Module 3: Renewable and Non Renewable Energy Flashcards
What is renewable energy? Provide and example
Renewable energy is derived from. Resources that are generated by natural processes or practically inexhaustible. For example, converting sunlight into electricity or heat energy does not change the amount of sunlight that will reach the earth in the future.
What is non-renewable energy?
A non-renewable energy resource is depleted at a higher rate than it is replenished. For example, fossil fuels are currently used at a rate 1500 times greater than they can be regenerated
What is energy efficiency?
The rate energy use is beginning to decline. According to Miller and Spoolman (2014), improvements in energy efficiency could save at l war a third of the energy in the world” (p.332). However, there is still growth in energy consumption (0.9% average annual growth in energy use is met by growth in fossil fuel use - predominately oil and gas over the last decade) Australia has also been able to consume more renewable energy, because there has been an increase in the amount of renewable energy produced (a 4% annual growth)
Power on demand?
Fossil fuels, nuclear
Biomass, geothermal, hydro
Transportable - non-renewable sources, biomass
An energy future?
Known reserves - time until depleted at current use rate (2005)
- oil reserves - 40 years
- coal reserves- 200-500 years
- uranium reserves - 80 years
- gas reserves - 60 years.
The efforts by some organisations to discredit the impact of carbon emissions on the Greenhouse Effect are ignoring the bigger issue n
What are fossil fuels
- oil and gas
- coal
Coal
Australia’s production of black coal in 2013-2014 was approximately 428 million tonnes.
- around 375 million tonnes were exported (around 88% of production)
- Australia is ranked the fifth largest coal producer in the world (after China, US, India and Indonesia
Renewable energy - miller and Spoolman quote
By using a mix of renewable energy resources, energy efficiency can satisfy our energy needs while drastically reducing pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and biodiversity losses - p. 340
Solar
Thermal energy
Dole photovoltaic
Tidal energy
Turbines spin on incoming and outgoing tides. Ideally, he generated is solace in an area or the coast with large tidal variations and narrow opening to the sea.
Biomass
Original form of fie for heating and cooking.
- worked and charcoal used extensively
- deforestation is a major cause of concern
- waste plant and animal matter used in some processes.
- conversion of agricultural land from food to fuel production.
- loss of native forests to fuel mono culturesvv
Biofuel
There are two main types : bioethanol and biodiesel.
Bioethanol
accounts for 90% of biofuel use.
- fermentation and distillation of sugar
- E10 is suitable for lost unleaded petrol vehicles
Biodiesel
- peanut oil was used as fuel in the first Diesel engines m(1893)
- extraction and esterification of vegetable oils, animal fat, and used cooking oils.
- B10 can fuel diesel vehicles without modification.
Why less CO2 from bioethanol?
The production of bioethanol required an energy input (often electricity - fossil fuels). The energy savings vary depending on the source of sugar. Energy savings reported between 20-80%. Sugarcane gives the largest savings (60-80%). Cereals/ corn has the smallest 20-40%
