6.1 Renewable & Nonrenewable Energy, 6.2 Global Energy Consumption, 6.4 Distribution of Natural Energy Resources

Renewable Energy Sources

can be replenished naturally, at or near rate of consumption and reused

depletable renewables

can run out if overused ex. biomss (wood, charcoal, ethanol)

nondepletable renewables

do not run out if overused (wind, hydroelectric, geothermal)

nonrenewable energy sources

exist in fixed amounts on earth and cant easily be replaced or regenerated

fossil fuels

fossilized remains of ancient biomass that take millions of years to form (coal, oil, nat. gas)

nuclear

energy generated from uranium or other radioactive fuels

rate of consumption

rate of use must be at or below rate of regeneration for renewables

developed nations

use more energy on a per capita basis, but developed nations use more energy in total (higher pop.)

developing nations

still industrializing and pop. is still growing rapidly

types of fossil fuels

oil, coal, nat. gas

oil

main fuel for vehicles

coal

main fuel for electricity gen.

nat. gas

secondary fuel for electricity gen. and main fuel for heating

hydroelectric energy

second largest source - water spins turbine which generates electricity

nuclear energy

third largest siurce - uranium fission releases heat to turn water into steam to turn a turbine to gen. electricity

subsistence fuels

biomass that can easily gather/purchase (ex. wood, charcoal, dried animal manure)

factors that affect energy source use

availability, price, gov. regulation

availability

fossil fuel use depends on discovered reserves and accessibility of these reserves

price

FF Price fluctuates dramatically with discovery of new reserves or depletion of existing ones

gov. regulation

gov. can mandate certain energy source mixes (25% renewable by 2025)

global energy distribution

dependent on regions’ geologic history

largest coal reserves

US, Russia, China, Austrialia

largest natural gas reserves

Russia, Iran, Qatar, US, Saudi Arabia

Largest oil reserves

Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Canada, Iraq

1) Source Rock

organic matter in source rock is subjected to heat and pressure over time, changing oil and gas, which collects in the reservoir rock above it

Reservoir rock

for oil and gas to flow to the surface, this rock must be porous and sufficiently permeable to allow flow of fluids through rock

3) caprock

prevents oil and gas from migrating to surface without well. this rock can be porous but must have no to low enough permeability to trap enough oil and gas to result in a successful well

hydraulic fracturing (aka fracking)

a method of nat. gas extraction that has extended access to nat. gas

Shale gas reserves

FFs are non reservable and will eventually be depleted but short term economic profit still drives extraction and use

Canada (Alberta region)

world’s largest oil sands reserves

tar/oil sands

bitumen deposits where crude oil can be recovered, but with higher water and energy inputs