is the ongoing effort to provide sustainable energy from Primary Energy sources and converting them into more convenient secondary energy forms, such as Electrical Energy and cleaner Fuel , both emissions (reducing pollution) and quality (more efficient use) are important.
See Also: Petroleum dependence
Technologically advanced societies have become increasingly dependent on external energy sources for Transportation , the production of many manufactured goods, and the delivery of energy services. This energy allows people, in general, to live under otherwise unfavorable climatic conditions through the use of Heating, Ventilation, And/or Air Conditioning . Level of use of external energy sources differs across societies, as do the Climate , convenience, Traffic Congestion , Pollution , Production , and Greenhouse Gas emissions of each society.
Increased levels of human comfort generally induce increased dependence on external energy sources, although the application of Energy Efficiency and Conservation approaches allows a certain degree of mitigation of the dependence. Wise energy use therefore embodies the idea of balancing human comfort with reasonable Energy Consumption levels by Research ing and implementing effective and sustainable energy harvesting and utilization measures.
A key limit to the development of any particular energy source is availability of the underlying resource. Most of the world's main energy sources are based on the consumption of non-renewable resources ( Petroleum , Coal , Natural Gas , and Uranium ). While still a small segment of the energy supply, renewable sources such as Wind Power and Solar Power are growing rapidly in market share.
Closely linked to energy development are concerns about the possible Environmental effects of energy use, such as Climate Change s. Energy development issues are part of the much debated Sustainable Development problem.
Primary Energy sources are substances or processes with concentrations of energy at a high enough potential to be feasibly encouraged to convert to lower energy forms under human control for human benefit. Except for Nuclear Fuel s, Tidal Energy and Geothermal Energy , all terrestrial energy sources are from current solar insolation or from fossil remains of plant and animal life that relied directly and indirectly upon sunlight, respectively. And ultimately, Solar Energy itself is the result of the Sun 's nuclear fusion. Geothermal Power from hot, hardened Rock above the Magma of the earth's core is the result of the accumulation of radioactive materials during the formation of Earth which was the Byproduct of a previous Supernova event.
See Also: Fossil fuel
Fossil fuels, in terms of energy, involve the burning of , Petroleum , and Natural Gas . Another fossil fuel, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), is principally derived from the production of natural gas.
- Because it is based on the simple process of combustion, the burning of fossil fuels can generate large amounts of electricity with a small amount of fuel. Gas-fired Power Plant s are more efficient than coal fired power plants.
- Fossil fuels such as coal are readily available and are currently plentiful. Excluding External Costs , coal is less expensive than most other sources of energy because there are large deposits of coal in the world.
- The Technology already exists for the use of fossil fuels, though oil and natural gas are approaching peak production and will require a transition to other fuels and/or other measures.
- Commonly used fossil fuels in liquid form such as light crude oil, gasoline, and LPG are easy to distribute.
- LPG can be transported, stored and used virtually anywhere. It does not require a fixed network and will not deteriorate over time. As a result, it is particularly useful in regions which are not connected to fixed energy networks.
- LPG is clean burning and has lower , July 6 , 2007 . Retrieved September 7 2007 . LPG is also non-toxic and will not contaminate soil or aquifers in the event of a leak.
- LPG can be accessible to everyone everywhere today without major infrastructure investment. There are enough reserves to last many decades.
- LPG can be up to 5 times more efficient than traditional fuels, resulting in less energy wastage and better use of our planet’s resources.
- The combustion of fossil fuels leads to the release of Pollution into the Atmosphere . According to the Union Of Concerned Scientists , a typical coal plant produces in one year:http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/coalvswind/c02c.html
- ---3,700,000 tons of Carbon Dioxide (CO2), the primary human cause of Global Warming .
- ---10,000 tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2), the leading cause of acid rain.
- ---500 tons of small airborne particles, which result in chronic bronchitis, aggravated asthma, and premature death, in addition to haze-obstructed visibility.
- ---10,200 tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx), leading to formation of ozone (smog) which inflames the lungs, burning lung tissue making people more susceptible to respiratory illness.
- ---720 tons of carbon monoxide (CO), resulting in headaches and additional stress on people with heart disease.
- ---220 tons of hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds (VOC), which form ozone.
- ---170 pounds of mercury, where just 1/70th of a teaspoon deposited on a 25-acre lake can make the fish unsafe to eat.
- ---225 pounds of arsenic, which will cause cancer in one out of 100 people who drink water containing 50 parts per billion.
- ---114 pounds of lead, 4 pounds of cadmium, other toxic heavy metals, and trace amounts of uranium.
- Dependence on fossil fuels from volatile regions or countries creates Energy Security risks for dependent countries. Oil Dependence in particular has led to monopolization, war, and socio-political instability.
- They are considered non- Renewable resources, which will eventually Decline In Production and become exhausted, with dire consequences to societies that remain highly dependent on them. Fossil fuels are actually slowly forming continuously, but we are using them up at a rate approximately 100,000 times faster than they are formed.
burns Natural Gas to produce electricity in California .]]
- Extracting fossil fuels is becoming more difficult as we consume the most accessible fuel deposits. Extraction of fossil fuels is becoming more expensive and more dangerous as Mine s get deeper and Oil Rig s go further out to sea.http://www.rigzone.com/analysis/rigs/insight.asp?i_id=213
- Extraction of fossil fuels can result in extensive environmental degradation, such as the Strip Mining and Mountaintop Removal of coal.
from an Oil Refinery .]]
- The drilling and transportation of petroleum can result in accidents that result in the despoilation of hundreds of kilometers of beaches and the death or elimination of many forms of wildlife in the area.
- Safety measures are necessary in order to use LPG without incident.
- The storage of these fuels can result in accidents with explosions and poisoning of the atmosphere and Groundwater .
residue can be used as a biofuel]]
Biomass production involves using Garbage or other Renewable resources such as Corn or other Vegetation , to generate electricity. When garbage Decomposes the Methane produced is captured in pipes and later burned to produce electricity. Vegetation and wood can be burned directly, like fossil fuels, to generate energy, or processed to form Alcohol s.
Vegetable Oil is generated from sunlight and CO2 by plants. It is safer to use and store than Gasoline or Diesel as it has a higher Flash Point . Straight Vegetable Oil works in diesel engines if it is heated first. Vegetable oil can also be Transesterified to make Biodiesel which burns like normal diesel.
- Biomass production can be used to burn organic waste products resulting from agriculture. This type of recycling encourages the philosophy that nothing on this Earth should be wasted. The result is less demand on the Earth's resources, and a higher carrying capacity for Earth because non-renewable fossil fuels are not consumed.
- Biomass is abundant on Earth and is generally renewable. In theory, we will never run out of organic waste products as fuel, because we are continuously producing them. In addition, biomass is found throughout the world, a fact that should alleviate energy pressures in third world nations.
- When methods of biomass production other than direct combustion of plant mass, such as Fermentation and Pyrolysis , are used, there is little effect on the environment. Alcohols and other fuels produced by these alternative methods are clean burning and are feasible replacements to fossil fuels.
- Since CO2 is first taken out of the atmosphere to make the vegetable oil and then put back after it is burned in the engine, there is no net increase in CO2 . So vegetable oil does not contribute to the problem of Greenhouse Gas .
- It has a high Flash Point and is safer than most fuels.
- Transitioning to vegetable oil could be relatively easy as Biodiesel works where Diesel works, and Straight Vegetable Oil takes relatively minor modifications.
- The World already produces more than 100 billion gallons a year for food industry, so we have experience making it.
- Algaculture has the potential to produce far more vegetable oil per acre than current plants.
- Infrastructure for Biodiesel Around The World is significant and growing.
- Direct combustion without emissions filtering generally leads to Air Pollution similar to That From Fossil Fuels .
- Producing Liquid Fuels from Biomass is generally less Cost Effective than from Petroleum , since the production of biomass and its subsequent conversion to alcohols is particularly expensive.
- Some researchers claim that, when biomass crops are the product of Intensive Farming , Ethanol Fuel production results in a net loss of energy after one accounts for the fuel costs of fertilizer production, farm equipment, and the distillation process. {Link without Title}
- Direct competition with land use for food production.
- Current production methods would require enormous amounts of land to replace all Gasoline and Diesel . With current technology, it is unfeasible for biofuels to replace the demand for petroleum.
- Growth in vegetable oil production is already resulting in Deforestation .
- Converting forest land to vegetable oil production can result in a net increase in CO2.
- Demand for vegetable oil used as a fuel may drive up prices of vegetable oils in the food industry
- Costs to modify existing engines may outweigh fuel cost savings
See Also: Hydroelectricity
In hydro energy, the Gravitation al descent of a river is compressed from a long run to a single location with a Dam or a Flume . This creates a location where concentrated Pressure and Flow can be used to turn Turbine s or Water Wheel s, which drive a mechanical Mill or an Electric Generator .
- Hydroelectric power stations can promptly increase to full capacity, unlike other types of power stations. This is because water can be accumulated above the dam and released to coincide with peaks in Demand .
- Electricity can be generated constantly, so long as sufficient water is available.
- Hydroelectric power produces no primary Waste or Pollution .
- Hydropower is a renewable resource.
- Hydroelectricity assists in securing a country's access to energy supplies.
- The construction of a dam can have a serious environmental impact on the surrounding areas. The amount and the quality of water downstream can be affected, which affects plant life both Aquatic , and land-based. Because a river Valley is being flooded, the delicate local habitat of many Species are destroyed, while people living nearby may have to relocate their homes.
- Hydroelectricity can only be used in areas where there is a sufficient supply of water.
- Flooding submerges large forests (if they have not been harvested). The resulting Anaerobic decomposition of the carboniferous materials releases methane, a Greenhouse Gas .
- Dams can contain huge amounts of water. As with every energy storage system, failure of containment can lead to catastrophic results, e.g. flooding.
- Hydroelectric plants rarely can be erected near load centres, requiring large transmission lines.
Nuclear power station.]]
See Also: Nuclear power
Nuclear Power Stations use Nuclear Fission to generate energy by the reaction of Uranium -235 inside a Nuclear Reactor . The reactor uses uranium Rod s, the atoms of which are split in the process of Fission , releasing a large amount of energy. The process continues as a Chain Reaction with other Nuclei . The heat released heats water to create Steam , which spins a Turbine generator, producing Electricity . A relatively small number of nuclear power plants (about 50) has the potential to supply the entire U.S. (or other nation) with relatively clean electricity.
(1997). Developing nations score much lower on these variables than developed nations. The continued rapid economic growth and increase in living standards in developing nations with large populations, like China and India, is dependent on a rapid and large expansion of energy production capacity.]]
and
. Source: EIA.]]
Depending on the type of fission fuel considered, estimates for existing supply at known usage rates varies from thousands of years for uranium-238 to several decades for the currently popular Uranium-235. At the present use rate, there are (as of 2007) about 70 years left of known as fission fuel. Thorium is three times more abundant in Earth's crust than uranium, {Link without Title} and much more of the thorium can be used (or, more precisely, converted into Uranium-233 and then used).
Current in Scotland, Monju in Japan and the Superphénix at Creys-Malville in France, in particular, have all had difficulties and were not economically competitive and have been Decommissioned . The People's Republic Of China intends to build breeders.http://www.nti.org/db/china/fbrprog.htm
The possibility of , including nuclear power plants, hydropower plants, and Liquified Natural Gas Tanker s. Nuclear Proliferation is the spread from nation to nation of nuclear technology, including nuclear power plants but especially Nuclear Weapon s. New technology like SSTAR ("small, sealed, transportable, autonomous reactor") may lessen this risk.
The long-term and Fast Breeder Reactor s can reduce the amounts of waste. Subcritical Reactor s or fusion reactors could greatly reduce the time the waste has to be stored. {Link without Title} Subcritical reactors may also be able to do the same to already existing waste.
The Economics of nuclear power is not simple to evaluate, because of high capital costs for building and very low fuel costs. Comparison with other power generation methods is strongly dependent on assumptions about construction timescales and capital financing for nuclear plants. See Economics Of New Nuclear Power Plants .
Depending on the source different energy return on energy investment ( EROI ) are claimed. Advocates (using life cycle analysis) argue that it takes 4-5 months of energy production from the nuclear plant to fully pay back the initial energy investment. {Link without Title} Opponents claim that it depends on the grades of the ores ,the fuel came from, so a fully pay back can vary from 10 to 18 years. http://www10.antenna.nl/wise/537/gl/clean.html "World Information Service on Energy" 10-18 years for payback on nuclear energy
Advocates also claim that it is possible to relatively rapidly increase the number of plants. Typical new reactor designs have a construction time of three to four years. In 1983, 43 plants were being built, before an unexpected fall in fossil fuel prices stopped most new construction. Developing countries like India and China are rapidly increasing their nuclear energy use.[http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.09/china.html However, a Council On Foreign Relations report on nuclear energy argues that a rapid expansion of nuclear power may create shortages in building materials such as reactor-quality concrete and steel, skilled workers and engineers, and safety controls by skilled inspectors. This would drive up current prices.[http://www.cfr.org/content/publications/attachments/NuclearEnergyCSR28.pdf
- The cost of making nuclear power, with current legislation, is about the same as making coal power, which is considered very inexpensive (see Economics Of New Nuclear Power Plants ). If a Carbon Tax is applied, nuclear does not have to pay anything because nuclear does not emit toxic gases such as CO2, NO, CO, SO2, Arsenic , etc. that are emitted by coal power plants.
- Because of the fear of a nuclear disaster, Nuclear Safety has become a major issue.
- Coal mining is the second most dangerous occupation in the United States. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10725454/ Nuclear energy is much safer per capita than coal derived energy.
- For the same amount of electricity, the life cycle emissions of nuclear is about 4% of coal power. Depending on the report, hydro, wind, and geothermal are sometimes ranked lower, while wind and hydro are sometimes ranked higher (by life cycle emissions).http://www.nei.org/keyissues/protectingtheenvironment/lifecycleemissionsanalysis/ http://dailyreferendum.blogspot.com/2007/08/go-nuclear-go-green-life-cycle.html
- According to a Stanford study, Fast Breeder Reactors have the potential to power humans on earth for billions of years, making it sustainable.1
- Waste produced from nuclear fission of uranium is both Poison ous and highly Radioactive , requiring Maintenance and Monitoring at the Storage sites. Moreover, the long-term Disposal of the long-lived Nuclear Waste causes serious problems, since (unless the spent fuel is reprocessed) it takes from one to three thousand years for the spent fuel to come back to the natural radioactivity of the Uranium ore body that was mined to produce it.
- There can be connections between nuclear power and Nuclear Weapon proliferation, since both require large-scale Uranium Enrichment facilities. While civilian nuclear facilities are normally overseen internationally by the IAEA , a couple of countries with such facilities refuse oversight.
- Large capital cost. Building a nuclear power plant requires a huge investment and the costs of safe disassembling (called decommissioning) after it reaches end of usable life must be factored into the full lifecycle budget (see Economics Of New Nuclear Power Plants ).
- Nuclear fuels are a non-renewable energy source, with unknown high concentration ore reserves. There is a large amount of trace concentration nuclear material in seawater and most rocks; however, extraction from these is not currently economically competitive.
, an Isotope of Hydrogen , as fuel and in most current designs also Lithium . Assuming a fusion energy output equal to the current global output and that this does not increase in the future, then the known current lithium reserves would last 3000 years, lithium from sea water would last 60 million years, and a more complicated fusion process using only deuterium from sea water would have fuel for 150 billion years. {Link without Title}
See Also: Wind power
This type of energy harnesses the power of the wind to propel the blades of Wind Turbine s. These turbines cause the rotation of Magnet s, which creates electricity. Wind towers are usually built together on Wind Farm s.
- Wind power produces no water or air pollution that can contaminate the environment, because there are no Chemical Processes involved in wind power generation. Hence, there are no waste by-products, such as Carbon Dioxide .
- Wind generation is a Renewable source of energy, which means that we will never run out of it.
- Wind towers can be beneficial for people living permanently, or temporarily, in remote areas. It may be difficult to transport electricity through wires from a power plant to a far-away location and thus, wind towers can be set up at the remote setting.
- Farming and grazing can still take place on land occupied by wind turbines.
- Those utilizing wind power in a grid-tie configuration will have backup power in the event of a grid outage.
- Due to the ability of wind turbines to coexist within agricultural fields, siting costs are frequently low.
- Wind power is unpredictable in some areas. When the wind speed decreases less electricity is generated.
- Wind farms, depending on the location and type of turbine, can negatively affect bird migration patterns and pose a danger to the birds themselves. Newer, larger wind turbines have slower moving blades which are visible to birds.
, Manchester , England , was clad in PV panels at a cost of £5.5 million. It started feeding electricity to the National Grid in November 2005.]]
Solar power involves using ) were covered with solar panels, continental US electrical consumption could be met through solar energy. The Monetary cost, assuming $500/meter&2, would be about $5-10 trillion dollars.
- Solar power imparts no fuel costs.
- Solar power is a Renewable resource. As long as the Sun exists, its energy will reach Earth .
- Solar power generation releases no water or Air Pollution , because there is no Combustion of fuels.
- In sunny countries, solar power can be used in remote locations, like a wind turbine. This way, isolated places can receive electricity, when there is no way to connect to the Power Line s from a plant.
- Solar energy can be used very efficiently for heating (solar ovens, solar water and home heaters) and Daylighting .
- Requires no fuel.
See Also: Geothermal power
Geothermal energy harnesses the heat energy present underneath the Earth . The hot Rocks heat water to produce Steam . When holes are Drill ed in the region, the steam that shoots up is purified and is used to drive Turbine s, which power Electric Generator s. When the water temperature is below the boiling point of water a binary system is used. A low boiling point liquid is used to drive a turbine and gererator in a closed system similar to a refrigeration unit running in reverse.
- Geothermal energy does not produce air or water Pollution if performed correctly.
- Geothermal power plants run continuously day and night with an uptime typically exceeding 95%.
- Once a geothermal power station is implemented, the energy produced from the station is practically free. A small amount of energy is required in order to run a Pump , although this pump can be powered by excess energy generated at the plant.
- Geothermal power stations are relatively small, and have a lesser impact on the environment than tidal or hydroelectric plants. Because geothermal technology does not rely on large bodies of water, but rather, small, but powerful jets of water, like Geyser s, large generating stations can be avoided without losing functionality.
- Geothermal energy extraction is only practical in certain areas of the world, usually volcanic, where the heated Rock is sufficiently close to the surface such as to be reached by current drilling technology . Enhanced geothermal technology uses deeper drilling and water injection to generate geothermal power in areas where the earth's crust is thicker. {Link without Title}
- Drilling holes underground may release hazardous Gas es and Mineral s from deep inside the Earth. It can be problematic to dispose of these subsidiary products in a safe manner.
While new sources of energy are only rarely discovered or made possible by new Technology , Distribution technology continually evolves. The use of Fuel Cell s in cars, for example, is an anticipated delivery technology. This section presents some of the more common delivery technologies that have been important to historic energy development. They all rely in some way on the energy sources listed in the previous section.
.]]
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: Shipping is a flexible delivery technology that is used in the whole range of energy development regimes from primitive to highly advanced. Currently, Coal , Petroleum and their derivatives are delivered by shipping via boat, Rail , or road. Petroleum and natural gas may also be delivered via Pipeline and coal via a Slurry Pipeline . Refined hydrocarbon fuels such as Gasoline and LPG may also be delivered via Aircraft . Natural gas pipelines must maintain a certain minimum pressure to function correctly
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:Electricity grids are the Networks used to Transmit and Distribute Power from production source to end user, when the two may be hundreds of kilometres away. Sources include electrical generation plants such as a Nuclear Reactor , coal burning power plant, etc. A combination of sub-stations, transformers, Tower s, Cable s, and Piping are used to maintain a constant flow of electricity.
:Grids may suffer from transient Blackout s and Brownouts , often due to weather damage. During certain extreme Space Weather events Solar Wind can interfere with transmissions.
:Grids also have a predefined Carrying Capacity or load that cannot safely be exceeded. When power requirements exceed what's available, failures are inevitable. To prevent problems, power is then rationed.
:Industrialised countries such as Canada , the US , and Australia are among the highest per capita consumers of electricity in the world, which is possible thanks to a widespread electrical distribution network. The US grid is one of the most advanced, although Infrastructure maintenance is becoming a problem. The Electrical Power Industry is one of the most heavily subsidized.
: CurrentEnergy provides a realtime overview of the electricity supply and demand for California , Texas , and the Northeast of the US. African countries with small scale electrical grids have a correspondingly low annual per capita usage of electricity. One of the most powerful power grids in the world supplies power to the state of Queensland , Australia.
Methods of energy storage have been developed, which transform electrical energy into forms of potential energy. A method of energy storage may be chosen based on stability, ease of transport, ease of energy release, or ease of converting free energy from the natural form to the stable form.
Batteries are used to store energy in a chemical form. As an alternative energy, batteries can be used to store energy in Battery Electric Vehicle s. Battery electric vehicles can be charged from the grid when the vehicle is not in use. Because the energy is derived from electricity, battery electric vehicles make it possible to use other forms of alternative energy such as Wind , Solar , Geothermal , Nuclear , or Hydroelectric .
- Produces zero emissions to help counteract the effects of Global Warming .
- Batteries are a mature technology, no new expensive research and development is needed to implement technology.
- Current lead acid battery technology offers 50+ miles range on one charge. http://www.kingoftheroad.net/charge_across_america/charge_html/nimh_test2.html
- The Tesla Roadster has a 200 mile range on one charge.
- Batteries make it possible for stationary alternative energy generation such as Solar , Wind , Hydroelectric , Nuclear , or Hydroelectric .
- Electric motors are 90% efficient compared to about 20% efficiency of an internal combustion engine. http://ffden-2.phys.uaf.edu/102spring2002_Web_projects/Z.Yates/Zach's%20Web%20Project%20Folder/EICE%20-%20Main.htm
- No new major infrastructure is needed to charge battery electric vehicles.
- Battery electric vehicles have fewer moving parts than internal combustion engines, thus improving the reliability of the vehicle.
- Battery electric vehicles are quiet compared to internal combustion engines.
- Multiple electric vehicles sold out including the General Motors EV1 and the Tesla Roadster proving the demand for battery electric vehicles.
- Operation of a battery electric vehicle is approximately 2 to 4 cents per mile. About a sixth the price of operating a gasoline vehicle. Idaho National Laboratory (2005) "Comparing Energy Costs per Mile for Electric and Gasoline-Fueled Vehicles" ''Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity'' report at avt.inel.gov accessed 11 July 2006.
- The use of Battery Electric Vehicles eliminates the dependency on foreign oil.
- The energy used in electric vehicles needs to be derived from other sources.
- Current battery technology is expensive.
- Battery electric vehicles have a relative short range compared to internal combustion engine vehicles.
See Also: Hydrogen economy
Hydrogen can be manufactured at roughly 77 percent thermal efficiency by the method of steam reforming of natural gas http://cta.ornl.gov/data/index.shtml. When manufactured by this method it is a derivative fuel like gasoline; when produced by electrolysis of water, it is a form of chemical energy storage as are storage can convert the chemicals Hydrogen and Oxygen into water, and in the process, produce electricity, or (2) hydrogen can be burned (less efficiently than in a fuel cell) in an internal combustion engine.
- Hydrogen is colorless, odorless and entirely non-polluting, yielding pure water vapor (with minimal NOx ) as exhaust when combusted in air. This eliminates the direct production of exhaust gases that lead to Smog , and carbon dioxide emissions that enhance the effect of Global Warming .
- Hydrogen is the lightest chemical element and has the best energy-to-weight ratio of any fuel (not counting tank mass).
- Hydrogen can be produced anywhere; it can be produced Domestic ally from the decomposition of water. Hydrogen can be produced from domestic sources and the price can be established within the country.
- Electrolysis combined with fuel-cell regeneration {Link without Title} is more than 50% efficient.
- Other than some volcanic emanations, hydrogen does not exist in its pure form in the environment, because it reacts so strongly with oxygen and other elements.
- It is impossible to obtain hydrogen gas without expending energy in the process. There are three ways to manufacture hydrogen;
- --- By breaking down hydrocarbons — mainly methane. If oil or gases are used to provide this energy, fossil fuels are consumed, forming pollution and nullifying the value of using a Fuel Cell . It would be more efficient to use fossil fuel directly.
- --- By electrolysis from water — The process of splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen using Electrolysis consumes large amounts of energy. It has been calculated that it takes 1.4 joules of electricity to produce 1 joule of hydrogen (Pimentel, 2002).
- --- By reacting water with a metal such as sodium, potassium, or boron. Chemical by-products would be sodium oxide, potassium oxide, and boron oxide. Processes exist which could recycle these elements back into their metal form for re-use with additional energy input, further eroding the Energy Return On Energy Invested .
- There is currently modest to small-scale electrolyzers to support the widespread use of hydrogen as a fuel.
- Hydrogen is difficult to handle, store, and transport. It requires heavy, cumbersome Tank s when stored as a gas, and complex insulating bottles if stored as a Cryogenic liquid. If it is needed at a moderate Temperature and Pressure , a Metal Hydride absorber may be needed. The transportation of hydrogen is also a problem because hydrogen leaks effortlessly from containers.
- Some current Fuel Cell designs, such as proton exchange membrane fuel cells, use Platinum as a catalyst. Widescale deployment of such fuel cells could place a strain on available platinum resources. Study: World May Run Out of Copper Reducing the platinum loading, per fuel cell stack, is the focus of R&D.
- Electricity Transmission and Battery Electric Vehicles are far more efficient for storage, transmission and use of energy for transportation, neglecting the energy conversion at the electric power plant. As with distributed production of hydrogen via electrolysis, Battery Electric Vehicles could utilize the existing electricity grid until widespread use dictated an expansion of the grid.
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:Some natural forms of energy are found in stable chemical compounds such as Fossil Fuel s. Most systems of chemical energy storage result from Biological activity, which store energy in chemical bonds. Man-made forms of chemical energy storage include Hydrogen fuel, Batteries and Explosive s such as Cordite and Dynamite .
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: Dam s can be used to store energy, by using excess energy to pump water into the reservoir. When electrical energy is required, the process is reversed. The water then turns a Turbine , generating electricity. Hydroelectric power is currently an important part of the world's energy supply, generating one-fifth of the world's electricity. : {Link without Title} .
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:Electrical energy may be stored in Capacitor s. Capacitors are often used to produce high intensity releases of energy (such as a camera's flash).
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- Pressure:
::Energy may also be stored Pressurized gases or alternatively in a Vacuum . Compressed air, for example, may be used to operate vehicles and power tools. Large scale Compressed Air Energy Storage facilities are used to smooth out demands on electricity generation by providing energy during peak hours and storing energy during off-peak hours. Such systems save on expensive generating capacity since it only needs to meet average consumption rather than peak consumption.
Extrapolations from current knowledge to the future offer a choice of energy futures. Some predictions parallel the Malthusian Catastrophe hypothesis. Numerous are complex Models based Scenario s as pioneered by '' Limits To Growth ''. Modeling approaches offer ways to analyze diverse Strategies , and hopefully find a road to rapid and Sustainable Development of humanity. Short term Energy Crises are also a concern of energy development. Some extrapolations lack plausibility, particularly when they predict a continual increase in oil consumption.
Existing technologies for new energy sources, such as Renewable Energy technologies, particularly Wind Power and Solar Power , are promising. Nuclear Fission is also promoted, and each need sustained Research and Development , including consideration of possible harmful Side Effects . Jacques Cousteau spoke of using the salinization of water at river estuaries as an energy source, which would not have any consequences for a million years, and then stopped to point out that since we are going to be on the planet for a billion years we had to be looking that far into the future. Nuclear Fusion and Artificial Photosynthesis are other energy technologies being researched and developed.
It should be noted that between 1950 and 1984, as the ) may test Malthus critics. Peak Oil: the threat to our food security
: ''Main list: '' List Of Basic Energy Development Topics ''
- Serra, J. "Alternative Fuel Resource Development", Clean and Green Fuels Fund, (2006).
- Bilgen, S. and K. Kaygusuz, ''Renewable Energy for a Clean and Sustainable Future'', Energy Sources 26, 1119 (2004).
- ''Energy analysis of Power Systems'', UIC Nuclear Issues Briefing Paper 57 (2004).
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