Future of Energy Generation: Alternatives and Projections

1. Energy Alternatives and Projections The Future of Energy Production A Brief Assessment of Available Resources and Alternatives Presented by Dr. James F. Howard jfhoward89@hotmail.com

2. How is Commercial Electric Power Generated? • Electricity is Generated by Rotating a Wire Coil or Loop within a Magnetic Field. • Ions are Excited by the Magnetic Field and move from the Field along a Conductor Wire. • This Electron Flow is Called Electricity.

3. Electricity Generation • Flow of a Fluid (Steam, Water, Air or Other) is used to Rotate a Turbine Shaft. • The Shaft Rotates a Wire Coil located in a Magnetic Field. • Electricity is Generated by the Rotation. • Electricity Moves Out of the Generator along Distribution Wires to the Points of Use.

4. Energy Use Through Time • Earliest Energy Source is Wood. Overuse Led to Extensive Global Deforestation • Second Major Source is Coal, Developed After Industrial Age Began. • Oil and Gas were Developed in the 20th Century as Primary Energy Sources. • Nuclear Power was Developed in the 1960s.

5. Modern Electrical Energy Sources • Commercial Electric Power is Generated by Many Different Energy Sources. • Primary Sources of Energy are Fossil Hydrocarbons. • Secondary Source is Nuclear Power. • Others Sources are Relatively Minor at present and Available only in Localized Areas.

6. Traditional Hydrocarbon Recoverable Reserve Estimates Liquid Petroleum Reserves Natural Gas Reserves

7. Oil Shale/Tar Sands Reserves Oil Shale Production

8. Geologic Sources of Energy* *Uranium is Widely Distributed in Low Concentrations with only a few Sources over 1% in Canada and Australia.

9. Methane Hydrate • Structure and Distribution • Methane Hydrate is highly unstable ~ 50 C increase volatilizes to to flammable methane gas • Located in deep areas of the oceans and difficult to extract except in portions of Alaska and the Alaskan shelf Estimated Reserves 10,000 Tcf (600+ Years of Natural Gas

10. Miscellaneous Hydrocarbon Reserves

11. Nuclear Energy Fuel: Enriched uranium (By International Convention) Fission= Atom splitting that yields energy Fusion= Energy from fusion of lighter Radioactive Elements (Not feasible at present) Existing reserves 3.3-5.5 Million tonnes Present Use ~ 65,000 tonnes/year

12. Nuclear Energy • Advantages: no air pollution or greenhouse gases produced; fuel is relatively abundant; Thorium Alternative to Uranium is Available. • Disadvantages: Perceived safety problems - Chernobyl; uranium mining; Long-term disposal of radioactive wastes

13. Hyperion Nuclear Battery Buried, Replaceable Self-contained Nuclear Power Cell Provides Power for 20,000 Homes for 25 Years

14. How long will Traditional Fossil fuels last? • Time = total reserves ÷ consumption rate • Assumptions about total reserves and consumption rate. • Coal: 1,000 billion tons ÷ 5 billion tons/year ~ 200 years • Oil: ~60 years (Excludes Shale Oil and Tar Sands. • Natural Gas: ~50+ years • Uranium: ~ 70+ years @ $130 kg; Several thousand years w/recycling and increased efficiency of fuel utilization Sources: World Energy Review, 2008 BP Statistical Review of Energy Reserves, see Holland & Petersen, 1995.

15. Non-Traditional Fuel Alternatives • Biomass Energy • Hydroelectric Power • Solar Power • Tidal Energy • Geothermal Energy • Oceanic Thermal Differential (OTEC) • Wave Energy • Hydrogen Fuel Cells

16. Biofuels

17. Biofuels Impact Analysis

18. Biomass Energy 1. Used as a Substitute/supplement for Standard Power Plant Combustion 2. Biodegradation of Organic Material Produces Methane Gas used as Fuel Source for Power Generation Puente Hills, California

19. U.S. Biomass Energy Potential

20. High Temperature Geothermal Energy • Water heated by underground magmatic activity is pumped to surface and used for heating or electricity generation • Steam produced by mixing water and heat runs dynamos Used in Iceland, Italy, California • Advantages: cheap, no greenhouse gases, or air pollution • Disadvantages: groundwater pollution, geographically restricted, high maintenance costs Krafla Geothermal Field, Iceland

21. U.S. High Temperature Geothermal Energy Resource Potential

22. Low Temperature Geothermal Energy • Groundwater Geothermal Heat Pump Systems can be used almost anywhere in the world. • Piping for use of Soil or Groundwater as Heat Source/sink can be Emplaced either in well Bores or in Trenches, Dependent on Local Conditions

23. Solar Power Solar Mirror Array Photovoltaic Cell Array Thermal Updraft

24. Solar Power Solar = Direct heating or conversion of solar energy to electricity • Advantages: low pollution, renewable • Disadvantages: expensive (4-5 X cost of Fossil Fuels); cloudy days require electrical storage capacity and backup power facilities; requires large areas for significant power output

25. Wind Power Wind = turbines used to generate electricity • Advantages: low pollution, can be decentralized, renewable • Disadvantages: Requires extensive storage capacity, geographically restricted, esthetically challenging, hazard to birds

26. U.S. Wind Power Energy Potential

27. Hydroelectric Power • Water (Hydro) power • Water power harnesses water currents to drive turbines to generate electrical energy. gets about 4 % of U.S. total energy from this source. • Advantages: renewable; no greenhouse gases, air or water pollution; dams have multiple uses • Disadvantages: Flooding, Sediment/Fish Migration/Beach Replenishment Interruption, Dredging

28. Tidal/Current Energy Ocean Energy Sources -I Underwater Turbines Lagoonal System Off-shore Tidal Generator

29. Ocean Energy Sources - II • Wave Energy Uses Oscillation of water level to move compressed air through turbine to generate electricity • Electricity is then transferred to shore distribution system

30. Ocean Energy Sources - III • Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) - Applicable w/200 C temperature differential in 1000 meters of water Ammonia or

31. Emission-free Electricity Alternative Use • Emission-free Energy Alternatives are Available for Use. • Localized Use is Common but not Widespread. • Environmental and Aesthetic Concerns are Used to Limit Expansion of Alternatives.

32. Hydrogen Fuel Cells • Hydrogen gas flows through membrane generating electricity. • Hydrogen then combines with Oxygen to form water as a waste product • Hydrogen gas must be generated from water, natural gas or biomass by use of other power sources • Power cost to produce hydrogen commercial quantities is higher than value of the gas at present (2009) prices • highly volatile Hydrogen presents explosion hazard. • Hydrogen storage requires strong, heavy, high pressure cryogenic vessels

33. Relative Costs for Power Generation • At present time, the costs for power generation do not favor available commercial alternative fuels except in highly localized circumstances. *Price of Oil at $ 25/bbl

34. Conclusions 1. World and U.S. economies are heavily dependent on non-renewable, fossil fuel energy 2. Assuming current estimated reserves and consumption rates, there will be significant shortages of some fossil fuels by 2100. Fossil fuels will eventually be used up 3. Fossil fuel consumption is a contributor to rising CO2 and particulate concentrations in the atmosphere 4. Rising CO2 allegedly linked to global warming is produced by present primary energy sources 5. Alternative energy sources are presently not cost-competitive with fossil fuels except in special areas 6. Developing cost-effective alternative energy sources will be necessary to maintain our civilization