Environmental Science 101 Chapter 6 Nonrenewable Energy

Overview Nonrenewable Energy Resource Exist in fixed quantities (relative to renewal processes). Includes Fossil Fuels (Oil, Natural Gas, Coal) and *Uranium. Facts: 1. Provide 87% Commercial Energy (92% USA) 2. Harmful Environmental Impacts (1 million deaths/year, 68,000 USA) 3. Creates CO 2 – Greenhouse gas/Global Warming *

Chapter 1 – Laws of Thermodynamics 1 st Law of Thermodynamics Energy can not be created nor destroyed but can change forms 2 nd Law of Thermodynamics When energy is converted from one form to another it is always degraded to a lower-quality, less useful form Jays Version: You always lose! Page 12

Chapter 1 – Energy Quality Energy Quality Basics – measure of the capacity to do useful work High-Quality Low-Quality High Capacity Concentrated Low Capacity Diffuse Fossil Fuels Wind, Solar, Nuclear High Temperature Heat Heat/Moving Molecules Page 11

Net Energy Yield = Total Energy – Energy to Extract High QualityLow Quality It Takes Energy To Get Energy

Oil Basic Facts  Used in 1000’s of products  Gasoline  Heating  Food Production  Plastics  Hydrocarbons  Carbon (C)  Hydrogen (H)

World Oil Use

High Quality Low Quality Light Crude 77% in OPEC (2% USA) Low Pollution Easy to Refine Tar Sands Shale Oil 75% in Canada Venezuela High Pollution (S) Hard to Refine EROEI of 6.5 Oil Shale 75% in USA 11x Tar Sands 4x Light 400 year supply Medium to Refine Medium Pollution EROEI: Energy Returned on Energy Invested EROEI of EROEI of 10-20

Pollution Photochemical Smog Acid Deposition (Rain) Water Pollution CO 2 and Global Warming  Tar Sands 85% more  Oil Shale 35-50% more Problems with Oil

Ecological Strip Mining Needs large amounts of water Risk of Environmental Disaster

Problems with Oil Oil Supply How long will oil last (5 factors)?  Demand  Technology  Rate of Production  Cost of Production  Market Price 2% Increase/Year would use up Saudi Arabia in 7 years Peak Oil?

Coal Basic Facts  million years ago  Most abundant FF  Electrical Generation  China - 80%  USA - 45%  World – 41% Natural Reserves  USA – 28% ( years)  Russia 18%  China 13%  Enough for years!

Moffat County Coal Mine Problems with Coal Most Abundant Most Harmful Ecological Strip Mining Mountain Top Removal Underground Toxic Sludge Heavy Metals Ground Water Contamination Atmospheric Pollution Acid Rain (So x ) Mercury (Hg) Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) 3x Oil 5x Natural Gas 17x Nuclear 40% 25%

Problems with Coal 6 True Costs Pollution Control Devices $$ Market Price d/n include Environmental Cost Maybe most expensive method?

Basic Facts  Often found with Oil  Methane - CH 4  Least Polluting Fossil Fuel  The new “gold” Natural Gas

Natural Reserves  Russia 24%  Iran 16%  Qatar 14%  USA 4%

Problems with Natural Gas Natural Gas Shipping (LNG) is energy inefficient (lose 1/3) Fracking  Large amounts of water  May contaminate groundwater Release of Methane (CH 4 ) – more potent than CO 2 Flaring – waste + pollution No Testing! Not measured! Terrorists!

Nuclear Energy Basic Facts  435 Plants Worldwide (103 USA)  6% of Worlds Energy  USA Largest MW  France - 75% of energy Vocabulary  Chain Reaction  Fuel Rod  Control Rod  Containment Shell  Coolant/Moderator  Meltdown  Nuclear Fuel Cycle

Problems with Nuclear Power Low Net Energy Yield 35% Efficient 82% Lost Safety Issues Safety is Expensive 3 Mile Island Chernobyl Fukushima Radioactive Waste 10,000 year storage Leaks Terrorists/Accidents High Costs Initial Investment Large Safety Costs Disposal Nuclear Proliferation Civilian → Military 57 countries

Nuclear Waste Launch into Space Reprocessing Accidents = Bad! Expensive and Proliferation Risk Old Nuclear Plants 40 Year Lifespan Extended License 50% or more need Increased Risk? More Regulations A Closer Look at Two Issues Long Term (10,000) Storage Abandoned Yucca Mt. Decommissioning Expensive!

Future of Nuclear Power Growth Slowing New Generations Planned Book is way freaking against nuclear power Nuclear Fusion New Proposals We need to do something! Terrorists Again! Fail mileage standards Expensive Below Replacement Rate Terrorists Again! Accidents Might Happen Safer and Cheaper HTGC and Pebble Bed More Waste Less Radioactive Waste Not yet Probably Expensive HTGC and Pebble Bed Less Radioactive Waste No radioactivity Infinite Supply

Can Nuclear Power Solve Global Warming? Pro Produces 1/6 CO 2 Low emissions of particulates, SO x, NO x Con Won’t reduce dependence/use of Oil Need to build 1/week for next 70 years Expensive, takes 4-5 years to build

If we can’t stop using Fossil Fuels can we at least Decrease the Impacts? Reducing Air Pollution Reducing Carbon Dioxide Emissions Renewable Energy (Chapter 5)

Reducing Air Pollution Prevention “Front of Pipe” Cure “End of Pipe” Laws True Costs Energy Efficiency Mass/Alternate Transit Remove Sulfur from Coal Expensive Change of Lifestyle Smoke Stack Removal Tail Pipe Removal Ineffective/Inconsistent May fail if use ↑ EPA ↓ 54% for 6 Pollutants Grandfathered 20,000 Fail mileage standards ↓ SO 2 Emissions by 53% Regional Pollution Pay to Pollute

Reducing Carbon Dioxide Emissions Reduce Carbon Footprints 43% of Energy is Wasted Shift Energy Sources Increase use of Natural Gas VS % of Commercial Energy Natural Gas Leaks (CH 4 ) Expensive!

Energy Reserves

The Big Picture Evaluate Energy Policy and Sources Net Energy Yield Overall Benefit vs Harm Costs (Cradle to Grave) Read Page Future Considerations We will use Fossil Fuels Know is the time to decide! Conservation/Efficiency We might run out? Alternative Energy (Chapter 5)