Energy and the Environment: Our Current Situation Mark E. Lyford, Department of Botany James D. Myers, Department of Geology & Geophysics University of Wyoming
How much energy do you use each day?
How much energy did you use to get here?
How much energy did you use to get here?
How much energy would you have used each day back in 1869?
How much energy would you have used to get here back in 1869?
How much impact do we have on the environment currently vs. 1869?
Energy and the Environment
Energy and the Environment Past energy use
Energy and the Environment Past energy use Current energy use
Energy and the Environment Past energy use Current energy use Current energy situation
Energy and the Environment Past energy use Current energy use Current energy situation Future of energy
Energy and the Environment Past energy use Current energy use Current energy situation Future of energy Connections between energy and the environment
Quadrillion Btu U.S. Energy History 40 U.S. Energy Consumption by Source Petroleum 30 20 10 Coal Hydroelectric Power Natural Gas Nuclear Electric Power Wood 0 1650 1700 1750 1800 1850 1900 1950 2000
U.S. Energy Flow, 1950 ~ 34 Quads of Energy
Energy Supply (Quads) Energy Consumption U.S. Energy Flow, 2007 Exports 5.4 Quads Domestic Production: 71.7 Quads Consumption: 101.6 Quads Imports: 34.6 Quads Adjustments ~1 ~ 100 Quads of Energy
U.S. Energy Flow, 2007
U.S. Energy Flow
Energy Efficiency an example
Current U.S. Energy consumption
Current U.S. Energy consumption Fossil fuels account for ca. 87% of all energy used
Current U.S. Energy consumption Fossil fuels account for ca. 87% of all energy used Energy use is growing quickly
Current U.S. Energy consumption Fossil fuels account for ca. 87% of all energy used Energy use is growing quickly Efficiency is not so good
How does the U.S. Compare to Others?
Petroleum Consumption
Electrical Consumption
What does the future of energy look like?
Population Growth
Can the Traditional Energy Resources Continue to Support Us?
Petroleum Reserves
Peak Oil
U.S. Coal Deposits
U.S. Coal Production
Peak Coal
The Rise and Fall of the Fossil Fuel Era
Challenges of the Post-Fossil Fuel Era
Energy Density
Energy sources have best fits to particular energy sectors
Hydrocarbon Recovery Conventional Reservoirs are typically small volumes but they are easy to develop Unconventional Reservoirs are often large volumes but they are difficult to develop Decreasing EROEI
Shale gas
Tar Sands
NSA Energy Wedges
NSA Energy Wedges
NSA Energy Wedges
NSA Energy Wedges
Post-Fossil Fuel Era Options
Post-Fossil Fuel Era Options
Post-Fossil Fuel Era Options
Post-Fossil Fuel Era Options
Post-Fossil Fuel Era Options
Post-Fossil Fuel Era Options
Post-Fossil Fuel Era Options
Post-Fossil Fuel Era Options
Post-Fossil Fuel Era Options
Will we be able to meet our future energy needs?
It s the Environment, Stupid!
Coal
Hydrocarbon Recovery and the Environment Accessing Conventional Reservoirs requires minimal environmental degradation Accessing Unconventional Reservoirs requires significant environmental degradation
Coalbed Methane
Tar Sands
Shale gas
Environmental Impacts?
As fossil fuel use increased, so did...
74 74
Stabilization Wedges: Two Emission Scenarios Define the Stabilization Triangle 7 wedges are needed to build the stabilization triangle. Each avoids 1 billion tons of carbon emissions per year by 2055 75
The Wedge Stabilization Game Pieces
If only it were just energy and the environment.
If only it were just energy and the environment. Energy and the environment have been and will continue to be inextricably tied to a myriad of social parameters (e.g., politics, human health, economics)
Positive Climate Characteristics Power Sector (this size corresponds to 20 B kwh) Transport Sector (this size corresponds to 100,000 barrels of oil per day) 80 80
Lithium for hybrid car batteries NY Times Lithium: February 3, 2009 Bounty Meets Nationalism By SIMON ROMERO In Bolivia, Untapped UYUNI, BOLIVIA In the rush to build the next generation of hybrid or electric cars, a sobering fact confronts both automakers and governments seeking to lower their reliance on foreign oil: almost half of the world s lithium, the mineral needed to power the vehicles, is found here in Bolivia a country that may not be willing to surrender it so easily. Japanese and European companies are busily trying to strike deals to tap the resource, but a nationalist sentiment about the lithium is building quickly in the government of President Evo Morales, an ardent critic of the United States who has already nationalized Bolivia s oil and natural gas industries.
Energy and the Environment
Energy and the Environment Is this a timely and relevant topic for our students?
Energy and the Environment Is this a timely and relevant topic for our students? Is this a topic that our students will be wrestling with in the future?
Energy and the Environment Is this a timely and relevant topic for our students? Is this a topic that our students will be wrestling with in the future? Is this a topic that likely requires students to use quantitative reasoning?
Energy and the Environment Is this a timely and relevant topic for our students? Is this a topic that our students will be wrestling with in the future? Is this a topic that likely requires students to use quantitative reasoning? Is this a topic that connects science and society?
Energy and the Environment Is this a timely and relevant topic for our students? Is this a topic that our students will be wrestling with in the future? Is this a topic that likely requires students to use quantitative reasoning? Is this a topic that connects science and society? Is this a multidisciplinary topic?