NONRENEWABLE RESOURCES RenewableNonrenewable Energy 1 Nonrenewable the energy

NONRENEWABLE RESOURCES

Renewable/Nonrenewable Energy 1. Nonrenewable – the energy resource CANNOT be replaced as fast as it is used a) Coal, Oil, Natural Gas, Nuclear 2. Renewable – the energy resource CAN be replaced at the same rate it is used a) Solar, water, wind, geothermal, biomass

Earth’s Energy 1. Almost all of the energy available on Earth comes from the Sun a) Heat from the Sun makes wind b) Sunlight fuels plants c) Sunlight and plants drive the water cycle

Compromises 1. It requires energy to collect and use fuels 2. Connecting every house to a power plant takes a huge amount of time and money 3. Every fuel has its problems

Nonrenewables 1. Nonrenewable energy comes from fuel that CANNOT be replaced as fast as it is used a) b) c) d) Coal (solid) Oil (liquid) Natural Gas (gas) Nuclear Power

Fossil Fuels 1. Coal, oil, and natural gas are fossil fuels because they take millions of years and a lot of heat and pressure to form 2. Also known as hydrocarbons because they are made of mostly Hydrogen and Carbon

Fossil Fuels 1. Coal, oil, and natural gas are all made of the same thing: fossilized remains of dead organisms a) Coal: solid fossil fuel (ancient forests) b) Oil: liquid fossil fuel (marine organisms) c) Natural Gas: gaseous fossil fuel (marine organisms) i. Natural gas is usually found near oil deposits

Coal 1. Ancient dead forests that have decomposed without oxygen a) 300 million years ago (Carboniferous) b) Underwater or underground

Coal 1. Largest source of electricity in the world 2. Huge amount of coal reserves around the world

Environmental Impact 1. Burning coal releases sulfur gas a) Sulfur gas mixes with water to make acid rain 2. Mining coal releases sulfur into water supply a) Sulfur mixes with water to make sulfuric acid

Coal compromises 1. BAD a) Coal mining is very bad for the environment around the mine b) Burning coal releases many pollutants and causes health problems 2. GOOD a) Coal mining is the major industry and employer for huge sections of the world b) Coal is cheap and domestically available

Coal: Bottom line 1. Coal is terrible for the environment, but it is cheap and easy to get

Oil 1. Oil is the largest source of energy currently used by humans 2. Made of marine (oceanic) organisms that decomposed without oxygen

Oil 1. Many different products come from oil a) Oils, waxes, plastics, gasoline, diesel, kerosene, asphalt b) These are known as petroleum products

Environmental Impact 1. Finding oil and getting it to the surface requires a lot of drilling and exploration 2. Oil needs to be refined. This releases pollution and requires energy 3. Because it is a liquid, it can spill a) BP oil spill: 210, 000 gallons

Oil Bottom Line 1. Oil will continue to be used until the reserves that are left are too expensive to get to

Natural Gas 1. Natural gas is often found in or around deposits of oil and coal 2. After processing, it is almost pure methane

Natural Gas 1. Gas releases less pollution than coal or oil because it is a more pure hydrocarbon 2. Natural gas has a strong odor that is added to help with the detection of leaks a) Methyl mercaptan; same as the stuff released from your body after you eat asparagus

Natural Gas Compromises 1. BAD a) Natural gas is very hard to find and get out of the ground b) Because it is an invisible, explosive, flammable gas, it is dangerous 2. GOOD a) Gas is much better for the environment that other fossil fuels

Natural Gas Bottom Line 1. Natural gas, like oil, will be used until supplies of easily accessible gas are exhausted 2. Renewable sources of natural gas will be used much more in the future a) Landfills and livestock produce large amounts of methane

Nuclear Power 1. Nuclear power is NOT a fossil fuel 2. It is nonrenewable because there is only a limited supply of uranium 3. Uranium atoms are split apart a) Releases huge amounts of energy; used to heat water (steam)

Nuclear Power Compromises 1. BAD a) Nuclear power produces radioactive waste b) The same processes can be used to make nuclear weapons c) Nuclear meltdowns 2. GOOD a) Releases NO pollution b) Very reliable source of energy