Energy Sources and Demands

Energy Units BTU (British Thermal Unit) – the energy need to raise 1 lb of water 1 degree F Joules – 1 newton * meter Watt – unit of power. 1 J per second. Kilowatt hour – electrical measurement, measures power consumption = 1000 Watts per hour.

Units Cont… 1 BTU is roughly 1.06 kJ http://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm/index.cfm?page=about_btu

U.S. Energy Demands https://www.eia.gov/consumption/

US Energy Consumption

Average Household Electricity According to EIA, in 2015 avg. household used 10,812 kWh or electricity alone or 901 kWh per month 36,890,544 BTUs of electricity per household Louisiana was highest, Hawaii lowest

US Energy Supply

US Energy Production

Energy in WI http://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=wi 103 million total BTUs per household site http://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=wi

Raw Energy Prices http://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm/index.cfm?page=about_btu *The efficiency of the device (generator, car engine, or household combustion appliance) burning the fuel will determine how much of the fuel’s heat content is converted to useful energy (electricity, horsepower, or space heat). Environmental emissions and equipment costs are other factors that should also be taken into account.

Energy Sources Non-Renewable: fossil fuels and nuclear Renewable: biomass, geothermal, hydroelectric, solar, hydrogen, wind, other water based sources

Fossil Fuels Coal Natural Gas Petroleum Products

Coal Pros Cons Cheapest US has 25% of coal reserves Infrastructure already place Cons Carbon Dioxide emissions Sulfate emission create acid rain

Natural Gas Predominantly a methane based hydrocarbon

Natural Gas Pros Cons Low cost Easy/efficient distribution Cleanest fossil fuel Cons Green house gas emissions Water contamination

Petroleum Used to produce almost all liquid fuels. Pros Cons Easily portable Combustion Engines Cons Transportation is dangerous CO2 Emissions Limited Supply

Nuclear Produced through fission of atoms Split to heat water, water turns turbine. Depending on size, generate around 12, 192 mWh per day = 4,450,080 mWh per year

Nuclear Cons Pros Nuclear waste disposal Potential terrorist target Nuclear accidents Pros Lots of energy produced No harmful emissions Small space relative to production

Renewable Sources Defined as anything that can be regenerated over a short period of time relative to our lifespans.

Wind Power A turbine attached to a generator is spun by air currents Vary in capacity Most onshore have a capacity of 2.5 -3 MW 10 KW turbine will power a single household 1.65 MW can power 470 avg households, 4.7 million kWh in a year http://www.ewea.org/wind-energy-basics/faq/ http://www.culturechange.org/wind.htm

Wind Power Pros Cons Renewable Space can still be used for agriculture Low maintenance Cons Expensive initial investment Can harm migrating birds Produce low humming noise (43 decibels)

Solar Power and Cells Cells are photovoltaic – use photons to excite and move electrons Others involve focusing sunlight with lenses and mirrors to heat water Need some form on inverter and battery for solar cells and panels Average output for individual panel is 200 W (65 x 39 inches)

Solar Power Cons Pros Expensive installation Needs to be in a sunny environment Batteries need to be advanced for storage Pros Renewable energy Government tax incentives for installation Silent Low maintenance

Largest farm produces 850 MW in China, 14 square km. 1 MW will power roughly 162 US Homes

Hydroelectric Use pressure differential to turn turbines Cons Pros Destroys river habitats and lots of land upstream Alters water downstream Expensive initial investment Pros Renewable Consistent http://energyinformative.org/wave-energy-pros-and-cons/

Wave power Hydraulic pumps to turn turbines 30MW per year avg. per site. Around 20000 homes Pros Huge potential Power avg of 20000 homes per site Reliable Cons Tourism, kind of ugly Installation costs

Tidal Power Works very similarly to a hydroelectric dam 20 suitable sites in the world Cons Changes tidal mud flats and drastically alters ecosystems Only 10 hours of actual energy production a day Pros Very dependable, tides consistent

Geothermal Use wet or dry steam to turn turbines Send water into hot rocks in the Earth’s crust Cons Cool rocks too much, no longer works Very site specific Pros Almost no maintenance once constructed Small No emissions

Biomass Use for burning similar to coal or for producing liquid fuels (i.e. biodiesel) Pros Cleaner emissions than petroleum Made from agricultural waste Large store/source/supply Cons Still produces emissions Requires space Can lead to deforestation

Hydrogen Fuel Cells Liberates hydrogen from oxygen in water using electrolysis Pros Completely renewable No emissions Cons Expensive