Sustainable Energy and Environmental Health

energy

the capacity to do work. comes in different forms: chemical, thermal, mechanical. stored in sources like fossil fuels, nuclear fuel, or renewable resources like solar and wind.

electricity

a secondary energy source, generated from primary sources such as fossil fuels, nuclear, or renewables. It powers homes, industries, and transportation.

Watt (W)

the basic unit of power, measuring the rate of energy transfer equivalent to one joule per second

Kilowatt (kW)

1,000 watts. commonly used for household appliances

Megawatt (MW)

1,000 kilowatts or 1 million watts. used to measure large scale power plants or city wide electricity use

Kilowatt-Hour (kWh)

a unit of energy, not power. it represents the amount of energy consumed when a device uses one kilowatt of power for one hour.

How much energy is lost during electricity distribution?

5-10%

heat dissipation

transmission lines resist electrical flow, converting energy into heat

transformer inefficiencies

energy is lost when voltage is stepped up or down

resistance in power lines

the longer the distance, the more energy is lost as heat

Why is energy important?

improves quality of life, enables healthcare, education, economic growth, etc.

energy source types

fossil fuels, nuclear, renewables

fossil fuels

include coal, oil, and natural gas. They are formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals, and are non-renewable resources that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.

nuclear energy

produces low emissions but creates radioactive waste, which is difficult to safely store

renewables

includes wind, solar, and water energy sources. These sources are sustainable and have a lower environmental impact.

climate impacts of fossil fuels

extreme weather, rising sea levels, GHG emissions, and health risks

Energy Breakdown in US

fossil fuels: 79%, nuclear energy: 8%, renewable energy: 13% (83% fossil fuels in 2023)

Transportation

nearly 100% dependent on oil but slowly changing with EV cars

US and Energy

the US is a “net” exporter of energy (first time since 1950s), US natural gas and coal production is greater than consumption, “net” importer for oil through oil

coal

number one globally for electricity production, but flattening with growth of natural gas and renewables. created by dead plants

electricity production

varies by country quite a bit, fossil-fuels growing in China, India, Middle-East; declining in US, Canada, and Europe

thermal electricity production

boiler → high pressure steam → turbine → generator → electricity → steam return → condenser → pump → boiler (boil water). thermoelectric power is #1 reason for water withdrawal

natural circulation

humans use 25% of the earth’s total water in natural circulation

Energy Conservation

energy must always be conserved, while in each conversion, 100% of energy is accounted for, we do not get 100% efficiency into the channel we want

coal in the environment

2 times more CO2 than natural gas, 5 times more air pollutants (CO and NOx) than natural gas, infinite more sulfur and mercury than natural gas

Mountain Top Coal Removal

tops of mountains blasted away to expose coal seams. causes deforestation, water pollution, soil erosion, air pollution, and biodiversity loss. also changes landscapes longterm

acid rain

Pollution from burning coal (and fossil fuels) dissolves into water, and reduces the pH, which results in acidic water

Methyl Mercury (MeHg)

comes from during coal, bioaccumulates in the food chain and can cause brain damage and developmental issues

fossil fuel propaganda

just because fossil fuels are an easy choice, does not make them safer by any means

externality

a cost (or sometimes benefit) imposed on society [and the environment] that is not directly accounted for in the price to consumer

Sulfur Oxides (SOx)(Coal)

coal containing sulfur is burned, sulfur released into the atmosphere. it reacts with water vapor, contributing to acid rain and respiratory issues.

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) (Coal)

produced during combustion of coal. contribute to formation of ozone smog and particulate matter, leading to respiratory problems and acid rain

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

primary greenhouse gas emitted by coal fired power plants. contributes to global warming by trapping heat in the atmosphere, leading to climate change

hydrofracking

a method used to extract natural gas from deep underground shale formations. drilling, gas release, etc are used. can lead to water contamination, air pollution, seismic activity, and habitat disruption.

Current US Oil Import/Export

2024: US is significant player in the global oil market, importing and exporting crude oil and petroleum products

peak oil

peak oil is the point at which global oil production reaches its maximum rate, after which it enters a terminal decline. Globally believed to have peaked around 2005 to 2006, with maximum of 70 barrels per day

EROI

Energy Return on Investment measures the amount of energy obtained from a resource relative to the energy invested in its extraction

Conventional Oil Fields

Historically, conventional oil extraction has had a high EROI, with every unit invested, 10 to 20 are obtained

Tar Sands

has a lower EROI, with every unit of energy invested resulting in 3 to 5 units obtained. process involves mining and heating the sands to extract bitumen, which requires significant energy input

oil shale

lowest EROI, less than 2. process involves heating the rock to high temperatures to release hydrocarbons, consuming substantial energy

Fractional Usage of a Barrel of Oil

Gasoline: 47%, Diesel Fuel: 23%, Jet Fuel: 10%, Other (heating oil, liquified petroleum gases): 20%

Where is oil drilled for?

Middle East, Alaska, Gulf of Mexico, Texas, Alberta Tar Sands

Middle East

home to vast conventional oil reserves, low extraction costs, geopolitical instability can affect supply

Alaska

significant reserves, harsh climate, environmental concerns, and high extraction costs

Gulf of Mexico

offshore drilling, substantial deepwater reserves, high risk of spills, expensive infrastructure

Texas- Permian Basin

established infrastructure, experienced workforce, depleting reserves in some fields

Alberta Tar Sands

extraction from oil sands, large reserves, environmentally intensive extraction processes, lower EROI

Six Areas Pollutants

particulate matter (PM10 and PM 2.5): tiny airborne solid or liquid particles, ground level ozone: a secondary pollutant NOx and VOCs reacting with sunlight, Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) a gas from burning coal and oil, Carbon Monoxide (CO): a colorless and odorless gas from incomplete combustion, Lead (Pb): a toxic metal emitted from industrial processes and historically from gasoline

PM2.5

forms from coal combustion, formed secondarily from SO2 and NOx reacting, penetrates deep into lungs and bloodstream. can be stopped with scrubbers and filters

ground level ozone

formed from NOx and VOCs reacting with sunlight. high in urban areas, irritates airways and reduces lung function. reduce emissions via vehicle emissions standards and mitigating industrial emissions

Nitrogen Oxides NOx

emitted from combustion of fossil fuels in vehicles, power plants, industry. respiratory inflammation, lung disease, contributes to smog and acid rain. using catalytic converters in vehicles, reducing fossil fuel reliance through renewable energy sources

Oil Pollutants

SO2, NOx, VOCs, particulate matter

Natural Gas Pollutants

NOx, CO, methane, VOCs

Coal Pollutants

So2, NOx, CO2, mercury, particulate matter

Particulate Sizes

smaller particles (PM2.5) are more dangerous than PM10 because they penetrate deeper into the lungs and bloodstream, cause more severe cardiovascular and respiratory effects, and stay airborne longer

dominant air pollutants in summer

higher ozone (O3) due to increased sunlight and heat, more wildfire smoke (PM2.5) in dry regions

dominant air pollutants in winter

higher carbon monoxide (CO) from heating and car idling, increased PM2.5 from wood-burning and trapped pollutants due to inversions

role of thermal inversions in air pollution

normally warm air rises and disperses pollutants, during thermal inversion a layer of warm air traps cooler air below, preventing pollution from escaping, leads to smog buildup worsening air quality

air dispersion complicates pollution monitoring

pollutants do not stay localized; they disperse on wind, temperature, and geography. air currents transport pollutants across regions, making it difficult to track sources. monitoring requires multiple sensors to get accurate air quality data.

redlining

19030s: minority neighborhoods were marked as high-risk for loans, leading to disinvestment and lower property values. this resulted in industrial facilities and polluting industries to be placed in these areas, resulting in long term exposure to air and water pollution as well as poorer infrastructure

zoning and land use policies

industrial facilities and hazardous waste sites disproportionately placed in low-income and minority communities

lack of political representation

environmental justice communities often have less political influence, leading to fewer environmental protections

air pollution in environmental justice communities

highways and traffic pollution, industrial facilities and factories, landfills and waste incinerators, ports and rail yards

pros of nuclear power

low ghg emissions, high energy density, reliable base load power, reduces dependence on fossil fuels

cons of nuclear power

radioactive waste, accident risk, high initial cost, thermal pollution

base load power

provides constant and stable supply of energy, preferred sources are nuclear, coal, hydroelectric, geothermal, and natural gas (combined cycle plants)

peak power

used to meet spikes in electricity demand, preferred sources are natural gas peaker plants, hydro, battery storage, and some renewables (solar, wind)

spinning reserves

extra generating capacity that can be quickly activated to balance supply and demand

renewables impact on spinning reserves

wind and solar fluctuate, requiring more flexible reserves. helps manage intermittency without relying on fossil fuel reserves. advanced forecasting and smart grids improve response time to demand changes.

Renewable Energy Credits (REC)

certificates representing 1 MWh of renewable energy generated, allow businesses and individuals to support clean energy, even if they use fossil fuel generated electricity

Low Carbon Energy and RECs

financial incentives, corporate and government stability goals, and market growth for renewables all incentivize REC usage

Transmission and Distribution structure

generation: electricity to power plants, transmissions: high-voltage lines transport electricity over long distances, distribution: lower-voltage lines deliver power to homes and businesses

EH of Transmission and Distribution

Power line EMF exposure (electromagnetic fields), land use and habitat disruption, energy losses, fossil fuel dependency

Power Production from Capacity Factor

Power Production (MWh) = Capacity (MW) x Capacity Factor x Hours per Year

Pros of Photovoltaic (PV) Solar

direct comversion of sunlight into electricity with no moving parts, lower maintenance costs, scalable for rooftops and large solar farms

Cons of Photovoltaic (PV) Solar

energy production depends on sunlight availability (intermittent), requires battery storage for nighttime use

Pros for Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)

uses mirrors to concentrate sunlight and heat a fluid, generating electricity via steam turbines, can include thermal storage for power generation at night

Cons for Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)

requires large, sunny areas, like deserts, high initial cost and water usage

challenges for large-scale wind power

intermittency (wind not constant), transmissions issues (best wind resources are often far from population centers), land use and wildlife impacts (large wind farms require significant space and can harm birds and bats), and grid stability (rapid changes in wind speeds cause fluctuations in power supply)

Renewable Portfolio Standard

a policy requiring utilities to generate a specific percentage of their electricity from renewable sources by a certain date. encourages investment in wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal energy. reduces dependence on fossil fuels

hydrothermal geothermal (conventional)

uses naturally occurring hot water or steam from underground reservoirs to generate electricity. reliable, low emissions, long-lasting resource. limited to specific geologically active locations.

enhanced geothermal systems

injects water into hot dry rock formations to create steam for electricity generation. can be developed in more locations, requires deep drilling and may trigger seismic activity

hydroelectric power

provides reliable base-load power and peak-load management, accounts for a significant portion of global renewable electricity

environmental effects of large dams

habitat disruption, altered river flow, greenhouse gas emissions, displacement of communities