Energy Resources - Summary of Key Points

Evaluating Energy Resources

  • Energy can change forms (Potential/Stored Energy or Kinetic Energy).

  • 99% of energy comes from the Sun, generated through nuclear fusion: four hydrogen atoms fuse to form Helium.

  • E = mc^2: mass is transformed into energy.

  • 1% of energy comes from nonrenewable sources (coal, oil, natural gas, uranium, plutonium), their existence partly due to the sun.

Types of Energy

  • 82% of commercial energy is from nonrenewable fuels (76% fossil fuels, 6% nuclear).

  • Fossil fuel consumption increased to produce electricity since 1950, but coal use declined (7% since 1996-2000) due to pollution.

Coal

  • China surpassed the U.S. as the largest coal consumer by 2012.

  • Coal usage is decreasing as oil usage increases globally.

Oil

  • Oil use is increasing (approximately 1% annually) due to ease of access, lower cost, and abundance.

  • Oil is easy to use as fuel for vehicles and machinery.

  • Oil production is expected to peak sometime between 2010 and 2030.

Natural Gas

  • Natural gas use has increased (2% year-over-year since 1999) and surpassed coal for energy production.

  • Natural gas produces fewer greenhouse emissions than oil and coal.

Nuclear Power

  • Global nuclear electricity production has leveled off/declined since 1989.

Biomass (Wood)

  • In developing countries, biomass (fuel wood/charcoal) is the main fuel source for 50% of the global population.

  • Unsustainable harvesting leads to wood shortages in many developing countries.

Energy Use by Countries

  • China has surpassed the U.S. as the greatest consumer of energy globally.

  • Iceland is the greatest consumer of energy per capita.

Consumption differences are due to:

  • Population size.

  • Income: Developed countries consume much more energy than developing countries.

Future Energy

  • Solar and hydrogen are projected to be main fuels by the end of this century in the U.S.

  • Government subsidies and tax breaks have increased solar adoption.

Which Energy Should We Use

  • Energy policies need long-term vision (up to 50 years, huge investment).

  • New energy sources may only account for 10-20% of total energy usage initially.

Energy Concerns

  • Key questions:

    • Source availability?

    • Yield?

    • Development costs?

    • Government incentives?

    • Effects on security (national, economic, military)?

    • Vulnerability to terrorism?