Resource and Energy

Energy consumption by different countries

World energy consumption (1965-2005) GNU Free Documentation License,

Fuel mix affects CO2 emissions Electric Power Sector Figure 2.8. Factors Contributing to CO2 Emissions Growth, 1990-2002 (selected countries)

Fossil fuels The three most important fossil fuels are: Crude oil Coal Natural Gas Combustion of fossil fuels are the major sources of energy in many countries, especially for production of electricity and transportation.

(Source: EIA, US)

Products Made from a Barrel of Crude Oil (Gallons) Source: EIA, USA

Use of Fossil Fuels in transportation Transportation is one the major user of fossil fuels beside electricity production. Four-stroke cycle internal combustion engine GNU Free Documentation License,

Problem with fossil fuels Combustion of fossil fuels is the main source of a number of air pollutants. These include carbon dioxide which is a major Greenhouse Gases (GHG) contributing to global warming. As fossil fuels take millions of years to form, their storage in the crust is limited.

Limited reserve of Fossil Fuels At the current rate of consumption, it is estimated that the current reserves will run out in: Oil 32 years Gas 52 years Coal 252 years (Source: EIA, USA)

GHG Flow Diagram: Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions Figure 1.3. GHG Flow Diagram, Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Global CO2 Emissions Growth Figure 1.2. Global Emissions of CO2 from Fossil Fuels, 1900-2004

Most Countries Contribute Little to GHG Buildup Figure 7.3. Income Per Capita and GHG Emissions

Historical Contributions: Major Data Constraints Cumulative CO2 Emissions, Comparison of Different Time Periods Figure 6.3. Cumulative CO2 Emissions, Comparison of Different Time Periods

Some examples of renewable energy

Map of global solar energy resources Map of global solar energy resources. The colors show the average available solar energy on the surface during 1991 to 1993. The scale is in watts per square meter. For comparison, the dark disks represent the land area required to supply the primary energy demand in the year 2010, using currently available technology. GNU Free Documentation License,

Solar oven for cooking GNU Free Documentation License,

A solar panel convert light to electricity

Advance of efficiency of solar cells through recent years

Hydroelectric power Station at Saint Anthony Fall at Mississippi River Source: Wikipedia

Hydraulic turbine

Tidal energy

Wind energy GNU Free Documentation License,

Geothermal energy Bjarnarflag Geothermal Station in northeast Iceland Steam from underground are used to drive turbine to generate electricity. (Source: Wikipedia)

Potential of Renewable energy Available renewable energy. The volume of the cubes represent the amount of available wind and solar energy. The small red cube shows the proportional global energy consumption. Values are in TW =1012 Watt. The amount of available renewable energy dwarfs the global consumption

Nuclear Energy is considered as another common choice for commercial electricity production

Nuclear Energy The most common fuel for commercial nuclear energy plants is Uranium. Uranium is a common element, occurring almost everywhere on land and in the oceans. It is about as common as tin, and 500 times more common than gold. Different types of nuclear fission reactors use different type of nuclear fuels: Light water reactors: uranium-235 Fast breeder reactors: uranium-238 Reserve of nuclear fuels in nature can last from 50years to hundreds of year depend of fuel type and reactors.

Nuclear Energy and the Environment Past events like Chernobyl accident and the Three Miles Island accident cause general public to worry about safety of nuclear, even when scientific community generally agree that probabilities of such accidents to be very small. Disposal of radioactive wastes with long half-life produced by nuclear power station remain to raise environmental concerns.

Uncontrolled nuclear fission in nuclear explosion resulting in the release of the vast amount of energy and radiation (Source: United States Department of Energy)

Nuclear Fuel Cycle Uranium is mined, enriched and manufactured to nuclear fuel (1) The nuclear fuel is delivered to a nuclear power plant. After usage in the power plant the spent fuel is delivered to a reprocessing plant (2) or to final repository (3) for permanent storage in a safe place, such as inside rock. In reprocessing 95% of spent fuel can be recycled to be returned to usage in a power plant (4).

A nuclear power plant with water vapour rising from cooling towers GNU Free Documentation License,

State of commercial nuclear plant Diversified choice: Some countries are building new nuclear power plants, while Some countries are decommissioning present plants.

Location of Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant

Bio fuel