370 likes | 507 Views
Energy on the Oceans Topic. Debating and understanding energy policy. Overview. Oil & Natural Gas Offshore Wind Ocean Energy OTEC, Tidal Power, etc. Methane Hydrates Additional Offshore Energy. Oil and Natural Gas. Oil & Natural Gas: Similarities.
E N D
Energy on the Oceans Topic Debating and understanding energy policy
Overview • Oil & Natural Gas • Offshore Wind • Ocean Energy • OTEC, Tidal Power, etc. • Methane Hydrates • Additional Offshore Energy
Oil & Natural Gas: Similarities • Hydrocarbon: a substance that contains only carbon and hydrogen • Oil & Natural Gas are often found together in underground reservoirs • Reservoirs: rock formations that hold oil, natural gas or both within their pores.
Oil Basics • What is oil used for? • Transportation fuels (gasoline, diesel, etc.) • Plastics • Asphalt • Fertilizer • Heat • Some electricity • Who produces oil? (Top 5) • Russia • Saudi Arabia • United States • Iran • China
Oil Economics • Supply: the total amount of a specific good or service that is available to consumers • Demand: how much (quantity) of a product or service is desired by buyers
Oil Geopolitics • Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) • Members: Iraq, Kuwait, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Libya, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Algeria, Nigeria, Ecuador, Angola
Oil Advantages • Oil Independence • Oil Prices • Economic Growth
Natural Gas Basics • What is natural gas used for? • Heating • Cooking • Electricity • Chemical Feedstocks • Who produces natural gas? (Top 5) • United States • Russia • European Union • Iran • Canada
Natural Gas Markets Oil Prices Sold at one price, all over the world Exchanged in a global market Natural gas Prices • Prices differ regionally • Natural gas is exchanged in regional markets
Natural Gas Geopolitics • There is no “OPEC” of natural gas • However, the EU is highly dependent on Russia for natural gas • Creates foreign policy constraints
Natural Gas Advantages • Warming • Natural Gas Exports • Natural Gas Prices
Oil & Natural Gas: Negative Positions • Environment DA • Oil Prices DA • Natural Gas Prices DA • Military DA • Politics DA • Onshore CP
Current State of Offshore Wind • Widespread development in Europe • Investment beginning in the United States, but lack of incentives/regulatory certainty • Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA)
Offshore Wind: Advantages • Warming • Economy • Federalism
Offshore Wind: Negative Positions • Case Turn: Wind Increases CO2 • Politics DA • Budget DA • Environment DA • Electricity Prices DA • Onshore CP • Free Market CP
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGwsvuxuK7g • Works best in areas with large difference in ocean temperatures, such as Hawaii
Current State of OTEC Development • Fully operational OTEC plant opened in Japan in 2013 • Technical and cost challenges remain
OTEC: Advantages • Warming • Economy • Desalination • Hydrogen Production • Chill-Soil Agriculture • Aquaculture • Mineral Extraction
OTEC: Negative Positions • Budget DA • Politics DA • Electricity Prices DA • Environment DA • Land-Based CP • EIS CP
Wave Power • Uses waves to generate electricity • Projects in Portugal and Oregon • Environmental issues
Tidal Power • Uses the power of the tide to create electricity • May not be topical, depending on the type of tidal power • Environmental issues
Ocean Current Power • Uses ocean currents to generate electricity • Least developed type of ocean energy
What are methane Hydrates? • Methane hydrate: a large amount of methane is trapped within a crystal structure of water, forming a solid similar to ice • Found in sea-floor sediments and arctic permafrost
Current State of Methane Hydrate Production • Test drillings in Canada and Japan • Becoming cost-effective • Seen as a potential breakthrough source of energy
Methane Hydrates: Advantages • Warming • Economy • Energy Leadership • Arctic/Russia
Methane Hydrates: Negative Arguments • Warming DA • Technical/Solvency Issues
Floating Nuclear Power Plants (FNPP) • Russia has invested in FNPPs • New 2014 solvency advocates • Potential advantages include: Warming, Desalination, Hegemony • Environment DA
Undersea Coal Gasification • Coal gasification • Syngas: fuel gas mixture consisting of hydrogen and natural gas • Warming Advantage? • Pollution DA
Offshore Solar • Currently being developed in Japan • Technology is not very advanced, not a likely affirmative
Marine Algae Biofuels • Algae biofuels are typically freshwater • Marine algae biofuels are possible but underdeveloped