Nonrenewable Nonrenewable EnergyEnergy

Fossil Fuels (coal, oil, Fossil Fuels (coal, oil, natural gas)natural gas)

Fossil fuels account for 90% of energy Fossil fuels account for 90% of energy used in developed countries.used in developed countries.

By 2050, world energy demand is By 2050, world energy demand is projected to double.projected to double.

2 BIG problems we face:2 BIG problems we face:

1.1. Fossil fuels are limited in supplyFossil fuels are limited in supply

2.2. Extracting and burning fossil fuels Extracting and burning fossil fuels causes environmental problemscauses environmental problems

Why do we use so much Why do we use so much fossil fuel?fossil fuel?

The U.S. is REALLY big!The U.S. is REALLY big! More than 25% of energy is used to transport More than 25% of energy is used to transport

goods and peoplegoods and people Small countries with efficient rail systems use Small countries with efficient rail systems use

less fuelless fuel Gas is CHEAP!Gas is CHEAP! U.S. has some of the lowest oil taxes in the U.S. has some of the lowest oil taxes in the

world.world.World oil clock: World oil clock:

http://scienceblogs.com/deanscorner/2011/03/oil_clock_a_wake_up_call.php?utm_source=sbhomepage&utm_medium=link&utm_content=channellink

CoalCoal Coal – the most abundant fossil fuel. Provides more Coal – the most abundant fossil fuel. Provides more

than 50% of electricity in the U.S.than 50% of electricity in the U.S. Burning coal results in the release of sulfur dioxide, Burning coal results in the release of sulfur dioxide,

particulate matter, mercury and carbon dioxideparticulate matter, mercury and carbon dioxide

OilOil Oil pumped out of the Oil pumped out of the

ground is called crude ground is called crude oil or petroleumoil or petroleum

Fractional distillationFractional distillation separates the separates the components of components of petroleum based on petroleum based on different boiling pointsdifferent boiling points

40% of petroleum is 40% of petroleum is used to make gasolineused to make gasoline

What is the rest for?What is the rest for? Oil Platform in the North Sea

Which countries have the Which countries have the most oil?most oil?

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2178rank.html

Unconventional oil Unconventional oil depositsdeposits Oil sands and oil shaleOil sands and oil shale Major damage to the Major damage to the

land from surface land from surface miningmining

Requires large Requires large amounts of water and amounts of water and energy to extractenergy to extract

Releases more Releases more greenhouse gasgreenhouse gas

Oil sands in Alberta, Canada

Natural gasNatural gas Mainly methane gasMainly methane gas Used for heating, electricity, transportation, Used for heating, electricity, transportation,

chemicals, plasticschemicals, plastics Abundant in the U.S.Abundant in the U.S. The cleanest fossil fuel (produces less CO2 The cleanest fossil fuel (produces less CO2

when burned than coal or oil)when burned than coal or oil) Gas shale is extracted by a process called Gas shale is extracted by a process called

hydraulic fracturing hydraulic fracturing (Fracking)(Fracking)

FrackingFracking

Up to 9 million Up to 9 million gallons of water gallons of water mixed with chemicals mixed with chemicals are forced at high are forced at high pressure into the pressure into the shale (rock)shale (rock)

The shale is broken The shale is broken and the gas is and the gas is releasedreleased

Environmental concerns Environmental concerns over frackingover fracking

Requires too much waterRequires too much water Ground water contaminationGround water contamination Fracking fluid disposal (some of the Fracking fluid disposal (some of the

chemicals used cause cancer)chemicals used cause cancer) Methane gas leaksMethane gas leaks EarthquakesEarthquakes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHQu3

SeUwUI

Nuclear EnergyNuclear Energy Nuclear power plants Nuclear power plants

get their energy from get their energy from within the nucleus of within the nucleus of an atom.an atom.

Atoms of the element Atoms of the element UraniumUranium are used as are used as fuelfuel

Iowa’s nuclear power Iowa’s nuclear power plant “Duane Arnold.” plant “Duane Arnold.” NW of Cedar Rapids. NW of Cedar Rapids.

How does a nuclear How does a nuclear power plant work?power plant work?

Uranium atoms are Uranium atoms are bombarded with nuclear bombarded with nuclear particles called “neutrons”particles called “neutrons”

This causes the nucleus to This causes the nucleus to split (split (nuclear fissionnuclear fission) )

The splitting of the nucleus The splitting of the nucleus releases energy and more releases energy and more neutronsneutrons

This sets off a chain reactionThis sets off a chain reaction Nuclear power plants control Nuclear power plants control

the chain reactionthe chain reaction

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJfIbBDR3e8

Advantages of Nuclear Advantages of Nuclear EnergyEnergy

A very concentrated A very concentrated energy sourceenergy source

Nuclear power plants Nuclear power plants do notdo not produce produce greenhouse gasesgreenhouse gases

Managed correctly, a Managed correctly, a nuclear power plant nuclear power plant produces less produces less radioactivity than a radioactivity than a coal fired power plantcoal fired power plant One Uranium pellet = 1,780 lbs of coal

Concerns over Nuclear Concerns over Nuclear EnergyEnergy

Building a Nuclear Building a Nuclear Power Plant is very Power Plant is very expensiveexpensive

Nuclear waste Nuclear waste remains radioactive remains radioactive for thousands of for thousands of yearsyears

Where should we Where should we store nuclear waste?store nuclear waste?

Safety concerns!Safety concerns!

Three Mile Island, Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania 1979Pennsylvania 1979

A stuck open valve allowed large A stuck open valve allowed large amounts of reactor coolant to escapeamounts of reactor coolant to escape

Operators were poorly trained and did Operators were poorly trained and did not recognize the accidentnot recognize the accident

The reactor was brought under control The reactor was brought under control without the loss of human lifewithout the loss of human life

Public fear and distrust of the nuclear Public fear and distrust of the nuclear industry grewindustry grew

Chernobyl, Ukraine, 1986Chernobyl, Ukraine, 1986

The world’s worst nuclear disasterThe world’s worst nuclear disaster One of the reactors had a fatal meltdown.One of the reactors had a fatal meltdown. Explosions and the resulting fire sent highly Explosions and the resulting fire sent highly

radioactive fallout into the atmosphere radioactive fallout into the atmosphere Contaminated rain fell as far away as Ireland Contaminated rain fell as far away as Ireland Four hundred times more fallout was released Four hundred times more fallout was released

than had been by the bombing of Hiroshima.than had been by the bombing of Hiroshima.

Consequences of Consequences of ChernobylChernobyl

Only after a nuclear plant in Sweden detected Only after a nuclear plant in Sweden detected high radiation levels did the USSR admit that high radiation levels did the USSR admit that an accident had occurredan accident had occurred

56 direct deaths56 direct deaths 800,000 suffered radiation exposure800,000 suffered radiation exposure One third of a million were driven from their One third of a million were driven from their

homeshomes It may have led to 4,000 extra cancer deathsIt may have led to 4,000 extra cancer deaths

The abandoned city of The abandoned city of PripyatPripyat

2 miles from the 2 miles from the reactorreactor

Home to 49,000 Home to 49,000 nuclear reactor nuclear reactor workers and their workers and their familiesfamilies

Families were not Families were not evacuated till 24 hours evacuated till 24 hours after the accidentafter the accident

An amusement arcade scheduled to open 4 days after the disaster.

Could it happen again?Could it happen again?

The reactor was poorly designedThe reactor was poorly designed The operators made serious errorsThe operators made serious errors http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/

2006/04/inside-chernobyl/audio-2006/04/inside-chernobyl/audio-interactiveinteractive

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbcbyUK5rqQv=KbcbyUK5rqQ