Turning the Lights On Where does our energy come from? Tyler - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Turning the Lights On Where does our energy come from?

Tyler Josephson Graduate Student at University of Delaware Chemical Engineering Presentation at Newark High School February 9, 2012

What do we use energy for? Where does it come from?

The Big 3

• >80% of our energy

comes from fossil fuels:

– Coal – Petroleum – Natural Gas

Coal

Electricity

Coal Petroleum Renewable Energy Nuclear Natural gas Hydroelectric Wind Geothermal Solar

Inside a Coal Power Plant

• http://www.tva.gov/power/coalart.htm

Coal Use in the USA

• Math Problem – unit conversions
• The United States used 3.6 billion MW-hrs of

electricity in 2009

• 50% of this electricity comes from coal
• Coal has 6.67 kW-hrs of energy per kg
• A coal power plant is typically 30% efficient
• You can fit 120,000 kg of coal in a railcar
• How many railcars of coal are used in 1 day?

Sources: eia.gov for energy use, coal and railroad numbers from Wikipedia

Coal Use in the USA

• 20,000 railcars of

coal per day

• Coal is 10% ash by

weight

• 2,000 railcars of

ash per day

• 750,000 railcars of

ash per year

Coal Pros and Cons

• Cons:

– Ash – SO3 → Acid rain – Mercury emissions – CO2 → most emissions/energy produced

• Pros:

– Abundant supply – $$ - Cheapest energy source for electricity

Petroleum

Transportation

Natural Gas Petroleum Renewable Energy Corn Ethanol Biodiesel

Petroleum Sources

Tar Sands Land Drilling Ocean Drilling

A Petroleum Refinery

http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/oil-refining5.htm

Where Do We Get It?

Peak Oil?

The U.S. is running out, and eventually, the world will run out, too!

Data from U.S. Energy Information Administration, www.eia.gov

World Crude Oil Production

Petroleum Pros and Cons

• Pros

– Highest energy density – Most suitable fuel for transportation – Chemical feedstock

• Cons

– Expensive – Limited supply – CO2 → 2nd in emissions after coal – Oil spills

Global Warming

Images created by Robert A. Rohde / Global Warming Art

The Big 3

• Coal
• Petroleum
• Natural Gas

What does the future look like?

Future of Energy

• By 2050, global energy

demand is expected to increase 40% from what it is today

• We are going to live in a

world that uses energy in a very different way than we do today

Today 2050

Future of Energy

Transportation - Today

Natural Gas Petroleum Renewable Energy

• Something big is going to happen in

transportation fuels in the next 40 years

Transportation – 2050?

Natural Gas Petroleum Renewable Energy

Future of Energy

Natural Gas Petroleum Renewable Energy

Transportation - Today

Natural Gas Petroleum Renewable Energy

• Fuel-efficient cars
• More public transit
• Expensive fuel means people drive less
• More biomass-derived fuels
• Electric cars or plug-in hybrids powered by

electricity from natural gas or nuclear power

Transportation – 2050?

What alternatives do we have?

• Others?

Alternative Electricity Heating Fuels/Chemicals Solar X X Nuclear X Biomass X X X Wind X Hydroelectric X Geothermal X Improvements in Efficiency X X X

Future of Energy

Electricity - Today Electricity – 2050?

Coal Petroleum Renewable Energy Nuclear Natural gas Coal Petroleum Renewable Energy Nuclear Natural gas Coal Petroleum Renewable Energy Nuclear Natural gas Coal Petroleum Renewable Energy Nuclear Natural gas

Future of Energy

• To reduce pollution from coal and oil, reduce

impact of global warming, create local, secure, stable sources of energy, we will need to:

• Improve efficiency of alternatives
• Reduce costs
• Discover new alternatives
• Advancements in science and engineering are

critical for shaping the future of energy

• YOU could be a part of the future of energy

Questions?

Image Credits

• Lightbulb: http://dsmy2muqb7t4m.cloudfront.net/tuts/118_Lightbulb_Icon/32.jpg
• Coal Train: http://transitionlummiisland.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/buffettt-coal-train.jpg
• Gas burner flame: http://www.livetradingnews.com/wp-content/uploads/natural-gas_43.jpg
• Oil Drums: http://www.amoilresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Oil-drums-Company.jpg
• Coal Power Plant: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Coal_power_plant_Datteln_2_Crop1.png
• Petroleum Refinery: http://www.elpower.net/samson/images/refinery.jpg
• World Oil Map: http://tkcollier.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/world-oil_31948a.jpg
• Land Drilling: http://www.horizontaldrilling.org/horizontal-drilling.jpg
• Ocean Drilling: http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/guardian/About/General/2011/7/13/1310579782034/Offshore-drilling-

rig-wit-007.jpg

• Tar Sands: http://www.myessentia.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/TarSands.jpg
• Refinery: http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/oil-refining-diagram.gif
• Peak Oil:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c5/US_Oil_Production_and_Imports_1920_to_2005.png/250px- US_Oil_Production_and_Imports_1920_to_2005.png

• Grand Prix: http://cdn.getauto.com/photos/2/156022/1c/1G2WP1213VF305423-1c.jpg
• Gas Can: http://www.blitzusa.com/products/fuel/Containment/images/50805%201%20plus%20Self-

%20Venting%20Gas%20Can.jpg

• Graduated Cyliners: http://www.benmeadows.com/images/xl/KIMAX-Graduated-Cylinders-BEN-_i_LBD48808.jpg
• Ruler: http://static.www.odcdn.com/pictures/us/od/sk/lg/279944_sk_lg.jpg
• Natural Gas Drilling: http://geology.com/articles/oil-and-gas-investments/natural-gas-and-oil-drawing.jpg