? According to USGS… U.S. reserves could last 300 years at current rate of consumption…or 64 years if consumption grows by 4% a year. World’s most abundant fossil fuel. U.S. Energy Projections

Coal Advantages Most abundant fossil fuel. High “Net Energy” Relatively inexpensive. U.S. has plenty of it for a while. Power Plants relatively cheap to build.

Coal Disadvantages High environmental impact (air, water, land, acid rain) Global Warming, high CO2 emissions Toxic Mercury and radioactivity Dangerous to mine

Coal: Trade-offs “Clean Coal Technology???”

Coal Review Stages of coal formation Primarily strip-mined Used mostly for generating electricity Enough coal for about 1000 years High environmental impact Coal gasification and liquefaction

Coal Review History of coal use. What is coal? How is it extracted from the ground? How is coal used? How long will it last? What are advantages and disadvantages of using coal?

Nuclear Energy Key Ideas How does a nuclear fission reactor work? What is the nuclear fuel cycle? What is the history of nuclear technology? Where is it used today? What are advantages and disadvantages of using nuclear power? What are the disposal issues for high-level and low level nuclear waste? What is the future for nuclear power?

How does a nuclear fission reactor work? Isotopes of uranium and plutonium undergo controlled nuclear fission. U235 and Pt239 (U contains 92 Protons, how many neutrons???) Fission Chain Reaction, splitting the nucleus, releasing heat to produce steam

How does a nuclear fission reactor work? Core Reactor: 35,000 to 70,000 fuel rods Fuel pellets of 97% non-fissionable U238 and 3% fissionable U235 Control rods of Boron and Cadmium Coolant: water Containment vessel

How does a nuclear fission reactor work? “Spent” fuel rods usually stored onsite in huge pools of water Must be stored safely for 10,000 to 24,000 years Multiple safety layers at plants.

How does a nuclear fission reactor work? The heat produced by the splitting of uranium is used to generate electricity by spinning turbines. Plants must be in continual operation

Nuclear Energy Fission reactors Uranium-235 Potentially dangerous Radioactive wastes

What is the nuclear fuel cycle? Fuel Cycle Includes: Mining uranium Processing fuel “enrichment” Using fuel in reactor Storing highly radioactive waste for thousands of years

What is the nuclear fuel cycle? After 15-60 years reactors become contaminated with radioactive materials and parts become worn out. Transporting nuclear waste for storage 10,000 years or more

What is the nuclear fuel cycle?

What is the history of nuclear technology? Following WW II great interest in showing how atomic age could benefit humankind Tremendous government subsidies and research Government paid ¼ of cost of building first reactors. Government paid insurance

What is the history of nuclear technology? 1960s and 70s plans for many U.S. plants 1975 – 53 plants operating (9% of U.S. electricity) another 170 plants planned 1978 last plant to be built was ordered – great unease about plants

What is the history of nuclear technology? 1979 Three-Mile Island, PA 1986 Chernobyl (still a problem today) Globally plants continue to be built (441 in operation, 23 being built)

Where is it used today? U.S. In 2004: 103 in operation 21% of countries electricity (huge plants) US Energy Information Agency predicts 27% fewer plants in 2020

Where is it used today? Globally: 441 plants (32 under construction) 17% of world’s electricity Growing 2.5% yearly Leading countries: Lithuania 80% France 78%

Locations of U.S. Nuclear Power Plants NJ (1) --- PA (3)

Advantages of Nuclear Power Large Fuel Supply Little Air Pollution and CO2 emissions Moderate to low water and land environmental impact Low risk of accidents (multiple safety levels – except in old Soviet reactors)

Disadvantages of Nuclear Power High cost of building and operating plants Possibility of catastrophic accidents No long-term solutions for waste Spreads knowledge of nuclear weapon technology Terrorist Attacks

Conventional Nuclear Power: Trade-offs

Dealing with Nuclear Waste High- and low-level wastes Terrorist threats Underground burial Disposal in space Burial in ice sheets Dumping into subduction zones Burial in ocean mud Conversion into harmless materials

Yucca Mountain Controversy Wastes stored and guarded in one place Possible long-term groundwater contamination Security and safety concerns during waste transport to the site

Permanent Underground Disposal of Nuclear Wastes Storage Containers Fuel rod Primary canister Ground Level Overpack container sealed Unloaded from train Personnel elevator Air shaft Nuclear waste shaft Underground Buried and capped Lowered down shaft Fig. 17-28 p. 373

Nuclear Alternatives – Future? New reactor designs Breeder nuclear fission reactors Nuclear fusion

Nuclear Review How does a nuclear fission reactor work? What is the nuclear fuel cycle? What is the history of nuclear technology? Where is it used today? What are advantages and disadvantages of using nuclear power? What are the disposal issues for high-level and low level nuclear waste? What is the future for nuclear power?