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NON-RENEWABLE AND RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES - Coggle Diagram
NON-RENEWABLE AND RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
OIL (petroleum / crude)
1) found in reservoirs
2) extracted most commonly by drilling well
3) transported to refinery where undergoes a process that creates petroleum products
Petroleum products:
gasoline
diesel
jet-fuel
asphalt
powers its transportation system and creates commonly used synthetic products
plastics
petrochemicals
producing causes land-disturbance
COAL (made of carbon)
Types:
lignite
sub-bituminous
bituminous
anthracite
the higher the grade of coal, the more versatile its uses
extracted from the earth through underground mining (accounts for a larger share of world coal production) or surface mining
concerns:
ecological impacts
human safety
pollution problems
can be burned for heating or to produce electricity
high quality coal is a useful raw material -> steelmaking; converted to liquid or synthetic gas -> replacement for natural gas or liquid fuels
cheap energy resource, provides 40% of the world's electricity
NATURAL GAS (methane)
found underground rocks (reservoirs)
dry (methane) / wet (compounds (ethane + butane + methane))
NGLS (liquids) used in refrigerants, to produce products
shale gas, coalbed methane, sour gas, tight gas have specific extraction techniques
associated gas is sometimes extracted alongside oil
gathering lines -> processing plants -> 'pipeline quality' dry natural gas -> through feeders -> distribution centers / stored
LNG (liquefied) transformed across oceans
used for domestic or industrial heating
generates electricity
fuel vehicles
feedstock for fertilizers
fuel cells
fewer greenhouse emissions and air pollutants when burned
leaks are dangerous because it's colorless, odorless, highly toxic and explosive gas
SOLAR
most abundant, renewable energy source
doesn't emit any greenhouse gases
harnessed by solar photovoltaics and solar thermal
PV converts sunlight into direct current electricity by using semiconductor
solar thermal utilizes the heat for heating or electricity production
efficiency and intermittency are issues
HYDRO POWER (flowing water -> electricity)
produce electricity using turbines and generators
types of production: dams and run of river
dams: higher reservoir -> turbine -> generator - > transformer -> electricity
mainly depends on natural water flow
holds the largest share of worldwide electricity production
benefits:
cost-competitive
reliable
base-load power
flood control
water supply
concerns:
changing wildlife habitats
blocking fish passage
forcing people to move
dam failures are catastrophic
not completely free of greenhouse gas emissions
TIDAL POWER (hydropower that converts the energy from the natural rise and fall of the tides into electicity)
tidal plants can only be installed along coastlines -> 2 high tides and 2 low tides
tidal technologies: tidal barrages, tidal fences, tidal turbines
tidal barrages - most efficient tidal energy sources (a dam that utilizes the potential energy generated by the change in height between high and low tides)
tidal fences are turbines that operate like giant turnstiles
tidal turbines are similar to wind turbines, connected to a generator
easy to install
renewable
no greenhouse gas emissions
low environmental impact
very predictable energy source
low usage:
tide cycles do not always match the daily consumption patterns of electricity
WIND POWER
wind speeds based on:
geography
topography
seasons
wind energy -> mechanical energy -> electricity
turbines -> blades (3) + electromagnetic generator
intermittency issues for power grids
price tag is high
NIMBY (not in my back yard) concerns
no direct co2 emissions
GEOTHERMAL (from the internal heat of the Earth)
geothermal wells are drilled into the Earth's crust -> extracted by using water and steam
hot water -> directly to heat homes and buildings
electricity in a geothermal power plant
in the most volcanically and tectonically active regions of the world
reliable and consistent = base-load electricity
accidental release of co2 and hydrogen sulfide emissions
can lower the ground temperature below the surface
upfront costs are relatively high (expensive to carry out seismic sensing test well drilling, confirmation testing)
NUCLEAR ENERGY
obtained by two types of reaction: fission and fusion
fission - splitting of atoms -> heat energy release = electricity
1,000,000 times more energy per atom than fossil fuels
fusion is a nuclear reaction -> atomic nuclei collide, form a new type of nucleus - inexhaustible source of energy
11% of global electricity generation
80% of that installed capacity in OECD countries
base-load generation
can be integrated into grids
upfront capital costs are intensive -> financial risks
doesn't emit greenhouse gas emissions
uranium mill tailings, spent reactor fuel - generation of radioactive wastes
can stay hazardous to human health and the environment for 1000s of years
BIOFUELS (ethanol and biodiesel for transportation) -> a replacement for or additive to gasoline
biodiesel is oil produced, can be combusted in diesel engines or blended with diesel fuel
3 biofuel categories:
food crops
cellulosic
algae
advanced biofuels
garbage
animal fats
cooking oils = liquid fuels
the only viable replacement to petroleum transportation fuels
provide energy security
competition with other natural resources
deforestation
biodiversity loss
water and fertilizer use