EAES FINAL ENERGY

Energy

The ability to do work.

Kinetic energy

Energy due to motion, such as flowing water.

Gravitational potential energy

Energy stored due to elevation, like water in a dam.

Chemical potential energy

Energy stored in food and fuels, released during combustion.

Law of Conservation of Energy

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.

Traditional energy sources

Energy sources such as wood, peat, dung, and animal power used historically.

Fossil fuels

Natural fuels formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals, including coal, oil, and natural gas.

Oil

A fossil fuel that has been the most consumed energy source globally for over 50 years.

Natural gas

A fossil fuel that has seen the fastest growth in energy consumption in absolute terms.

Renewable energy

Energy replenished naturally at or above the rate of consumption.

Non-renewable energy

Energy sources that are finite and consumed faster than they can be replenished.

Carbon-based energy types

Energy types including coal, oil, gas, peat, and biomass, all forms of chemical potential energy.

Biomass

Recent organic material, including wood and dung, used as a renewable energy source.

Coal

A fossil fuel derived from compressed, fossilized plant matter from anoxic environments.

Oil sands

A mixture of bitumen, sand, clay, and water; Canada has the 3rd largest reserves.

Hydroelectric energy

Energy produced from water stored at height, released to turn a turbine.

Wind energy

Energy generated by the kinetic energy of wind turning turbine blades.

Solar energy

Energy harnessed from sunlight, including photovoltaic and concentrated solar power.

Geothermal energy

Energy sourced from the heat within the Earth, used to produce steam.

Electricity generation

The process of producing electrical power from other energy sources.

Transportation fuels

Fuels such as gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel derived from fossil fuels.

Heat energy

Energy used for heating homes, derived primarily from fossil fuels.

Environmental footprint

The impact of energy production on air quality, water use, and habitat destruction.

Per capita emissions

Average emissions produced per person, significant in countries like Canada.

Greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction

Efforts aimed at decreasing emissions that contribute to climate change.

Energy return on investment (EROI)

The ratio of the amount of usable energy produced to the energy expended to produce it.

Conventional energy

Easily accessible energy forms, including fossil fuels and hydroelectric power.

Non-conventional energy

Energy forms that are difficult to access or require advanced technology.

Methane

A hydrocarbon gas that is a significant component of natural gas.

Ethanol

A type of biofuel produced from organic materials, such as corn.

Global CO₂ emissions

Total carbon dioxide emissions released into the atmosphere from various sources.

Carbon footprint

The total amount of greenhouse gases produced directly and indirectly.

Sustainability

The ability to maintain energy practices without depleting resources or harming the environment.

Oil crises

Significant disruptions in oil supply leading to energy dependencies and shifts toward renewables.

Aquifers

Underground layers of water-bearing rock, sometimes affected by fossil fuel extraction.

Fossil fuel extraction

Methods used to obtain coal, oil, and gas from the Earth, including mining and drilling.

Bitumen

A thick, heavy oil found in oil sands that requires processing to extract.

Nuclear energy

Energy generated from nuclear reactions, often used in conjunction with fossil fuels.

Climate change

Long-term changes in temperature and typical weather patterns in a place.

Coal reserves

Natural deposits of coal found, with significant reserves located in China.

Hydrological cycle

The continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth.

Oil reserves

Economically recoverable deposits of oil, majorly in countries like Venezuela and Saudi Arabia.

Wind turbine

A device that converts kinetic energy from wind into mechanical energy or electricity.

Photovoltaics (PV)

Technology that converts sunlight directly into electricity.

Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)

Technology that uses mirrors or lenses to focus a large area of sunlight.

Offshore wind energy

Wind energy harnessed from wind turbines located in large bodies of water.

Renewable energy leaders

Countries that are at the forefront of renewable energy production, including China and Germany.