APES Energy test

Nonrenewable Energy

Fossil Fuels (Coal, oil, natural gas)

Nuclear energy(Uranium)

Hubbert’s Peak Theory:

predicts that oil production follows a bell-shaped curve. Production rises, peaks when roughly half the resource is consumed, and then enters a terminal decline. While it accurately predicted the 1970 US peak, new technologies (fracking) have delayed the global peak.

Acid Rain

Caused by burning fossil fuels (especially coal), which releases sulfur dioxide () and nitrogen oxides (). These react with water and oxygen in the atmosphere to form sulfuric and nitric acid.

Eminent Domain

The power of a government to take private property for public use, often utilized to secure land for pipelines, power lines, and power plants.

Gas Subsidies

Governments provide tax breaks, direct funding, or other incentives to oil and gas companies to keep energy prices low, often hindering the transition to renewables.

Nonrenewable

Limited, polluting, high-energy density, and mostly used for base-load power.

Renewable

Naturally replenished (solar, wind, hydro), lower carbon footprint, and generally sustainable.

Nuclear Energy: How It Works

Nuclear power plants use nuclear fission to produce electricity.

1. Fission: Neutrons split uranium-235 atoms in a reactor core.

2. Heat Production: This process releases massive amounts of heat.

3. Steam Generation: The heat turns water into steam.

4. Turbines: The steam turns turbines, which drive generators to produce electricity.

Half-Life (Nuclear)

The time taken for the radioactivity of a specified isotope to fall to half its original value. It dictates how long nuclear waste remains dangerous.

EROI (Energy Return on Investment)

The ratio of energy delivered to the energy cost of finding and producing it. Fossil fuels have high EROI, but it is declining as the easiest sources are used up.

• Solar Power:

• Pros: Abundant, clean, low operating costs.

• Cons: Intermittent, high initial cost, requires storage.

• Wind Power:

• Pros: Sustainable, zero emissions.

• Cons: Intermittent, requires large land, visual/noise impact.

• Hydropower:

• Pros: Reliable baseload power.

• Cons: Environmental impact on aquatic ecosystems.

Geothermal:

• Pros: Reliable and consistent.

• Cons: Limited to certain geographical areas.

100% Renewable Countries:

Albania, Bhutan, Nepal, Paraguay, Iceland, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which rely heavily on hydropower.

Germany

Known for high investments in wind and solar power (Energiewende).

While expanding renewables, they still rely on coal and natural gas for stability.

China

World leader in solar panel and wind turbine manufacturing and installation.

The world’s largest producer of coal, and coal is still the primary component of their energy mix, though they are rapidly increasing their renewable capacity.