Nonrenewable Energy Resources G. Tyler Miller’s Living in the Environment 14 th Edition Chapter 17 G. Tyler Miller’s Living in the Environment 14 th Edition Chapter 17
Key Concepts Available energy alternatives Oil resources Natural gas resources Coal resources Nuclear fission and fusion
Evaluating Energy Resources Renewable energy Non-renewable energy Future availability Net energy yield Costs Environmental effects Fig. 17-3b p. 352
Important Nonrenewable Energy Sources Fig p. 351
North American Energy Resources Fig p. 357
Oil Petroleum (crude oil) Recovery Petrochemicals Refining Transporting Fig p. 356
Conventional Oil: Advantages Relatively low cost High net energy yield Efficient distribution system Refer to Fig p. 360
Conventional Oil: Disadvantages Running out Low prices encourage waste Air pollution and Greenhouse gases Refer to Fig p. 360 Water pollution
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Controversy: Trade-offs Would create jobs Oil resources are uncertain Uncertain environmental impacts Refer to Fig p. 360 Drilling controversies
Oil Shale and Tar Sands Oil shale Kerogen Tar sand Bitumen Fig p. 362
Natural Gas 50-90% methane Conventional gas Unconventional gas Methane hydrate Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) Liquefied natural gas (LNG) Approximate 200 year supply Fig p. 363
Coal Stages of coal formation Primarily strip-mined Used mostly for generating electricity Enough coal for about 1000 years High environmental impact Coal gasification and liquefaction
Fig p. 364 Coal Formation and Types
Coal: Trade-offs Fig p. 365
Synthetic Fuels: Trade-offs Fig p. 365
Nuclear Energy Fission reactors Uranium-235 Potentially dangerous Radioactive wastes Refer to Introductory Essay p. 350 Fig p. 367
Locations of U.S. Nuclear Power Plants Fig p. 369
The Nuclear Fuel Cycle Fig p. 368
Conventional Nuclear Power: Trade-offs Fig p. 370
Serious Nuclear Accidents Three Mile Island (1979) Chernobyl (1986): p. 350 Three Mile Island (1979) Chernobyl (1986): p. 350
Dealing with Nuclear Waste High- and low-level wastes Terrorist threats Underground burial Disposal in space Burial in ice sheets Dumping into subduction zones Burial in ocean mud Conversion into harmless materials
Yucca Mountain Controversy Wastes stored and guarded in one place Possible long-term groundwater contamination Security and safety concerns during waste transport to the site Refer to Fig p. 374
Permanent Underground Disposal of Nuclear Wastes Storage Containers Fuel rod Primary canister Overpack container sealed Underground Buried and capped Ground Level Unloaded from train Lowered down shaft Personnel elevator Air shaft Nuclear waste shaft Fig p. 373
Nuclear Alternatives Breeder nuclear fission reactors Nuclear fusion New reactor designs