Monday, May 16, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Alternative Electricity
Electricity
Overview
Energy is found in many different forms including light, heat, and motion. There are many more forms, but they can b
e categorized in two ways: potential and kinetic. Potential energy is stored energy and kinetic energy is energy in motio
n. Electricity is the harnessing of these energies into tiny charged particles to be delivered in a control manner to
use the energy for human use. There are two types on energy sources – nonrenewable and renewable. The difference lies in the ability for the energy source to be replenished in a short amount of time (renewable) or not
(nonrenewable). Most of our electricity in the United States comes from nonrenewable sources. These main sources are coal, oil, and natural gas. Another type of nonrenewable resource
is nuclear. Nuclear behaviors differently than the other three, a detail exp
lored further in the paper. Renewable sources reveal potential for the future. They are an inexhaustible energy source that can regenerate themselves and be sustained indefinitely. However, they make up but a small portion of our electricity use today.
Most of our electrical power is
fossil fuel derived. In 2009, 45 percent of US electric power was from coal, 23 percent from natural gas, and 20 percent from nuclear. The rest consisted of other
gases, petroleum, and renewable sources. Most electricity is produced by the u
se of steam engines. A turbine converts the energy of a moving fluid (liquid or gas) into mechanical energy. This is done by forcing steam onto blades that turn on a shaft connected to a generator. This process turns the mechanical energy into electrical energy ready for use.
Electricity and the Environment
Fossil fuel burning power plants produce many harmful emissions. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a greenhouse gas, considered a main cause of global warming and
climate change. Carbon monoxide (CO) is highly toxic to humans and animals and can cause death. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a cause of acid rain, which degrades the land, harming pla
nts and aquatic animals. Nitrogen oxides (NOx) create ground level ozone leading to human health problems, especially in the lungs. Particulate matter (PM) is similar to nitrogen oxides and is also considered to be a carcinogen. Heavy metals, such as mercury, are release
d into the air causing a range of issues form acid rain to health p
roblems. These power plants also produce liquid and solid waste. The Clean Air Act is a policy enacted to make sure these power plants control their pollution emissions. There is
a residue from the burning process that pollution control devices catch. This residue is referred to as “ash” in its heavy form and “fly ash” in lighter forms. Large amounts of this collected ash become “sludge” which has to be stored. Most of the time this storage is within retention ponds next to the plant. These ponds ha
ve been shown to leak extensively causing damage to the surrounding land and water.
Towards Cleaner Electricity
Nuclear
Although considered a nonrenewable energy source, nuclear can play a role towards cleaner energy. Nuclear already accounts for about one-fifth of US electricity. Actually, all the nuclear energy used here is purely for electricity. A process called Fission harnesses nuclear energy. Fission is a controlled chain reaction in which an atom splits releasing energy over and over again. Uranium is the energy source because it is abundant and the at
oms split easily.
Nuclear plants produce a different kind of waste, either low-level radiation or spend (used) nuclear fuel waste. Low-level waste is stored at the plant until it is completely non-radioactive or sent to low-radioactivity sites. Spent nuclear fuel is
highly radioactive and needs to be stored longer and more securely so as to prevent any leakage of radioactivity. Safety becomes the main cause for concern with nuclear energy sources. However, there are no greenhouse gas emissions associated with nuclear technologies. It is a clean burning source for electrical energy. Emissions are more controllable here t
han with fossil fuel plants, which account for nearly 40 percent of all US CO2 e
missions. This makes nuclear a good interim power source while renewable technologies are expanded. As energy needs are projected to increase steadily (IEA projects demand will increase by two-thirds into 2030) and carbon emissions are a major concern,
nuclear energy could help mitigate these CO2 emissions significantly.
The table below from the World Nuclear Association shows the potential to expand (or decline) into the market.
Moreover, nuclear energy can become a very economical form of electricity production in the near future.
Wind Power
Wind is simply air in motion. Wind power is the ability to harness this motion and convert it into electricity. This accounts for one percent of total electricity generation today. This may not seem like very much, however this percentage still reflects steady growth in the market since 1970. Environmental benefits to wind power make are apparent. First and foremost, there are is no release of emissions into the air, a major benefit for all renewable energies. The more renewable sources in place, the more air pollution and CO2 emissions are reduced. Wind farms can actually be built on farmland. This provides extra income for farmers and protects land from other types of development.
Energy Market Economics
In 2010 the American Power Act was signed into action. This is an economic incentive program aimed to regulate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This would be executed via funding and loans for renewable energy initiatives in hopes that these incentives will cause power companies to utilize technologies that capture CO2 and/or change to renewable energy sources. The APA goal is to reduce GHG emissions significantly. The timeline to reduce the GHG level is by 17 percent in 2020, by 42 percent in 2030, and by 83 percent by 2050. The findings of the APA state that immediate renewable energy deployments may c
ost more today, but will reduce the costs of mitigating climate change in the (near) future. The long-term benefits will include increased energy security by reduced dependence on foreign oil, more predictive pricing, and environmental restoration.
So why don’t we use more renewable energy? The main reason is stated above, that it is more expensive to produce than fossil fuel sources. As the technology develops, the prices c
an become more competitive and marketable. The EIA states the use of renewable energy sources is expected to continue to grow over the next 30 years, but reliance will continue to be on nonrenewable fuels for most of our needs until further developments of renewable source become available.
Resources
•EIA. OIAF. Energy Markets and Economic Impacts of the American Power Act. 2010. http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/servicerpt/kgl/pdf/sroiaf(2010)01.pdf
•IEA. Philibert, Cedric. 2011.Interactions of Policies for Renewable Energy and Climate. http://www.iea.org/papers/2011/interactions_policies.pdf
•EIA. Electricity in the United States. http://www.eia.doe.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=electricity_in_the_united_states
•EIA. Electricity and the Environment. http://www.eia.doe.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=electricity_environment
•EIA. Nuclear Explained. http://www.eia.doe.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=nuclear_home
•EIA. Wind Energy and the Environment. http://www.eia.doe.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=wind_environment
•WNA Report. 2005. The New Economics of Nuclear Power. http://www.world-nuclear.org/reference/pdf/economics.pdf
Monday, May 2, 2011
Introduction.
1. Context of US Energy Problem(GEORGE)
- Pollution
- Peak Oil
- Political and Military tensions over Oil energy security
Assumptions(Nic)
-Smart Grid development and deployment of renewable resources
-Political Incentives and Policy Changes
Renewable Technology
-Solar(NIc)
-Geothermal (Nic)
-Wind(George)
-Nuclear (George)
-Biomass/BioFuels (Lo)
-Tidal (Lo)
Reflection on Research/Conclusion (Lo)