Exam One- Renewable Energy

What is energy?

The ability to do work

What does the First Law of Thermodynamics state?

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed. The total amount of energy stays the same

What does the Second Law of Thermodynamics state?

Every energy transformation increases entropy (disorder), meaning some energy is always lost as unusable heat.

What is energy density?

The amount of energy per unit of volume or mass

What is a BTU?

British Thermal Unit, a measure of heat energy.

What is a TOE?

Tons of Oil Equivalent, a unit for comparing different energy sources.

What is kinetic energy?

Energy of motion, dependent on mass and velocity.

What is potential energy?

Stored energy due to position or structure.

• Gravitational → hydroelectric energy

• Chemical → stored in fossil fuels

• Nuclear → stored in atomic bonds

What is heat energy?

Energy transferred between objects due to temperature difference.

What does the 2023 climate report emphasize?

Human influence is driving warming, pushing Earth toward critical thresholds.

What are the key thresholds?

1.5°C warming → dangerous; 2°C → tipping point where recovery is unlikely.

What global goal is required?

Achieving net-zero carbon emissions.

What was the Earth Summit (1992)?

UNFCCC agreement, first major global framework on climate.

What was the Kyoto Protocol (1997)?

Required developed countries to cut emissions by ~5%. The U.S. never approved it.

What were challenges of Kyoto?

Developing countries were exempt, causing political tensions; mixed global participation.

What was the Paris Agreement (2015)?

A COP agreement to keep warming under 2°C, ideally 1.5°C.

• Expanded participation

• “Common but differentiated responsibilities”

• Bottom-up approach with national targets (NDCs)

• Targets are non-binding, no enforcement

What is the Green Climate Fund?

A fund to support climate action in developing countries (goal: $3B, fell short)

What is carbon offsetting?

When countries fund emissions reductions elsewhere, and count it toward their own reductions.

On what scales can climate action occur?

Global, international, federal, regional, state, and city.

What is the Matching Principle?

Climate action should occur at the level best suited to the problem’s scale

• Small scale: flexible, innovative, experimental, lower stakes.

• Large scale: uniform rules, economies of scale, avoids free riders.

What was Agenda 21?

An Earth Summit action plan promoting partnerships, city networks, and shared policy learning.

What is the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement?

A local initiative started when the U.S. rejected Kyoto; mayors pledged climate action.

What factors affect city climate policy?

Problem pressure, local democracy, socio-economic environment, policy capacity, and leadership

Why do cities take climate action?

It’s popular, efficient, and improves local livability.

What constraints do cities face?

Limited authority, small budgets, modest carbon reductions.

How do leading cities influence others?

Through examples → some follow (followers), others lag (laggards).`

What is one ton of carbon equivalent (CO₂e)?

A standard unit for measuring climate impact of emissions

What makes a carbon offset valid?

Must be real, permanent, and additional (wouldn’t have happened otherwise)

What are challenges with offsets?

Difficult to measure/monitor, especially in land use (e.g., forest protection, reforestation)

How is coal distributed globally?

Uneven but widespread; China is the largest producer and consumer.

What is coal mostly used for?

Electricity generation (“steam coal”) → ~90% in the U.S.

What are the main coal types?

• Bituminous → high BTU, best for electricity, abundant in U.S.

• Anthracite → very high quality, long-burning, used for heating.

• Lignite → “brown coal,” low BTU, high sulfur, used near mines.

Why has coal use declined?

Cheaper natural gas (fracking), rise of renewables, environmental regulations, reduced demand.

What are the main mining types?

• Underground → dangerous, toxic exposure

• Surface → safer, but highly destructive, causes acid mine drainage

How is coal transported?

By rail or barge

What caused the 1973 + 1979 oil crises?

OPEC restricting supply, showing power of oil cartels.

What is swing capacity in oil markets?

The ability of producers (like Saudi Arabia) to increase or withhold supply to stabilize prices.

What is peak oil?

The idea that global oil production will reach a maximum and then decline.

What are unconventional oils?

Harder-to-extract oils like shale, tight oil, and tar sands.

What are tar sands (oil sands) of Alberta?

Bitumen deposits extracted via surface mining or in-situ production (less destructive)

What is natural gas considered a “transition fuel”?

It burns cleaner than coal/oil, though still a fossil fuel.

What is CNG?

Compressed Natural Gas, often used in municipal vehicle fleets.

What is cracking?

Splitting methane (CH₄) into different products.