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ENERGY SOURCES - Coggle Diagram
ENERGY SOURCES
RENEWABLE
SOLAR ENERGY
the most abundant source
solar panels
ISSUES
low efficiency
high intermittency
HYDROPOWER
relates on water cycle
turbines and generators
MEANS
dam - constructed to raise the water level and control its gravitational flow
run of river - relies on natural flow of river water
THE LARGEST SHARE OF ALL RENEWABLE SOURCE ELECTRICITY
BENEFITS
cost-competitive
reliable
flood control
reliable water supply
CONCERNS
damming affects local environment
inconvenience the locals
catastrophic dam failures
still some CO2 and methane emission
TIDAL POWER
converts the energy from natural rise and fall of water
can only be installed along coastlines
tidal barrages
tidal turbines
tidal fences
UPSIDES
easy to install
more cost-efficient tham wind power
no environmental impact
very predictable because tides are well-understood
DOWNSIDE
a very specific site requirements
SMALL IMPACT ON ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION
WIND POWER
relies on air currents
turbines and generators
convert air motion into mechanical energy
USE
create electricity
ADVANTAGE
no direct CO2 emissions
DISADVANTAGES
intermittency issue for power grids
high price tag
NIMBY CONCERNS - not in my back yard
land
birds
noise
aesthetics
specific site requirements
AN IMPORTANT PART OF GLOBAL ELECTRICITY SUPPLY MIX
GEOTHERMAL POWER
energy from the internal heat of the Earth
geothermal wells drilled into the Earth crust to the depth of 3-10 km
USES
direct heating of houses
to produce electricity through steam turbines
SITUATED IN THE MOST VOLCANICALLY ND TECTONICALLY ACTIVE REGIONS
a small player in energy mix
KEY ADVANTAGES
reliability
consistent power generation
can provide BASE-LOAD ELECTRICITY
KEY CONCERNS
CO2 emissions
hydrogen emissions
high energy production cost due to preliminary investigations
seismic sensing
test well drilling
confirmation testing
BIOFUELS
combustible liquids to replace liquid transportation fuels
TYPES
BIODIESEL
made of natural oils
ETHANOL
made of plants
GENERATIONS
1ST - from food crops
2ND - from cellulosic materials
wood
grasses
inedible parts of crop
3D - from algae
ADVANCED - from waste
garbage
animal fat
spent cooking oil
THE ONLY VIABLE REPLACEMENT TO PETROLEUM FUELS because it can be used in existing engines
DOWNSIDES
competition for resources - land, water, food - with other industries
deforestation
environmental impact
NON-RENEWABLE
FOSSIL FUELS
OIL
a mixture of organic water-insoluble compounds
SOURCE - oil wells
USES
to power transportation system
to make plastics and petrochemicals
CHALLENGES
land disturbance
transportation contributes to greenhouse gas emission
global geopolitical tensions
COAL
black combustible rock rich in carbon
SOURCE - coal mines
USES
heating
to produce electricity
to be converted into coke for steel making
to be converted inot natural gas or liquid transportation fuel
CHEAP AND ABUNDANT!
PROVIDES 40% OF ELECTRICITY
CONCERNS
mining
ecological impact
human safety issues
combustion
causes the most intensive CO2 - greenhouse gas - pollution
source of chemical airborn pollutants
ACID RAIN
source of particulate matter
SMOG
NATURAL GAS
a mixture of light gases primarily
METHANE
TYPES
conventional natural gas
shale gas
tight gas
coalbed methane
associated gas - together with oil
USES
domestic or industrial heating
to generate electricity
transportation fuel
agriculture
various chemical processes
COMPLICATIONS
CO2 pollution
greenhouse gas itself - 40 times more potent than CO2
HIGHLY TOXIC
HIGHLY EXPLOSIVE
NUCLEAR ENERGY
uses radioactive elements
NUCLEAR FISSION
RADIOACTIVE URANIUM
RADIOACTIVE PLUTONIUM
RADIOACTIVE THORIUM
PRODUCTION OF ELECTRICITY
NUCLEAR FUSION
POTENTIALLY IS ALMOST INEXHAUSTIBLE SOURCE OF ENERGY
insurmountable scientific and engineering challenge yet
deuterium+tritium
11% of GLOBAL ELECTRICITY GENERATION with 80% in OCDE (western block) countries
PLUSES
highly efficient - a million times more energy per atom than fossil fuels
low operating cost
ideal for base load generation
zero greenhouse gas emissions
MINUSES
DANGER OF nuclear accidents
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
generation of radioactive waste