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Energy for tomorrow

Energy for tomorrow. Dwindling supplies Global warming The race for alternatives: what, when and how much?. Facts about fossil fuels. Any carbon based energy source that is derived from the decomposition of organic matter Natural gas Oil Coal It is a remarkable energy source

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Energy for tomorrow

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  1. Energy for tomorrow Dwindling supplies Global warming The race for alternatives: what, when and how much?

  2. Facts about fossil fuels • Any carbon based energy source that is derived from the decomposition of organic matter • Natural gas • Oil • Coal • It is a remarkable energy source • It is not renewable • It contributes to greenhouse gases

  3. The Big Three of energy • Fossil fuels have always dominated energy production – and continue to do so • Nuclear has made slow to no progress • Hydro and others are at the trace level

  4. The challenge: fossil fuels are great energy sources • Easily transported • Flexible • High energy density • The energy content of 500 gallons of gasoline is equivalent to • ~ 3 short tons of coal • ~ 60,000 cubic feet of natural gas • ~ 450 gallons of diesel fuel • ~ 991 gallons of methanol • ~ 1925 gallons of liquid hydrogen gas (that’s pretty cold) • ~ 6060 gallons of high-pressure hydrogen gas

  5. A change is gonna come • Fossil fuels are not replaced and reserves are finite – particularly gas and oil • Carbon deposition in the atmosphere is associated with global warming – societal pressure to change • Increased demand is beginning to outstrip supply • Alternatives to fossil fuels are required but what and when?

  6. Millions of Barrels per day (“Oil Equivalent”) 300 200 100 0 1860 1900 1940 1980 2020 2060 2100 Energy problems part I: sources • Traditional sources will not keep up with demand • They are finite in quantity • More people want them

  7. The illusion of energy independence • Oil imports were 35 % in 1973 • In 2003 imports were 55 % • Other major industrialized nations are worse off • Reduced imports will not reduce prices: oil is a global commodity, the price of which is determined by global markets

  8. Energy problems part II: sinks • Hazian logic and global warming • Increased CO2 causes global warming • Fossil fuels produce CO2 • Fossil fuels produce global warming

  9. People in glass houses… • Consumption of fossil fuels produces CO2 • Greenhouse gas – absorbs IR radiation • Higher energy radiation (UV and visible) penetrates the atmosphere • It is released as lower energy radiation (IR) which does not escape • 90 % likelihood that climate changed is man-made (increased CO2)

  10. CO2: the three bears of climate control • Venus: way too much • Mars: way too little • Earth: just right (about 300 ppm) • But there’s a fine edge

  11. Greenhouse gases: it’s not all CO2 • Carbon dioxide (CO2) • Methane (CH4) • Water vapour (H2O) • Nitrous oxide (N2O) • Ozone (O3) • CFCs

  12. Climate change: what we know • Temperatures have been rising • CO2 levels have been rising • Connect the dots...

  13. Climate change: what we speculate • Models make predictions for the future based on assumptions • If global warming is entirely due to CO2 then… • Educating Rita • But what if it’s not…

  14. Pascal’s wager: it’s safer to bet on it than against it • Alternative energy sources • Reduction of CO2 emission from fossil fuels • Biomass – grow your own gas • To be continued

  15. Alternative energy sources • Wind • Solar • Wave • Hydroelectric • Biodiesel • Ethanol • Nuclear fission • Nuclear fusion • Hydrogen

  16. Kicking the fossil fuel habit • Beyond the problem of providing alternative fuels for transportation is the broader question of providing alternative means to generating energy • Fossil fuels represent a remarkable energy source: • Almost 600 car batteries are required to store the energy contained in one 15 gallon tank of gasoline

  17. Alternative fuels to petroleum • LPG – liquefied petroleum gas (fossil fuel) – clean burning • Compressed natural gas (fossil fuel) – plentiful, clean burning – requires compression • Ethanol – biomass, renewable, efficient, expensive, limited capacity • Methanol – clean, efficient, corrosive, some products are hazardous

  18. A pact with the devil • Nuclear power accounts for 70 % of non-fossil power • It does not contribute to greenhouse gases • Proven technology • Waste disposal an enduring issue • Connections with weapons and terrorism are concerns

  19. Let’s conserve our way out • Current automobiles use 60 % of the fuel used by 1972 models • Refrigerators use 33 % of the electricity • Current GDP requires about 50 % of the energy required in 1973 • Demand has still increased overall by 30 % • Did you know that plasma TV uses 10x more electricity?

  20. We will sacrifice for green? • Perception: petrol prices are too high!! • Reality: current energy costs are only 5 – 6 % of personal income • In the 1980’s the costs were 8 – 9 % • Perception: $2 gallon is too high • Reality: $2 gallon is too low • Hybrid vehicle sales are 1 – 2 % • SUV sales are 25 %

  21. The hydrogen economy: in our lifetime? • Hydrogen has the best energy content by the pound: compare kcal/g of common fuels Ethanol - 7.1 Bituminous coal - 6.8 Gasoline - 8.7 Natural gas -11.8 Hydrogen - 34.2 • Clean green: combustion product is water • “The Department of Energy's plan shows that it will take decades to fully realize the benefits of hydrogen.” quote from C&E News August 22, 2005

  22. Hype or hydrogen • Hydrogen is an energy storage system – not a source • Hydrogen does not grow on trees (or come out of the ground) • It must be extracted from some other source • Electrolysis of water (uses electricity) • From decomposition of natural gas, coal or other biomass (needs energy) • The hydrogen economy still demands a solution to the energy problem; it does not solve it by itself

  23. Caging the beast • Hydrogen is a gas, a small molecule and diffuses rapidly through leaks • It is flammable • Hydrogen storage is a major issue

  24. Hydrogen and the fuel cell • Fuel cells are like batteries except reactants are supplied from without rather than within 2H2 + O2 = 2H2O • Electrical energy powers the car • H2O is the only emission • Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will not achieve volume until 2030 (it at all)

  25. Hybrid vehicles: compromise • Hybrids combine gas and electrical engines to improve gas mileage • Not a total solution to carbon deposition but a practical intermediate • Direction of resources to hydrogen fuel cells has reduced emphasis on this technology • Counterpoint: increased investment is required in hydrogen technology to ensure success

  26. Blowin’ in the wind • Windpower costs have fallen 80 % • Solar power costs have decreased • Hydroelectric: rather depends on the rivers • Total markets for wind/solar/fuel cells projected to increase from $16 bn in 2004 to $102 bn in 2014

  27. Want to know more? • Hydrogen economy • http://www.hydrogennow.org/ • http://www1.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/ • Solar power • http://www.solarpower.com/ • http://www.eere.energy.gov/RE/solar.html • Windpower • http://www.awea.org/ • Biomass • http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/ • Fuel cell and hybrid vehicles • http://www.hybridcars.com/ • http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/fcv_whatsnew.shtml

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