Energy Resources

Renewable energy

  • Energy from renewable resources that are naturally replenished on a human timescale

  • It doesn't run out

  • Zero carbon footprint

Non-Renewable energy

  • Energy from sources that run out and cannot be replenished on a human timescale

  • Limited resources that will deplete once used

  • Does not replenish at the same speed

Types of Renewable Energy

Solar Energy

  • Captures energy from the sun using photovoltaic cells or solar thermal systems.

  • Photovoltaic cells convert sunlight directly into electricity.

  • Solar technology can deliver heat, cooling natural lighting and electricity

  • Environmentally friendly with minimal pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

  • Can be harnessed through solar panels on rooftops or large solar farms.

  • Life span of 30 years

    • Solar panels convert sunlight to DC current

    • Inverter converts DC to AC current

    • Take electricity your home requires

    • Extra electricity credited on grid

Wind Power

  • Generates electricity by harnessing the kinetic energy of the wind.

  • Radiant of the sun causes the air to move

  • Wind turbines convert wind energy into electrical power.

  • Variability in wind speed can impact energy production.

  • Suitable for both onshore and offshore locations. (Land and sea)

  • Low greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels.

    • Rotating generator converts wind energy to electricity

    • Transformer increases voltage for transmission to substation

    • Substation increases voltage for transmission over long distance

    • Transmission to the grid

Hydropower

  • Utilizes the energy of flowing or falling water to generate electricity

  • Dams are commonly used to create reservoirs, and water released from these reservoirs drives turbines

  • Provides a consistent and reliable source of electricity

  • Run-off hydropower rely on available flow of the water

  • Often used for irrigation, energy supply and also provide water that we drink everyday

  • Largest source of renewable resources

    • Hydroelectric dam works by first opening the intake that allows the water to flow through slanted tunnel

    • Water then reach the turbine that spins because of the kinetic energy of the flowing water. Everytime the turbine spins the generator converts it into usable energy called electricity

    • The water then falls down and continue to the other side of the dam where the river is located

Geothermal Energy

  • Taps into the Earth's internal heat by utilizing steam or hot water reservoirs beneath the Earth's surface.

  • Utilizes the accessible thermal power from the earths interior.

  • Heat is extracted through geothermal reservoirs using wells or other means

  • Geothermal power plants convert this heat into electricity.

  • Low emissions and a constant, reliable source of energy.

  • Limited to regions with significant geothermal activity.

  • Operating of hydrothermal reservoirs are natural and reliable, been operating for over 100 years

    • It starts from within the earth where water or aquifers are above hot rocks boils the water and produce steam

    • Steam then rises though a ventilation until it reaches the top

    • At the top, wind turbine are placed. Wind turbine starts moving whenever the steam are passing through it

    • The wind turbine starts producing electricity to be used in houses

    • The used steam then travels through the cooling tower where it transpires and once again turned into water and returns it underground through the injection well

Biomass Energy

  • Produced energy from burning biomass like wood, charcoal manures for heat and energy production

  • Biomass can be burned directly for heat or converted into biofuels.

  • Biomass are dead organisms

  • Biomass are burned in rural area for lighting, heat and cooking

  • Concerns about land use, deforestation, and competition with food production.

  • Leaves a small carbon footprint

  • Has various conversion processes

    • Combustion - where biomass are directly heated and burned to produce electricity

    • Gasification - converting in combustible gas known as syngas, which can be used as a biofuel

    • Pyrolysis - biomass are heated or burned with the absence of oxygen to produce syngas, bio-oil and biochar

    • Fermentation - converting sugar from the biomass into biofuel like ethanol through microbial action

    • Anaerobic digestion - microbial breakdown biomass in the absence of oxygen to produce biogas like methane and carbon dioxide

Non-renewable resources

Fossil fuels

Organic material that are preserved and have been through geological processes such as heat and pressure from millions of years ago transforming then into energy-rich substance.

Fossil

Formed when organisms are preserved under sedimentary rocks. The minerals and water from the sedimentary rocks around starts replacing the organic materials and forms a rock. They are capable of producing energy when burned

Coal

  • Mined from the earth's surface.

  • Burned to produce heat, which is then used for electricity generation and industrial processes.

  • Abundant but contributes to air pollution and greenhouse gas emission

  • Carbon-rich deposits from decayed organic materials.

  • Peat is the precursor of coal. When plants accumulates in swampy area and undergoes compaction and decay, it forms the peat and this process is called peatification.

  • Coalification is when peat are buried, heated and subjected to pressure.

  • There are different ranks of coal based on the amount of carbon and geological changes the coals have been through.

    • Peat - soft and lack glossy appearance. Formed from decomposed organic materials in swampy areas and low in carbon content.

    • Lignite (brownish-black) - higher carbon content and energy value than peat and has more plant characteristics than higher rank coals.

    • Bituminous (dark brown) - medium carbon content and moderate energy value. Used for electricity generation.

    • Anthracite (black and glossy) highest carbon content and energy value. Hard and compact

Oil

  • Also known as petroleum

  • Black, thick and mushy liquid

  • Formed from kerogen (waxy substance produced from the conversion of components of organic matter); kerogen are subjected to pressure and heat that turns it into oil and natural gas. Source rocks - kerogen bearing rocks.

  • Migrate through permeable rock layer or reservoir rocks. Restricted by impermeable rock layer or cap rocks.

  • Recovered using drills and pumps

Natural Gas

  • Colorless and odorless compound made from methane. The lightest hydrocarbon.

  • Formed from kerogen

Kerogen comes from the conversion of organic materials. Once kerogen is subjected to heat and pressure, over time it will form oil and natural gas. These hydrocarbons migrate through oil and gas window and to the reservoir rocks.

Nuclear Energy :

Uranium

  • Mined and processed to obtain uranium fuel.

  • Fission of uranium atoms in nuclear reactors produces heat.

  • Heat is used to produce steam, which turns turbines to generate electricity.

  • Low greenhouse gas emissions but poses challenges with radioactive waste disposal and safety concerns.

Advantages of fossil fuels

  • Abundant

  • Easy to find deposits

  • High energy value

  • Can be built anywhere

  • Easy to store and transport

Disadvantages of fossil fuels

  • Pollution

  • Health risk

  • Non-renewable