APES - Unit 6: Energy Resources and Consumption

Fossil Fuels

they are combusted to release energy

coal

mining types: surface mining is most common and transported through trucks and trains

oil

extracted through oil deposits, which are the oil between the minerals of rocks and is transported through pipelines and tankers

natural gas

extracted through gas deposits with methane and fracking and is transported through pipelines

wood ( biomass )

charcoal and fire wood, an increase in developing countries have easy access

peat ( biomass )

partially decomposed organic matter, it is limited, and burned

coal ( solid and a fossil fuel )

3 types of coal: lignite, bituminous, and anthracite, it’s types and qualities are determined by the heat, pressure, and depth when the formation occurred

crude oil ( liquid and is a fossil fuel )

can be extracted from wells or recovered from tar sands ( filtration - tar from sand )

natural gas ( fossil fuel )

mostly methane ( CH4 ), it is the cleanest burning fossil fuel and releases the least amount of CO2

cogeneration ( co=together )

fuel source is used to generate heat AND electricity and has high efficiency

solar energy

can either be classified as active or passive solar energy systems that capture sunlight for electricity or heat

active solar

solar energy —> mechanical and electrical equipment —> collect and store energy

solar panels ( active solar )

photovoltaic (pv ) solar cells - sun ( light energy ) —> pv cells ( reaction ) —> electrical energy, limits: sunlight availability, cost, and technology, but it decreases pollution from production

concentrated solar power ( active solar )

the mirrors reflect the light —> concentrated at one point with the water —> water boils —> steam is produced —> causes the turbine to spin —> generator converts into mechanical energy —> electrical energy, limits: space and cost, but decreases the pollution from production

overall environmental effects

• low environmental environmental impact

• produces clean energy

• expensive- especially start up cost

• large farms may negatively impact desert ecosystems

wind energy ( wind turbines )

the kinetic energy from the wind —> mechanical energy from the wind turbine generator —> electrical energy

• renewable energy

• no air pollution from production

• materials and dispose of equipment

• birds and bats are dying from impacts with blades

hydroelectric power ( dams and small scale rivers )

water spins turbine —> generator converts energy —> electrical energy

dams: controlled flow downstream can be less or more regular than before depending on the movement

• increase in energy output ( higher EROEI )

• can also be used to maintain water supply

• expensive

• habitat loss and disturbance

small scale rivers: doesn’t block rivers or alter river flow, small energy production

• needs a total area with productive waves

• habitat loss and disturbance

• doesn’t generate air pollution or waste to generate

• construction is expensive

• habitat impact: loss or disturbance with infrastructure built

hydrogen fuel cells

• alternative to nonrenewable fuel sources

• process uses technology as fuel to create water and energy is released in the process

• low environmental impact, no release of CO2

challenges:

• technology is expensive

• energy is needed to create hydrogen gas used in the fuel cell

• low hydrogen use efficiency

• hydrogen gas (H2) used is flammable

renewable resources

can be replenished naturally

• replenished at or nearest the rate of consumption and can be reused

  • plants and crops, water

nonrenewable resources

exist in a finite amount ( limited )

• replenished at a very slow rate

  • diamonds

• nonrenewable energy involves energy transformation that cannot be easily replaced

  • water, oil, and coal

unit conversions

metrics system is based on a power of 10 between different units

K(ilo) H(ecta) D(eca) S(base: meters, liters, grams) D(eci) C(enti) M(ili)

ex) 1000mL = 1L

1. put one unit on each side of the equal sign

2. place a 1 next to the larger unit

3. count the # of jumps

4. place a 1 with that # of zeros in front of the smaller unit

fishing

• commercial fishing uses a variety of methods nets, lines, traps, diving ( manually )

• overfishing leads to scarcity of some species

  • decrease in biodiversity in aquatic systems

  • reduce supply —> impacting those dependent on supply for food or commerce

mining

• extraction of natural resources —> produces ores

• provides low cost energy and materials to make products

• surface mining: removes large areas of soil and rock (overburden) to expose ore

  • strip mining, mountain top removal

  • removes vegetation —> increase in erosion

• subsurface mining: underground mining that reaches deeper down

  • also used when reserves get smaller ( easily accessible reserves are depleted )

  • expensive

  • can also lead to mining lower grade ores

  • increase in resources needed can lead to an increase in waste and pollution

• mining wastes

  • include soil and solid rocks moved - waste is called slag and tailings

    • includes what is left after resource is extracted from the ore

    • mining coal causes habitat destruction, groundwater contamination, releases dust particles, and releases methane

nuclear energy

the energy released when the nuclei (cores) of atoms are split or combined, and it's used to generate electricity in power plants

solar energy

the energy derived from the sun, which can be harnessed to produce heat, cause chemical reactions, or generate electricity. It's a renewable and abundant energy source, with the potential to meet future energy demands.

biomass energy

renewable energy derived from organic materials like plants and animals, which can be burned directly for heat or converted into biofuels like ethanol or biodiesel

hydropower energy

a renewable energy source that utilizes the energy of moving water, like rivers, to generate electricity, a process that involves water flowing through turbines to spin generators

wind energy

a renewable energy source that utilizes the energy of moving water, like rivers, to generate electricity, a process that involves water flowing through turbines to spin generators