Nonrenewable EnergyChapter 17, Section 1: Energy Resources &

Fossil FuelsStandards: SEV4b, c, e, f, SEV5e

What is a nonrenewable resource?Nonrenewable

resource is a natural resource which cannot be reproduced, grown, or regenerated

It cannot be sustained at its current consumption rate

Once depleted there will be no more available for future use

What is a fossil fuel?Fossil fuels are the

remains of ancient organisms that changed into coal, oil, or natural gas through very specific geologic processes.

Fossil fuels are a type of nonrenewable energy resources

What are 2 problems associated with using fossil fuels?1. Fossil fuel supplies

are limited.2. Obtaining & using

fossil fuels causes environmental problems such as air pollution & global warming.

What are the 5 main uses of fuels?CookingTransportationManufacturingHeating & coolingGenerating

electricity to run machines & appliances.

How is electricity generated?Fossil fuel is burned to release

heat.Heat is used to boil water to make

steam. (1)Steam turns a turbine (rotating

blade like a fan) (2)Turbine turns the electric

generator (3)Electric generators produce

electric energy by moving electrically conductive material within a magnetic field.

Electricity is passed to a transformer which slows & reduces the electricity that comes to your home thru power lines. (4)

Are all fuels created equal?No!Different fuels are used for

different needs.For example: Airplanes

cannot run on coal because you would need hundreds of tons of coal to power the plane.

Fuel usage depends on:Fuel’s energy contentCost AvailabilitySafetyByproducts of fuel usage

What is the “cost” of energy?Every product requires

energy to make the product.The price you pay for the

product reflects the cost of the energy.For example: buying a

plane ticket includes the cost of fuel.

The cost of energy depends on how much energy is needed to extract it from the ground & make it usable- Net Energy Production (see next slide)

Net Energy Production Takes energy to get energy Net Energy Production is the

total amount of energy available from an energy source MINUS the energy needed to find, extract, process, and get that energy to consumers.

EX: You extract 10 units of oil from the ground. 8 units are used or wasted to find, extract, process, and transport the oil to users. Only 2 units of useful energy are available for use. An energy source may have a low

net energy yield because it takes so much energy to get it & make it usable.

Cellulosic ethanol produced from switchgrass has higher net energy yield than corn because it takes less energy to grow & harvest it. Don’t have to plant seeds, use fertilizer or pesticide like you do for corn. It just grows naturally in the prairie.

What are patterns of energy use?World Patterns

Developed countries use more energy than developing

This may be changing for some as developing countries become more prosperous.

I=PAT equation quantifies the impact a country has on the environment & its resources Impact (I) depends on:

(P)opulation size (A)ffluence /wealth (T)echnology

As China (highly populated developing country) becomes more affluent due to globalization they will have more impact on the environment & resources than some developed countries.

What are patterns of energy use?United States Pattern

US has highest energy usage. *

Most of our energy goes to transporting goods & people.

Other countries like Japan & Switzerland use extensive rail systems, are smaller, compact countries, & may rely more on renewable energy (hydropower)

Also, energy in US is CHEAP compared to other countries. No incentive to conserve gas

when its cost is so low. Numbers on Y-axis are prices of gas in US dollars.Red bars are cost of gas, blue bars are gas taxesUS pays least amount of taxes and has lowest gas prices!

What are the 3 types of fossil fuels most commonly used?1. Coal2. Oil/Petroleum3. Natural Gas

1. COALHow did coal form?What are uses of coal?What are the types of coal?What are the advantages & disadvantages to using coal?What methods are used to make coal burning cleaner?

How did coal form?Remains of swamp plants

repeatedly covered in sediment as ocean levels rose and fell 320-300 million years ago.

The sediment compressed the plant remains.

Heat & pressure from with Earth turned plant remains into coal.

Most abundant coal deposits in world are in U.S. and Asia (China)

Most abundant coal deposits in U.S. are in eastern U.S.

What are the uses of coal?Coal is burned to

CREATE ELECTRICITY

Manufacture cement, steel, other industrial products

Heating homes

What are the ranks of coal? Lignite: A brownish-black coal of low

quality (i.e., low heat content per unit) with high moisture and volatile matter. Higher smoke and pollution. Energy content is lower 4000 BTU/lb.

Sub-bituminous: Black lignite, is dull black and generally contains 20 to 30 percent moisture Energy content is 8,300 BTU/lb.

Bituminous: most common coal is dense and black (often with well-defined bands of bright and dull material). Its moisture content usually is less than 20 percent. Energy content about 10,500 Btu / lb.

Anthracite :A hard, black lustrous coal, often referred to as hard coal, containing a high percentage of fixed carbon and a low percentage of volatile matter. Least smoke & pollution. Energy content of about 14,000 Btu/lb.

From Lignite

↓

Moisture, pollution, smoke decreases

Energy increases

↓

To Anthracite

Bituminous is mostly used because it is cheaper & easier to extract than anthracite which is

usually deeper in the ground.

Advantages and Disadvantages

© Brooks/Cole Publishing Company / ITP

ProsMost abundant fossil fuel (300-900 years left)U.S. has a lot of it!Low costHigh net energy yieldHave reduced air pollution problems with

better technology

ConsCheap & plentifulDirtiest fuel- releases tons of SO2, CO2, NOx

and mercuryAir & water pollution

Sulfur causes acid rainCarbon dioxide increases global warming

Major environmental damage in miningHigh land useMajor threat to health

What methods are used to make coal burning cleaner?Coal washing-

removes sulfurScrubbers- spray

neutralizing solution on coal gas before it leaves smoke stack.

Clean Air Act- sets standards for emissions released from coal burning facilities & imposes fines as needed.

Scrubber Device

2. OIL/PETROLEUMHow did oil form?What are uses of oil?What are the advantages & disadvantages to using oil?What methods are used to make oil use cleaner?

How did oil form?Tiny marine

organisms decayed, accumulated, and were covered in sediment on ocean floor millions of years ago.

Heat & pressure turned the bodies & sediment into oil.

What are the uses for oil/petroleum?Crude oil comes straight out

of ground.Must be refined to make

products thru a process called fractional distillation.

Crude oil is heated to different temperatures. At different boiling points the oil is condensed and removed to make a variety of productsFuels- jet fuel, gasoline,

dieselPlastics Lubricating oils, waxes

ProsLow costHigh net energy

yieldEasy transportation

ConsProjected to run out in

about 50 years.Artificially low price

encourages waste. (Price is low due to government subsidies*)

Air pollution when burnedReleases CO2 when

burnedWater pollution from oil

tankers/spills

Advantages and Disadvantages

What methods are used to make oil use cleaner?Catalytic converters-

clean car exhaust before it leaves car.

Unleaded fuel- removing lead from gasoline reduces air pollution problemsLead causes learning

disabilities in childrenIntroduced in 1970s in

U.S.Double-hull on oil

tankers prevents possible oil spills in ocean.

3. NATURAL GASHow did natural gas form?What are uses of natural gas?What are the advantages & disadvantages to using natural gas?What is fracking?

How did natural gas form?Natural gas is

formed as a by-product of oil formation.

It is usually found in pockets around oil deposits.

If natural gas can’t be harvested with oil, it may be burned off.

What are the uses of natural gas?CookingHeating & coolingSome electricityCar fuel

Advantages & DisadvantagesPros125-200 year supply90% of the natural gas

used in U.S. comes from U.S.- we don’t rely on foreign countries for this like we do oil.

High net energy yieldLow cost (huge subsidies)Less air pollution & CO2

emissions than oil & coalLess land degradationEasily transported by pipes

ConsReleases some CO2Releases methane

(greenhouse gas)ExplosiveCars- stored in

pressurized tank which is not safe.

Fracking (see next slide)

What is Hydraulic FracturingAKA…“Fracking”?

Fracking is used to get pockets of natural gas out of the ground.

Process: Water, sand & chemicals are forced thru a drilled hole, rock is cracked, forces natural gas upward to be collected

Cons: Chemicals find their way into water supplies, poisoning people, livestock, and soil. (20-40% of fracking chemicals stay underground.)

Halliburton Loophole- placed in the 2005 Energy Bill created by former vice president Dick Cheney (once a Halliburton vice president) says natural gas companies that use fracking are exempt from Safe Drinking Water Act and don’t have to disclose what type of chemicals they are using.

GASLAND Trailer 2010 - YouTube

“Gasland” is an HBO documentary made about fracking.

“Promised Land” is a new movie about natural gas, fracking, and its affects on small town America.