Alternative Energy Sources Presented by Pat Murphy, Executive Director Community Service, Yellow Springs, OH 45387

Presented

by

Pat Murphy,

Executive Director

Community Service,

Yellow Springs, OH 45387

Oil Alternatives – Six Major Energy Options Natural gas Other hydrocarbon fossil fuels Oil shale – heavy oil – tar sands Coal (less energy per lb., more pollutants) Nuclear energy – “newest” (1950s) energy source – uranium Dams – Not renewable (they silt), limited by sites available Alternative energy (renewables) – wind turbines, PVs, biofuels Marginal ideas – mirrors, solar towers, tidal surge

Natural gas

Other hydrocarbon fossil fuels

Oil shale – heavy oil – tar sands

Coal (less energy per lb., more pollutants)

Nuclear energy – “newest” (1950s) energy source – uranium

Dams – Not renewable (they silt), limited by sites available

Alternative energy (renewables) – wind turbines, PVs, biofuels

Marginal ideas – mirrors, solar towers, tidal surge

Alternatives – Natural Gas Natural gas is used primarily for space heating, electricity generation Natural gas is the key ingredient in agricultural fertilizers Main material for hydrogen (natural gas – 48%, oil – 30%, coal – 18%) Not a viable replacement for oil – hard to ship – a regional fuel U.S. only imports from Canada and Mexico via pipeline One of the key solutions to the oil shock of the 1970s Can be used in automobile engines Honda selling a natural gas Civic with home gas dispenser

Natural gas is used primarily for space heating, electricity generation

Natural gas is the key ingredient in agricultural fertilizers

Main material for hydrogen (natural gas – 48%, oil – 30%, coal – 18%)

Not a viable replacement for oil – hard to ship – a regional fuel

U.S. only imports from Canada and Mexico via pipeline

One of the key solutions to the oil shock of the 1970s

Can be used in automobile engines

Honda selling a natural gas Civic with home gas dispenser

Alternatives – Natural Gas and Depletion May deplete faster than oil!! – a different pattern U.S. and Canada have huge supplies – but are using it quickly The Future of the Oil and Gas Industry: Past Approaches, New Challenges, Harry J. Longwell, 3 Director and Executive VP, Exxon Mobil Corporation, World Energy Vol. 5 No. # 2002

May deplete faster than oil!! – a different pattern

U.S. and Canada have huge supplies – but are using it quickly

The Future of the Oil and Gas Industry: Past Approaches, New Challenges, Harry J. Longwell, 3 Director and Executive VP, Exxon Mobil Corporation, World Energy Vol. 5 No. # 2002

Alternative Non-Conventional Fossil Fuels Oil Shale Does not contain oil – basis is kerogen – add water/ heat to get oil Waste volume greater than ore volume – must be mined like coal Needs lots of water – found in water scare areas – Colorado Plateau Heavy Oil Very thick – limited uses (bunker oil) Major source – Venezuela Tar Sands Long term production by SynFuels – 500,000 barrels daily Less than 1% of world oil production Located mostly in Canada Sizable but not huge potential – Currently about 4% of energy

Oil Shale

Does not contain oil – basis is kerogen – add water/ heat to get oil

Waste volume greater than ore volume – must be mined like coal

Needs lots of water – found in water scare areas – Colorado Plateau

Heavy Oil

Very thick – limited uses (bunker oil)

Major source – Venezuela

Tar Sands

Long term production by SynFuels – 500,000 barrels daily

Less than 1% of world oil production

Located mostly in Canada

Sizable but not huge potential – Currently about 4% of energy

Synthetic Oils – Canada Projects are mammoth in scale Supplies of cheap gas to fuel plants are shrinking Water supply limits Need to excavate ever-greater thicknesses of overburden Deposits are buried – a mining operation May require nuclear plants to produce the steam used in the extraction process. Only the more favorable locations have been exploited.

Projects are mammoth in scale

Supplies of cheap gas to fuel plants are shrinking

Water supply limits

Need to excavate ever-greater thicknesses of overburden

Deposits are buried – a mining operation

May require nuclear plants to produce the steam used in the extraction process.

Only the more favorable locations have been exploited.

Alternative – Coal Major fuel source in the world – provides more energy than oil or gas Abundant but dirty and inefficient Less energy (1/2) per pound than oil/gas – and much more polluting Liquid synthetic fuels can be made from coal Different types of coal with different heat values Converting coal to energy is energy expensive

Major fuel source in the world – provides more energy than oil or gas

Abundant but dirty and inefficient

Less energy (1/2) per pound than oil/gas – and much more polluting

Liquid synthetic fuels can be made from coal

Different types of coal with different heat values

Converting coal to energy is energy expensive

Coal Pollutants

Alternative – Coal and Sequestration Coal industry pitching “clean coal” – remove CO2 (which takes energy) Removed CO2 is then “sequestered” – new “cool” word Means “bury or dump in ocean” – and hope it stays there! What if CO2 gets loose? Life may not survive the burning of all available coal – clean or not!

Coal industry pitching “clean coal” – remove CO2 (which takes energy)

Removed CO2 is then “sequestered” – new “cool” word

Means “bury or dump in ocean” – and hope it stays there!

What if CO2 gets loose?

Life may not survive the burning of all available coal – clean or not!

Alternative – Nuclear Nuclear Energy – Only “new” (1945) energy source in centuries – U235 Relatively “safe” when operating – No new Chernobyl or 3 Mile Island But accidents could be catastrophic Price-Anderson Act law in 1957 passed exempting liability Still in force – utilities won’t build new plants without it Uranium will be available for some decades – but not forever Fundamental issue is radioactive wastes – last for thousands of years Lots of hype – Fusion reactors, breeder reactors No successes after decades of efforts – $billions wasted Number of reactors needed to carry most of load is phenomenal One or two orders of magnitude over current installation

Nuclear Energy – Only “new” (1945) energy source in centuries – U235

Relatively “safe” when operating – No new Chernobyl or 3 Mile Island

But accidents could be catastrophic

Price-Anderson Act law in 1957 passed exempting liability

Still in force – utilities won’t build new plants without it

Uranium will be available for some decades – but not forever

Fundamental issue is radioactive wastes – last for thousands of years

Lots of hype – Fusion reactors, breeder reactors

No successes after decades of efforts – $billions wasted

Number of reactors needed to carry most of load is phenomenal

One or two orders of magnitude over current installation

Current Reactors in the World: ~450

Alternatives – Dams Limited number of sites – U.S. “maxed out” Major ecological effect – destruction of species In third world they destroy many homes and natural processes Dams will eventually fill with silt – not “renewable” Forced relocation of people – heavy human toll Nobody in U.S. is proposing dams!

Limited number of sites – U.S. “maxed out”

Major ecological effect – destruction of species

In third world they destroy many homes and natural processes

Dams will eventually fill with silt – not “renewable”

Forced relocation of people – heavy human toll

Nobody in U.S. is proposing dams!

Alternatives – Renewables Solar PV/wind generated electricity Unlikely to provide sufficient quantities Sun and wind are diffuse, seasonal and intermittent Technologies are over 50 years old Intense development in last 30 years Number of sites are limited Wind and PVs don’t “scale” and don’t “dispatch” Matthew Simmons – Energy Investment Banker

Solar PV/wind generated electricity

Unlikely to provide sufficient quantities

Sun and wind are diffuse, seasonal and intermittent

Technologies are over 50 years old

Intense development in last 30 years

Number of sites are limited

Wind and PVs don’t “scale” and don’t “dispatch”

Matthew Simmons – Energy Investment Banker

Alternatives – Wind and PVs Wind turbines the most efficient options – and fastest growing 2/3 of projected alternative supply is wind Most of the rest is wood But turbines are an old technology Photovoltaics (PVs) PV prices decreased 90% in 1st 12 years – flat in last 13. PV efficiency went from 8% to 16% in first 10 years – little improvement since Most renewables generate only electricity Less flexible than oil or natural gas

Wind turbines the most efficient options – and fastest growing

2/3 of projected alternative supply is wind

Most of the rest is wood

But turbines are an old technology

Photovoltaics (PVs)

PV prices decreased 90% in 1st 12 years – flat in last 13.

PV efficiency went from 8% to 16% in first 10 years – little improvement since

Most renewables generate only electricity

Less flexible than oil or natural gas

Does This Look Revolutionary? GE 1.5 Megawatt Wind Turbine Electricity from wind costs 2.5 times that from nuclear or gas. Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE), 03/10/04 Study

GE 1.5 Megawatt Wind Turbine

Electricity from wind costs 2.5 times that from nuclear or gas.

Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE), 03/10/04 Study

Alternative – Bio-fuels Used as a heat source around the world Biomass or plant Wood for burning still a major source of energy Main interest is ethanol for operation cars David Pimenthal thesis for ethanol – negative net energy

Used as a heat source around the world

Biomass or plant

Wood for burning still a major source of energy

Main interest is ethanol for operation cars

David Pimenthal thesis for ethanol – negative net energy

Understanding Net Energy It takes energy to process fossil fuels for usage Cheapest energy cost to process fuels is Saudi Arabia oil Most expensive energy cost to process fuels are the non-conventional fossil fuels Also energy costly to produce bio-diesel Negative net energy Vital to understand the concept of net energy Explains poor prospect for many alternatives Different than $$ cost

It takes energy to process fossil fuels for usage

Cheapest energy cost to process fuels is Saudi Arabia oil

Most expensive energy cost to process fuels are the non-conventional fossil fuels

Also energy costly to produce bio-diesel

Negative net energy

Vital to understand the concept of net energy

Explains poor prospect for many alternatives

Different than $$ cost

Alternatives Summary Bio fuels, solar, wind feasibility – all in question Proponents have not yet made the case Tabulating sun energy per sq foot is not enough Tar sands, oil shale not proven after more than 40 years Government is committing to nuclear power and coal Huge problem with both is poisonous waste Sequestration is the “sales pitch” of the coal advocates No new fuels are likely and old fuels still dirty

Bio fuels, solar, wind feasibility – all in question

Proponents have not yet made the case

Tabulating sun energy per sq foot is not enough

Tar sands, oil shale not proven after more than 40 years

Government is committing to nuclear power and coal

Huge problem with both is poisonous waste

Sequestration is the “sales pitch” of the coal advocates

No new fuels are likely and old fuels still dirty

Why Not Spend More on R and D ? In a century of technologic process only one new fuel source discovered (but Uranium first discovered in 18th century) Nuclear power took decades to develop and commercialize 1930-2003 After seventy years nuclear still provides only 8% of U.S. energy All the other fuels (oil, coal, gas) were known for a long time Coal for centuries! Oil and gas since late 1800s Early large dam was a marble structure built in 1660 in India

In a century of technologic process only one new fuel source discovered (but Uranium first discovered in 18th century)

Nuclear power took decades to develop and commercialize

1930-2003

After seventy years nuclear still provides only 8% of U.S. energy

All the other fuels (oil, coal, gas) were known for a long time

Coal for centuries!

Oil and gas since late 1800s

Early large dam was a marble structure built in 1660 in India

“ We Need a New Clean Source of Energy!” How would we find it? Send out prospectors? Look in the national labs for a new element? Star Trek Dilethium crystals? Dig more holes? Dive deeper? Fly higher? Many pie in the sky energy things have already failed Fusion, breeder reactors

How would we find it?

Send out prospectors?

Look in the national labs for a new element?

Star Trek Dilethium crystals?

Dig more holes? Dive deeper? Fly higher?

Many pie in the sky energy things have already failed

Fusion, breeder reactors

Finding Basic Things There are 110 natural elements Discovery history of the elements 13 – pre 1700 20 – 1700s 50 – 1800s 27 – 1900s All 20th century finds based on Uranium – and are dangerous Most created in labs – only a few atoms of each All these are highly toxic to living forms

There are 110 natural elements

Discovery history of the elements

13 – pre 1700

20 – 1700s

50 – 1800s

27 – 1900s

All 20th century finds based on Uranium – and are dangerous

Most created in labs – only a few atoms of each

All these are highly toxic to living forms

The Shocking Possibility There may be no “satisfactory” alternatives Satisfactory – Maintain current energy consumption rate Eternal progress based on burning fossil fuels is not sustainable We must change to a different way of living without the dreams of eternal material and mechanical progress This may save us from ourselves Planetary degradation based on burning fossil fuels

There may be no “satisfactory” alternatives

Satisfactory – Maintain current energy consumption rate

Eternal progress based on burning fossil fuels is not sustainable

We must change to a different way of living without the dreams of eternal material and mechanical progress

This may save us from ourselves

Planetary degradation based on burning fossil fuels