Solar Energy

• Solar energy comes from the nuclear fusion of hydrogen atoms that make up
the sun's mass.
• Produces several indirect forms of renewable solar energy > wind,
hydropower, biomass (solar energy converted to chemical energy and stored in
the chemical bonds of organic compounds in trees and other plants)

Net Energy
• Is the amount of high quality usable energy available from a resource after
the energy needed to make it available for use.
• IT TAKES ENERGY TO MAKE ENERGY
• The usable amount of high-quality energy available from a given quantity of
an energy resource is its net energy.
• The higher the ratio the greater the energy

Oil
Crude Oil (Petroleum)
• Crude oil - thick liquid containing hydrocarbons that we extract from ,
underground deposits and separate into products such as gasoline, heating oil,
and asphalt.
• Consists of hydrocarbons as well as sulfur, oxygen and nitrogen impurities
• Formed from decaying remains of organisms living 100-500 million years ago.
• Seismic, satellite, ground and air surveys, drill rock cores and exploratory
wells - location of oil
• Extraction - refinery
• Heated and distilled to separate it into components with different boiling
points
• Refining oil - decreases its net energy yield
• Petrochemicals - products of oil distillation
• Used as raw materials in industrial organic chemicals, pesticides, plastics,
synthetic fibers, paints, medicines and many other products
Advantage Disadvantage
Abundant supply Substitution will be needed
Low cost Air pollution
High net energy CO2 released
Low land use Water pollution
Efficient distribution system
Natural Gas
Conventional Natural Gas
• A mixture of gases, hydrocarbons (ethane, propane, butane and hydrogen
sulfide)
• Versatile fuel - can be burned to heat space and water and to propel vehicles
with inexpensive engine
• Burning natural gases releases CO2
• Runs medium turbines - production of electricity (twice the energy efficiency)
• Cheaper
• Require less time

Unconventional Natural Gas

• Found in underground sources
• Coal bed methane gas (coal beds)
o Removing methane before mining the coal reduces methane exposed
to atmosphere
o Problems : public backlash, temporary jobs, waste water pits (pollute
air and water and scar the land)
• Methane hydrate
o Methane trapped in icy, cagelike structures of water molecules

Advantages Disadvantages
Abundance Nonrenewable resource
High net energy yield Produce co2
Low cost Methane
Lower co2 emissions than fossil Difficulty to transfer (internationally)
fuel
Transported by pipelines Burned off and wasted
Low land use Requires pipelines
Good fuel for gas turbines

Coal
• A solid fossil fuel
• Buried remains of land plants that lived 300-400 million years ago were
subjected to intense heat and pressure over many millions of years
• Power plants
• Anthracite - most desirable - high heat content and low sulfur content - less
common and more expensive
+ -
Most abundant fossil fuel Land disturbance
High net energy Air pollution
Low cost Water pollution
Well developed mining High land use
Pollution can be reduced Severe threat to human health
High co2 emissions
Release radioactive particles
• Synthetic natural gas
o From coal gasification
+ -
Large potential supple Low net energy yield
Vehicle fuel Higher cost than coal
Not expensive Requires mining
Lower air pollution when High environmental impact
burned than coal
Increased surface mining of coal
High water use
Higher co2 emissions than coal
Nuclear Energy
• When isotopes of uranium and plutonium undergo controlled nuclear fission
= heat produces steam that spins turbines to generate electricity
+ -
Large fuel supply Expensive
Low environmental impact Low net energy
Emits 1/6 as much as coal Accidents cause high environmental impact
Low land disruption Accidents can happen
Terrorist attack (weapons)
High radioactive waste
• Wastes
o Bury it deep underground
o Shoot it into space or to the sun
o Buried under ice sheets
o Dump in subduction zone
o Change to harmless or less harmful isotopes

Nuclear Fusion
• A nuclear change - 2 isotopes of light elements are forced together at
extremely high temperatures to form heavy nucleus - releasing energy
• Limitless resource of electricity
• Used to destroy toxic wastes
• Supply electricity
• Decompose water to produce the hydrogen gas needed to run hydrogen
economy
• No risk of meltdown or release of large amounts of radioactive materials from
terrorist attack

Reducing Energy Waste

• Prolongs fossil fuel supplies
• Reduces oil imports
• High net energy
• Reduce pollution and environmental degradation
• Creates jobs

Saving Energy in Existing Buildings

• Insulate and plug leaks
• Use energy efficient windows
• Stop other heating and cooling losses
• Heat houses more efficiently
• Heat water more efficiently
• Use energy efficient appliances
• Use energy efficient lighting

Solar Energy to provide heat and electricity

• Passive solar heating system

+ -
Energy is free Need access to sun
 Moderate net energy Need heat storage system
Quick installation High cost
No co2 emission
Low land disturbance
Solar cells
• Converts sunlight to electricity

• Active solar heating system

 + -
Fairly high net energy Need access to sun
Work on cloudy days Low efficiency
Quick installatiosn Need electricity storage system
No co2 emission High land use
Low environmental impact High cost
Reduces dependence on fossil
fuels

Hydropower

Wind Turbine
Biomass
Gaseous Biofuels
o Synthetic natural gas
o Wood gas

+ -
High net energy High construction cost
High efficiency Flooding
Low cost electricity High co2 emission from biomass
decay
Long life span Danger of collapse
No co2 emission during Decrease fish
operation
Flood control

+ -
High net energy Steady winds needed
High efficiency Backup system needed
Low electricity cost High land use for wind farm
 No co2 Noise pollution
Easily expanded May with migratory birds

Solid Biomass
o Wood logs and pellets
o Charcoal
o Agricultural Waste
o Timbering wastes
o Animal wastes
o Aquatic plants
o Urban wastes

Liquid Biofuels
o Ethanol - renewable - reduce co2 emissions
o Methanol
o Gasohol
o Biodiesel

Geothermal Energy
• Geothermal energy stored in the earth's mantle to heat and cool buildings
and to produce electricity

+ -
High efficiency Scarcity
Low co2 emissions Noise and odor
Low costs Cost too high

Hydrogen
• Best fuel to replace oil

+ -
Produce from water Energy is needed to produce it
Low environmental impact Negative net energy
Renewable High cost
Good substitute for oil
High efficiency