1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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.

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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