Alternate Energy Beyond the Age of Oil

Remember…. Needs to be versatile: Heat Electricity Generation Transportation (Internal combustion or other)

Nuclear What can it be used for: Heat Electricity Generation  Transportation (other than via electricity) E = mc 2

2004/2005 Nuclear Output Electricity Production (billion kwh) Operating Reactors Under Construction Planned or Proposed Uranium Required (metric tons) World ,357 U.S ,397 16% of World Electricity U.S. is #1 Nuclear Energy Producer

Uranium Ore Earth’s Crust (average): % Uranium Ore: % Uranium (Uraninite - Pitchblende) MinedProcessedEnriched

Uranium Ore Processed: Uranium extracted from rock MinedProcessedEnriched

Uranium Ore Uranium consists of 3 isotopes: U-234,U-235 & U-238 Only U-235 is “fissionable” Natural Uranium is <1% U-235 Fuel needs to be enriched to at least 3% U-235 MinedProcessedEnriched

Uranium Ore World Uranium Resource - 3,107,000 metric tons 3% in U.S. (100,000 metric tons) 5 yrs supply in U.S. (depend on imports) 44 yrs supply in world at current consumption rate! MinedProcessedEnriched

Nuclear Fission Reactor - Controlled reaction Bomb - Uncontrolled reaction

Controlled by “Control Rods”

Reactor

Waste Yucca Mtn, NV High-Level Waste Cesium-137 Strontium-90 Plutonium-239 Low-Level Waste Mine Tailings

SNF - Spent Nuclear Fuel HLW - High Level Waste

Nuclear Conclusions ProsCons 1.Big output for little fuel (1 pellet = 4 barrels oil) 2.Relatively clean (no greenhouse gas) 1.Expensive start up costs 2.Potential for major disaster 3.Nonrenewable 4.Waste Outlook: A temporary solution at best. Is it worth high start-up costs and potential problems? Need to figure out solution for waste.

Alternative: Breeder Reactor Convert U-238 into Plutonium-239 (“Waste product”) Lots of U-238 Currently 1% of all reactors Extremely hot (needs liquid sodium coolant) & Plutonium is a weapons grade material

Nuclear Fusion (Cold Fusion)

Nuclear Fusion Conclusions ProsCons 1.Fuel --> water 2.Enormous energy output (Hydrogen from 1 km 2 of seawater = total world oil reserves) 1.We can’t do it (yet)! Outlook: Would be cool, but still science fiction.

Renewable Alternatives 1.Biomass Burning 2.Geothermal Energy 3.Wind 4.Water: Hydroelectric 5.Tidal 6.Ocean-Thermal Electric Conversion 7.Solar: Passive and Active 8.Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Biomass Burning What can it be used for: Heat Electricity Generation Transportation (other than via electricity) Direct burning: Wood/charcoal Dung Garbage Biofuels/Ethanol Digestion/burning: Sewage Animal Waste Garbage

Direct Burning

Waste Digestion Renton Sewage Treatment Plant 1.Waste decays & gives off methane 2.Methane captured 3.Methane burned for energy, or 4.Hydrogen from methane used to power fuel cell

Biofuels Bioethanol Produced from fermentation of sugars in high-energy plants Often mixed with gasoline Biodiesel Produced from vegetable oil, animal oil/fats, tallow and waste cooking oil Works in diesel engines

Biomass Conclusions ProsCons 1.Renewable 2.No net greenhouse gas 3.Decrease landfill input 4.Reduce methane 5.Burns waste products 6.Fits oil infrastructure 1.Air pollution (smoke/soot) 2.Habitat loss (forest) 3.Desertification 4.Biofuels - agricultural impacts Outlook: Methane digestion, biofuels, etc. have great potential. Wood, burning waste, etc. must be managed correctly to prevent pollution and habitat loss.

Geothermal Energy What can it be used for: Heat Electricity Generation  Transportation (other than via electricity)

Geothermal Power Plant

The Geysers Geothermal Plant, CA 1,100 Megawatts (Declined over last 20 yrs)

Geothermal Potential

Geothermal Heat Pumps Geothermal heat for individual buildings

Geothermal Conclusions ProsCons 1.Relatively clean, no greenhouse gases 2.Renewable 3.Minimal impact 4.Zinc extracted from water 1.Regional 2.Expensive: water is corrosive 3.Smells 4.Potential for water pollution Outlook: Good but limited to select regions. Will never be a major percentage of U.S. energy production. Heat pumps good but currently expensive.