types of energy resources

1. Net Energy and Types ofNet Energy and Types of
Energy ResourcesEnergy Resources

2. The Death of Radioactive Man

3. Core Case Study: Is the U.S. EnteringCore Case Study: Is the U.S. Entering
a New Oil and Natural Gas Era?a New Oil and Natural Gas Era?
 Oil and natural gasOil and natural gas

Two most widely used energy resources in U.S.Two most widely used energy resources in U.S.
 Oil consumption is increasingOil consumption is increasing

New extractions from oil shale causeNew extractions from oil shale cause
environmental harm – use lots of water,environmental harm – use lots of water,
produces polluted wastewaterproduces polluted wastewater

Burning oil and natural gas will continue addingBurning oil and natural gas will continue adding
greenhouse gases to the atmospheregreenhouse gases to the atmosphere

4. Core Case Study: Is the U.S. EnteringCore Case Study: Is the U.S. Entering
a New Oil and Natural Gas Era?a New Oil and Natural Gas Era?
 2011 U.S. energy sources2011 U.S. energy sources

5. Net EnergyNet Energy
 First Law of ThermodynamicsFirst Law of Thermodynamics = Law of= Law of
Conservation of Energy – In all physical andConservation of Energy – In all physical and
chemical changes, energy is neither createdchemical changes, energy is neither created
nor destroyed, although it may be convertednor destroyed, although it may be converted
from one form to anotherfrom one form to another
 Second Law of ThermodynamicsSecond Law of Thermodynamics – When– When
energy changes from one form to another,energy changes from one form to another,
some useful energy is always degraded tosome useful energy is always degraded to
lower-quality, more dispersed, less usefullower-quality, more dispersed, less useful
energyenergy

6. Net EnergyNet Energy
 It takes energy to get energy – exploration,It takes energy to get energy – exploration,
pumping or mining, transporting, processing,pumping or mining, transporting, processing,
transporting to userstransporting to users
 Net energy yieldNet energy yield – the usable amount of– the usable amount of
high-quality energy available from a resourcehigh-quality energy available from a resource

Total energy available from resource minusTotal energy available from resource minus
energy used and wasted to make it availableenergy used and wasted to make it available

Ex: 10 units of energy (in resource) – 8 units ofEx: 10 units of energy (in resource) – 8 units of
energy to get resource = 2 units of useful energyenergy to get resource = 2 units of useful energy
 Energy return on investmentEnergy return on investment – energy– energy
obtained per unit energy used to obtain itobtained per unit energy used to obtain it

7. Net EnergyNet Energy

8. TYPES OF ENERGY RESOURCESTYPES OF ENERGY RESOURCES
 Some energy resources with low net energySome energy resources with low net energy
yields need help to complete in open marketsyields need help to complete in open markets
with alternatives that have higher net energywith alternatives that have higher net energy
yieldsyields

Need subsidies from taxpayersNeed subsidies from taxpayers

Ex: Nuclear power - the uranium fuel cycle isEx: Nuclear power - the uranium fuel cycle is
costlycostly

Violates full-cost pricingViolates full-cost pricing

9. TYPES OF ENERGY RESOURCESTYPES OF ENERGY RESOURCES
 99% of energy we use for heat comes from99% of energy we use for heat comes from
sun (nuclear fusion of H atoms)sun (nuclear fusion of H atoms)
 Other 1% – mostly from burning fossil fuelsOther 1% – mostly from burning fossil fuels

Solar energy indirectly supports wind power,Solar energy indirectly supports wind power,
hydropower andhydropower and biomassbiomass (chemical bonds in(chemical bonds in
organic compounds – trees, etc.)organic compounds – trees, etc.)
 About 76% of commercial energy fromAbout 76% of commercial energy from
nonrenewable fossil fuels (oil, natural gas andnonrenewable fossil fuels (oil, natural gas and
coal), 6% from nuclear, with the remaindercoal), 6% from nuclear, with the remainder
coming from renewable sources (solar,coming from renewable sources (solar,
hydroelectric, wind, geothermal, biomass)hydroelectric, wind, geothermal, biomass)

10. FOSSIL FUELSFOSSIL FUELS
 Fossil fuelsFossil fuels – natural fuels formed from the– natural fuels formed from the
remains of once-living organisms,remains of once-living organisms,
compressed at high temperature andcompressed at high temperature and
pressure over millions of yearspressure over millions of years

Non-renewableNon-renewable

Energy released when fuel is burnedEnergy released when fuel is burned

CoalCoal – plants– plants

OilOil – marine plants and animals– marine plants and animals

Natural gasNatural gas – marine plants and animals– marine plants and animals

11. TYPES OF ENERGY RESOURCESTYPES OF ENERGY RESOURCES
 Nonrenewable energy resources andNonrenewable energy resources and
geothermal energy in the earth’s crustgeothermal energy in the earth’s crust

12. How a Power Plant WorksHow a Power Plant Works