Biofuels and Biomass Energy

Conventional Oil

• Oil is a major energy supplier
• Oil amount remaining is a factor.
• When oil runs out is an unknown.
• Three options with oil are to find more, reduce oil use, or use other energy sources

Historical Oil Predictions

• 1914, U.S. Bureau of Mines predicted the world would run out of oil in 10 years
• 1939 and 1950, U.S. Department of the Interior predicted running out of oil in 13 years
• 1973, Paul Erlich predicted the world would run out of oil and other fossil fuels by 1990
• 2002, Paul Erlich predicted the world would run out of oil in 2030, and other fossil fuels in 2050
• 2021, the International Energy Outlook predicted the world's oil supply will continue to meet the growing global energy demand until at least 2050

Major Sources of Energy

• Fossil fuels are the source of most commercial energy,
• Nonrenewable sources make up 82% of energy.
• Renewable sources account for 18% of total energy
• The amount of high-quality usable energy available from a resource is its net energy
• One-quarter of net energy includes solar energy, wind energy, hydropower, and biomass.
• The supply of fossil fuels provides three-quarters of the world's commercial energy

Conventional vs Non-Conventional Energy

• Conventional energy sources include coal, petroleum, natural gas, and water power
• Non-Conventional Energy Sources include solar, wind, tidal, biogas, biomass, and geothermal
• Conventional sources are exhaustible, except for water, while non-conventional sources are inexhaustible
• Conventional sources cause pollution, while non-conventional sources are pollution-free
• Conventional power transmission is expensive, while non-conventional has local power generation and use
• Conventional sources have waste disposal problems while non-conventional sources are environmentally friendly

Natural Capital: Important Nonrenewable Energy Resources

• Coal, oil, and natural gas are nonrenewable energy resources
• Geothermal energy and nonrenewable uranium ore are also nonrenewable energy resources

Global Energy Systems Transition

• This shows the shift of % of market over time in energy, from wood and coal, to solids, liquids and gasses.
• Liquids and Oils are predicted to decrease steadily from 2000 onwards
• Gasses and hydrogen are predicted to increase steadily from 2000 onwards

Advantages and Disadvantages of Oil?

• Conventional oil is currently abundant and relatively inexpensive with a high net energy yield
• Conventional oil usage causes air and water pollution, and releases greenhouse gasses
• Heavy oils from oil sand and oil shale exist in potentially large supplies
• Heavy oils have low net energy yields and higher environmental impacts than conventional oil

Fossil Fuels: Crude oil and natural gas

• Crude oil and natural gas are found deep within the earth's crust on land or under the seafloor
• Crude oil and natural gas are dispersed in pores and cracks in underground rock formations

Oil extraction and refining

• To extract and refine oil first drill a well vertically or horizontally into the deposit
• Oil is drawn by gravity (pressure difference) out of the rock pores
• The extracted oil flows into the bottom of the well and is pumped
• Extracting and refining oil takes significant energy and money

Primary Oil Recovery

• Underground pressure in the oil reservoir is sufficient to force the oil and gas to the surface

Secondary Oil Recovery

• Over the lifetime of a well, the pressure falls in the deposit.
• When there is insufficient underground pressure to force the oil to the surface, fluids are injected to increase reservoir pressure
  • The fluids injected to increase reservoir pressure are water and gas injection

Enhanced Oil Recovery

• Where the oil is thicker and heavier than normal crude oil, steam is injected
  • Steam is injected to increase the mobility of the oil in order to increase extraction.

Light Oil

• Petroleum is crude oil, also known as light oil, and makes up account for about 30% of the world's estimated supply of oil.

Heavy Oil

• Heavy oil is unconventional heavy oil and is thick
• Heavy oil is 70% of the world's estimated supply of oil
• Some of the thick oil is left behind in wells.
• Some of the heavy oil extracted is from deposits of tar sands and oil shale rock
• Extracting heavy oil takes considerable energy and money, which reduces its net energy yield.

Refining Crude oil

• Fractional distillation is a process, that is one way, oil refineries separate crude oil
• Separation occurs into different, more useful hydrocarbon products.
• This separation is based on differences in molecular weight of different components of the crude oil
• Different molecular weights cause different boiling points.
• Lighter components boil at lower temperatures
• A compound's boiling point increases as its weight increases.
• The compounds that are heavier are separated later during the process.

Trade-Offs of Conventional Oil

• Conventional oil has an ample supply for several decades and a high net energy yield
• Extraction of conventional oil causes low land disruption and an efficient distribution system
• Extraction of conventional oil causes water pollution from oil spills and leakage, with environmental costs not being included in the market price
• Extraction of conventional oil releases carbon dioxide and other air pollutants into the atmosphere and is vulnerable to international supply interruptions

Heavy Oil From Sand

• Oil sand, or tar sand, is a mixture of sand, clay, water, and bitumen
• Bitumen is a thick, sticky, tarlike heavy oil with a high sulfur content
• Extraction of heavy oils from the sand causes serious environmental impacts: air, water, wildlife, and climate
• There is a low net energy yield from extraction, meaning oil is mixed with hot water and steam to extract the bitumen

Oil Shales

• Oil Shales are heavy oil from oily rocks, containing kerogen, a solid combustible mixture of hydrocarbons
• In order to extract oil shales, it must be heated to increase its flow rate, then processed to remove sulfur, nitrogen, and other impurities
• The amount of oil gained result in a low net energy yield

Trade-Offs of Heavy Oils from Tar Sand and Shale

• Heavy Oils from Tar Sand and Shale has a large potential supply of
• Processing Heavy Oils from Tar Sand and Shale can be transported easily within and between countries
• Processing Heavy Oils from Tar Sand and Shale includes an efficient distribution system in place
• Processing Heavy Oils from Tar Sand and Shale has a low net energy yield
• Processing Heavy Oils from Tar Sand and Shale releases carbon dioxide and other air pollutants when burned
• Processing Heavy Oils from Tar Sand and Shale include severe land disruption and high water use

Natural Gas

• Conventional natural gas is more plentiful than oil and has a high net energy yield
• Conventional natural gas is fairly low cost and has the lowest environmental impact of all fossil fuels
• Natural gas is composed of a mixture of gases, consisting of more than half CH4 (50-90%)
• Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) contains propane and butane gases that are liquefied under high pressure
• Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is natural gas that has been cooled down to liquid form for safety of non- pressurized storage or transport at around -162 °C, transported in refrigerated tanker ships

Trade-Offs of conventional Natural Gas

• Conventional Natural Gasses have ample supplies and a high net energy yield
• Conventional Natural Gasses have low net energy yield for LNG
• Conventional Natural Gasses emits less CO2 and other pollutants than other fossil fuels, but releases CO2 and other air pollutants when burned
• Conventional Natural Gasses are difficult and costly to transport from one country to another

Advantages and Disadvantages of Coal

• Conventional coal is very plentiful with a high net energy yield, and is low cost
• Conventional coal has a high environmental impact, which severely degrades land and pollutes water and air.
• Conventional coal severely pollutes the air when burned

Stages in Coal Formation

• In the process of coal formation, pressure and heat are applied to peat, over millions of years, to form Coal
• Coal formation follows the stages from Peat, to Lignite, to Bituminous, to Anthracite

Environmental Impacts of Coal Mining

• Surface mining of coal eliminates existing vegetation, destroying the genetic soil profile affecting local habitat
• Surface coal mining degrades air quality, alters current land uses and leaves a scarred landscape
• The movement, storage, and redistribution of soil during coal mining disrupt the community of soil microorganisms.

Trade-Offs of Coal Use

• Coal has ample supplies in many countries and a high net energy yield
• Coal use has severe land disturbance and water pollution
• Burning coal results in fine particle and toxic mercury emissions that threaten human health
• Burning coal emits large amounts of CO2 and other air pollutants when produced and burned

Nuclear Power

• Nuclear energy has a very low accident risk and a low environmental impact in day to day operations
• Nuclear energy has high costs, a low net energy yield
• The spread of nuclear weapon technology and vulnerability to sabotage limit nuclear use

How a Nuclear Fission Reactor Works

• Nuclear fission reaction is controlled in Nuclear power stations
• Reactors are fueled by uranium ore packed as pellets in fuel rods and fuel assemblies
• Water is the coolant usually present
• A containment shell surrounds the core for protection
• Water-filled pools or dry casks store radioactive spent fuel rod assemblies

Radioactivity of Nuclear Waste

• A major environmental concern related to nuclear power is the creation of radioactive wastes
• Nuclear waste materials can remain radioactive and dangerous to human health for thousands of years
• Waste diminishes with time from days to years
• Nuclearwaste must be isolated to reduce radioactivity levels
• Spent fuel rods from nuclear powerplants must be stored safely for thousands of years, and cooled for 5-10 years

Nuclear Fuel Cycle

• The nuclear fuel cycle is 5 steps:
  • Mining the uranium
  • Processing the uranium
  • Using the fuel
  • Safely storing the waste for thousands of years
  • Decommission the plant when it becomes too old to use safely

Nuclear Power Plant Growth (1960-2002)

• Nuclear power plant construction increased linearly from 1970-1980
• Nuclear power plant construction decreased from 1985-2002

Slowest Growing Energy Source: Nuclear

• Concerns about nuclear power due to safety, security and weapon proliferation
• Also a lack of economic incentives

Three Mile Island Nuclear Accident

• On March 29, 1979, a nuclear reactor lost its coolant near Harrisburg, PA, USA
• This led to a partial uncovering and melting of the radioactive core where unknown amounts of radioactivity escaped
• People fled the area, there was increased public concerns for safety
• The response led to improved safety regulations in the USA

Chernobyl Nuclear Accident

• On April 26, 1986, in Chernobyl, Ukraine series of explosions caused the roof of a reactor building to blow off
• There was partial meltdown and fire for 10 days
• This resulted in a huge radioactive cloud spread over many countries and eventually the world, and 350,000 people left their homes.
• There were terrible Effects on human health, water supply, and agriculture

Trade-Offs of Conventional Nuclear Fuel Cycle

• Low environmental impact (without accidents), and emits 1/6 as much CO₂ as coal
• Low risk of accidents in modern plants is offset by the high cost of maintenance and construction,
• Produces long-lived, harmful radioactive wastes, promotes the spread of nuclear weapons

Coal vs Nuclear Power

• Coal power has a high net energy yield, very high emissions of CO2 and other pollutants, and high land disruption
• Coal power has a low cost when environmental costs are not included
• Nuclear power has low emissions of CO2 and other pollutants, much lower land disruption, and high costs
• Nuclear power has a very low net energy yield even with subsidized costs

Radioactive Wastes

• High-level radioactive wastes produced by Nuclear Power must be stored safely for 10,000-240,000 years
• Deep burial is the safest and cheapest option of storage
• There is still no facility for radioactive waste storage

Nuclear Fusion

• Still being experimented with, but considered to be the power of the future
• Still in the laboratory phase after 50 years of research and $34 billion dollars
• In 2006: U.S., China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, and European Union agreed to build a large-scale experimental nuclear fusion reactor by 2040
• Nuclear fusion Splits a larger atom into 2 or more smaller ones - vs - Joins 2 or more lighter atoms into a larger one.

Renewable Energy

• Renewable energy is energy produced from sources is that do not deplete, or can be replenished within a human's lifetime
  • Wind and Hydropower are examples of renewable energy

Efficiency is an Important Energy Resource

• More efficient energy use can save money and energy, reducing the total resources needed

Energy Waste Reduction

• Advantages of reducing energy waste is quick, clean, and cheap
• Reducing energy waste reduces pollution, slows global warming, and increases economic and national security

More Energy-Efficient Vehicles

• Gasoline-electric hybrid cars, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, energy-efficient diesel cars, and electric vehicles with a fuel cell are in development

Energy Efficient Buildings

• Superinsulation and highly efficient windows can reduce one third of loss in heated air
• Stop energy leaks to improve efficiency Heat houses more efficiently through super-insulation

Solar Energy

• "Solar" is the Latin word for sun, that comprises of two different categories: thermal conversion and photo-conversion
• Photovoltaic: Sunlight directly converts into electrical energy
• Thermal energy: Sunlight focuses to thermal receptors and converts water to steam then turbines rotary power produces electricity

Advantages of Solar Energy

• Solar energy is free and does cause pollution
• Solar energy can be used in remote areas where it is too expensive to extend electricity power grid
• Calculators and other low power consuming devices can be powered by solar energy effectively.

Uses of Solar Energy

• Is useful for Solar water heating, Solar air conditioning, Solar drying, Solar green-house, Solar desalination, Solar refrigeration
  • Is also useful for Solar cooking, Solar furnace and Solar photovoltaic or thermal generation

Trade-Offs of Passive or Active Solar Heating

• These systems have moderate to high net energy, very low emissions of air pollutants and low land disturbance.
• These systems need access to sun and can be blocked by trees, have high installation costs, and require backup

High-Temperature Heat and Electricity Systems

• Require high desert sites and have low net energy yields compared to high cost
• System backup is needed on cloudy days yet there are negligible emissions of CO2 to air.

Solutions for Solar Use

• Woman uses a Solar Cooker

Solar Cells to Produce Electricity

• Photovoltaic (PV) cells convert solar energy to electric energy using thin wafers of silicon or other similar materials
• Solar cells power plants are expensive

Photovoltaic Energy

• Photovoltaics provide direct conversion of light into electricity at the atomic level, via material properties to absorb photons to release electrons

• Sunlight is used in both, for heat and also electricity purposes

  Wind Energy

  • Uses Wind to Generate energy and produce electricity
  • Wind is an indirect form of solar energy
  • The wind is captured by large turbines, which are converted into electrical energy
  • Wind energy is the least expensive and least polluting way to produce electricity if environmental costs of energy resources are taken into account.

Trade-Offs of Solar Cells

• Solar cells have moderate net energy yield, and little or no direct emissions of air pollutants
• Solar cells are easy to install, move around, and expand
• Higher costs for older systems, but decreasing rapidly are offset by the need for large amounts of backup and storage system

Hydroelectricity

– Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower

• Production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water.
• Hydropower accounts for 16 percent of global electricity generation.
• Over Dams, Tidal Flows and Ocean Waves are some sources of moving water

Small SHP, or Small Hydro Power :

• Can Provide clean, renewable and relatively inexpensive energy.
• Does not necessitate the use of resevoir

Overdams: Disadvantages

• Creates environmental concerns
• Has limited availibity of use
• Hydroelectric power has a limited resource for it’s uses.

Power Trade Offs :

High Water volume + Velocity = Highest amount of Kinetic Energy Available.

Energy Derived Through Oceans

• Marine energy refers to the energy carried by ocean waves, tides, salinity, and ocean temperature
• the movement of water throughout the ocean creates vast stores of kinetic, can be used to power homes, transport and industrialization

Ocean Tides and Waves

• Ocean tides/waves so are far power systems are limited, with very few suitable sites and high costs
• Equiptment damaged by heavy storms and corroision.

Wind Energy

• Uses WInd turbines to Generate enectricity
• Used when wide can flow through blades to produce power

Hydro Power

• Low Power Can Be Maintained By Constant monitoring

Small amounts

-Can repair at anytime

Trade-Offs Of Biomass

• High amounts can lead to high enveiromental impacts
• Can Decrease if harvese can’t keep, also unsustainablity

Biomass As Sourse

• Is a rewnewaable resosurece with the potention to make it more sustainable

• Has liquid Biefuek can be a great altrenatvive for it

• Can be used in place of gas

• Has can deprrive from by agricultural waster product.

Low Amounts

1. Fasters Growing Trees
2. Crop Residues and Animal manure

Trade Offs

• Very small power
• Can destroy soil diversity for high use

Can Cools

• Light Colered roof

• Relfective insualting for

• Can be used to help atic.

Gothermal Plants

• Are well know on the world

Water Trapped for Heat Storage

• Can have earth falliing which can reach above 5’000 ceclious
• Have super hot mantles and curst

Geothermal Electricy

• Is in ways if profcung elctricality throught hot and cold water systems to allow steam to drvie turbies and provide more power to the powerlines

Two Major Problems: Gethroamla Eneryg

• Are Cost and Power

Fuel Cells over Heat Engines

Hydrogen Fuel

• Uses smalls amount cell power which can be used through waster adn can produce an great way for making it through all forms of fuel

• Can Also Be Made Using Small Prodyction Of Air

Trade Offs

• Can be Used as a great way For it.

Other Sources

• Power Decentralzied system
• Smalll scale systems
• Bio enegry power

Making the Transition to a More Sustainaible Engerys Future

• Can help improve enegyr efficentciy
• Can give power to renewable eneregy for use of the peopel and world with less pullotions being created
• Reward utility wwith decrrased use to help reduce eletricity
• Phase out coal adn and other gasses by taxing then heavile and also helping find new ways for renewable wayts to continue use for power.

Explore the advantages of biofuels over fossil fuels, including the process of converting biomass to energy through methods like anaerobic digestion and pyrolysis. Understand the components of biogas and the environmental considerations of biomass plantations.