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Dave Gossman Cal Poly AgEd 410

Energy and Resources. Dave Gossman Cal Poly AgEd 410. Modified by Georgia Agriculture Education Curriculum Office June 2002. Energy and Agriculture. Energy is required to maintain all forms of life and to drive all growth and production processes.

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Dave Gossman Cal Poly AgEd 410

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  1. Energy and Resources Dave Gossman Cal Poly AgEd 410 Modified by Georgia Agriculture Education Curriculum Office June 2002

  2. Energy and Agriculture • Energy is required to maintain all forms of life and to drive all growth and production processes. • Energy is never lost. It simply takes different forms as it is used. • Humans use large quantities of energy for agricultural production. • Vast quantities of energy are captured through photosynthesis in agricultural production.

  3. Major Sources of Energy

  4. OIL • Oil (petroleum) comes from domestic wells in California. • Provides high quality source of energy. • Refined into gasoline, diesel, and other fuels. • Easily transported. • Primarily used for transportation, heating, and industrial processes.

  5. ADVANTAGES Cheap Versatile DISADVANTAGES Causes air pollution Non-renewable resource OIL

  6. Natural Gas • Very high quality energy source used primarily for heating (space and water) and industrial purposes. • Natural gas is the primary raw material for nitrogen fertilizer.

  7. ADVANTAGES Cheap Relatively clean DISADVANTAGES Difficult / Dangerous to handle Non-renewable Natural Gas

  8. Hydro - Electric • This is produced by turbine generators driven by the force of falling water. • Hydro-electricity is used for residential. Agriculture and industry needs.

  9. ADVANTAGES Cheap Clean DISADVANTAGES Less versatile Limited geographically Hydro - Electric

  10. Nuclear • Derived from the controlled breakdown of fissionable materials such as uranium. • Heat generated from this process drives steam turbines which in turn produce electricity.

  11. ADVANTAGES Fuel is plentiful Produces no hydrocarbon by-products DISADVANTAGES Expensive technology Produces long-lived radioactive waste products Nuclear

  12. Solar • Solar produces either thermal energy or electricity. • Primarily used for space heating and water heating. • Current costs high, however new technology in future expected to lower costs.

  13. ADVANTAGES Very clean Plentiful DISADVANTAGES Undependable (seasonal effects) Non-versatile expensive electricity Solar

  14. Wind • Modern windmills produce a significant amount of electricity in California. • Very clean, but requires a significant investment in equipment “up front”.

  15. ADVANTAGES Clean “Renewable” DISADVANTAGES Undependable Limited geographically (to windy areas Wind

  16. BioMass • More use is now being made of fuels such as firewood, and agricultural and industrial waste products to generate electricity.

  17. ADVANTAGES Uses waste products Cheap DISADVANTAGES Can cause air pollution Expensive to transport biomass BioMass

  18. GeoThermal • This energy technology taps heat from deep below the earth’s surface to superheat steam used to drive turbines.

  19. ADVANTAGES Clean DISADVANTAGES Limited geographically Non-versatile GeoThermal

  20. Major Types of Energy Consumption in Ag • Gas and diesel fuels for farm power and transportation • Electricity for pumping irrigation water, processing and refrigeration. • Natural gas for producing fertilizer, heating greenhouses, and processing food products.

  21. Alternative Energy Sources in Agriculture • BioMass: Many farmers are now using agricultural by products to provide heat and electricity. • Fuel Alcohol: Crops high in starch and sugar (corn and sugar cane) can be processed and fermented to provide ethanol. It can also be blended in with other fuels or even used on it’s own to power machinery.

  22. Alternative Energy Sources in Agriculture • Methane: For many years farmers have captured methane gas produced by decomposing manure or crop residues to run machinery or to ship or resale. • Solar and Wind Power: Used by agriculturists for applications in remote areas not served by electricity.

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