1. Renewable vs Nonrenewable
Common energy sources
Renewable vs Nonrenewable

2. Renewable vs Nonrenewable
Naturally replenished on a human timescale
Nonrenewable
Also called a finite resource
Resource that does not renew itself at a sufficient rate for sustainable economic extraction in meaningful human time-frames vs

3. Sources of Energy Nonrenewable Renewable Natural Gas Solar
Petroleum or Oil
Coal
Nuclear Fission
Renewable
Solar
Wind
Wood
Hydroelectric
Ocean Tides
Geothermal
Biomass

4. Solar Renewable Primary source of all energy on Earth
Cleanest energy source
0.25% of total U.S Energy Consumption
Electricity Production
Solar cell
Concentrated solar

5. Wind Renewable Widely distributed Plentiful Unpredictable
1.43% of total U.S Energy Consumption
Electricity Production
Extracted from air flow using wind turbines or sails
Gansu Wind Farm

6. Wood Renewable Major source of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
“Poor man’s oil”
Worldwide, provides 50-60% of the people with the barest energy necessities
1.98% of total U.S Energy Consumption
Heat is used to warm…
1. surrounding areas and/or
2. water

7. Hydroelectric Renewable Energy derived from falling water
Used since ancient times
2.83% of total U.S Energy Consumption
Electricity Production
Hydroelectric dams
Falling water turns giant turbines which drive the generators
Three Gorges Dam

8. Ocean Tides Renewable Not yet widely used but future potential
High costs & limited availability of sites
0.001% of total U.S Energy Consumption
Electricity Production
Tidal steam generators
Tidal barrage/lagoon
Tidal turbines

9. Geothermal
Renewable
Generated from thermal energy generated and stored in the Earth
Cost effective & reliable
Limited to areas near tectonic plate boundaries
U.S. is the largest producer of geothermal electricity
0.24% of total U.S Energy Consumption
Electricity Production
Heat deep underground is used to warm water that turns into steam and turns turbines

10. Biomass Renewable This is garbage!
As bacteria decomposes organic waste such as manure, food scraps, and pond sludge, methane is produced
Some cities produce electricity by burning garbage in especially designed power plants
Can be converted into biofuels – methane, ethanol, biodiesel
4.45% of total U.S Energy Consumption

11. Natural Gas Nonrenewable
Fossil fuel formed when layers of buried organic matter are exposed to intense heat and pressure over thousands of years
Hydrocarbon gas mixture consisting primarily of methane
Found deep underground in rock formations
Must be processed before use
27.34% of total U.S Energy Consumption
Primarily used to heat homes

12. Petroleum or oil Nonrenewable Fossil fuel
Black, thick liquid pumped up from below Earth’s surface
Formed when large quantities of dead organisms, usually algae, are buried subjected to intense heat and pressure
Refining process separates the gasoline portion used in transportation
Products from the remaining portions include: synthetic rubber, detergents, fertilizers, and textiles
36.48% of total U.S Energy Consumption

13. Coal Nonrenewable Most abundant fossil fuel
Combustible, black sedimentary rock
Primarily carbon
Burned for the production of electricity and/or heat
Burning coal produces sulfur dioxide (SO2) – results in acid rain
Mined either underground or by strip mining
18.27% of total U.S Energy Consumption

14. Nuclear Fission Nonrenewable Discovered in the 1930’s
Splitting the nucleus of an uranium atom releases a tremendous amount of heat
Power companies use the heat to produce electricity
Creates radioactive waste
8.46% of total U.S Energy Consumption

15. Conclusion Renewable Nonrenewable
Naturally replenished on a human timescale
Nonrenewable
Resource that does not renew itself at a sufficient rate for sustainable economic extraction in meaningful human time-frames