ENERGY

What is Energy Energy- Capacity to do work (Joule) Power-Rate at which work is done (Watt) Nonrenewable Sources- Limiting amount – Coal – Oil – Natural Gas – Nuclear Renewable Sources- Non-Limiting amount – Wind – Hydropower – Biomass Net Energy- Amount of energy actually used by society – This amount is taken away from the energy needed to extract, deliver, and buy the energy.

History of Energy Wood→Coal→Oil Invention of Steam Engine and loss of wood resource Ease of shipping, storing, and burning liquid fuel. Looking in remote locations to find

Energy Stats Fossil Fuels= 86% of world’s commercial needs – 40%- Oil – 23%-Coal and Natural Gas – 7%- Nuclear and Renewable Sources – 1%- Wind and Solar World Energy Consumption is RISING – Rapid Growth of developing countries – Rich Countries(20% of pop.) consume 80% of energy – Developing Countries(80%) consume 20% * Competition for oil will increase*

How Much Energy is Used Each Year? US/Canada= >300 GJ/Year – 60 Barrels of Oil Poorest Countries= <1 GJ/Year * People in rich countries use as much Energy in one day that poor county citizens use in one year. * ↑ E Availability ↑ Standard of Living/Wealth QUESTION: Where is U.S.’s standard of living leading?

Types of Energy Sources: COAL Fossilized plant material – Preserved by burial in sediment – Altered by geological factors that compact and it into a carbon-rich fuel Nonrenewable: Takes so long to make.

How Much Coal is There? World coal deposits are ten times that of Oil and Natural Gas combined. Total resource-10 trillion metric tons – Several thousand years of supply – At present rates and amount of resource that are economically recovered= 200 years.

Who Uses Coal? 3 Largest Coal Burning Countries – China – U.S. – Canada

Other Uses of Coal Convert Coal to other material – Synthetic Natural Gas Coal Gasification – Methanol/Synthetic Gas Coal Liquefaction PRO ~Large Potential Supply ~Vehicle Fuel Use ~Moderate Cost ~↓ Air Pollution CONS ~Low/Moderate Net Energy ~Requires 50% more mining ~High Water Use

COAL FIRE PLANT

Pros/Cons of COAL Pros – Very Plentiful – High net Energy – Low Cost Cons – Very high environmental impact Air pollution (SO2, CO2) – Severe land disturbance – High land use – Severe threat to human health

COAL in the Future Since Coal seems to be so plentiful and does produce a high net energy….. – Methods for clarification could lead to more use – Not as much environmental effects (Air Pollution)

Types of Energy Sources: OIL Crude oil is a thick, gooey liquid – Consist of hundreds of combustible hydrocarbons – Small amounts of sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen.

How was OIL produced 3 geological events led to the presence of oil – Sediments buried organic material faster than it could decay. – Sea floors with these sediments received the right pressure and heat to convert organic matter to oil. – Oil collected in porous limestone or sandstone and was capped by shale or silt to keep it from escaping.

OIL Stats 25% of U.S. oil is found in Gulf of Mexico Current U.S. oil production= 8 million barrels from 533,000 wells per day. Current Saudi Arabia oil production= 8 million barrels from only 750 wells per day. Pumping oil in Saudi Arabia costs < $1. – Market price for oil= Appx. $105

How Plentiful is OIL? In 2005, PROVEN RESERVES were roughly 1 trillion barrels. – Enough to last 40 years at current rate of consumption Believed that another 1 trillion barrels are not recoverable, or not yet discovered. Who has the PROVEN RESERVES? – Saudi Arabia- 25% of total – Kuwait- 10% of total – Persian Gulf Countries- 66% of total

How we use OIL Crude oil – is sent to a refinery where it is broken down into components with different boiling points. – 8% of all U.S. energy consumption Petrochemicals – Oil distillation products that are used as raw materials in manufacturing pesticides, plastics, synthetic fibers, paints, medicines, etc.

Other places to find Oil Tar sands – Mixture of clay, sand, water and “tar” (bitumen) – Canada’s reserve can lead to 2 million barrels of oil per day to the U.S. (will surpass Saudia Arabia) Oil Shale – Fine-grained sedimentary rock rich in solid organic material- kerogen Heat the kerogen to liquid and extract from stone – Could yield the equivalent of several trillion barrels of oil.

Pros and Cons of Alternative Oil Sources Tar Sands – ENVIRONMENT IMPACTS Typical plant producing 125,000 barrels/day creates about 15 million cubic meters of toxic sludge, and contaminates billions of liters of water each year. Oil Shale – Expensive – Uses a lot of water – High potential for air and water pollution – Hugh quantities of waste

Pros/Cons of OIL PROS – Ample supply for years – High net energy – Easily transported – Low land use Cons – Expensive – Air pollution when burned – Environmental Impacts Drilling and spills Habitat destruction Water pollution

Types of Energy Sources: Natural Gas Mixture of gases – > 50% is CH4 Conventional natural gas – Pipelines – Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) – Liquefied natural gas (LNG) Unconventional natural gas – Coal bed methane gas – Methane hydrate

Natural Gas Stats Proven reserves for World= 5,500 trillion cubic feet. – Amount to last 60 years at current consumption Proven reserves for North America are 250 trillion cubic feet – 4.6% of world total – 10 year supply at current consumption

How we use Natural Gas

Pros and Cons of Natural Gas Pros – High net energy – Low cost – Less air pollution than other fossil fuels – Low land use – Easily transported Cons – Greenhouse gas release CO2 when burned Methane can leak out of pipelines – Requires pipelines

Types of Energy Sources: Nuclear Uranium 235 and Uranium 238 are common radioactive particles used Nuclear Fuel Cycle – Mine the Uranium – Process Uranium to make the fuel – Use it in reactor – Safely store Radioactive waste

How Does a Nuclear Fission Reactor Work? Fission- Breaking of atoms + 1n+++ Q Cs + Rb 3n Ur- 235 Radioactive material Radioactive Waste Recycled Neutrons Heat

Control/Protection of Nuclear Reactor Control rods – Absorb neutrons Coolant – water Containment Shells – Surrounds core for protection *Controlling neutron flow plus water coolant is responsible for keeping the core at correct temperature*

Nuclear Waste and Storage High level of radioactive waste Waste stored in water-filled pools or dry casks Problem…Where do we store it? – Deep burial? Would any method last long enough? Consider Half-life -STILL NO FACILITY BUILT!!!

Yucca Mountain Desert Region plans in the U.S. to build a repository for high-level radioactive wastes. Problems – Cost: billion dollars – Large # of shipments to the site Protection from attack? – Rock fractures – Earthquake zone – Decrease national security

What happened to Nuclear Power Slowest growing energy source Why? – Economics – Poor management – Low net yield of energy – Safety concerns – Concerns for transportation of uranium

Pros and Cons of Nuclear Energy Pros – Large fuel supply – Low environmental impact (without accidents) – Moderate land disruption – Moderate water pollution – Low risk of accidents Cons – High cost – Low net energy yield – Catastrophic accidents could occur – No long-term storage solution – Subject to terrorist attacks