Conventional Energy What is Conventional Energy Energy that

Conventional Energy

What is Conventional Energy • Energy that is derived or taken from “classic” ordinary sources • 98% of Canada’s Energy comes from • Oil (39%) • Natural Gas (35%) • Electricity (24%) • Canada is one of the top users of Energy in the world, why?

Why do we waste Energy • We live in a very cold northern climate for long periods of time • Canada is so large that we use a lot of energy during transportation • Transportation of energy itself too • Canada is a developed nation with an advanced economy • Energy is so cheap… why not waste it?

Electricity • Electricity is produced by a generator powered by a spinning turbine • This converts mechanical energy into electrical energy (you’ll learn more about this in physics) • 3 Main types of electricity generating stations in Canada: • Hydro-electric • Thermal-electric • Nuclear-electric

Hydro-electric Generator • Also called dams because a giant barrier is built in a river that has a significant change in elevation • The dam blocks water on one side, creating a reservoir (damming the water) • The reservoir water flows through a pipe, down to a spinning turbine • The river must have a reliable flow of water as well • The force of the water flowing from a higher elevation to a lower elevation drives the generator

Thermal-electric Generator

Thermal-electric Generator • Rather than moving water, steam is used to spin the turbines and in turn cause the generator to turn • The steam is produced by burning coal, oil, natural gas, wood or even garbage • Coal is the filthiest fuel on the planet meaning when burned it creates toxic smoke with poisons and greenhouse gases • Oil and Gas are not much better

Nuclear-electric Generator

Nuclear-electric Generator • Like thermal, it uses steam to drive the turbine and generator • The heat used to boil the water is caused by the radioactive breakdown called fission of uranium atoms • Uranium is mined all over the world and was once never thought to hold any value • Cheapest, most efficient and most competitive source of energy to oil, and gas……. Unless………. • Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, Fukushima EXPLOSIONS

Crude Oil and Natural Gas • Formed by compression of marine animals that have sunk to ocean floor (millions of years) • Found naturally usually together in geological structures beneath the surface of the earth • Found and taken from earth by drilling and wells

Canada’s Oil and Gas • Found in western Canada, mostly AB and adjoining provinces, stretching as far as western MB • Includes “conventional” crude oil as well as synthetic crude oil • Synthetic crude oil comes from oil sands which is mined not drilled • Oil like substance called Bitumen is found around sand particles • Sand is dug, and bitumen is separated and processed to create synthetic crude oil • Very abundant in Northern Alberta