Alternative Energy Sources

Thinking Globally Ch 24. 7

Do We Need Other Sources of Energy?

The answer depends on who you talk to!! Almost everyone agrees that oil will eventually run outhow long, no one knows. Some say as early at 2035 we could run out. The average is that the 1.3 trillion barrels of discovered oil left will last 40 years at current consumption patterns. Do you think it will last 40 years??

ALTERNATIVES TO OIL

What does this map show? What can we learn from it about solar power?

Solar Power
Positives:
No pollution Easily harness energy with sunlight Power can still be generated when it is not sunny

Negatives:
Very expensive to start ($2.5 mill an acre) 50 acre min. Need to have large spaces with sunlight Not eye-appealing

Wind Power
Positives: Cheap. Once running is very low cost to produce energy. Create energy at any time of day. No pollution with turbines. Give off no CO2. Negatives: Need a lot of space (big) Need a lot of them to produce sizeable energy from them An eye sore to many people.

Hydroelectric Power
Positives: Cheap to produce energy Gives off no pollution, just relies of funneling water Negatives: Massive projects that take years to build. Can cause environmental problems when you dam a river you create a lake behind it **Three Gorges Dam in China**

Nuclear Power
Positives: Cheapest source of energy Extremely efficient, little CO2 emissions. Lasts a long time Negatives: Expensive start up costs and time to build plants ($320 M per plant) Radiation leaks and potential for something to go wrong No one wants a plant in their city/town.

Cost to Produce Energy

Type of Power Cost per kilowatt hour

Coal
Nuclear Natural Gas Solar Wind Tidal Heating oil

10.29 cents
3.31 cents (once running) 8.09 cents 18.12 cents (once running) 3.45 cents 10.2 cents 6.7 cents

Geothermal

4.5-30 cents(depending on size)

Geothermal Power

Even More Alternatives?

Atmospheric Cold Generation (air pressure and pipelines) Thermal Electric (chiplike small solar panel converts heat to electricity) OTEC (Ocean Energy Thermal Conversion)uses the difference in temperature in ocean water to run a heat engine.