Resources

Traditional Energy

Conventional Energy

Wood
Field Crops
Fecal Material
Peat

Coal
Oil
Natural Gas
Nuclear

Non-renewable Resources
What is Peat?

An accumulation of partially decayed vegetation matter and is the first stage in the
formation of coal
Forms wetlands, called bogs, moors, muskegs, pocosins, mires, and swamps
Contains a large amount of water & must be dried before use
Was used as a source of heat & burned w/ a long flame and considerable smoke

Where is Peat Mined?

Peat deposits are found in many places around the world, mostly in Russia, Ireland,
Finland, Scotland, Poland, northern Germany, the Netherlands and Scandinavia, and
North America
o 60% of the worlds wetland have peat
Used as fuel in Ireland and England and the peat is stacked to slowly dry out

Advantages and Disadvantages of Oil

Advantages

Disadvantages

Conventional oil is abundant and has a high

net energy yield

Causes air and water pollution and releases

greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

inexpensive
Large supplies

Low net energy

Higher environmental impacts than
conventional

Who controls the Oil prices?

OPEC Controls Most of the Worlds Oil Supplies

13 countries have at least 60% of the worlds crude oil reserves

Saudi Arabia: 25%
Canada: 15%
Oil production peaks and flow rates to consumers

The United States uses much more oil than it produces!?

Produces 9% of the worlds oil

Imports 60% of its oil
About One-fourth of the worlds conventional oil is controlled by countries that
sponsor or condone terrorism

Advantages and disadvantages of Conventional Oil?

Extraction, processing, and burning of nonrenewable oil and other fossil fuels

 Advantages
Disadvantages

Advantages and Disadvantages of Natural Gas?

More plentiful than oil

Has a high net energy yield
Low cost
Lowest environmental impact of all fossil fuels

What is hydraulic Fracturing?

(fracking), a technology used to drilling for oils and natural gas

Advantages and Disadvantages of Coal

Conventional Coal
o Plentiful and high net yield
o Low cost
o Very high environmental impact
Gaseous and liquid feuls produced from coal
o Lower net yield
o Highest impanct on environment
o Plentiful

Advantages and Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy

Low environmental impact

Very low accidental risk
High cost
Low net energy yield
Radioactive waste
Vulnerable to sabotage
Spreading of nuclear technology

How does a nuclear Fission reactor work

Contolled in a reactor
o Light water reactor
Fueled by uranium ore packed as pellets in feul rods and feul assemblies
Control rods absorb nuetrons
Water is used as a coolant
Containment shell around core for protection
Water-filled pools or dry casks for storage of radioactive spent fuel rod assemblies

What is Nucler fuel cycle

Mine the uranium

Process the uranium to make the fuel
Use it in the reactor
Safely store the radioactive waste
Decommission the reactor