Energy around the world- does one size fit all?

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Energy around the world-does one size fit all?
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What types of energy are available around the
world?
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Biomass

• Biomass is an organic material made from plants
  and animals. Biomass can be wood, manure, and
  even some garbage!
• Biomass energy is created by burning biomass
  material. The gases that are released are made
  into electricity, and the steam it releases can
  directly heat houses.
• Some biomass, like garbage, releases methane gas,
  which is the main ingredient in natural gas.
  Since natural gas is a non-renewable resource, we
  can substitute a renewable resource, like
  biomass, into a very similar renewable resource.
  That is better for the environment.
• Biomass can pollute the air when it is burned,
  though not as much as fossil fuels can.

http//www.worldofenergy.com.au/graphics/photos/fa
ctsheet9/types-of-biomass.jpg
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Nuclear

• Nuclear energy supplies 16 of the worlds
  energy.
• It is created by using a nuclear reactor, and
  uranium particles are either split or combined to
  create energy. Nuclear fission is used more than
  nuclear fusion.
• Pros- Nuclear energy could produce energy even
  after fuel and coal run out. Nuclear plants need
  less fuel than fossil fuel plants- one ton of
  uranium produces energy that would take several
  million tons of fossil fuels. Well operated
  nuclear plants do not pollute.
• Cons-They produce radiation, which is very
  harmful to humans if they are exposed. Nuclear
  explosions can happen if a meltdown occurs-
  nuclear reactions happen too quickly and too
  often. The Chernobyl disaster was caused by this
  happening. If nuclear wastes are not stored
  correctly they can result in explosions, just
  like if they were in use.

http//www.dancewithshadows.com/business/wp-conten
t/uploads/2008/09/nuclear-energy-gmr.jpg
http//www.our-energy.com/chernobyl_disaster.html
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Hydrogen

• Hydrogen is the most plentiful gas in the
  universe. It is a simple element, and it only
  exists as a solid compound when combined with
  other elements on Earth.
• To make hydrogen into a form of energy, we must
  first separate it from the other bonds in the
  compound it is in. Next it is turned into a gas
  by steam reforming or electrolysis. Then it is
  ready to be turned into energy! Hydrogen is
  usually turned into a fuel cell, although it can
  be used once it is in its pure hydrogen gas
  state.
• Every region in the world has some type of
  material that can be used to process hydrogen,
  and this makes this type of energy very
  accessible.
• Hydrogen can power everything from cars to homes
  to laptop computers. It is also a very clean
  source of energy and does not emit any type of
  fume or vapor.

http//www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/sources/In
termediateHydrogen.html
Theres even a hydrogen powered cell phone!
http//www.inhabitat.com/wp-content/uploads/angstr
om-hydrogen.jpg
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Wind

• In this form of energy, wind turns the
  turbine. The blades turn a shaft inside the
  nacelle (the box at the top). The shaft goes into
  the gear box which increases the rotation speed
  enough for the generator to convert rotational
  energy into electric energy using magnetic
  fields.
• Pros- Wind is free, and wind farms dont need to
  use any fuel! Wind energy produces no waste or
  greenhouse gases, and the land beneath the
  turbines can still be used.
• Cons- On some days there is no wind, so a backup
  energy source is needed. Although it is extremely
  rare, birds can be killed by the turbines.
  Sometimes the turbines are noisy, but that too is
  rare.

http//blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/clockingin/2
009/01/valero-has-fired-up-phase-one.html
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Hydroelectric

• Hydropower is one of the most used forms of
  energy in the US today.
• Hydroelectricity is made from deriving mechanical
  energy from flowing water. This is often
  accomplished by building a dam to collect water.
  The amount of available energy from water is
  determined by its flow and fall. Water that runs
  very fast or falls a great distance is the most
  suitable for use as hydropower energy.
• When the water is inside the dam, it turns a
  wheel, called a penstock, which in turn produces
  electricity in a generator on the shore.
• Hydropower is a great form of energy because it
  costs almost no money. There are no waste
  by-products, and it does not pollute the water or
  the air.

http//www.promotega.org/AAU06004/Hydroelectricity
_files/image002.jpg
http//www.radford.edu/7Ewkovarik/envhist/RenHist
/2.water.pix/itaipu.better.jpg
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coal

• Pros- It is inexpensive and if in great supply,
  very reliable. It provides about half of the
  United States' energy.
• Cons- The burning of coal is one of the least
  environmentally friendly energy sources, leaving
  its large mark on planet Earth. It is
  nonrenewable, so when it is gone, it is gone for
  good, and can take several hundred million years
  to form again. Burning coal produces more carbon
  dioxide than burning oil or natural gas, and the
  fumes contribute to acid rain.

http//www.the-coalman.co.uk/images/coal.jpg
http//www.enviroblog.org/2007/03/coal-combustion-
faces-controversy.html
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Oceanic

• There are many types of oceanic energy. They
  are
• Tidal
• Wave
• Water/Solar
• Water/Wind
• These types of energy are useful because they
  use water, which is plentiful, to harvest
  electricity in a non-impact way.

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Oceanic-Continued

• Tidal- Like wind energy, tidal energy is produced
  with the use of a turbine. In the tidal system,
  there are many turbines placed parallel to each
  other. All of the water that passes the turbines
  is forced through them, and this spins a wheel
  which in turn generates electricity. Tidal
  turbines are clean and can be used anywhere with
  a tide range above 10 feet, but they are
  expensive and may harm plant and animal life.
• Wave- Waves are huge sources of energy. We can
  use this energy by bending the waves into a
  channel, increasing their size, and then using
  the water to spin turbines to generate
  electricity. This form of energy could be used
  anywhere large waves break near the shore and
  would be useful for the West Coasts of the US and
  Europe and in New Zealand and Japan.

Both Pictures are from http//www.eia.doe.gov/kid
s/energyfacts/sources/renewable/ocean.html
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Oceanic-Continued

• Water/Solar Energy- Since the ocean makes up 70
  of the surface of Earth, why not put a solar farm
  on the top of the ocean? Solar panels would be
  placed just offshore to collect solar energy.
  Then the panels would transmit energy to the land
  to be used.
• Water/Wind Energy- This type of energy can be
  used everywhere along the coast of the US. It is
  just like a continental wind farm, where wind
  turbines are placed to change wind into energy.
  Some people oppose this because it would change
  the view of the ocean.

http//64.202.120.86/upload/image/new-news/2008/fa
bruary/unlimited-solar-energy-from-the-ocean/sea-s
olar-power-plant-2.jpg
http//ecology.com/ecology-today/wp-content/upload
s/2008/11/ocean-wind-power-nasa.jpg
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Natural gas

• Pros- Natural gas is efficient, economical, and
  reliable. Remember how your gas stove worked when
  the power went out?
• Cons- It is less environmentally friendly than
  other alternatives, but friendlier than oil and
  coal energy. Because it is nonrenewable, when it
  is gone, it is gone. This could make demand much
  higher in the future, making the price skyrocket.

http//laclarongeblog.blogspot.com/2007/03/natural
-gas-comes-north.html
http//www.naturalgas.org/naturalgas/naturalgas.as
p
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solar

• Solar energy is an excellent and environmentally
  friendly energy source for areas of the world
  that receive large amounts of sunlight.
• It can be used to heat water and spaces.
• Solar energy is generated using two types of
  panels- photovoltaic cells, which are the kind
  you see on houses and are not connected to a
  power grid, and cells connected to power plants.
• Pros- It is environmentally friendly, very
  accessible and useful in sunny areas. Renewable
• Cons- Solar panels are expensive to install and
  maintain, which limits the amount of countries
  that could benefit from it. Solar panels can only
  work when it is sunny, so it can be used in
  limited areas where sunshine is great enough for
  the solar cells to be profitable.

http//www.agpe-energy.com/SOLAR_ENERGY.html
http//www.treehugger.com/files/2006/10/selling_so
lar_t.php
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geothermal

• Geothermal energy is derived from the same force
  that builds mountains, erupts volcanoes, and is
  responsible for hot springs.
• Geothermal energy is sourced from geothermal
  reservoirs, which can be found in few areas.
  California could benefit from geothermal energy
  because of their fault lines, where geothermal
  reservoirs are normally found.
• Pros- Environmentally friendly- they produce no
  smoke, only steam, and they are cost efficient.
  Renewable.
• Cons- Only available in select places.

Both Pictures are from http//geothermal.marin.or
g/pwrheat.html
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oil

• The US produces only 40 of the total amount of
  oil it uses.
• The top oil producing countries are Saudi
  Arabia, Russia, and the United States.
• Pros- Low cost, compact generators, easy to store
  and transport.
• Cons- Oil is nonrenewable and being used at a
  fast rate, it is a source of conflict trading
  wise, and when in transport, oil can spill
  causing great environmental strain.

http//ecotechdaily.com/2008/05/06/oil-prices-rise
-again-on-200-warning/
The dangerous effects of an oil spill
http//www.appvoices.org/images/galleries/MartinCo
untyNastySpill.jpg
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Where can these types of energy be found and why
are they useful?
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Biomass

• Accessible all over the world
• 70-90 percent of people in Africa use wood, a
  biomass material, to heat their homes
• 50-60 percent of all developing countries in Asia
  use biomass
• Clean
• Cost-effective, and anyone can have their own
  biomass

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Nuclear

• Virtually can be used in any part of the world
• Limited to countries that can afford it
• Cost in excess of 13 billion
• Japan, Russia, the United States, Korea, and
  China have all harnessed nuclear energy
• Sometimes nuclear energy is not used to benefit,
  like in WWII

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Hydrogen

• Abundantly located in every region of the world.
• Very clean form of energy
• Likely to be used in countries with a substantial
  amount of money, because the whole process is
  somewhat expensive
• US, China, Japan, India, and other countries may
  be the pioneering forces in making this energy
  available to everyone.

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Wind

• Can be used in places with wind speeds of over 10
  mph.
• Can withstand 140 mph winds
• Mostly found around the coast or in desert or
  plain areas
• Wind energy is cost effective, but installation
  is expensive
• Most always found in rural areas, would take up
  too much space in the city

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Hydroelectric

• Best used in mountainous areas with rivers, or
  areas with rivers in general
• Many places in Africa, the Middle Sast, Siberia,
  and Asia may not be able to access this form of
  energy
• Europe, Canada, South America, the USA and other
  areas of the world are well suited for
  hydroelectricity

22
Coal

• Can be harnessed where it is found or imported.
• People are choosing more environmentally friendly
  alternatives.
• Remains the cheapest, and supplies many American
  and world wide households

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Oceanic

• Useful to countries and states located on the
  ocean or any other large body of water
• Wave and tidal energy are the only exceptions to
  that rule, because they require substantial
  amounts of change in sea level and waves must
  break close to the shore to generate a high
  amount of electricity
• These forms of energy would be helpful to poorer
  countries, because they are all relatively
  inexpensive

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Natural Gas

• Can be used where it is found or imported.
• Like coal, it is cost effective.
• India, the United States, Canada, and Russia all
  use natural gas in great amounts.

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Solar

• Very smart energy choice in sunny parts of the
  world countries on the equator, India, Alaska,
  Arizona, or Hawaii etc.
• Island nations could benefit from solar energy.
• Panels can be expensive if put on a large area,
  so some countries, or cities could not use them

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Geothermal

• Can only be used in a small part of the world
  where geothermal reservoirs are found.
• Includes countries surrounding the Ring of
  Fire, the Philippines, Alaska and California.
• Has also been used in Europe.

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Oil

• Can be used anywhere in the world.
• Creates a significant amount of pollution,
  countries or states with large amounts of
  pollution might use a more environmentally
  friendly alternative.
• Oil is one of the best choices for poor
  countries.

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Works cited

•  "BWEA - How Does Wind Energy Work?." BWEA
  Delivering UK wind, wave and tidal energy. 12
  Apr. 2009 lthttp//www.bwea.com/energy/how.htmlgt.
• Baskind, Chris. "Oil Prices Rise Again on 200
  Warning EcoTech Daily." EcoTech Daily Green
  technology, gadgets news. 19 May 2008. 13 Apr.
  2009 lthttp//ecotechdaily.com/2008/05/06/oil-price
  s-rise-again-on-200-warning/gt.
• "Chernobyl disaster - Our energy." Home - Our
  energy. 13 Apr. 2009 lthttp//www.our-energy.com/ch
  ernobyl_disaster.htmlgt.
• "Coal Image." The Coalman. 13 Apr. 2009
  ltwww.the-coalman.co.uk/images/coal.jpggt.
• "Department of Energy - Coal." Department of
  Energy - Homepage. 13 Apr. 2009
  lthttp//www.energy.gov/energysources/coal.htmgt.
• "EIA Kids Page - Energy from the ocean tidal
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  lthttp//www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/sources/r
  enewable/ocean.htmlgt.
• EWG. "Enviroblog Coal combustion faces
  controversy Archives." Enviroblog. 19 Mar. 2009.
  13 Apr. 2009 lthttp//www.enviroblog.org/2007/03/co
  al-combustion-faces-controversy.htmlgt.
• "Energy Resources Home page." c l a r a . n e t
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• "Fossil Fuels and Coal." The Energy Story. 13
  Apr. 2009 ltwww.energyquest.ca.gov/story/chapter08.
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• "Geothermal Education Office." Geothermal
  Education Office. 11 Apr. 2009 lthttp//geothermal.
  marin.org/gt. 

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Works cited-Continued

• "Hydropower - Water Energy." Energy Information
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  from the U.S. Government. 8 Apr. 2009
  lthttp//www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/sources/r
  enewable/water.htmlgt.
• "Lac La Ronge and Area Blog." Lac La Ronge and
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  gspot.com/2007/03/natural-gas-comes-north.htmlgt.
• "NaturalGas.org." NaturalGas.org. 13 Apr. 2009
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  spgt.
•  .Petroleum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia."
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• "Renewable Energy - Biomass including wood, MSW,
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• "Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development."
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• "Solar Energy." AGPE Energy. 13 Apr. 2009
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• "The Pros and Cons of Various forms of Generating
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