1. Comparison of Energy Resources
IB Syllabus:
AP Syllabus
Ch 15, 16
Video – A Crude Awakening

3. 3.3.1: Outline the range of energy resources available to a society
3.3.2: Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of two contrasting energy sources
3.3.3: Discuss the factors that effect the choice of energy sources adopted by different societies

4. Vocabulary Greenhouse gases Renewable natural capital
Non renewable natural capital
Pollution

5. Energy Resources Fossil fuels  coal, oil, natural gas
Nuclear  fission, fusion
Solar  passive, active
Hydroelectric
Geothermal
Wind
The relative use of different forms depends on the particular area, its needs and its own available resources

6. Hydropower, geothermal,
Nuclear power 6%
Hydropower, geothermal,
solar, wind 7%
Natural
Gas
12%
Biomass
11%
Coal
21%
Oil
32%
World

7. Natural Gas 23% Coal 22% Oil 39%
Nuclear power 8%
Hydropower
geothermal
solar, wind 4%
Natural
Gas
23%
Coal
22%
Biomass 4%
Oil
39%
United States

8. Energy consumption (quadrillion Btus)60
History
Projections
Oil 50
Natural gas 40
Coal
Nuclear
Energy consumption (quadrillion Btus) 30
Nonhydro
renewable 20
Renewable hydro 10
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2020
Year

9. 100 Wood Coal 80 60 Natural gas Oil 40 Hydrogen Solar 20 Nuclear 1800
Contribution to total energy
consumption (percent)
Oil 40
Hydrogen
Solar 20
Nuclear
1800
1875
1950
2025
2100
Year

10. When will it all run out? Future of nonrenewable resources depends on
Actual or Potential supply
Rate of consumption
Economic depletion – costs too much to use
Depletion time – time to use 80% of resource
Traditional measure of availability is reserve to production ratio – change is based on new sources and new processes

11. Depletion Curves A Mine, use, throw away; no new discoveries;
Present
Depletion
time A
time B
time C
Time
Production C B A
Recycle, reuse, reduce
consumption; increase
reserves by improved
mining technology,
higher prices, and
new discoveries
Recycle; increase reserves
by improved mining
technology, higher prices,
and new discoveries
Mine, use, throw away;
no new discoveries;
rising prices
Depletion
Curves

12. Economics & Mineral Resources
Resources are unequally distributed on the earth by geologic processes
In free market economy high supply should = lower price, while scarcity = increased price
Theory may no longer apply because of governmental control of resources & prices
Government Subsidies, Lower taxes, & increased purchasing power all benefit mining companies

13. Most power generation regardless of the type is based on heating water to create
Steam to turn a turbine and run a dynamo to create the electricity

14. Oil Low land use Easily transported within and between countries
High net
energy yield
Low cost (with
huge subsidies)
Ample supply for
42–93 years
Advantages
Moderate water
pollution
Releases CO2
when burned
Air pollution
Artificially low
price encourages
waste and
discourages
search for
alternatives
Need to find
substitute within
50 years
Disadvantages
Efficient distribu-
tion system
Oil

16. Coal Advantages Disadvantages Moderate existing supplies
Large potential
High costs
Low net energy
yield
Large amount of
water needed to
process
Severe land
disruption from
surface mining
Water pollution
from mining
residues
Air pollution
when burned
CO2 emissions
Easily transported
within and
between
countries
Efficient
distribution
system in place
Coal

17. Nuclear Power Low risk of accidents because of multiple safety
systems (except
in 35 poorly
designed and run
reactors in former
Soviet Union and
Eastern Europe)
Moderate land use
Moderate land
disruption and
water pollution
(without
accidents)
Emits 1/6 as
much CO2 as coal
Low
environmental
impact (without
Large fuel
supply
Spreads
knowledge and
technology for
building nuclear
weapons
No acceptable
solution for
long-term storage
of radioactive
wastes and
decommissioning
worn-out plants
Catastrophic
accidents can
happen
(Chernobyl)
High
impact (with major
Low net
energy yield
High cost (even
with large
subsidies)
Advantages
Disadvantages
Nuclear Power

18. Renewable energy

19. Solar Power Advantages Disadvantages Fairly high net energy
Work on cloudy
days
Quick installation
Easily expanded
or moved
No CO2 emissions
Low
environmental
impact
Last years
Low land use
(if on roof or built
into walls or
windows)
Reduce
dependence on
fossil fuels
Need access
to sun
Low efficiency
Need electricity
storage system
or backup
High land use
(solar cell power
plants) could
disrupt desert
areas
High costs
(but should be
competitive in
5-15 years)
DC current must
be converted
to AC
Solar Power

20. Transfer to a Sustainable Energy Future

21. Improve Energy Efficiency
More Renewable Energy
Increase renewable energy to
20% by 2020 and 50% by 2050
Increase fuel-efficiency
standards for vehicles,
buildings, and appliances
Provide large subsidies and tax
credits for renewable energy
Use full-cost accounting and
least-cost analysis for com-
paring all energy alternatives
Mandate government
purchases of efficient
vehicles and other devices
Encourage government
purchase of renewable energy
devices
Provide large tax credits for
buying efficient cars,
houses, and appliances
Greatly increase renewable
energy research and
development
Offer large tax credits for
investments in efficiency
Reduce Pollution and
Health Risk
Reward utilities for
reducing demand
Cut coal use 50% by 2020
Phase out coal subsidies
Encourage independent
power producers
Levy taxes on coal and oil use
Phase out nuclear power or put
it on hold until 2020
Greatly increase efficiency
research and development
Phase out nuclear power
subsidies

22. So why use one type over another
Iceland uses geothermal energy because of their location and its low environmental impacts
China, US, Russia use coal because they have a lot of it available and it’s cheap economically
US dependence on oil is cultural because of our insistence on cars, suburbs, bigger, more, better
EU more nuclear power use because of environmental benefits and they have the technology to do it
LDCs use wood, dung other biofuels that are easily collected

23. With impending effects of climate change the use of carbon dioxide producing energy sources is being questioned around the world
Our dependence is deep  how will we change something that is so deeply ingrained in our way of life?