Energy

Canada is the largest per capita user of energy because: –We live in a northern climate – heat –Small population with a large land mass – transportation needs –Advanced industrial economy –Energy is cheap = waste

1. Conventional Energy Sources Water Coal Oil Natural gas

2. Alternative Energy Sources Solar Wind Biomass

Energy can be divided between Renewable & Non Renewable Energy

Conventional Energy: Renewable Resources

Conventional Energy Energy that is commonly used as sources of: Heat Light Power

What is Renewable Energy? Definition - An energy supply that can REPRODUCE itself fairly quickly (can make more within our lifetime) Example: wood –It grows relatively quickly (especially bamboo) and is used for heat, light and power

1. Hydroelectric Power Power that is created by falling water. Example: Niagara Falls About 60% of all of Canada’s electricity comes from hydroelectric power.

Two Benefits of Hydroelectric Power are… 1. It is cheap because no fuel is needed 2. no burning fuel means no air pollution

Two Problems with Hydroelectric power are… 1. it is very expensive to build and repair 2. often must be built far from energy customers

NON RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY Conventional Energy

Conventional Energy: Non- Renewable Sources of Energy Definition –Energy that CANNOT reproduce itself (once it’s gone, it’s gone forever!) Examples Nuclear Fossil fuels: Thermal Electric:

1. Nuclear Power Plant Inside a nuclear power plant, atomic particles (neutrons) are fired at uranium atoms. As the uranium atoms shatter apart, they release heat energy and radioactivity. The heat energy is then converted to electricity inside the power plant.

Nuclear Power Plant This process uses up the uranium which is a non-renewable resource Nuclear reactors produce about 15% of Canada’s electricity

Two Benefits of Nuclear Power Plants are… 1. They are cheap to run – especially in Canada because we have a lot of uranium 2. Nothing is burned, so there is no air pollution

Two Problems with Nuclear Power Plants are… 1. They are very expensive to build and maintain 2. If the reactor fails, radioactivity can kill plant workers and members of the public

2. What are Fossil Fuels? Fossil fuels contain the stored CARBON of things that were once ALIVE Examples are: coal, oil and natural gas

What are Fossil Fuels… About 25% of Canada’s electricity comes from burning non-renewable fossil fuels They power almost all our modes of transportation They heat and cool most of our homes, businesses and industries (and schools!)

Fossil Fuels Rick Mercer – Oil Sands

Benefits of Fossil Fuels Easily Available Produces a large amount of Energy

Problems with Fossil Fuels Environmental Damage causing climate change Rising gas prices Human Health is being affected by the decrease of the ozone layer Need huge amount of reserves due to human dependency

3. Thermal Electric Power Energy created by heat and/or steam This is the cheapest form of the conventional energy systems

How does it work?? Coal is burned in furnaces to provide enough heat to boil water and create steam. The steam spins turbines that produce electricity

One Benefit of Thermal Electric Power is… It is the least expensive type of conventional energy

One Problem of Thermal Electric Power is… Carbon from burned fossil fuels harms the atmosphere causing… –Air pollution –Climate change –Acid rain