6.1 Renewable vs.

Non-renewable Energy Sources

Renewable Energy Sources Non-renewable Energy Sources Friedland text pages
Can be replenished naturally, at Exist in fixed amounts on earth 417-426, 458-459, 481-486
or near rate of consumption & & can’t easily be replaced or
Learning Objective
reused. regenerated
Identify differences between
● Depletable renewables can ● Fossil Fuels Fossilized non-renewable and renewable
run out if overused remains of ancient biomass energy sources.
○ Ex: Biomas (wood, charcoal, that take millions of years to
ethanol) form Essential Knowledge
○ Coal, Oil, Nat. Gas 1. Non-renewable energy sources
● Nondepletable renewables do are those that exist in a fixed
not run out if overused ● Nuclear: energy generated amount and involve energy
○ Ex: Solar, wind, hydroelectric, from uranium or other transformation that cannot be
easily replaced.
geothermal radioactive fuels
2. Renewable energy sources are
those that can be replenished
naturally, at or near the rate of
consumption, and reused.

Key to Renewable Energy

Rate of Consumption
● Rate of use must be at or
below rate of regeneration for
renewables
● Fossil fuels will run out
because they take far longer
to regenerate than the rate we
use them
6.2 Global Energy Consumption
Developed vs. Developing Nations Developed nations use Friedland text pages
more energy on a per
capita basis, but developed 417-426
nations use more energy in
total (higher pop.) Learning Objective
Describe trends in energy
-The avg. US resident uses
5x as much energy as the
consumption.
world avg. Essential Knowledge
-Developing nations are 1. The use of energy resources is
still industrializing & pop. is not evenly distributed between
still growing rapidly developed and developing
○ It will also increase on a countries.
per/person basis as their 2. The most widely used sources of
economies industrialize & energy globally are fossil fuels.
residents achieve higher
standards of living 3. As developing countries become
more developed, their reliance
on fossil fuels for energy
Fossil Fuels: Most Used Energy Source increases.
Fossil fuels are by far the most common fuel source globally
● Oil ⇒ gasoline = main fuel for vehicles 4. As the world becomes more
● Coal = main fuel for electricity gen. industrialized, the demand for
● Nat. gas = secondary fuel for electricity gen. & main fuel for heating energy increases.
-Hydroelectric energy (dams used to create electricity) are second largest source 5. Availability, price, and
○ Water spins a turbine which generates electricity
governmental regulations
-Nuclear is the third largest source
○ Uranium fission releases heat to turn influence which energy sources
water into steam to turn a turbine to gen. electricity people use and how they use
them.

Development Increases FF Consumption Factors that Affect Energy Source Use

Many residents of less developed nations depend on subsistence Availability: Fossil fuel use depends on discovered reserves &
fuels - biomass that they can easily gather/purchase accessibility of these reserves
○ Ex: wood, charcoal, dried animal manure ○ Use of FFs varies heavily with availability
○ Can drive deforestation

Economic development → affluence (wealth) → higher per capita

GDP → energy use Price: FF Prices fluctuate dramatically with discovery of new
reserves or depletion of existing ones
○ Fracking opens new NG reserves, increasing availability,
decreasing price, increasing use

As developing nations develop, fossil fuel consumption will increase Government Regulation: gov. can mandate certain energy
○ Oil → Gasoline for vehicles source mixes (25% renewable by
○ Coal & Nat. gas → electricity 2025)
■ Electricity demand for homes & manufacturing
Gov CANNOT directly raise or lower prices of energy sources
(ex: raise gas to $10/gallon)

Gov CAN use:

○ Taxes increases to discourage
companies from building FF power plants
○ Rebates, or tax credits to encourage
companies building renewable energy power
plants
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6.3 Energy Fuel Types and Uses

● Biomass fuel sources that are easily accessible (can be found and gathered by hand); often used
in developing countries as a home heating or cooking fuel
-Wood (and charcoal) are two of the most common fuel sources in developing nations
● Wood is free/cheap to cut down and utilize as fuel; can cause deforestation & habitat loss
● Charcoal is made by heating wood under low oxygen conditions for a long time
-Peat is partially decomposed organic matter (often ferns or other plants) found in wet, acidic
ecosystems like bogs and moors
● Can be dried and used as a biomass fuel source

● Pressure from overlying rock & sediment layers compacts peat into coal over time
-In order of energy density & quality: lignite → bituminous → anthracite
● The deeper a coal reserve is buried, the more pressure from overlying rock layers & the more
energy dense
-Because higher energy density means more energy released when a fuel source is burned, anthracite is the
most valuable form of coal (highest quality)
● Coal is burned to heat water into steam, to turn a turbine that generates electricity
● More dense coal = hotter/longer fire = more steam = more electricity

● Decaying remains of plants & animals

(mostly marine life) are buried under layers of
rock & converted by pressure into oil
(petroleum) and natural gas over time
Natural gas is mostly methane (CH4) and
is found on top of trapped oil (petroleum)
deposits
● Forms when oil is trapped in a porous,
sedimentary rock, underneath a harder,
impermeable rock layer that doesn’t let the
gas escape
Crude oil (petroleum) is converted into lots of different products through the process of
Considered the “cleanest” fossil fuel fractional distillation
(produces the fewest air pollutants & least ● Crude oil is burned in a furnace and vapor passes into a column where different
CO2 when burned) hydrocarbons are separated based on their boiling points
● Produces about 1⁄2 as much CO2 as coal ● Hydrocarbons w/lower boiling points gather at the top of the column, higher boiling points
when burned to generate electricity gather at bottom
● Produces virtually no PM (ash/soot) ● Different hydrocarbons within petroleum are used for different products
○ Produces far less SOx, NOx than coal or ○ Petroleum gas ○ Jet fuel
oil, and NO MERCURY ○ Gasoline (fuel for cars) ○ Diesel fuel
○ Naphtha (used to make plastic) ○ Motor oil
○ Bitumen (asphalt for roads)

● Decaying organic matter trapped under rock layers is compressed into oil over time
Extracted by drilling a well through the overlying rock layers to reach the underground deposit and then pumping liquid oil out
under pressure
Can also be recovered from tar sands (combination of clay, sand, water, and bitumen)
● Bitumen is a thick, sticky, semi-solid form of petroleum (not liquid)
● Extracting & using oil from tar sands is extremely energy and water intensive
○ Lots of water needs to be heated (requiring energy) to create steam that’s piped down into the tar sand to melt the bitumen into a
liquid that can flow up a pipe
○ Lots more water is used to separate the oil from all of the impurities (sand,
clay) at the refinery
6.4 Distribution of Natural Energy Resources
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6.5 Fossil Fuels

● Reaction between Oxygen (O2) & fossil fuels
(hydrocarbons) that releases energy as heat and produces
CO2 & H2O as products
-Remember: Combustion is a step in the CARBON cycle:
hydroCARBONS (FFs) are burned to release energy & the
carbon stored in them reacts with O2 in the air to form CO2
-Methane (natural gas), gasoline, propane, butane, coal are all
fossil fuels (hydrocarbons) that release energy in the same
way
Wood and biomass work the same, carbon is burned & reacts
with O2 to form CO2 & give off energy

The #1 source of electricity production globally is

coal, followed by natural gas
These steps of electricity gen. are the same,
no matter what you’re burning to produce the
initial heat Heat →Water into Steam → Steam
turns a turbine → Turbine powers generator →
Generator produces electricity
→ → → →
Coal, oil, natural gas, biomass, and trash can
all be burned to drive this same process and
create energy. Even nuclear energy work
similarly, with nuclear fission producing the initial
heat

● Coal is ~30% efficient as a fuel source for

generating electricity (30% of energy from the
bonds in the hydrocarbons are converted to
electricity)
○ Nat. Gas is ~60% efficient when it’s burned to
generate electricity Much of the energy “lost”
or not converted into electricity escapes as heat
Cogeneration: when the heat produced from
electricity generation is used to provide heat (air
& hot water) to a building;
CHP (Combined Heat and Power) systems are
close to 90% efficient (much better than coal/NG
alone)

Habitat destruction to clear land for

mining

Produces pollutants & releases CO2

(GHG → global warming)
● Releases more CO2 than any other FF
when burned for electricity gen.
● Releases PM (soot, ash) which can
irritate respiratory tracts of humans/
animals
● Produces toxic ash contaminated with
lead, mercury, and arsenic
○ Taken to landfills or stored in ash
ponds; both can leak into ground/surface
waters, or into soil
● Releases SOx & NOx (sulfur and
nitrogen oxides) which irritate resp.
systems, and contribute to smog and
acid precipitation
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Extracted by drilling a well through the overlying rock layers to reach the
underground deposit and then pumping liquid oil out under pressure
Can also be recovered from tar sands (combination of clay, sand, water, and
bitumen)
● Bitumen is a thick, sticky, semi-solid form of petroleum (not liquid)
● Extracting & using oil from tar sands is extremely energy and water intensive
○ Lots of water needs to be heated (requiring energy) to create steam that’s
piped down into the tar sand to melt the bitumen into a liquid that can flow up
a pipe
○ Lots more water is used to separate the oil from all of the impurities (sand,
clay) at the refinery

Habitat destruction to clear land for: roads, drilling equipment,

digging through ground surface to reach deposits (biodiv. loss)
Possibility of spill (either from tanker ships or pipelines
Ground or nearby surface water depletion (H2O needed for
breaking
steam & for washing impurities from bitumen at refinery) ● Spills in water = crude oil covering sun, clogging fish gills,
● Water contamination: tailing ponds (holes dug for storing suffocating many ocean
wastewater) can overflow & run into nearby surface waters, or animals, sticking to bird feathers
leach into groundwater ● Spills on land = toxic to plant roots, surface or groundwater
○ Benzene (carcinogen) salts, acids, hydrocarbons, bitumen contamination (with hydrocarbons/crude oil)
○ All toxic to plant and animals Habitat loss or fragmentation when land is cleared for roads,
● CO2 released by machinery during extraction, transport, drilling equipment, pipelines
refinement

Used to extract natural gas from sedimentary rock

Vertical well is drilled down to sed. rock layer, then turns
horizontally into the
rock layer
● Perforating gun cracks (fractures) the rock layer around hor.
well, making it more permeable
● Fracking fluid (water, salt, detergents, acids) is pumped into well
@ very high pressure to crack the rock even more & allow natural
gas to flow out
● Nat. gas is collected @ surface & shipped for processing/use
● Flowback water (used fracking fluid) flows back out well & is
collected and stored in containers or ponds nearby

Possibility of well leaking & contaminating groundwater with

fracking fluid (salt, detergents, acids) or hydrocarbons
● Ponds can overflow or leach into ground & contaminate
surface or ground waters with fracking fluid (salt, detergents,
acids)
● Can be toxic to plants & animals that rely on these water
sources
Depletion of ground or surface waters nearby (as they’re
drawn from for
fracking fluid)
● Increased seismic activity (earthquakes) linked with
wastewater injection wells (storing fracking fluid deep
underground)
Hab. loss/fragment
CH4 (GHG) release
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6.6 Nuclear Power

A neutron is fired into the nucleus of a radioactive

(unstable) element, such as Uranium
● Nucleus breaks apart and releases lots of energy
(heat) + more neutrons that break more nuclei apart,
releasing more energy (chain reaction)
Radioactivity refers to the energy given off by the
nucleus of a radioactive isotope (Uranium-235)
● Radioactive nuclei decay, or breakdown and give
off energy (radiation) even without fission; nuclear
fission just releases tons of energy all at once
● Radioactive Half-Life = the amount of time it takes
for 50% of a radioactive substance to decay
(breakdown)
○ Ex: 1⁄2 life of Cobalt-60 isotope = 5.27 yrs.
○ In 5.27 yrs, 1⁄2 of a Co-60 sample would be
Gone (decayed)

Same electricity generation process as with FFs, just uranium fission to heat water into steam
● Heat →Water into Steam → Steam turns a turbine → Turbine powers generator → Generator
produces electricity → → → →
U-235 stored in fuel rods, submerged in water in reaction core; heat from fission turns H2O →
steam...
● Control rods are lowered into reactor core to absorb neutrons and
slow down the reaction, preventing meltdown (explosion)
● Water pump brings in cool water to be turned into steam and also cools reactor down from
overheating
● Cooling tower allows steam from turbine to condense back into liquid and cool down before
being reused (this gives off H2O vapor)

-Nuclear energy is NONRENEWABLE because radioactive elements

like Uranium are limited
● No air pollutants (PM, SOx/NOx) or CO2/CH4 released when -Three Mile Island (US), Fukushima Japan, and Chernobyl Ukraine = 3 most
electricity is generated; mining of uranium & plant construction still famous nuclear meltdowns
release GHGs ● Three Mile Island (US): partial meltdown due to testing error; radiation released
● Only gas released from elec. gen. is water vapor (which is but no deaths or residual cancer cases
technically a GHG, but stays in atm, very briefly) ● Fukushima (Japan): an earthquake and tsunami triggered cooling pump failure
-Other drawbacks of nuclear energy include possibility of meltdown & that lead to a meltdown (explosion of reactor core) & widespread radiation release
radioactive contamination ● Chernobyl (Ukraine): stuck cooling valve during test lead to complete meltdown
(explosion of reactor core), several deaths, and widespread radiation release
● Spent Fuel Rods: used fuel rods remain radioactive for millions of
-Environmental consequences of meltdowns: genetic mutations & cancer in
years & need to be stored in lead containers on site @ Nuclear PPs
surrounding people, animals, and plants due to radiation released from reactor core
● Mine tailings: leftover rock & soil from mining may have radioactive ● Contaminated soil: radiation can remain in soil and harm plants and animals in
elements that can contaminate water or soil nearby the future (genetic mutations)
● Water use: nuclear PPs require lots of water and can deplete local ● Radiation spread: radiation can be carried by the wind over long distances,
surface or groundwater sources affecting ecosystems far from the meltdown site
● Thermal Pollution: hot water from PP released back into surface
waters can cause thermal shock (decreased O2 &
suffocation)
6.7 Energy from Biomass

organic matter (wood/charcoal, dried animal

waste, dead liquid fuels (ethanol, biodiesel)
leaves/brush) burned to release heat - primarily created from biomass (corn, sugar
for heating homes/cooking cane, palm oil)
● Utilized primarily in developing world for ● Used as replacement fuel sources
heating homes & cooking food for gasoline, primarily in vehicles
● Easy to harvest, available, cheap/free
(subsistence fuel)
● Can also be burned in PPs to generate
electricity (less common than FFs)

Biomass burning releases CO2, but doesn’t increase

atmospheric CO2 levels like FF burning does
● Burning biomass releases modern carbon (CO2 that was
recently sequestered, or taken out of the atmosphere)
whereas FF burning releases fossil carbon that had been
stored for millions of years
● Biomass burning is considered “carbon neutral”
● Think of spending a dollar someone just gave you vs.
withdrawing from your long-term savings account to spend

-Biomass burning releases CO, NOx, PM, and VOCs - all respiratory irritants
● 3 billion people globally cook on open, biomass fires, mostly in developing world
● Biomass burn. indoors for heat/cooking worsens effects (pollutants trapped & conc.)
○ Worsened asthma, bronchitis, COPD, emphysema, eye irritation
-Environmental consequences = deforestation & air pollutants
● Lack of environmental protection laws & financial resources for other fuels lead to more biomass deforestation in developing nations
● Hab. loss, soil erosion, loss of CO2 sequestration, air & H2O filtration
● NOx, VOCs, and PM all contribute to smog formation

Corn & sugar cane are fermented into ethanol which is mixed w/ gasoline
● Corn grain/sugar cane broken down & yeast ferment sugars → ethanol Liquid fuels produced specifically from
● E85 or flex fuel = 51-83% ethanol + gasoline mix; used in flex-fuel vehicles plant oils (soy, canola, palm)
○ Decreases oil consumption for transport, but is less efficient than pure gasoline
● “renewable” only to the extent that the production of corn is sustainable (sugar ● Palm oil biodiesel has been found to
cane is produce 98% MORE GHGs than FFs,
a perennial, and is more sustainable) due to clearing of forest for palm
plantations
Environmental consequences = all the neg. consequences of monocrop ag.
● Soil erosion, hab. loss, GHG release (ag. soils, tractors, fertilizers) H2O use ● Can be more sustainable if already
● Lots of corn needed, relative to petroleum; can compete w/human cons. of cleared land is used, or if plantations are
corn continually replanted (however, also
● Algae produce oils that can be used as biofuels more sustainably than corn causes all the env. impacts of ag.)
6.8 Solar Energy

Passive solar: absorbing or blocking heat

from the sun, w/out use of mechanical/
electrical equip.

Using sun’s heat to cook food in a solar

oven

Orienting building design to block sunlight

in warmer months & allow sunlight in
during colder months

Double paned windows, southern facing

windows w/roof overhang, deciduous
shade trees, skylight to decrease elect.
use, dark colored sunlight abs. floor

Active solar: use of mechanical/electrical

equip. to capture sun’s heat (solar water
heaters or CST - concentrated solar
thermal), or convert light rays directly into
electricity (PV cells)

● Solar water heaters capture sun’s heat in

water or circulating fluid & transfer heat to
warm water for home - in place of electric/
gas water heater

● Photons (particles carrying energy from sun) cause separation of charges

between two semiconductor layers (n & p); electrons separate from protons & flow No air pollutants (PM, SOx,
through circuit to load, delivering energy (as electricity) NOx) released to gen. electricity
● No CO2 released when gen.
-Aka “solar panels”; contain semiconductor (usually silicon) that emits low voltage
electricity
electrical current when exposed to sun
● PV cells on a roof can directly power the building, or send excess electricity back ● Renewable, unlike FFs which
to the grid for other users (earning you a credit from your utility company) will run out
● No mining of fossil fuels for
-A drawback is intermittency (solar energy can only be generated during the day) electricity production
● Could be solved by cheaper, larger batteries that can store energy generated
during the day for use at night
○ Currently these aren’t cost-effective yet

● Heliostats (mirrors) reflect sun’s rays onto a central water tower in Semiconductor metals (silicon) still
order to heat water to produce steam to turn a turbine → electricity A need to be mined to produce PV
drawback is habitat destruction & light beams frying birds in mid air cells (solar panels)

This can disrupt habitats & pollute

water with mine tailings, air with
PM
Large-scale solar “farms” can generate lots of electricity, but do take up land and
cause habitat loss/fragmentation Silicon is a limited resource

Rooftop solar doesn’t take up land, but only produces a little electricity Solar panel farms can displace
habitats
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6.9 Hydroelectric Power

Kinetic energy of moving water → spins a turbine (mechanical energy) → turbine

powers generator
● Water moves either with natural current of river or tides, or by falling vertically through
channel in a dam
● By far the largest renewable source of electricity globally
● China, Brazil, and US = 3 biggest hydroelectricity producers

Dam built in a river creates a large artificial lake behind

the dam (reservoir)
● Damming the river enables operators to allow more or
less water through the channel in the dam, increasing or
decreasing electricity production (water flows through
channel, turns turbine, turbine powers generator →
● Also allows for control of flow downstream, prevention
of seasonal flooding due to high rainfall
● Reservoirs are also a source of recreation money
(boating fees, tourism, increased property values,
fishing, etc.)
● 2 big impacts = flooding of ecosystems behind dam &
sedimentation (buildup of sediments behind dam)

A dam diverts the natural current of a river through man-made channel beside the river
● Natural current of the river turns the turbine...powers the generator...
● Less impactful to surrounding ecosystem since no reservoir is formed
& ecosystems behind dam aren’t flooded
● Doesn’t stop natural flow of sediments downstream like water impoundment systems do
● Doesn’t generate nearly as much power & may be unavailable in warmer seasons when river water levels are lower
● Tidal power comes from tidal ocean flow turning turbine (coastal areas only)

Reservoir floods habitats behind dam (forests/wetlands → gone; river becomes

a lake) No GHG emissions when producing electricity (initial construction
● Prevents upstream migration of fish like salmon, that need to swim up to does require cement & machines that emit GHGs)
spawning grounds to reproduce ● Reservoir & dam can be tourist attractions
● Sedimentation changes upstream & downstream conditions ● Jobs are created to maintain the dam
○ Upstream becomes warmer (less O2) and rocky streambed habitats covered ● Reliable electricity source generated for surrounding area
in sediment ● No air pollutants released during electricity generation (no PM/
○ Downstream loses sediment (important nutrient source), decreased water
SOx/NOx)
level, loses streambed hab.
Allows for control of downstream seasonal flooding
● Downstream wetlands especially suffer since nutrients in sediment doesn’t
reach them ● In US, only 3% of dams are for hydro
Env. Impacts = FF combustion during dam construction, increased evap. due ; 37% are for recreation/scenic purposes; 2nd most common
to larger surface area of reservoir, and methane release due to anaerobic purpose is flood control (allowing humans to
decomp. of organic matter in reservoir build closer to rivers in floodplains that would normally be flooded
Econ. Impacts = human homes & businesses must be relocated due to seasonally)
reservoir flooding, Initial construction is very expensive (does create long-term
● This flood prevention is good for humans, but deprives river
jobs though), sediment buildup must be dredged (removed by crane) eventually flood plains of nutrient-rich sediment that supports plant growth &
● Loss of ecosystem services from downstream wetlands, potential loss of nearby wetland habitats
fishing revenue if salmon breeding is disrupted

Cement “steps” or series of pools that migratory fish like salmon

can use to continue migration upstream, around or over dams
● Enables continued breeding for salmon, food source for
predators like large birds, bears, and fishing revenue for
humans
● “Salmon cannon” is a similar alternative that enables salmon
to be captured or directed into a tube that carries them over the
dam
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6.10 Geothermal Energy

Natural radioactive decay of elements
deep in earth’s core gives off heat, driving
magma convection currents which carry
heat to upper portion of mantle, close to
earth’s surface
● Water can be piped down into the ground
and heated by this heat from the mantle
○ Hot water can be converted into steam
→ turbine → elect. or be used to heat
homes directly
Geothermal for electricity: naturally
heated water reservoirs underground are
drilled into & piped up to the surface (or
water can be piped down into naturally
heated rock layers
● The heat from magma turns the water
into steam, which is forced through pipes
to spin a turbine
● Water is cooled in cooling tower &
returned to the ground to start the process
over
● Renewable since heat from earth’s core
won’t run out; but only if groundwater is
returned after use

Often referred to as “geothermal” but technically the heat does not come from geologic activity (comes from the
ground storing heat from the sun)
● More accurate name is “ground source heat pump”
● 10 feet down, the ground stays a consistent 50-60o due to holding heat from sun (not warmed by geothermal
energy from magma - so not technically geothermal energy) 800
● Heat absorbing fluid is pumped through a pipe into the ground where it either takes on heat from the ground, or
gives off heat to the ground
● In summer, heat from home transfers to liquid & liquid transfers heat to the ground, cooling house
● In winter, liquid takes heat from ground & transfers it to the house, warming house 30o

● Not everywhere on earth has

access to geothermal energy True geothermal heating involves piping water
● Potentially renewable, only if reaching close enough to deep into ground to be heated by magma & then
water is piped back into the surface to access it transfering heat from water to the building
ground for reuse ● Hydrogen sulfide can be ● Different than ground source heat pump
● Much less CO2 emission released, which is toxic and ● Well must go thousands of meters (kms) down
than FF electricity can be lethal to humans & into the ground
● No release of (PM/SOx/NOx/ animals to reach heated water reservoir
CO) as is case with FFs ● Cost of drilling that deep in ● Heated water is piped up to surface & sent to
the earth can be very high homes or businesses to heat them
initially
○ Sometimes so high that it’s
not even worth it
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6.11 Hydrogen Fuel Cell

Use hydrogen as a renewable, alternative fuel source to fossil fuels

● H2 gas and O2 are the inputs used to generate electricity; H2O is given off as a
waste product
H2 gas enters fuel cell where it’s split into protons (H+) and electrons (e-) by
an electrolyte membrane that only lets protons pass through
● Electrons take an alternative route (circuit) around the membrane, which
generates an electrical current
● O2 molecules enter fuel cell break apart into individual O atoms and combine
with two hydrogens (H+) to form H2O as a by product (only emissions from F fuel
cells)
Most common application is in vehicles
● Replaces gasoline (non-renewable, GHG releasing & air polluting) with H fuel
(no air pollutants released & only H2O vapor)

Key challenge to H fuel cells is obtaining pure H gas (b/c it doesn’t exist by itself as a gas naturally)
● Separating H2 gas from other molecules like H2O or CH4 is very energy intensive
● Two main processes are steam reforming (95% of all H production) and electrolysis
(less common, but more sustainable)
Steam Reforming: burning natural gas (CH4) & using steam to separate the H gas from the methane (CH4)
- Emits CO2 & requires NG (FF) input
Electrolysis: electrical current is applied to water, breaking it into O2 and H2 - No CO2 emission, but does require electricity

Because H2 gas can be stored in pressurized tanks, it Since 95% of H2 production requires methane (CH4),
can be transported for use creating electricity later, in a H fuel cells are based on a non-renewable & CO2
different location releasing energy source
● If electrolysis is used to produce H2, it’s only as
● Unlike solar, hydro, and wind where the electricity must
sustainable as the electricity source
be used as soon as it’s generated & relatively closely to
● Widespread H fuel cell use would require building
the location of generation widespread H distribution network (similar to current
Can also be used as a fuel for vehicles (replacing system for gasoline)
gasoline) or to create ammonia for fertilizer, or in the ● H fuel stored in gas form in vehicles would require
chemical industry much larger tanks than current gasoline tanks
● As a gasoline replacement, it emits no air pollutants
(NOx/PM/CO) and only H2O (tech. a GHG) no CO2
● Manufacture of many different industrial chemicals
requires H2 gas
● Can be stored as liquid or gas, making it easy to
transport
● H fuel cells are ~80% efficient in converting chemical
energy in H2 & O2 into electricity (Coal PP = 35%
efficient)
6.12 Wind Energy

Kinetic energy of moving air (wind) spins a turbine; generator converts

mechanical energy of turbine into electricity
● Blades of turbine are connected to gearbox by a shaft that rotates; rotating
gears create mechanical energy that the generator transforms into electricity
● Avg. turbine can power 460 homes
● Avg. wind turbine has 15-30% capacity factor (% of total possible energy it
could generate)
○ Only produces electricity in 8-55 mph winds
● Motorized drive within shaft can turn the turbine to face wind

Clustered in groups (wind projects or farms) in flat, open areas (usually rural)
● Locating them together makes service, repair, and
building transmission lines to them easier
● Can share land with agricultural use
Offshore wind = wind farms in oceans or lakes
● Capitalizes on faster wind speeds
● Does require transmission lines built across long distances to reach land though

Intermittency (isn’t always available) can’t replace base-

Non-depletable (isn’t decreased by its use) - even better load power (sources that are always available like FFs,
than renewable! nuclear or Geothermal)

No GHG emissions or air pollutants released when Can’t replace base-load power (sources that are always
generating electricity available like FFs, nuclear or Geothermal)

No CO2 (climate change) or NOx/SOx/PM as with burning Can kill birds and bats (especially larger, migratory
FFs birds)

Can share land uses (don’t destroy habitat or cause soil/ Can be considered an eyesore or source of noise
water contamination as FFs do) pollution by some
 ⛰

6.13 Energy Conservation

Lowering thermostat to use less heat or Improving fuel efficiency (fuel economy)
use AC less often standards Ex: 20 mpg → 30 mpg
Conserving water with native plants Subsidizing (tax credits for) electric
instead of grass, low flow shower vehicles, charging stations, and hybrids
heads, efficient toilets, dishwashers,
dryers Increased public transport (buses & light
rails), green building design
Energy efficient appliances, better
insulation to keep more heat in home

Ways to either block out or take advantages of sun’s natural

heat, or keep in heating/cooling to decrease energy Native plants require less watering than traditional lawns
required (also increase biodiversity of pollinators & require less
fertilizer)
Deciduous shade trees for landscaping (leaves block sun in
summer, but allow it in during winter) Low-flow showers, toilets, and dishwashers do the same
job with less total water (less energy to purify & pump to
Using passive solar design concepts to trap sun’s heat & homes)
decrease energy from heating system (heat absorbing
walls, triple or double paned windows) Rain barrels allow rain water to be used for watering plants
or washing cars
Well-insulated walls/attic to trap heat in winter & cool air
from AC system in summer
This decreases electricity used by AC unit & energy used by
heating system

~28% of total US energy use comes from transport of goods & people (2019)
Decreasing the amount of energy required to build larger buildings
● Improving fuel economy of US fleet of vehicles conserves energy as less & heat/cool them
gasoline/diesel is needed to travel same distance ● Green roof or walls can decrease runoff, and absorb sun’s heat,
○ CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards are regulations set in decreasing energy needed for cooling building & surrounding area
US to require auto manufacturers to make cars that meet certain MPG (lessens heat island effect)
standards, or pay penalties
● Hybrids (Prius) have both a gasoline & electric engine, enabling them to have ●Sun lights on roof, or windows on sides can decrease electricity
higher MPG ratings used for lighting
○ Breaking system charges the electric battery, which powers electric motor ● Recycled materials can reduce energy required to produce new
● Electric vehicles (EVs or BEVs) like the Tesla or LEAF use no gasoline, but ones (glass, wood, even fly ash from coal can be used in
still require electricity (only as sustainable as elect. source) foundation)
● Public transit & carpooling are even better energy-saving transport options

Peak demand is the time of day or year (often early night time hours or very hot weather
events) that electricity demand is highest
● If demand exceeds supply, rolling blackouts occur
● To manage peak demand, some utilities use a variable price model for electricity
● Users pay a higher rate during peak demand hours or events, to discourage use
● Users pay a lower rate/kWh when using a lower amount of energy (incentivizes lower overall
use)
“Smart Grid” is just the idea of managing demand & energy sources in a more varied way
Ex: using smart meters for variable price models, allowing rooftop solar to direct electricity back
to grid, integrating more total energy sources (especially renewable)