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1. Week 15 lecture:Week 15 lecture:
NONRENEWABLENONRENEWABLE
ANDAND
RENEWABLERENEWABLE
RESOURCESRESOURCES

2. Objectives of the lectureObjectives of the lecture
• What are the differences betweenWhat are the differences between
nonrenewable and renewable resources?nonrenewable and renewable resources?
• What are some examples of nonrenewableWhat are some examples of nonrenewable
resources and how are they made?resources and how are they made?
• What can we do to conserve theseWhat can we do to conserve these
nonrenewable resources?nonrenewable resources?
• What renewable resources could take theWhat renewable resources could take the
place of the nonrenewable resources?place of the nonrenewable resources?

3. What are nonrenewable resources?What are nonrenewable resources?
• A natural resource thatA natural resource that
cannotcannot be re-made,be re-made,
regenerated or re-regenerated or re-
grown at a scalegrown at a scale
comparable to itscomparable to its
consumption In otherconsumption In other
words, we use it upwords, we use it up
faster than it can befaster than it can be
remade.remade.
• Examples: Coal,Examples: Coal,
natural gas, oil,natural gas, oil,
nuclear energynuclear energy

4. NUCLEAR ENERGYNUCLEAR ENERGY
• Nuclear power plantsNuclear power plants
produce energy through theproduce energy through the
fission of uranium andfission of uranium and
plutonium.plutonium.
• Nuclear energy is aNuclear energy is a
nonrenewable resourcenonrenewable resource
because once the uraniumbecause once the uranium
is used up, it takes a veryis used up, it takes a very
long time for the Earth’slong time for the Earth’s
processes to replace it.processes to replace it.
• Creation of nuclear energyCreation of nuclear energy
does not pollute the air withdoes not pollute the air with
nitrogen oxides, sulfurnitrogen oxides, sulfur
oxides, dust or greenhouseoxides, dust or greenhouse
gases, no burning of fuelsgases, no burning of fuels
• But is nuclear energyBut is nuclear energy
safe?safe?

5. Drawbacks of producingDrawbacks of producing
nuclear energynuclear energy
• There are several drawbacks toThere are several drawbacks to
using nuclear energyusing nuclear energy
• First drawback:First drawback: safety ofsafety of
nuclear power plantsnuclear power plants. Spills. Spills
at nuclear power plants, likeat nuclear power plants, like
Chernobyl and Three MileChernobyl and Three Mile
Island, release large amount ofIsland, release large amount of
radioactive material into theradioactive material into the
environment, which can harmenvironment, which can harm
wildlife, humanswildlife, humans
• Second drawback:Second drawback: NuclearNuclear
waste has to be placedwaste has to be placed
somewhere.somewhere. Since the wasteSince the waste
produced at the plants isproduced at the plants is
radioactive, it needs to beradioactive, it needs to be
stored in a safe environment.stored in a safe environment.
Right now, Yucca Mountain inRight now, Yucca Mountain in
Wyoming is being used forWyoming is being used for
nuclear waste storagenuclear waste storage

6. Fossil fuels:Fossil fuels:
Coal, natural gas and petroleumCoal, natural gas and petroleum
• CoalCoal,, petroleumpetroleum, and, and
natural gasnatural gas areare
consideredconsidered
nonrenewablenonrenewable
because they can notbecause they can not
be replenished in abe replenished in a
short period of time.short period of time.
These materials areThese materials are
also known as fossilalso known as fossil
fuels.fuels.

7. HOW IS COAL MADE ?HOW IS COAL MADE ?
• Coal is formed over a long period of time. Coal starts out asCoal is formed over a long period of time. Coal starts out as
plant material. The plants die, generally in a swampyplant material. The plants die, generally in a swampy
condition, and are covered with sediment and water. Overcondition, and are covered with sediment and water. Over
time, this material is compacted, trapping the plant matter astime, this material is compacted, trapping the plant matter as
it decomposes. Heat and pressure form the Earth turn theit decomposes. Heat and pressure form the Earth turn the
plant material into coalplant material into coal
Image source: http://faculty.virginia.edu/metals/cases/ramdeen1.html

8. HOW ARE OIL AND GAS MADE ?HOW ARE OIL AND GAS MADE ?
• Oil and natural gas are also formed over a long period ofOil and natural gas are also formed over a long period of
time. These materials start out as animals. The animals die,time. These materials start out as animals. The animals die,
generally in a marine condition, and are covered withgenerally in a marine condition, and are covered with
sediment on the ocean floor. Over time, this material issediment on the ocean floor. Over time, this material is
compacted, trapping the plant matter as it decomposes. Heatcompacted, trapping the plant matter as it decomposes. Heat
and pressure form the Earth turn the plant material into oiland pressure form the Earth turn the plant material into oil
and gas.and gas.

9. Conserving nonrenewableConserving nonrenewable
resourcesresources
• Since nonrenewable resources areSince nonrenewable resources are
finite and limited in and on thefinite and limited in and on the
Earth’s surface, we need to takeEarth’s surface, we need to take
special measures to conservespecial measures to conserve
themthem
• Ideally, we should try and findIdeally, we should try and find
renewable resources to substituterenewable resources to substitute
for the nonrenewable resourcesfor the nonrenewable resources

10. RENEWABLERENEWABLE
RESOURCESRESOURCES
• Renewable resources areRenewable resources are
natural resources thatnatural resources that
can be replenished in acan be replenished in a
short period of time.short period of time.
• Examples are solarExamples are solar
energy, geothermalenergy, geothermal
energy, wind energy,energy, wind energy,
biomass energy, andbiomass energy, and
hydroelectric energyhydroelectric energy

11. SOLAR ENERGYSOLAR ENERGY
• Energy from the sun.Energy from the sun.
• Often captured using solar panels orOften captured using solar panels or
photovoltaic cellsphotovoltaic cells
• Photovoltaic cells convert sunlightPhotovoltaic cells convert sunlight
directly into electricity. They candirectly into electricity. They can
provide tiny amounts of power forprovide tiny amounts of power for
watches and large amounts for thewatches and large amounts for the
electric gridelectric grid
• However, these cells and the solarHowever, these cells and the solar
panels can be very expensive forpanels can be very expensive for
homeowners. Even a small systemhomeowners. Even a small system
can run tens of thousands of dollarscan run tens of thousands of dollars
and the government rebates do littleand the government rebates do little
to offset these charges (only aboutto offset these charges (only about
30% of the cost is covered)30% of the cost is covered)
• Another problem is that solar panelsAnother problem is that solar panels
only collect large amounts of energyonly collect large amounts of energy
when the sun is shining…not muchwhen the sun is shining…not much
use at night.use at night.
• Think about why energy from theThink about why energy from the
sun renewable and is it a goodsun renewable and is it a good
solutionsolution

12. GEOTHERMAL ENERGYGEOTHERMAL ENERGY
• Energy from the EarthEnergy from the Earth
• Resources of geothermal energyResources of geothermal energy
range from the shallow ground torange from the shallow ground to
hot water and hot rock found ahot water and hot rock found a
few miles beneath the Earth'sfew miles beneath the Earth's
surface, and down even deeper tosurface, and down even deeper to
the extremely high temperaturesthe extremely high temperatures
of molten rock called magma.of molten rock called magma.
• Installing a geothermal system forInstalling a geothermal system for
your house requires a goodyour house requires a good
amount of land. These systemsamount of land. These systems
are also expensive forare also expensive for
homeowners, but could be used inhomeowners, but could be used in
the corporate world to power athe corporate world to power a
grid.grid.
• Think about why energy from theThink about why energy from the
heat of the Earth renewable and ifheat of the Earth renewable and if
it is a good solution.it is a good solution.
For info, please review:
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/geothermal/faqs
.html

13. WIND ENERGYWIND ENERGY
• A wind turbine works like a fan,A wind turbine works like a fan,
but in reverse: instead of usingbut in reverse: instead of using
electricity to make wind, like aelectricity to make wind, like a
fan, wind turbines use wind tofan, wind turbines use wind to
make electricity. The windmake electricity. The wind
turns the turbine's blades,turns the turbine's blades,
which spin a shaft connected towhich spin a shaft connected to
a generator to make electricity.a generator to make electricity.
• One of the problems with windOne of the problems with wind
turbines is that they areturbines is that they are
weather-dependent. If the windweather-dependent. If the wind
it not blowing, no electricity isit not blowing, no electricity is
being madebeing made
• Think about why energy fromThink about why energy from
the wind renewable andthe wind renewable and
whether it is a good solution.whether it is a good solution.
For more information, check out:
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro
/faqs.html

14. Getting energy from BiomassGetting energy from Biomass
• Bioenergy is renewable energy madeBioenergy is renewable energy made
from any organic material from plantsfrom any organic material from plants
or animals.or animals.
• Sources of bioenergy are calledSources of bioenergy are called
"biomass."biomass.
• Some examples of biomass are:Some examples of biomass are:
agricultural and forestry residues,agricultural and forestry residues,
municipal and industrial wastes, andmunicipal and industrial wastes, and
crops.crops.
• Burning biomass is used to generateBurning biomass is used to generate
electricity and powerelectricity and power
• Biomass can be used to produceBiomass can be used to produce
biofuels like ethanol and biodieselbiofuels like ethanol and biodiesel
• Biomass is considered renewableBiomass is considered renewable
because plants and crops are alwaysbecause plants and crops are always
planted, so this resource can beplanted, so this resource can be
replenishedreplenished in a short period of timein a short period of time
• Is this a good option?Is this a good option?
For more info, review:
http://www1.eere.energy.g
ov/biomass/biomass_basi
cs_faqs.html

15. HYDROELECTRIC POWERHYDROELECTRIC POWER
• Energy from the flow of water.Energy from the flow of water.
• Facilities in the United StatesFacilities in the United States
can generate enough power tocan generate enough power to
supply 28 million householdssupply 28 million households
with electricity, the equivalentwith electricity, the equivalent
of nearly 500 million barrels ofof nearly 500 million barrels of
oil.oil.
• However, we can only installHowever, we can only install
these types of facilities wherethese types of facilities where
we can constrain the waterwe can constrain the water
flow.flow.
• Constraining water flow,Constraining water flow,
canalizing rivers and dammingcanalizing rivers and damming
waterways can impact thewaterways can impact the
habitats of hundreds ofhabitats of hundreds of
watershed specieswatershed species
• Think about why energy ofThink about why energy of
flowing water renewable and ifflowing water renewable and if
it is a good solution.it is a good solution.

16. SUMMARY- What should youSUMMARY- What should you
know?know?
• The differences betweenThe differences between
renewable and nonrenewablerenewable and nonrenewable
resources:resources:
• How can we conserveHow can we conserve
nonrenewable resources?nonrenewable resources?
• What renewable resources couldWhat renewable resources could
(or should) take the place of(or should) take the place of
nonrenewables?nonrenewables?