Study Notes on Nonrenewable Energy
Overview of Energy Consumption
Maurice Strong Quote: Typical citizens of advanced industrialized nations consume more energy in 6 months than typical citizens in less-developed countries during their entire lives, highlighting a significant disparity in energy consumption and access globally.
Key Questions
What types of energy resources do we use?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using oil?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using natural gas?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using coal?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using nuclear power?
14.1 WHAT TYPES OF ENERGY RESOURCES DO WE USE?
Concepts on Energy Resources
Concept 14.1A: About 90% of commercial energy used worldwide comes from nonrenewable energy resources, predominantly composed of oil, natural gas, and coal, whereas only 10% is derived from renewable sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power. This dependence on nonrenewable resources has significant implications for sustainability and climate change.
Concept 14.1B: Energy resources can vary widely in net energy, defined as the available energy from a resource after deducting the energy required to extract and process it. Efficient energy use is crucial to maximizing available net energy.
Energy Sources and Their Origins
99% of the earth’s energy is derived from the sun, which provides heat and is vital for sustaining life, influencing weather patterns and ecological systems without direct financial cost.
Commercial Energy Sources: These sources are divided into two main categories:
Nonrenewable Energy: Includes fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal), as well as nuclear energy generated through the fission of uranium, which poses unique challenges regarding waste disposal and accident potential.
Renewable Energy: Encompasses energy sources such as wind, hydro, solar, biomass, and geothermal energy, which are continuously replenished and present lower environmental impact.
Dependence on Fossil Fuels: Fossil fuels are formed from ancient plant matter subjected to heat and pressure over millions of years. This extensive formation process means that fossil fuels are finite and will deplete at increasing rates unless significant alternatives are adopted.
In 2015, globally, 90% of the commercial energy and in the United States relied on nonrenewable resources, indicating a heavy burden on the planet’s ecosystems for future generations.
Statistical Breakdown (2015):
Oil: 36% (Global), 32% (US)
Natural Gas: 24% (Global), 29% (US)
Coal: 30% (Global), 16% (US)
Nuclear Power: 4% (Global), 9% (US)
Renewable Energy: 10% from various sources (Global and US)
Net Energy Calculation
Definition of Net Energy: The net energy refers to the amount of available high-quality energy obtained minus the energy necessary for its extraction and processing.
Example: If it requires 9 units of energy to produce 10 units, then the net energy yield is 1 unit, indicating low value and diminishing returns as energy extraction costs rise.
Increasing net energy demands improved energy efficiency, technological innovation, and operational management to cut waste and unnecessary consumption.
Competitiveness of Energy Resources
A low or negative net energy resource faces competitive disadvantages in the market without government subsidies or incentives to promote its use.
Nuclear power often has a low net energy due to the substantial energy input required for its entire lifecycle, including mining, processing, and waste management.
14.2 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF USING OIL
Concepts on Oil
Concept 14.2A: Conventional crude oil, despite its significant availability, also results in considerable air and water pollution, leading to adverse environmental consequences and contributing to climate change through CO₂ emissions during combustion.
Concept 14.2B: Unconventional heavy oil resources, such as those from oil shale and tar sands, carry larger reserves but tend to have lower net energy yield and impose even greater environmental damage during extraction and processing.
Dependence on Oil
Oil serves as the most prevalent energy resource for heating, transportation, and manufacturing processes, including the production of plastic goods and various chemicals crucial to daily life.
Crude Oil Formation: Oil is formed from decomposed microorganisms buried under layers of sedimentary rock, where heat and pressure transform ancient organic matter into oil over millions of years.
Oil Extraction Process:
Geological Surveying: Identifies potential oil deposits through seismic surveys, followed by exploratory drilling to assess commercial viability.
Peak Production: The stage when oil production begins to decline—typically occurs around ten years post peak, marking the onset of resource depletion.
Refining Process: Crude oil must undergo refining, which decreases its overall net energy by requiring considerable energy inputs for separation and conversion into usable fuels.
Oil Consumption Statistics
In 2016, the world utilized approximately 34.7 billion barrels, equating to a distance that could reach the moon about 41 times when arranged end to end, underscoring the vast scale at which oil is consumed globally.
Proven Oil Reserves: Refers to the quantities of oil that can be profitably extracted using contemporary technologies, continually influenced by advancements in extraction techniques.
Global Oil Reserves and Production
OPEC member countries hold around 80% of the world's proven oil reserves, impacting global supply and pricing dynamics sharply.
Essential geopolitical factors play a significant role in the global oil market, heavily influenced by countries like Venezuela and Saudi Arabia, who regulate production and maintain price controls.
Since 2005, the US has seen a remarkable growth in oil production, driven by technological breakthroughs in extraction methods, particularly hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling techniques.
Advantages/Disadvantages of Oil
Advantages: Abundant supply, highly efficient transportation and distribution systems, and established infrastructure supporting its consumption.
Disadvantages: Environmental damages such as oil spills, water pollution from leaks, the external costs of environmental degradation not reflected in market prices, and significant greenhouse gas emissions when burned. Additionally, oil markets are volatile and vulnerable to geopolitical tensions, leading to fluctuating prices that can influence global economies.