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Overview

Overview. What are the pros and cons of both renewable and nonrenewable energy? Is the implementation of renewable energy in modern society realistic? Coal as an example of nonrenewable energy; contrasting wind, hydro, nuclear as alternatives. World Energy Use. World Energy Use.

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Overview

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  1. Overview • What are the pros and cons of both renewable and nonrenewable energy? • Is the implementation of renewable energy in modern society realistic? • Coal as an example of nonrenewable energy; contrasting wind, hydro, nuclear as alternatives.

  2. World Energy Use

  3. World Energy Use

  4. PA Energy Use • PA is the 6th largest consumer of electricity in U.S. (TX, CA, FL, OH, NY) • PA is the 5th largest producer of electricity in U.S. • Primary energy source is coal

  5. PA Energy Use

  6. Coal: Pros • The only thing that keeps some countries, such as China, using coal is because it’s • A) Cheap: about 4 cents for every kilowatt-hour of energy produced, or 3,600,000 J • B) Efficient: when coal is burned, about 40% of its energy is converted into electricity

  7. Coal: Cons • Coal’s combustion adds more carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere than any other resource • Coal plants emit toxins such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and others www.ecolo.org

  8. Coal: Health Effects • Coal mining deaths are common, especially in other countries • The pollution from nearby factories can enters houses

  9. Pros It’s cheap It’s efficient It’s domestic Cons It pollutes It releases CO2 Mining is dangerous Strip mining destroys the environment It’s non-renewable Pros & Cons

  10. PA Energy Use

  11. Wind Power Pros • 3-4.5 cents/kilowatt-hour (kWh) – comparable to coal (?) over time • Expensive to install, around $1M for a big 750 kW turbine • Over time, costs may be mitigated • No water involved • Potential for new technology to improve

  12. Wind Power issues • Wind power has about 20% conversion efficiency—only about half as much as coal power • There are two factors in determining how much power you’ll get: wind speed, and wind consistency www.bpa.gov

  13. Wind Power drawbacks? • Wind farms take up a lot of space • Can dominate a landscape that might otherwise have aesthetic value, and can be noisy: “NIMBY.” • Can kill birds or interfere with television signal • Expensive to start without capital in place • A challenge to generate power to meet demand www.smh.com.au

  14. Wind Power drawbacks? www.smh.com.au

  15. Wind Power in PA • PA wind potential is 5,120 MW (22nd in US) • 155 MW of generation already • About 99 turbines in 5 locations • Power for ~60,000 homes • 12th largest in U.S. • Additional 200 MW proposed • About 100 turbines in about 10 locations

  16. Hydroelectric Power Flowing water turns a turbine, providing the kinetic energy to generate an electrical current. • Advantages • Economic benefits include: ~No fuel costs ~Low labor • Dams provide recreation and flood protection • Dams have a long life • produces constant power • It conserves fossil fuels • It prevents pollution caused by fossil fuels

  17. Hydroelectric Power Flowing water turns a turbine, providing the kinetic energy to generate an electrical current. • Disadvantages • Can have an impact on the aquatic environment • Construction costs are high • People can be displaced when artificial lakes are created

  18. Nuclear Energy in PA • 5 facilities • 9 operating reactors, 2 are local • 18% of PA’s nuclear generated energy is local to Pittsburgh: Beaver Valley

  19. Nuclear Energy in PA Beaver Valley: 2 PWRs (Pure Water Reactors) http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/nuclear/page/nuc_reactors/small_pwr.jpg

  20. Nuclear Energy in PA Most other PA plants: BWRs (Boiling Water Reactors) http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/nuclear/page/nuc_reactors/small_bwr.jpg

  21. Nuclear Energy Pro & Con • Long-lived radioactive waste products (10K yrs) • Accidents have potential to be devastating • Terrorism target • Fuel may be a limited resource; physical and chemical hazards in mining and processing ore • Long lead time to build new facilities (20-30 yrs) • Low CO2 • Technology exists • High capacity for electrical generation • Reliable operations under optimal conditions; use small amounts of fuel

  22. An online source • http://www.eia.doe.gov Energy Information Administration (Official energy statistics from the US Government) http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/ieo/ieohcon.html

  23. Alternative Energy Sources • It’s not easy to quantify exactly which renewable resource is better—each has its pros and its cons • Renewable energy may not replace fossil fuels overnight, but technological advances may close this gap in the future

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