Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Chap 13: ENERRGY RESOURCES - Coggle Diagram
Chap 13: ENERRGY RESOURCES
A more
sustainable energy future
How
Dramatically improving energy efficiency
Using a mix of renewable energy resources
Adjusting market prices
Choosing Energy Paths
A gradual shift away from non-renewable fossil fuel use to a mix of renewable energy resources
solar
wind
hydro
geothermal
Fossil fuels are abundant and artificially cheap
the key is to reduce
harmful
environmental
health impacts
Advantages and Disadvantages of
Using Renewable Energy
Meeting
our energy needs
Reducing the effects
on the environment
less pollution
less greenhouse gas emissions
less biodiversity
loss
Use of renewable energy
Government financial subsidies for research
much less than those for fossil fuels
Subsidies must be renewed more often –
Free-market competition with fossil fuels does not
include full-cost pricing
Transitioning from one type of fuel to another
takes about 60 years
Heating and Cooling Buildings
Heat buildings and water with solar energy
Passive
Active solar heating
Cool buildings
Plant trees for shade
Using light colored roofs to reflect heat
Using geothermal heat pumps to pump cool air from
underground
Using Sunlight
Solar cells convert sunlight to electrical
energy
Providing electricity
Low to medium net energy yield
The number one source of energy for the
world by 2100
Electricity From Falling and Flowing Water
Hydropower
Building dams
Only 13% of hydropower potential developed
Microhydropower generators
Electricity and Wind Power
The potential to produce 40x
the current global use of electricity
Onshore wind farms
Offshore wind farms
Subsidy support and smart grids
Full-cost pricing→The least
costly way to produce electricity
Conversion of Plants to Liquid Biofuels
Biomass can be burned as a solid fuel
Ethanol have
advantages over gasoline
Biofuel crops grow anywhere
Biofuel crops reduce
dependence on imported oil
If used sustainably – no increase in CO2 gas
Easy to store/transport, especially in cars
Geothermal Energy
Heat stored in
soil
underground rocks
fluids in the earth's mantle
What is energy ? Why is it important ?
Net yield energy
Determine long-term ussefulness of energy resources
Net energy yield = total energy produced - energy required to produce it
Greatly depending on the source of energy
Net energy yield ≤ 0 --> the resource cannot compete in the
marketplace
Example: Electricity produced by wind, coal, hydropower has high NEY but natural gas produce medium NEY and Hydrogen produce negative NEY
Our energy choices and decisions impact Earth's natural systems in ways
Without energy, there is no life
What Are the Advantages and
Disadvantages of Using Fossil Fuel?
Disadvantages
Degrades the environment
Causes air and water pollution
Releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere
Advantages
They are easily available
Be inexpensive to extract and process
Fossil Fuels Supply Most of Our Commercial Energy
Advantage
Produce most of our energy
Disadvantage
Violate the principle of sustainability
Energy Used By Source
Extracting and Refining Oil
Finding/extracting oil: 3-D seismic maps and computers to find deposits, drill to check deposits, then drill production wells
Crude oil reduces net energy yield
Disadvantage
The supply is not unlimited
Other Oil Possibilities
Use of oil as an energy resource
Disadvantages
Adds greenhouse gases to the atmosphere
Contributes to climate change
Shale oil
Tar sands/oil sands
Heavy oils
Advantages
Large potential supplies
Easily transported within and between countries
Efficient distribution system in place
Disadvantages
Low net energy yield
Release CO2 and other air pollutants when produced and burned
Severe land disruption and high water use
Natural gas
Advantages
Ample supplies
Versatile fuel
Medium net energy yield
Emit less CO2 and other air pollutants than other fossil fuels when burned
Disadvantages
Low net energy yield for LNG
Production and delivery may emit more CO2 and CH4 per unit of energy produced than coal
Fracking uses and pollutes large volumes of water
Potential groundwater pollution from fracking
Coal
Advantages
Ample supplies in many countries
Medium to high net energy yield
Low cost when environmental costs are not included
Disadvantages
Severe land disturbance and water pollution
Fine particle and toxic mercury emissions threaten human health
Emits large amounts of CO2 and other air pollutants when produced and burned
Why Is Energy Efficiency an Important Energy Resource?
We Use Energy Inefficiently
Energy efficiency: measure of work from each unit of energy, meaning that we need more
work for less energy
Internet data centers (and cloud-based storage) use 10% of electrical energy from grid – other 90% is wasted as heat
Poor insulation in badly designed buildings – wastes the energy to heat and cool them
Almost Vietnamese commute to work
Improving Energy Efficiency
Make electric car motors more efficient
Recycle materials, especially steel and other metals
Improve designs of data centers
Convert electrical grids into smart grids
Connect solar and wind power to grids
Cogeneration: use a combined heat and power system to recycle steam as heat
Conventional Gasoline-Electric Hybrid Vehicle
Energy Efficiency and Green Construction
Improving Energy Efficiency in Existing Buildings
Use superinsulation, geothermal heat pumps, and solar heating to heat buildings
Insulate buildings/plug leaks
Heat water more efficiently by using tankless hot water systems/energy saving appliances
Plug electrical devices into smart power strips and don’t leave electronics in standby mode
Use energy-efficient computers and lighting
Why Are We Still Wasting Energy and Money?
Fossil fuels are cheap, but violate full-cost pricing principle of sustainability
Few, if any, economic incentives for encouraging energy efficiency
Lack of public education about energy use
Japan earthquake/tsunami closed nuclear plants – now Japan has replaced ½ its power use by conserving electricity!
You Can Save Energy and Money Where You Live
Use principles of sustainability
Green roofs – soil and vegetation roofs that help insulate a building
Superinsulation (uses 90% less energy) – airtight structures are heated/cooled mainly with sunlight, appliances and body heat
Green architecture – solar heating, efficient windows, appliances and lighting
Build facing sun to use solar power
Other Ways To Improve Energy Efficiency
Build/improve mass transit systems
Give consumers tax breaks/subsidies to buy
fuel efficient, smaller vehicles
Increase funding for research of hybrid car development and recharging stations
ADVANTAGES
Most abundant fossil,fuel
Lots of energy
Relatively inexpensive
Power plants relatively cheap to build
DISADVANTAGES
High environmental impact (air, water, plant, acid rain)
Global warming, high CO2 emissions
Toxic mercury and radioactivity
Dangerous to miner