Energy Supply and Demand Overview

Study Notes

Primary Energy Sources: Primary energy sources include coal, gas, oil, nuclear, hydro, biomass, wind, solar, geothermal, tidal, and wave energy.
Fossil Fuels: Fossil fuels (coal, gas, oil) are non-renewable.
Renewable Energy: Renewable energy sources (hydropower, wind, biomass, solar, geothermal, tidal, and wave) are constantly being replenished.

Energy Services: Energy services we obtain from primary energy sources include electricity, heat, and transport.

Thermal Comfort: Measures to improve thermal comfort include insulation, weatherization, and passive solutions.
Insulation & Weatherization: Insulation and weatherization help reduce heat loss and gain.
Lighting: Energy-efficient lighting can significantly reduce energy consumption.
Passive Solutions: Passive solutions utilize natural resources like sunlight and wind for heating and cooling.
Heat-Island Effect: The heat-island effect is the phenomenon of urban areas being warmer than surrounding rural areas due to materials like concrete and asphalt.
Refrigerant Management: Proper refrigerant management reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Primary Energy: Primary energy sources are used to generate electricity, fuels, and heat.
Secondary Energy: Examples of secondary energy include gasoline, CNG, LNG, and electricity.
Final Energy: Final energy is delivered to end-users in the form of electricity, heat, and fuels.
Useful Energy: Useful energy is the energy that is actually used for a specific purpose, like powering a light bulb or heating a house.
Losses: There are significant losses during the conversion and transmission of energy:
- Equipment Losses: Energy is lost during the operation of equipment.
- Transmission Loss: Energy is lost during the transmission of electricity.
- Transformation Loss: Energy is lost during the conversion of energy forms.

Fossil Fuel: Fossil fuels account for the majority of the world's energy supply.
Nuclear: Nuclear energy contributes a significant percentage to the world's energy supply.
Hydropower: Hydropower is a significant renewable energy source globally.
Renewable: Renewable energy comprises a growing portion of the world's energy supply.

Transportation: Transportation is the sector with the highest energy consumption.

Car Ownership: The number of cars in the world has increased significantly over the last few decades.
Fossil Fuel Dependence: Fossil fuels account for 95% of the fuel used in transportation.