oil and gas, part 3

what are some alternative energy sources

not coal, natural gas, and oil

which to country’s rely on fossil fuels for 83% of the total energy and together they account for 42% of the world’s energy consumption?

USA and China

nonconventional fossil fuels are fossil fuels not including:

coal, natural gas, and light crude oil

what is a shale?

a fine-grained, clastic sedimentary rock composed primarily of clay and silt particles that forms in low-energy environments like ancient lakes, river floodplains, and marine basins

what are some carbon free and renewable energy sources:

sunlight, wind, water, geothermal, biomass

what are some carbon free and renewable fuels:

1. biofuels

2. hydroelectric power

3. nuclear power

4. solar power

5. wind power

6. geothermal power

7. ocean thermal energy conversion

8. tidal power

what are biofuels?

combustible materials derived from modern (non-fossilized) organic matter.

ex. ethanol and biodiesel fuels

whaat are the two predominant types of biofuels?

1. ethanol - made from the fermentation of plant material

2. biodiesel -fatty acids from vegetable oil and animal fats

define hydroelectric power:

the mechanical energy obtained from falling water used for generating electricity

this is both renewable and does not produce carbon dioxide

define nuclear power:

the bonds that hold protons, neutrons, and electrons together in the nucleus of an atom are energetic

what are the two primary ways of producing nuclear energy:

1. nuclear fission - the process of splitting the nucleus of an atom, resulting in the release of neutrons and conversion of mass into energy

2. nuclear fusion - a natural process that takes place in the sun, in which the nuclei of hydrogen atoms combine or fuse, releasing large amounts of energy

what is solar power:

the process that takes place when solar radiation strikes a solid object and is transformed into thermal or heat energy

what are photovoltaic cells (solar panels)?

thin slabs of material composed of silicon alloys, which produces electricity when sunlight is allowed to strike the slab

what is wind power?

taking the mechanical energy of the wind to turn a turbine that generates electricity

does not produce any greenhouse gases and is renewable

what is geothermal energy?

the heat energy contained within the earth that can be used to drive a steam turbine for producing electricity or serve as a hear source and sink for a geothermal heat pump

what is tidal power?

energy that is obtained from the cyclical lowering and raising of sea level due to the tides and is used to turn a generator to produce electricity

what is energy conservation?

the process of reducing energy consumption through decreased human activity and is more efficient use of the energy itself