Alternate Energy. Remember. Beyond the Age of Oil. Needs to be versatile: Heat Electricity Generation Transportation (Internal combustion or other)

Transcription

1 Alternate Energy Beyond the Age of Oil Remember. Needs to be versatile: Heat Electricity Generation Transportation (Internal combustion or other)

2 What can it be used for: Heat Electricity Generation Transportation (other than via electricity) E = mc 2 Nuclear 2004/2005 Nuclear Output Electricity Production (billion kwh) Operating Reactors Under Construction Planned or Proposed Uranium Required (metric tons) World ,357 U.S ,397 16% of World Electricity U.S. is #1 Nuclear Energy Producer

3 Uranium Ore Earth s Crust (average): % Uranium Ore: 0.1-2% Uranium (Uraninite - Pitchblende) Mined Processed Enriched US Uranium Ore

4 Uranium Ore Processed: Uranium extracted from rock Mined Processed Enriched Uranium Ore Uranium consists of 3 isotopes: U-234,U-235 & U-238 Only U-235 is fissionable Natural Uranium is <1% U-235 Fuel needs to be enriched to at least 3% U-235 Mined Processed Enriched

5 Uranium Ore World Uranium Resource - 3,107,000 metric tons 3% in U.S. (100,000 metric tons) 5 yrs supply in U.S. (depend on imports) 44 yrs supply in world at current consumption rate! (resources about 2x that) Mined Processed Enriched Nuclear Fission Reactor - Controlled reaction Bomb - Uncontrolled reaction

6 Controlled by Control Rods Reactor

7 Waste High-Level Waste Cesium-137 Strontium-90 Plutonium-239 Low-Level Waste Mine Tailings Yucca Mtn, NV SNF - Spent Nuclear Fuel HLW - High Level Waste

8 Nuclear Conclusions Pros 1. Big output for little fuel (1 pellet = 4 barrels oil) 2. Relatively clean (no greenhouse gas) Cons 1. Expensive start up costs 2. Potential for major disaster 3. Nonrenewable (50-100yrs?) 4. Waste Outlook: A temporary solution at best. Is it worth high start-up costs and potential problems? Need to figure out solution for waste. Alternative: Breeder Reactor Convert U-238 into Plutonium-239 ( Waste product ) Lots of U-238 Currently 1% of all reactors Extremely hot (needs liquid sodium coolant) & Plutonium is a weapons grade material

9 Nuclear Fusion (Cold Fusion) Nuclear Fusion Conclusions Pros 1. Fuel --> water 2. Enormous energy output (Hydrogen from 1 km 2 of seawater = total world oil reserves) Cons 1. We can t do it (yet)! Outlook: Would be cool, but still science fiction.

10 Renewable Alternatives Biomass Burning Geothermal Energy Wind Water: Hydroelectric Tidal Ocean-Thermal Electric Conversion 7. Solar: Passive and Active 8. Hydrogen Fuel Cells What can it be used for: Heat Electricity Generation Transportation (other than via electricity) Direct burning: Wood/charcoal Dung Garbage Biofuels/Ethanol Digestion/burning: Sewage Animal Waste Garbage Biomass Burning

11 Direct Burning Waste Digestion Renton Sewage Treatment Plant 1. Waste decays & gives off methane 2. Methane captured 3. Methane burned for energy, or 4. Hydrogen from methane used to power fuel cell

12 Biofuels Bioethanol Produced from fermentation of sugars in high-energy plants Often mixed with gasoline Biodiesel Produced from vegetable oil, animal oil/fats, tallow and waste cooking oil Works in diesel engines Pros 1. Renewable 2. No net greenhouse gas 3. Decrease landfill input 4. Reduce methane 5. Burns waste products 6. Fits oil infrastructure Biomass Conclusions Cons 1. Air pollution (smoke/soot) 2. Habitat loss (forest) 3. Desertification 4. Biofuels - agricultural impacts Outlook: Methane digestion, biofuels, etc. have great potential. Wood, burning waste, etc. must be managed correctly to prevent pollution and habitat loss.

13 What can it be used for: Heat Electricity Generation Transportation (other than via electricity) Geothermal Energy Geothermal Power Plant

14 The Geysers Geothermal Plant, CA 1,100 Megawatts (Declined over last 20 yrs) Geothermal Potential

15 Geothermal Heat Pumps Geothermal heat for individual buildings Pros 1. Relatively clean, no greenhouse gases 2. Renewable 3. Minimal impact 4. Zinc extracted from water Geothermal Conclusions Cons 1. Regional 2. Expensive: water is corrosive 3. Smells 4. Potential for water pollution Outlook: Good but limited to select regions. Will never be a major percentage of U.S. energy production. Heat pumps good but currently expensive.

16 What can it be used for: Heat Electricity Generation Transportation (other than via electricity) Wind Wind Farms Washington State in megawatts Coming online in the next year 140 megawatts Potential - 3,740 megawatts

17 Washington Wind U.S. Wind Potential

18 Wind Conclusions Pros 1. Renewable 2. Clean 3. Relatively cheap 4. Duel use of the land Cons 1. Requires constant high winds (or storage) 2. Takes space (but less than coal) 3. Usually far from people Outlook: Excellent - one of the most promising alternate energy sources. (Still can only provide a portion of energy needs.)

19 What can it be used for: Heat Electricity Generation Transportation (other than via electricity) Tidal Potential: 60 gigawatts (2% of total tidal energy) Rance River Tidal Project (France) 13.4 m tidal range

20 Tidal Power in the NW (Using strong tidal currents) Tidal Conclusions Pros 1. Renewable 2. Clean 3. Cheap to maintain. Cons 1. Requires >5m tidal range 2. Coastal habitat impacts 3. Erosion from high water flows Outlook: Has potential but limited to coastal regions. Need to be careful of impacts.

21 What can it be used for: Heat Electricity Generation Transportation (other than via electricity) Water: Hydroelectric Hydroelectric Generator

22 Hydro Output About 20% world electricity & 10% U.S. electricity (75% Seattle) Washington Hydro Ice Harbor Dam (Snake R.) Boundary Dam (Pend d Oreille R.) Ross Dam

23 Washington Hydro Three Gorges Dam, China Largest dam in the world Yangtze River Cost - $24 billion (up to $75 billion!) 350 mi reservoir Power - 18 Gigawatts (Grand Coulee MW) Started Completion

24 Pros 1. Renewable & Clean 2. Multiple Use: Flood control & irrigation 3. Respond well to varying demands 4. Long lifetime/low maintenance costs Hydro Conclusions Cons 1. Very expensive start 2. Relocation of people 3. Potential a) failure Loss of habitat 4. Sedimentation b) Increase water temp 5. Downstream & erosion decrease oxygen 6. Evaporation c) Salmon of water issues 7. Spread d) of disease Flooding upstream 8. Environmental impact Outlook: Very site specific (some are much better than others). Major expansion in the past - days of building new big dams is over. However, local potential in Hydro Alternatives Snoqualmie Falls Power Plant 1. Smaller Dams 2. Run-of-the-River Plants MW

25 What can it be used for: Heat Electricity Generation Transportation (other than via electricity) Solar Passive Solar

26 Active Solar: Photovoltaics Active Solar: Solar II Plant

27 Energy Storage Batteries Hydrogen Fuel Cell Use alternate energy to make hydrogen from water. Use hydrogen as a fuel in Hydrogen Fuel Cell.

28 Solar Potential Average Solar radiation in cal/cm 2 Solar Conclusions Pros 1. Clean 2. Renewable & plentiful 3. Cheap to maintain Cons 1. Expensive start-up costs 2. Requires sun & space 3. Cells are dirty to make 4. Requires energy storage (at night, etc.) Outlook: As the cost of solar decreases (including subsidies), there is no reason why it won t become part of the energy mix everywhere.

29 Adds 5-10% to initial house price However - Saves 30-40% over house s lifetime Conservation 1. Increase Efficiency Autos Homes Industry 2. Co-Generation 3. Personal Choices 4. Recycling

30 Conservation Microturbines 1. Increase Efficiency Autos Homes Industry 2. Co-Generation 3. Personal Choices 4. Recycling Conservation 1. Increase Efficiency Autos Homes Industry 2. Co-Generation 3. Personal Choices 4. Recycling

31 Best Option: Conservation & Diversification Apollo Energy Project Iceland Hydrogen Economy by 2030