Lecture 12: Non-renewable energy sources

Thur, Feb 18, 2010

	1. Energy and society
	2. Non-renewable minerals
	2. non-renewable energy
	3. comparison of non-renewable energy sources
	4.
	5.

 

1. Energy and Society

Historical treatment - ??? and D. Muir

Complexity treatment - Adams

link

2a. Geological mineral resources

mining of minerals and energy sources have damaging impacts on the Earth

mineral resources

• metals such as aluminum, copper and iron
• resources are limited
• can change the depletion time by recycling (figure 14-23)
• prices can drive depletion

energy such as coal

• energy is not recyclable
• "recycling" metals is very different process than trying to find "renewable" energy

amount of reserves
depends on the certainty of knowing that it exists and the economics of extraction (i.e. mining)

	undiscovered	discovered
low cost	other resources	RESERVES	economical
higher cost	other resources	other resources	non- economical
	deceasing certainty	known

 

2b. Recycling metals can increase their lifetime in the economy

Aluminum recycling

"Bubble" type response -

3. Nonrenewable energy

Fossil fuels

came from buried plant, algae and other biomass put under pressure for a long time

energy use by source for World and the US (figure 15-3)

• this is very important
• all the different sources by %
• dependence on fossil fuels
• graphic displays % - we could move to 50% renewable and be using more fossil fuels

oil or coal reserves

• known reserves
• predicted reserves
  • detection
  • change in methods or cost allow more reserves to be cost-effect
• unknown and uncertain

 

4. Net energy is what counts

net energy definition and comparison

CO2 emitted ratio is related to this

 

5. Comparison of non-renewable energy sources

What are the advantages and disadvantages of:

• oil
• tar sands
• oil shale
• natural gas
• coal
• synthetic fuels
• nuclear
  • nuclear fuel cycle, not just plant operation

What are potential impacts that should be assessed?

• cost to consumers
• net energy
• CO2 and greenhouse gas impact
• loss of natural capital such as habitat or biodiversity
• infrastructure investments
• security issues
  • global distribution and ownership
  • political scenarios

good place for a discussion of these types