BATAY, MARKUS LINUS D.

CW#2 May 2, 2017

2013151926 ME145/C1

What Ive learned from the video we watched is that we dont need to have an instant or a
big solution for sustainability. Like the wedge game in the video, what we can do is make multiple
small solutions one at a time, combining them to solve the problem.

There are many possible solutions like improving nuclear power plants. Making better
engines so that cars would consume less fossil fuel. Developing new, alternative materials to be
used for energy production etc. Most of them are to improve efficiencies in the technology we
already have.

We, as future engineers, need to find the proper combinations in order to fully solve the
problem that we have in order to have a better future.

What are the typical methods for power production?

Fossil
Fossil fuel power plants burn carbon fuels such coal, oil or gas to generate steam that drives large
turbines that produce electricity. These plants can generate electricity reliably over long periods of
time. However, by burning carbon fuels they produce large amounts carbon dioxide, which causes
climate change. They can also produce other pollutants, such as sulphurous oxides, which cause
acid rain.
Fossil fuel plants require huge quantities of coal, oil or gas. These fuels may need to be transported
over long distances. The price of fuels can rise sharply at times of shortage, leading to unstable
generation costs.

Large hydro
Large hydro power plants generate electricity by storing water in vast reservoirs behind massive
dams. Water from the dams flows through turbines to generate electricity, and then goes on to flow
through rivers below the dam.
Hydro dams can generate large amounts of electricity. However, dry periods can drain the
reservoirs. The flooding of reservoirs behind dams and slowing of the flow of the river below the
dam can have a serious impact on the ecology around the dam. The number of sites suitable for
new dams is limited.
Nuclear
Nuclear power plants use the heat produced by nuclear fission to generate steam that drives
turbines, like in fossil fuel plants. However, no greenhouse gases are produced in this fission
process, and only small amounts are produced across the whole fuel cycle.
Nuclear fuel can be used in a reactor for several years. The used fuel that remains after this time
must be stored and then either recycled to make new fuel or carefully disposed of. However,
because the amount of fuel used to generate electricity is so much less than that used in fossil fuel
plants it is much more practical to do this with used nuclear fuel than with the wastes and emissions
from fossil fuels.
Nuclear power plants can run for many months without interruption, providing reliable and
predictable supplies of electricity.

Renewables
Renewables such as wind, solar and small scale hydro produce electricity with no greenhouse gas
emissions at the point of generation and very low amounts of greenhouse gas emissions across
their entire lifecycle.
The cost of electricity generation from many renewables tends to be higher than other forms of
generation, often requiring subsidies to compete with other forms of generation, although these
costs are coming down.
Many renewables do not produce electricity predictably or consistently. Electricity generation
from wind turbines varies with the wind speed, and if that wind is too weak or too strong no
electricity is produced at all. The output of solar panels is reliant on the strength of the sunshine,
which depends on the time of day and the amount of cloud cover. This means that renewables have
to be backed up by other forms of electricity generation, often fossil fuel generation with their
resultant greenhouse gas emissions.

What makes renewable energy sustainable?

An energy source can be considered as sustainable if it fulfills 3 demands of energy: the energy
can be naturally replenished, technology should improve energy efficiency, and the long term
availability
Sustainable Energy is one which is able to meet the growing demand of todays people without
compromising the demand of the people that would require it in future. All renewable energy
sources like solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower, wave and tidal power are forms of sustainable
energy. These energy sources have been here since centuries and are here to stay till life is available
on earth. Renewable energy sources have low environmental impact, widely available and are
naturally replenished.
The energy of the world needs to grow with the maturity of our technology. Changes in technology
have given rise to many other alternative sources of energy which can be harnessed through various
modern techniques. There is still plenty of work to be done. This is in relation to the population
that is vastly using modern devices that add to the ever increasing energy need. For us to cope with
this energy need, energy companies should exercise a lot of keenness when it comes to their efforts
in making energy accessible and available to many people at all times.

What types of energy sources are available in your country?

Oil
The Philippines' proven oil deposits currently stand at 138 million barrels. The country's rate of
extraction is 25,000 barrels a day, which is far below the consumption. Recent discovery of deep-
water oil resources has encouraged greater production of oil, but it is still not enough to meet the
country's petroleum needs without imports.
Natural Gas
Natural gas deposits in the Philippines are located offshore, above the country's deep-sea oil
reserves. The Philippines possesses 3.9 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves. Although
extraction only began in 2000, production has been able to meet demand every year without
imports. Even larger natural gas deposits may be held in another offshore location.
Coal
The Philippines holds 260 million short tons of usable coal reserves. While it has recently increased
extraction, consumption still far outpaces production, forcing the country to rely on imports to
meet demand.
Geothermal Energy
Because of its position as an island chain in the Pacific Ocean, the Philippines is located in a
relatively active seismic area. Geothermal energy allows the country to use this to its advantage.
Currently, the Philippines is the second highest producer of geothermal energy. The government
has set a goal to surpass the United States as the highest producer in the world.
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity centers in the Philippines generate 2,900 megawatts of electricity, which is 19
percent of the country's total electricity consumption. The rate of production has remained constant
for decades, but there are plans to introduce more hydroelectric centers.

Why is energy a major problem in our current generation?

In the early 70s, the temporary boycott of the world market by OPEC caused the price of
petroleum to rise dramatically, as petroleum is the most common source of energy used in heat
generation, production, commerce, transportation, and residential facilities. (1) The ability of
major petroleum producers to withhold the supply reveals the importance of energy independence
and price.
(2) More recently, global warming has become unmistakably important with widespread melting
of ice, noticeable climate changes, and rising sea levels. This is now recognized by nearly everyone
as caused by greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide, produced by burning fossil fuels such as
petroleum, coal, and natural gas. While nuclear power plants are being advocated by some, dealing
with spent nuclear fuel is as problematic as greenhouse gases, and energy must be used to produce
nuclear fuel. Note there is now a worldwide shortage of nuclear fuel.
Others are pushing ethanol, which is such a bad idea that it is hard to understand how its use has
become as widespread as it has.

How can we improve energy production?

Making solar energy and other renewable energy more affordable. Since the cost needed
in building and fabricating these facilities is large, its not utilized by the government and other
big industries.
Energy production can also be improved by innovating upon the current existing facilities
that we have today. These innovations can lead to a more efficient energy production, thus,
minimizing the waste products and the harm done to the environment.

References:
http://www.world-nuclear.org/nuclear-basics/electricity-generation-what-are-the-options.aspx
http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/isrenewableenergysustainable.php
http://peopleof.oureverydaylife.com/energy-sources-philippines-10284.html
http://web.mit.edu/fnl/volume/196/schreiber.html