Chapter 15 - Nonrenewable Energy

The U.S. is the world’s second largest energy consumer (behind China) and the 8th largest energy user per capita.

resources that cannot be replaced - ex. fossil fuels (coal, oil) nuclear (uranium)

are continually replaced - ex. solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, biomass

created by the decay and compression of organisms that lived millions of years ago

• Oil (petroleum) currently provides 36% of the world’s energy.

• This resource will be exhausted in 40-90 years at the current rate of consumption.

• The only countries that have not already hit peak oil production are in the Middle East.  Untapped resources of unknown amounts do exist under the Arctic Ocean.

• Alternative oil sources, including shale oil and tar sands are increasing marketshare over traditional petroleum sources

involves drilling a well and pumping out the oil that flows by gravity into the bottom of the well

occurs when water is injected into nearby wells to force some of the remaining heavy oil to the surface

involves the injection of steam or CO2 to force some of the remaining heavy oil into the well cavity (enhanced oil recovery.)

Made up of 13 countries. OPEC controls 70-80% of the world’s proven crude oil reserves.

is a fine grained rock that contains a solid, waxy mixture of hydrocarbon compounds called kerogen.  The kerogen can be isolated to form shale oil.  There are large supplies of shale oil but is much more expensive to process.

contains bitumen (a high-sulfur heavy oil).  The source is more plentiful but the processing is expensive.  It often takes more energy to produce these oil alternatives than the energy provided.

27% of the world’s energy and will last about 100 years at the current consumption rate.

40%

About 25% of the world’s coal reserves are located in the U.S., followed by Russia with 15%.

is a solid, rocklike fossil fuel.  It is mostly carbon (40-98% depending on the type)

• Peat

• Lignite

• Bituminous coal

• Anthracite

(not a coal) is partially decayed plant matter in swamps and bogs

(brown coal) has low heat content

(soft coal) is extensively used because of its high heat content but it has high sulfur content and therefore does not burn clean

(hard coal) is the most desirable fuel because of its high heat content and low sulfur content but supplies are limited

is a mixture of 50-90% methane (CH4) with the remaining volume consisting of heavier gaseous hydrocarbons

to provide 23% of the world’s energy, primarily due to increased fracking in the United States.  The world supply of natural gas should last about 200 years.

is a means of natural gas extraction.  Once a well is drilled, millions of gallons of water, sand and chemicals are injected, under high pressure. The pressure fractures the shale and props open fissures that enable natural gas to flow more freely out of the well

exempts natural gas drilling from the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974.

extensive groundwater contamination and the release of VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) into the air.

the NC senate cleared the way for hydraulic fracturing in North Carolina, including Chatham County – home of Jordan Lake, which is the water source for Cary.

• cheaper than oil and easier to process

• easy to transport (by pipeline)

• higher net energy yield (burns hotter)

• combustion produces less air pollution than any other nonrenewable resource

• must be converted to __________ before tanker transport (expensive and dangerous)

• leaks into the atmosphere

  • The process of __________ is extremely dangerous to both groundwater and air quality

provides provides about 20% of the electricity used in the U.S. from 61 plants.

getting 75% of its electricity from nuclear, although the U.S. produces more total power from nuclear power.

No emission of air pollution, Water pollution and land disruption are minimal

Potential reactor meltdown, Radioactive waste disposal, Currently more expensive than fossil fuels

Three Mile Island, Middletown, PA, USA. On March 28, 1979 this reactor suffered a partial meltdown.  No direct injuries or deaths resulted, but sweeping changes by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission occurred along with a loss of confidence in nuclear energy by the American public.

Chernobyl, USSR. There are 56 fatalities attributed to the accident, but approximately 7 million are receiving, or are eligible to receive benefits as “___victims”.  Various forms of cancer are the primary consequences of radiation exposure.

the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami led to the meltdown and release of radioactive material from the Fukushima Daiichi power plant in Japan.  The long-term effects of this disaster are yet to be seen.

occurs when lightweight atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus

hydrogen and helium

the process of stars, fusion is incredibly powerful.  However, atomic nuclei must be maintained at very high concentrations, be properly confined, and achieve temperatures of 100,000,000 oC