G4: Energy

G4: Energy

3.1: What problems are associated with the supply of energy?
1. Technological
  1. Biofuels
    1. Brazil Biofuels
      1. In 2005, 3,96 billion gallons of ethanol was produced, which costs $0.87/gallon. Sugarcane ethanol produces 56% less Greenhouse gases than gasoline.
      2. Usina Sao Martinho is a sugarcane plant that turns 7 million tonnes of cane into 300 million litres of ethanol from brazilian cars and 500,000 tonnes of sugar for Saudi Arabia. They use cane waste for heat and power and their cane trucks were designed to run on a blend of Diesel and Ethanol.
        However, most Brazilian cane is cut by hand. The fields are also burnt before harvesting to kill snakes and to make hand-harvesting easier. This then releases greenhouse gases to the environment
        The demand for ethanol is rapidly increasing which means that the demand for land is also increasing which leads to deforestation and loss of land for growing food
  2. Fracking
    1. Is the process in which high pressure water is used to release trapped gas underground. The water contains a mixture of sand and chemicals.
      1. This allows access to difficult-to-reach areas of gas and oil. This also has boosted oil production and decreased gas prices in the US
    2. Huge amounts of water must be transported to the fracking site. Carcinogenic chemicals used may contaminate the groundwater.
      1. Small earth tremors can also be triggered e.g 1.5 and 2.2 magnitude hit the Blackpool area in 2011
  3. Carbon-Capture
    1. The carbon dioxide is separated from gases produced from electricity generation and industrial processes. The the CO2 is transported by pipeline or by ship to a safe storage. Then it is stored withing rocks (usually limestone)
2. Political
  1. Itaipu Dam
    1. The hydroelectric dam is on the Parana River, between Brazil and Paraguay. It generates 98.6 TWh in 2013 while the Three Gorges Dam had 98.1 TWh. The plant supplied 90% of Paraguay's electricity and 19% of Brazil's.
    2. It is managed by Brazil and Paraguay under a treaty that expires in 2023, and has been a subject of widespread discontent in Paraguay.
    3. Approx. 10,000 families living beside the Parana River were displaced. Prior to the construction, the Brazilian Government liquidated the Guaira Falls Nationall Park using dynamite.
      1. This allowed materials to be easily transported to the site, but this meant that the possibility of restoring the falls in the future is slim.
3. Environmental
  1. Role of Sulfur Dioxide in acid rain
    1. SO2 and NO2 from burning of fossil fuels react withe water droplets, oxygen and other gases to form sulfuric acid ammonium nitrate, and nitric acid which is then dispersed by wind.
  2. Carbon Footprint
    1. This is the total amount of CO2 and other greenhouse gases emitted over the full life cycle of a process/product. The amount is expressed as grammes of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt hour of genereation (g CO2 eq KWh-1)
      1. Tech that operate on fossil fuels have the largest carbon footprint because it releases greenhouse gases.
4. Economic
  1. The right infrastructure is needed for alternative energy so only MEDCs can afford to use 'high-end' tech. Most LEDCs use solar or wind power.
3.2 How and why is the demand for energy changing?
1. Social
  1. Between 1996 to 2006 the total aircraft kilometers flown internationally has increased from 998 million kilometers to 1,1677 million kilometers.
  2. The total kilometers flown by an passenger from 1996-2006 has increased from 191 billion kilometres to 290 billion kilometers.
  3. The total carbon dioxide emission in the UK has increased from 110.9 million tonnes/percentage in 1995 to 119.9 in 2005
  4. More "white goods". In Shanghai households the electricity consumption is as follows: 27% Refrigerator, 19% air conditioner, 12% lights and 9% rice cooker
2. Economic
  1. China
    1. Over 80% of electricity is generated from coal. Less than 15% coal power plants have flu gas desulfurisation installed. This system requires 4-8% reduction in production efficiency.
    2. Coal-burning industries is subjected to sulphur taxes, but are too low to reduce pollution. Nitrogen dioxide is largely unregulated.
3.3: How can the demand for energy be managed sustainably?
1. Alternative Sources
  1. Nuclear fission: the division of a nucleus which is accompanied by emission of neutrons, gamma radiation and energy release. The energy is used to power turbines
    1. Health risks due to accidents and the problem of nuclear waste disposal
  2. Solar: is energy directly harnessed form solar radiation, it is absorbed by a collector and converted to heat energy, or into electricity by photovoltaic cells.
    1. Space and location hinders the increase usage of solar power also the technology is still expensive
  3. Ocean: Energy harnessed by using either the physical characteristics of oceans (tidal, wave or currents) or their chemical characteristics
    1. Only certain locations are suitable for offshore tidal generation. A large number of devices is needed due to low energy-density
  4. Hydrological: From the movement of water through lakes and dams (gravity). A supply of water is stored then released to drive turbines and generate electricity.
    1. Large-scale dams are costly to build also has social, political and environmental impacts.
  5. Geothermal: Comes form rocks within the earth and can be tapped as hot water or steam, as hot, dry energy by means of conduction. The first two are used to generate electricity, the third is used to heat water, buildings and greenhouses
    1. Availability is limited to a few locations such as Iceland and the Philippines
      1. The Philippines ranks second after the US in the capacity of geothermal energy. In 2010, US had a capacity of 3093 MW of geothermal power, the Philippines had 1904MW, which supplied 17% of the electrical energy in 2010
        The Philippine Energy Department is also planning to increase the geothermal capacity by another 1445 MW by 2013
2. Greater Efficiency
3. Demand Reduction
  1. Smart Meters
    1. This is an advanced meter that identifies consumption and communicates it to the local utility. This allow price setting agencies to set electricity prices according the how and when it is used.
      1. This will force the customers to think and act on how they use their electricity.

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	Created by 119ember about 11 years ago