EnergyNatural GasMostly refers to methanepipelines or liquefied natural gas (LGN)Over 50% in Russia and Middle EastUS Natural Gas ReservesRecent discoveries in Shale Formations (NE USA)88 years-118 years of gas at current rate of development and useChina and XinjiangEnvironmental ImpactsExtractionInfrastructure, pipelinesMethane released without burning (major GHG 20 x more potent than CO2)UseFar lower amount of SO2 & NO2 than any other fossil fuelMuch less particulate matter than coal or oilCleanest of the major fossil fuelsT. Boone PickensPushes natural energy, natural gasConservativeNuclear EnergyFrance produces most nuclear energy (76%), protective of nuclear powerTop 3: France 76%, Ukraine 47%, South Korea 36%Three Mile Island Accident (1979)Anti-nuclear movement – Shift in nuclear construction attitudesChernobyl Nuclear Accident (1986) – Radiation cloud over Ukraine, area is very radio-active and off limits; higher cancer rates/mortalityAccidents and awareness stall nuclear plant construction in the United StatesNuclear Waste Storagee.g. Yucca Mountains (Nevada)Selected as the national nuclear waste repository two decades ago“NIMBY” effect: not in my backyardRenewable EnergySeen as the future, talked about as the future but in reality there’s a big question mark as to how much it can help us in societyTotal recoverablesolar, hydro (less potential), geothermal, wind, global consumptionHydroelectric EnergyChina (18%); Canada (62%); Brazil (97%)e.g. China’s 3 Gorges Dam is expected to provide 3% of China’s electricity needsSolar Energyglobal distribution of solar energyconcentrated in the low latitudes (esp. in Desert Areas)EuropeMethod #1 passive solar systems use architecture, sun angles, and such to maximize (or minimize) heatingMethod #2 active solar systems use pumps, etc. to circulate air, water or other fluids from solar collectors to a location where the heat is stored and usedMethod #3 photovoltaic solar systems turn sunlight directly into electricity (made from silicon or thin-film technologies)Concentrated solar powerBoth photovoltaic and convection generated powerCombining different types of solar energy for your homePassive1. Daylighting (window orientation, vegetation)2. Translucent panelsActive3. Solar water heatersPhotovoltaic4. Solar panels5. Solar safety lightingWind EnergyWind resources of the USWind power generation by stateCalifornia, Texas, Iowa leadersLeaders in installed capacity (MW)European Union (75,000), US (35,000), Germany, China, Spain, IndiaInstalled Capacity increasing over timeBiomassPlant and animal wastes that can be burned to produce electricity or converted to a more convenient form (i.e. gas)Biomass provides 35% of people’s NRG in the developing worldEthanolSugarcane in Brazil provides 60% of auto fuel, they have ethanol-powered carsCorn in USProblems?Land degradation due to farmingAir pollution?Oil use?Food price increaseOther forms of renewable energygeothermal energywave powertidal powerhydrogen powerUS Energy Policy ApproachesThe “Hard Path” (supply)Develop domestic sources of oil (Alaska, Gulf of Mexico, California)Develop domestic sources of coal & coal technologiese.g. coal liquefactionDevelop more nuclear energyBush administration’s, current republican party pathWhy has the hard path remained popular?Technology readily available, up and runningDoesn’t involve or require a re-tooling of our current economic, political and social ways of thinkingPowerful forces (i.e. “Big Oil”) are behind itStill relatively cheap at this point compared with other sourcesDiscussion Week 7Energy ConsumptionWhat is Energy?Energy is the capacity of a physical system to perform workTwo types of energy; Kinetic and PotentialPotential energy is stored energye.g. water backed up behind the dam is not doing work, but could do work if releasedChemical energy, the energy stored in chemical bonds; nuclear fusion and fissionkinetic,Kinetic energy is energy in motion; e.g. water spilling over a damn can be harnessed to do work (since it is in motion)light, heat, soundLaws of energy (thermodynamics)Under normal conditions energy cannot be created or destroyed; simply transformed from one type of energy to anotherAny time you do work some of the starting energy is going to be lost as heat;no process is 100% efficientliving systems will break down unless they have some input of energyWhy do humans need energy?Warm our houses in winter, cool our houses in summer, light our homes, play musicTo grow, store and cook our foodTo extract & process natural resources for manufacturing items we use dailyTo power various form of transportationSources of EnergyOil – 38%Gas – 23%Coal – 26%Hydroelectric – 6%Nuclear – 6%Geothermal Solar, Wind and Wood – 1%Energy use in developed & developing countriesPer person energy consumption in developed countries far exceeds that in developing countriesEnergy in CaliforniaCA is the most populous state in the nation, its total energy demand is second to the state of TexasCompared to other states, CA has one of the lowest per capita energy consumption;Mild climate conditionEnergy efficiency programsCA energy ResourcesCA’s crude oil and natural gas deposits are located in six geological basins in the Central Valley and along the coastCA’s hydroelectric power potential ranks second in the U.S. (behind Washington State)Has substantial geothermal and wind power resources found along the coastal mountain rangesHigh solar power potential is found in SECA desertsRenewable energy resourcesDirect solar heatingIndirect solar heatingOther types of renewable energy sourcesDirect Solar EnergyActive solar heatingA series of collection devices mounted on a roof or in a field to gather solar energyE.g. panel or plate of black metalPassive solar heatingSolar energy heats buildings without the need for pumps, panels pr fans to distribute the heat.Involve some specific designs; e.g large windows facing south (North Hemisphere)Photovoltaic Solar CellsConvert sunlight directly into electricityGenerate electricity with no pollution & minimal maintanceIndirect Solar EnergyBiomass energyEnergy stored in plant and animal materialWood, fast-growing plant, crop wastes, animal wastesWind energyAs the sun warms the earth the air particle start to move and this results in windWind produce no waste, is clean source of energyHydropowerHydrologic cycle is driven by sun’s energyDams can harness & make use of kinetic energy in